- Less questions being asked in most situations. Portrays confidence, and intelligence. (He catches on to Palpatine quicker without one question; he moves ahead of him suspicious and the next thing he says in the scene is “You’re the Sith Lord!”)
How quickly does he catch on?
The original script goes something like this;
PALPATINE: It is upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn’t seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don’t you wonder why they won’t make you a Jedi Master?
ANAKIN: I wish I knew. More and more I get the feeling that I am being excluded from the Council. I know there are things about the Force that they are not telling me.
PALPATINE: They don’t trust you, Anakin. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. Anakin, you must break through the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force.
They walk into the hallway.
ANAKIN: How do you know the ways of the Force?
PALPATINE: My mentor taught me everything about the Force . . . even the nature of the dark side.
They stop.
ANAKIN: You know the dark side?!?
PALPATINE: Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. Be careful of the Jedi, Anakin. (pausing) They fear you. In time they will destroy you. Let me train you.
ANAKIN: I won’t be a pawn in your political game. The Jedi are my family.
PALPATINE: Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force, Anakin, and you will be able to save your wife from certain death.
ANAKIN: What did you say?
PALPATINE: Use my knowledge, I beg you . . .
ANAKIN: You’re a Sith Lord!
ANAKIN ignites his lightsaber.
Personally, I would cut everything in between Palpatine revealing he knows the Dark Side and Anakin realizing that he’s the Sith Lord, so it would play out like this;
PALPATINE: It is upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn’t seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don’t you wonder why they won’t make you a Jedi Master?
ANAKIN: I wish I knew. More and more I get the feeling that I am being excluded from the Council. I know there are things about the Force that they are not telling me.
PALPATINE: They don’t trust you, Anakin. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. Anakin, you must break through the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force.
They walk into the hallway.
ANAKIN: How do you know the ways of the Force?
PALPATINE: My mentor taught me everything about the Force . . . even the nature of the dark side.
They stop.
ANAKIN: You’re a Sith Lord!
ANAKIN ignites his lightsaber.
I know that Hal just cuts out Palpatine’s line between “what did you say” and “you’re the Sith Lord!” Do you handle it the same way?