ANAKIN studies the controls.
ANAKIN
Let me see…
ANAKIN flicks switches, presses buttons and pulls levers. The Starfighter JOLTS and takes off.
ANAKIN
There we go…now…where should we look first? I know, let’s check out Beggar’s Canyon. I wonder how fast this thing can go…
11 EXT/INT OBI-WAN’S STARFIGHTER – BEGGAR’S CANYON – DAY
ANAKIN flies the Starfighter at maximum throttle and barrel-rolls into the canyon.
OBI-WAN
Slow down, for goodness sake, slow down!
ANAKIN barrel-rolls out of the canyon again, narrowly averting a collision with the cliff-face.
12 EXT/INT OBI-WAN’S STARFIGHTER – JUNDLAND WASTES – DAY
They fly above a desert plain, dotted with BANTHAS. ANAKIN weaves in and out of the rocky columns.
OBI-WAN
What in the blazes are you doing now?!
ANAKIN
Just testing out the machinery…Don’t worry I do this all the time…
OBI-WAN
Look out for the –
ANAKIN BLASTS the two criss-crossing columns blocking their path. The boulders TUMBLE down and block the path of passing JAWAS, who beat their fists at the passing ship.
13 EXT/INT OBI-WAN’S STARFIGHTER – KRAYT DRAGON CAVE – DAY
They fly above the open desert plains again, this time approaching a cave. A KRAYT DRAGON THUNDERS out of the cave towards them, SHRIEKING.
OBI-WAN
You’re going to get us both killed!
The KRAYT DRAGON swipes at the starfighter with its gargantuan claw and misses, as ANAKIN swerves the ship out of harm’s way.
OBI-WAN
(continuing)
Oh, I give up…
They continue flying over the desert plains for a little while. ANAKIN turns to look over at Obi-wan.
ANAKIN
Well…that was fun…Let’s go back for another look.
OBI-WAN
Okay, okay, he’s definitely not here! Can you just land the blasted thing already?!
ANAKIN
All right, all right! Take it easy…
14 EXT TATOOINE – DESERT WASTELAND – AFTERNOON
ANAKIN sets the ship back down where it took off. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN climb out of the cockpit.
ANAKIN
(looking down at the ground)
I’m sorry we couldn’t find your apprentice.
OBI-WAN
Oh, but we did find my apprentice…he’s you.
ANAKIN
(astonished)
Wha?! Me? A Jedi?! How can this be?
OBI-WAN
Before I arrived, I sensed a strong presence in the Force, coming from this planet. It’s only when I met you that I knew.
ANAKIN
But how?!
OBI-WAN
Don’t be so surprised. You have Jedi reflexes. You see things before they happen. All traits of a being gifted in the Force.
ANAKIN is excited, but he hesitates.
OBI-WAN
I sense you are troubled. What’s the matter?
ANAKIN
(looking at the ground again)
It’s my mother. A few years ago, my people were attacked by slave-traders and they kidnapped my mother. I don’t know where they took her. I’ve circled the planet countless times. She’s not here…
OBI-WAN
Perhaps on the path to becoming a Jedi, the answers might present themselves…
ANAKIN pauses, looking back and forth between the old hangar bay and the JEDI STARFIGHTER.
ANAKIN
There’s nothing for me here. I want to see the galaxy; make something of my life. I want to become a Jedi and learn the ways of the Force.
15 EXT/INT MOS EISLEY – HANGAR BAY – AFTERNOON
ANAKIN climbs out of the cockpit of the STARSHIP, throws his towel down and starts walking out.
ANAKIN
Seeya later, Zig. I’m going.
ZIG
What?! Hey Skywalker, what are you doing?! You forgot your…
ZIG shakes his head and puts Anakin’s toolkit down.
ZIG
Not again!
ANAKIN walks towards his LANDSPEEDER, parked outside the hangar bay. He climbs inside it.
ANAKIN
(to Obi-wan)
Come on, hop in.
OBI-WAN
(climbing into the LANDSPEEDER)
Where are we going?
ANAKIN
To say goodbye to an old friend.
ANAKIN REVS up the LANDSPEEDER and drives off.
16 EXT TATOOINE – WASTELAND – AFTERNOON
ANAKIN races across the wasteland in his battered LANDSPEEDER.
17 EXT TATOOINE – MOISTURE FARM – LATE AFTERNOON
ANAKIN pulls up the LANDSPEEDER beside the moisture farm. ANAKIN and OBI-WAN get out of the LANDSPEEDER. ANAKIN walks towards the hovel.
ANAKIN
(calling out)
Owen! Owen!!
OWEN
(calling back)
Hold on! I’m just finishing up. Why aren’t you still at work?
OWEN LARS walks out of the hovel with a towel over his shoulder. He cleans his hands with the towel as he approaches Anakin.
ANAKIN
Owen. (motioning towards OBI-WAN) There’s someone I’d like you to meet: Obi-wan Kenobi. Obi-wan, meet Owen Lars.
OBI-WAN
(shaking Owen’s hand)
Pleased to meet you.
OWEN
(suspiciously)
Sure…
ANAKIN
What’s taking you so long, anyway? Don’t tell me you need me to repair those moisture vaporators again!
OWEN
No, no, no, no…you ‘fixed’ quite enough the last time. I’m just busy at work, which is where you should be…
ANAKIN
Ha! Perhaps you should consider buying some droids!
OWEN
I’ll tell you what. How about I finish up here, and then we meet back at the homestead for some refreshments?
ANAKIN
Sounds good to me.
18 INT LARS HOMESTEAD – DINING AREA
Owen’s wife BERU, a young, beautiful woman, fills some pitchers with blue fluid from a refrigerated container in the well-used kitchen. She puts the pitchers on a tray and places them on the table.
OBI-WAN
(to Beru)
Thank you.
OWEN
So…Obi-wan, where are you from?
OBI-WAN
I came here from Coruscant.
OWEN
Ah! The bright centre of the universe! What brings an off-worlder like yourself all the way out to the Outer Rim?
OBI-WAN
I am a Jedi Knight on a mission to find an apprentice.
OWEN
Well, good luck finding a Jedi all the way out here! All you’ll find on this rock is Hutt-spawn and Bantha tracks!
OWEN raises his pitcher to his lips and starts drinking.
ANAKIN
Owen, I’m going with him…
OWEN spits out his drink in surprise.
OWEN
You’re what?
ANAKIN
I’m going with him, to Coruscant. I’m going to become a Jedi.
OWEN
Anakin, can I speak with you outside?
ANAKIN gets up from the table and OWEN places his hand on his shoulder as they walk out onto the balcony.
19 EXT LARS HOMESTEAD – BALCONY – BINARY SUNSET
OWEN
Have you lost your mind?! Didn’t anyone ever tell you to stay away from their kind?
ANAKIN
What are you talking about?
OWEN
The Jedi are dangerous! You’re a good mechanic, Anakin. You should stay here on Tatooine where it’s safe.
ANAKIN stares longingly out at the binary sunset.
ANAKIN
There’s nothing for me here. Besides, this might be my chance to find my mother.
OWEN
Your mother’s gone. Accept it. There’s nothing you can do about it. Just let it go.
ANAKIN
No, I won’t let it go! It’s a dead-end for me here. I want to make something of myself…
ANAKIN drags Owen back inside.