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《星球大战:绝地大反攻》star_wars_episode_1

时间:2007-10-27 22:01:49来源: 作者:


Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
by George Lucas.
More info about this movie on imdb.com
 
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."

A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the MAIN TITLE,
followed by a ROLL UP, which crawls up into infinity.

"EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE"

"Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of
trade routes to outlaying star systems is in dispute. Hoping
to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships,
the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the
small planet of Naboo.

While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this
alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly
dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and
justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict....."

PAN DOWN to reveal a small space cruiser heading TOWARD CAMERA
at great speed. PAN with the cruiser as it heads towardthe
beautiful green planet of Naboo, which is surrounded by
hundreds of Trade Federation battleships.

INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT

In the cockpit of the cruise, the CAPTAIN and PILOT maneuver
closer to one of the battleships.

QUI-GON (O.S.)
Captain.

The Captain turns to an unseen figure sitting behind her.

CAPTAIN
Yes, sir?

QUI-GON (O.S.)
Tell them we wish to board at once.

CAPTAIN
Yes, sir.

The CAPTAIN looks to her view screen, where NUTE GUNRAY, a
Neimoidian trade viceroy, waits for a reply.

CAPTAIN
With all due respect for the Trade
Federation, the Ambassadors for the
Supreme Chancellor wish to board
immediately.

NUTE
Yes, yes, of coarse...ahhh...as you
know, our blockade is perfectly legal,
and we'd be happy to recieve the
Ambassador...Happy to.

The screen goes black. Out the cockpit window, the sinister
battleship looms ever closer.

EXT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE (FX)

The small space cruiser docks in the enormous main bay of
the Federation battleship.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE

A PROTOCOL DROID, TC-14, waits at the door to the docking
bay. Two WORKER DROIDS, PK-4 and EG-9 watch.

PK-4
They must be important if the Viceroy
sent one of those useless protocol
gearheads to greet them.

The door opens, and the Republic cruiser can be seen in the
docking bay. Two darkly robed figures are greeted by TC-14.

TC-14
I'm TC-14 at your service. This way,
please.

They move off down the hallway.

EG-9
A Republic cruiser! That's
trouble...don't you think?

PK-4
I'm not made to think.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

A door slides open, and the two cloaked shapes are led PAST
CAMERA into the formal conference room by TC-14.

TC-14
I hope you honoured sirs with the
most comfortable here. My master
will be with you shortly.

The droid bows before OBI-WAN KENOBI and QUI- GON JINN. He
backs out the door and it closes. The JEDI lower their hoods
and look out a large window at the lush green planet of Naboo.
QUI-GON sixty years old, has long white hair in a ponytail.
He is tall and striking, with blue eyes. OBI-WAN is twenty
five, with very short brown hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.
Several exotic, bird-like creatures SING in a cage near the
door.

OBI-WAN
I have a bad feeling about this.

QUI-GON
I don't sense anything.

OBI-WAN
It's not about the mission, Master,
it's somethging...elsewhere...elusive.

QUI-GON
Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-
Wan. Keep your concentration here
and now where it belongs.

OBI-WAN
Master Yoda says I should be mindful
of the future...

QUI-GON
...but not at the expense of the
moment. Be mindful of the living
Force, my young Padawan.

OBI-WAN
Yes, Master...how do you think the
trade viceroy will deal with the
chancellor's demands?

QUI-GON
These Federation types are cowards.
The negotiations will be short.



INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE GUNRAY and DAULTRAY DOFINE stand, stunned, before TC-
14.

NUTE
(shaken)
What?!? What did you say?

TC-14
The Ambassadors are Jedi Knights, I
believe.

DOFINE
I knew it! They were sent to force a
settlement, eh. Blind me, we're done
for!

NUTE
Stay calm? I'll wager the Senate
isn't aware of the Supreme
Chancellor's moves here. Go. Distract
them until I can contact Lord Sidious.

DOFINE
Are you brain dead? I'm not going in
there with two Jedi! Send the droid.

Dofine turns to TC-14, who lets out a squeaky sigh.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

OBI-WAN
Is it their nature to make us wait
this long?

The door to the conference room slides open, and TC-14 enters
with a tray of drinks and food.

QUI-GON
No. I sense an unusual amount of
fear for something as trivial as
this dispute.

Obi-Wan takes a drink.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

Nute, Dofine, and Rune Haako are before the hologram of Darth
Sidious, a robed figure whose face is obscured by a hood.

DOFINE
This scheme of yours has failed,
Lord Sidious. The blockade is
finished! We dare not go against
these Jedi.

DARTH SIDIOUS
You seem more worried about the Jedi
than you are of me, Dofine. I am
amused.. Viceroy!

Nute, looking very nervous, steps forward.

NUTE
Yes, My lord.

DARTH SIDIOUS
I don't want that stunted slime in
my sight again. Do you understand?

NUTE
Yes, My Lord.

Nute gives Dofine a fierce look, and Dofine, terrified, rushed
off the bridge.

DARTH SIDIOUS
This turns of events is unfortunate.
We must accelerate our plans, Viceroy.
Begin landing your troops.

NUTE
Ahh, My Lord, is that, Legal?

DARTH SIDIOUS
I will make it legal.

NUTE
And, the Jedi??

DARTH SIDIOUS
The Chancellor should never have
brought them into this. Kill them,
immediatly.

NUTE
Ye..Yes, My Lord. As you wish.

INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT - DOCKING BAY

In the Cockpit of the Cruiser, the Captain and Pilot look up
and see a gun turret swing around and point directly at them.

PILOT
Captain !? Look !!

CAPTAIN
No! Warn...

EXT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HANGER BAY

The battle gun fires. The Republic Cruiser explodes.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

Gui-Gon and Obi-Wan leap up to a standing position with their
light sabers drawn. TC-14 jumps back, startled, spilling the
drinks tray.

TC-14
Ahhh, Sorry, sir. The Viceroy...

Gui-Gon and Obi-Wan turn off their swords and listen intently.
A faint hissing sound can be heard.

GUI-GON
Gas!

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan each taken a sudden deep breath and
holding it. The exotic bird-like creatures in the cage dorp
dead.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY

A hologram of NUTE , surrounded by BATTLE DROIDS, appears in
the conference room hallway.

NUTE
They must be dead by now. Blast,
what's left of them.

The hologram fades off, as a BATTLE DROID, OWO-1, cautiously
opens the door. A deadly green cloud billows from the room.
BATTLE DROIDS cock their weapons as a figure stumbles out of
the smoke. It is TC-14 , carrying the tray of drinks.

TC-14
Oh, excuse me, so sorry.

The PROTOCOL DROID passes the armed camp just as two flashing
laser swords fly out of the deadly fog, cutting down several
BATTLE DROIDS before they can fire.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

The bridge is a cocophony of alarms. NUTE and RUNE watch OWO-
1 on the viewscreen.

OWO-1
Not sure exactly what...

OWO-1 is suddenly cut in half in mid-sentence. RUNE gives
NUTE a worried look.

NUTE
What in blazes is going on down there?

RUNE
Have you ever encountered a Jedi
Knight before, sir?

NUTE
Well, not exactly, but I don't...
(panicked)
Seal off the bridge.

RUNE
That won't be enough, sir.

The doors to the bridge SLAM shut.

NUTE
I want destroyer droids up here at
once!!!

RUNE
We will not survive this.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE

QUI-GON cuts several BATTLE DROIDS in half, creating a shower
of sparks and metal parts. OBI-WAN raises his hand, sending
several BATTLE DROIDS crashing into the wall.

QUI-GON makes his way to the bridge door and begins to cut
through it.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

The CREW is very nervous as sparks start flying around the
bridge door.

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN are on the view screen.

NUTE
Close the blast doors!!!

The huge, very thick blast door slams shut, followed by a
second door, then a third. There is a hissing sound as the
huge doors seal shut. QUI-GON tabs the door with his sword.
The screen goes black as a red spot appears in the center of
the blast door.

RUNE
...They're still coming through!

On the door, chunks of molten metal begin to drop away.

NUTE
Impossible!! This is impossible!!

RUNE
Where are those destroyer droids?!

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE

Ten ugly destroyer WHEEL DROIDS roll down the hallway at
full speed. Just before they get to the bridge area, they
stop and transform into their battle configuration. QUI-GON
can't see them but senses their presence.

QUI-GON
Destroyer droids!

OBI-WAN
Offhand, I'd say this mission is
past the negotiaion stage.

The WHEEL DROIDS, led by P-59, rush the entry area from three
hallways, blasting away with their laser guns. They stop
firing and stand in a semi-circle as the smoke clears. OBI-
WAN and QUI-GON are nowhere to be seen.

P-59
Switch to bio...There they are!

The Jedi materialize at the far end of the hallway and dash
through the doorway that slams shut. The WHEEL DROIDS blast
away at the two JEDI with their laser swords.

OBI-WAN
They have shield generators!

QUI-GON
It's a standoff! Let's go!

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE and RUNE stand on the bridge, watching the view screen
as the WHEEL

DROIDS' POV speeds to the doorway.

RUNE
We have them on the run, sir...they're
no match for destroyer droids.

TEY HOW
Sir, they've gone up the ventilation
shaft.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - MAIN BAY

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN appear at a large vent in a giant hanger
bay. They are careful not to be seen. Thousands of BATTLE
DROIDS are loading onto landing craft.

QUI-GON
Battle droids.

OBI-WAN
It's an invisible army.

QUI-GON
It's an odd play for the Trade
Federation. We've got to warn the
Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum.
Let's split up. Stow aboard separate
ships and meet down on the planet.

OBI-WAN
You were right about one thing,
Master. The negotiations were short.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

TEY HOW recieves a transmission.

TEY HOW
Sir, a transmission from the planet.

RUNE
It's Queen Amidala herself.

NUTE
At last we're getting results.

On the view screen, QUEEN AMIDALA appears in her throne room.
Wearing her elaborate headdress and robes, she sits,
surrounded by the GOVERNING COUNCIL and FOUR HANDMAIDENS,
EIRTAE, YANE, RABE, and SACHE.

NUTE
Again you come before me, Your
highness. The Federation is
pleased.

AMIDALA
You will not be pleased when you
hear what I have to say,
Viceroy...Your trade boycott of our
planet has ended.

NUTE smirks at RUNE.

NUTE
I was not aware of such a failure.

AMIDALA
I have word that the Senate is finally
voting on this blockade of yours.

NUTE
I take it you know the outcome. I
wonder why they bother to vote.

AMIDALA
Enough of this pretense, Viceroy!
I'm aware the Chancellor's Ambassadors
are with you now, and that you have
beencommanded to reach a settlement.

NUTE
I know nothing about any
Ambassadors...you must be mistaken.

AMIDALA, surprised at his reaction, studies him carefully.

AMIDALA
Beware, Viceroy....the Federation is
going too far this time.

NUTE
Your Highness, we would never do
anything without the approval of the
Senate. You assume too much.

AMIDALA
We will see.

The QUEEN fades off, and the view screen goes black.

RUNE
She's right, the Senate will never....

NUTE
It's too late now.

RUNE
Do you think she suspects an attack?

NUTE
I don't know, but we must move quickly
to disrupt all communications down
there.

INT. NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM

The QUEEN, EIRTAE, SACHE and her Governor, SIO BIBBLE, stand
before a hologram of SENATOR PALPATINE, a thin, kindly man.

PALPATINE
...How could that be true? I have
assurances from the Chancellor...his
Ambassaodrs did arrive. It must be
the...get...negotiate...

The hologram of PALPATIONE sputters and fades away.

AMIDALA
Senator Palpatine?!?
(turns to Panaka)
What's happening?

Capt. Panaka turns to his SARGEANT.

CAPT. PANAKA
Check the transmission generators...

BIBBLE
A malfunction?

CAPT. PANAKA
It could be the Federation jamming
us. Your Highness.

BIBBLE
A communications disruption can only
mean one thing. Invasion.

AMIDALA
Don't jump to conclusions, Governor.
The Federation would not dare go
that far.

CAPT. PANAKA
The Senate would revoke their trade
franchise, and they'd be finished.

AMIDALA
We must continue to rely on
negotiation.

BIBBLE
Negotiation? We've lost all
communications!...and where atre the
Chancellors Ambassadors? How can we
negotiate? We must prepare to defend
ourselves.

CAPT. PANAKA
This is a dangerous situation, Your
Highness. Our security volunteers
will be no match against a battle-
hardened Federation army.

AMIDALA
I will not condone a course of action
that will lead us to war.

EXT. SPACE LANDING CRAFT - TWILIGHT (FX)

Six landing craft fly in formation toward the surface of the
planet Naboo.

EXT. NABOO SWAMP - SHALLOW LAKE - TWILIGHT

Three landing craft slowly descend through the cloud cover
of the perpetually gray twilight side of the planet. One by
one, the Federation warships land in the eerie swamp. OBI-
WAN's head emerges from the mud of a shallow lake. For in
the background, the activities of the invasion force can be
seen in the mist.

OBI-WAN takes several deep breaths, then dissapears again
under the muddy swamp. Troop Transports (MTT's) emerge from
the landing craft.

EXT. NABOO EDGE OF SWAMP / GRASS PLAINS - TWILIGHT (FX)

The droid invasion force moves out of the swamp and onto a
grassy plain.

OOM-9, in his tank, looks out over the vast ARMY marching
across the rolling hills. A small hologram of RUNE and NUTE
stands on the tank.

RUNE
...and there is no trace of the Jedi.
They may have gotton onto one of
your landing craft.

OOM-9
If they are down here, sir, we'll
find them. We are moving out of the
swamp and are marching on the cities.
We are meeting no resistance.

NUTE
Excellent.

EXT. NABOO SWAMP - TWILIGHT

QUI-GON runs through the strange landscape, glancing back to
see the monstrous troop transports, emerging from the mist.
Animals begin to run past him in a panic.

An odd, frog-like Gungan, JAR JAR INKS, squats holding a
clam he has retrieved from the murky swamp. The shell pops
open. JAR JAR's greta tongue snaps out and grabs the clam,
swallowing it in one gulp.

JAR JAR looks up and sees QUI-GON and the other creatures
running like the wind toward him. One of the huge MTT's bears
down on the JEDI like a charging locomotive. JAR JAR stands
transfixed, still holding the clam shell in one hand.

JAR JAR
Oh, noooooooooo!

JAR JAR drops the shell and grabs onto QUI-GON as he passes.
The JEDI is caught by surprise.

JAR JAR
Hey, help me! Help me!!

QUI-GON
Let go!

The machine is about tp crush them as QUI-GON drags JAR JAR
behind him. Just as the transport is about to hit them, QUI-
GON drops, and JAR JAR goes splat into the mud with him. The
transport races overhead.

QUI-GON and JAR JAR pull themselves out of the mud. They
stand watching the war machine dissapear into the mist. JAR
JAR grabs QUI-GON and hugs him.

JAR JAR
Oyi, mooie-mooie! I luv yous!

The frog-like creature kisses the JEDI.

QUI-GON
Are you brainless? You almost got us
killed!

JAR JAR
I spake.

QUI-GON
The ability to speak does not make
you intelligent. Now get outta here!

QUI-GON starts to move off, and JAR JAR follows.

JAR JAR
No...no! Mesa stay...Mesa yous humble
servaunt.

QUI-GON
That wont be necessary.

JAR JAR
Oh boot tis! Tis demunded byda guds.
Tis a live debett, tis. Mesa culled
Jaja Binkss.

In the distance, two STAPS burst out of the mist at high
speed, chasing OBI-WAN.

QUI-GON
I have no time for this now...

JAR JAR
Say what?

The two STAPS barrell down on OBI-WAN.

JAR JAR
Oh, nooooo! Weesa ganna....

QUI-GON throws JAR JAR into the mud.

QUI-GON
Stay down!

His head pops up.

JAR JAR
...dieeee!

The two troops fire laser bolts at OBI-WAN. QUI-GON deflects
the bolts back, and the STAPS blow up. One-two. OBI-WAN is
exhausted and tries to catch his breath.

OBI-WAN
Sorry, Master, the water fried my
weapon.

OBI-WAN pulls out his burnt laser sword handle. QUI-GON
inspects it, as JAR JAR pulls himself out of the mud.

QUI-GON
You forgot to turn your power off
again, didn't you?

OBI-WAN nods sheeplishly.

QUI-GON
It won't take long to recharge, but
this is a lesson I hope you've
learned, my young Padawan.

OBI-WAN
Yes, Master.

JAR JAR
Yousa sav-ed my again, hey?

OBI-WAN
What's this?

QUI-GON
A local. Let's go, before more of
those droids show up.

JAR JAR
Mure? Mure did you spake??!?

OBI-WAN and QUI-GON start to run. JAR JAR tries to keep up.

JAR JAR
Ex-squeeze me, but da moto grande
safe place would be Otoh Gunga. Tis
where I grew up...Tis safe city.

They all stop.

QUI-GON
A city!
(JAR JAR nods his
head)
Can you take us there?

JAR JAR
Ahhh, will...on second taut...no,
not willy.

QUI-GON
No??!

JAR JAR
Iss embarrissing, boot... My afrai
my've bean banished. My forgoten der
Bosses would do terrible tings to
my. Terrible tings if my goen back
dare.

A PULSATING SOUND is heard in the distance.

QUI-GON
You hear that?

JAR JAR shakes his head yes.

QUI-GON
That's the sound of a thousand
terrible things heading this way...

OBI-WAN
When they find us, they will crush
us, grind us into little pieces,
then blast us into oblivion!

JAR JAR
Oh! Yousa point is well seen. Dis
way! Hurry!

JAR JAR turns and runs into the swamp.

EXT. NABOO SWAMP LAKE - TWILIGHT

QUI-GON, OBI-WAN and JAR JAR run into a murky lake and stop
as JAR JAR tries to catch his breath. The TRANSPORTS ARE
HEARD in the distance.

QUI-GON
Much farther?

JAR JAR
Wesa goen underwater, okeyday?

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN pull out small capsule from their utility
belts that turn into breathing masks.

JAR JAR
My warning yous. Gungans no liken
outlaunders. Don't expict a wern
welcome.

OBI-WAN
Don't worry, this has not been our
day for warm welcomes.

JAR JAR jumps, does a double somersault with a twist, and
dives into the water.

Breath masks on, QUI-GON and OBI-WAN wade in after him.

EXT. NABOO LAKE - UNDERWATER

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN swim behind JAR JAR, who is very much at
home in the water. Down they swim into murky depths. In the
distance the glow of Otoh Gunga, an underwater city made up
of large bubbles, becomes more distinct.

They approach the strange, art nouveau habitat. JAR JAR swims
magically through one of the bubble membranes, which seals
behind him. OBI-WAN and QUI-GON follow.

INT. OTOH GUNGA - CITY SQUARE

GUNGANS in the square scatter when they see the strange JEDI.
Four GUARDS armed with long electro-poles ride two-legged
KAADUS into the square. The GUARDS, led by CAPTAIN TARPALS,
point their lethal poles at the dripping trio.

JAR JAR
Heyo-dalee, Cap'n Tarpals, Mesa back!

CAPT. TARPALS
Noah gain, Jar Jar. Yousa goen tada
Bosses. Yousa in big dudu this time.

CAPT. TARPALS gives JAR JAR a slight zap with his power pole.
JAR JAR jumps and moves off, followed by the two JEDI.

JAR JAR
How wude.

INT. OTOH GUNGA - HIGH TOWER BOARD ROOM

The Bosses' Board Room has bubble walls, with small lighted
fish swimming around outside like moving stars. A long
circular judge's bench filled with GUNGAN OFFICIALS dominates
the room. OBI-WAN and QUI-GON stand facing BOSS NASS, who
sits on a bench higher than the others.

BOSS NASS
Yousa cannot bees hair. Dis army of
mackineeks up dare tis new weesong!

QUI-GON
That droid army is about to attack
the Naboo. We must warn them.

BOSS NASS
Wesa no like da Naboo! Un dey no
like uss-ens. Da Naboo tink day so
smarty den us-ens. Day tink day brains
so big.

OBI-WAN
After those droids take control of
the surface, they will come here and
take control of you.

BOSS NASS
No, mesa no tink so. Mesa scant talkie
witda Naboo, and no nutten talkie it
outlaunders. Dos mackineeks no comen
here! Dey not know of uss-en.

OBI-WAN
You and the Naboo form a symbiont
circle. What happens to noe of you
will affect the other. You must
understand this.

BOSS NASS
Wesa wish no nutten in yousa tings,
outlaunder, and wesa no care-n about
da Naboo.

QUI-GON
(waves his hand)
Then speed us on our way.

BOSS NASS
Wesa gonna speed yousaway.

QUI-GON
We need a transport.

BOSS NASS
Wesa give yousa una bongo. Da speedest
way tooda Naboo tis goen through da
core. Now go.

QUI-GON
Thank you for your help. We go in
peace.

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN turn to leave.

OBI-WAN
Master, whats a bongo?

QUI-GON
A transport, I hope.

The JEDI notice JAR JAR in chains to one side, waiting to
hear his verdict.

QUI-GON stops. JAR JAR gives him a forlorn look.

JAR JAR
Daza setten yous up. Goen through da
planet core is bad bombin!!

QUI-GON
Thank you, my friend.

JAR JAR
Ahhh...any hep hair would be hot.

JAR JAR's soulful look is counterpointed by a sheepish grin.

OBI-WAN
We are short of time, Master.

QUI-GON
We'll need a navigator to get us
through the planet's core. This Gungan
my be of help.

QUI-GON walks bact to BOSS NASS.

QUI-GON
What is to become of Jar Jar Binks
here?

BOSS NASS
Binkss brokeen the nocombackie law.
Hisen to be pune-ished.

QUI-GON
He has been a great help to us. I
hope the punishment will not be too
severe.

BOSS NASS
Pounded unto death.

JAR JAR
(grimacing)
Oooooh...Ouch!

OBI-WAN looks concerned. QUI-GON is thinking.

QUI-GON
We need a navigator to get us through
the planet's core. I have saved Jar
Jar Binks' life. He owes me what you
call a "life debt."

BOSS NASS
Binks. Yousa havena liveplay with
thisen hisen?

JAR JAR nods and joins the JEDI. QUI-GON waves his hand.

QUI-GON
Your gods demand that his life belongs
to me now.

BOSS NASS
Hisen live tis yos, outlauder. Begone
wit him.

JAR JAR
Count mesa outta dis! Better dead
here, den deader in da core...Yee
guds, whata mesa sayin?!

EXT. NABOO CITY - UNDERWATER - SUB (FX)

A strange little submarine propels itself away from the Otoh
Gunga, leaving the glow of the settlement in the distance.

INT. SUB COCKPIT - UNDERWATER

OBI-WAN in the co-pilots seat, JAR JAR guides the craft.

JAR JAR
Dis is nusen.

OBI-WAN
Master, why do you keep dragging
these pathetic life forms along with
us?...Here, take over.

JAR JAR
Hey, ho? Where wesa goen??

QUI-GON
You're the navigator.

JAR JAR
Yo dreamen mesa hopen...

QUI-GON
Just relax, the Force will guide
us...

JAR JAR
Ooooh, maxibig..."da Force"...Wellen,
dat smells stinkowiff.

JAR JAR veers the craft to the left and turns the lights on.
The coral vistas are grand, fantastic, and wonderous.

OBI-WAN
Why were you banished, Jar Jar?

JAR JAR
Tis a long tale, buta small part
wawdabe mesa... ooooh... aaaa...
clumsy.

OBI-WAN
They banished you because you're
clumsy?

As the little sub glides into the planet core, a large dark
shape begins to follow.

JAR JAR
Mesa cause-ed mabee one or duey lettal
bitty axadentes...yud-say boom da
gasser, un crash Der Bosses
heyblibber...den banished.

Suddenly there is a loud CRASH, and the little craft lurches
to one side.

QUI-GON looks around and sees a huge, lumimnous OPEE SEA
KILLER has hooked them with its long gooey tongue.

QUI-GON
Full speed ahead.

Instead of full ahead, JAR JAR jams the controls into reverse.
The sub flies into the mouth of the creature.

JAR JAR
Oooops.

OBI-WAN
Give me the controls.

OBI-WAN takes over the controls and the OPEE SEA KILLER
instantly releases the sub from its mouth.

JAR JAR
Wesa free!

As the sub zooms away they see a larger set of jaws, munching
on the hapless KILLER. The jaws belong to the incredible
SANDO AQUA MONSTER. The lights on the tiny sub begin to
flicker as they cruise deeper into the gloom.

QUI-GON
There's always a bigger fish.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE and RUNE stand before a hologram of DARTH SIDIOUS.

NUTE
The invasion is on schedule, My Lord.

DARTH SIDIOUS
Good. I have the Senate bogged down
in procedures. By the time this
incident comes up for a vote, they
will have no choice but to accept
your control of the system.

NUTE
The Queen has great faith the Senate
will side with her.

DARTH SIDIOUS
Queen Amidala is yound and naive.
You will find controlling her will
not be difficult. You have done well,
Viceroy.

NUTE
Thank you, My Lord.

DARTH SIDIOUS fades away.

RUNE
You didn't tell him about the missing
Jedi?

NUTE
No need to report that to him, until
we have something to report.

INT. SUB COCKPIT - UNDERWATER

Sparks are flying, and water is leaking into the cabin. The
sound of the power drive drops.

OBI-WAN
...we're losing power.

OBI-WAN is working with the sparking wires. JAR JAR panics.

QUI-GON
Stay calm. We're not in trouble yet.

JAR JAR
What yet? Monstairs out dare! Leak'n
in here, all'n sink'n, and nooooo
power! You nutsen! WHEN YOUSA TINK
WESA IN TROUBLE?!!!?

OBI-WAN
Power's back.

The lights flicker on, revealing an ugly COLO CLAW FISH right
in front of them.

JAR JAR
Monstairs back!

The large COLO CLAW FISH is surprised and rears back. The
sub turns around and speeds away.

JAR JAR
Wesa in trouble now??

QUI-GON
Relax.

QUI-GON puts his hand on JAR JAR's shoulder. JAR JAR relaxes
into a coma.

OBI-WAN
You overdid it.

The COLO CLAW FISH leaps after the fleeing sub as it shoots
out of the tunnel and into the waiting jaws of the SANDO
AQUA MONSTER.

OBI-WAN
This is not good!

JAR JAR regains consciousness.

JAR JAR
Wesa dead yet?? Oie Boie!

JAR JAR's eyes bulge, and he faints again. The sub narrowly
avoids the deadly teeth of the AQUA MONSTER. The COLO CLAW
FISH chasing them isn't so lucky. It is munched in half by
the larger predator. The little sub slips away.

QUI-GON
Head for that outcropping.

EXT. THEED - MAIN ROAD INTO THEED - DAY (FX)

The long columns of the DROID ARMY move down the main road
leading to Theed, the Naboo capital.

EXT. THEED PLAZA - DAY (FX)

As the QUEEN watches helplessly from a window in the palace,
a transport carrying NUTE and RUNE lands in Theed Plaza.
They exit the transport.

NUTE
Ah, victory!

INT. NABOO LAKE - UNDERWATER - SUB (FX)

The little sub continue to propel itself toward the surface,
which is brightly lit.

JAR JAR
Wesa dude it!

EXT. THEED - ESTUARY - DAY

Paradise. Billowing clouds frame a romantic body of water.
There is a LOUD RUSH OF BUBBLES, and a small sub bobs to the
surface.

The current in the estuary begins to pull the sub backward
into a fast moving river. OBI-WAN switches off the two
remaining bubble canopies.

QUI-GON stands up to look around. JAR JAR lets out a sigh of
relief.

JAR JAR
Wesa safe now.

QUI-GON
Get this thing started.

JAR JAR
Dissen berry good. Hey?

OBI-WAN
What is it?

JAR JAR looks back to where they're drifting. He sees they
are headed for a huge waterfall.

JAR JAR
What!!?? Oie boie!

OBI-WAN tries to start the engine. The long props behind the
sub slowly begin to rotate. OBI-WAN struggles until finally,
a few feet short of the waterfall, the sub starts and is
able to generate enough power to stop drifting backward in
the powerful current. The sub slowly moves forward. In the
background, QUI-GON takes a cable out of his belt. The engine
coughs and dies. They start drifting backward again. JAR JAR
panics.

JAR JAR
Iyiiyi, wesa die'n here, hey!

QUI-GON shoots the thin cable, and it wraps itself around a
railing on the shore. The sub pulls the cable taut, and the
little craft hangs precariously over the edge of the
waterfall.

QUI-GON
Come on...

OBI-WAN climbs out of the sub and pulls himself along the
cable. QUI-GON starts in after him.

QUI-GON
Come on, Jar Jar.

JAR JAR
No! Too scary!

OBI-WAN
Get up here!

JAR JAR
No a mighty no!

JAR JAR looks back and sees he is hanging over the waterfall.

JAR JAR
Oie boie...mesa comen. Mesa comen!

JAR JAR starts to climb out of the sub. OBI-WAN is on shore
and helps to pull QUI-GON out of the water.

OBI-WAN
That was close.

BATTLE DROID 3B3 (O.S.)
Drop your weapons!

The TWO JEDI turn around to see a BATTLE DROID standing in
front of them.

BATTLE DROID 3B3

JAR JAR
Whoa!!!

EXT. THEED - PALACE - DAY

The waterfalls of Theed sparkle in the noonday sun.

INT. THEED - PALACE THRONE ROOM - DAY

QUEEN AMIDALA, SIO BIBBLE, and FIVE OF HER HANDMAIDENS
(EIRTAE, YANE, PADME, RABE, SACHE) are surrounded by TWENTY
DROIDS. Capt. Panaka and FOUR NABOO GUARDS are also held at
gunpoint. NUTE and RUNE stand in the middle of the room.

BIBBLE
...how will you explain this invasion
to the Senate?

NUTE
The Naboo and the Federation will
forge a treaty that will legitimize
our occupation here. I've been assured
it will be ratified by the Senate.

AMIDALA
I will not co-operate.

NUTE
Now, now, your Highness. You are not
going to like what we have in store
for your people. In time, their
suffering will persuade you to see
our point of view. Commander.
(OOM-9 steps forward)
Process them.

OOM-9
Yes, sir!
(turns to his sergeant)
Take them to Camp Four.

The SERGEANT marches the GROUP out of the throne room.

EXT. PALACE - PLAZA - DAY

QUEEN AMIDALA, PADME, EIRTA, YANE, RABE, SACHE, Capt. Panaka,
SIO BIBBLE,

and FOUR GUARDS are led out of the palace by ten BATTLE
DROIDS. The plaza is filled with tanks and BATTLE DROIDS,
which they pass on their way to the detention camp.
Unbeknownst to them, QUI-GON, OBI-WAN, and JAR JAR sneak
across on a walkway above the plaza and jump from a balcony
to begin an attack to rescue the QUEEN.

FOUR BATTLE DROIDS are instantly cut down. MORE DROIDS move
forward and are also cut down by the JEDIS' flashing
lightsabres until there is only the DROID SERGEANT left. The
SERGEANT starts to run but is pulled back to QUI-GON by the
Force, until finally he is dispatched by the JEDI.

JAR JAR
Yousa guys bombad!

QUEEN AMIDALA and the OTHERS are amazed. JAR JAR is getting
used to this. They move between two buildings.

QUI-GON
Your Highness, we are the Ambassadors,
for the Supreme Chancellor.

BIBBLE
Your negotiations seem to have failed,
Ambassador.

QUI-GON
The negotiations never took place.
Your Highness, we must make contact
with the republic.

Capt. Panaka steps forward.

CAPT. PANAKA
They've knocked out all our
communications.

QUI-GON
Do you have transports?

CAPT. PANAKA
In the main hanger. This way.

THEY disappear down an alleyway as the ALARMS are sounded

INT. CENTRAL HANGER - HALLWAY - DAY

Capt. Panaka cracks open a side door to the central hanger.
QUI-GON looks in over his shoulder. OBI-WAN, JAR JAR, and
the rest of the group are behind him. They see several Naboo
spacecraft guarded by about FIFTY BATTLE DROIDS. ALARMS can
be heard in the distance.

CAPT. PANAKA
There are too many of them.

QUI-GON
That won't be a problem.
(to Amidala)
Your Highness, under the
circumstances, Isuggest you come to
Coruscant with us.

AMIDALA
Thank you, Ambassador, but my place
is here with my people.

QUI-GON
They will kill you if you stay.

BIBBLE
They wouldn't dare.

CAPT. PANAKA
They need her to sign a treaty to
make this invasion of theirs legal.
They can't afford to kill her.

QUI-GON
The situation here is not what it
seems. There is something else behind
all this, Your Highness. There is no
logic in the Federation's move here.
My feelings tell me they will destroy
you.

BIBBLE
Please, Your Highness, reconsider.
Our only hope is for the Senate to
side with us... Senator Palpatine
will need your help.

CAPT. PANAKA
Getting past their blockade is
impossible, Your Highness.
Any attempt to escape will be
dangerous.

BIBBLE
Your Highness, I will stay here and
do what I can...They will have to
retain the Council of Governors in
order to maintain control. But you
must leave...

The QUEEN turns to PADME and EIRTAE.

AMIDALA
Either choice presents a great
risk...to all of us...

PADME
We are brave, Your Highness.

QUI-GON
If you are to leave, Your Highness,
it must be now.

AMIDALA
Then, I will plead our case before
the Senate.
(to Bibble)
Be careful, Governor.

INT. CENTRAL HANGER - DAY

The door opens to the main hanger. QUI-GON, OBI-WAN, JAR
JAR, Capt. Panaka, TWO GUARDS, and THREE HANDMAIDENS (PADME,
EIRTAE, RABE), followed by QUEEN AMIDALA, head for a sleek
chrome spacecraft. SIO BIBBLE, YANE and SACHE stay behind.
The HANDMAIDENS begin to cry.

CAPT. PANAKA
We need to free those pilots.

Capt. Panaka points to TWENTY GUARDS, GROUND CREW, and PILOTS
held in a corner by SIX BATTLE DROIDS.

OBI-WAN
I'll take care of that.

OBI-WAN heads toward the group of captured pilots.

QUI-GON and the QUEEN, Capt. Panaka, JAR JAR, and the rest
Of the GROUP approach the GUARDS at the ramp of the Naboo
craft.

GUARD DROID
Where are you going?

QUI-GON
I'm Ambassador for the Supreme
Chancellor, and I'm taking those
people to Coruscant.

DROID GUARD
You're under arrest!

The DROID GUARD draws his weapon, but before any of the DROIDS
can fire, they are cut down. OTHER GUARDS run to their aid.
OBI-WAN attacks the GUARDS around the PILOTS. QUI-GON stands,
fighting off DROIDS as the OTHERS rush on board the
spacecraft. OBI-WAN, the FREED PILOTS (including RIC OLIE),
GUARDS and GROUND CREW MEMBERS rush on board the ship. The
OTHER PILOTS and GUARDS race to SIO BIBBLR. After everyone
has made it onto the ship, QUI-GONjumps on board. ALARMS
sound. MORE DROIDS rush into the hanger and fire as the ship
takes off.

EXT. THEED - HANGER ENTRY - DAY (FX)

The ship exits the hanger. BATTLE DROIDS standing in the
hanger shoot at them.

EXT. SPACE (FX)

The sleek spacecraft speeds away from the planet of Naboo
and heads for the deadly Federation blockade.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT

The PILOT, RIC OLIE, navigates toward the massive battleship,
QUI-GON and Capt. Panaka watch.

RIC OLIE
...our communications are still
jammed.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - DROID HOLD

JAR JAR is led into a low, cramped doorway by OBI-WAN.

OBI-WAN
Now stay here, and keep out of
trouble.

OBI-WAN closes the door. JAR JAR looks around and sees a
long row of five short, dome-topped ASTRO DROIDS (R-2 units).
The all look alike, except for thier paint color, and they
all seem to be shut down.

JAR JAR
Ello, boyos.
(no response)
Disa wanna longo trip...hey?

JAR JAR taps a bright red R-2 UNIT on the head, and its head
pops up a bit. He lets out a gasp as he lifts the head.

JAR JAR
Tis opens?...Oooops!

Many springs and things come flying out.

JAR JAR quickly closes it again, very embarrassed.

JAR JAR
Yoi! Just yoken!

EXT. SPACE BATTLE

The Naboo Spacecraft, surrounded by explosions, head even
closer to the massive Federation battle ships.

INT.NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT

RIC OLIE
There's the blockade, hang on.

Alarm sounds fill the Cockpit as Obi-Wan enters.

RIC OLIE
The shield generator's been hit. Our
deflector shields can't withstand
this. Power down... Hopefully the
repair droids can fix it.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - DROID HOLD

The lights go on, and all the Droids are activated. Droids
rush to an exterior air lock, except for the red one, who
runs into a wall. JAR JAR holds on for dear life.

One Little blue Astro Droid, who is especially dedicated,
lets out a loud screech as he passes JAR JAR, causing the
Gungan to jump.

The little Droid enters an air lock and is ejected onto the
exterior of the ship.

CAPT. PANAKA
Stay on course!

QUI-GON
Do you have a cloaking device?

CAPT. PANAKA
No, this is not a warship, we have
no weapons. We're a non- violent
people, that is why the Federation
was brave enough to attack us.

RIC OLIE
We won't make it. The shields are
gone.

EXT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - FEDERATION BATTLESHIP

The Droids pop onto the exterior of the Naboo Spacecraft;
the ship races across the surface of the massive Federation
Battleship, as its guns blast two Astro Droids to pieces.

OBI-WAN
We're losing droids fast.

CAPT. PANAKA
If they can't get those shield
generators fixed we will be sitting
ducks.

RIC OLIE
The shields are gone.

EXT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - ENGINES

The Federation Battleship blows away one more Atro Droid.
The blue Droid connects some wires, causing sparks to fly.

RIC OLIE
Powers back! That little droid did
it. He bypassed the main power drive.
Deflector shield up, at maximum.

The lone BLUE DROID finishes his repairs and goes back into
the ship. The Naboo spacecraft races away from the Federation
battleship.

RIC OLIE
There's not enough power to get us
to Coruscant...the hyperdrive is
leaking.

QUI-GON
We'll have to land somewhere to refuel
and repair the ship.

QUI-GON studies a star chart on a monitor.

OBI-WAN
Here, Master. Tatooine... It's small,
out of the way, poor... The Trade
Federation has no presence there.

CAPT. PANAKA
How can you be sure?

QUI-GON
It's controlled by the Hutts...

CAPT. PANAKA
The Hutts??

OBI-WAN
It's risky... but there's no
alternative.

CAPT. PANAKA
You can't take Her Royal Highness
there! The Hutts are gangsters... If
they discovered her...

QUI-GON
...It would be no different than if
we landed on a system controlled by
the Federation... except the Hutts
aren't looking for her, which gives
us an advantage.

CPATAIN PANAKA takes a deep breath in frustration.

EXT. SPACE - NABOO SPACECRAFT (FX)

The Naboo spacecraft races away.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

NUTE and RUNE sit around a conference table with a hologram
of DARTH SIDIOUS.

NUTE
We control all the cities in the
North and are searching for any other
settlements...

DARTH SIDIOUS
Destroy all high-ranking officials,
Viceroy... slowly... quietly. And
Queen Amidala, has she signed the
treaty?

NUTE
She has disappeared, My Lord. One
Naboo cruiser got pat the blockade.

DARTH SIDIOUS
Viceroy, find her! I want that treaty
signed.

NUTE
My Lord, it's impossible to locate
the ship. It's out of our range.

DARTH SIDIOUS
...not for a Sith...

A second SITH LORD appears behind DARTH SIDIOUS.

DARTH SIDIOUS
...Viceroy, this is my apprentice.
Lord Maul. He will find your lost
ship.

NUTE
Yes, My Lord.

The hologram fades off.

NUTE
This is getting out of hand...now
there are two of them.

RUNE
We should not have made this bargain.
What will happen when the Jedi become
aware of these Sith Lords?

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - QUEENS CHAMBERS

QUI-GON, OBI-WAN, Capt. Panaka, and the LITTLE BLUE DROID
stand before QUEEN AMIDALA and her THREE HANDMAIDENS, PADME,
EIRTAE and RABE.

CAPT. PANAKA
...An extremely well put together
little droid. Without a doubt, it
saved the ship, as well as our lives.

AMIDALA
It is to be commended... what is its
number?

The LITTLE BLUE DROID lets out a series of bleeps. Capt.
Panaka leans over and scrapes some dirt off of the side of
the DROID and read the number:

CAPT. PANAKA
R2-D2, Your Highness.

AMIDALA
Thank you, Artoo Detoo. You have
proven to be very loyal... Padme!

PADME bows before the QUEEN.

AMIDALA
Clean this droid up the best you
can. It deserves our gratitude...
(to Panaka)
Continue, Captain.

Capt. Panaka looks nervously to OBI-WAN and QUI-GON.

QUI-GON
Yor Highness, we are heading for a
remote planet called Tatooine. It is
a system far beyond the reach of the
Trade Federation. There we will be
able to make needed repairs, then
travel on to Coruscant.

CAPT. PANAKA
Your Highness, Tatooine is very
dangerous. It's controlled by an
alliance of gangs called the Hutts.
I do not agree with the Jedi on this.

QUI-GON
You must trust my judgement, Your
Highness.

AMIDALA and PADME exchange looks. PADME moves next to the
DROID.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - MAIN AREA

PADME sits in the Main Area, cleaning R2-D2, the brave little
Astra Droid. JAR JAR pops out of an open door.

JAR JAR
Hidoe!

Both PADME and ARTOO jump and let out a little SCREAM. The
Gungan is embarrassed that he frightened them.

JAR JAR
Sorry, nomeanen to scare yousa.

PADME
That's all right.

JAR JAR
I scovered oily back dare. Needen
it?

PADME
Thank you. This little guy is quite
a mess.

JAR JAR hands PADME the oil can.

JAR JAR
Mesa Ja Ja Binksss...

PADME
I'm Padme, I attend Her Highness,
You're a Gungan, aren't you?
(Jar Jar nods)
How did you end up here with us?

JAR JAR
Me no know... mesa day starten pitty
okeyday witda brisky morning munchen.
Den boom... getten berry skeered, un
grabbed dat Jedi, and before mesa
knowen it... pow! Mesa here.
(he shrugs)
...getten berry berry skeered.

ARTOO BEEPS a sympathetic beep.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT

OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, and Capt. Panaka watch over RIC OLIE'S
shoulder. A large yellow planet appears directly ahead. RIC
OLIE searches his scopes.

OBI-WAN
That's it. Tatooine.

RIC OLIE
There's a settlement...a spaceport,
looks like.

QUI-GON
Land near the outskirts. We don't
want to attract any attention.

EXT. TATOOINE - SPACE (FX)

The ship heads toward the planet of Tatooine.

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The Naboo spacecraft lands in the desert in a swirl of dust.
The spaceport of Mos Espa is seen in the distance.

EXT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - MAIN AREA

OBI-WAN is hoisting the hyperdrive out of a floor panel. JAR
JAR rushes up to him and falls to his knees.

JAR JAR
Obi-Wan, sire, pleeese, no mesa go!

OBI-WAN
Sorry, Qui-Gon's right. You'll make
things less obvious.

JAR JAR walks back to ARTOO in the hallway as QUI-GON (dressed
as a farmer) enters the main area.

OBI-WAN
The Hyperdrive generator is gone. We
will need a new one.

QUI-GON moves closer to OBI-WAN and speaks quietly to him.

QUI-GON
Don't let them send ant transmissions.
Be wary... I sense a disturbance in
the Force.

OBI-WAN
I fell it also, Master.

QUI-GON goes into the hallway to meet up with ARTOO and JAR
JAR. They head to the exit ramp.

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - SPACESHIP - DAY

They start their trek across the desert toward the city of
Mos Espa. In the distance, a strange looking caravan makes
its way toward the spaceport.

JAR JAR
Dis sun doen murder tada skin.

From the spaceship, Capt. Panaka and PADME run toward them.

CAPT. PANAKA
Wait!

QUI-GON stops as they catch up. PADME is dresses in rough
peasant's garb.

CAPT. PANAKA
Her Highness commands you to take
her handmaiden with you. She wishes
for her to observe the local...

QUI-GON
No more commands from Her Highness
today, Captain. This spaceport is
not going to be pleasant...

CAPT. PANAKA
The Queen wishes it. She is curious
about this planet.

PADME
I've been trained in defense... I
can take care of myself.

CAPT. PANAKA
Don't make me go back and tell her
you refuse.

QUI-GON
I don't have time to argue. But this
is not a good idea. Stay close to
me.

He gives PADME a stern look.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY

The little GROUP walks down the main street of Mos Espa.
They pass dangerous looking citizens of all types. PADME
looks around in awe at this exotic enviroment.

QUI-GON
...moisture farms for the most part,
but also a few indigenous tribes and
scavengers. The few spaceports like
this one are havens for those who do
not wish to be found...

PADME
....like us.

JAR JAR is in a constant state of panic.

ARTOO whistles along, with perfect confidence.

JAR JAR
Dissen berry berry bad.
(steps in ooze)
Ooooh...icky...icky...goo.

EXT. MOS ESPA - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY

The GROUP comes to a little plaza surrounded by several junk
spaceship dealers.

QUI-GON
We'll try one of the smaller dealers.

They head for a little junk shop that has a huge pile of
broken spaceships stacked up behind it.

INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY

QUI-GON, JAR JAR, PADME, and ARTOO enter the dingy junk shop
and are greeted by WATTO, a pudgy blue alien who flies on
short little wings like a hummingbird.

WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Hi chuba da naga?
(What do you want?)

QUI-GON
I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian.

WATTO
Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots
of that. What kinda junk?
(subtitled)
Peedenkel! Naba dee unko
(Boy, get in here! Now!)


QUI-GON
My droid here has a readout of what
I need.

A disheveled boy, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, runs in from the junk
yard. He is about nine years old, very dirty, and dressed
in rags. WATTO raises a hand, and ANAKIN flinches.

WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Coona tee-tocky malia?
(What took you so long?)


ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Mel tassa cho-passa...
(I was cleaning the bin like you...)

ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)


WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Chut-Chut! Ganda doe wallya.
(Never mind! Watch the store)
Me dwana no bata.
(I've got some selling to do here.)
(to Gui-Gon)
Soooo, let me take- a thee out back.
Ni you'll find what you need.

ARTOO and QUI-GON follow WATTO toward the junk yard, leaving
JAR JAR with PADME and the young boy ANAKIN. JAR JAR picks
up a gizmo, trying to figure out its purpose. QUI-GON takes
the part out of his hand and puts it back.

QUI-GON
Don't touch anything.

JAR JAR makes a rude face to QUI-GON's back and sticks out
his long tongue.

ANAKIN sits on the counter, pretending to clean a part,
staring at PADME.

She is the most beautiful creaure he has ever seen in his
life. PADME is a little embarrassed by his stare, but she
musters up an amused smile.

Finally, he gets the courage to speak.

ANAKIN
Are you an angel?

PADME
What?

ANAKIN
An angel. I've heard the deep space
pilots talk about them. They live on
the Moons of Iego I thimk. They are
the most beautiful creatures in the
universe. They are good and kind,
and so pretty they make even the
most hardened spice pirate cry.

PADME looks at him, not knowing what to say. PADME : I've
never heard of angels.

ANAKIN
You must be one...maybe you just
don't know it.

PADME
You're a funny little boy. How do
you know so much?

ANAKIN
Since I was very little, three, I
think. My Mom and I were sold to
Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us,
betting on the Podraces, to Watto,
who's a lot better master than
Gardulla, I think.

PADME
You're... a slave?

ANAKIN looks at PADME defiantly.

ANAKIN
I am a person! My name is Anakin.

PADME
I'm sorry. I don't fully understand.
(looking around)
This is a strange world to me.

ANAKIN studies her intently.

ANAKIN
You are a strange girl to me.

JAR JAR pushes the nose on what appears to be a LITTLE DROID,
and it instantly comes to life, grows legs and arms, and
starts marching around, knocking over everything. JAR JAR
hold on but can't stop it.

ANAKIN
Hit the nose!

JAR JAR hits the nose, and the DROID collapses back into its
original state. ANAKIN and PADME laugh. ANAKIN watches PADME
straighten her hair.

EXT. WATTO'S JUNK YARD - BEHIND SHOP - DAY

WATTO reads a small portable monitor he is holding. He stands
before a hyperdrive.

WATTO
...Here it is...a T-14 hyperdrive
generator!! Thee in luck, I'm the
only one hereabouts who has one...but
thee might as well buy a new ship.
It would be cheaper, I think...Sying
of which, how's thee going to pay
for all this?

QUI-GON
I have 20,000 Republic dataries.

WATTO
Republic credits?!? Republic credits
are no good out here. I need something
more real...

QUI-GON
I don't have anything else.
(raising his hand))
But credits will do fine.

WATTO
No they won'ta.

QUI-GON, using his mind power, waves his hand again.

QUI-GON
Credits will do fine.

WATTO
No, they won'ta. What you think you're
some kinda Jedi, waving your hand
around like that? I'm a Toydarian.
Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only
money. No money, no parts! No deal!
And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive,
I promise you that.

INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY

JAR JAR pulls a part out of a stack of parts to inspect it,
and they all come tumblimg down. He struggles to catch them,
only to knock more down.

ANAKIN and PADME are oblivious.

ANAKIN
...wouldn't have lasted long if I
weren't so good at fixing things.
I'm making my own droid...

QUI-GON hurries into the shop, followed by ARTOO.

QUI-GON
We're leaving.

JAR JAR follows QUI-GON. PADME gives ANAKIN a loving look.

PADME
I'm glad I met you, ...ah...

ANAKIN
...Anakin.

PADME
Anakin.

ANAKIN
Anakin Skywalker.

PADME
Padme Naberrie.

PADME turns, and ANAKIN looks sad as he watches her leave.

ANAKIN
I'm glad I met you too.

WATTO enters the junk yard, shaking his head.

WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Ootmians! Tinka me chasa hopoe ma
booty na nolia.
(Outlanders! They think because we
live so far from the center, we don't
know nothing.)

ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
La lova num botaffa.
(They seemed nice to me.)

WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Fweepa niaga. Tolpa da bunky dunko.
(Clean the racks, then you can go
home.)

ANAKIN lets out a "yipee" and runs out the back.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - ALCOVE - DAY

QUI-GON, ARTOO, JAR JAR, and PADME have found a quiet spot
between two buildings. The busy street beyond is filled with
dangerous looking creatures. QUI-GON is talking on his com-
link, while JAR JAR nervously watches the street. OBI-WAN is
in the main hold of the Naboo craft.

QUI-GON
...Obi-Wan, you're sure there isn't
anything of value left on board?

OBI-WAN (V.O.)
A few containers of supplies, the
Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough
for you to barter with. Not in the
ammounts you're talking about.

QUI-GON
All right. Another solution will
present itself. I'll check back.

QUI-GON puts his comlink away and starts out into the main
street. JAR JAR grabs his arm.

JAR JAR
Noah gain...da beings hereabouts
cawazy. Wesa be robbed un crunched.

QUI-GON
Not likely. We have nothing of value,
that's our problem.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - MARKET - DAY

QUI-GON, PADME, JAR JAR, and ARTOO move out into the street.
JAR JAR is walking behind the others. They walk by an outdoor
cafe filled with a rough gang of aliens, one of which is
especially ugly, SEBULBA, a spider-like creature. JAR JAR
stops for a moment in front of a stall selling dead frogs
hanging on a wire. He looks around to see if anyone is
looknig, then sticks out his tongue, and gets hold of one,
pulling it into his mouth.

Unfortunately, the frog is tied tightly to the wire. The
vendor suddenly appears.

VENDOR
Hey, that will be seven truguts!!

JAR JAR opens his mouth in surprise, and the frog snaps away,
ricochets around the market, and lands in Sebulba's soup,
splashing him. As JAR JAR moves away from the VENDOR, SEBULBA
jumps up on the table and grabs the hapless Gungan.

SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Chuba!!
(You!!)

JAR JAR
Who, mesa??

SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Ni chuba na??
(Is this yours??)

SEBULBA holds the frog up to the Gungan threateningly. SEVERAL
OTHER CREATURES start to gather. SEBULBA shoves JAR JAR to
the ground. The Gungan desperately tries to scramble to
safety.

JAR JAR
(to himself)
Why mesa always da one??

ANAKIN (O.S.)
Because you're afraid.

JAR JAR turns to see ANAKIN pushing his way next to him. The
boy stands up to SEBULBA in a very self-assured way.

ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Chess ko, Sebulba...Coo wolpa tooney
rana.
(Careful, Sebulba...This one's very
connected.)


SEBULBA stops his assault on JAR JAR and turns to ANAKIN.

SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Tooney rana nu pratta dunko, shag.
(Connected?? Whada you mean, slave?)

ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Oh da Hutt...cha porko ootman
geesa...me teesa rodda co pana pee
choppa chawa.
(As in Hutt...big time outlander,
this one... I'd hate to see you diced
before we race again.)


SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Neek me chowa, wermo, mo killee ma
klounkee
(Next time we race, wermo, it will
be the end of you!)
Una noto wo shag, me wompity du pom
pom.
(If you weren't a slave, I'd squash
you right now.)


SEBULBA turns away.

ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Eh, chee bana do mullee ra.
(Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to
pay for me.)


QUI-GON, PADME and ARTOO arrive.

ANAKIN
Hi! Your buddy here was about to be
turned into orange goo. He picked a
fight with a Dug. An especially
dangerous Dug called Sebulba.

JAR JAR
Nosir, nosir. Mesa hate crunchen.
Dat's da last ting mesa wanten.

QUI-GON
Nevertheless, the boy is right...
you were heading for trouble. Thank
you, my young friend.

PADME looks at ANAKINB and smiles; he smiles back. They start
walking down the crowded street.

JAR JAR
Mesa doen nutten!

ANAKIN
Fear attracts the fearful. He was
trying to overcome his fear by
squashing you... be less afraid.

PADME
And that works for you.

ANAKIN
To a point.
(he smiles)

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - SPACESHIP - DAY

OBI-WAN stands in front of the Naboo spacecraft as the wind
picks up and begins to whip at his robe. Capt. Panaka exits
the ship and joins him.

OBI-WAN
This storm's going to slow them down.

CAPT. PANAKA
It looks pretty bad. We'd better
seal the ship.

Capt. Panaka'S comlink sounds off.

CAPT. PANAKA
Yes?
(listens)
We'll be right there.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - FRUIT STAND - DAY

ANAKIN and the GROUP stop at a fruit stand run by a jolly,
but very poor, old lady named JIRA.

ANAKIN
How are you feeling today, Jira?

JIRA
The heat's never been kind to me,
you know, Annie!

ANAKIN
Guess what? I've found that cooling
unit I've been searching for.

It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no
time, I promise.

JIRA
You're a fine boy, Annie.

ANAKIN
I'll take four pallies today.
(to Padme)
You'll like these...

ANAKIN reaches in his pocket and comes up with three coins.
He drops one.

QUI-GON picks it up, revealing for a moment, his lightsabre.

ANAKIN
Whoops, I thought I had more... Make
thgat three, I'm not hungry.

The wind picks up. SHOP OWNERS are starting to close up their
shops as JIRA gives them their pallies.

JIRA
Gracious, my bones are aching...
storm's coming on, Annie. You'd better
get home quick.

ANAKIN
(to QUI-GON)
Do you have shelter?

QUI-GON
We'll head back to our ship.

ANAKIN
Is it far?

PADME
On the outskirts.

ANAKIN
You'll never reach the outskirts in
time... sandstorms are very, very
dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!

The GROUP follows ANAKIN as he rushes down the windy street.

EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - STREET - SANDSTORM - DAY

The wind is blowing hard as QUI-GON, JAR JAR, and PADME follow
ANAKIN down the street and into a slave hovel.

INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY

QUI-GON, JAR JAR, ARTOO, and PADME enter a small living space.

ANAKIN
Mom! Mom! I'm home.

JAR JAR
Dissen cozy.

Anakin's mother, SHMI SKYWALKER, a warm, friendly woman of
forty, enters from her work area and is startled to see the
room full of people.

SHMI
Oh, my!! Annie, what's this?

ANAKIN
These are my friends, Mom. This is
Padme, and...gee, I don't know any
of your names.

QUI-GON
I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is Jar
Jar Binks. ARTOO lets out a little
beep.

PADME
...and our droid, Artoo-Detoo.

ANAKIN
I'm building a droid. You wanna see?

SHMI
Anakin! Why are they here?

ANAKIN
A sandstorm, Mom. Listen.

The wind HOWLS outside.

QUI-GON
Your son was kind enough to offer us
shelter.

ANAKIN
Come on! Let me show you Threepio!

ANAKIN leads PADME into the other room. ARTOO follows, beeping
all the way.

QUI-GON takes five small capsules from his utility belt and
hands them to SHMI.

QUI-GON
I have enough food for a meal.

SHMI
Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.
I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never
get used to Anakin's surprises.

QUI-GON
He's a very special boy.

SHMI looks at him as if he's discovered a secret.

SHMI
Yes, I know.

INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - BEDROOM - DAY

ANAKIN shows off his ANDROID, which is lying on his workbench.
There is one eye in the head; the body, arms, and legs have
no outer coverings.

ANAKIN
Isn't he great?! He's not finished
yet.

PADME
He's wonderful!

ANAKIN
You reall like him? He's a protocol
droid...to help Mom. Watch!

ANAKIN pushes a switch, and the DROID sits up. Anakin rushes
around, grabs an eye and puts it in one of the sockets.

THREEPIO
How do you do, I am See-Threepio,
Human Cyborg Relations. How might I
serve you?

PADME
He's perfect.

ANAKIN
When the storm is over, you can see
my racer. I'm building a Podracer!

PADME smiles at his enthusiasm. ARTOO lets out a flurry of
beeps and whistles.

THREEPIO
I beg your pardon... what do you
mean I'm naked?

ARTOO BEEPS

THREEPIO
My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness.
How embarrassing!

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - QUEENS CHAMBERS

AMIDALA, EIRTAE, RABE, and OBI-WAN watch a very bad
transmission of a SIO BIBBLE hologram.

BIBBLE
...cut off all food supplies until
you return... the death toll is
catastrophic... we must bow to their
wishes, Your Highness...Please tell
us what to do! If you can hear us,
Your Highness, you must contact me...

AMIDALA looks upset...almost nervous.

OBI-WAN
It's a trick. Send no reply... Send
no transmission of any kind.

INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY

QUI-GON listens to his comlink. OBI-WAN is in the cockpit.

OBI-WAN
...the Queen is upset... but absolutly
no reply was sent.

QUI-GON
It sounds like bait to establish a
connection trace.

OBI-WAN
What if it is true and the people
are dying?

QUI-GON
Either way, we're running out of
time.

EXT. CORUSCANT - BALCONY OVERLOOKING CITY - NIGHT

DARTH SIDIOUS and DARTH MAUL look out over the vast city.

DARTH MAUL
Tatooine is sparsely populated. If
the trace was correct, I will find
them quickly, Master.

DARTH SIDIOUS
Move against the Jedi first... you
will then have no difficulty taking
the Queen back to Naboo, where she
will sign the treaty.

DARTH MAUL
At last we will reveal ourselves to
the Jedi. At last we will have
revenge.

DARTH SIDIOUS
You have been well trained, my young
apprentice, they will be no match
for you. It is too late for them to
stop us now. Everything is going as
planned. The Republic will soon be
in my command.

The hologram of DARTH MAUL fades off as DARTH SIDIOUS looks
out over the city.

EXT. MOS ESPA - SANDSTORM - DAY

The giant sandstorm engulfs the town, including the Naboo
spaceship on the outskirts of the city center, where Watto's
ship is; and the slave quarters, where drifts of sand begin
building up against Anakin's house.

INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY

QUI-GON, ANAKIN, SHMI, JAR JAR, and PADME are seated around
a makeshift table, having dinner as the wind howls outside.

JAR JAR slurps his soup rather loudly. Everyone looks at
him. He turns a little brighter red.

SHMI
All slaves have transmitters placed
inside their bodies somewhere.

ANAKIN
I've been working on a scanner to
try and locate them, but no luck.

SHMI
Any attempt to escape...

ANAKIN
...and they blow you up...poof!

PADME and JAR JAR are horrified.

JAR JAR
How wude.

PADME
I can't believe there is still slavery
in the galaxy. The Republic's anti-
slavery laws...

SHMI
The Republic doesn't exist out here...
we must survive on our own.

An awkward silence. ANAKIN attempts to end the embarrassment.

ANAKIN
Have you ever seen a Podrace?

PADME shakes her head no. She notices the concern of SHMI.
JAR JAR snatches some food from a bowl at the other end of
the table with his tongue.

QUI-GON gives him a dirty look.

QUI-GON
They have Podracing on Malastare.
Very fast, very dangerous.

ANAKIN
I'm the only human who can do it.

SHMI looks at her son.

ANAKIN
Mom, what? I'm not bragging. It's
true. Watto says he's never heard of
a human doing it.

QUI-GON
You must have Jedi reflexes if you
race Pods.

ANAKIN smiles. JAR JAR attempts to snare another bit of food
from the bowl with his tongue, but QUI-GON, in a flash, grabs
it between his thumb and forefinger. JAR JAR is startled.

QUI-GON
Don't do that again.

JAR JAR tries to acknowledge with some silly mumbling. QUI-
GON lets go of the tongue, and it snaps back into JAR JAR's
mouth.

ANAKIN
I... I was wondering... something...

QUI-GON
What?

ANAKIN
Well, ahhh... you're a Jedi Knight,
aren't you?

QUI-GON
What makes you think that?

ANAKIN
I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi
carry that kind of weapon.

QUI-GON leans back and slowly smiles.

QUI-GON
Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it
from him.

ANAKIN
I don't think so... No one can kill
a Jedi Knight.

QUI-GON
I wish that were so...

ANAKIN
I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came
back here and freed all the slaves...
have you come to free us?

QUI-GON
No, I'm afraid not...

ANAKIN
I think you have... why else would
you be here?

QUI-GON thinks for a moment.

QUI-GON
I can see there's no fooling you...
(leans forward)
You mustn't let anyone know about
us... we're on our way to Coruscant,
the central system in the Republic,
on a very important mission, and it
must be kept secret.

ANAKIN
Coruscant... wow... how did you end
up here in the outer rim?

PADME
Our ship was damaged, and we're
stranded here until we can repair
it.

ANAKIN
I can help! I can fix anything!

QUI-GON
I believe you can, but our first job
is to aquire the parts we need...

JAR JAR
Wit no-nutten mula to trade.

PADME
These junk dealers must have a
weakness of some kind.

SHMI
Gambling. Everything here revolves
around betting on those awful races.

QUI-GON
Podracing... Greed can be a powerful
ally.. if it's used properly.

ANAKIN
I've built a racer! It's the fastest
ever... There's a big race tomorrow,
on Boonta Eve. You could enter my
pod. It's all but finished...

SHMI
Anakin, settle down. Watto won't let
you...

ANAKIN
Watto doesn't know I've built it.
(to Qui-Gon))
You could make him think it's your's,
and you could get him to let me pilot
it for you.

QUI-GON looks to SHMI. She is upset.

SHMI
I don't want you to race, Annie...
It's awful. I die every time Watto
makes you do it.

ANAKIN
But Mom, I love it... and they need
help... they're in trouble. The prize
money would more than pay for the
parts they need.

JAR JAR
Wesa ina pitty bad goo.

GUI-GON
Your mother's right. Is there anyone
friendly to the Republic who might
be able to help us?

SHMI shakes her head no.

ANAKIN
We have to help them, Mom...you said
that the biggest problem in the
universe is no one helps each other...

SHMI
Anakin, don't...

JAR JAR belches. There is silence for a moment as they eat.

PADME
I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put
your son in danger. We will find
another way...

SHMI
No, Annie's right, there is no other
way... I may not like it, but he can
help you... he was meant to help
you.

ANAKIN
Is that a yes? That is a yes!

The storm continues to rage outside the slave hovel.

EXT. MOS ESPA - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY

The storm has passed. VENDORS and STREET PEOPLE clean up the
mess and rebuild their food stalls. JAR JAR sits on a box
in front of Watto's parts shop, watching all the activity
with growing nervousness. ARTOO is standing next to him.
PADME stops QUI-GON as he is about to enter the shop.

PADME
Are you sure about this? Trusting
our fate to a boy we hardly know.
The Queen will not approve.

QUI-GON
The Queen does not need to know.

PADME
Well, I don't approve.

QUI-GON turns and starts into the shop.

INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY

WATTO and ANAKIN are in the middle of an animated discussion
in Huttese.

WATTO
Patta go bolla!

ANAKIN
No batta!

WATTO
Pedunky. Maa kee cheelya.

ANAKIN
Bayno, Bayno!

QUI-GON walks in, and WATTO and ANAKIN join him.

WATTO
The boy tells me you wanta sponser
hi insa race. You can't afford parts.
How can you do this? Not on Republic
credits, I think.
(he laughs)

QUI-GON
My ship will be the entry fee.

QUI-GON pulls a small object that looks like a watch out of
his pocket, and a hologram of the Naboo spacecraft appears
about a foot long in front of WATTO. He studies it.

WATTO
Not bad... not bad... a Nubian.

QUI-GON
It's in good order, except for the
parts we need.

WATTO
...but what would the boy ride? He
smashed up my Pod in the last race.
It will take some time to fix it.

ANAKIN is embarrassed and steps forward.

ANAKIN
Ahhhh....it wasn't my fault really...
Sebulba flashed me with his vent
ports. I actually saved the Pod...
mostly.

WATTO
(laughing))
That you did. The boy is good, no
doubts there.

QUI-GON
I have... acquired a Pod in a game
of chance. "The fastest ever built."

WATTO
I hope you didn't kill anyone I know
for it.
(laughs))
So, you supply the Pod and the entry
fee; I supply the boy. We split the
winnings fifty-fifty, I think.

QUI-GON
Fifty-fifty!?! If it's going to be
fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the
cash for the entry. If we win, you
keep all the winnings, minus the
cost of the parts I need... If we
lose, you keep my ship.

WATTO thinks about this. ANAKIN tries not to be nervous.

QUI-GON
Either way, you win.

WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Deal! Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya.
(Your friend is a follish one,
methinks.)

EXT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - TATOOINE DESERT - DAY

OBI-WAN stands outside the Naboo spacecraft, speaking into
his comlink.

QUI-GON is on the back porch of the hovel.

OBI-WAN
What if this plan fails, Master? We
could be stuck here for a long time.

QUI-GON (V.O.)
A ship without a power supply will
not get us anywhere, and there is
something about this boy...

EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - PORCH - DAY

QUI-GON puts the comlink away as SHMI comes onto the porch
PADME, ANAKIN, JAR JAR, and ARTOO work on the engines of the
Podracer in the courtyard below.

QUI-GON
You should be proud of your son. He
gives without any thought of reward.

SHMI
He knows nothing of greed. He has...

QUI-GON
He has special powers.

SHMI
Yes...

QUI-GON
He can see things before they happen.
That's why he appears to have such
quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait.

SHMI
He deserves better than a slave's
life.

QUI-GON
The Force is unusally strong with
him, that much is clear. Who was his
father?

SHMI
There was no father, that I know
of... I carried him, I gave him
birth... I can't explain what
happened. Can you help him?

QUI-GON
I'm afraid not. Had he been born in
the Republic, we would have identified
him early, and he would have become
Jedi, no doubt...he has the way.
But it's too late for him now, he's
too old.

EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - BACK YARD - DAY

KITSTER (a young boy about Anakin's age), SEEK (a boy of
ten), AMEE (a girl of six), and WALD (a Greedo Type, six
years old) join ANAKIN, JAR JAR, ARTOO, and PADME securing
some wiring.

ANAKIN
Padme and Jar Jar, this is my friend
Kitster, and Seek, Amee, and Wald.

All whistle, hoot, and speak a greeting.

KITSTER
Wow, a real Astro Droid...how'd you
get so lucky?

ANAKIN
This isn't the half of it. I'm entered
in the Boonta Race tomorrow!

KITSTER
What? With this??

WALD (SUBTITLED)
Annie, Jesko na joka.
(You are such a joke, Annie.)

AMEE
You've been working on that thing
for years. It's never going to run.

SEEK
Come on, let's go play ball. Keep it
up, Annie, and you're gonna be bug
squash.

SEEK, WALD, and AMEE take off, laughing. JAR JAR is fiddling
with one of the energy binder plates.

ANAKIN
Hey! Jar Jar! Stay away from those
energy binders...

JAR JAR
Who, mesa?

ANAKIN
If your hand gets caught in that
beam, it will go numb for hours.

JAR JAR peeks at the energy plate; it makes a little
electronic pop, zaps him in the mouth and jumps back. JAR
JAR tries to say something, but his mouth is numb and his
words are garbled.

JAR JAR
Ouch-dats muy bigo Oucho.
(gibberish)

KITSTER
But you don't even know if this thing
will run.

ANAKIN
It will.

QUI-GON approaches the GROUP and gives ANAKIN a small battery.
JAR JAR gets his hand caught in the afterburner and tries to
tell Anakin, but can't get words out that make sense.

QUI-GON
I think it's time we found out. Use
this power charge.

ANAKIN
Yes, sir!!

ANAKIN jumps into the little capsule behind the two giant
engines. He puts the power pack back into the dashboard.
EVERYONE backs away, except for JAR JAR who calls for help.
Finally PADME frees him and the engines ignite with a ROAR.
EVERYONE cheers.

EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - PORCH - DAY

SHMI, watching from the porch, smiles sadly.

EXT. SLAVE QUARTERS - BALCONY - NIGHT

ANAKIN sits on the balcony rail of his hovel as QUI-GON tends
to a cut. The BOY leans back to look at the vast blanket of
stars in the sky.

QUI-GON
Sit still, Annie. Let me clean this
cut.

ANAKIN
There are so many! Do they all have
a system of planets?

QUI-GON
Most of them.

ANAKIN
Has anyone been to them all?

QUI-GON
(laughs)
Not likely.

ANAKIN
I want to be the first one to see
them all... Ouch!

QUI-GON wipes a patch of blood off ANAKIN'S arm.

QUI-GON
There, good as new...

SHMI yells from inside the hovel.

SHMI (O.S.)
Annie, bedtime!

QUI-GON scrapes ANAKIN's blood onto a comlink chip.

ANAKIN
What are you doing?

QUI-GON
Checking your blood for infections.

ANAKIN
I've never seen...

SHMI (O.S.)
Annie! I'm not goiung to tell you
again!

QUI-GON
Go on, you have a big day tomorrow.
(beat)
Goodnight.

ANAKIN rolls his eyes and runs into the hovel. QUI-GON takes
the blood stained chip and inserts it into the comlink, then
calls OBI-WAN.

QUI-GON
Obi-Wan...

OBI-WAN
Yes, Master.

QUI-GON
Make an analysis of this blood sample
I'm sending you.

OBI-WAN
Wait a minute...

QUI-GON
I need a midi-chlorian count.

OBI-WAN
All right. I've got it.

QUI-GON
What are your readings?

OBI-WAN
Something must be wrong with the
transmission.

QUI-GON
Here's a signal check.

OBI-WAN
Strange. The transmission seems to
be in good order, but the reading's
off the chart... over twenty thousand.

QUI-GON
(almost to himself)
That's it then.

OBI-WAN
Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-
chlorian count that high!

QUI-GON
No Jedi has.

OBI-WAN
What does it mean?

QUI-GON
I'm not sure.

The JEDI KNIGHT looks up and sees SHMI in the doorway watching
him.

Embarrassed, she goes back into the kitchen while QUI-GON
ponders the situation.

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - NIGHT

The sinister looking Sith spacecraft lands on top of a desert
mesa at dus, scattering a herd of banthas. DARTH MAUL walks
to the edge of the mesa and studies the landscape with a
pair of electrobinoculars. He picks out the lights of three
different cities in the distance, then pushes buttons on his
electronic armband.

Six football-sized PROBE DROIDS float out of the ship and
head off in three different directions toward the cities.

DARTH MAUL stands on the mesa and watches them through his
electrobinoculars.

EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - PORCH - SUNRISE

Padme exits the hovel.

EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - BACK YARD - SUNRISE

As the twin suns rise, ARTOO is busy painting the racing
Pod. ANAKIN is asleep. PADME passes ARTOO.

PADME
I hope you're about finished.

ARTOO whistles a positive reply. PADME sees KITSTER riding
toward them on an EOPIE, a strange camel-lile creature. He
is leading a second EOPIE behind him. PADME goes over to
ANAKIN. He looks very vulnerable as he sleeps. She watches
him, then touches him on the cheek. ANAKIN wakes up, yawns,
and looks at her, a little puzzled.

ANAKIN
You were in my dream... you were
leading a huge army into battle.

PADME
I hope not, I hate fighting. Your
mother wants you to come in and clean
up. We have to leave soon.

ANAKIN stands up and stretches just as KITSTER arrives.

ANAKIN
Hook 'em up, Kitster.
(to Padme))
I won't be long. Where's Qui-Gon?

PADME
He and Jar Jar left already. They're
with Watto at the arena.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY

RACE CREWS mill about outside the Main Hanger.

INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY

The hanger is a large building with a dozen or so Podracers
being readied for the race. ALIEN CREWS and PILOTS rush about,
making last minute fixes on their vehicles. WATTO, QUI-GON,
and JAR JAR walk through the activity.

WATTO
...I want to see your spaceship the
moment the race is over.

QUI-GON
Patience, my blue friend. You'll
have your winnings before the suns
set, and we'll be far away from here.

WATTO
Not if your ship belongs to me, I
think... I warn you, no funny
business.

QUI-GON
You don't think Anakin will win?

WATTO stops before an orange racer. Sitting to one side,
having his shoulders and neck massaged by TWIN YOBANAS, is
SEBULBA.

WATTO
Don't get me wrongo. I have great
faith in the boy. He's a credit to
your race, but Sebulba there is going
to win, I think.

QUI-GON
Why?

WATTO
He always wins.
(laughs)
I'm betting heavily on Sebulba.

QUI-GON
I'll take that bet.

WATTO
(suddenly stops
laughing)
What??!! What do you mean?

QUI-GON
I'll wager my new racing pod
against... say... the boy and his
mother.

WATTO
A Pod for slaves. I don't think so...
well, poerhaps. Just one...the mother,
maybe...the boy isn't for sale.

QUI-GON
The boy is small, he can't be worth
much.

WATTO shakes his head.

QUI-GON
For the fastest Pod ever built?!

WATTO shakes his head again.

QUI-GON
Both, or no bet.

WATTO
No Pod's worth two slaves... not by
a long shot... one slave or nothing.

QUI-GON
The boy, then...

WATTO pulls out a small cube from his pocket.

WATTO
We'll let fate decide. Blue it's the
boy, red his mother...

WATTO tosses the cube down. QUI-GON lifts his hand slightly;
it turns blue.

QUI-GON smiles. WATTO is angry.

WATTO
You won the small toss, outlander,
bou you won't win the race, so... it
makes little difference.

ANAKIN and PADME enter the hanger on one of the EOPIES,
pulling an engine. KITSTER, on the other EOPIE, is pulling
another engine. With THREEPIO walking alongside, ARTOO
trundles behind, pulling the Pod with SHMI sitting on it.
WATTO passes ANAKIN as he leaves.

WATTO (SUBTITLED)
Bonapa keesa pateeso, o wanna meetee
chobodd.
(Better stop your friends betting,
or I'll end up owning him, too.)

WATTO walks off, laughing.

ANAKIN
What did he mean by that?

QUI-GON
I'll tell you later.

ARTOO beeps at THREEPIO.

THREEPIO
Oh my! Space travel sounds rather
perilous.

ARTOO emits a series of beeps.

THREEPIO
I can assure you they will never get
me onto one of those dreadful
starships!

KITSTER
(to Anakin)
This is so wizard! I'm sure you'll
do it this time, Annie.

PADME
Do what?

KITSTER
Finish the race, of course!

PADME
You've never won a race?

ANAKIN
Well... not exactly...

PADME
Not even finished?!

ANAKN looks sheepish.

ANAKIN
...but Kitster's right, I will this
time.

QUI-GON
Of course you will.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY

One of Darth Maul's PROBE DROIDS slowly floats down the main
street of Tatooine. It looks in shops and studies PEOPLE as
it searches for OBI-WAN, QI-GON, or the QUEEN.

EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY

An EXTREME HIGH WIDE ANGLE reveals a vast arena in the
Tatooine desert. A large semi-circular amphitheatre that
holds at least a hundred thousand people dominates the
landscape. Large viewing platforms loom over the racetrack.

INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)

A two-headed ANNOUNCER describes the scene.

FODE/BEED
A: Toogi! Toogie!
(Greetings)
Toong mee cha kulkah du Boonta magi!
tah oos azalus ooval Poddraces.
(We have perfect weather today for
the Boonta classic. The most hazardous
of all Podraces.)

B : That's absolutly right. And a
big turnout here, from all corners
of the Outer Rim territories. I see
the contestants are making their way
out onto the starting grid.

EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY

On the left side of the tracks across from the grandstands,
a line of Podracers emerges from the large hanger, surrounded
by several CREW MEMBERS. Pods are pulled by a wide variety
of CREATURES and are led by aliens carrying flags. The PILOTS
stand facing the royal box.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
A : La Yma beestoo
(Yes, there they are!)
B : I see Ben Quadinaros from the
Tund system.
A : ...eh Gasgano doowa newpa Ord
Petrovia!
(And Gasgano in thenew Ord Pedrovia.)
B : Two time winner, Boles Roor...
A : Poo tula moosta, woe grane champio
Sebulba du Pixelito! Splastyleeya
bookie ookie!! (On the front line
the reigning champion, Sebulba from
Pixelito. By far the favorite today.)
B : And a late entry, Anakin
Skywalker, a local boy.
A : Wampa peedunkee unko
( I hope he has better luck this
time.)
B : I see the flaggers are moving
onto the track.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - GRANDSTAND - DAY

Colorful canopies shade some of the SPECTATORS. VENDORS sell
barbecued creature parts and colorful drinks.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)

All the PILOTS bow from the waist as JABBA THE HUTT enters
the box and waves to the crowd.

FODE/BEED
A : O grandio lust, Jabba Du Hutt,
amu intoe tah parena.
(His honor, our glorious host, Jabba
the Hutt has entered the arena.)


The crowd ROARS. SEVERAL OTHER SLUG-LIKE HUTTS follow, along
with humans and aliens. Several SLAVE GIRLS on a chain are
led alongside JABBA.

JABBA (SUBTITLED)
Chowbaso! Tam ka chee Boonta rulee
ya, kee madda hodrudda du wundee.
(Welcome!)
Sebulba tuta Pixelito...

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY

SEBULBA, who is right next to ANAKIN, stands and waves to
his fans. A small pep band plays as his fans wave and cheer.

KITSTER attaches the giant engins to Anakin's Pod with a
long cable. SHMI gives ANAKIN a big hug and kiss. She looks
him right in the eye.

SHMI
Be safe.

ANAKIN
I will, Mom. I promise.

She leaves as ANAKIN checks the cable hitches.

JABBA
...Mawhonic tuta Hok, Teemto Pagalies
tuta Moonus Mandel, Anakin SKywalker
tuta Tatoonine....

The CROWD YELLS. ANAKIN waves to the crowd, as JABBA continues
with his introductions. SEBULBA moves over to one of Anakin's
engines. KITSTER and JAR JAR unhitch the EOPIES, and KITSTER
leads them away. ARTOO beeps that everything is OK. JAR JAR
pats ANAKIN on the back.

JAR JAR
Dis berry loony, Annie. May da guds
be kind, mesa palo.

PADME comes up and gives ANAKIN a little kiss on the cheeek.
SEBULBA bangs on a part protruding from Anakin's engine. He
looks around to see if anyone has noticed.

PADME
You carry all our hopes.

ANAKIN
I won't let you down.

PADME moves away as SEBULBA edges his way next to ANAKIN and
gives him a sinister grin.

SEBULBA
Bazda wahota, shag. Dobiella Nok.
Yoka to Bantha poodoo.
(You won't walk away from this one,
slave scum! You're Bantha poodoo.)


ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Cha skrundee da pat, sleemo.
(Don't count on it, slime-ball.)

ANAKIN looks the evil SEBULBA in the eye with a cold stare.
QUI-GON approaches, and SEBULBA backs off toward his racer.

JABBA (SUTITLED)
...Ka bazza kundee hodrudda!
(...Let the challenge begin!)

The CROWD lets out a LOUD CHEER. QUI-GON helps ANAKIN into
his Pod. The boy straps himself into the tiny racer.

QUI-GON
Are you all set, Annie?
(Anakin nods)
Remember, concentrate on the moment.
Feel. Don't think. Trust your
instincts.
(he smiles)
May the Force be with you.

QUI-GON steps away as ANAKIN puts on his goggles. The PILOTS
flip switches, and powerful energy binders shoot between the
engines. ANAKIN flips a switch, and his engine starts. The
incredible ROAR of high-powered engines igniting echoes
throughout the arena. One driver, ODY MANDRELL, yells at a
droid (DUM-4) to get away from the front of his engine. The
crowd is tense.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY

The giant power-house engines torque as the PILOTS gun them.
The PILOTS flip switches, and poerful energy binders shoot
between the engines. Aliens carrying large flags move off
the track. JAR JAR covers his eyes.

JAR JAR
Mesa no watch. Dissen ganna be messy!

FODE/BEED
A : Ya pawa culka doe rundee! (The
power couplings are being activated)
B : Hey, it looks like they're
clearing the grid.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY

SHMI looks nervously to QUI-GON as he enters a veiwing
platform. PADME and JAR JAR are already on board. The platform
rises like an elevator.

SHMI
Is he nervous?

QUI-GON
He's fine.

PADME
You Jedi are far too reckless. The
Queen...

QUI-GON
The Queen trusts my judgment, young
handmaiden. You should too.

PADME
You assume too much.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)

FODE/BEED
B : Start your engines.

The earth-pounding ROAR of the engines revving is deafening.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)

Jabba bites off the head of a frog and spits it at a gong,
signaling the start of the race.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY

On a bridge over the track, a great green light at the center
flashes. The Podracers shoot forward with a high-pitches
scream. ANAKIN'S engine floods and coughs - then dies. All
the other Podracers except one swerve around him and dissapear
down the track. The slave boy struggles to get his racer
started. The two-headed announcer reports.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
A : An dare ovv!
(And they're off!)

B : Oh...wait. Little Skywalker has
stalled.

PADME and JAR JAR are very dissapointed with ANAKIN. QUI-GON
puts his arm around a very worried SHMI to comfort her.
Finally, Anakin's engines ignite. He zooms away after the
receeding pack of competitors, leaving one quadra-Pod racer
still trying to get started. The two-headed ANNOUNCER
describes the race as it progresses.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : And there goes Skywalker... He'll
be hard pressed to catch up with the
leaders today.

EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)

The Podracers fly across the desert. SEBULBA is running neck
and neck with MAWHONIC. They round the first turn in the
track, side by side. SEBULBA drives his Pod into his rival,
forcing him into the wall of a large rock formation. MAWHONIC
crashes in a spectacular display of fire and smoke. ANAKIN
is much faster than the back-end stragglers and passes them
easily.

One of the drivers, GASGANO, won't let ANAKIN by. ANAKIN
tries to pass him on one side and is cut off. He then tries
to pass him on the other side ansd is cut off. As they come
up on a cliff drop-off, ANAKIN backs off, then guns it as
GASGANO goes over the cliff. ANAJIN accelerates so fast that
he sails right over the top of GASGANO and speeds away.

Four TUSKEN RAIDERS perched above the race course fire their
rifles at the Pods racing in the canyon below them. One shot
ricochets off the back of Anakin's Pod.

FODE/BEED
B : Looks like a few Tusken Riaders
have campe out on the canyon dune
turn.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY

JABBA THE HUTT and the crowd watch the progress of the race
on small, hand-held view screens. JAR JAR is looking over
the shoulder of a strange alien named FANTA.

JAR JAR
Where's Skywalker?

FANTA moves the view screen out of Jar Jar's view. PADME,
SHMI, and QUI-GON watch another screen and look worried.

ARTOO, down in the pits with KITSTER, lets out a worried
sigh. The driver of the quadra-Pod looks worried.

EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)

ANAKIN is powering around corners and over hills and cliffs,
passing other racers right and left. SEBULBA is in the lead.
He is being challenged by another racer, XELBREE.

SEBULBA slows a little, and as XELBREE pulls alongside, he
opens a side vent on the racer's engine and the exhaust starts
to cut through the alien's engine.

The blast cuts along the engine until finally it EXPLODES.
SEBULBA deftly veers away.

ANAKIN works his way through a dense mass of racers as they
zoom over a dune sea, kicking up dust. His Pod shakes
violently as he goes over a jump.

One of the Podracers, ODY, catches one of his engines in the
sand, and the whole thing EXPLODES.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY

QUI-GON sits quietly, meditating. PADME and SHMI search the
landscape for any sign of the racers. JAR JAR is still
annoying FANTA for information. The crowd SCREAMS. WATTO is
laughing with his friends, confident in Anakin's defeat.

The quadra-Pod engines start just as the racers come around
the corner. The DRIVER, BEN QUADINAROS, puts it in gear, and
the four engines go off in all directions, EXPLODING in a
spectacular display. The Pod drops to the ground as SEBULBA
enters the arena, closely followed by all the OTHER RACERS.

KITSTER strains to see as ARTOO beeps excitedly. The announcer
continues.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B ; There goes Quadinaros' power
couplings.
A : Sebulba! Ka pa me cheespa wata!
(Here comes Sebulba in record time.)

QUI-GON, PADME, SHMI, and JAR JAR yell for joy as ANAKIN
passes. JAR JAR is very nervous and pounds on the back of
his alien neighbor, FANTA.

JAR JAR
What gooie-on?

FANTA
Bug off.

Lap two. SEBULBA and the pack race past the main arena. The
crowd stands and YELLS as the Podracers scream off into the
distance. QUI-GON and PADME look worried.

JAR JAR
He musta crash-ud.

PADME
Here he comes!

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - PIT AREA - DAY (FX)

ARTOO lets out an excited whistle, as KITSTER yells.

THREEPIO : He has to complete two more circuits? Oh dear!

EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)

Sure enough, coming around the bend is ANAKIN, quickly gaining
on the pack.

The two-headed announcer describes the action. The crowd
goes wild.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : It looks like Skywalker is moving
up through the field. He's in...
A : Steeth pa nagoola!
(Sixth place, not bad.)

ANAKIN continues to gain on the pack. Tension for SHMI and
PADME is unbearable.

ODY stops in the pits. Droids work on his engines. DUM-4
stands in front of the engine and is sucked in, causing the
engine to die. DUM-4 is spit out the back of the engine,
very bent up. The engine lets out one final wheeze, then
EXPLODES in a puff of smoke.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
A : Ody Mandrell! Coona wa wunda
dunko!
(Ody Mandrell into the pits for some
attention.)


ODY
Droids!

TERTER is getting close to SEBULBA, who purposely breaks a
small part off his Pod, sending it into Terter's engine,
causing him to veer into ANAKIN, and unhooks one of the main
straps on Anakin's engines that links the Pod to his engines.
ANAKIN struggles to keep control of the little Pod. It whips
about wildly.

As the Pod swings near the broken engine strap, ANAKIN grabs
for it.

Finally, he catches the strap and manages to unhook it to
the Pod.

SEBULBA cuts the engine of OBITOKI with his side exhaust,
and the racer crashes with a cloud of dust. A THIRD RACER,
HABBA, flie into the cloud of dust and crashes into OBITOKI.
ANAKIN rounds a corner and heads into the cloud of smoke. He
hits a part of one of the engines but regains control.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B :At the start of the third and
final lap, Sebulba is in the lead,
closely followed by Skywalker...

ANAKIN finally catches up with SEBULBA, and runs neck and
neck over the rough terrain. JAR JAR, QUI-GON, SHMI, and
PADME all SCREAM s ANAKIN comes through the arena. The lights
in the tower indicate that this is the third and last lap.
WATTO begins to worry.

SEBULBA uses his side exhaust port to try to cut through
Anakin's engines.

ANAKIN manages to avoid having his engine disabled but is
forced off course.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : Skywalker is forced onto the
service ramp!
A : Oh noah!

On a tight corner, ANAKIN dives to the inside and takes the
lead.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : Amazing... a controlled thrust
and he's back on course! What a move!

SEBULBA is furious. He stay's right on Anakin's tail, crowding
him and pushing him through the turns.

SEBULBA pushes ANAKIN harder, and the young boy has a
difficult time keeping control. One of the parts on Anakin's
engines begins to shake loose. ANAKIN sees it and switches
over to an auxiliary system. While he is trying to accomplish
this maneuver, SEBULBA races past him.

ANAKIN tries to get around SEBULBA, to no avail. Every move
ANAKIN makes, SEBULBA is able to block.

Finally, ANAKIN fakes a move into the inside as he usually
does, then tries to go around SEBULBA on the outside. They
race sid by side down the final stretch of the track.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : He's catching Sebulba.
A : Inkabunga.
(Incredible!)

SEBULBA veers toward ANAKIN and bangs into his Pod. He crashes
into ANAKIN over and over. The young boy struggles to maintain
control as the steering rods on the two Pods become hooked
together. SEBULBA laughs at ANAKIN.

FODE/BEED (O.S.)
B : That little human being is out
of his mind.
A : Punda tah punda!
(They're neck and neck!)
B : They're side by side!
A : Bongo du bongu!
(Shoulder to shoulder!)

As they head for the final stretch, ANAKIN fights to unlock
the steering rods by trying to pull away from SEBULBA. The
strain on the steering rod is tremendous. Suddenly, ANAKIN's
steering arm breaks, and his Pos starts spinning.

The release of tension sends SEBULBA into an ancient statue.
One engine EXPLODES, then the other. SEBULBA skids through
the fire-balls, blackened, but unhurt. He slides to a smoking
stop, gets out of his racer, and throws what's left of a
shifter arm on the ground. Suddenly he realizes his pants
are on fire, and he struggles to put them out. ANAKIN flies
through the EXPLOSION as the crowd stands, CHERRING. PADME
and JAR JAR jump up and down with excitment, PADME screaming
for joy. ARTOO and KITSTER whistle hysterically. QUI-GON and
SHMI smile. ANAKIN races over the finish line, the winner.

INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCERS BOX - DAY (FX)

The two-headed announcer excitedly calls the finish.

FODE/BEED
B : It's Skywalker! The crowd are
going nuts! Oh Ah Oh Ah (rock head
in tandem with partner)

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - DAY

As ANAKIN stops the Podracer, KISTER turns up, and they
embrace. Hundreds of SPECTATORS join them and put ANAKIN on
their shoulders, marching off, CHEERING AND CHANTING. Darth
Maul's PROBE DROIDS move through the crowd.

INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - PRIVATE BOX - DAY

Several ALIENS leave Watto's box, laughing and counting their
money. WATTO sees QUI-GON standing in the doorway.

WATTO
You! You swindled me! You knew the
boy was going to win! Somehow you
knew it! I lost everything.

WATTO flies up to QUI-GON and puts his face right up against
QUI-GON's.

QUI-GON simply smiles.

QUI-GON
Whenever you gamble, my freind,
eventually you'll lose. Bring the
parts to the main hanger. I'll come
by your shop later so you can release
the boy.

WATTO
You can't have him! It wasn't a fair
bet!

QUI-GON
Would you like to discuss it with
the Hutts...I'm sure they can settle
this.

WATTO
No, no! I want no more of your tricks!
Take him!

The SITH PROBE DROID watches with great interest.

EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY

The Main Hanger is almost deserted as RACERS depart.

INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY

JAR JAR gives ANAKIN a great hug, then PADME gives him a
hug, then SHMI.

ANAKIN
Ah, gee...enough of this...

SHMI
It's so wonderful, Annie. You have
brought hope to those who have none.
I'm so very proud of you...

PADME
We owe you everything.

ANAKIN
Just feeling this good was worth it.

In the background, QUI-GON has harnessed the EOPIES to
containers full of parts.

QUI-GON
Padme. Jar Jar, let's go, we've got
to get these parts back to the ship.

The GROUP walks over to QUI-GON and the EOPIES.

PADME climbs on behind QUI-GON. JAR JAR swings up onto the
second EOPIE, only to slwly slide off the other side. ARTOO
whistles. ANAKIN and SHMI wave as they ride off.

QUI-GON
I'll return the eopies by midday.

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY

ARTOO cruises ahead of QUI-GON and PADME, who are riding one
of the EOPIES; JAR JAR ridses the other. They stop in front
of the sleek Naboo spacecraft.

OBI-WAN comes out of the ship and joins them.

QUI-GON
Start getting this hyperdrive
generator installed. I'm going
back...some unfinished business. I
won't be long.

OBI-WAN
Why do I sense we've picked up another
pathetic life form...?

QUI-GON
It's the boy who's responsible for
getting those parts.

On a hill far overlooking the Naboo spacecraft, the SITH
PROBE DROID turns and speeds away.

EXT. TATOOINE - STREET - SLAVE QUARTERS - DAY

ANAKIN and A GREEDO are rolling around on the floor, fighting.
About A DOZEN OR SO KIDS are standing around them, yelling.
Suddenly, a long shadow is cast over the TWO BOYS; they stop
fighting and look up. QUI-GOMN is towering above them. KITSTER
is with them.

QUI-GON
What's this?

ANAKIN
He said I cheated.

QUI-GON
Did you?

ANAKIN
No!

QUI-GON
Do you still think he cheated?

GREEDO
Yes.

QUI-GON
Well, Annie. You know the truth...
You will have to tolerate his opinion,
fighting won't change it.

QUI-GON moves off down the street. Anakin follows. The GREEDO
wanders over to WALD who has been watching the goings-on.

WALD
Keep this up, Greedo, and you're
gonna come to a bad end.

Farther down the street QUI-GON and ANAKIN head toward
Anakin's hovel.

QUI-GON takes a handful of credits from beneath his poncho
and hands them to the boy.

QUI-GON
These are yours. We sold the Pod.

ANAKIN
(suddenly beaming))
Yes!

INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY

SHMI is cleaning up as ANAKIN bursts through the door,
followed by QUI-GON.

ANAKIN
Mom, he sold the Pod. Look at all
the money we have!

ANAKIN pulls a bag of coins out of his pocket.

SHMI
Oh, my goodness, That's wonderful.

QUI-GON
And Anakin has been freed.

ANAKIN
What?!?

QUI-GON
You're no longer a slave.

ANAKIN jumps for joy! SHMI is stunned.

ANAKIN
Did you hear that, Mom?
(to Qui-Gon)
Was that part of the prize, or what?

QUI-GON
Let's just say Watto has learned an
important lesson about gambling.

SHMI
Now you can make your dreams come
true, Annie. You're free!
(turns to Qui-Gon)
Will you take him with you? Is he to
become a Jedi?

QUI-GON
Our meeting was not a coincidence.
Nothing happens by accident.
(to Anakin)
You are strong with the Force, but
you may not be accepted by the Coucil.

ANAKIN
A Jedi! Mighty blasters, you mean I
get to go with you in your starship
and everything?!

QUI-GON kneels down to the boy.

QUI-GON
Anakin, training to be a Jedi will
not be a easy challenge. And if you
succeed, it will be a hard life.

ANAKIN
But it's what I want. What I've always
dreamed about. Can I go, Mom?!

QUI-GON
This path has been placed for you,
Annie; the choice to take it is yours
alone.

ANAKIN thinks, looks to his mother, then to QUI-GON.

ANAKIN
I want to go.

QUI-GON
Then, pack your things. We haven't
much time.

ANAKIN
Yipee!!

ANAKIN hugs his mom and starts for the other room, then stops.
SHMI and QUI-GON give each other a knowing look. ANAKIN has
realized something.

ANAKIN
What about Mom? Is she free too?
You're coming, aren't you, Mom

QUI-GON
I tried to free your mother, Annie,
but Watto wouldn't have it.

ANAKIN
But the money from selling...

QUI-GON
It's not nearly enough.

SHMI comes over to her son and sits next to him. Taking both
of his hands in hers, she draws him close.

SHMI
Son, my place is here. My future is
here. It is time for you to let go...
to let go of me. I cannot go with
you.

ANAKIN
I want to stay with you. I don't
want things to change.

SHMI
You can't stop change any more than
you can stop the suns from setting.
Listen to your feelings; Annie, you
know what's right.

ANAKIN takes a deep breath, drops his head. QUI-GON and SHMI
exchange a look of concern. When ANAKIN raises up, there
are tears in his eyes.

ANAKIN
I'm going to miss you so much, Mom...

SHMI
I love you, Annie... now hurry.

ANAKIN and SHMI hug. ANAKIN runs into the other room.

SHMI
Thank you.

QUI-GON
I will watch after him. You have my
word. Will you be all right?

SHMI
He was in my life for such a short
time.

INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - SECOND ROOM - DAY

ANAKIN has thrown the last of his things in a small backpack.
As he leaves, he stops and pushes the button that wakes his
droid up. THREEPIO stares at him blankly.

ANAKIN
Well, Threepio, I'm free...and I'm
going away...in a starship...

THREEPIO
Master, Annie, you are my maker, and
I wish you well. Although I'd like
it better if I were a little less
naked.

ANAKIN
I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish
you, Threepio... give you coverings
and all... I'm going to miss working
on you. You've been a great pal.
I'll make sure Mom doesn't sell you
or anything. Bye.

THREEPIO stares at ANAKIN as he rushes out of the room.

THREEPIO
Sell me?!?

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - SLAVE QUARTERS - DAY

KITSTER runs up to ANAKIN as he and QUI-GON exit Anakin's
hovel. SHMI stands in the doorway. ANAKIN pulls a handful of
coins out of his pocket and gives them to KITSTER.

KITSTER
There are so many of us who want you
to stay, Annie... You're a hero.

ANAKIN
I...
(looks to Shmi)
I... have to go.

QUI-GON has moved a short way down the street.

KITSTER
Well.

ANAKIN
Well.

KITSTER
Thank's for every moment you've been
here. You're my best friend.

ANAKIN
I won't forget.

ANAKIN hugs KITSTER and runs toward QUI-GON, then stops to
look back at his mother standing in the doorway. He turns
back to QUI-GON, then turns and runs back to his mother.

ANAKIN
(starting to cry)
I can't do it, Mom. I just can't.

SHMI hugs ANAKIN. QUI-GON watches from the distance. She
kneels down and looks him in the face.

SHMI
Annie, remember when you climbed the
great dune in order to chase the
Banthas away so they wouldn't be
shot... Remember how you collapses
several times, exhausted thinking
you couldn't do it?

ANAKIN shakes his head.

SHMI
This is one of those times when you
have to do something you don't think
you can do. I know how strong you
are, Annie. I know you can do this...

ANAKIN
Will I ever see you again?

SHMI
What does your heart tell you?

ANAKIN
I hope so...yes...I guess.

SHMI
Then we will see each other again.

ANAKIN
I.. will become a Jedi and I will
come back and free you, Mom... I
promise.

SHMI
No matter where you are, my love
will be with you. Now be brave, and
don't look back... don't look back.

ANAKIN
I love you so much.

SHMI hugs ANAKIN, then turns him around so he is facing QUI-
GON, and off he marches, like the brave little trooper that
he is. He marches right past QUI-GON, starring right ahead,
tears in his eyes, determined not to look back.

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - DAY

The PROBE DROID beeps and whistles to DARTH MAUL. The SITH
LORD gets on a speeder bike and follows the PROBE DROID into
Mos Espa.

EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - FRUIT STAND - DAY

ANAKIN and QUI-GON exit WATTO'S and stop before JIRA'S fruit
stand. ANAKIN hands JIRA some coins.

ANAKIN
I've been freed, and I'm going away.
Buy yourself a cooling unit with
this... Otherwise I'll worry about
you.

JIRA is astonished. She stares, not knowing what to say.

JIRA
Can I give you a hug?

ANAKIN
Sure.

She gives him a hug.

JIRA
I'll miss you, Annie... there isn't
a kinder boy in the galaxy. You be
careful...

ANAKIN runs to join QUI-GON, who has already started down
the street. As they walk along together, QUI-GON notices
something out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly, without
breaking his stride, he ignites his laser sword, swing around,
and lunges forward and cuts a lurking PROBE DROID in half.
QUI-GON inspects the sparking and fizzing DROID.

ANAKIN
What is it?

QUI-GON
Probe droid