Taken By The Sky (A Poe Dameron Fan Fic)

A dream like no other

EXT. NABOO, MOUNTAIN MAgrassesswith N PADME and ANAKIN are in the middle of an idyllic hilly meadow, its lush grassesswith flowers. At a distance, a herd of SHAAKS graze contentedly. Beyond is the shimmering expanse of the lake. Several other lakes stretch to the horizon. The warm air is full of little floating puffballs. They sit on the grass, in a playful, coy mood, talking. PADME is picking flowers. PADMÉ I don't know... ANAKIN Sure you do... you just don't want to tell me. PADMÉ Are you going to use one of your Jedi mind tricks on me? ANAKIN They only work on the weak-minded. You are anything but weak-minded. PADMÉ All right... his name was Palo. I was twelve. We were both in the Legislative Youth Program. He was a few years older then I... very cute... dark curly hair... dreamy eyes. ANAKIN All right, I get the picture... whatever happened to him? PADMÉ I went on to become a Queen. He went on to become an artist. ANAKIN Maybe he was the smart one. PADME You really don't like politicians, do you? ANAKI like two or three, but I'm not really sure about one of them. (smiling) I don't think the system works. PADME How would you have it work? ANAKIN We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problems, agree what's in the best interests of all the people, and then do it. PADME That is exactly what we do. The trouble is that people don't wlways agree. In fact, they hardly ever do. ANAKIN Then they should be made to. PADME By whom? Who's going to make them? ANAKIN I don't know. Someone. PADME You? ANAKIN Of course not me. PADME But someone. ANAKIN Someone wise. PADME That sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship to me. A mischievious little grin creeps across his face. ANAKIN Well, if it works... PADME stares at ANAKIN. He looks back at her, straight-faced, and can't hold a smile. PADMÉ You're making fun of me. ANAKIN (sarcastic) On no, I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator. PADMÉ You're so bad! PADME picks up a piece of fruit and throws it at him. He catches it. PADME throws two more pieces of fruit, and ANAKIN catches them. ANAKIN You're always so serious. Always carrying the weight of the universe on your shoulders. ANAKIN then starts to juggle the fruit. PADME laughs and throws more fruit at him. He manages to juggle them too until there are too many, and he loses control and ducks, letting food fall on his head. They both laugh. ANAKIN stands in front of a SHAAK, yelling at it and waving his arms. PADME starts laughing as ANAKIN runs in circles, chased by the SHAAK. The SHAAK crosses in front of PADME. ANAKIN is riding it, facing the SHAAK'S tail. The SHAAK bucks, and ANAKIN falls off. PADME laughs even harder. ANAKIN lies still. PADME jumps uip and runs to where ANAKIN is face down in the grass. She turns him over. He is pulling a stupid face at her. She yelps in mock fury and takes a swing at him. He catches her arm. She struggles. They roll over in the grass. Suddenly, they become aware of the contact between them. They let go of each other quickly and sit up, looking away. ANAKIN stands up and holds out his hand to her. She take it. He pulls her up. And now they are easy together, not self-conscious any more. PADME scrambles up onto the SHAAK behind ANAKIN. She puts her arms around his waist and leans against his back. ABAJUB digs his heels in. The SHAAK starts forward, and they ride away. EXT. TIPOCA CITY, PARADE GROUND (RAINSTORM) - DAY OBI-WAN, LAMA SU and TAUN WE come out onto a balcony. Below is a huge parade ground. The rain and wind are brutal. THOUSANDS OF STORMTROOPERS, faces covered by helmets, are marching and drilling in formations of several hundred. LAMA SU (beaming) Magnificent, aren't they? OBI-WAN nods slowly. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, COMMINSSARY - DAY LAMA SU conducts OBI-WAN through a large eating area. TAUN WE follows as they walk by HUNDREDS OF CLONES who look exactly alike, all about twenty years old, dressed in black. They are seated at tables, eating. LAMA SU We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host. As a result they are totally obedient, taking any order without question. OBI-WAM Who was the original host? LAMA SU A bounty hunter called Jango Fett. We felt a Jedi would be the perfect choice, but Sido-Dyas hand- picked Jango Fett himself. OBI-WAN Where is this bounty hunter now? LAMA SU Oh, we keep him here. After a few hundred thousand clones, the genetic pattern starts to fade, so we take a fresh supply. He lives here, but he's free to come and go as he pleases. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, BARRACKS - DAY The tour continues through a long corridor folled with narrow, transparent tubes into which CLONES are climbing. Once in the tube, the CLONE goes to sleep. LAMA SU Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing - an unaltered clone for himself. Curious isn't it? OBI-WAN Unaltered? LAMA SU Pure genetic replication. No tampering with the structure to make it more docile... and no growth acceleration... OBI-WAN I would like to meet this Jango Fett. TAUN WE I would be most happy to arrange it, for you. TAUN WE bows, and leaves. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, CLASSROOM - DAY The tour continues through a classroom filled with IDENTICAL YOUNG BOY CLONES. OBI-WAN You mentioned growth acceleration... LAMA SU Oh yes, it's essential. Otherwise, a mature clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now, we can do it in half the time. Those items you saw on the parade ground were started ten years ago, when Sido-dyas first placed the order, and they're already mature... OBI-WAN looks at the BOY CLONES. OBI-WAN And these? LAMA SU About five years ago. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CLONE CENTER, HATCHERY - DAY They enter a space filled with great racks of glass spheres, which are filled with fluid in which EMBRYOS are suspended. LAMA SU They're immensely superior to droids, capable of independent thought and action. OBI-WAN Very impressive. LAMA SU I'd hoped you would be pleased. OBI-WAN gazes at the nearest embryos. OBI-WAN (carefully) Tell me, prime minister, when my Master Sido-dyas first contacted you, did he say the order was for... himself... or? LAMA SU Himself? Of course not. This army is for the Republic? OBI-WAN (astonished) The Repubic? LAMA SU We are also very much agasint this Count Dooku and his seccessionist movement. We are proud to be of help to the Republic. INT. TIPOCA CITY, APARTMENT - LATE DAY TAUN WE shows OBI-WAN into his room. TAUN WE I have arranged for you to meet Jango Fett in the morning. Sleep well. TAUN WE goes. The door slides closed behind him. OBI-WAN looks around, then moves swiftly to check the room over. Finally, satisfied, he takes out his comlink. OBI-WAN Arfour, Arfour... EXT. TIPOCA CITY LANDING PLATFORM, JEDI FIGHTER, (RAINSTORM) - LATE DAY The R4 D17, Obi-Wan's Astro-Droid, who is sitting on top of Obi-Wan's Starfighter, switches on and BEEPS. INT. TIPOCA CITY, APARTMENT - LATE DAY OBI-WAN hears ARFOUR BEEP through his comlink. OBI-WAN Arfour, relay this, "scramble code five," to Courscant: care of "the old folks home." EXT. TIPOCA CITY LANDING PLATFORM, JEDI FIGHTER, (RAINSTORM) - LATE DAY ARFOUR BEEPS and WHISTLES. The panels light up inside the cockpit, as the message is transmitted. EXT. JEDI TEMPLE, LIVINF QUARTERS - EARLY EVENING YODA and MACE WINDU listen as a hologram of OBI-WAN stands between them broadcasting the massage. The singnal is very weak, the image fades in and out. OBI-WAN (V.O.) ...I've never heard of a Jedi called Sido-Dyas, have you, Master? MACE WINDU No. Whoever placed that order was not a Jedi, I can assure you. OBI-WAN (V.O.) I have a strong feeling that this bounty hunter is the assassin we're looking for. YODA Who he is working for... discover that, you must. OBI-WAN (V.O.) I will, Master, and I will also find out more about this clone army... May The Force... The hologram switches off, and OBI-WAN fades away. WINDU A clone army! Ordered by someone in the Senate perhaps... Someone's out to start a war. YODA Inform the chancellor of this, we must. WINDU Who do you think this impostor Sido-Dyas, could be? YODA stares back at MACE WINDU, then slowly shakes his head. EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT - NIGHT The silent lodge. The triple moons of Naboo reflected in the tranquil waters of the lake. INT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, ANAKIN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT ANAKIN moves restlessly in his sleep. He mutters to himself. Sweat forms on his forehead. He turns violently. He cries out. ANAKIN No...No...No...Mom!...Don't, no, don't! EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, LODGE, BALCONY OVERLOOKING GARDENS - MORNING ANAKIN is on the balcony overlooking the gardens. After a moment, PAMDE comes onto the balcony behind him. She sees he is meditating and turns to go. ANAKIN (eyes closed) Don't go. PAMDE I don't want to disturb you. ANAKIN Your presence is soothing. Brief pause. PADME You had a nightmare again last night. ANAKIN Jedi don't have nightmares. PADME I heard you. ANAKIN'S opens his eyes and looks at her. ANAKIN I saw my mother. I saw her as clearly as I see you now. She's suffering, Padme. She is in pain...They're killing her! (getting up) I know I'm disobeying my mandate to protect you, Senator. I know I will be punished and possibly thrown out of the Jedi Order, but I must go. I have to help her! I'm sorry, Padme. I don't have a choice. PADME Annie, I told you I wouldn't let you give up your future for me. I'll go with you. That way you can continue to protect me, and you won't be disobeying your mandate. ANAKIN What about Master Obi-wan? PADME smiles and takes his hand. PADME I guess we won't tell him, will we? EXT. NABOO LAKE, FLOATING LANDING PLATFORM - DAY ANAKIN and PADME step onto the landing platform from the water speeder. They enter the Naboo Starship. ARTOO BEEPS, and follows them on board. The ramp retracts. PADDY ACCU drives the water speeder away from the platform as Anakin's Starship takes off. EXT. TIPOCA CITY (RAINSTORM) - DAY Rain lashes the city. Below, mightly waves pound the stilts, breaking almost to the height of the platforms. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR - DAY TAUN WE conducts OBI-WAN to the door of Jango Fett's apartment. TAUN WE waves his hand, and a muted bell RINGS. As they wait, OBI-WAN notes the door lock entry mechanism. Then the door opens, and a ten-year-old boy, BOBA FETT, looks at them. He is identical to the boys in the classroom. TAUN WE Boba, is your father here? There is a brief pause, then BOBA FETT nods. TAUN WE (continuing) May we see him? BOBA FETT Sure. Another brief pause, then BOBA FETT steps aside, and TAUN WE and OBI-WAN go through. INT. TIPOCA CITY, FETT APARTMENT - DAY OBI-WAN, TAUN WE, and BOBA FETT enter the apartment. OBI-WAN looks around the room. BOBA FETT Dad! Taun We's here! JANGO FETT comes in from the bedroom. He wears a jumpsuit. He is unshaven and mean looking, his face pitted with scars of old wounds. There are a couple of weird tattoos on his muscular forearms. He eyes OBI-WAN with suspicion. TAUN WE Welcome back, Jango. Was your trip productive? JANGO FETT Fairly. OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT size each other up. BOBA FETT studies both of them. TAUN WE This is Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He's come to check on our progress. JANGO FETT That right? JANGO FETT'S eyes fix OBI-WAN coldly. OBI-WAN Your clones are very impressive. You must be very proud. JANGO FETT I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe, Master Jedi. OBI-WAN Aren't we all? OBI-WAN eyes the half-open bedroom door, through which a couple of pieces of body armour can be seen on the floor. JANGO FETT registers OBI-WAN'S look. He moves in front of him, blocking the view. OBI-WAN (continuing) Ever made your way as far into the interior as Coruscant? JANGO Once or twice. OBI-WAN Recently? JANGO (eyes Obi-Wan carefully) Possibly... OBI-WAN Then you must know Master Sido- Dyas? JANGO Boba, close the door. BOBA FETT moves to close the bedroom door. JANGO FETT smiles thinly at OBI-WAN. JANGO (continuing) Master who? OBI-WAN Sido-Dyas. Isn’t he the Jedi who hired you for this job? JANGO Never heard of him. I was recuited by a man called Darth Tyranus on one of the moons of Bogden. OBI-WAN No? I thought... TAUN WE Sido-Dyas told us to expect him. And he showed up just when your Jedi Master said he would. We have kept the Jedi’s involvement a secret until your arrival, just as your Master requested. OBI-WAN Curious... JANGO Do you like your army? OBI-WAN It seems to me it's your army - being that they are all clones of you. JANGO (grinning) They'll do their job well, I'll guarantee that. OBI-WAN I look forward to seeing them in action. Thank you for your time, Jango. JANGO Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi. OBI-WAN and TAUN WE go out. The door slides closed. JANGO FETT turns to his son. He is deep in thought. BOBA What is it, Dad? EXT. SPACE The Naboo Starship heads toward the desert planet of Tatooine. EXT. TATOOINE, MOS ESPA STREETS AND WATTO'S SHIP - DAY The Naboo Starship lands in a large parking lot of Spaceships on the outskirts of Mos Espa. ANAKIN and PADME ride a rickshaw through the streets. ANAKIN stares at sights he hasn't seen for years. Finally, they come to Wattos' shop, and the rickshaw stops. ANAKIN (to the droid driver) Wait, please. ANAKIN and PADME get down. Sitting on a stool in front of the shop is WATTO. He is using a small electronic screwdriver on a fiddly DROID. THREE PIT DROIDS are chattering away and are trying to help him, but they seem only to make him madder. WATTO (yelling, in Huttese) No, not that one - that one! ANAKIN (arriving) Excuse me, Watto. WATTO (in Huttese) What? ANAKIN (in Huttese) I said excuse me. WATTO turns to the chattering PIT DROIDS. WATTO (in Huttese) Shut down. The PIT DROIDS snap into their storage position. WATTO (continuing, in Huttese) What? I don't know you... What can I do for you? You look like a Jedi. Whatever it is... I didn't do it. WATTO drops the screwdriver and curses loudly in Huttese ANAKIN Let me help you with that. ANAKIN takes the fiddly piece of equipment and starts to play with it. WATTO blinks in surprise. ANAKIN (continuing) I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker. WATTO looks at him suspiciously. He stares at PADME, then back to ANAKIN. WATTO Annie?? Little Annie?? Naaaah!! Suddenly, the fiddly piece of equipment in Anakin's hands WHIRS into life. WATTO blinks at it. WATTO (continuing; in English) You are Annie! It is you! You little womp rat. WATTO gives ANAKIN a big hug. WATTO (continuing) You sure sprouted Weehoo! A Jedi! Waddya know? Hey, maybe you couldda help wit some daedbeats who owe... ANAKIN My mother... WATTO Oh, yeah. Shmi... she's not mine no more. I sold her. ANAKIN Sold her... WATTO Years ago. Sorry, Anne, but you know, business is business. Sold her to a moisture farmer named Lars. Least I think it was Lars. Believe it or not, I heard he freed her and married her. Can ya beat that? ANAKIN Do you know where they are? WATTO Long way from here... someplace over on the other side of Mos Eisley, I think... ANAKIN I'd like to know. ANAKIN'S grim look means business; WATTO gets the hint quickly. WATTO Yeah... sure... absolutely. Let's go look in my records. ANAKIN and WATTO go into the shop. EXT. TIPOCA CITY (RAINSTORM) - DAY The waves crash against the water city as the storm continues. Light suddenlyt streams from the base of a landing platform as a door slides open. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR - DAY OBI-WAN stands with LAMA SU and TAUN WE just inside the open door. LAMA SU Tell your Council the first battalions are ready. And remind them that if they need more troops, we will need time to grow them. OBI-WAN I won't forget. EXT. TIPOCA CITY, KAMINO LANDING PLATFORM (RAINSTORM) - DAY OBI-WAN comes out from the tower into the driving ran. The door closes behind him. He pulls his robe around him and stands braced against the gale. Below, a huge wave crashes against the stilts. Spray flies high and whips across the platform where OBI-WAN is standing. He walks over to his Starfighter, looks to see if anyone is watching, then turns and goes back to the door. It slides open. INT. TIPOCA CITY, CORRIDOR - DAY OBI-WAN enters cautiously from outside. Ahead, the corridor is deserted. He moves down it. INT. TIPOCA CITY, FETT APARTMENT - DAY OBI-WAN walks in to find the room in complete disorder. The bedroom door is wide open - clear signs of hurried departure. All of the Fetts' personal belongings are gone. OBI-WAN goes to an ultra-thin computer screen. He punches up AN ONSCREEN PICTURE of JANGO FETT and BOBA FETT unhitching the lines securing their ship to the landing platform. JANGO FETT is wearing his armour and rocket pack. BOBA FETT climbs aboard the small Fighter. EXT. TIPOCA CITY, KAMINO LANDING PLATFORM (RAINSTORM) - DAY JANGO FETT picks up a case and swings it up to BOBA FETT, who stows it inside the ship. JANGO FETT picks up another case and is about to swing it, when: BOBA FETT Dad!! JANGO FETT turns to see OBI-WAN charging out of the tower toward him. As he runs, OBI-WAN draws his lightsaber from his belt. It flashes on. JANGO FETT draws his gun and fires at the charging JEDI. OBI-WAN deflects the blast and swings at JANGO FETT. The bounty hunter rockets up and over OBI-WAN, landing behind him. He fires a thin wire from his wrist pack, trying to entangle the Jedi. JANGO FETT fire several Kamino Kyber Darts from his elbow launcher. OBI-WAN deflects them back at JANGO FETT, but they strike harmlessly against the bounty hunter's armour. IN THE COCKPIT of Jango Fett's ship, BOBA FETT grabs the controls of a laser gun and swings it to aim at OBI-WAN. OUTSIDE, in the driving rain, OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT circle each other, sizing each other up - feinting. IN THE COCKPIT, each time BOBA FETT is ready to fire, JANGO FETT blocks his view of OBI-WAN. OUTSIDE, OBI-WAN makes a sudden attack, swinging at JANGO FETT, who deflects the blows. One slices off a piece of the bounty hunter's shoulder plate. JANGO FETT rockets into the air and hovers above OBI-WAN. The Jedi spins as: IN THE COCKPIT, BOBA FETT fires. OUTSIDE, the laser shell streaks past OBI-WAN to strike the edge of the tower. JANGO FETT fires down at OBI-WAN. The Jedi deflects the shots back, but JANGO FETT evades them. Then he swoops down, swinging around OBI-WAN. As he shoots past, he kicks the lightsaber out of the Jedi's hand. The lightsaber skids across the wet surface of the landing platform. OBI-WAN dives after it. JANGO FETT zooms in front of him and grabs the lightsaber. OBI-WAN punches it out of his hand. IN THE COCKPIT, BOBA FETT watches as: OUTSIDE, OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT grapple and fight, punching, kicking, grabbing hold, and throwing each other around. OBI-WAN grabs JANGO FETT tightly, and JANGO FETT rockets up into the air and kicks OBI-WAN loose. OBI-WAN crashes to the deck and slides toward the edge. He grapples desperately for a handhold on the slick surface. JANGO FETT rockets down to kick at him. OBI-WAN hauls himself up. JANGO FETT zooms to the far side of the platform. OBI-WAN uses Jedi powers to pull part of the structure loose. It hits JANGO FETT, who loses his balance, teetering on the edge. OBI-WAN charges acress, dives, and grabs hold of JANGO FETT just as he falls over the edge. Locked together, OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT plummet down toward the raging ocean. At the last moment, JANGO FETT fires a cable out of his backpack that shoots upward and locks onto a metal strut on the underside of the platform. OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT swing and CRASH onto one of the stilts. OBI-WAN is knocked clear and drops onto a SMALL SERVICE PLATFORM just above the waves. He hauls himself to his feet. JANGO FETT hovers in mid-air opposite him, as a HUGE WAVE crashes over OBI-WAN. When it subsides, the Jedi has disappeared. JANGO FETT rockets up to the landing platform, where he drops down beside his ship. He clambers inside the cockpit and settles into the pilot's seat. He punches buttons. The engines ROAR. OUTSIDE, Jango Fett's ship lifts off from the platform and heads up into the lowering sky. It disappears. Lightning flashes. Rain lashes the tower and streams across the surface of the platform, to where: A HAND suddenlt clutches at the very edge of the platform. A moment later, ANOTHER HAND grabs hold. EXT. TATOOINE, BLUFF OVERLOOKING HOMESTEAD - LATE DAY The Naboo Starship descends, hovers, and land on a bluff. ANAKIN and PADME get out. They look down from the edge of the bluff to where the homestead is seen on the desert floor below. PADME Stay with the ship, Artoo. ARTOO WHISTLES as ANAKIN and PADME start down the trail toward the homestead. EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, HOMESTEAD MOISTURE FARM - LATE DAY C-3PO is working outside the homestead. He still lacks an outer covering; his inner parts and wiring show. He looks up as ANAKIN and PADME arrive, C-3PO Good evening. May I help you? ANAKIN Threepio? C-3PO Oh, my... oh, my! Master Anakin! My goodness, I can hardly believe it! And this must be Miss Padme. PADME Hello, Threepio. ANAKIN I've come to see my mother. C-3PO Oh, dear! I'm so terribly sorry, Master Annie. PADME Threepio, what's happened? C-3PO I think we'd better go inside. EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, COURTYARD - LATE DAY ANAKIN, PADME and THREEPIO arrive in the courtyard. THREEPIO shuffles ahead. C-3PO Master Lars - Master Owen! Somebody to see you! OWEN LARS and BERU WHITESUN come out into the courtyard. ANAKIN I'm Anakin Skywalker. I'm here looking for my mother. OWEN Owen Lars... I guess I'm your step-brother. (they shake hands) This is my girlfriend, Beru. BERU Hello. PADME I'm Padme. OWEN I had a feeling you might show up some day. ANAKIN Is my mother here? CLIEGG No, she's not. CLIEGG LARS swings from the house on a small floating chair. One of his legs is heavily bandaged; the other is missing. He balances awkwardly and puts out a hand. CLIEGG (continuing) Cliegg Lars. Shmi is my wife... Come on inside. We have a lot to talk about. INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, KITCHEN - LATE DAY BERU puts several steaming cups of ardees on a tray and exits the kitchen... CLIEGG (O.S.) It was just before dawn. They came out of nowhere. A hunting party of Tusekn Raiders. INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, DINING AREA - LATE DAY CLIEGG, OWEN, PADME and ANAKIN sit around the table, BERU brings the drinks from the kitchen. CLIEGG Your mother had gone out early, like she always did, to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporatos. From the tracks, she was about halfway when they took her. Those Tuskens walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her. Four of us came back. Three more are still out there looking. I'd be with them, only... I just couldn't ride any more... until I heal. CLIEGG grimaces, easing his throbbing leg. CLIEGG (continuing) This isn't the way I wanted to meet you, son. This isn't how your mother and I planned it. I don't want to give up on her, but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long. Silence. Then ANAKIN stands up. OWEN Where are you going? ANAKIN To find my mother. PADME No, Annie! CLIEGG She's daed, son. Accept it. ANAKIN I can feel her pain, and I will find her. I know she's alive. ANAKIN turns abruptly. EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, MOISTURE FARM - LATE DAY ANAKIN stands looking across the desert. PADME comes running out of the homestead after him, followed by OWEN. ANAKIN turns to PADME. ANAKIN You are going to have to stay here. These are good people, Padme. You'll be safe. OWEN Take my speeder bike. PADME Anakin... PADME hugs him. ANAKIN walks over to Owen's speeder bike, which is standing close by. ANAKIN I trust you'll watch over her, Owen. OWEN Don't worry. ANAKIN swings onto the bike. The engine fires. ANAKIN I won't be long. ANAKIN takes off across the desert. PADME watches him go. EXT. SPACE, GEONOSIS The red planet of Geonosis is circled by a large asteroid field that form rings. Jango Fett's ship appears, heading toward it. INT. COCKPIT, FETT SHIP, SPACE, GEONOSIS JANGO FETT grins at BOBA FETT. JANGO FETT Nearly there, son. JANGO FETT guides he ship around the asteroids. Suddenly: BOBA FETT Dad, look!! On the view screen, Obi-Wan's ship appears, chasing after them. JANGO FETT grabs the controls. They are thrown around as the ship plummets to try to lose OBI-WAN. JANGO FETT Hang on! The ship goes into a power-climb. A GREAT SPACE DDOGFIGHT ensues between OBI-WAN and JANGO FETT. EXT. SPACE, GEONOSIS The ships flip, roll, and turn at incredible speed, didging, weaving and firing. They tumble from near misses. Hits fly off Obi-Wan's fighter as one of Jango's missiles gets through. Finally, it seems as if OBI-WAN is getting the upper hand. JANGO FETT breaks off the fight and dives sharply. He maneuvers deftly between two huge asteroids. In JANGO FETT'S COCKPIT, BOBA FETT flinches as asteroids pass very close by. BOBA FETT Dad! Watch out! JANGO FETT Stay calm, son. We'll be fine. That Jedi won't be able to follow us through this. But Obi-Wan ship dives into the asteroid belt after them. IN OBI-WAN'S COCKPIT, his skill is pushed to the limit as he throws the ship from side to side, avoiding great rocks. Then a huge asteroid tumbles across his path. There seem no way he can avoid it. OBI-WAN fires a couple of aerial torpedoes. They streak toward the asteroid. IN JANGO'S COCKPIT, they see the huge explosion as Obi-Wan's ship appears to smash into the asteroid. BOBA FETT Got him! Yeahhhhh! JANGO FETT We won't see him again. BOBA FETT laughs. Jango Fett's ship emerges from the asteroid belt and heads down toward the planet of Geonosis. EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, JAWA CAMP - SUNSET ANAKIN stands in the middle of a crowd of JAWAS. He asks them from directions. The JAWAS confer exicitedly, then the CHIEF JAWA points in a particular direction. ANAKIN gets on the bike and speeds off to where the JAWA pointed. EXT. TATOOINE, DUNE SEA, CAMPFIRE - TWILIGHT ANAKIN rides over a large dune toward a small flickering light in the distance. He rides up and stops the bike in front of a campfire. There are bodies of THREE DEAD FARMERS lying beside the campfire. TWO EOPIES are thethered nearby, along with a burned and smoking speeder. EXT. TATOOINE, LANDSCAPE (FULL MOON) - NIGHT THREE DIFFERENT SHOTS. ANAKIN rids the speeder bike through three exotic landscapes. In one shot, he stops and looks down at some tracks. Then he starts up his speeder and rides off. EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, HOMESTEAD (FULL MOON) - NIGHT The lights of the vaporators blink in the night sky. Somewhere close by, a night animal HOWLS. EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, COURTYARD (FULL MOON) - NIGHT PADME is pacing the courtyard restlessly. She stops, listening to the animal HOWLING nearby. She shivers slightly, then turns and goes into the garage at the side of the courtyard. INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD - GARAGE (FULL MOON) - NIGHT PADME stands looking at a speeder parked in the garage. Short silence. Then: C-3PO Please don't leave us, Miss Padme. These people need your help. THREEPIO is parked in a corner. PADME I'm not leaving, Threepio. I just can't sleep. C-3PO That's something I cannot relate to. As a Protocol Droid, I'm either active or inactive. There's no in-between. PADME I guess you're lucky. C-3PO Do you really think so..? I suppose I shouldn't expect... PADME You're not happy here? C-3PO Oh, I'm not unhappy... and my masters here ar so kind I wouldn't wish to trouuble them, it's just... being like this... well, it's embarrassing. PADME Being like what? C-3PO Naked. If you pardon the expression. You see, when Master Annie made me, he never quite found the time to give me any outer covering. It's so humiliating. How would you like it if you had to go around with all your circuits showing? PADME I guess I wouldn't like it at all. C-3PO Of course you wouldn't. Nobody would. It's simply not protocol. PADME looks thoughtfully at a pile of spare parts and bits of metal and tools. PADME Maybe we can do something about it. C-3PO I don't think so. Only Master Annie... PADME Why not? They seem to have a box of old coverings here. C-3PO Oh? How observant of you, Miss Padme. Of course, I'm just not mechanically minded... if you see what I mean. PADME picks up a piece of metal and holds it against him. PADME Let's see, if we put this... here... C-3PO Ooooh! That's tickles. PADME You'll have to be quiet, Threepio. Hold still, please. EXT. SPACE, GEONOSIS RINGS A huge chunk of rock tumbles slowly through the asteroid bely. CAMERA CLOSES, to discover Obi-Wan's Starship hidden in a blasted-out area on the pitted back side of the great rock. INT. COCKPIT, JEDI FIGHTER, SPACE, GEONOSIS RINGS OBI-WAN looks out toward Geonosis and sees in the distance a large fleet of Trade Federation Ships hidden among the asteroids. He starts the engines of his fighter. Obi-Wan's Fighter moves out from the back side of the asteroid and heads away from the asteroid field, descending toward Geonosis. EXT. GEONOSIS, LANDING AREA - NIGHT Obi-Wan's ship skims across the top of a small mesa along the edge of a rocky ridge. He maneuvers under a rock overhang and lands. He gets out of the Fighter and walks onto the mesa. The wind whips at him. He looks around. Geonosis is a red rock planet, featureless apart from buttes and mesas, and occasional tall stalagmites that stand out dramatically on the arid plains. The night is quiet, except for an occasional WEIRD CRY. OBI-WAN checks his bearings, then heads away. EXT. GEONOSIS, ROCK FACE TRAIL - NIGHT OBI-WAN climbs a steep, narrow trail. Suddenly, a CRY is heard close by. OBI-WAN stumbles slightly. His foot slips on the edge, sending a stream of peblles skittering into the darkness. OBI-WAN listens. Silence. He draws his lightsaber but does not ignite it. He sets off again and works his way around a narrow corner, to confront a crouching MASSIFF (a dog-sized lizard) with slavering fangs! The beast leaps at him, and OBI-WAN ignites his lightsaber as the MASSIFF knocks him on his back. Its jaws open wide. OBI-WAN stabs the creature, throws it off of him, and jumps up. A SECOND MASSIFF jumps from behind. OBI-WAN swings around and cuts it in half. The MASSIFF flies over the cliff, HOWLING. It plummets to its death hundreds of feet below. EXT. TATOOINE, CLIFF (FULL MOON) - NIGHT ANAKIN pulls up near the edge of a cliff. He gets off the bike and creeps to the edge. He looks over to see a Tusken camp in the oasis below. One of the huts at the edge of the camp has TWO TUSKEN GUARDS outside it. EXT. TATOOINE, TUSKEN RAIDER CAMP, OASIS (FULL MOON) - NIGHT ANAKIN creeps through the camp, working his way from hut to hut, flattening himself against the wall,s overhearing snatches of Tusken conversation from inside, using the shadows to him him until he arrives at the hut with the TWO GUARDS. They are sitting a short distance from the door. ANAKIN wriggles around the black. He takes out his lightsaber and cuts into the base of the wall. INT. TUSKEN RAIDER HUTT - NIGHT The lightsaber completes the hole in the wall. ANAKIN wriggles in. He pulls himself to his feet. There are candles everywhere. A shaft of moonlight from a hole in the roof pierces the gloom of the hut. By its light, ANAKIN sees SHMI, hanging from a wooden frame in the middle of the hut. He cuts her free, takes her into his arms, and lowers her gently to the ground. Her eyes are closed. Her face is bloodied. She has been terribly beaten. Anakin cradles her tenderly. ANAKIN Mom... Mom... Mom... SHMI'S eyelids flutter - and barely open. They are caked with blood. SHMI Annie...? Is it you? SHMI'S eyes focus slowly. ANAKIN gives a little choking gasp. ANAKIN I’m here, Mom. You’re safe. Hang on. I’m going to get you out of here... SHMI I’m so glad... to see you, Annie... Now... I am complete... ANAKIN Just stay with me, Mom. I’m going to make you well again. Everything’s going to be fine. SHMI You look so handsome. My son... my grown-up son. I’m so proud of you, Annie... so proud... I missed you so much... I love... SHMI dies. ANAKIN draws her to his breast. There is silence for a moment. ANAKIN lifts his head, listening for a moment, then he sits on the floor of the Tusken hut, cradling his dead mother in his arms. EXT. GEONOSIS, ROCK FACE TRAIL - NIGHT OBI-WAN arrives at the head of the trail. Far below, a flat plain stretches into the distance. He stop, peering into the darkness, where strange shapes loom indistinctly. OBI-WAN takes a pair of electronic binoculars from his belt and puts them to his eyes. He sees a cluster of great towers like fantastic stalagmites rise from the plain below. SLOW PAN with the binoculars, and suddenly a line of Battle Starships come into view. OBI-WAN touches the viewfinder. Between fifty and a hundred Federation Starships in near rows. Some are on platforms that are carrying the Starships diwn to an underground facility. Other platforms are rising to the surface. They carry THOUSANDS of BATTLE DROIDS that step off and file into the waiting ships. A fully loaded Starship takes off. OBI-WAN swings the binoculars upward, to see more Federation Starships. EXT. TATOOINE, TUSKEN RAIDER CAMP, OASIS - DAWN The pale light grows. Thin tendrils of smoke rise slowly in the cold, clear air. Somewhere an dog BARKS. An OLD WOMAN comes out of one of the huts. She carries a pail. She swirls it and tosses the dirty water onto the ground. As she goes back inside the hut, a TUSKEN CHILD runs past, dragging a stick in the sand. The CHILD runs through the line of huts, turns a corner, and stops suddenly, staring at the bodies of the TWO TUSKEN GUARDS. Between them, ANAKIN stands outside the hut door. His face is a grim mask. The CHILD stares, then there is a FLASH OF LIGHT as Anakin’s lightsaber switches on. EXT. GEONOSIS, LANDING AREA - NIGHT OBI-WAN comes running back to his ship and climbs into the cockpit. He settles into his seat. His ARFOUR DROID beeps a happy greeting. OBI-WAN switches on his comlink. OBI-WAN "Guiding light" to "old folks home." EXT. CORUSCANT, REPUBLIC EXECUTIVE BUILDING - DAY LOW ANGLE. A line of reflecting pools with splashing fountains flanked by statues on each side leads to the main entrance to the awesome building. INT. CORUSCANT, CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE A hologram of OBI-WAN flickers in front of a group, made up of Jedi (YODA, MACE WINDU, and KI-ADI-MUNDI) and Senators (BAIL ORGANA, ASK AAK, LUMINARA, and JAR JAR). PALPATINE and MAS AMEDDA are in the middle of the group, watching with growing concern. OBI-WAN ...Starships from the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guilds are taking deliveries of battle droids from the foundries on Geonosis. BAIL ORGANA That's outrageous! The treaty forbids the Trade Federation from building up an army. What are they doing?! OBI-WAN The droid foundry seems to be working at full capacity. I am going to go down and investigate. I will bring Jango Fett back home for interrogation. PALPATINE Those Geonosian foundries are part of the Techno Union. We will call in their representatives and ask them a few very pointed questions. OBI-WAN One more thing. Jango mentioned he was recruited by someone named Darth Tyranus. Any idea who that might be? YODA With the forename Darth, a Sith he must be. MACE WINDU Our missing apprentice. They are playing their hand at last. OBI-WAN Do you believe he could be the mysterious Sido-Dyas, who made the deal for the clone army? YODA Perhaps too many pieces are missing from this puzzle, there are. MACE WINDU Be careful, Obi-Wan. This investigation is becoming less than routine. Do you need help? OBI-WAN Let me see if I can figure out what's going on first. The hologram of OBI-WAN fades off. PALPATINE stares at the spot where the hologram was in disbelief. BAIL ORGANA The Commerce Guilds are preparing for war... there can be no doubt of that. PALPATINE Count Dooku must have made a treaty with them. MACE WINDU We must stop them soon before they're fully ready. SENATOR ASK AAK The debate is over, we need that clone army now! BAIL ORGANA Unfortunately, the debate is not over. The Senate will never be able to approve the use of that army before the separatists attack. Mas Amedda, who had been silent up until now suddenly speaks up. MAS AMEDDA This is a crisis! If the Senate votes the Chancellor emergency powers, he could approve the use of the army in a minute. PALPATINE Please, please, I don't wish to have emergency powers. That's too extreme a solution. It's akin to a dictatorship. We must rely on the Jedi. Master Yoda, how many are available to go to Geonosis? MACE WINDU and YODA look at one another. YODA Two Hundred,... less or more. BAIL ORGANA With all due respect for the Jedi Order, two hundred will be no match for hundreds of thousands of battle droids. MACE WINDU Patience. We should wait for Obi- Wan to report back. We don't know that Count Dooku has made a treaty with the Corporate Alliance, it's speculation. SENATOR ASK AAK But we must prepare for the worst. I'm going to propose a motion granting emergency powers to the Chancellor at the next session. We must not wait! PALPATINE Out of the question, Senator! You and I are too closely aligned. The issue will become partisan and debates will begin. The proposal must come from a neutral source. MAS AMEDDA If only Senator Amidala were here. JAR JAR steps forward from the back of the group. JAR JAR Supreme Chancellor... my august colleagues, I would be proud to propose the motion in question. This is a grave situation, and I'm sure Senator Amidala, and the Queen of Naboo would agree. SENATOR ASK AAK Thank you, Representative Binks. Silence. Then PALPATINE sighs deeply. PALPATINE If called upon, I will serve. But it will be the saddest day of my life. EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, HOMESTEAD MOISTURE FARM - DAY All is quiet. BERU comes out of the house. She goes to a moisture line and starts to draw water. INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, GARAGE - DAY PADME fixes the last piece of covering onto THREEPIO. PADME There! PADME stands back. OWEN is with her. They look at THREEPIO. He isn't the golden figure we know because PADME has had to use whatever stuff she could findin the garage. He is multi-coloured in several textures, but he is complete. C-3PO Um. How do I look? OWEN Great! You look perfect. C-3PO Perfect? Oh, Miss Padme, I'm so happy! (extending his hand to shake hers) Oh, pardon me. THREEPIO drops his hand and bows formally. THREEPIO (continuing) Thank you. He forgets formality and hugs her. PADME hugs him back, laughing. C-3PO (continuing) Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! OWEN (grinning) Well, Padme, I think he should be yours from now on... I know that is what my Mom would want. C-3PO Oh, my! Then suddenly, from outside: BERU (V.O.) Come topside, everybody! He's back! He's back! PAGE 83 PAGE 84 PAGE 85 PAGE 86 PAGE 87 PAGE 88 INT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, GARAGE - DAY A rough hologram of OBI-WAN is projected onto the garage by ARTOO. ANAKIN, PADME and THREEPIO watch the flickering image. OBI-WAN ...Alliance have pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming an... Wait!... ah... attack... I don't... make it... aaaggghhh! The hologram cuts off. ANAKIN jumps up, agitated. ANAKIN I'm going after him! PADME I thought the first thing he said was to retransmit his message to Coruscant. ANAKIN Yeah, you're right, you're right. EXT. TATOOINE, HOMESTEAD, MOISTURE FARM - LATE DAY ANAKIN, PADME, ARTOO and THREEPIO leave the homestead, waving to CLIEGG, OWEN and BERU as they go into the desert. INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP - SUNSET ANAKIN sits down in the cockpit with PADME. THREEPIO is behind them. ARTOO is beside him. They are watching a hologram of MACE WINDU. MACE WINDU We will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you, Anakin, is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your priority. ANAKIN Understood, Master. The hologram switches off. PADME is looking at the readout on the ship's control panel. PADME They'll never get there in time to save him. They have to come half way across the galaxy. Look, Geonosis is less than a parsec away. PADME starts to hit buttons and flick switches. ANAKIN puts a hand over hers, stopping her. She stares at him. ANAKIN If he's still alive. PADME Annie, are you just going to sit here and let him die?? He's your friend... your mentor... ANAKIN ...He's like my father, but you heard Master Windu. He gave me strict orders to stay here. PADME He gave you strict orders to protect me... PADME pulls her hand free and flicks more switches. The engines fire. PADME (continuing) ...and I'm going to save Obi-Wan. So if you plan to protect me, you will have to come along. ANAKIN grins and takes the controls. EXT. TATOOINE, BLUFF OVERLOOKING HOMESTEAD - SUNSET The Naboo Starship rises from the bluff and zooms away. EXT. CORUSCANT, JEDI TEMPLE - DAY TWO HUNDRED JEDI KNIGHTS are assembling outside the huge center of the Jedi Order. INT. CORUSCANT, JEDI TEMPLE, COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY The JEDI COUNCIL are assembled as MACE WINDU makes his plea. MACE WINDU The longer we wait, the stronger Dooku's armies become. We cannot wait for the Senate to make up its mind about granting the Chancellor emergency powers, in order to be able to use that clone army... We have the authority to go now. We must go now. All of the JEDI COUNCIL nod their approval. YODA Agreed, Master Windu. Two hundred Jedi send. Enough, let's hope they are. INT. CORUSCANT, MAIN SENATE CHAMBER - DAY Inside the great rotunda, the UPROAR is even louder. Opposing SENATOES yell furiously at one another. MAS AMEDDA Order! Order!! Finally, the uproar dies. PALPATINE In the regrettable absence of Senator Amidala, the chair recognises Senior Representative of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks. Amid the conflicting storm of CHEERS AND BOOS, JAR JAR, with TWO GUNGAN AIDES, floats on his pod to the middle of the vast space. He looks at PALPATINE nervously. PALPATINE nods. JAR JAR clears his throat. JAR JAR Senators, dellow felagates... Laughter. Jeers. JAR JAR blushes. MAS AMEDDA Order! The Senate will accord the Representative the courtesy of a hearing! Comparative quiet. JAR JAR grips the edge of the podium. JAR JAR In response to the direct threat to the Republic from the Confederacy of Independent Systems, I propose that the Senate gives immediate emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor. Uproar. JAR JAR looks a little sheepish. JAR JAR (continuing) Who can deny these are exceptional times? Exceptional times demand exceptional measures! Exceptional measures demand exceptional men! ORN FREE TAA We won't support a dictator. SHOUTS of agreement. JAR JAR That is the sentiment every one of us agrees with! And when the shadow of war has dispersed and the bright day of liberty has dawned once again, the power we now give to the Supreme Chancellor will be gladly, and swiftly returned. Out ancient liberties will be restored to us, burnished even more brightly than before! Brief silence, then a rolling wave of APPLAUSE. JAR JAR beams and bows. PALPATINE rises. PALPATINE It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy... I love the Republic. The fact that this crisis is demanding I be given absolute power to tule over you is evident. But I am mild by nature and have no desire to destroy the democratic process. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated, I promise you. And all I ask in return is when my current term of office is over, you allow me to reture and live out my life in peace. MAS AMEDDA We shall proceed to the vote. All those in favor of granting emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor, signal ate at this time... those opposed? EXT. SPACE The Naboo Starship heads toward the rings of Geonosis. EXT. GEONOSIS, LANDING AREA The Naboo Starship lands. INT. COCKPIT, NAOO STARFIGHTER - DAY ANAKIN switches off the engines. ARTOO and THREEPIO are in the navigation area of the cockpit. PADME is in the co-pilot's seat. She gets up. ANAKIN Hey, where are you going? PADME To find Obi-Wan. ANAKIN gets up and goes over to her. ANAKIN No! You're not! He grabs her arm. PADME Let go of me! ANAKIN I'm not letting you go out there. It's too dangerous. PADMÉ What?!? ANAKIN It's my job to protect you. I said it's too dangerous. You're not going, and that's final! PADMÉ Don't you give me orders, Annie! I'm a Senator of the Galactic Republic. You have no authority to contain me, restrain me, or direct me! You remember your place, young man. (standing up) Now you can come along and protect me or stay here. It's up to you. PADME storms out of the cockpit of the Naboo Starfighter. ANAKIN stands scratching his head, then follows. ARTOO BEEPS and WHISTLES. C-3PO Yes, it is, Artoo. Most confusing. One moment they're generating a pleasant mutual attraction and the next, waves of violent hostility. Even though I'm programmed to understand them, I doubt if I ever shall. ARTOO WHISTLES a plaintive sigh. INT. GEONOSIS, CORRIDORS - DAY ANAKIN and PADME enter the stalagmite city. They stop, looking around in wonder at the emptiness. PADME (in a low voice) It's empty! They start forward. As they pass, the surface of the pillars seems to pulse slowly and move. High above WINGED CREATURES grow from the pillars and detach themselves. INT. GEONOSIS, CENTRAL SQUARE - DAY ANAKIN and PADME cross the square, reaching the middle. They stop suddenly as FOUR GEONOSIANS grabs them. ANAKIN reaches for his lightsaber. PADME Wait! TWENTY WINGED GEONOSIANS carrying weapons alight on the flagstones in front of them. The GEONOSIANS part, and COUNT DOOKU appears. He bows courteously. COUNT DOOKU Senator Amidala, I've heard so much about you. PADMÉ Count Dooku, I assume. COUNT DOOKU I'm delighted to meet you at last. We have a great deal to discuss, Senator. I hope you can keep your young Jedi under control. PADMÉ Don't worry he's housebroken. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM (GEONOSIS) - DAY COUNT DOOKU sits at a large conference table with PADME on the far side. ANAKIN stands behind her with FOUR GEONOSIANS GUARDS standing behind him. JANGO FETT stands behind COUNT DOOKU, and SIX GEONOSIAN GUARDS stand behind him. PADMÉ You are holding a Jedi Knight, Obi- Wan Kenobi. I am formally requesting you turn him over to me, now. DOOKU He has been convicted of espionage, Senator, and will be executed. In just a few hours, I believe. COUNT DOOKU smiles. PADMÉ He is an officer of the Republic. You can't do that. DOOKU We don't recognise the Republic here, Senator. But if Naboo were to join our Alliance, I could easily hear your plea for clemency. ANAKIN grabs his lightsaber but doesn't turn it on. PADMÉ And if I don't join your rebellion, I assume this Jedi with me will also die? DOOKU I don't wish to make you to join our cause against your will, Senator, but you are a rational, honest representative of your people and I assume you want to do what's in their best interest. Aren't you fed up with the corruption, the bureaucrats, the hypocrisy of it all?.. Aren't you? Be honest, Senator. PADMÉ The ideals are still alive, Count, even if the institution is failing. DOOKU You believe in the same ideals we believe in! The same ideals we are striving to make prominent. PADMÉ If what you say is true, you should stay in the Republic and help Chancellor Palpatine put things right. DOOKU The Chancellor means well, M'Lady but he is incompetent. He has promised to cut the bureaucracy, but the bureaucrats are stronger than ever, no? Senator, the Republic cannot be fixed. It is time to start over. The democratic process in the Republic is a sham, a shell game played on the voters. It will not be long before the cult of greed, called the Republic, will lose even the pretext of democracy and freedom. PADMÉ I cannot believe that. I will not forsake all I have honoured and worked for and betray the Republic. I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guilds, and the others, Count. What is happening here is not government that has been bought out by business... it's business becoming government! DOOKU Are you willing to betray your Jedi friends? Without your co-operation I can do nothing to stop their execution. PADMÉ What is to happen to me? Am I to be executed also? DOOKU I wouldn't think of such an offence. But, there are individuals who have a strong interest in your demise, M'lady. It has nothing to do with politics, I'm afraid. It's purely personal, and they have already paid great sums to have you assassinated. I'm sure they will push hard to have you included in the executions. I'm sorry but if you are not going to co-operate, I must turn you over to the Geonosians for justice. I've done all I can for you. JANGO FETT moves over to ANAKIN. JANGO FETT I'll take that weapon. ANAKIN hesitates. DOOKU You may cause a lot of bloodshed, my young Jedi, but you will not escape. PADMÉ Anakin... ANAKIN hands his lightsaber over to JANGO FETT. INT. GEONOSIS, HIGH AUDIENCE CHAMBER - DAY ANAKIN and PADME are standing in the centre of what looks like a courtroom. Seated before them in a tall, boxed-off area is POGGLE THE LESSER, Archduke of Geonosis. He is accompanied by his underling, SUN RIT. Off to one side the Separatist Senators PO NUDU, TESSEK, and TOONBUCK TOORA. Next to them are the Commerce Dignitaries, SHU MAI, NUTE GUNRAY, PASSEL ARGENTE, WAT TAMBOR and SAN HILL of the Intergalactic Bank Clan. Along the wall about a HUNDRED GEONOSIANS wait for a verdict. SUN RIT You have been charged and found guilty of Espionage. POGGLE Do you have anything to say before your sentence is carried out? PADMÉ You are committing an act of war, Archduke. I hope you are prepared for the consequences. POGGLE laughs. COUNT DOOKU simply smiles. POGGLE We build weapons, Senator... that is our business! Of course we're prepared! NUTE GUNRAY Get on with it. Carry out the sentence. I want to see her suffer. POGGLE Your other Jedi friend is waiting for you, Senator. Take them to the arena! FOUR GUARDS take hold of PADME and ANAKIN. They are escorted out of the chamber to the sounds of chuckling. INT. GEONOSIS TUNNEL TO EXECUTION ARENA - DAY In the gloomy tunnel, ANAKIN and PADME are tossed into an open cart. The murmur of a vast crowd is heard offscreen. GUARDS extend their arms along the framework and tie them so that they stand facing each other. The DRIVER gets up onto his seat. ANAKIN Don't be afraid. PADMÉ I'm not afraid to die. I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life. ANAKIN What are you talking about? PADMÉ I love you. ANAKIN You love me?! I thought we decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie. That it would destroy our lives... PADMÉ I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway. My love for you is a puzzle, Annie, for which I have no answers. I can't control it... and now I don't care. I truly, deeply love you, and before we die I want you to know. PADME leans toward ANAKIN. By straining hard, it is just possible for their lips to meet. They kiss. ANAKIN I have no desire to be cured of this love either. Long or short, I vow to spend the rest of my life with you. They kiss again. The DRIVER cracks his whip over the ORRAY harnessed between the shafts. The cart jerks forward. Suddenly, there isa HUGE ROAR and blinding sunlight as they emerge into the arena INT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY The great stadium is packed with tier upon tier of yelling GEONOSIANS. The cart trundles to the center, where OBI-WAN is chained to one of four upright posts thatare three feet in diameter. The cart stops. PADME and ANAKIN are taken down, dragged to posts, and chained to them. PADME is in the center. OBI-WAN I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten my message. ANAKIN I retransmitted it as you requested, Master. Then we decided to come and rescue you. OBI-WAN It looks like you're going a good job so far. Their arms are pulled high above their heads, and the cart drives away. There is another ROAR as POGGLE THE LESSER, COUNT DOOKU, NUTE GUNRAY, THE FETTS and DIGNITARIES arrive in the archducal box and take their places. SUN RIT The felons before you have been convicted of espionage against the Sovereign System of Geonosis. Their sentence of death is to be carried out in this public arena henceforth. The crowd ROARS and CHEERS. In the box, POGGLE THE LESSER rises. The crowd becomes quiet. POGGLE Let the executions begin! The crowd goes wild. ANAKIN I have a bad feeling about this. From different gates around the arena, THREE MONSTERS are driven in. One is a REEK (bull-like), one is a NEXU (lion-like), and one is an ACKLAY (a kind of dino-lobster). They are driven in by PICADORS carrying long spears and riding ORRAYS. The PICADORS poke the MONSTERS toward the center, then retire to the perimeter. The MONSTERS toss their heads, looking around, ROARING or SCREECHING. Then they catch sight of the THREE CAPTIVES and start moving toward them. OBI-WAN Take the one the left. I'll take the one on the right. ANAKIN What about Padme? PADME has turned around and is pulling herself up by the chain to the top of the post. Within a moment, she is standing on top of it, trying to pull the chain free. OBI-WAN It looks like she's already on top of things. The REEK charges ANAKIN. He jumps up, and the beast hits the post hard. ANAKIN lands onto its back, wrapping part of his chain around its horn. The REEK backs off, shaking its head angrily, which tears the chain from the post OBI-WAN ducks around the post as the ACKLAY charges. It knocks the post flat, sending OBI-WAN sprawling. The ACKLAY crunches the post between its claws, freeing the chain. OBI-WAN leaps up and runs towards ONE of the PICADORS. The ACKLAY taks off after him. The NEXU arrives at PADME'S post and rears on its hind legs. One top, PADME struggles to tear the chain free. The NEXU ROARS, displaying wicked, dripping fangs. In the archducal box, NUTE GUNRAY beams and rubs his hands. In the arena, OBI-WAN runs at the PICADOR. The ORRAY rears up. OBI-WAN grabs the PICADOR'S long spear and pole vaults over him. The chasing ACKLAY smashes into the ORRAY. It goes down. The PICADOR tumbles onto the sand, where he is grabbed by the ACKLAY and crunched. ANAKIN's REEK starts to buck. It charges around the arena with ANAKIN hanging on for dear life. He whirls the free length of chain around his head and casts it into the REEK's mouth. Its jaws clamp hard on the chain. ANAKIN yanks hard on the chain, turning the REEK, beginning to ride it. The NEXU's claws dig deep into the post. The cat-like creature reaches the top of the post and takes a swipe at PADME. She turns and the claw barely catches her shirt ripping it off, leaving superficial claw marks across her back. She hits the creature with her chain and it backs off down the pole. Then, PADME jumps off the post into the air. She swings around on the chain and whacks the beast hard on the head with both her feet. It tumbles back onto the sand. In the archducal box: NUTE GUNRAY Foul!! She can't do that... shoot her or something! In the arena, OBI-WAN runs out from behind the fallen ORRAY and throws the spear at the ACKLAY, hitting it in the neck. It lets out a terrible SCREECH and turns on him. The NEXU springs up and makes to leap up at PADME again. She finally manages to work the chain loose. ANAKIN comes charging up on the REEK. ANAKIN You okay? PADME (nods, gasping) Sure! Well, sort of. ANAKIN Jump!!! The NEXU springs. PADME leaps from the top of the post to land on the REEK in front of ANAKIN. He hauls her upright. The REEK charges away, around the arena. The NEXU bounds after it. The REEK passes the wounded ACKLAY. The NEXU smells the blood and turns aside to attack the ACKLAY. The TWO MONSTERS fight. The crowd GROANS and BOOS. In the archducal box, NUTE GUNRAY turns angrily to COUNT DOOKU. NUTE GUNRAY This isn't how it's supposed to be! Jango, finish her off. COUNT DOOKU motions for the bounty hunter to ptay put. BOBA FETT is enjoying the spectacle. COUNT DOOKU (smiling enigmatically) Patiece, Viceroy... she will die. Maybe this is the way it's supposed to end. OBI-WAN runs and jumps on the back of the REEK behind ANAKIN. Across the arena, the NEXU, having chewed up the ACKLAY, starts to advance toward them. INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP - DAY ARTOO BEEPS C-3PO Yes, it has been rather a long time. Do you suppose something's happened to them? ARTOO BEEPS and WHISTLES. C-3PO (continuing) Danger? Oh no, I shouldn't think so. It looks a very dull planet to me. They should be back shortly. Just stop worrying, Artoo. EXT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY In the archducal box, amid the uproar, COUNT DOOKU feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns to see MACE WINDU standing behind him. COUNT DOOKU masks his surprise elegantly as he surveys the arena and sees JEDI KNIGHTS standing at every entrance and exit. COUNT DOOKU Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us. You're just in time for the moment of truth. I would think these two new boys of yours could use a little more training.MACE WINDU Sorry to disappoint you, Dooku. This party's over. MACE WINDU signals, and at stategic places around the arena there are sudden flashes of light as about ONE HUNDRED JEDI switch on their lightsabers. The crowd is suddenly silent. COUNT DOOKU'S lips curl in slight amusement. COUNT DOOKU (to Mace Windu) Brave, but stupid, my old Jedi friend. You're impossibly outnumbered. MACE WINDU I don't think so. One Jedi has to be worth a hundred Geonosians. COUNT DOOKU looks around the great theater. His smile grows. COUNT DOOKU It wasn't the Geonosians I was thinking about. How well do you think one Jedi will hold up against a thousand battle droids? COUNT DOOKU signals. THOUSANDS OF DROIDS start to pour into all parts of the arena. MACE WINDU draws his lightsaber, JANGO FETT draws his guns and fires at MACE WINDU, who deflects the shots. JANGO FETT and MACE WINDU jump into the arena, where they fight. BOBA FETT wacthes his Dad and the Jedi Master fight. The battle beginss. GEONOSIANS fly away everywhere. DROIDS fire at JEDI, who deflect the bolts and cult down the DROIDS. The GEONOSIAN TROOPS fire ray guns that are more difficult for the JEDI to deflect. The REEK and the NEXU are spooked by the battle. The REEK bucks the riders off its back and stampedes around the arena, trampling DROIDS and JEDI that have moved into its path. PADME picks up a discarded pistol and joins the fight. SEVERAL JEDI run to the center of the arena and toss lightsabers to OBI-WAN and ANAKIN. Among the crowd, JEDI cut down swaths of GEONOSIANS and DROIDS. On the sand, JEDI fight, attacking DROIDS. OBI0WAN and ANAKIN swing their lightsabers, cutting DROIDS in half. PADME blasts away at DROIDS and GEONOSIANS. INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP ARTOO whistles. C-3PO I don't hear anything. (Artoo beeps) You're scaring me! Stop imagining things! EXT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY Among the tiers, JEDI are slowly being driven back. They have killed heaps of GEONOSIANS and have kncoked out piles of DROIDS, but sheer numbers are telling. Individual JEDI are being cut down or blasted/ The rest are retreating into the arena. ANAKIN and PADME are back-to-back, fighting DROIDS and flying GEONOSIANS. MACE WINDU fights fiercely with JANGO FETT. Finally, the bounty hunter falls. His helmet goes flying, bouncing down the steps, tumbling and rolling, kicked here and there by random feet. The bounty hunter's body falls to the ground. MACE WINDU runs to the center of the arena and fights back-to-back with OBI-WAN, as they swipe and mangle DROIDS. OBI-WAN Someone's got to - shut down - these droids. MACE WINDU Don't worry! It's being - taken care of! EXT. GEONOSIS, FEDERATION STARSHIP - DAY KI-ADI-MUNDI leads a raiding party of about TWENTY JEDI through the lines of parked Battle Starships. They cut a swath through masses of DROIDS until they arrive at the Command Starship. Some JEDI fall. The rest cut their way up the ramps and into the Command Ship. INT. COMMAND FEDERATION STARSHIP, CORRIDORS - DAY KI-ADI-MUNDI and teh surviving JEDI fight their way through the corridors of the Command Ship, deflecting laser bolts, slicing DROIDS. INT. COMMAND FEDERATION STARSHIP, CONTROL BRIDGE - DAY THEY burst onto the bridge and chop down the COMMAND DROIDS. The NEIMOIDIANS flee in all directions. KE-ADI-MUNDI leans over the control panel. He locates the illuminated master switch and punches down on it. It goes dark. Instantly, all the DROIDS on the Starship and all the DROIDS in the arena FREEZE! There is a moment of stunned silence, then the JEDI CHEER. One the bridge, PLO KOON claps KI-ADI-MUNDI on the back. PLO KOON We've done it! Now we have a chance! Suddenly, there is a harsh BEEPING SOUND. All the DROIDS on the Starship and all the DROIDS in the arena start fighting again! KI-ADI-MUNDI stares in disbelief and dismay. KI-ADI-MUNDI The system's off but they're still active. That's a new feature. They are independent of the control system. EXT. GEONOSIS, EXECUTION ARENA - DAY MACE WINDU, OBI-WAN, ANAKIN, PADME and an exhausted group of about TWENTY JEDI stand in the center of the arena surrounded by a ring of BATTLE DROIDS. The bloodied sand around them is strewn with the bodies of DEAD GEONOSIANS, SHATTERED DROIDS and JEDI. At the foot of some steps, BOBA FETT finds his father's battered helmet. He picks it up. KI-ADI-MUNDI and the SURVIVORS from the raiding party are herded into the arena by SUPERDROIDS. From the encircling tiers above, THOUSANDS OF BATTLE DROIDS level their weapons menacingly. In the archducal box, COUNT DOOKU lifts his hand. The DROIDS lower their weapons. The COUNT calls out to the JEDI. COUNT DOOKU Master Windu! Silence. COUNT DOOKU (continuing) You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the history archives of the Jedi Order. Now it is finished. (pauses briefly) Surrender - and your lives will be spared. MACE WINDU We will not be hostages for you to barter with Dooku. COUNT DOOKU Then, I'm sorry, old friend. You will have to be destroyed. The DROIDS raise their weapons. ANAKIN and PADME clasps hands tightly. COUNT DOOKU raises his hand to give the order to fire. PADME looks up suddenlt and whispers to ANAKIN. PADME Look! Above, six Gunships are descending fast through the open area in the arena ceiling. They land in a cluster around the handful of JEDI. CLONE TROOPERS spill out and start firing at the DROIDS. There is a hellstorm of laserfire that bounces off the laser shields created by the Gunships. YODA appears at the door of one of the Gunships. YODA Come on - hurry! Hurry! The SURVIVING JEDI dash to the Gunships and scramble in. MACE WINDU hangs on tight as the Gunship, firing all its weapons, rises out of the arena up and over the topmost rim. EXT. GEONOSIS, TERRAIN OUTSIDE EXECUTION ARENA - DAY The massed lines of parked Federation Starships and the DROIDS surrounding the arena, are themselves surrounded by thousands of Republic Starships, disgorging TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CLONE TROOPERS. Beyond, more Republic Starships are landing and spewing out troops. INT. GUNSHIP NUMBER ONE - DAY MACE WINDU stares at the incredible sight. YODA More battalions to the left. Encircle them we must, then divide. The CLONE TROOPERS open fire with artillery. EXPLOSIONS wreck the parked Battle Starships. CLONE TROOPERS advance, firing at the massed DROIDS. FIGHTER DROIDS fly overhead, exchanging fire with the Gunships and JEDI fighters. INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP - DAY THREEPIO and ARTOO see flashes outside of the ship, exploding everywhere. C-3PO I'm sure I heard something, this time. Didn't you? It's probably just a celebration ARTOO lets out an EXHAUSTED BLEEP. EXT. BATTLEFIELD, GEONOSIS LANDSCAPE - DAY Gunship #2 skims the battlefield, firing down, deflecting answering fire from the droids. INT. GUNSHIP NUMBER TWO - DAY OBI-WAN, ANAKIN and PADME are at the open sides of the Gunship. CLONES fire down at the DROIDS below. The Gunship slows, circling over a droid gun-emplacement. It blasts it, but suddenly the Gunship is rocked by a near miss. It lurches violently. OBI-WAN Hold on! Look over there... Through the other side of the Gunship, they see a Geonosian Speeder racing past. In the open cockpit is the unmistakable figure of COUNT DOOKU. ANAKIN It's Dooku, go after him! The PILOT starts to comply, but... there is a HUGE BLASTS, the ship lurches on its side, and PADME tumbles out. ANAKIN (continuing) Padme!!! ANAKIN stares down in horror as PADME hits thr ground below. ANAKIN (continuing; to pilot) Put the ship down! Down! OBI-WAN No! Forget her. We have to go after Dooku. ANAKIN No we're not!! Land this ship! OBI-WAN Don't let your personal feelings get in the way. We've got a job to do. Below, PADME hauls herself to her feet and waves for them to go after DOOKU. ANAKIN I don't care!.. Go back. OBI-WAN Anakin! She's all right! Look. ANAKIN stares out to see PADME rescued by CLONE TROOPERS. OBI-WAN (continuing) Follow that speeder! On the ground, PADME looks up at Gunship #2 as it speeds away after Count Dooku. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN follow the speeder to a Geonosian tower. The speeder decsends rapidly; the Gunship follows. Count Dooku's speeder parks outside the tower; the Gunship parks next to it. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN leap down and run inside the tower. INT. GEONOSIS, SECRET HANGER TOWER - LATE DAY COUNT DOOKU throws switches on a control panel. His Interstellar Sail Ship is guarded by a SQUAD OF SUPER BATTLE DROIDS. The doors of the exit-port slide open. DROID CAPTAIN Your Excellency! COUNT DOOKU turns as OBI-WAN and ANAKIN run in through the hanger doors. They draw their lightsabers. The DROIDS raise their weapons. COUNT DOOKU That won't be necessary, Captain. Stand down. And leave them to me. The DROIDS lower their weapons and back off to the walls. COUNT DOOKU looks at OBI-WAN and ANAKIN with slight amusement. OBI-WAN (to Anakin) We move in together - you slowly on the... ANAKIN I'm taking him now! OBI-WAN Anakin, no! ANAKIN You'll pay for all the Jedi you've killed today, Dooku. ANAKIN charges across the open space at COUNT DOOKU, who smiles faintly, watching him come. ANAKIN raises his lightsaber. At the last moment, COUNT DOOKU thrusts out an arm, and ANAKIN is lifted up, hurled across the room, and slammed into the opposite wall. He slumps to the foot of the wall, semi-conscious. COUNT DOOKU moves toward OBI-WAN COUNT DOOKU Kenobi, isn't it? As you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours. Now, back down. OBI-WAN I don't think so. OBI-WAN lifts his lightsaber. COUNT DOOKU smiles. COUNT DOOKU Ah, but if I must. COUNT DOOKU draws his lightsaber. He and OBI-WAN start to circle each other. COUNT DOOKU (continuing) I have spent the last ten years learning to use the power of the Dark Side. It gives me infinitely greater power. OBI-WAN You will have to prove it. OBI-WAN comes in fast, swinging at COUNT DOOKU'S head. DOOKU parries the cut easily. As they fight, it quickly becomes clear that DOOKU is the complete swordsman - elegant, graceful, classical - a master of the old style. COUNT DOOKU Grand Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem. COUNT DOOKU parried another cut. COUNT DOOKU (continuing) Surely you can do better...? (parries) No, I'm surprised. Has Jedi swordsmanship degenerated so quickly, or are you trying to make fun of me? (cuts) Which is it? COUNT DOOKU thrusts. OBI-WAN steps back quickly, panting for breath. COUNT DOOKU (continuing) come, come, Master Kenobi. Put me out of my misery. OBI-WAN takes a deep breath, gets a fresh grip on his lightsaber and comes in again. For a moment, he drives COUNT DOOKU back. Then Dooku's superior skill begins to tell again, and he forces OBI-WAN to retreat. COUNT DOOKU increases the tempo of his attack. OBI-WAN is pushed to the limit to defend himself. DOOKU presses. His lightsaber flashes. OBI-WAN is wounded in the shoulder, then the thigh. He stumbles back against the wall, trips, and falls. His lightsaber goes skittering across the floor. COUNT DOOKU raises his lightsaber. OBI-WAN looks up helplessly. Dooku's lightsaber flashes down and CLASHES against - Anakin's lightsaber! COUNT DOOKU and ANAKIN stare eyeball to eyeball. COUNT DOOKU (continuing) That's brave of you, boy - but foolish. I would have thought you'd have learnt your lesson. ANAKIN I'm a slow learner. And ANAKIN charges at COUNT DOOKU. The force of his attack catches the Count slightly off balance. Anakin's lightsaber flashes. COUNT DOOKU draws back, putting a hand to his arm. He takes the hand away and looks at the smear of blood whee Anakin has nicked him. COUNT DOOKU You have unusual powers, young Padawan. But not enought to save you this time. ANAKIN Don't bet on it! OBI-WAN Anakin! OBI-WAN uses the Force to catch his lightsaber and he tosses it to ANAKIN. With TWO LIGHTSABERS, ANAKIN attacks. COUNT DOOKU parries and ripostes. It is no contest. ANAKIN is driven back against the wall. He loses one lightsaber. Finally COUNT DOOKU, in one flashing move, sends Anakin's arm, cut at the elbow, flying still gripping his lightsaber. ANAKIN drops to the ground in agony. COUNT DOOKU draws himself up to deliver the coup de grace. Suddenly, the great doors slide open. The DROIDS turn fast, raising their weapons. Through the thick smoke, emerges the heroic figure of YODA. He stops on the smoke-filled threashold, FOUR DROIDS lined up on either side of him, guns pointed. Before the DROIDS can get off a shot, YODA raises his hand, and the DROIDS are flung against the far walls and crash to the floor in heaps of smoking metal. Silence. COUNT DOOKU steps away from ANAKIN to face the Jedi Grand Master. His lightsaber whirls in a formal salute. COUNT DOOKU Master Yoda. At last we shall know who is the most powerful. YODA draws a miniature lightsaber out of his cane. He salutes formally. YODA Count Dooku. No interest in contests, do I have. COUNT DOOKU charges across the space at YODA. He rains down blows upon the tiny figure. YODA doesn't budge an inch. For the first part of the contest, he parries every cut and thrust that Dooku aims. Nothing the great swordsman tries gets through. His energy drains. His strokes become feebler, slower. YODA attacks! He flies forward. COUNT DOOKU is forced to retreat. Wprds are insufficient to describe the range and skill of Yoda's speed and swordplay. His lightsaber his a humming blur of light. Count Dooku's lightsaber is sent cartwheeling from his hand. He staggers back, gasping and spent, against the control panel. YODA jumps onto DOOKU'S shoulders, and is about to drive the lightsaber into the top of the Count's head. YODA (continuing) The end for you, Count, this is. COUNT DOOKU ...Not yet... COUNT DOOKU raises his arms and knocks YODA off his shoulders and then, with all his might, he uses the Force to pull on one of the cranes in the hanger. It comes crashing down on OBI-WAN and ANAKIN. But in the blink of and eye, YODA is under the crane, holding it up, using the Force. YODA closes his eyes and concentrates. ANAKIN is unconscious, and OBI0WAN tries toget out from under the crane. The fallen crane trembles and starts to life. Behind it, the sound of the Sail Ship's engines are heard starting up. YODA concentrates harder. Slowly, the crane rises. The SOUND OF THE ENGINES increases. YODA exerts every scrap of his powers. The crane lifts clear of ANAKIN and is thrown to the ground. DOOKU'S Sail Ship takes off. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN struggle to the exhausted YODA, but it's too late. The Sail Ship rises into the air and flies away. PADMÉ and a CLONE CAPTAIN with about TEN TROOPERS appear in the doorway. PADMÉ Anakin! PADMÉ runs too him and throws her arms around him. ANAKIN is barely able to stand up. The CLONE CAPTAIN marches up to YODA, stops, and salutes smartly. CLONE CAPTAIN Resistance is at an end, General. What are your orders ? YODA looks at him and sighs. EXT. CORUSCANT, OLD TOWN - DAWN COUNT DOOKU'S Interstellar Sail Ship glides through a deserted, burned-out part of Coruscant. COUNT DOOKU manoeuvres the ship into one of the empty buildings and lands. INT. CORUSCANT, SECRET LANDING PLATFORM - DAWN The ramp lowers. COUNT DOOKU emerges and walks to where the hooded figure of DARTH SIDIOUS stands waiting. COUNT DOOKU bows. COUNT DOOKU The Force is with us, my Master. DARTH SIDIOUS Welcome home, Lord Tyranus. You have done well. COUNT DOOKU I bring you good news, my Lord. The war has begun. DARTH SIDIOUS Excellent. (smiling) Everything is going as planned. EXT. CORUSCANT, JEDI TEMPLE - SUNSET The beautiful temple basks in the red glow of the setting sun. INT. JEDI TEMPLE, COUNCIL CHAMBER - SUNSET MACE WINDU Where is your apprentice? OBI-WAN On his way back to Naboo. He is escorting Senator Amidala home. They are standing, looking out through the tall windows at the great plaza below. YODA sits in his chair. OBI-WAN (continuing) I must admit without the clones, it would not have been a victory. YODA Victory? Victory, you say? OBI-WAN turns and looks at the sad little Jedi sitting in the Council Chamber. Apart from KI-ADI-MUNDI and PLO KOON, who is wounded, the Chamber is empty. YODA (continuing) Not victory, a defeat, it was... Master Obi-Wan. Begun, the Clone War has! EXT. NABOO LAKE RETREAT, LODGE, GARDEN - LATE DAY In a rose-covered arbor overlooking the sparkling late, ANAKIN and PADME stand before a NABOO HOLY MAN. THREEPIO and ARTOO stand by, watching, as the HOLY MAN blesses the happy couple and, amid gently falling rose petals, ANAKIN and PADME kiss. EXT. CORUSCANT, MILITARY STAGING AREA, BALCONY - LATE DAY PALPATINE, JAR JAR, BAIL ORGANA and the OTHER SENATORS, with TWO ROYAL GUARDS, stand looking down at the square below. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CLONE TROOPS are drawn up in a strict formation or move forwards in near files to climb the ramps of the Military Assault Ships. On the balcony, PALPATINE'S expression is deeply sad. Everyone watches comberly as, in the square, loaded Assault Ships take off. Other land immediately in their place. The sky above is thick with transports. CLONE TROOPS march and board the Ships. The Great Clone War has begun..
A/N THANK FOR READING THIS UBEE LONG CHAPTER I WASN'T ABLE TO EDIT IT HOW I WANTED WATTPAD HAD A BREAK DOWN OR I WOULD HAVE PUT MY SPIN ON THINGS A BIT. SEE YA IN THE NEXT CHAPTER