Episode I
THE PHANTOM MENACE (REWRITE)
Written by
Adam Redsell
Revised Eighth Draft
November 11, 2005
Based on the film
‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace’
by
George Lucas.
1 EXT SPACE
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 rollup, which crawls into infinity.
The Galactic Republic has thrived for centuries in peace and unity under the guardianship of the Jedi Knights.
But the peace has been disturbed in recent times as rumours of a Mandalorian resurgence on the Onderonian moon of Dxun reach the Senate. The Mandalorians have settled there anonymously for decades, but their reputation as intergalactic conquerors precedes them.
Concerned by these developments, General Grievous, military leader of Onderon, dispatches spies to monitor their activities.
PAN DOWN to reveal the jungle moon of DXUN, with ONDERON in the backdrop. PAN with Mandalorian ship as it descends to land in the Mandalorian Base Camp.
2 EXT DXUN – JUNGLE – NIGHT
Two of General Grievous’ spies, CRIMSON THREE and CRIMSON FIVE, dressed in jungle camouflage, are hiding behind a cliff-face outside of the Mandalorian Base Camp.
CRIMSON THREE
Yep, that’s them alright. Pass me the electrobinoculars, will ya?
CRIMSON FIVE rummages around in his backpack until he finds them and passes them to CRIMSON THREE. CRIMSON THREE checks out the base through the electrobinoculars. He sees the MANDALORIAN WARRIORS training intensely, stockpiling assault weapons, and rebuilding their assault transports (BASILISKS).
CRIMSON THREE
(into comlink)
Crimson Three to Azure Base, over. Crimson Three to Azure Base, do you copy?
AZURE BASE
(over comlink)
We read ya, Crimson Three.
CRIMSON THREE
(into comlink)
I have visual of the settlement, it’s as we’ve feared. They’re stockpiling assault weapons, rebuilding Basilisks, everything.
AZURE BASE
(over comlink)
Can you see anything else?
CRIMSON THREE
(into comlink)
Wait…I think I can see –
Two BLASTER SHOTS sound. The comlink lies in the grass on the jungle floor.
AZURE BASE
(over comlink)
Crimson Three! Do you read me?! Crimson Thr –
A silvery boot steps on the comlink and crushes it.
3 INT ONDERON – IZIZ – PALACE THRONE ROOM – AFTERNOON
GENERAL GRIEVOUS enters the room and bows before QUEEN AMIDALA. A highly decorated military leader, Grievous has a broad jaw-line and chiselled facial features. He is aging, with greying hair and a beard, but well-built nonetheless. He wears a green military uniform, with multiple medals, and a black, flowing cape. QUEEN AMIDALA, wearing her elaborate headdress and robes, sits in her throne.
GRIEVOUS
Two of our spies on Dxun have been killed, your Highness. The Mandalorian presence on the moon is stronger than ever. They have enough firepower to make a landing on –
AMIDALA
Withdraw all surviving personnel.
GRIEVOUS
It will be done, your Highness. Your Highness…
AMIDALA
Yes, General?
GRIEVOUS
If I may make a suggestion…We have the technology at our disposal, I propose we build an army to defend Onderon…
AMIDALA
Cloning for military purposes would be a direct contravention of Republic law!
GRIEVOUS
But your Highness, the Mandalorians –
AMIDALA
I will not condone an action that will lead us to war!
GRIEVOUS
As you wish, your Highness…
GENERAL GRIEVOUS bows again and leaves the room. QUEEN AMIDALA watches him distrustfully.
4 INT ONDERON – IZIZ PALACE – CORRIDOR
GRIEVOUS walks down the corridor. The LIEUTENANT stops him in the corridor and salutes him.
LIEUTENANT
Shall we proceed with the operation, General?
GRIEVOUS
You may proceed. But be sure to exercise extreme caution.
LIEUTENANT
Yes, sir!
The LIEUTENANT salutes the General, about-turns, and leaves.
5 INT ONDERON – IZIZ – PALACE THRONE ROOM – SUNSET
QUEEN AMIDALA rises from her throne and stands in front of the window. She looks out at the sunset.
AMIDALA
Sabé.
SABÉ, one of the Queen’s handmaidens walks over to the Queen. She kneels before her.
SABÉ
Yes, your Highness?
AMIDALA
I want you to keep an eye on General Grievous. I think he’s up to something,
SABÉ
Yes, your Highness.
SABÉ rises to her feet and leaves the room.
6 INT OBI-WAN’S STARFIGHTER COCKPIT – SPACE
OBI-WAN KENOBI is flying in a JEDI STARFIGHTER on the OUTER RIM. OBI-WAN is twenty five, with long brown hair, beard, pale skin, and blue eyes. A small hologram of MASTER YODA materialises before OBI-WAN.
OBI-WAN
Why did you send me out here anyway, Master?
YODA
A master must have an apprentice, and one you must find.
OBI-WAN
I am to find an apprentice?
YODA
Yes. No more training do you require.
OBI-WAN
But where do I begin?
YODA
Concentrate. Feel the Force around you. And your apprentice you will find.
OBI-WAN
Thank you for your guidance, Master Yoda.
YODA
May the Force be with you, Obi-wan.
YODA bows and fades away.
OBI-WAN
Concentrate…
OBI-WAN closes his eyes and pauses in silent reflection. Suddenly, OBI-WAN opens his eyes as if waking from a nightmare. He pulls the flight controls to the far left.
OBI-WAN
What in the blazes?!
OBI-WAN narrowly averts a collision with a SPICE FREIGHTER. Once the danger has passed, he calms down and catches his breath.
OBI-WAN
That presence…it feels as though it came from…
OBI-WAN presses a few buttons and looks at the screen.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
…Tatooine…
He steers his ship towards the awesome yellow planet, her two moons glowing against the darkness.
7 INT MOS EISLEY – HANGAR BAY
ANAKIN SKYWALKER, eighteen years old, is a tall, mousy blonde starship mechanic. He works in a hangar bay, which is more like an old garage. It’s cluttered with junk-piles, toolkits, and starships. SCAVENGER DROIDS zip around the hangar bay, helping out the mechanics. ZIG, a mechanic, crouches down behind a starship, with a customer beside him. ANAKIN is busy repairing a starship, with his back turned to Zig.
ZIG
(whispering to customer)
Watch this…
ZIG throws a hydrospanner at Anakin from behind. With reflexes like a steel trap, ANAKIN shoots his hand up, gripping the rogue hydrospanner with ease. The CUSTOMER applauds his ‘party trick’. ANAKIN looks at his hand in disbelief and shakes his head.
ZIG
Nice catch!
ANAKIN
I told you, Zig, I hate it when you do that!
ZIG
Ah, come on Skywalker! The customers love it!
ANAKIN gets up, wipes his hands off with a towel, and walks over to ZIG. ANAKIN drops the hydrospanner at his feet and points at ZIG.
ANAKIN
Yeah, well cut it out, or you’ll be the one dodging hydrospanners! And fix up that loose power cuplink before some unlucky customer gets grinded into space-dust!
ZIG
(saluting Anakin in a mocking fashion)
Yes, sir!
ANAKIN turns and walks back to the STARSHIP he was working on.
ANAKIN
And someone help this Rodian out here!
ZIG
Hey Skywalker, where ya goin’?
ANAKIN
Anywhere but here! I’m taking this thing for a test-flight…
ANAKIN climbs into the cockpit. ZIG shakes his head smiling, and gets back to work.
8 INT TATOOINE – STARSHIP – COCKPIT
ANAKIN flies the STARSHIP over the Tatooinian desert. ANAKIN looks down from the cockpit and sees another ship on the ground.
ANAKIN
What the heck is that? Looks like…a Jedi Starfighter…
ANAKIN makes another pass just to make sure.
9 EXT TATOOINE – DESERT WASTELAND – DAY
OBI-WAN stands at a distance from his starfighter. The desert winds blow his cloak around. He turns to shelter the comlink.
OBI-WAN
(into comlink)
I felt an echo in the Force.
YODA
(over comlink)
An echo, located around a person?
OBI-WAN
(into comlink)
Yes, Master. I traced it here to Tatooine. I can feel the presence getting closer.
YODA
(over comlink)
Careful you must be.
OBI-WAN
(into comlink)
There’s a ship coming, I’d better go.
ANAKIN lands next to Obi-wan’s ship. He opens the cockpit and climbs out. He walks over to the JEDI STARFIGHTER to check it out. He runs his hand along the smooth surface.
OBI-WAN
Why, hello there!
ANAKIN
(startled)
Oh, what?! So, you’re the Jedi!
OBI-WAN
What makes you think I’m a Jedi?
ANAKIN
You’re flying a Jedi Starfighter, aren’t you?
OBI-WAN
I see that you’re familiar with spacecraft…
ANAKIN
I’m a starship mechanic. It’s my job to know these things…I’m guessing that lightsaber on your belt isn’t ornamental, either…
OBI-WAN
Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him.
ANAKIN
Yeah right. No one can kill a Jedi.
OBI-WAN
If only that were true…
ANAKIN
So…what brings a Jedi to these parts?
OBI-WAN
Why, the Force brought me here…
ANAKIN
The Force? What kind of ‘force’ are you talking about?
OBI-WAN
I am searching for my apprentice…
ANAKIN
Well, what does he look like? Maybe I can help you find him…
OBI-WAN
Well, he’s tall, he has astoundingly quick reflexes, and he can see things moments before they happen…
ANAKIN
(eyeing off the Jedi Starfighter)
That’s a pretty strange description, but okay…
OBI-WAN
(noting Anakin’s interest in spacecraft)
Perhaps you’d like to fly my ship and help me find him?
ANAKIN
Would I ever! (clearing his throat) I mean, sure I could help you…the name’s Anakin Skywalker, by the way (stretching out his hand).
OBI-WAN
(shaking Anakin’s hand)
Obi-wan Kenobi. Pleased to meet you, Anakin.
ANAKIN and OBI-WAN climb into the cockpit of the JEDI STARFIGHTER.