WIPE TO:
INT. DARK HULK, PRODUCTION FACILITY
The entire crew is assembled, surrounded by birthing pods and
medical droids, standing in audience before Kenobi.
HEPH
Clones?!
KENOBI
That's right, an army of clones,
constructed from, or fed by, the
liquefied bodies of living things.
MANX
That's monstrous.
ANAKIN
You didn't see it.
Alda looks down at his eep.
JARDIN
(piecing it together)
When you conquer a planet, you have
to control it -- resources
committed, loyalty of the conquered
uncertain. But this...
KENOBI
Who knows how many fleets there are
out there, but they're harvesting
worlds beyond the outer rim. They
could be building an army vast
enough to topple the Galactic
Republic, and I believe that's
exactly what they intend to do.
KITCH
And they're starting with Alderaan.
ANAKIN
Seems crazy. Isn't that the
capital?
JARDIN
You found him on Tatooine? Do they
have schools there?
KENOBI
Alderaan was once the most powerful
planet in the galaxy, yes -- it's
kings and queens drawing many
planets under its rule, but that
was a long, long time ago. It was
Alderaan, in coalition with the
Jedi, that founded the Republic,
handing control of government to
the people. Coruscant is the
capital now, as it has been for
centuries, and the seat of the
Senate.
ANAKIN
I knew that. I'm not an idiot. I
just thought Alderaan was.. also
the capital.
ALDA
There's just one capital, kid.
ANAKIN
Ok, ok. Either way, isn't that a
bad place to start? Alderaan has to
be well defended.
JARDIN
It's the perfect place to start.
Alderaan ceded much of its power to
the Senate, its defense left to the
armies of the Republic.
It is a great planet, yes, but
great in philosophy and art, no
longer in war.
KENOBI
And, as young Anakin can attest, a
powerful symbol still.
KITCH
So, the bad guys are going to
conquer the Republic with an army
of clones. Clones of who? Who are
these guys? What do they have to do
with evil Jedi? And why do they
know you?
KENOBI
I must say, I didn't realize I had
a reputation.
JARDIN
(to Kenobi)
You do.
(to everyone else)
Obi Wan doesn't know him, but I do.
The commander of that ship is my
old brother in arms, Donzin Faal --
suspected of killing his master
years ago, before disappearing. He
had a reputation too -- for
cowardice and short temper -- and
it is well-deserved. Faal should
never have been a Jedi.
MANX
Sounds just right for eradicating a
planet of helpless creatures.
KITCH
OK, and then what? How does he end
up in charge of a fleet of clones.
KENOBI
I don't know. I only know that
there are more, and they're coming.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE
Otto Rohn's vast fleet is joined by Donzin Faal's much
smaller one as it drops out of lightspeed.
A shuttle emerges from Faal's battle-scarred capital ship and
heads for Rohn's.
INT. ROHN'S SHIP, COMMANDER'S ANTEROOM - MINUTES LATER
Rohn sits at a desk awaiting his subordinate. The door hisses
open, and Faal aggressively pushes his way past a few guards,
storming in.
DONZIN FAAL
I make no apologies, Commander. A
terrible loss, yes, but an entirely
unpredictable ambush. Give me
another factory ship and delay the
attack one week, and I promise...
ROHN
You come to me alone?
DONZIN FAAL
Commander?
ROHN
You haven't forgotten to bring
anything?
DONZIN FAAL
You mock me?
Rohn stands.
ROHN
I assign you to a planet with no
resistance, and you lose an entire
army!
DONZIN FAAL
The Jedi...
ROHN
I was merely reconnoitered by a
Jedi, and I fell to my knees before
the High Suzerain. But you, you
disgusting heap, make excuses when
you should be begging for your
life.
Faal snorts and flings back his cape, revealing the
lightsaber at his hip.
DONZIN FAAL
Do not anger me!
Rohn extends an arm, palm splayed, fingers slowly clenching.
Faal falls to his knees in agony, clutching his head, roaring
in pain.
ROHN
Do not anger you? Why not? Why
shouldn't I?
Blood begins to drip from Faal's bull nose.
DONZIN FAAL
Please.
ROHN
Please what?
DONZIN FAAL
Please, spare me. Please. I'm... a
fool.
Faal screams. Rohn releases his grip.
ROHN
Good. Remember this lesson.
Faal, wipes blood from his face, catches his breath. Rises
from all fours.
DONZIN FAAL
Thank you... Commander.
ROHN
There will indeed be a delay while
I try to right your mistakes, but I
will not entrust you with another
cloner. Pray that our fate has not
been sealed by your incompetence.
As penance, you will lead the
vanguard of the ground invasion.
DONZIN FAAL
The vanguard, but...
ROHN
But, you do not deserve such
lenience? You are right. Even so,
if you survive the battle, I will
consider not executing you. You may
leave.
DONZIN FAAL
Yes, Commander.
Faal turns abruptly, head bowed, and hurries out.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SPACE, OFF CORUSCANT
The Falling Star hangs in space next to, and dwarfed by, the
captured factory ship.
Behind the two ships, a great many thousands of miles away,
the capital planet of Coruscant bustles with traffic, and
glows with a million tiny lights.
An object, shrouded in silver foil, is ejected from the
Star's hangar, spinning slowly as it drifts away.
INT. FALLING STAR, HANGAR BAY - CONTINUOUS
The entire crew, Gunner Three excepted, is assembled,
somberly watching the object drift away. Manx holds Kitch's
arm. Gunner Two cries on Alda's shoulder.
The object is a body. This is a funeral.
Kitch raises a communicator to his lips.
KITCH
Ready.
INT. FALLING STAR, SWIVEL GUN TURRET THREE - CONTINUOUS
Gunner Three, grave for once, has his gun trained on the
corpse.
GUNNER THREE
Aye aye, Captain.
(quietly)
Goodbye, brother.
He fires.
INT. FALLING STAR, HANGAR BAY - CONTINUOUS
The body of the fallen gunner explodes in a burst of sparks.
KITCH
He was one of us, but now we commit
his body to the stars.
(Looks at Kenobi)
May the Force be with him.
And all present repeat the words - "May the force be with
him."
The mourners disperse slowly. Manx and Kitch walk side by
side.
KITCH (CONT'D)
That stunt you pulled with the
hyperdrive... the calculations, the
reaction time ... it's the boldest
move I've ever heard of.
MANX
Thanks, Cap.
KITCH
But, if you ever chance something
like that again...
MANX
Me? I saved your life!
KITCH
You could have...
MANX
Yeah?
KITCH
...destroyed my ship.
MANX
That's just great, Cap, and what
about you?! At least my plan wasn't
one hundred percent suicidal!
KITCH
I was buying you time.
MANX
You risked the whole mission!
KITCH
I don't leave crew behind!
MANX
No, the only thing you were about
to leave behind was your smug
corpse.
Manx storms off in one direction, Kitch in the other. Then he
realizes they're both headed to the same place, and he
sheepishly changes direction.
Obi Wan, walking with Anakin, notices and smiles.
ANAKIN
Obi Wan... Donzin Faal and the
others you keep hinting about...
what's the Dark Side of the Force?
KENOBI
Kitch and Manx care for each other,
do they not?
ANAKIN
(rolling with it)
Sure seems like it, the way they
were fighting.
KENOBI
They are angry at each other,
because they feared they would lose
one another.
ANAKIN
Yeah, sure.
KENOBI
Their fear and anger then are
connected to their love, entwined.
So it is with the Dark Side and the
Light.
ANAKIN
But isn't that just natural?
KENOBI
Yes, yes, of course, nothing is
more natural -- and that's what
makes it so dangerous. We all fear,
we all rage, but if a Jedi forgets
the love that moves us to those
emotions, lets those dark feelings
consume them, then they will fall.
And a fallen Jedi is a powerful
enemy indeed.
ANAKIN
Kitch and Manx are all right,
though.
KENOBI
Oh yes. The most virtuous villains
I've ever met.
Obi Wan puts a reassuring hand on Anakin's shoulder, and they
exit the hangar.
Only Canaris remains behind, staring off through the force
field into the darkness of space.
EXT. SPACE, OFF CORUSCANT - MINUTES LATER
The flashing, bustling nucleus of Coruscant pulses with
activity, surrounded by orbitals of ships and satellites, gun
platforms and extraplanetary docks.
Radials of heavy traffic stream in and outbound. The Falling
Star joins an inbound lane.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch is at the helm, Manx at his side, Kenobi and Canaris
behind them.
JARDIN
And we think the cloning ship is
safe back there?
KITCH
Who's gonna take it? I'm more
worried about whether I'll be safe
up here.
KENOBI
Oh, stop being so dramatic.
KITCH
You know they've issued a Class
Five Galactic Level warrant for my
capture, don't you?
KENOBI
Class 5 is it? I hadn't realized.
MANX
He's very proud.
KITCH
Stupid is what I am, touching down
on Coruscant.
KENOBI
Relax Renzo. I know people.
KITCH
(mumbling)
He knows people.
EXT. CORUSCANT SKIES - MOMENTS LATER
The Falling Star descends through the atmosphere, beneath it
a shining metropolis unparalleled throughout the galaxy.
INT. FALLING STAR, AFT VIEWING DECK - CONTINUOUS
Anakin, Heph, Forbee, and Alda gaze in wonder at the view
through the panel.
Heph looks at Anakin's slack jaw and laughs heartily.
HEPH
I could fit an issel egg in that
gob of yours.
ANAKIN
It's grander than I ever imagined.
ALDA
Heh. Listen to this kid.
Forbee beeps.
ALDA (CONT'D)
That's what I'm saying.
HEPH
Aw, leave him alone Forbee.
Suddenly, a blocky vessel, large, with lights flashing and
guns protruding prominently, ascends into formation directly
behind the Star, filling the viewing panel.
A stern voice, amplified through loudspeakers: "Captain Renzo
Kitch, you are under arrest."
EXT. CORUSCANT SKIES - CONTINUOUS
The Falling Star is surrounded on six sides by armored law
ships.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch, head turned, is glaring at Kenobi, who raises his
hands in a gesture of reassurance. Kitch petulantly flips
open a channel.
KITCH
You don't have to shout. Captain
Kitch, here. I...
Kitch frowns at Kenobi.
KITCH (CONT'D)
I surrender.
EXT. CORUSCANT, LANDING PLATFORM - DAY
On a platform located amidst shiny skyscrapers, the Falling
Star has come to rest, surrounded by those beefy security
ships.
Thirty or so armed guards stand at the ready as The Star's
boarding ramp descends.
Kitch is the first to exit, hands in the air, followed by
Kenobi, Anakin and the rest. A security officer steps
forward.
SECURITY OFFICER
Captain Renzo Kitch, by order of
the Galactic Republic, I hereby
place you and your crew under
arrest for one hundred and eighty
seven counts of piracy -- and other
crimes too varied and numerous to
mention.
KITCH
Kenobi?
SECURITY OFFICER
And, I have to ask, what insanity
led you to believe that you could
just land on the capital
unapprehended?
KITCH
That's a very good question.
KENOBI?
Obi Wan puts and arm around Anakin and approaches the
officer.
KENOBI
I'd like to shake your hand,
officer. It's been a terrible time
being trapped aboard that wretched
ship.
KITCH
You son of a...
Kenobi kicks Kitch in the shin.
KENOBI
Take that, you brute.
Alda's eyes go wide, and he reaches for his blaster.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
(to Alda)
Don't try it.
Alda drops his hand.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
I've had enough of your torments.
My business partner and my boy were
abducted over a month ago when
these devils captured our
transport. Idiots didn't understand
that all our money is tied up in
assets.
JARDIN
(catching on)
Yes, none of it liquid you see.
KENOBI
And, they took us hostage, and
abused us mightily, talking
incessantly about riches and
plunder.
SECURITY OFFICER
Hostages, eh?
ANAKIN
Are we finally free, father?
KENOBI
Yes, my boy. It's over.
SECURITY OFFICER
What kind of operation do you run?
You don't dress like business
types.
JARDIN
You don't need to know our
business.
SECURITY OFFICER
What am I saying? That's none of
our concern.
KENOBI
Release us immediately so that we
can refresh ourselves after our
ordeal.
SECURITY OFFICER
Make way men, these gentlemen have
been through a terrible ordeal.
SECURITY GUARD
But sir, shouldn't we at least
debrief them?
SECURITY OFFICER
There'll be time enough for that
after they've had a square meal and
a good night's sleep.
Kenobi, Jardin, and Anakin shuffle off hurriedly.
KENOBI
Thank you, officer. We'll be in
touch tomorrow.
SECURITY OFFICER
Good luck to you, sirs.
KITCH
I'll kill you for this, Kenobi.
The security officer puts the butt of his blaster into
Kitch's stomach.
SECURITY OFFICER
They'll hear no more threats from
you, scum!
Doubled over, Kitch looks at Manx, who can only shake her
head in disbelief.