EXT. TATOOINE, SKY - DAY
High Noon. The twin suns burn brightly.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT - DAY
Obi Wan Kenobi, viewed from a distance through a pair of
electronic binoculars (telephoto compression, overlays, a
double-circle mask) hikes up the gradual slope of a large red
rock toward a sheer cliff.
Anakin, laying prone on another rock, drops the binoculars
from his eyes for a moment to wipe his brow and squint, then
raises them again.
Kenobi approaches the cliff and kneels at the edge. Then he
does... absolutely nothing.
ANAKIN
What's he doing?
CUT TO:
EXT. TATOOINE, SKY - LATER
The twin suns have passed their apex. It is afternoon.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT
Anakin snacks on a a foil-wrapped bar and drinks from a
canteen. He looks through the binoculars again. Kenobi hasn't
budged.
ANAKIN
All right.
Anakin slings the binocs and stands up, dusting sand off his
knees, and begins the trek toward Kenobi.
Obi Wan's unmoving back is slowly revealed as Anakin crests
the rock. Anakin approaches him slowly.
KENOBI
(without turning around,
You've finally decided to join me,
eh young Skywalker?
ANAKIN
(startled)
How did you...?
Kenobi stands and turns around.
KENOBI
A Jedi knows a great many things.
ANAKIN
Will you cut it out with the Jedi
stuff? There's no such thing.
KENOBI
Might I have a sip of water?
ANAKIN
If you tell me who you are and what
you're doing out here.
Kenobi casually raises his right hand, and Anakin's canteen
flies off his belt into Kenobi's palm. Kenobi takes a modest
sip.
Anakin watches in disbelief.
KENOBI
Thank you. And now for my end of
the bargain. As I've said from the
beginning, I'm Obi Wan Kenobi, Jedi
Knight.
He tosses back the canteen. Anakin catches it robotically.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
As for what I'm doing -- would you
believe me if I told you?
ANAKIN
Try me.
KENOBI
You see a lot of ships at your
shipyard?
ANAKIN
What's that got to do with
anything?
KENOBI
From all over the galaxy, yes?
ANAKIN
This planet might be a sad little
rock to you, but I've seen ships
from a hundred systems -- and I
haven't found one yet I couldn't
fix.
KENOBI
Then you must have seen fighters
like the ones you shot down a few
days ago.
ANAKIN
Well, now that you mention it...
KENOBI
Captain Kitch and I stumbled on to
a whole fleet in the Jatari System.
Hundreds of ships. And there's
evidence to suggest it's not the
only one.
ANAKIN
An armada?
KENOBI
Yes, and we've no idea how large.
ANAKIN
What do they want?
KENOBI
I can only guess, but Jatari II is
lost, and I fear it is only the
first of many.
ANAKIN
For crying out loud Mr. Kenobi, if
that's true, what are you doing
wasting time out here? Don't you
think you should tell somebody?
KENOBI
And who would listen to a crazy bum
like me?
ANAKIN
I'm sorry about that, but...
KENOBI
But you're right, there's no time
to waste. We needed a strategy, and
now we have it. That's what I've
been discussing with the Jedi
Council.
Anakin looks around -- where are they? Obi Wan smiles and
points to his head with his index finger.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
The Force is powerful young
Skywalker, and those who learn its
ways can accomplish the impossible.
Like an untrained pilot saving the
lives of a notorious criminal and a
Jedi Knight.
Anakin has a look on his face like, "Who, me?" Kenobi let's
that sink in.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
This is a good spot -- the mind can
travel far from here.
Anakin seems to grapple with this new conception of the world
as he approaches the cliff's edge. He looks out over the
desert.
ANAKIN
No.
KENOBI
Yes, young Skywalker.
ANAKIN
No, look. Sand people. It's a
raiding party, and they're heading
toward the farm!
Obi Wan turns and steps to the edge, and there they are,
twenty raiders atop banthas, trotting along in single file.
Anakin is studying them with his binocs.
KENOBI
Sand people, eh?
ANAKIN
It's just Arna and Owen back there.
And there's no time to raise the
farmers' militia. Blast it, I don't
even have the landspeeder.
KENOBI
Leave it to me.
EXT. TATOOINE, DESERT, RAIDER COLUMN - MOMENTS LATER
The rear-most raider's bantha stops ubruptly, shakes its
head, snorts, and then collapses to its knees, almost tossing
the rider.
The Tusken dismounts and starts tugging on the reigns, trying
to get his bantha up. The next raider in the column looks
back and notices.
The two raiders begin braying at each other, and word moves
up the column. The chieftain at the fore glances over his
shoulder, raises his gaffi stick in the air, issues a
trumpeting command and spurs his bantha onward.
The column leaves the last raider behind to argue with his
mount.
As the column disappears into the horizon two blurry figures
approach from the other direction, appearing from behind a
large rock. The raider walks toward them, braying threats,
while his bantha lolls about in the sand.
The figures continue their approach, and as the Tusken's
threat display reaches its crescendo, the smaller figure
stops for a moment. Suddenly the raider is knocked backward
by blaster fire to the head. Smoke rises from his face as he
layss dead on the ground.
Anakin Skywalker slings his rifle.
ANAKIN
Come on.
KENOBI
I didn't tell you to shoot him.
ANAKIN
Who made you the boss? It's my
family they're after.
Obi Wan shakes his head as he approaches the bantha. He
mounts, gives Anakin a look, and Skywalker gets in the saddle
behind him.
Kenobi closes his eyes for a moment and puts his palm on the
bantha's neck. The bantha hoots and rises to its feet. Kenobi
grabs the reigns.
KENOBI
Hyaaaa!!
EXT. LARS MOISTURE FARM - LATER
Arna fiddles with a control box attached to a slender pole
that extends about 8 feet into the air, and presumably, at
least as far underground. Her attention is drawn by a low
rumble.
Arna pauses what's she doing and listens, and then she hears
it -- the donkey bray of the Tusken raiders.
ARNA
No.
Arna starts running, toward the domicile and around it.
ARNA (CONT'D)
Owen! Anakin!
As she rounds the building, she sees Owen standing
dumbfounded next to the idle extractor. In the distance, the
raiding party charges toward them, a cloud of sand
surrounding their advance.
ARNA (CONT'D)
Where's Anakin?
OWEN
I don't know.
ARNA
Owen, where's Anakin?
OWEN
He went off after Mr. Kenobi.
Arna grapples with the state of affairs for a moment, but
just a moment.
ARNA
Inside, now!
Arna pulls Owen around by the arm, and they run inside the
domicile.
INT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, DOMICILE - CONTINUOUS
Arna shutters windows, as Owen digs out a blaster that looks
like a shotgun and another pair of binoculars.
ARNA
Give it here.
Owen tosses her the blaster.
ARNA (CONT'D)
How many?
Owen takes a position near the one remaining open window and
raises the binoculars.
OWEN
Fifteen, maybe twenty.
Arna joins him at the window.
ARNA
Owen, whatever happens...
OWEN
Wait, there's someone else out
there.
Arna takes the binoculars. Through the lenses we see the
raider column thundering forward, but scanning past them we
find two riders atop another bantha, gaining from the rear.
EXT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, RAIDER COLUMN - CONTINUOUS
Kenobi and Skywalker push their bantha as hard as it will go
- they've almost caught up with the raiders. Obi Wan raises a
hand to his temple.
KENOBI
These sand people are simpleminded,
aren't they? But their mounts are
even simpler...
Kenobi closes his eyes. A bantha toward the front of the
column rears and collapses, tossing its rider. The Tusken
directly behind can't adjust in time and rides right into
them, trampling the fallen raider.
INT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, DOMICILE - CONTINUOUS
Arna and Owen watch as the column, closer now, collapses on
itself, banthas and raiders tripping and flying over each
other. Not all the Tuskens succumb, but over half the party
is left in the sand as the column charges on.
OWEN
Did you see that?!
EXT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, RAIDER COLUMN - CONTINUOUS
Kenobi and Anakin ride through the traffic jam in hot pursuit
of the remaining raiders, who fan out and start riding
abreast.
One of them looks behind at the carnage and spies Kenobi and
Anakin. Honking at the others, the raiders break off their
charge and swing around on our heroes, bringing long, slender
blasters to bear.
ANAKIN
Can I start shooting now?
KENOBI
Yes, please.
Anakin steadies the barrel of his blaster on Obi Wan's
shoulder and drops a Tusken.
INT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, DOMICILE - CONTINUOUS
The Larses watch a second Tusken fall to blaster fire. Owen
grabs back the binoculars and looks again.
OWEN
Mom, it's Anakin! Anakin and Mr.
Kenobi.
EXT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, RAIDER COLUMN - CONTINUOUS
The raiders have completed their maneuver and are charging
straight for Kenobi and Anakin, five blasters pointed
straight at them. A volley whizzes past their heads.
ANAKIN
Mr. Kenobi??!!
Kenobi extends an arm and makes a pulling gesture with his
upturned palm. Four raider blasters are pulled from their
owners' hands and soon whiz past Kenobi and Skywalker, but
one of the braves manages to hang on to his.
Kenobi flips his palm the other way and pushes, and the four
unarmed raiders fly off their banthas, but that one stubborn
brave, the chieftain, clings hard to the reins, almost
topples, but succeeds in righting himself.
The raider chieftain continues the charge.
KENOBI
So be it.
(to Anakin)
Take the reigns and steer clear.
ANAKIN
Wait, what?
But Kenobi has hopped to his feet -- standing tall in the
saddle with perfect balance.
Obi Wan leaps into the air and back flips, Anakin passing
under him, and lands in the sand on one knee -- his forward
momentum causing him to slide forward several feet.
Anakin glances over his shoulder, amazed, then quickly makes
a hard turn to avoid colliding with the oncoming bantha. Once
clear, he comes to a halt to watch the ensuing duel.
Kenobi rises to his feet, his half-cape snapping in the wind.
He pulls his lightsaber from his hip, ignites it, and holds
it down and to the side, squaring off against his opponent.
The raider brays a challenge and fires as he rushes on.
Kenobi deflects easily and resumes his posture of challenge,
not moving an inch.
The raider closes to within feet.
ANAKIN (CONT'D)
Obi Wan!
Kenobi leaps once more into the air, his lightsaber flashing
as he passes, not by, but through the raider chieftain. As
Kenobi lands, the raider's weapon falls to the ground behind
him. Then the raiders torso. Then the rest of him. And the
bantha slowly comes to a halt.
KENOBI
(sadly)
The fool.
Turning around, Kenobi strides past the chieftain's corpse,
toward the heap of confused raiders and mounts. At his
approach, they redouble their efforts to get out of there,
throwing their wounded on the backs of banthas and riding
off.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
Never return here! Only death
awaits you!
Anakin pumps his fists and hoots in celebration.
WIPE TO:
EXT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, DOMICILE - MOMENTS LATER
Anakin and Obi Wan approach the farm astride their new
bantha. They are greeted by an elated Arna and Owen. Anakin
dismounts and Arna throws her arms around him.
WIPE TO:
EXT. LARS MOISTURE FARM, DOMICILE - SUNSET
The bantha's hitched outside. Anakin and Obi Wan are sitting
watching the suns set. Anakin is inspecting Obi Wan's dormant
lightsaber.
ANAKIN
I real Jedi laser sword.
KENOBI
We call them lightsabers.
ANAKIN
You cut through that Tusken like he
was made of clay.
KENOBI
Mmm. The lightsaber is a powerful
weapon. But, while a Jedi must
never fear to use it when
necessary, he should not relish it.
ANAKIN
My real family died in a Tusken
attack just like that one. I was a
baby. All Sand People do is raid
and kill. They deserved what they
got.
KENOBI
I'm very sorry, Anakin. That is a
tragedy. But, I suspect the
Tusken's are native to this planet?
And to them, perhaps, the settlers
deserve to die.
ANAKIN
So, it's OK for them to burn homes
and murder families?
KENOBI
No, it is not. We did what we must,
and I do not regret it. But neither
did I glory in it.
A contemplative pause. Obi Wan puts his palm out and Anakin
returns the weapon. One of Tatooine's suns is almost eclipsed
by the horizon.
ANAKIN
Have you been to many planets?
KENOBI
Oh yes. A hundred? Two? A Jedi's
duties can take him many places.
ANAKIN
Do all Jedi travel as much as you?
KENOBI
I suppose I'm more of a wanderer
than most. Some of us settle in a
planet or system, call it home,
protect it from harm. Some patrol a
larger route. Some, like myself, go
wherever the Force guides us.
(beat)
And that's how we end up in places
like this.
ANAKIN
Most boring planet in the galaxy.
KENOBI
It's not as bad as all that. You
should try Fynder VI. No one to
talk to but rocks, moss, and few
worms no bigger than your
fingernail.
ANAKIN
I'd still like to see it.
KENOBI
I suspect you'll see many places in
your lifetime. You're an
exceptional pilot... and strong
with the Force.
ANAKIN
Me?
KENOBI
Indeed, under different
circumstances... but never mind.
Only a sliver of the second sun remains above the horizon.
ANAKIN
You said the Jedi had a plan? To
stop this armada?
Kenobi stands, looking ahead. He takes a few steps forward.
KENOBI
I don't think we can stop it. Not
by ourselves. We must bring proof
of this invasion to the Senate so
that this war isn't lost before
it's begun. A thousand years ago,
armies would have mustered at
nothing more than our word, but the
Jedi are not what they once were.
We are few and spread wide --
cautious. We work from the shadows
with few to call friend or ally. If
we are to meet this enemy however,
I believe we'll have to stand
together in the light.
Anakin stands up behind Kenobi.
ANAKIN
I want to help.
KENOBI
Good, because I want you back at
the shipyard. If I know Renzo,
he'll skip out on me as soon as his
ship's ready, and we can't let that
happen. I need a man on the inside.
ANAKIN
Of course, but...
The sound of Hamish's speeder draws their attention. The
vehicle approaches the property, piled high with equipment
and supplies.
ANAKIN (CONT'D)
(he was going to say
something else)
But, I'm still grounded.
Arna has stepped outside to greet her husband and tell him
the day's tale. Kenobi nods in her direction.
KENOBI
I'm sure Arna will see to that.