EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - LATE DAY

The speeder races over sand and low dunes. Small animals scurry in the vehicle’s wake.

EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - LATE DAY

As the speeder approaches the farm Anakin pulls back on the controls, slowing the vehicle down. They come to a stop near the house, climbing off as the engines die down.

ANAKIN : Mom! Mom, we're home!

Two women - Shmi Lars and Beru Whitesun - exit the house, meeting the others as they come to the door. Shmi is in her early forties, with long dark hair and sun-weathered skin. Beru is much younger, around the same age as Owen, with sandy blonde hair.

SHMI : Ani - Owen - who's this?

ANAKIN : These are ... (turning to their guests) Man, I don't know any of your names.

OBI-WAN : I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, (gesturing to the Gungan) this is Tarpals ...

AMIDALA : ... and I'm Amidala Naberrie, ma'am. Pleased to meet you.

SHMI : (to Owen) What are they doing here?

OWEN : His idea, Mom. Ask him.

ANAKIN : They got in a fight with Sebulba. I got involved -

SHMI : Anakin! I've told you to avoid that Dug - !

ANAKIN : (cont'd) It was nothing, Mom. He was the one who lost fingers, not me.

SHMI : What!?

OBI-WAN : Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter.

ANAKIN : They'll be gone in the morning, once they get the parts they need for their ship.

SHMI : Okay ... (to Obi-Wan) I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never get used to Anakin's surprises.

EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - DINING AREA - SUNSET

Obi-Wan, Tarpals, and Amidala are seated at the dining table with the Lars family. Beru gives each person at the table a plate piled with food before sitting down and joining them.

SHMI : ... Cliegg was a good man - an honest man - but he had his vices. He was a gambler, and not a very good one. He got in over his head, and ended up in debt to pretty much everyone. (cont’d) He asked Watto for some money, and he gave it, but ended up owing the Toydarian in the process. He worked so hard the last couple of months ... before he ...

Shmi's eyes start to well up with tears. She stops to wipe her eyes. Owen picks up the conversation.

OWEN : With him gone we’ve had to take up the debt. We've been giving the bird as much as we can make from moisture farming ...

ANAKIN : And some other part-time work on the side ...

OWEN : (cont'd) ... But it's not enough. And now he's threatening to take the farm.

SHMI : We'll deal with it when the time comes. We always have.

Anakin turns his attention toward Obi-Wan. The boy’s eyes - filled with barely contained awe - bore into the Jedi.

OBI-WAN : (noticing Anakin’s stare) Something on your mind, Anakin?

ANAKIN : Mr. Kenobi - Obi-Wan - I was wondering something ...

OBI-WAN : What?

ANAKIN : Well, ahhh ... are you a Jedi Knight?

OBI-WAN : Jedi Knight?

ANAKIN : Yes, a Jedi.

OBI-WAN : No, can’t say that I am. (cont’d) What is that, anyway?

ANAKIN : What, the Jedi? You’ve never heard of them?

OBI-WAN : No. What’s gives you the idea that I might be one of them?

ANAKIN : Your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon.

OBI-WAN : My laser sword ...? Ah, you mean my cutting tool. I bought that from a curiosity dealer on Ogana Major. (cont’d) I take it you’ve seen one before?

OWEN : Nebar Foxis ...

OBI-WAN : Nebar Foxis ...?

ANAKIN : Foxis is an old spacer we met in town. He told us all about the Jedi.

OBI-WAN : Tell me what he told you.

ANAKIN : The Jedi are policemen who patrol and protect the Republic. They’re ditheists.

OBI-WAN : Ditheists?

ANAKIN : They believe in two gods.

OBI-WAN : Ah, yes.

ANAKIN : The two gods are Ashla and Bogan. Ashla is the Goddess of Light, and Bogan is the God of Darkness. They used to be married until they created the universe, and then they became enemies.

OBI-WAN : So the Jedi pray to both - to Bogan?

ANAKIN : No, no ... The Jedi worship Ashla, but they oppose Bogan. Bogan is evil and only wants to sow death and destruction. The Jedi are against that.

OBI-WAN : And they carry tools - weapons - like mine?

ANAKIN : Yes. Foxis had one of his own. He showed it to Owen and me. (cont’d) He claims he was apprenticed to a Jedi once when he was young, but the Jedi died in battle. He left the Order after that, but held onto his sword.

OWEN : Foxis is full of it. He probably bought or stole the thing from somebody else.

OBI-WAN : Well, it seems I got a good deal on mine. The poor fool would have charged extra if he had known it was a weapon once owned by a mystical warrior.

ANAKIN : (cont’d) So ... you’re not a Jedi.

OBI-WAN : No, I’m afraid not.