EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - AFTERNOON
Anakin, Obi-Wan, Shmi and Beru stand together outside the dwelling giving their farewells. Owen sits with Amidala and Tarpals in the landspeeder before them, a dour expression on his face.
BERU : The life of a moisture farmer isn’t much, but we wish you could stay, Nik. (cont’d) It’s your decision, however, and I want you to know I’ll support you all the way.
ANAKIN : I ... (looking at Shmi) I have to go.
BERU : It’ll be hard getting used to you not being around. You’ve become like a brother to me, Anakin.
Anakin and Beru embrace, drawing together in a tight hug.
ANAKIN : You take care of Owen, now, you hear? Without me around you’ll be the only one around to keep that anger of his in check.
BERU : (laughs) But who’ll be there to keep yours?
They separate. Anakin turns to face Shmi.
ANAKIN : Well ...
SHMI : Well ...?
ANAKIN : Mom, will I ever see you again?
SHMI : What does your heart tell you?
ANAKIN : I hope so ... yes ... I guess.
SHMI : Then we will see each other again.
ANAKIN : I ... will become a Jedi and will come back and show you everything. I’ll make you proud of me.
SHMI : Anakin, I’m already proud of you. You’re my son.
Shmi puts her hand on Anakin’s shoulder and plants a kiss on his cheek. Tears begin to run down his face.
SHMI : No matter where you are, my love will be with you. Now be brave, and don’t look back.
ANAKIN : I love you so much.
Anakin turns and walks off, leaving for the parked landspeeder. Shmi and Obi-Wan exchange glances as he follows after him. They climb in the speeder as it roars to life.
The vehicle races off, leaving Beru and Shmi to watch as it disappears into the horizon.
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - AFTERNOON
A probe droid races out of the desert sands up to the Sith Lord Maul, who stands beside a hovering speeder bike under the hot suns. The machine makes a series of beeps and whistles before departing, taking off in a new direction.
Maul climbs atop his speeder bike, revving the engine as he follows after the droid.
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - AFTERNOON
Panaka’s men unload the hyperdrive from the landspeeder’s flatbed and carry it along toward the open hatch of the Akkadian, with Qui-Gon using the Force to take most of the tremendous weight off the device. Amidala walks alongside the Jedi apprentice.
QUI-GON : Welcome back, Princess.
AMIDALA : It’s good to be back.
QUI-GON : I trust you had a good night?
AMIDALA : A wonderful night, Qui-Gon. I slept like a baby.
QUI-GON : (smiling) Good, that’s good.
AMIDALA : And you? Did you sleep well?
QUI-GON : I slept the sleep of the ancients.
AMIDALA : (grinning) And that’s even better.
Anakin and Obi-Wan climb out of the vehicle. Owen looks up at both of them, his face expressionless.
OWEN : (to Anakin) He’ll ruin you.
ANAKIN : You know me, Owen. If you can’t trust Obi-Wan then you can at least trust me.
OWEN : I know you all too well, Anakin. That’s how I know you’re making a mistake.
ANAKIN : (angry) What’s that supposed to mean?
OWEN : There’s a trillion Wattoes and Sebulbas out there, and each one of them are worse than the genuine articles. (cont’d) You’ve always been impatient and you always will be, and your damned impatience is going to get you in a fix you won’t be able to get out of. You’re reckless.
ANAKIN : You’re wrong Owen, and I’ll prove it to you. I’ll show you how wrong you are.
Anakin turns away from the Jedi and his brother, following Qui-Gon, Amidala, and the bodyguards to the ship. Owen turns his sights on Obi-Wan, his eyes burning with cold fire.
OWEN : Kenobi ...
OBI-WAN : Yes?
OWEN : If my brother dies because of you ... I swear I’ll kill you myself.
Without further words Owen starts the speeder back up and makes a U-turn around the Jedi, heading through the sand back toward the moisture farm. Obi-Wan watches the speeder go, then turns and begins walking toward the ship after Anakin.
The Jedi then notices a movement out of the corner of his eye, and out of instinct draws his lightsaber and, activating the weapon, slashes downward. A probe droid flashes with an explosion of sparks, and its severed halves fall to the ground.
Anakin notices the disturbance and stops as he steps into the ship, turning to the Jedi.
ANAKIN : What is it?
OBI-WAN : Probe droid. Very unusual. Not like anything I’ve seen before.
A dark figure on a speeder bike suddenly appears from out of the desert sands, bearing down on the Jedi. Maul springs from the seat of his bike, somersaulting over Obi-Wan’s head as a red lightsaber blazes to life. Obi-Wan spins around, blocking the crimson blade as Maul attempts a killing blow.
Anakin freezes, staring transfixed as the battle grows heated, the two combatants striking at one another with their lightsabers.
OBI-WAN : Anakin, get inside! Take off! Go! Go!
Obi-Wan parries one of Maul’s blows as Anakin comes to his senses and disappears aboard the Akkadian.
INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON
Anakin races down the corridor of the ship until he comes to the hatch to the cockpit. He opens the door, where he finds Captain Panaka with Amidala sitting at the controls.
ANAKIN : Obi-Wan’s in trouble. He says to take off. Now!
CAPT. PANAKA : Who the hell are you?
AMIDALA : A friend ... (cont’d) We’d better listen to him.
Panaka activates the Akkadian’s systems, and begins to take the ship up off the ground.
INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - COCKPIT - AFTERNOON
CAPT. PANAKA : Where is he? I don’t see him.
ANAKIN : Turn around!
Panaka swivels the craft around, until the sight of two figures duelling with lightsabers in a cloud of sand enters the viewport.
ANAKIN : Over there! Fly low!
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - AFTERNOON
Obi-Wan parries a blow from Maul’s lightsaber, and makes a quick riposte. The Sith blocks the Jedi’s blade. Maul locks their blades together, using all his strength to then force Obi-Wan back.
The Sith Lord kicks Obi-Wan’s legs out from under him, and the Jedi Knight collapses to the ground on his back. Using the Force, Maul calls Obi-Wan’s lightsaber to his hand, bringing his own blade to the Jedi’s throat. With a malicious grin, the Sith raises the crimson lightsaber over his head.
The shadow of the Akkadian then falls over them, distracting the Sith. Obi-Wan uses the Force to push Maul back away from him, retrieving his lightsaber as he leaps to his feet. The Jedi springs upward once the ship moves close enough, leaping up onto the open hatch. Maul recovers, and leaps up after Obi-Wan, catching hold of the edge of the hatch. Obi-Wan quickly kicks the Sith in the jaw, causing him to fall back to the ground below.
The hatch slowly closes, and the Akkadian rises upward. Maul climbs back up onto his feet, retrieving his lightsaber, staring after the Akkadian as it shrinks to a point in the sky and disappears.
INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON
Obi-Wan collapses, exhausted and dripping with sweat. Anakin, followed by Qui-Gon, come out and find him propped up against the hatch.
ANAKIN : You okay?
OBI-WAN : I think so ...
QUI-GON : What is it? Why did we take off early? What happened?
ANAKIN : He was attacked.
QUI-GON : (shocked) Attacked? Attacked by whom?
OBI-WAN : I don’t know ... but he was trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is he was after the Princess.
ANAKIN : Do you think he’ll follow us?
OBI-WAN : We’ll be safe once the hyperdrive is installed and we’re away, but I have no doubt he knows our destination.
QUI-GON : (to Anakin) Who are you?
OBI-WAN : Qui-Gon Jinn, meet Anakin Skywalker.
ANAKIN : Nice to meet you. (cont’d) You’re a Jedi too, right?
Qui-Gon exchanges glances with Obi-Wan.