THOUSANDS of SEPARATIST ASSAULT TRANSPORTS charge through the blockade, firing missiles and ion cannons at REPUBLIC CRUISERS, CORELLIAN CORVETTES, and ASSAULT GUNBOATS. SEPARATIST FIGHTERS fly out of the hangars of SEPARATIST CRUISERS to accompany the transports. The REPUBLIC CRUISERS take out many of the ASSAULT TRANSPORTS and their accompanying fighters, which crash and EXPLODE on the planet surface. A majority of the transports make it through.
21 EXT DANTOOINE – GRASSLANDS – PATROL TOWER – LATE AFTERNOON
A PATROL OFFICER witnesses the invasion through electrobinoculars. A BATTALION of CLONE SOLDIERS marches across the plains.
22 EXT CHANDRILLA/KASHYYYK/MON CALAMARI/SULLUST/ITHOR – MONTAGE
The ASSAULT TRANSPORTS open their hangars as BATTALIONS of CLONE SOLDIERS deploy on land and sea. The sounds of marching builds to a crescendo.
23 EXT CORELLIA – PLAINS – SUNSET
REPUBLIC SOLDIERS face the SEPARATIST CLONE ARMY. The CLONE COMMANDER raises his blaster rifle in the air.
CLONE COMMANDER
Charge!
The two armies charge towards each other as blaster fire ERUPTS from all sides.
CUT TO
24 INT ALDERAAN – ANAKIN’S QUARTERS – EARLY MORNING
ANAKIN hears a cry for help in his dream-vision.
ANAKIN
No!
Anakin’s eyes open suddenly as he sits bolt upright in a cold sweat. He wipes his forehead and gets out of bed. He puts a shirt on and walks out onto the balcony. He stands there looking out at the lake. PADMÉ walks up behind him and puts her hands on his shoulders.
PADMÉ
I heard you from my room, is something wrong?
ANAKIN
It was nothing. Just a bad dream.
PADMÉ
I thought that Jedi didn’t have nightmares.
ANAKIN
They don’t. That’s the problem.
PADMÉ
What is it? You can tell me…
ANAKIN
I saw my mother, in the spice mines of Kessel. She was suffering…I know I’ll be violating my mandate to protect you, but I have to go.
PADMÉ
I’ll go with you.
ANAKIN
No, you can’t; it could be dangerous. You should stay here with the Republican Guard.
PADMÉ
But I’ll be safer with you. Please, let me come…
ANAKIN
(sighing)
All right, but you must promise me you’ll stay on board the ship.
PADMÉ
I promise.
25 EXT/INT ALDERAAN – REPUBLIC TRANSPORT – COCKPIT – MORNING
ANAKIN sets course for Kessel, and the transport takes off. Once it leaves the atmosphere, the transport turns around and enters HYPERSPACE.
26 EXT/INT KESSEL – REPUBLIC TRANSPORT – COCKPIT – SUNSET
ANAKIN flies through the clouds and looks down at the rocky surface of Kessel.
ANAKIN
(pointing down at the mining colony)
That looks like it, down there.
TWO PATROL CRAFT appear behind the transport. ANAKIN looks back at them.
ANAKIN
We’ve got company.
A PATROL CRAFT fires a warning shot at Anakin. The whole ship shakes.
MINING AUTHORITY
(over comlink)
Maintain your current course…Do you have a clearance code?
ANAKIN
(into comlink)
No. I am here on Jedi business.
MINING AUTHORITY
(over comlink)
The Jedi have no business here!
Both PATROL CRAFT open fire on ANAKIN, but he manoeuvres the ship to dodge their cannon fire.
ANAKIN
I guess that’s the end of that, then…
ANAKIN pulls up the craft.
PADMÉ
What are you doing?
ANAKIN
They want a fight. I’ll give them a fight…
He opens fire on both patrol craft and takes them out. He weaves in and out of the clouds, looking for a place to land. He sees a clearing on a secluded cliff, overlooking the spice mines.
ANAKIN
That looks nice. Yeah, that place looks real nice.
ANAKIN lands the craft. He stands up and presses a button to open the hangar door.
ANAKIN
Stay here. Oh, and take this…
ANAKIN pulls a blaster rifle off the wall and throws it to PADMÉ, who catches it awkwardly.
ANAKIN
(continuing)
Blast anything that comes up that ramp. I’ll be back soon.
ANAKIN walks down the ramp.
PADMÉ
Be careful.
27 EXT DXUN – JUNGLE/GRASSLANDS – NIGHT
OBI-WAN treks through the Dxun jungle. He walks past a Jedi dropship, overgrown with vines and grass. He follows the tracks until he finds the remains of two Mandalorian warriors.
OBI-WAN
Lightsaber marks…
OBI-WAN proceeds further until he reaches the open grasslands. He gazes across the vastness of the grasslands and sees a monolithic tomb far off in the distance.
OBI-WAN
What is that?
OBI-WAN continues walking towards it.
28 EXT KESSEL – SECLUDED CLIFF/SPICE MINES/WALKWAY – NIGHT
ANAKIN peers over the cliff and sees the SLAVES digging for spice in the mining caverns. There is a walkway leading out of the caverns, where SLAVES carry the spice containers back and forth from the mines. He spots an OLD WOMAN, struggling to carry her container, and recognises her as his mother. She collapses under the heavy load and drops the container on the ground. The SLAVERS immediately run over to reprimand her.
SLAVER
Get a move on, slave!
ANAKIN’S MOTHER cannot move. The SLAVERS whip her repeatedly.
ANAKIN’S MOTHER
Ugh!
Anakin’s eyes burn with anger.
29 EXT – KESSEL – WALKWAY – NIGHT
ANAKIN leaps down from the cliff onto the walkway.
ANAKIN
ARGH!!
ANAKIN knocks both slavers flying with his fist and elbow. The SLAVES drop their containers and run.
SLAVE
Let’s get out of here!
ANAKIN holds his mother in his arms. She opens her eyes.
ANAKIN’S MOTHER
Anakin? Anakin…is that you?
ANAKIN
Yes, it’s me, mother. Everything’s going to be okay.
ANAKIN’S MOTHER
You’ve grown so tall…and handsome.
ANAKIN
I’m a Jedi now. I’ve come to save you.
ANAKIN’S MOTHER
You…already have. I’m so proud of you, Anakin.
ANAKIN
Don’t leave me. Hold on! Don’t leave me, mother!
ANAKIN’S MOTHER
I…love…
ANAKIN’S MOTHER dies. ANAKIN closes his mother’s eyes and lets her rest on the ground. ANAKIN wells up with anger and ignites his lightsaber.
ANAKIN
ARGH!!
SLAVERS run towards him, and he slaughters them like dogs. The final slaver gets down on his knees and begs for his life.
SLAVER
No! Please don’t kill me…please!
ANAKIN mercilessly slaughters the slaver.