Yeah, the elevator scene is gone...as is that whole Jar-Jar infused "welcome" scene. If any the actors got any stiffer in that scene, they'd be dead. After watching it over and over again, trying different cuts, I finally realized there's nothing redeeming about that scene at all. It's just talking heads...over-explaining things we either already know or don't need to know. Just for the record...we're downplaying a lot of the Anakin/Obi-Wan rivalry...and it seems like that's the whole point that scene was created to convey. The point is, they should be friends. Heightens the drama in ROTS when he finally turns. Makes it more tragic. Another one of Lucas' mistakes. If Anakin hates Obi-Wan all along...then who cares when they battle it out at the end?

From Jar-Jar to the Anakin/Obi-Wan rivalry to Padme's absolutely wooden dialogue... There's nothing of value in that scene at all, IMO. So my solution was to just ditch it. Now we transition from Mace saying "I'll have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, M'Lady" to an exterior of Padme's apartment at night (stolen from ROTS). And then "You look tired..."

From there, everything we need to know is explained and it excises things like "I don't think she liked me watching her."