There is a RABBLE in the Senate as representatives are anxious about the system exodus from the Republic and Onderon's military action on Dxun.
MAS AMEDDA
Order! Order! We shall have order!
VALORUM
The rumours are true. The systems Ando, Duro, Gamorr, Kinyen, Rodia, Ryloth and Sriluur have seceded from the Republic and have signed a treaty with General Grievous. The Separatists have proceeded to invade Dxun in an unprovoked pre-emptive strike against the Mandalorians.
A RABBLE rouses in the Senate again.
MAS AMEDDA
Order!
VALORUM
We cannot allow the Republic to be bullied by wanton militarists, nor can our policies be dictated by scare-tactics and war-mongering. We must cling to the ideals that this Republic was founded on, lest everything we worked so hard to build fall away…Before the Republic, there was conflict and anarchy. We cannot allow ourselves to return.
MAS AMEDDA
The Chair recognises the Senator from the system of Onderon.
PALPATINE rises from his seat.
PALPATINE
What of the Queen and our people?
VALORUM
Jedi Knights have been dispatched to Onderon to rescue the imprisoned Queen Amidala. Once the Queen is returned to us, she will advise us as to the next course of action.
PALPATINE
I’m afraid that is not enough. The galaxy is in turmoil, and thus far our response has been characterised by inaction and apathy. It is little wonder so many systems have seceded from the Republic. They do not feel safe because their security has been compromised. How else could Grievous have seized Onderon? The Jedi alone are not enough to maintain peace in the galaxy…This galaxy is gravitating towards war. We can either prepare for it and preserve the Republic, or we can sit here espousing our vaunted ideals as the Republic crumbles. It is in the interests of galactic security and stability that I move for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum’s leadership.
This causes a great stir in the assembly. A loud murmur crescendos into a roar of approval and jeers. CHANCELLOR VALORUM is stunned and stands speechless. His Vice Chair, MAS AMEDDA, takes over.
MAS AMEDDA
Order! We shall have order...
Things settle down a little.
ORGANA
Alderaan seconds the motion for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum.
MAS AMEDDA
The motion has been seconded by Bail Organa of Alderaan.
MAS AMEDDA turns to the confused VALORUM, and whispers something to him.
ORGANA
There must be no delays. The motion is on the floor and must be voted upon in this session.
The assembly begins to chant. VALORUM talks to MAS AMEDDA.
ASSEMBLY
Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!
MAS AMEDDA
The Supreme Chancellor requests a recess. Tomorrow we will begin the vote.
51 EXT DXUN – MANDALORIAN BASE CAMP – NIGHT
The MANDALORIANS are being overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the CLONE ARMY. The focused attacks and guerrilla tactics of the MANDALORIAN WARRIORS incur massive clone trooper casualties, but it is merely a dent in their assault. A small group of warriors, including young BOBA FETT and their leader MANDALORE are surrounded and cornered in the hangar bay of the Base Camp.
MANDALORE
Pull back! Pull back!
MANDALORIAN #1
There’s too many of them!
MANDALORE
Stand your ground. Fight with the blood of your ancestors!
MANDALORIAN #2
Mandalore is in danger! Protect him at all costs!
The CLONE SOLDIERS concentrate their fire on MANDALORE, severely wounding him as he falls to the ground.
MANDALORE
ARGH!
BOBA FETT picks him up and drags him towards the hangar of the SLAVE ONE.
MANDALORE
Unhand me soldier! Leave me here…Let me die a warrior’s death!
BOBA FETT
(struggling to pull his weight)
I was ordered…to protect you…at all costs.
MANDALORE
And I order you to let me die!
BOBA FETT
I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mandalore.
BOBA FETT drags Mandalore aboard the SLAVE ONE. He commandeers the ship, using cannon fire to take out as many CLONE SOLDIERS as he can before he flies to safety. When he reaches deep space, he tends to the dying MANDALORE.
BOBA FETT
How are you holding up?
MANDALORE
I’m dying, Boba. I was too weak. I have failed my men.
BOBA FETT
No Mandalore, you fought well. You fought with honour.
MANDALORE
The others will not survive. They will fight well, but they will not survive. You…You are all that’s left of them, Boba. You must carry the honour of the Mandalorians. Take my armour.
BOBA FETT
But Mandalore –
MANDALORE
I said, take it! You are Mandalore now. Listen, you must take me to the cloners on Kamino. Do not bury me, I do not deserve a warrior’s burial.
With the remainder of his strength, MANDALORE takes a sample of his own blood from his right arm.
MANDALORE
Through my own blood, the honour of the Mandalorians will be restored.
BOBA FETT
As you wish.
52 INT ONDERON – IZIZ – CLONING FACILITY
OBI-WAN, ANAKIN, and QUEEN AMIDALA slip through the factory corridors, looking for a way to severely cripple production.
AMIDALA
We have to put a stop to this.
ANAKIN
(sarcastically)
Oh, easy. And how exactly do you propose we do that, your Highness?
OBI-WAN
Hotwire it, Anakin.
ANAKIN
Hotwire what?!
OBI-WAN
I don’t know, something. You’re the mechanic, you work it out.
ANAKIN
A starship mechanic, that’s right. Not a ‘cloning facility’ mechanic.
OBI-WAN sighs in resignation and looks up at the control room above.
OBI-WAN
I’m going to take out the Control Room. You wait here and guard the Queen…And don’t do anything stupid.
ANAKIN
Sounds like you’re about to do enough of that for the both of us.
OBI-WAN sneaks through the aisles of the facility and stealthily climbs up the wall. Anakin hides behind a power-box and starts hotwiring the circuitry of the production line.
AMIDALA
I thought you couldn’t –
ANAKIN
I can’t. But it’s worth a shot, isn’t it?
Skilfully evading REMOTE PATROL DROIDS’ sensors, OBI-WAN climbs above the control room and lays face-down on the roof. He uses the Force to make a sound come from down the corridor.
CLONE GUARD #1
What was that?
CLONE GUARD #2
I don’t know. Let’s go and inspect the area.
OBI-WAN drops down, swings through the control room door and closes it behind him. Meanwhile, ANAKIN continues to hotwire the production line while the Queen keeps watch.
AMIDALA
There’s one coming this way…
ANAKIN
Keep your cool. Don’t panic.
AMIDALA
But he’s coming closer.
ANAKIN
Just hold on. I need a little more time.
AMIDALA
(snapping)
There is no time. He’ll see us for sure.
ANAKIN
Almost there…
AMIDALA
Can’t you work any faster?
ANAKIN
Almost there…
OBI-WAN pulls down the power levers in the Control Room.
AMIDALA
(frustrated)
That’s it!
ANAKIN
No, wait I’ve –
AMIDALA shoots at the approaching CLONE GUARD.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
…Got it…
The entire factory blacks out as the production line comes to a SCREECHING halt. Silence fills the room.
ANAKIN
I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
ANAKIN grabs the Queen and jumps out of the way as a hail of blaster fire erupts in their general direction. The infa-red backup lighting turns on, the alarm sounds, and CLONE GUARDS come rushing back down the corridors, scouring the entire facility for intruders.
ANAKIN
(sarcastically)
Ah, great! Now the whole city will be looking for us…Nice shooting, your Highness. It’s a wonder you didn’t get us all killed.
AMIDALA
He was too close. They were bound to find us!
ANAKIN
Well, they’ve found us now.
OBI-WAN notices a panel of comlinks to other facilities before he leaves the control room.
OBI-WAN
More?
CLONE GUARDS
Open the blast door! Open the blast door!
As the CLONE GUARDS are blasting the door, Obi-wan brandishes his lightsaber, destroys the control panel, and pushes it through the opposing wall. He cuts a hole through the wall and flips downward, as blaster fire reflects off his lightsaber.
OBI-WAN
I think it’s time to leave.
ANAKIN
I agree, Master!
OBI-WAN, ANAKIN, and QUEEN AMIDALA run towards the elevator platform.
ANAKIN
Great. How are we supposed to get out of here when you shut down the elevator?
OBI-WAN
I shut down the elevator? Oh no, no, you shut down the elevator!
P.A. SYSTEM
Auxiliary systems, emergency power…activated.
They board the elevator quickly. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN use their lightsabers to deflect blaster-fire as it ascends.
53 EXT KAMINO – CLONING FACILITY – LANDING PLATFORM - NIGHT
BOBA FETT lands the SLAVE ONE. The hangar opens. He drags Mandalore’s body off the landing platform in the monsoon rain. He leaves his body at the facility entrance, with his arms folded over his chest, holding the vial of blood. He runs back to the SLAVE ONE, and flies away. A KAMINOAN walks outside, inspects the body, and then looks at the SLAVE ONE flying away. The KAMINOAN gestures another TWO KAMINOANS to carry the body away…
54 INT ONDERON – IZIZ PALACE – THRONE ROOM
GENERAL GRIEVOUS sits on the throne. His LIEUTENANT enters the room and salutes.
LIEUTENANT
One of our facilities was destroyed, milord.
GRIEVOUS
What do you mean, destroyed?!
LIEUTENANT
Two Jedi Knights infiltrated the facility, Sir. They have the Queen as well.
GRIEVOUS
(slamming his fist on the table)
Jedi! Damn them! Where have they taken her?!
LIEUTENANT
We don’t know, milord. We’ve found their transports in the forest and they haven’t returned to reclaim them.
GRIEVOUS
How difficult can it be to find two Jedi?! Put the other facilities on high alert, and double armoured personnel.
LIEUTENANT
Yes, milord.
GRIEVOUS
And find those Jedi! I don’t want excuses, I want results!
LIEUTENANT
(saluting)
Yes, milord!
The LIEUTENANT leaves the room. GRIEVOUS bows before the holotransmitter as the image of DARTH SIDIOUS appears.
GRIEVOUS
Lord Sidious, the Jedi are here. They’ve taken the Queen and destroyed a facility…
SIDIOUS
A minor setback. Continue troop production as planned. And let the Jedi go.
GRIEVOUS
Let the Jedi go?
SIDIOUS
Yes. I have plans for them.
GRIEVOUS
Very well, Lord Sidious.
55 EXT ONDERON – IZIZ – OUTER CITY LIMITS – CANYON – NIGHT
OBI-WAN strides through the canyon and hides behind a large rock formation. ANAKIN follows, leading QUEEN AMIDALA by the hand. They look over the rock at their starfighters, surrounded by SENTRIES of CLONE SOLDIERS.
ANAKIN
Great. Now how are we going to get out of here?
OBI-WAN
We’ll have to wait here until they leave.
ANAKIN
(sarcastically)
An excellent plan! No really, I like it. We’ll be out of here in no time.
CLONE SOLDIER
(into comlink)
…Acknowledged. They’re in the city centre. Let’s go!
The CLONE SOLDIERS run back into the city, leaving the starfighters unguarded.
AMIDALA
They’re leaving.
ANAKIN
What?!
OBI-WAN
I told you they would leave.
OBI-WAN gets into his starfighter. ANAKIN gives QUEEN AMIDALA a boost so that she can climb into his starfighter. TOWER CANNONS and CLONE SOLDIERS fire at them from behind as they leave the atmosphere…
56 EXT/INT SPACE – JEDI STARFIGHTERS
OBI-WAN contacts YODA via holotransmitter. A HOLOGRAM of YODA appears.
OBI-WAN
Master Yoda, we are leaving Onderonian aerospace now. We have rescued the Queen, and gained important intelligence on Grievous’ activities.
YODA
Well done, Obi-wan. What is Grievous up to?
OBI-WAN
We uncovered one of his underground cloning facilities and…disabled it.
YODA
‘One of’?!
OBI-WAN
Yes, there are others…
YODA looks very concerned.
Once they are satisfied that they’re out of danger, Anakin and Amidala get to know each other on the starfighter.
ANAKIN
(sighing)
I think we’re out of danger now. How are you doing back there, your Highness?
QUEEN AMIDALA gazes out the cockpit window at her home planet, shrinking into the distance. She is distracted, and is therefore not listening to Anakin.
ANAKIN
(in a sing-song voice)
Your Highness? Your High-ness…
AMIDALA
Will you stop calling me that?!
ANAKIN
(taken aback)
Woah, there! Calling you what?
AMIDALA
You know, ‘your Highness’…
ANAKIN
Oh! Sure…
ANAKIN gestures towards the Queen as if to extract a name from her.
AMIDALA
My name’s Padmé.
ANAKIN
Sooo...Padmé, what exactly does a woman in your position do all day, anyway? Not a lot I’d imagine…
PADMÉ
I’ll have you know I do a lot of important work!
ANAKIN
Like what?
PADMÉ
Like worry about my people, for one.
ANAKIN
That’s not work! We have to worry about the entire galaxy, all the time.
PADMÉ becomes sad again and looks out the cockpit window.
ANAKIN
I’m sorry. I know, it’s hard leaving your people behind; your loved ones… I’ve got to admit, though, you’re pretty mean with a blaster. You must’ve worked on that a little…
PADMÉ cracks a smile and her face brightens.
ANAKIN
Ah, there it is! Now, you did very well to avoid my question before…
PADMÉ
What question?
ANAKIN
What do you do all day, *apart* from worrying?
PADMÉ
Well, I meet with politicians to discuss pressing issues; I *tried* to keep a wanton militarist from blowing everyone up, and what’s more, I have to deal with troublesome Jedi!
ANAKIN
(pointing to himself with a quizzical look)
Troublesome Jedi?! It just so happens that this troublesome Jedi saved your life!
PADMÉ laughs but her mood saddens again as she dwells on her people’s suffering.
ANAKIN
The Jedi will set things right. You’ll see.
PADMÉ
I hope so.
PADMÉ leans over and pecks Anakin on the cheek.
PADMÉ
Thanks for rescuing me.
ANAKIN, a little stunned, puts his hand on his cheek where she kissed him.
ANAKIN
(slowly, in a daze)
Don’t mention it…
All of a sudden, the hull starts taking hits from cannon fire. BOBA FETT, recognising a JEDI STARFIGHTER, fires upon Anakin from the SLAVE ONE. The whole ship shakes.
ANAKIN
What the heck was that?!
PADMÉ
I knew it was too good to be true. They let us escape.
ANAKIN
Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.
ANAKIN looks around and fiddles with his controls.
ANAKIN
(into comlink)
Obi-wan, come in. My hull is taking hits!
OBI-WAN
(into comlink)
Hang in there, Anakin, I’m making another pass…
ANAKIN pulls an impressive evasive manoeuvre to get out of the Slave One’s line of fire, while OBI-WAN doubles back and fires at its right wing.
OBI-WAN
(into comlink)
I got him!
The SLAVE ONE, smoking, spirals towards Tatooine.
ANAKIN
Are you all right, Padmé?
PADMÉ
Yes.
ANAKIN
(into comlink)
Where’d that ship come from?
OBI-WAN
(into commlink, sounding puzzled)
I barely even saw it, but it looks as though it was coming from…Kamino…
57 EXT/INT SLAVE ONE – TATOOINE – DUNE SEA – DAY
BOBA FETT stands up, pressing buttons and flicking switches as the siren BEEPS. The SLAVE ONE is hurtling towards the Dune Sea of Tatooine. BOBA FETT pulls down the joystick as hard as he can. The SLAVE ONE skims across the desert surface, shaking the ship and Boba’s body violently. Finally, the ship CRASHES and comes to a complete stop, leaving a pillar of dust and smoke in its wake.
58 EXT DXUN – GRASSLANDS – TWILIGHT
The JEDI KNIGHTS, led by SIFO-DYAS, run through the grasslands of Dxun, cutting through MANDALORIAN WARRIORS on the way. Blaster fire is erupting in the distance as the battle for Dxun continues. They keep running through the grasslands and stop in the middle of the clearing. In the distance they can see a monolith – the tomb of Freedon Nadd.
SIFO-DYAS
This way!
JEDI KNIGHT
What is that?
SIFO-DYAS
Onward!
Assuming it’s an important military target, the JEDI KNIGHTS run on unquestioningly.
59 EXT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – DOCKING BAY – DAY
OBI-WAN, ANAKIN, and QUEEN AMIDALA arrive on Coruscant, where SENATOR PALPATINE is waiting to greet them.
PALPATINE
Your Highness, thank goodness you’re safe! It brings me such joy to see you. I only wish that we could have met under more fortunate circumstances…
AMIDALA
Thank you, Senator Palpatine. Has the Senate decided its course of action to deal with Grievous’ treachery?
PALPATINE
Unfortunately not. Chancellor Valorum deliberated on the issue for quite some time, until a vote of no confidence forced his resignation. Tomorrow, the Senate will vote for a new Chancellor; a strong Chancellor.
AMIDALA
Who are the candidates?
PALPATINE
There’s Bail Organa from Alderaan, Mon Mothma from Chandrilla, and…me.
AMIDALA
I hope for our sake that this change is favourable.
PALPATINE
If I am voted Supreme Chancellor, I will ensure that Onderon is liberated and Grievous brought to justice, you have my word…and these must be your Jedi rescuers! Thank you sooo much for returning her safely, Master…
OBI-WAN
(bowing)
Kenobi, Obi-wan Kenobi.
PALPATINE
(bowing)
Master Kenobi, pleased to meet you. And who is your dashing young apprentice here?
ANAKIN
(shaking Palpatine’s hand)
The name’s Anakin Skywalker. Pleased to meet you, Senator.
PALPATINE
Skywalker…I shall remember that name. Anakin, I see big things in your future. You must have a fine master.
ANAKIN
Oh, I do –
OBI-WAN
(taking Anakin aside, as if in a hurry)
Thank you, Senator. If you’ll excuse us, we must debrief the Council on our mission.
ANAKIN
(looking back, almost restrained by Obi-wan, waving)
Farewell, Senator. Goodbye, Padmé!
PADMÉ
(smiling and waving back)
Bye, Anakin! Thank you!