ORRON III -- DUQUESNE HOMESTEAD -- MONTAGE
With the rising of a new sun on this side of Orron III, we watch the events of Anakin's morning unfold from beginning to end.
Following a rude awakening when Nashira, shrieking like a harpy, bursts into his room, jumps on top of his bed, and begins beating him over the head with one of his pillows, Anakin promptly hurries to get ready for the day and joins the rest of the DuQuesne family at the breakfast table. Following a hearty breakfast of green eggs and ham, he then joins them on their farm chores; while 'Shira and Nemec team up to work with the combine and trailer to finish the season's harvest, Nik helps Corin take inventory and work on repairing broken and malfunctioning equipment.
EXT. DUQUESNE HOMESTEAD -- DAY
With the passing of morning into afternoon, Anakin's chores have come to an end for the day. Tonight is the night Obi-Wan and Siri are to arrive on Orron III after a long voyage from Coruscant, and Nik has to leave to pick them up at the spaceport.
Having promptly showered and dressed in clean, fresh clothes, Anakin guides the DuQuesne family landspeeder out of the garage. As he uses a remote control to close the garage door, Nashira and her parents appear from out of the house, walking all the way around to the right side of the speeder to see him off. 'Shira, for some reason, has a satchel slung across her left shoulder.
ANAKIN: Well, I'm off, guys.
NEMEC: You sure your pals'll be at the spaceport once you get there?
ANAKIN: (nods) I got their approximate time of arrival. Either I'll get there first or they will. Doesn't really matter as we'll arrive within minutes of each other.
Unslinging her satchel, Nashira dumps it in the back seat of the speeder.
ANAKIN: What's in there?
NASHIRA: Supplies.
ANAKIN: I already have some water, snacks, and toilet paper with me.
NASHIRA: Yeah, well, you know me -- I hate to share.
ANAKIN: (frowns) Huh?
CORIN: She's going with you.
ANAKIN: But it's a six-hour trip!
NASHIRA: (narrows her eyes) What are you insinuating?
ANAKIN: (stammering) N-nothing, 'Shira, but c'mon -- it's six hours!
NASHIRA: (jumps in the passenger seat) Just enough time to get back in time for a late supper.
Reaching around to the back seat, Nashira takes hold of the satchel and unzips it. Reaching inside, she pulls out a small, round, iridescent disc. Hunkering back down into the passenger seat, she holds the disc up before Nik's eyes.
NASHIRA: (cont'd) Besides, I've brought some tunes along.
NEMEC: Nashira rarely gets to get out except when leaving for school.
CORIN: It's good for her to get off this farm once in a while, stretch out her arms, take in some of that crisp, open air.
ANAKIN: I ... I ... (resigned) I guess.
Grinning broadly, Nashira punches Anakin in the arm -- hard. Wincing in pain, Nik immediately begins rubbing the tenderized spot.
NASHIRA: Hi-ho, Silver, away!
ANAKIN: Cut it down a notch, will ya? Sheesh!
Kicking the speeder into overdrive, Anakin burns repulsorlift as he peels out of the driveway. Grinning with toothy grins as broad as their daughter's, Nemec and Corin wave after the pair as they move off into the distance.
EXT. HIGHWAY -- MONTAGE
Emerging out onto the open highway, 'Shira slides her disc into the landspeeder's player. Almost automatically, loud instrumental theremin music begins to play over the speakers. As the speeder makes its way along the long highway, the intense music reverberates across the empty grasslands surrounding the duracrete road, seeming to transform the entire landscape into one vast echo chamber.
As the music plays, hours seem to pass by in mere minutes. As the sun moves across the sky and lowers toward the horizon, Nik and 'Shira pass by another small farm, a herd of grazing jackalopes, and eventually an ancient, burned-out ruin of a house with a sinister old woman standing out in its long-overgrown front yard. Nashira spends the time alternating between silently listening to music, chatting with Nik, and taking snapshots of interesting landmarks with a camera while he keeps his eyes out on the open road.
EXT. HIGHWAY -- SUNSET
After almost three hours, the music has come to an end and the sun has now begun to set.
As the spaceport appears as a spot on the horizon in the far distance, the radiance of the departing sun bathes Nashira's face in its warm light. Seemingly transfixed by the Munsell red glow, a wistful expression passes over her features.
NASHIRA: Nik?
ANAKIN: Yes?
NASHIRA: You never did say why Siri and Obi decided to visit us now, after all this time.
ANAKIN: Can't say I know myself, exactly. I guess they just felt enough time had passed since they'd seen you last and figured now would be a good time to catch up.
NASHIRA: Anakin ...
ANAKIN: Yeah, 'Shira?
NASHIRA: They're really here because of the baby, aren't they? (beat) She lost it. She lost her baby.
Anakin doesn't know what to say, so he doesn't say anything. Turning to face him, Nashira regards him, her blue eyes almost glowing with intensity.
NASHIRA: Have you ... have you ever though about us, Nik? About our future, if we stay together?
ANAKIN: Sure -- of course I have.
NASHIRA: Have you ... have you thought about us having children, and I mean really thought about it?
ANAKIN: Well, I guess I ... I mean ... (sighs) No, I guess I haven't -- not long, anyway. (beat) I figured it'd be something to think about later, when we're both older.
NASHIRA: Do you think we could -- if we choose to -- do you think we could have children?
ANAKIN: (uncomfortable) Nashira, I -- I don't -- neither of us have been tested to see if we can or can't.
'Shira begins to say something more, but seeing how uncomfortable Anakin is with the conversation she cuts herself off. Turning away from him, she refocuses her gaze on the setting sun, allowing herself to be immersed spiritually and well as physically within its deep crimson radiance.
