ANAKIN pilots the REPUBLIC TRANSPORT, while PADMÉ sits behind him.
PADMÉ
How did you know there was a bomb in there?
ANAKIN
I didn’t. I just had a vision that you were in danger.
PADMÉ
A vision…do you have these visions often?
ANAKIN
Not since I left home…
PADMÉ
You mean, you weren’t born on Coruscant?
ANAKIN
(sitting up in his chair, laughing)
What, you think every Jedi is from Coruscant?! Did that tiara cut off the circulation to your head or something?
PADMÉ
(hitting Anakin on the arm)
Hey!
ANAKIN
I was only kidding! I was born on Tatooine…
PADMÉ
Tatooine…I’ve never heard of that place before…what’s it like?
ANAKIN
What is this anyway, a job interview?
PADMÉ
No! I just want to know…
ANAKIN
Well, there’s sand and then there’s sand…yep, sand, that’s about it.
PADMÉ
Come on, there must be more to it than that. Do you miss it?
ANAKIN
Sometimes. But there are some parts that I definitely don’t miss.
PADMÉ
Like what?
ANAKIN
Like the Hutts and all their ruffians. They run the whole show down there. And then there’s the sand-people. You’d be lucky to come back in one piece wandering out in the desert.
PADMÉ
Sounds like a rough place. What about your family? You must miss them, surely.
ANAKIN
I missed them long before I left home…I never knew my father, and my mother was captured by slave-traders years ago.
PADMÉ
That’s awful!
ANAKIN
It’s just as well, I suppose. Jedi aren’t supposed to have attachments…
PADMÉ
How can you say that? Does that mean you’re not allowed to love?
ANAKIN
The Jedi are sworn to act out of compassion, but attachment is frowned upon by the Order.
PADMÉ
That must be a difficult thing to do…Do you know where the slave-traders took your mother?
ANAKIN
No. But I will find her. One day.
11 INT SECLUDED MOON – SPACE STATION
GENERAL GRIEVOUS holds a meeting with the SEPARATIST LEADERS. They sit at a table across from each other. PROBE DROIDS hurry about, translating and transferring documents into their data pads.
GRIEVOUS
What is your progress?
DURO
(in Duran)
Our facilities are fully operational and our troop production is on schedule.
GRIEVOUS
Excellent. The time is drawing near, my friends. The Republic intends to invade Onderon very soon.
RODIAN
(in Rodian)
That would be an act of war!
TWI’LEK
(in Twi’lek)
Yes, indeed!
GRIEVOUS
We will deploy our armies on all fronts upon their landing. They do not have the capacity to defend themselves during the attack.
12 EXT SECLUDED MOON – GRIEVOUS’ QUARTERS
GENERAL GRIEVOUS walks into his quarters and kneels before the holotransmitter. A HOLOGRAM of DARTH SIDIOUS appears.
GRIEVOUS
Our forces are prepared for the counter-attack, milord.
SIDIOUS
Good…Everything is going to plan. Now, we must wait…
GRIEVOUS
Yes, Lord Sidious. Will you be aiding us?
SIDIOUS
My apprentice has…other engagements. He will be joining you shortly.
13 EXT DXUN – MANDALORIAN RUINS – TWILIGHT
OBI-WAN lands his JEDI STARFIGHTER safely in the smouldering ruins of the Mandalorian Base Camp. OBI-WAN climbs out of the cockpit and sends TWO PROBE DROIDS out to search the ruins. OBI-WAN looks around the ruins. The remains of countless Mandalorian warriors and clone soldiers are strewn across the camp. Smoke rises from the burning grasslands, ruined BASILISKS, and collapsing structures. He enters a room with a telemetry computer in it.
OBI-WAN
Display all departures and arrivals within the last standard year…The Slave One…Kamino? Wait a minute, go back…another ship…yesterday…
OBI-WAN searches the ruins again, and follows a large group of tracks leading outside the camp.
14 EXT ONDERON – PLAINS – DAY
REPUBLIC DROPSHIPS land outside of Iziz’s city walls. REPUBLIC SOLDIERS run out of the dropship hangars and take their positions. An army of CLONE SOLDIERS, led by GENERAL GRIEVOUS, awaits them.
GRIEVOUS
(into comlink)
The time has come, my friends. You may commence the attack.
GRIEVOUS raises his vibroblade triumphantly.
GRIEVOUS
Attack!
CLONE SOLDIERS and REPUBLIC SOLDIERS charge towards each other as blaster fire ERUPTS from the ground.
15 EXT ALDERAAN – LAKESIDE – DAY
ANAKIN and PADMÉ are sharing a meal together. The field is decorated with willows and lotuses of every colour. There are crystal blue mountains in the distance. A river cuts through the mountains, and from the cliff-face a waterfall showers the lilies in the lake below. ANAKIN holds a piece of fruit in his hand, then uses the Force to make it disappear.
ANAKIN
And…there!
PADMÉ applauds Anakin’s party trick.
ANAKIN
Obi-wan would kill me if he found out I was doing this…
ANAKIN uses the Force to take another piece of fruit off Padmé’s plate and places it on his own. He starts cutting up the fruit into small pieces.
PADMÉ
Hey!
ANAKIN
Settle down!
ANAKIN uses the Force to bring a piece of fruit towards her.
ANAKIN
Now open wide…
PADMÉ opens her mouth as ANAKIN ‘Force-feeds’ her. PADMÉ looks around to admire the beauty of the landscape.
PADMÉ
This place is so beautiful…
ANAKIN
Yeah, I’ve never seen anything like it before.
ANAKIN stands up.
PADMÉ
What are you doing?
ANAKIN helps her up with a wry grin.
ANAKIN
I want to see it all.
ANAKIN runs towards the REPUBLIC TRANSPORT, leading Padmé by the hand.
ANAKIN
Come on! I’ve seen Banthas run faster than you…
PADMÉ
What’s a Bantha?
ANAKIN
Just…hurry up.
ANAKIN and PADMÉ run into the hangar of the transport as it closes behind them.
16 INT/EXT ALDERAAN – REPUBLIC TRANSPORT – COCKPIT – DAY
ANAKIN presses buttons and pulls levers, and the transport takes off. The transport shoots off in the air, until ANAKIN pushes it down for a dive. He levels out just metres above the field, leaving behind a flurry of lotus petals. PADMÉ gapes out the window, awestruck by the scenery and Anakin’s piloting skills. He flies the ship through the mist of the waterfall.
PADMÉ
Anakin! Look out for the –
ANAKIN pulls the ship back to narrowly avert the cliff-face behind the waterfall.
PADMÉ
You don’t have to do this just to impress me…
ANAKIN
What’s the matter? Impressed?
PADMÉ
Here, give me the controls.
PADMÉ snatches the flight controls from ANAKIN, as he raises his hands in resignation.
ANAKIN
Sure thing, Padmé…
PADMÉ
Just because I’m a Queen, doesn’t mean I don’t know a few tricks…
The transport starts taking a dive towards the lake.
ANAKIN
Hey, what are you doing?! I thought you knew how to fly this thing!
ANAKIN puts his hand over Padmé’s to take control of the ship.
ANAKIN
Here…
The ship pulls up just in time, disturbing the lilies and the water. PADMÉ lets out a sigh of relief. Her relief is short-lived though, as ANAKIN performs an exhilarating loop-de-loop in the air. ANAKIN finds a nice spot among the willow trees.
ANAKIN
There we go.
ANAKIN lands the craft beside the lake. They get out of the transport and walk along the lakeside.
17 EXT ALDERAAN – OUTSIDE PADMÉ’S QUARTERS – SUNSET
ANAKIN and PADMÉ arrive at Padmé’s door and stand there for a while, looking into each other’s eyes.
ANAKIN
Well, I guess this is it.
PADMÉ
I had a really wonderful time today.
ANAKIN
(jokingly)
All in the interests of protecting you, of course.
PADMÉ
Well, it helped me take my mind off things. Thank you.
They lean in to kiss each other, but ANAKIN abruptly breaks contact.
ANAKIN
(spritely, as if nothing just happened)
Well, I better get going. Goodnight.
PADMÉ
(slightly disappointed)
Goodnight, Anakin.
PADMÉ opens the door and enters her quarters as ANAKIN turns around and leaves.
18 EXT CORELLIA – SPACE
The REPUBLIC FLEET waits outside of the planet CORELLIA as the SEPARATIST NAVY leaves hyperspace.
19 INT ALDERAAN – ANAKIN’S QUARTERS
ANAKIN is asleep in bed, tossing and turning. He sees a VISION of the planet KESSEL.