OBI-WAN puts his hand on Anakin’s shoulder as they enter the Combat Chamber.
OBI-WAN
Congratulations, Anakin. You’ve almost completed your basic training.
ANAKIN
It’s about time. I was starting to get bored…
OBI-WAN
Patience, Anakin. Patience. I have a gift for you.
ANAKIN
A gift? What for?
OBI-WAN
For the final tier of your basic training…
They walk over to a leather-bound chest on a stand.
OBI-WAN
Go on. Open it.
ANAKIN opens the chest slowly and his eyes widen. He unwraps the velvet to reveal a lightsaber hilt.
OBI-WAN
Your very own lightsaber.
ANAKIN looks astonished. He ignites the lightsaber and marvels at its blue light. He swings it from side to side, listening to its melodious HUM.
OBI-WAN
Hey! Be careful with that thing! It’s not a toy!
ANAKIN
Sorry, Master.
OBI-WAN
(clearing his throat)
Your first exercise is to block against this remote.
ANAKIN
Block against a droid?! Surely you can do better than that…
OBI-WAN
Good. You’ll be doing it blind-folded.
ANAKIN
(looking dismayed)
…But how am I supposed to –
OBI-WAN wraps the blind-fold across his eyes.
OBI-WAN
That’s the point. Your eyes deceive you. Don’t trust them.
ANAKIN swings his lightsaber around in anticipation.
ANAKIN
Great.
ANAKIN waits for the remote to strike, but swings too early. The REMOTE ZAPS him.
ANAKIN
Ouch!
ANAKIN changes hands and shakes his wrist, preparing himself for the next attack.
31 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – COMBAT CHAMBER – DAWN
Anakin’s blind reflexes have increased at an incredible pace. He deflects every shot the REMOTE takes.
ANAKIN leaps towards the remote with a downward strike followed by a sideways strike, slicing the remote into quarters.
ANAKIN
Got ‘em!
ANAKIN puts away his lightsaber, pulls off his blindfold, and smiles.
OBI-WAN
(surprised but dismayed)
You were supposed to block against the remote, not destroy it!
OBI-WAN shakes his head.
32 INT ONDERON – IZIZ – PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
GRIEVOUS kneels before Queen Amidala and then rises. The Queen is guarded by FOUR ROYAL GUARDS, two on either side of her, dressed in full ceremonial armour.
GRIEVOUS
You called for me, your Highness?
AMIDALA
You deliberately disobeyed my orders. Your actions have jeopardised our relations with the Republic and Onderon’s very safety.
GRIEVOUS
No, your ‘Highness’, it is your incompetence of leadership and the weakness of the Republic that jeopardises Onderon. The Mandalorians threaten our very existence and yet you see fit to ignore it!
AMIDALA
Guards!
AMIDALA motions towards Grievous, and her FOUR GUARDS apprehend him, tying his arms behind his back with binders. GRIEVOUS struggles.
AMIDALA
You are under arrest on the charge of treason, and the violation of Republic law –
GRIEVOUS
Oh no, I’m not!
Grievous’ CLONE SOLDIERS CRASH through the throne room window and BLAST through the entrance. They point their blaster rifles at the Queen and the Royal Guards. A CLONE SOLDIER frees General Grievous.
GRIEVOUS
Weapons! Now!
The ROYAL GUARD lower their weapons and throw them down. CLONE SOLDIERS gather up the guards’ weapons and place them all in binders.
AMIDALA
You won’t get away with this treachery, Grievous!
GENERAL GRIEVOUS holds her pretty face in his hand.
GRIEVOUS
Watch me, your ‘Highness.’
GENERAL GRIEVOUS looks at her face more closely.
GRIEVOUS
Wait…this one’s an impostor! Search the palace…Find her! I want her alive!
A SQUAD of CLONE SOLDIERS run out of the throne room to search the palace.
33 INT ONDERON – IZIZ PALACE – HANDMAIDEN’S QUARTERS
QUEEN AMIDALA is disguised as one of her handmaidens. She presses a button to relay an emergency message to the Jedi Temple.
AMIDALA
(into holotransmitter)
Master Yoda…Master Yoda…anyone! General Grievous has captured the palace…he’s taking over…please…send help!
THREE CLONE SOLDIERS rush into the room. QUEEN AMIDALA BLASTS one of them with a laser pistol.
CLONE SOLDIER
Set to stun!
The CLONE SOLDIER BLASTS her with a stun ray from his blaster rifle. QUEEN AMIDALA falls unconscious on the floor and the comlink goes static.
CLONE SOLDIER
We got her!
34 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – YODA’S QUARTERS – SUNSET
MASTER YODA is sitting on a cushion, meditating in his small chamber. Orange light pierces through the cracks in the louvres. A HOLOGRAM of QUEEN AMIDALA appears before him. Yoda’s eyes bolt open.
AMIDALA
(over holotransmitter)
Master Yoda…*STATIC*…please…*STATIC*…send help!
The image FIZZLES out.
35 EXT ONDERON – IZIZ – CITY SQUARE – SUNSET
CLONE SOLDIERS sweep across Onderon, marching in formation. They come to a halt in the Iziz City Square, turn on the incline and present arms. GENERAL GRIEVOUS stands on the palace balcony overlooking the City Square. GRIEVOUS looks proud of his conquest. The LIEUTENANT walks out onto the balcony.
LIEUTENANT
You called for me, milord?
GRIEVOUS
Build more cloning facilities and begin full-scale production. Soon we will commence the attack.
LIEUTENANT
As you wish, milord.
36 INT CORUSCANT – GALACTIC SENATE
The Senate chambers are huge. Hundreds of SENATORS sit in
the circular assembly area. SUPREME CHANCELLOR VALORUM sits in an elevated area in the centre. PROBE DROIDS hurry about as the Senator’s aides, translating and transferring documents into their data pads.
VALORUM
Next on the agenda is the discussion of trade routes between Chandrilla and Corellia. Will the representatives for these two systems please –
The large holo-screen on the wall goes STATIC and GENERAL GRIEVOUS appears.
VALORUM
General Grievous!
GRIEVOUS
I interrupt this meeting to bring an urgent request before the Senate.
VALORUM
Continue.
GRIEVOUS
Two of our…diplomats reported heightened military activity on the moon of Dxun. Mandalorian forces are stockpiling weapons and rebuilding Basilisks. Sadly, our diplomats did not survive. I fear that the Mandalorians are preparing for an attack. In the interests of protecting Onderon and its neighbouring systems, I request that military aid be sent from the Republic to pre-emptively strike the settlement on Dxun.
REPRESENTATIVES from RODIA, KINYEN, RYLOTH, SRILUUR, GAMORR, DURO, and ANDO rise from their seats.
REPRESENTATIVES
(in alien tongues)
Here, here!
VALORUM
The Mandalorians haven’t attacked a Republican system in years. They wouldn’t dare! Nonetheless, Onderon’s request for military aid cannot be verified unless it comes from Queen Amidala herself. Have the Queen present this request to the Senate, so that we may defer this matter for investigation by a committee.
GRIEVOUS
I am the new leader of Onderon. My request can now be verified.
VALORUM
What have you done with the Queen?! Where is she?! Put her on!
GRIEVOUS
The Queen did not take this threat seriously, so I acted in the interests of my people. And if the Republic will not take this threat seriously, then it is in the interests of Onderon’s security to secede from the Republic!
VALORUM
Grievous, you –
The holo-screen FIZZLES out. A RABBLE rouses in the Senate.
MAS AMEDDA
Order! Order! We shall have order!
37 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS – NIGHT
MASTER YODA holds a special meeting of the JEDI COUNCIL. YODA replays the HOLOGRAM of QUEEN AMIDALA.
AMIDALA
Master Yoda…*STATIC*…anyone! General Grievous has captured the palace…*STATIC*…he’s taking over…*STATIC*…please…send help!
The image FIZZLES out.
MACE
It appears that General Grievous has overthrown the Queen, and seized Onderon in a military coup.
SHAAK
Finally, the General reveals his true colours.
KI-ADI
Did the Queen survive the attack?
YODA
Difficult to see…
MACE
We believe he would opt for a public execution as a demonstration of his power.
KI-ADI
Then there is still time to dispatch a rescue mission!
SHAAK
But whom shall we send?
MACE
Jedi who will act in stealth, Jedi who are –
YODA
Young and agile.
KI-ADI
What about young Skywalker and his master, Kenobi?
MACE
Any objections to sending Obi-wan and his apprentice?
YODA
The boy’s first mission it may be, but young and agile he is.
MACE
Then it is agreed. Anakin and Obi-wan will go to Onderon…
YODA
Inform them, I will.
YODA hops out of his seat and walks out of the chamber with his walking stick.
38 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – COMBAT CHAMBER
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN are sparring with their lightsabers. ANAKIN parries Obi-wan’s blade, sending his lightsaber flying out of his hand. ANAKIN pushes Obi-wan to the ground with the Force, and points his lightsaber at him.
ANAKIN
I have you now!
OBI-WAN
Are you so certain?
ANAKIN
Well, you are unarmed, and I am not!
OBI-WAN
Do you not remember the lesson of the second hieroglyph?
ANAKIN
Huh?
OBI-WAN quickly rolls out of harm’s way, pulling his lightsaber to his hand with the Force. He knocks Anakin’s lightsaber out of his hand and pushes him to the ground with the Force. Now Anakin is on the floor with a lightsaber pointed at him. YODA approaches them, disapproving of the cocky display, but vaguely amused.
YODA
(clearing his throat)
Ahem.
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN are startled by the Jedi Master’s presence. They both look over at him at the same time, putting their lightsabers away.
OBI-WAN/ANAKIN
(at the same time)
Master Yoda! We were just –
YODA
A mission the Council has for you…
YODA walks over to Anakin, and starts nudging him in the side.
YODA
(jokingly)
Anakin’s first mission, hmmm? Proud you must be, Obi-wan!
OBI-WAN
Yes Master, I am very proud. But tell me, what is the nature of this mission?
YODA
Rescue Queen Amidala you must.
OBI-WAN
The Queen is in danger?
YODA
Yes. Terrible danger. Seized Onderon the General has.
OBI-WAN
Grievous…Where is she being held?
YODA
If still alive she is, in Onderon’s capital she will be.
OBI-WAN
Very well. We will leave for Iziz immediately.
YODA
Careful, Obi-wan. The shroud of the Dark Side covers Onderon…
OBI-WAN
Thank you for your concern, Master. I only hope we can shed some light on the situation.
YODA
May the Force be with you both.
YODA hobbles away on his walking stick.
OBI-WAN
Come Anakin, we’ve got work to do.
39 INT SITH CHAMBER – NIGHT
A cloaked figure, DARTH SIDIOUS is sitting in a kind of throne, with Sith gargoyles on either side of him. He meditates in the dark chamber, overlooking the depths of space. His face is hidden completely in the darkness. Another cloaked figure, DARTH TYRANUS, enters the room, removes his hood, and bows down.
TYRANUS
What is thy bidding, my Master?
SIDIOUS
Everything is going according to plan. It is time for you to do your part.
TYRANUS
It will be done, my Master.
This scene is kept deliberately cryptic, so that the audience cannot identify the Sith Lords, nor understand their plan.