What was the bad mother/good mother angle?  I don't think I have ever heard of that potential angle before (and if I have, I've completely forgotten it) - it sounds interesting.

I don't think Lucas had any intention of making the prequels until he stuck that "Episode V" in the opening crawl of Empire Strikes Back.

pg.6 of the Making of ESB has a pic of a written page with an outline of the at this time (late 1977) the Saga was 12 episodes (as mentioned in Bantha Tracks and a Kenner marketing video) so makes sense that this outline has a second page, which is not printed.  Other allusions that there is a second page are the spacing, six per page and ANH in this outline is Episode Six, and the notation is "Star Wars Trilogy" with a line going down meaning Eps 6,7,8.  7 and 8 would start the next page.  This outline page has the 'Clone Wars' as episodes 2,3,4.  Ep1 is a prelude, Ep5 is an epilogue/prologue.  So speculating Ep9 would be another epilogue/prologue and eps10,11,12 would be the final trilogy.  What's written on this second page would explain a lot.  Maybe in the RotJ book....

skyjedi2005 wrote:  As far as can be gleaned  from all available sources its was just hashed out verbally between Lucas and Kurtz.

I think "hashed out" is phrasing it hard.  These were general conversations more like discussion of things they'd like to achieve, with plot device to make it work.  Then setting up the frame work to hinge all future decisions on.  What quote from George about 9 films are you basing this on?

The slow seduction to evil of Anakin by the Emperor vanished.

Anakin being a good friend and great starpilot vanished.

The first is semi-there, but it happens off screen.  Anakin has periodic meetings with Senator Palpatine.  and the Ani-Obi relationship is referenced as being good friends, but the films focus on moments which are more trying.  and the great starpilot angle is there, lucky TPM to RotS opening battle.

I'm not familiar with the good/mother bad mother.  Got a quote for this?  and the love triangle sounds more like a fan hypothesis from what I remember.

The features about Lucas writing TPM show him just kinda sit there with a pencil, a legal pad, and a thoughtful expression. He never acts as if he refrences the famous 'plan' he's always had.

At the end of the Making of Star Wars book there are some notes written by Lucas in 1977 speaking as C-3PO and Leia and he mentions, for example 3PO being reassembled by a young boy working for a junk dealer. He also mentions Trade and Commerce unions buying Senators to support Chancellor Palpatine.

There's also mention of the midi-chlorians.