Copyright © 2015 by Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.

Used under authorization.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Number: 2014953126

eBook ISBN: 978-1-59474-819-6

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-59474-806-6

Text by Ian Doescher

Illustrations by Nicolas Delort

Production management by John J. McGurk

Quirk Books

215 Church Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

quirkbooks.com

v3.1

TO ETHAN YOUNGERMAN, BARD OF NEW YORK,

AND TO CHRIS MARTIN, JEDI OF THE SOUTH.

TO HEIDI ALTMAN, FORCE IN OLD D.C.,

AND TO NAOMI WALCOTT, FAR-FLUNG MUSE

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

Act I

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Act II

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Scene 6

Act III

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Act IV

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Scene 6

Act V

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Afterword

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CHORUS

RUMOR

YODA, a Jedi Master

QUI-GON JINN, a Jedi Knight

OBI-WAN KENOBI, his Jedi apprentice

MACE WINDU and KI-ADI-MUNDI, Jedi Knights

QUEEN PADMÉ AMIDALA, of Naboo

SABÉ, her handmaiden and decoy

ANAKIN SKYWALKER, a boy of Tatooine

SHMI SKYWALKER, his mother

R2-D2, a droid

C-3PO, a droid

KITSTER, SEEK, AMEE, and WALD, friends of Anakin

SIO BIBBLE, governor of Naboo

CAPTAIN PANAKA and RIC OLIÉ, gentlemen of Naboo

BOSS NASS, ruler of the Gungan tribe

JAR JAR BINKS, a Gungan clown

CAPTAIN TARPALS, a Gungan soldier

CHANCELL VALORUM, of the Senate

SENATOR PALPATINE/DARTH SIDIOUS, a senator of Naboo and Sith Lord

DARTH MAUL, a Sith

NUTE GUNRAY, viceroy of the Trade Federation

DAULTAY DOFINE, RUNE HAAKO, and TEY HOW, gentlemen of the Trade Federation

WATTO, a tradesman of Tatooine

SEBULBA, a sportsman of Tatooine

JABBA OF THE HUTT, a gangster

FODE AND BEED, commentators

PODRACERS, SENATORS, PILOTS, GUARDS, THE QUEEN’S

HANDMAIDENS, GUNGANS, DROIDS, and CREATURES

PROLOGUE.

Outer space.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS

Alack! What dreadful turmoil hath beset

The strong Republic and its bonds of peace.

O’er distant trade routes all do sigh and fret

As fears of grim taxation do increase.

The greedy, vile Trade Federation hath

Created a blockade none may pass through.

With deadly battleships they block the path

Unto the little planet call’d Naboo.

Whilst politicians endlessly debate,

The Chancellor Supreme plies strategy.

He sends two Jedi to negotiate—

They who keep peace within the galaxy.

In time so long ago begins our play,

In troubl’d galaxy far, far away.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.

Aboard the Republic cruiser and aboard the Trade Federation battleship.

Enter RUMOR.

RUMOR

Open your hearts; for which of you will stop

The vent of feeling when loud Rumor speaks?

Her flaming tongue with poison’d tip shall drop

Unrest from Tatooine to Naboo’s peaks.

See how, with mere suggestion of a tax,

Begin star wars that shall your eyes amaze.

Enraging th’Federation with false facts

Good sport did make for Rumor’s cunning ways—

Inciting the Republic to respond

Now sets the game afoot on ev’ry side.

Thus shall I cause new worries to be spawn’d:

Hint of a dark Force rising I’ll provide,

E’en till the proud Republic longeth for

Protection from some unknown, looming threat.

Replete with fear, each heart shall be full sore

Ere I have ceas’d the worry I beget.

Quick now, and let this merry play begin—

Unveil the Empire’s full prehistory!

E’en groundlings, waiting weeks to be let in,

Look forward to the wonders they shall see.

Starts now what you have long’d for, sans delay:

Attend—a phantom menace comes anon!

Ye shall be pull’d into our clever play,

Ears, hearken to this story that doth dawn.

[Exit.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, PILOT, and CAPTAIN.

QUI-GON

I say, good captain.

CAPTAIN

—Aye, sir, what’s your will?

QUI-GON

Pray, make communication unto this

Trade Federation battleship, e’en here.

Tell them that we would board their ship anon.

[The captain addresses Nute Gunray via comlink.

CAPTAIN

With great respect and humble mien, good sir,

With awe for the Trade Federation’s might,

The brave ambassadors would swiftly board

Your ship, with your permission and consent.

QUI-GON

[aside:] Methinks this captain’s words are oversweet.

NUTE

[through comlink:] Indeed—we nothing herein have to hide,

And as you know full well, our blockade is

Within the bounds of the Republic’s law.

Your kind ambassadors shall be receiv’d

As we would welcome all Republic guests.

[Exit Nute Gunray from comlink.

QUI-GON

Thus shall we fly unto their battleship

And land within the core of its vast frame.

These Federation ships are massive, aye,

And run to excess for a mere blockade.

Yet, when taxation is the greater theme,

The melody oft leans toward life or death.

It is an ancient song that all know well—

The notes of levies ring with morbid knoll.

Indeed, it may most verily be said

That only death and taxes certain are.

[The Republic ship lands inside the battleship. Many droids surround the ship.

Enter DROID TC-14 to speak with QUI-GON JINN and OBI-WAN KENOBI. PILOT and CAPTAIN remain in the Republic ship.

TC-14

My name is TC-14, at your aid.

I prithee, come with me, good gentlemen.

Your visit doth bring honor unto us,

Ambassadors of high and noble blood.

Be now at ease, and wait upon my lord,

For he shall hither come to speak with you.

[Exit TC-14.

OBI-WAN

I have a feeling bad about this, Master.

QUI-GON

Yet sense I nothing. Wherefore art thou tense?

OBI-WAN

’Tis not about the mission—something else.

Elusive ’tis, aye, difficult to name.

QUI-GON

O, center not on thy anxiety,

Young Obi-Wan. Thy concentration here

Maintain—within this very moment now—

For such is where thy focus doth belong.

OBI-WAN

But Master Yoda hath instructed me

To be e’er mindful of the future, for

Its advent may have meaning in my life.

QUI-GON

’Tis true, yet future possibility

Must not be kept within the forefront of

Thy mind at the expense of what is here:

The present moment. Be e’er mindful of

The living Force, my worthy Padawan.

OBI-WAN

Aye, Master. Then, unto the present time:

How do you think the Viceroy shall respond

Unto the noble Chancellor’s demands?

QUI-GON

Methinks there can be little doubt in this:

These Federation dogs are cowardly

And shall be quick to heel at our command.

Negotiation shall be swift, indeed.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, DAULTAY DOFINE, and TC-14 above on balcony.

NUTE

What didst thou say, thou terror-speaking droid?

TC-14

Just what my sockets hath observ’d, my lord:

These two ambassadors are Jedi Knights.

DAULTAY

This I did prophesy in my mind’s eye:

The two have come to force a settlement.

NUTE

Go thou and make some keen distraction there;

I must make contact with Lord Sidious.

DAULTAY

Hast thou lost all thy pow’r of intellect,

Thou jarring fool-born simple-minded rogue?

I shall not go where Jedi’s steps do tread.

Instead, send one insensible to fear:

This droid shall serve our purpose. [To TC-14:] Go,

anon!

[Exit TC-14 from balcony.

OBI-WAN

Is it their nature, so to make us wait?

QUI-GON

Nay, truly I do sense a fear too grand

For such a wee affair as trade disputes.

Enter TC-14, with serving tray.

TC-14

[aside:] I serve the drinks these Jedi to appease

And in so doing serve my masters’ will.

We droids are here to serve: ’tis protocol,

Yet here my service lacketh etiquette,

For it doth serve these Jedi to deceive.

[TC-14 serves drinks to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

Enter DARTH SIDIOUS in beam on balcony, speaking with NUTE GUNRAY and DAULTAY DOFINE.

SIDIOUS

What is’t?

DAULTAY

—The scheme that you have schem’d hath fail’d,

Lord Sidious. Our ruse—e’en this blockade—

Is finish’d, for would we dare fight against

The Jedi? Nay! It would be foolishness.

SIDIOUS

[to Nute Gunray:] Hear me now, Viceroy: I’ll not have this filth,

This stunted slime of rank and worthless nerve,

This craven, simple-minded lump of flesh

Within my presence e’er again. Put not

Such weak examples of resolve and will

Before a mighty Sith.

[Exit Daultay Dofine.

This recent twist

Of Fate’s blind spinning wheel hath luckless been.

We must, therefore, accelerate our plans:

Begin to send the troops unto Naboo.

NUTE

My lord, your words astound! For shall the law

Be with us in this action we shall take?

SIDIOUS

I tell thee, I am arbiter and law:

It shall be legal if I make it so.

NUTE

What shall be done with these two Jedi, then?

SIDIOUS

’Twas ill-conceivèd of the chancellor

To bring the Jedi into this affair.

Hear my command and follow: kill them both!

NUTE

Indeed, my lord: as you wish, it shall be.

[Exit Darth Sidious from beam.

Exit Nute Gunray.

Enter PILOT and CAPTAIN, aside in Republic ship.

PILOT

Alas, good captain, look upon the guns—

They turn in our direction. We are slain!

CAPTAIN

Raise shields, my man, to grant us some defense.

PILOT

Too late, too late!

[The Trade Federation guns fire on the Republic ship, killing Pilot and Captain. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan brandish their lightsabers.

QUI-GON

—What villainy is this?

My senses tell of some abrupt attack.

OBI-WAN

I sense it, too, my master. I believe

Our comrades have been kill’d whilst they did wait.

[Gas begins to seep into the room.

QUI-GON

And what is more, now comes a vapor rank!

Dioxin—poison’d gas. Pray, hold thy breath!

[The Jedi hold their breath.

Enter BATTLE DROIDS including OWO-1, standing at attention outside door. Enter NUTE GUNRAY in beam.

NUTE

[to battle droids:] For certain they are dead by now—since these

Two Jedi are not politicians, they

Are not with hot air fill’d, and thus have not

The stores of breath essential to survive.

Still: go, destroy what remnant may remain.

[Exit Nute Gunray from beam. The door opens.

TC-14 passes through the doorway and sees the battle droids.

TC-14

I beg your pardon, droids of mettle made.

OWO-1

Go forth, investigate, good corporal.

DROID 1

Forsooth, forsooth!

[The Jedi come forth suddenly, fighting.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and TEY HOW aside on bridge.

OWO-1

—Fight for our masters true!

NUTE

What now—the monitors have been destroy’d?

What circumstance unhappy doth befall?

TEY

Transmission hath been wholly lost, my liege!

RUNE

[to Nute:] Hast thou e’er had a clash with Jedi Knights?

NUTE

Nay, truly not till now. Thy warning doth

Give me some pause. [To Tey:] Seal off the bridge entire!

TEY

Indeed!

RUNE

—Dost thou not see? ’Tis not enough.

NUTE

And call a host of droidekas anon!

RUNE

Yet thou art deaf, and in thy panic shalt

Not listen to the truth: we’ll not survive.

[The bridge doors are sealed as the Jedi continue to fight and advance.

OBI-WAN

The battle droids are worthless when fac’d by

The power of the Force. All are o’erthrown!

QUI-GON

Indeed, now may my lightsaber be to

This door the key, that we may entrance make.

[Qui-Gon uses his lightsaber to bore through the bridge door.

NUTE

Behold, they come! Swift, close the blast doors. Aye,

For certain that shall keep the two at bay

Until the fearsome droidekas appear.

QUI-GON

The lightsaber cuts not as’t did before—

Belike another door hath seal’d the way.

Well play’d, shrewd sirs, and yet not well enough:

Observe the power of a burning sun,

This mystic beam I wield here in my hand.

[Qui-Gon pushes his lightsaber directly through the center of the door.

NUTE

They still make headway—how is’t possible?

RUNE

Where are the droidekas thou summon’d forth?

Enter DROIDEKAS.

OBI-WAN

My master, look—destroyer droids approach!

[Qui-Gon pulls his lightsaber from the door to face the droidekas, which begin shooting at the Jedi.

They generate their own strong shields, too. Fie!

QUI-GON

We parry ev’ry blast; they’ll not break through.

But neither are we close enough to strike

And their strong shields do block what we reflect.

’Tis but an errant game that none can win.

So let us fly and find another way.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

RUNE

The droidekas have sent them fleeing, ha!

TEY

Sir, I report: the Jedi speedily

Retreat unto the ventilation shaft.

[Exeunt Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, and Tey How.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and OBI-WAN KENOBI to the main hangar above, on balcony.

QUI-GON

Do you behold this here, young Obi-Wan?

’Tis battle droids—and hundreds, mayhap more.

OBI-WAN

Indeed, an army for invasion made.

QUI-GON

This is a strategy most strange for the

Trade Federation. By my troth, this strange

And unexpected twist doth warrant care.

We must inform the innocent Naboo

And Chancellor Valorum, too. Hear this,

My young apprentice: let us split our paths

And use these ships as transport to Naboo

Where, on the planet’s surface, we shall meet.

OBI-WAN

Aye, Master, I shall do as you command,

And rendezvous with you upon Naboo.

What’s more—your foresight wise they could not thwart:

Negotiations were, indeed, quite short.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

On the planet Naboo and aboard the Trade Federation battleship.

Enter QUEEN AMIDALA.

AMIDALA

A person young is thought to have no pow’r,

E’en when she is a queen, as like myself.

Those older do surround, e’er pressing in

And questioning each word that I do speak.

One thinks I shall a poor decision make,

Another thinks himself more competent.

The best of them do bow and show respect

And treat me with the def’rence due my throne,

Yet even their eyes speak of disbelief—

Their courtesy becomes a stifling thing.

A youth is no more frail than older folk,

No less intelligent, no less sublime.

Our steps are newer, yet we are no jewel

To be protected and encas’d by them.

We know of violence and life’s harsh ways,

Our tears descend in grief as their tears do.

We are not made of softer stuff than they,

The moods we feel oft run irate and rough.

We have no thoughts less noble than our elders’—

In truth, compassion may we ably teach.

Then why is’t thought that youth are so beneath

Those older than we are, of any rank?

’Tis foolishness, yea, ’tis foul treachery!

If e’er these older ones could look within

And plumb the depths of youth, what wonders would

Before their eyes appear: the courage, strength

And valor it requires to be a youth:

The daily struggle to survive amid

The thousand constant doubts we do receive

From ev’ry person, e’en those who are dear,

The ever-present skirmishes with those

Of our own age, who should support and praise

Us, bound within the sacred bond of youth,

But who, instead, do injure with harsh words.

To be a youth within a world run by

An older generation taketh strength—

Yea, that beyond a hundred elders’ might.

To be both youth and leader truly is

To be a target ever in their sights.

I would not trade my station for the world,

Nor would I wish it on mine enemy.

Although the path is fraught, this is our cause:

We youth shall mold the future we desire.

[Queen Amidala presses a comlink switch.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and TEY HOW, above on balcony in Trade Federation battleship.

TEY

Transmission from the planet of Naboo.

RUNE

It is Queen Amidala—aye, herself.

NUTE

At last, we shall begin to see results,

For speaking to the head shall move the body.

[To Amidala:] Again, you come before us, highness grand.

AMIDALA

I do. Yet thou shalt not be pleas’d when thou

Hast heard what I intend to say to thee.

Thine errant boycott of our planet’s through.

NUTE

Your words are naught but deep surprise to me,

For of our failure I’ve heard no report.

AMIDALA

I am aware that the ambassadors

Who were by Chancellor Valorum sent

Have come to thee, and thou art order’d to

Come to a settlement o’er this blockade.

NUTE

And yet, I know of no ambassadors.

For certain, you have made a gross mistake.

AMIDALA

[aside:] Alas, have all our plans been thwarted then?

[To Nute Gunray:] Beware, I warn thee, Viceroy, for ’tis true:

The Federation hath made steps too bold.

NUTE

I know not what you mean, good lady queen:

We would do nothing sans the Senate’s say.

As doth befit your youth and woman’s fear

Your Highness doth assume too much, indeed.

AMIDALA

O, we shall see how mine assumptions fare.

[Exit Queen Amidala.

RUNE

In troth, the lady is correct. The Senate—

NUTE

’Tis far too late! What’s done can’t be undone.

RUNE

Aye, so! But do you think she doth expect

The swift attack that we are bound to make?

NUTE

Nay, I know not. Yet this, at least, is clear:

We must disrupt communication to

The planet, lest they learn of our intent.

[Exeunt Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, and Tey How.

Enter QUEEN AMIDALA with SIO BIBBLE, CAPTAIN PANAKA, COURT, and ATTENDANTS. Enter SENATOR PALPATINE in beam.

PALPATINE

What is’t you say? Negotiations have

Not reach’d a starting point because the two

Ambassadors did ne’er arrive? But nay,

How could that tale be true? The chancellor

Himself inform’d me that th’ambassadors

Most surely did arrive. Negotiate—

[Exit Palpatine from beam.

AMIDALA

I prithee, Senator, where hast thou gone?

[To Captain Panaka:] What is the matter? What hath happen’d here?

PANAKA

[to attendant:] Check our transmission generator, lad.

SIO

If our communication hath been breach’d

It means but one thing only: an attack.

AMIDALA

The Federation would not go so far,

For such a move would mean their suicide.

PANAKA

I do agree: the Senate would revoke

The Federation’s trade ability,

Which would destroy their commerce all at once.

AMIDALA

Negotiation must be our fond hope.

SIO

Negotiation, Highness? We have lost

Communication, and as yet we know

Of no ambassadors who have brought suit

Unto the Federation for our sake.

AMIDALA

[aside:] O how he sneers and mocks mine utterance

As he would never do were I his age.

PANAKA

The situation is most grave, my queen.

If an invasion comes, the meager, slight

Security our volunteers provide

Shall be no contest for the harden’d ranks

The Federation surely shall employ.

AMIDALA

I hear thee, counselors, and may hear more,

But will condone no move that leads to war.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 3.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter BATTLE DROIDS, including OOM-9.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY and RUNE HAAKO in beam.

OOM-9

How may I serve you, Viceroy? What’s your will?

RUNE

Pay heed now, Captain. We have search’d the ship

And found no trace of Jedi Knights therein.

’Tis possible they hide aboard thy craft.

OOM-9

If they are here, good sir, we shall detect

Them and destroy them as we were enjoin’d.

NUTE

Pray, use thou caution—underestimate

These Jedi at thy peril. Vigilance!

[Exeunt Nute Gunray and Rune Haako from beam.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, hidden.

QUI-GON

With hundreds of these battle droids I fly

Unto the planet that doth wait below.

Yea, unbeknownst to its kind citizens

Attack doth cruelly come to break their peace.

The craft hath landed. Run, e’er we are found!

[Qui-Gon begins to run from the craft amid fleeing falumpasets, pursued by battle droids.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS, hidden, seeing QUI-GON JINN.

JAR JAR

A man approacheth, cloth’d in Jedi garb.

Belike this man brings aid unto Naboo

Such as will help my people and my land.

Mayhap this is the chance I have desir’d!

For I have wander’d lo these many months

A’thinking o’er this planet’s dreary fate:

Two peoples separated by their fear

And prejudice, which e’er doth make us shirk

From giving help unto each other. Aye,

It may be that the only hope for us

To be united is to realize

That our two fates are tightly knit as one.

Perchance this Jedi, follow’d by these droids,

Doth bring the words to break our deep mistrust.

I shall make introduction, in my way—

Portray the part that I have learn’d so well:

It doth befit the human prejudice

To think we Gungans simple, low, and rude.

I shall approach him thusly, yet shall bend

Him to the path that shall assist us all.

Put on thy simple wits now, Jar Jar Binks:

Thus play the role of clown to stoke his pride.

[Jar Jar stands in Qui-Gon’s path. Qui-Gon runs into him and the two fall as the battle-droids transport passes by over them.

[To Qui-Gon:] O moiee-moiee, I so luvee!

QUI-GON

Thou brainless knave! Almost thou kill’d us both.

JAR JAR

I speakee, speakee, look at mee-mee!

QUI-GON

That thou canst speak doth not yet make thee wise.

Now, go ye hence. Away!

JAR JAR

[aside:]                      —Your kind did teach

Me human language, and my profit on’t

Is I know how to move your human heart.

So shall I speak most like a Gungan plain

And thus disarm you by a fool’s deceit.

[To Qui-Gon:] Nay, nay, wise sir, O meesa stayee!

O meesa callee Jar Jar Binks—see

Now meesa is your servant humble.

QUI-GON

’Tis quite unnecessary, simple beast.

JAR JAR

O nay, it izzee necessary.

Commanded by da gods it izzee.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, pursued by two BATTLE DROIDS.

QUI-GON JINN destroys the droids.

Now twicee you a’save my lifee.

OBI-WAN

[to Qui-Gon:] What creature, friend, is this?

QUI-GON

—A local, aye,

A piteous native with a simple mind.

Now let us hence afore more droids arrive.

JAR JAR

Did ee say more an more? Exquize me …

[Aside:] And now to cast the line that plants the hook.

[To the Jedi:] The safes’ place is Gunga citee.

’Tis where I grew, a hidden citee.

QUI-GON

Mayhap this lackwit may have purpose yet.

A city? Canst thou take us there, kind brute?

JAR JAR

Ahh nay, as I me thinkee … nay, nay.

QUI-GON

And wherefore not, amphibious buffoon?

JAR JAR

o ’tis embarrassee, me banish’d.

If I return and see de bosses

Den dey will work me woe. You gettee?

[A sound is heard in the distance.

QUI-GON

Dost thou hear that grave sound? It is the noise

Made by a thousand thousand woes to come.

OBI-WAN

If they discover us, we shall be crush’d

And ground into a million fleshy bits.

Oblivion shall be our final home.

JAR JAR

Ye makee good the pointee. Dis way!

[The Jedi walk in the direction Jar Jar points.

[Aside:] These men have prejudice deep in their hearts,

For looking on me, they see savagery.

A “native,” “local,” “piteous,” “buffoon”;

With such dark slurs they slander my whole race.

Yet, Gungans quickly shall destroyèd be

If this attack doth touch our soggy home;

Belike the Jedi are our only hope.

Thus—though I was cast out for mine ideas

And have for many moons gone wandering

Above the waters of my home, where I

Have studied human ways and learn’d their speech—

I shall return to make amends and bring

These Jedi to the people to whom I

Am bound. So may I save my race entire.

To thine own kind be true, so say I e’er.

Give ev’ry man thine ear, but few thy voice—

At least the voice that speaketh with wise words.

Let them hear only speech of ruffian.

My truer voice I’ll hide with outward squeaks

Of “meesa,” “yousa,” and “exquize me, sir.”

So shall the simple lead the high and wise,

That all of us may dwell in harmony.

QUI-GON

I prithee, Jar Jar, how much farther on?

JAR JAR

We gowee underwater, kayee?

But hearee mya warning, too, sir:

De Gungans likee not outsiduhs.

De welcome may not be so warmee.

OBI-WAN

Ha! Fear thou not. This has not been a day

Made for the warmth of hospitality.

[Jar Jar leads the Jedi to the water’s edge, where they plunge in and swim to Gunga City.

Enter GUNGANS, including CAPTAIN TARPALS.

JAR JAR

Now meesa home, so good it feelee.

[The Gungans begin to shrink back at the approach of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar.

TARPALS

Hey yousa, stoppa there. What brings you here?

JAR JAR

Heyo-dalee, good Captain Tarpals.

TARPALS

Nay, Jar Jar, not again. Now yousa shall

Go to de bosses. Yousa in it deep.

[Captain Tarpals steps forward and prods Jar Jar with his power pole, zapping him.

JAR JAR

How wude indeedee. Aye, how wudee!

TARPALS

Now commee all with me, to see de boss.

[Captain Tarpals and other Gungans escort Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar into the chamber of the bosses.

Enter BOSS NASS and other GUNGAN BOSSES.

NASS

I bid to yousa welcome, gentlemen.

But yousa cannah be here. Dis array

Of mackineeks above is yous weesong.

Dey are your problemee, not oursa, nay.

QUI-GON

An army all compris’d of droids shall soon

Make their attack upon the kind Naboo.

We must give them a warning, with your aid.

NASS

But meesa do not likee the Naboo.

Dey think dey are so wise and full of wit.

OBI-WAN

The moment that the battle droids have done

With the Naboo, they shall descend into

These murky depths and seize control of you.

NASS

But meesa nowa thinkee so. De droids

Not know of ussen ere.

OBI-WAN

—Have you no eyes?

Is enmity so strong it makes you blind?

You two—the Gungans and Naboo—do form

A circle symbiont. The rock that’s thrown

Into your lake makes waves upon their shores;

The quake that shakes their land doth make your own

Dear city move as though ’twere rock’d by giants.

The same sun shines upon you both, the same

Rain falls and bringeth water to each one,

The plant that takes root in your miry depths

Doth spread its leaves above, for them to see.

Your fate is theirs and, aye, their fate is yours.

JAR JAR

[aside:] This Jedi speaketh with a wisdom keen.

NASS

But weesa do no care ’bout de Naboo.

[Qui-Gon uses a Jedi mind trick on Boss Nass.

QUI-GON

In that case, prithee, speed us on our way.

NASS

Yea, meesa gonna speed you bote away.

QUI-GON

And we shall have the need for transport, too.

NASS

And weesa gonna give you una bongo.

The speedies’ way to get to de Naboo

Is going tru de planet core. Now, hence!

QUI-GON

With gratitude we give thee thanks, Boss Nass,

And leave your worthy court with wish of peace.

[Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan turn to leave.

OBI-WAN

Say, Master, what doth “una bongo” mean?

QUI-GON

Methinks it is a transport. So hope I!

JAR JAR

[aside:] ’Tis now or ne’er if I would join their cause.

[To Qui-Gon:] O, deysa settin’ you up, certain.

Go to de planet core? Bad bombin’.

And any help ’ere would be hot. Eh?

OBI-WAN

Time runneth short, my master. Shall we go?

QUI-GON

A navigator who shall guide us through

The planet core would be most useful, aye?

[To Nass:] What shall become of this one—

Jar Jar Binks?

NASS

Hisen to havee punishment severe.

QUI-GON

Yet I did save his life, and oweth he

A debt of life to me in recompense.

Your gods have given Jar Jar o’er to me,

He shall go with me by divine command.

NASS

Binks? Yousen hava lifeplay witha his?

JAR JAR

O yassa, meesa doee, bossa.

NASS

Ah, fie! Be gone wit him. Good riddance, den.

JAR JAR

Ahh, nay, count me right outta dis here.

’Tis betta dead here den at de core.

O whatta meesa speaka? Commink!

[Exeunt Boss Nass, Gungan bosses, and other Gungans. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar enter the transport.

OBI-WAN

And now we venture to the planet core.

A place most dangerous, it doth beseem.

JAR JAR

O, dis is nutsen. [Looking out of the vessel:]

Gooberfish, O!

OBI-WAN

Why wert thou banish’d, Jar Jar? Prithee, tell.

JAR JAR

[aside:] If I could tell them true, they’d not believe.

For who would think that simple-minded Binks

Would come to have such thoughts expansive as

Could threaten e’en the Gungan bosses, eh?

O well do I recall how they assess’d

The strange beliefs that I’d begun to speak:

That Gungans and Naboo had equal strength,

That we did need them e’en as they need us,

That our two races should not hostile be,

That our best future lay as one, not two.

Such thoughts as these were reprehensible

To all the bosses: thus, my banishment.

Yet this is not the story I’ll relate.

[To Obi-Wan:] O issa longa tale you seeuh,

But small part bein’ meesa clumsy.

OBI-WAN

Thou wert in exile for thy clumsiness?

JAR JAR

Ahh, yousa mighten beeyuh say dat.

Enter OPEE, hidden.

OPEE

My lord, Darth Sidious, hath sent me here,

Across the galaxy to help destroy

These wretched Jedi. O, what pleasure shall

It give me—not just to fulfill the will

Of my great master, nay, but there is more

My villainous assignment also doth

Bring with it promise of a supper rich!

The best employment bringeth one enjoyment.

JAR JAR

[to Obi-Wan:] So maybe meesa causa one or,

Uh, maybe twowee axidentee.

I boom de gasser, den I banish’d.

[The opee catches the transport with its tongue.

O nay, O nay, O dissa trouble!

Enter SANDO AQUA MONSTER, aside.

SANDO

Fear not, my Jedi brothers, for I come!

Sent by the Jedi Council to Naboo

To guard the good Republic’s interest,

My post is in the groaning waters blue

Where I do stand a’ready to protect

Their passage through the planet’s vicious core.

And now my chance hath come to save their lives:

Though I am sando aqua monster call’d,

I am not monstrous, nay, but virtuous.

[The sando aqua monster eats the opee and exits.

QUI-GON

Deep in the sea ’tis true, as ’tis in life:

One fish seems vast, as giant as a fish

Was e’er thought possible to be. We fear,

Nay cower, in its presence, for we think

It doth portend our sure and certain death.

Now, whether ’tis a fish most literal,

The like of which our ship has just escap’d

Here, or, belike, ’tis but some metaphor—

E’en some great challenge or some enemy,

Mayhap some test that we must overcome—

Unless we call upon the Force to see

Correctly, that the thing is not so grand,

Know this: you ever shall live life in fear.

Hence, my young Padawan, and Jar Jar Binks,

E’er bear in mind this plain and vital truth—

Remember that you must have confidence

Enough to know: there’s e’er a bigger fish.

JAR JAR

O, meesa tink we goin’ back now.

But whereuh weesa goin’ to, sir?

QUI-GON

Fret not: we shall be guided by the Force.

JAR JAR

O, maxibig, de Force you sayuh.

But datta smella stinkowiffee.

[The console begins to beep.

OBI-WAN

Alas, the power swiftly runneth out.

JAR JAR

O nay, O weesa die in heeyuh!

QUI-GON

Pray, calm thyself. No trouble have we yet.

JAR JAR

What “yet”? De monsters swimmin’ out dere,

All leakin’ and a’sinkin’ heeyuh,

When yousa tinkin’ we in trouble?

Enter COLO CLAW, hidden.

COLO

My brother opee fail’d where I’ll succeed.

This vessel shall become my banquet feast—

And thus I serve my masters by my belly.

OBI-WAN

The power is restor’d—with it, our chance.

[The lights of the transport turn on to reveal the colo claw, which attempts to eat the ship.

QUI-GON

From one great trial to another, yet

I feel as though some hand doth guide us here.

Enter SANDO AQUA MONSTER as the transport dodges the COLO CLAW.

SANDO

I come again to rescue my brave friends!

Flee twixt my teeth, but you—O, colo brute!—

Are not so fortunate. Feel my sharp bite:

I’ll break my fast upon your trait’rous hide!

[The sando aqua monster eats the colo claw and exits.

QUI-GON

Thus are we safe again—head for that slope—

For with the Force no sea may sink our hope.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

Aboard the Trade Federation battleship.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and, in beam, DARTH SIDIOUS.

NUTE

Th’invasion doth proceed apace, my lord.

SIDIOUS

I have, with cunning, slow’d the Senate’s speed,

Arresting—by procedure—their advance.

They shall have little choice but to accept

The strong control you hold o’er small Naboo.

NUTE

The queen has faith—misguided, to be sure—

And doth believe the Senate sides with her.

SIDIOUS

Queen Amidala’s but an ingénue;

Controlling her shall not be difficult.

NUTE

Indeed, my lord.

[Exit Darth Sidious from beam.

RUNE

—One thing you did omit.

Naught of the missing Jedi did you speak.

NUTE

Why give him reason to make loud retort?

We shall report when we have some report.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 5.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, and JAR JAR BINKS in transport, surfacing in the waters of Naboo.

QUI-GON

Our journey through the core is made at last,

And now shall we make way unto the queen

To warn her of this threat most imminent.

Come, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar, let us hence!

[Exeunt.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY and RUNE HAAKO with several BATTLE DROIDS, including OOM-9.

OOM-9

The queen hath been detainèd, Viceroy.

NUTE

—Good.

This victory doth taste most succulent,

And sates the hunger of my wide ambition.

Enter SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala, SIO BIBBLE, CAPTAIN PANAKA, PADMÉ, and other members of the NABOO COURT, guarded by BATTLE DROIDS.

SIO

How shalt thou hope to justify this bold

Attack upon our peaceful planet? Speak!

NUTE

The queen and I shall sign a treaty soon;

It shall confer legitimacy on

Our occupation of the city here.

I have been told the Senate shall with haste

Proceed to ratify the treaty. Aye,

Methinks the queen shall find it in her heart

To move her hand and make the needed mark

That shall deliver her dear populace.

SABÉ

No treaty shall I sign. You shall not have

Cooperation in this matter—nay.

NUTE

Be sensible, Your Highness, else we shall

Persuade you through the suff’ring of Naboo.

The cries most piteous, the horrid groans,

The gleam of bodkin’s touch and scream of pain,

The agony that comes from torture cruel—

These moments bleak shall have sway o’er your will.

[To OOM-9:] And now, Commander, take and process them.

OOM-9

I prithee, Captain, take them to camp four.

DROID

Forsooth! Forsooth!

[Exeunt Nute Gunray and Rune Haako.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, and JAR JAR BINKS above, on balcony.

QUI-GON

—The queen—now is the time!

OBI-WAN

The Force we leap withal, for victory!

[Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar leap down and begin fighting the battle droids.

QUI-GON

[aside, whilst fighting:] O, with what ease these droids defeated are,

Had they but any skill in combat we

Would certain be outnumber’d, yet with such

A lack of acumen, these droids are no

More frightening than if they were but toys.

[The Jedi destroy the battle droids.

[To Sabé:] Your Highness, ’twould be best to leave the streets.

PANAKA

Ye courtiers, take the weapons of the droids!

JAR JAR

O wowsa, yousa guys so bombad.

[The group moves aside, off the street.

QUI-GON

We are ambassadors and were sent here

By our wise chancellor.

SIO

—Ambassador,

Your effort at negotiation fail’d.

If I were you, a new trade would I ply.

QUI-GON

Nay, by a Jedi’s oath, there never were

Negotiations—only violence.

’Tis urgent, now, that we make contact with

The brave Republic. Time runs quickly out.

PANAKA

Communication means have been destroy’d.

QUI-GON

But what of transport? Is there some nearby?

PANAKA

Within the hangar—follow me anon!

[The group walks to the hangar, revealing more battle droids.

Alas, too many enemies therein;

Like evil thoughts these droids do multiply.

QUI-GON

’Twill be no problem for we Jedi two,

The weak shall be o’ercome by those more skill’d.

[To Sabé:] Your Highness, prithee journey with we two

To Coruscant. Belike you will be safe

And may before the Senate plead your cause.

SABÉ

With gratitude I greet your proffer’d aid,

Yet rightfully my place is on Naboo.

QUI-GON

Yet they shall take your life should you remain.

SIO

Nay, surely they would never be so bold!

PANAKA

They need the queen to sign their treaty, so

To render this invasion legal. Should

They kill her, they would lose their one defense.

QUI-GON

And yet I sense there may be more at play:

What game’s afoot is still a mystery,

No logic guides the Federation’s moves.

My feeling is: they mean to do you harm.

I would not have a queen become a pawn.

SIO

Our only hope is for the Senate’s help.

The senator, e’en Palpatine, shall need

Your good assistance in this matter, ma’am.

SABÉ

This situation grave is dangerous.

[To Padmé:] Aye, dangerous for all who shall go forth.

PADMÉ

Yet we are brave, Your Highness. We shall go.

QUI-GON

If you would leave, Your Highness, ’twill be now.

SABÉ

Enough, I am engag’d. I’ll challenge this,

And venture forth to plead my case before

The Senate. Hope shall be our strength and stay.

[They begin walking toward the transport.

Enter BATTLE DROIDS guarding PILOTS, including RIC OLIÉ.

PANAKA

The pilots must be freed if we would fly.

OBI-WAN

’Twould be my joy to free them of their bonds.

[Obi-Wan makes his way toward the pilots as Qui-Gon is stopped by a guard droid.

DROID

Desist at once, and take no further step.

QUI-GON

I am the chancellor’s ambassador.

I tell thee I must take these people here

To Coruscant.

DROID

—Well, where shalt thou take them?

QUI-GON

To Coruscant, thou brute.

DROID

—Why, you shall take

Them, then, to Coruscant. Alack, this doth

Go ’gainst my programming, doth not compute!

Behold, I place you all under arrest.

QUI-GON

Thou shalt a ghost droid be ere I am through.

[Qui-Gon destroys guard droid with his lightsaber. Obi-Wan destroys droids guarding pilots. Sabé, Padmé, and Captain Panaka begin to board transport.

PANAKA

Anon, we fly!

OBI-WAN

—Ye pilots all, make haste!

[The pilots run to various vessels. Ric Olié boards the queen’s transport with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

RIC

It is my duty and mine honor to

Protect and serve the queen whom I adore!

[The ship flies off. Exeunt.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI and JAR JAR BINKS aside in ship, with ASTROMECH DROIDS including R2-D2.

OBI-WAN

Pray, stay thou here and mischief do thou none.

[Exit Obi-Wan.

JAR JAR

Heigh-ho, my lads. Are ye misunderstood

As Jar Jar Binks and his dear Gungans? Eh?

Know ye of human prejudice and scorn?

Methinks ye must, as all nonhumans do.

[Exit Jar Jar.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and RIC OLIÉ in cockpit.

RIC

The blockade doth appear, to work us woe.

They shoot at us, and we are sorely hit!

The generator of the shield is down.

Mayhap this doth betoken our defeat!

[Astromech droids move outside the ship to repair the shield generator.

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, squeak, beep, whistle, meep, meep, hoo!

[Aside:] It is my time to serve and prove my worth!

I would the brave Republic serve with pride,

For I do long for some advent’rous life,

With galaxies to see and quests to take,

And even more: I long to be inspir’d

And join a noble cause to which I may

Contribute all my strength and skill and wit.

Now to it, R2, serve thy very best!

[Several astromech droids are destroyed by fire from the blockade.

OBI-WAN

Alas, these droids do fall like winter snow,

Each flake snuff’d out by flaming sword of fire.

We soon shall have no more, and then we’re lost.

PANAKA

Without the generator we are dead—

The shots shall find their mark and end our lives.

RIC

The shields are gone. ’Tis done, my comrades. Done!

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, hoo!

RIC

—But O, what sign is this?

The power hath return’d, and with it, too,

Our prospect of survival. O, hurrah!

The droid hath done the deed; he bypass’d the

Main power drive. Deflector shields are up

To maximum effect, and we are sav’d.

[R2-D2 returns inside the ship.

One thing remains, however, worthy friends:

There ship hath not not sufficient power to

Deliver us to Coruscant. It is

The hyperdrive, it leaketh out, like blood

From some deep wound within its metal core.

QUI-GON

We must make landing to repair, refuel.

No ship is shipshape sans a solid structure.

OBI-WAN

[consulting star charts:] Look, Master, here is found a planet near.

I have not heard its name: ’tis Tatooine.

’Tis small and poor, and far from ev’rything;

The Federation hath no presence there.

PANAKA

What confidence have you in this remark?

QUI-GON

The planet is controllèd by the Hutts.

PANAKA

The Hutts, indeed. Such lowly gangsters of

Base reputation, fill’d with avarice:

Their minds on money, money on their minds.

Such lowly, wormlike villainy as theirs

No royalty should e’er bear witness to,

Or forcèd be to find the strength t’endure.

O nay, ye Jedis, find another course:

Pray, let us not take her to Tatooine!

QUI-GON

E’en if they did discover her, ’twould be

No diff’rent than if our lame ship were bound

For any place the Federation holds.

Except, my friend: the Hutts expect her not,

Nor are they searching for the noble queen.

We do, then, have a strong advantage here—

Thus let us land, with hopefulness sincere.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 1.

Aboard the Trade Federation battleship.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and, in beam, DARTH SIDIOUS.

SIDIOUS

My patience runneth out, so tell me true:

Hath Amidala sign’d the treaty yet?

NUTE

My lord, with trepidation I report:

The queen hath disappear’d. There was one ship

From small Naboo escap’d our stout blockade.

SIDIOUS

That treaty shall be sign’d! I will it so.

NUTE

But ’tis impossible to find the ship.

It lies beyond our range of scope or measure.

Enter DARTH MAUL in beam with DARTH SIDIOUS.

SIDIOUS

For thy weak instruments, perhaps, but not,

I tell thee truly, Viceroy, for a Sith.

Behold my Sith apprentice: Darth Maul he.

Your lost ship shall be swiftly found by him.

[Exeunt Darth Sidious and Darth Maul from beam.

NUTE

Oft double is a thing that one would wish:

A double blessing is a boon, indeed,

A double meaning renders one word two,

A double-edgèd sword may cut both ways,

A double honor is a monarch’s gift.

But what is this when evil doubl’d is?

’Tis then that one hath trouble doubl’d, too.

RUNE

This deal is one that we should have declin’d,

For now we two are in a double bind.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

Aboard the Naboo cruiser.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala, CAPTAIN PANAKA, PADMÉ, and R2-D2.

PANAKA

The hero of our quick escape is here:

This little droid, so well and deftly made.

Sans doubt it sav’d the ship and our own lives.

SABÉ

The droid shall have my royal commendation.

What is the droidly number it doth bear?

PANAKA

’Tis R2-D2, Highness.

SABÉ

—All our thanks

And gratitude we bear to thee, good droid:

Thou brave and gallant R2-D2.

R2-D2

—Beep!

SABÉ

Pray, Padmé, clean this droid with all thy skill.

It is deserving of what kindness we

May proffer to it.

R2-D2

—Meep, beep, whistle, squeak!

[Padmé and R2-D2 move aside and she begins cleaning the droid.

SABÉ

Continue with thy briefing, Captain, please.

PANAKA

I call on Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn to speak.

QUI-GON

Your Highness, with permission we shall fly

Unto a planet small call’d Tatooine.

It lieth in a system far beyond

The Federation’s harsh and grasping reach.

PANAKA

The Jedi’s will and mine do not agree.

QUI-GON

I prithee, trust my judgment, Highness. Let

My wisdom make its proof by worthy deeds.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Sabé, and Captain Panaka.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

JAR JAR

Hello! Say whosa are-a yousa?

PADMÉ

I’m Padmé call’d, handmaiden to the queen.

JAR JAR

And meesa Jar Jar Binks, dass meesa.

PADMÉ

Thou art a Gungan, art thou not? ’Tis true?

JAR JAR

[aside:] O, she is swift of mind. “A Gungan,” ha!

Her thoughts already label me as brute.

PADMÉ

How didst thou come to be on board with us?

JAR JAR

[aside:] And wherefore doth she ask? A ship, belike,

Is no place for a Gungan to be found.

She would assume we lurk in swamp and mire,

Not in her precious folly-laden ship.

But soft you, Jar Jar, give the girl your best.

[To Padmé:] Ahh, me no know. Me daysa startin’

So okeeday with brisky mornin’

A’munchen. Den de boomy boomy,

And meesa scardee, grabbin’ Jedi,

Then powsa, meesa wit you heera.

Now meesa gettin’ very scardee.

PADMÉ

Indeed, this is a day for fear and doubt—

It seems your cause and mine are well align’d.

[Exeunt Jar Jar and Padmé.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and RIC OLIÉ in cockpit.

RIC

’Tis there, below! The planet Tatooine.

OBI-WAN

Our scope doth show a settlement nearby.

QUI-GON

Land thou the ship beyond its boundary.

I would not seek more notice than we need.

[Exeunt Captain Panaka and Ric Olié.

OBI-WAN

The generator of the hyperdrive

Is done and finish’d, Master. We shall need

To make repair ere we depart from here.

QUI-GON

This is a complication to our plans.

And there is more: I pray, be on thy guard:

I sense a great disturbance in the Force.

OBI-WAN

I feel it also, Master. ’Tis as if

Some evil is arising in our midst.

QUI-GON

Be certain that they no transmissions make.

I shall go forth to find a hyperdrive

That shall suffice to make the ship’s repair.

Stay thou behind, her Highness to defend.

[Exit Qui-Gon.

OBI-WAN

Now wherefore am I left to watch the ship

When I too am a Jedi, just as he?

Nay, still my tongue—’tis not for me to guess

At my wise master’s thoughts, or criticize.

My master Qui-Gon is a pow’rful man

And hath been more than teacher unto me.

Full fortunate am I—and well I know’t—

To be the man’s apprentice. Many would

Consider such a post and master more

Than any Jedi should expect. Indeed,

To be with Qui-Gon is to be well serv’d

By the uncertain, fickle hand of Fate.

I shall be dutiful till he come back,

And keep the queen protected from attack.

[Exit.

SCENE 3.

On the planet Tatooine.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, JAR JAR BINKS, and R2-D2.

QUI-GON

Come, Jar Jar, let us find the settlement.

JAR JAR

Dis sun is murther for me skinnee.

Enter CAPTAIN PANAKA and PADMÉ.

PANAKA

Kind sirs, a word! The queen doth wish for you

To take her handmaiden along with you.

QUI-GON

No more commands shall we obey today;

Her Highness hath already had her fill.

The spaceport we make expedition t’ward

Is not some royal court: it shall be rife

With fearsome, base, and vicious characters.

It is no place to bring a handmaiden.

PANAKA

The queen desires it; curious is she

About this planet and what lies hereon.

QUI-GON

This is a course with which I disagree:

A queen’s desire’s not rationale enough.

[To Padmé:] Remain close at my side. I’ll see thee safe.

[Exit Captain Panaka as Qui-Gon, Padmé, Jar Jar, and R2-D2 walk toward the spaceport.

PADMÉ

What know you of this land, this Tatooine?

Who are its people, what is their employ?

QUI-GON

’Tis modest moisture farmers, in the main.

Some tribes indigenous, and scavengers.

The spaceports such as this are haven to

Those who aren’t lost, and yet would not be found.

PADMÉ

Indeed, your words describe our company.

JAR JAR

O dissen veree veree baddee.

QUI-GON

Let us seek out a smaller dealer here—

More likely shall we then be unobserv’d.

Enter WATTO.

WATTO

Oo ditta noya? Chuba di naya?

QUI-GON

Strange flying imp, I do require parts for

A J-type three-two-seven Nubian.

WATTO

Aye, Nubian, our strong specifically.

We have full many of those parts herein.

[To Anakin, within:] Peedunkel! Naba dee unko!

QUI-GON

—My droid

Doth carry all the details technical.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

WATTO

[to Anakin:] Coona tee-tocky malia, peedunk’?

ANAKIN

Mel tassa cholpassa. [Aside:] My master asks

What kept me, yet did I not come anon?

WATTO

Chut! Ganda doe wallya. Me dwana n’bat’.

[To Qui-Gon:] The boy shall watch the store, whilst we discourse

Your needs—belike the part outside awaits.

I prithee, thither come with me, my friend.

QUI-GON

[to Jar Jar:] Thou fool: touch nothing, lest thou mischief make.

[Qui-Gon and Watto walk aside.

ANAKIN

[aside:] Though I am young, and burden’d by the shine

Of too much sunlight here on Tatooine,

Still I can tell the presence of a light

Far brighter than e’er I dream’d possible.

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

[To Padmé:] Excuse me this intrusion, madam, but:

Are you by some celestial body sent?

Did you make home beyond the galaxy,

Whence you did come to bless my little life?

PADMÉ

What didst thou say?

ANAKIN

—Are you celesti’lly born?

Those pilots who do wander deep in space

Do tell of beings pure and undefil’d:

Such beauty’s in their aspect and their song

That all who hear their music ’gin to weep

And long to be forever in the sway

Of their most splendid, perfect melody.

Methinks they live upon the moon Iego,

And there they play their notes for all who pass.

PADMÉ

Thou art a droll, audacious little boy.

How comes this knowledge from such youthful lips?

ANAKIN

I do but listen: train my ear toward

The traders and the pilots who traverse

This lonely planet. Truly, I do call

Myself a pilot, too, and shall one day

Fly far beyond this planet’s stifling reach.

PADMÉ

Thou art a pilot?

ANAKIN

—Troth, for all the days

I have upon this barren planet dwell’d.

PADMÉ

What is the number of those days thereon?

ANAKIN

O, since I was a lad of but three years.

My mother and myself were peddl’d to

Gardulla of the Hutt, who did but lose

Her new investment gambling o’er the pods.

PADMÉ

Thou art a slave?

ANAKIN

—O appellation dire!

Pray, when you think of me think not of slave.

Think not that I am baseborn, made to work,

Think not of one who lives by harsh commands,

Think not of one whose destiny’s controll’d,

Think rather of my worthy qualities,

Think of my name, good lady: Anakin.

PADMÉ

And so I shall, hereafter. Pardon me,

For I do not full understanding have

Of this strange place, which is still new to me.

[Jar Jar touches a small droid, which begins to walk around and break things. Jar Jar seizes the droid.

ANAKIN

O silly beast, strike it upon the nose!

[Jar Jar touches the small droid’s nose, and it collapses.

WATTO

[aside with Qui-Gon:] The generator for the hyperdrive

For your T-14 … ahh, methinks ’tis close!

Fate smiles on you today: I am, nearby,

The sole possessive of the needed part.

You would do well to purchase some new ship,

For mayhap ’twould be cheaper so to do.

And since we do of money start to speak,

How shall you pay for this extensive part?

QUI-GON

I have some twenty thousand in my store—

Dactaries, the Republic’s tender true.

WATTO

Republic credits? You are misaligned:

On Tatooine your credits are no use.

QUI-GON

[attempting a Jedi mind trick:] I’ve nothing else, but credits shall suffice.

WATTO

Nay, they shall not.

QUI-GON

—Aye, credits shall suffice.

WATTO

Do you not compromise? Do you believe

Yourself to be a Jedi, who, with but

A wave of your sly hand, may change my mind?

I am Toydarian, and proudly so;

Your mind decapitations touch not me,

’Tis only money moves my cunning mind.

No currency is but no parts, no parts

Is but no deal, no deal is noisome; thus,

I shall depart unsatisfi’d from thee.

And more, no other merchant can provide

The hyperdrive for your fail’d T-14.

Of that, good man, I give you conflagration.

[Qui-Gon turns to leave, walking back toward Jar Jar, Padmé, and Anakin.

ANAKIN

[to Padmé:] These droids enjoy more life than they are due,

Which is—to speak my strength—due to my skill.

QUI-GON

We must depart. If’t please you, follow on.

ANAKIN

[aside:] So quickly met and then so quickly lost?

PADMÉ

’Twas well that I did meet thee, Anakin.

ANAKIN

The joy was mine, good lady, fare you well.

[Aside:] O, we must meet again, else my heart’s lost!

[Exeunt Watto and Anakin.

QUI-GON

[into communicator:] Good Obi-Wan, I bid thee, hear my words:

Doth our small ship have aught of value in’t?

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI on balcony, in ship.

OBI-WAN

We have some few containers with supplies.

The queen’s exquisite wardrobe, mayhap, yet

’Tis not so much as would a barter serve,

Not if you do require a handsome sum.

QUI-GON

’Tis well enough. A different result

May from another quarter come. Adieu.

[Exit Obi-Wan.

JAR JAR

Nowotha. Beings here cawayzee.

Now weesa will be robb’d and crunchee.

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, squeak! [Aside:] I’ll warrant

Jar Jar hath

More in his Gungan head than it doth seem.

QUI-GON

It is unlikely—sure, what would they rob?

We have no assets: trouble’s all we own.

JAR JAR

[aside:] I shall make some distraction for us here,

Perchance from chaos, order may arise.

[Walking past a café, Jar Jar strikes a piece of meat with his tongue as Qui-Gon, Padmé, and R2-D2 continue on.

Enter VENDOR and, aside, SEBULBA.

VENDOR

Eh, eh, na wanna wunga? Tenga wup’!

[Jar Jar releases the meat, which hits Sebulba. Sebulba moves to Jar Jar, striking him.

SEBULBA

E chuba nai?

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

ANAKIN

[aside:]      —My newfound friend needs help,

Else vile Sebulba shall do him some harm.

I shall report this Gungan is someone

Of great import, and quick to anger, too.

Thus may he live. [To Sebulba:] Chess ko, Sebulba, aye.

Cha porko ootman geesa. Me teesa

Rodda co pana pee choppa chawa.

SEBULBA

Neek me chawa, wermo, mo killee ma

Klounkee. Un’ notu wo shag, m’wompity

Du pom pom.

[Exeunt Sebulba and vendor.

ANAKIN

—O, how roguish is this one!

He saith he shall make my sure defeat

When next we meet again, and would destroy

Me now, would Watto not a young slave lose.

His words I fear not, though he speaks them rough.

[Qui-Gon, Padmé, and R2-D2 return.

Well met, my friends. Your odd companion was

Beset by trouble most severe, and would

Have forfeited his life, for nearly did

He come to fisticuffs, e’en with a Dug—

A vicious one—Sebulba is his name.

JAR JAR

O meesa haten crunchee, issa

De last thing meesa wantin’ heera.

QUI-GON

And yet, the boy is right. Thou courtest trouble.

[To Anakin:] With gratitude I thank thee, little friend.

JAR JAR

But what? For meesa doin’ nothin’ …

ANAKIN

Pray, come with me, and try these pallies here.

[Anakin purchases a confection from a vendor.

QUI-GON

I do accept, with thanks.

ANAKIN

[aside:]                —But what is this

I spy as he doth turn aside his cloak?

A Jedi’s weapon!—I shall know more of’t.

[To Qui-Gon:] A storm of sand arises soon, my liege:

Do you have ample shelter from the squall?

QUI-GON

We shall return anon unto our ship.

ANAKIN

But is it far?

PADMÉ

—’Tis on the outskirts. Why?

ANAKIN

[aside:] Ahh, just the turn of chance for which I hop’d—

An opportunity to see her more.

[To Padmé:] You never shall the outskirts reach in time;

Such storms on Tatooine may deadly be.

Consider your fine party honor’d guests

In my most humble home. ’Tis not too far.

[The company makes its way to Anakin’s house as the sandstorm begins to blow.

Fond mother, mother dear, art thou herein?

Enter SHMI SKYWALKER.

SHMI

Indeed; here I do stand.

ANAKIN

—These are my friends.

R2-D2

Beep, whistle, squeak!

QUI-GON

—My name is Qui-Gon Jinn.

Your son did kindly offer shelter here.

ANAKIN

[to Padmé:] I spend my moments free within my room,

Engag’d in such pursuits as droid design.

Pray, thither come, and Threepio you’ll meet.

PADMÉ

Lead on, I follow.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon, Shmi, and Jar Jar. Padmé, Anakin, and R2-D2 walk aside, to his chamber. Anakin reveals C-3PO.

ANAKIN

—’Tis C-3PO!

Is he not something wondrous to behold?

The droid is not yet finish’d, but is close.

PADMÉ

Indeed, the droid is sign and testament

To your vast skill and ingenuity.

R2-D2

[aside:] A scan doth show the droid is finely made—

In time, perchance, I’ll know him better still.

ANAKIN

He is a droid of protocol, design’d

To help my kindly mother in her work.

Behold, and see him animate with life!

[Anakin turns on C-3PO.

C-3PO

C-3PO am I, an expert in

The human-cyborg link. How may I serve?

PADMÉ

He is perfection, Anakin.

C-3PO

—Am I?

ANAKIN

When this dark storm subsideth, I shall show

My racer unto you—for racing pods.

C-3PO

[walking:] This floor may not entirely stable be.

[To R2-D2:] My greetings, for we’ve not been introduc’d.

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, beep, meep, whistle, beep, meep, squeak.

C-3PO

’Tis R2-D2, aye? A pleasure, sir.

C-3PO am I, an expert in

The human-cyborg link.

R2-D2

—Beep, whistle, woo?

C-3PO

I beg your pardon, droid—what do you mean

When that you call me “naked,” impish one?

R2-D2

Beep, whistle, beep!

C-3PO

—My parts are all reveal’d?

My parts are not so starkly bare as your

Impolitic assertion, naughty droid.

My protocol is tested by this scene.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala, Captain Panaka, and SIO BIBBLE in beam, on balcony.

SIO

The Federation hath cut off supply

Of food until you make return. And more,

The death toll hath been catastrophic here.

Conform unto their wishes, Highness, please,

And contact me anon, ere more are dead.

[Exit Sio Bibble from beam.

OBI-WAN

’Tis but a ruse, Your Highness, take no mind.

Send no reply—transmissions make ye none.

[Exeunt Sabé and Captain Panaka from balcony.

[Into communicator:] Good Master, message comes from small Naboo,

And of their situation makes report.

QUI-GON

It soundeth like some bait through which, by trick,

The Federation may soon trace us here.

OBI-WAN

What if it speaketh verily indeed?

What shall we do if people perish there?

QUI-GON

In either case, the sands of time run out.

[Exit Obi-Wan from balcony.

Enter PADMÉ, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, SHMI SKYWALKER, JAR JAR BINKS, and R2-D2.

SHMI

I bid ye sit, and we’ll together sup.

QUI-GON

With thanks we’ll share your table happily.

I prithee, tell me of your life as slave.

SHMI

All slaves are fit with small transmitters, which

Within our bodies hidden do reside.

ANAKIN

I seek to build a scanner to find mine.

SHMI

If, then, a slave doth try to make escape—

ANAKIN

That slave shall make a frightful final flight.

PADMÉ

’Tis difficult to think that slavery

Doth still exist within the galaxy.

The good Republic hath such laws as should—

SHMI

Yet your Republic is but naught out here.

On Tatooine we must survive by wits.

[Jar Jar snatches a piece of fruit with his tongue, eats it, and belches.

JAR JAR

O beggee pardon, me excoosee.

ANAKIN

Has any one of ye a podrace seen?

QUI-GON

They have podracing o’er on Malastare.

’Tis dangerous, ’tis fast and furious.

ANAKIN

Methinks I am the human lone can do’t.

QUI-GON

Thou must have Jedi reflexes if so.

[Jar Jar attempts to snatch another piece of fruit and Qui-Gon catches his tongue.

[To Jar Jar:] Cease thou this rude and unbecoming act!

ANAKIN

You are a Jedi Knight. Is not this true?

QUI-GON

Why wouldst thou think a thing as this, young lad?

ANAKIN

I saw your sword bewitch’d with laser beam.

None but the Jedi wield such rare defense.

QUI-GON

Perhaps I slew a Jedi, then took it.

ANAKIN

It is not so, for I believe no one

Hath pow’r enough, a Jedi for to slay.

QUI-GON

O how I wish that such a thing were true.

ANAKIN

I dream’d, once long ago, that I—e’en I—

Had train’d to be a Jedi, then return’d

To Tatooine to liberate each slave.

’Twas but a dream, yet, O, how sweet its touch.

Have you, good sir, come to deliver us?

QUI-GON

Nay, nay, unfortunately I have not.

ANAKIN

You say ’tis so, and yet I think you wrong:

I do believe you have come bearing freedom.

For wherefore else fly here, to Tatooine?

QUI-GON

’Tis plain to me thou wilt not be the fool,

Young Anakin. We go to Coruscant,

The central system of th’Republic, on

An enterprise of great pith and moment.

ANAKIN

How thither came your company, e’en to

The Outer Rim?

PADMÉ

—Our ship was damagèd,

And we are stranded till we make repair.

ANAKIN

For certain, I shall lend you aid, for I

Am skill’d and can fix any broken thing.

QUI-GON

Indeed, I verily believe thou canst.

But first, we must acquire the parts we need.

JAR JAR

We no got nutten mula tradee.

PADMÉ

These refuse dealers must some weakness have.

SHMI

’Tis gambling—all the commerce here doth spin,

In shaky orbit, ’round the sun of those

Most awful, frightful races—e’en the pods.

QUI-GON

Podracing, yea. O, greed an ally strong

May be—mayhap ’tis something we can use.

ANAKIN

I built a racer—aye, the fastest e’er.

A podrace happens on the morrow, e’en

On Boonta Eve. My pod may be your wager.

SHMI

Peace, Anakin! Thou knowest Watto shall

Not let thee enter into any race!

ANAKIN

He knoweth not that I have built the thing!

You, Qui-Gon, may make him think it is yours,

Convincing him to let me pilot it.

SHMI

I shall not see’t. I die when thou dost race.

Say, wouldst thou slay a mother’s heart again?

ANAKIN

Yet, Mother, ’tis what I do love to do.

The money to be made upon the course

Would more than pay for parts of which they’ve need.

SHMI

Fie, Anakin …

QUI-GON

—Thy mother hath the right.

Tell me, I pray: is there none friendly to

Republic’s cause who’d rise and lend us aid?

SHMI

Alas, there’s none. Not here on Tatooine.

ANAKIN

Sweet mother, hear my words and know my heart:

My love for you is vast beyond compare,

You know that I love naught so well as you.

’Tis you who taught me this: our universe

Is massive, infinite. The trouble, though,

Begins because no one shall help the other.

A universe of beings, and each one

Is too uncaring or afraid to stretch

Their arms out wide and proffer helping hands.

Shall we, in this grim moment of their need,

Do just as others do and turn our backs?

PADMÉ

In troth, I know that Qui-Gon willingly

Would not put thy sweet son in danger’s way.

Another path we somehow shall seek out.

SHMI

The boy is right; there is no other way.

What I desire is not the utmost here:

He may assist you in the race. Indeed,

It seemeth he was meant to meet thy need.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

On the planet Coruscant.

Enter RUMOR.

RUMOR

E’en as the Jedi fret to find their part,

New enemies do move to work them woe.

The Sith hath come, with evil in his heart,

Equipp’d with might to rise against his foe.

Replete with thoughts dark and insidious,

The Sith, Darth Sidious, doth plan his move.

He—with Darth Maul, apprentice hideous—

Expects they shall their obstacles remove.

So come they now, these men of vice and fear,

Illicitly to make all bend the knee,

Till they’ve the power, which they hold so dear,

Help’d by this Rumor through the galaxy.

[Exit.

Enter DARTH SIDIOUS and DARTH MAUL.

MAUL

The planet Tatooine hath settlements

But few and far between. Thus, if the trace

Hath done its work, I shall find them anon,

Good Master.

SIDIOUS

—Move against the Jedi first.

That done, the queen thou shalt with ease convince

To sign the treaty back in small Naboo.

MAUL

At last, we shall reveal ourselves unto

The overcertain, pompous Jedi. Ha!

At last, forsooth, we shall see our revenge.

SIDIOUS

Thou hast been trainèd well, apprentice mine;

They shall in no wise be a match for thee.

[Exit Darth Sidious.

MAUL

What seeds of bitterness the Jedi sow

By their ambition and their errant pride.

Darth Sidious is god; and to his law

My services are bound. Wherefore should I

Stand in the plague of custom, and thus let

The curiosity of galaxies

Deprive me for that I am some twelve deeds

Lag of some honor? Why Sith? Wherefore base?

The path of shadows is my chosen way,

And who shall call me “villain” for the choice?

If ’tis some villainy to search for pow’r,

If ’tis a sin to sing the dark side’s praise,

If ’tis an evil, striving ’gainst the wrong,

If this is so, a Sith may be call’d base.

My master with all readiness I serve,

That I may aid the downfall of the vile,

Contemptible and tiresome Jedi Council.

A Sith I’ll be, and to my master sworn,

And face the Jedi with mine utmost scorn.

[Exit Darth Maul.

SCENE 5.

On the planet Tatooine.

Enter PADMÉ.

PADMÉ

How shall I silent be with this fool plan?

A queen—and her handmaiden—should speak out.

A queen—e’en her handmaiden—may object.

A queen—aye, too, her handmaiden—must balk

At this idea that hath no merit to’t.

So shall this maiden play her hand as ’twere

The queen herself who doth her wishes speak.

Enter QUI-GON JINN.

Are you convinc’d ’tis wise to trust this fate

That weaves for us a boy we hardly know?

The queen would not approve, if she were here.

QUI-GON

’Tis fortunate for us she shall not know.

PADMÉ

Yet neither doth my maiden’s heart approve.

[Exit Padmé.

Enter WATTO and ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

WATTO

The boy doth say that you would speckle him

To race? How can you do this thing? Say how!

Methinks not with Republic credits, ha!

QUI-GON

My ship—the Nubian—shall be my fee.

WATTO

’Tis well, ’tis well.

QUI-GON

—The ship is well attir’d,

But for the parts of which I have a need.

WATTO

In what do you propose the boy would ride?

For he did smash my pod in his last race.

Methinks he hath not time to make repair.

ANAKIN

In troth, ’twas not my fault. Sebulba flash’d

Me with his vents. I sav’d the pod—well, most.

WATTO Aye, this is true; the boy is deeply skill’d.

QUI-GON

Within a rough cantina close nearby,

I gain’d a pod a’playing games of chance.

It is the fastest ever built, they say.

WATTO I hope you kill’d no one I know for it:

Toydarians treat homophones with care.

Yet if you do speak true, you here propose

To offer up the pod and entry fee,

Whilst I supply the boy. If then we win,

You shall have half and I the other, yea?

QUI-GON

If I supply two things and thou but one,

And still we split the winnings by their halves,

I must have some assurance: you, my friend,

Shall first provide the entry fee in cash.

Then if we win, you keep the money but

For those few parts I need. And should we lose,

You keep my ship. In either case, you win.

WATTO

The deal is yours—and may we have success!

[Exit Qui-Gon.

[To Anakin:] Yo bana pee ho-tah, meendee ya, eh?

[Exeunt Watto and Anakin.

Enter QUI-GON JINN speaking into communicator to OBI-WAN KENOBI, who enters above, on balcony.

OBI-WAN

What if this plan doth not succeed aright?

It may be eons till we leave this place.

QUI-GON

To call for help is far too dangerous,

And yet, a ship sans pow’r shall not release

Us from this barren planet, Tatooine.

Moreover, there is something in this boy

I would discover ere we do depart.

[Exit Obi-Wan from balcony.

Enter SHMI SKYWALKER.

SHMI

Good e’en.

QUI-GON

—Good e’en. Thou shouldst be proud of thy

Young son. He gives no thought of a reward.

SHMI

He knows no greed. He hath—how shall I say’t?

QUI-GON

He hath a power most profound, ’tis true?

SHMI

Aye.

QUI-GON

—He doth see things ere they do transpire.

’Tis why the speed of his reflexes seems

So swift—it is a Jedi quality.

SHMI

He doth deserve more than a slaving life.

QUI-GON

Had he been born under Republic skies,

He would have been identified when young

And then become a Jedi. Yea, the Force

Is strong with him indeed, ’tis passing strong.

Who, prithee, was the father to the boy?

SHMI

Alas, I do not know. Mistake me not:

View not this tale of mine with a mistrust

Ere you have heard it all: there was no father.

My boy is mine—I carried him until

Arriv’d the very moment of his birth,

Rais’d I the babe into the lad and yet,

I still cannot explain how he did come.

And now I shall ask you: can you help him?

QUI-GON

I do not know. In troth, I did not come

To Tatooine to liberate its slaves.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER, PADMÉ, JAR JAR BINKS, R2-D2, C-3PO, KITSTER, SEEK, AMEE, and WALD, working on Anakin’s podracer.

KITSTER

A veritable astro droid! How art

Thou e’er so fortunate, O Anakin?

ANAKIN

There’s better still shall come: the Boonta race

Shall be my playground on the morrow.

KITSTER

—Eh?

With this most scrap-infested heap of bones?

WALD

Na jesko joka, Anakin, ho ho!

AMEE

Thou hast work’d on the podracer for years.

It never shall give thou the speed thou need’st.

SEEK

Come, let’s be gone unto some other sport.

If he keep’st on, he will soon smashèd be.

[Exeunt Wald, Amee, and Seek.

ANAKIN

I bid thee, Jar Jar, keep thy distance from

The binders of vast energy thereon.

Shouldst thou e’en get a finger caught within,

Thou shalt for hours bear with its numbing pain.

JAR JAR

[aside:] The little master doth instruct me right,

Yet so that he shall think me quite unwise

I’ll risk a moment in the binder’s beam.

[Jar Jar bends down, catching his mouth in the energy binders.

[To Anakin:] My tonguee sisso rubba innee.

C-3PO

I find the creature Jar Jar rather odd.

R2-D2

Beep, squeak! [Aside:] Yet who is odder, Threepio?

KITSTER

Hear, Anakin: how canst be sure ’twill run?

ANAKIN

Have faith, good friend: the pod shall serve us well.

QUI-GON

The time hath come to test thy surety.

Behold, a power source that thou mayst use.

ANAKIN

Forsooth, I shall—in every good thing!

PADMÉ

The Gungan now is caught in th’afterburner.

I shall release him now, the silly fool.

[Padmé moves to free Jar Jar as Anakin starts the podracer.

C-3PO

Indeed, the beast is odd beyond degree.

ANAKIN

Now, rise, you swift podracer, rise and fly!

It comes to life beneath its master’s touch—

The fleet machine doth work, it shall succeed,

And with it ev’ry hope that’s in our hearts.

[Exeunt Padmé, Jar Jar, Shmi, R2-D2, and C-3PO in mirth.

QUI-GON

An excellent a’testing of the pod,

Young Anakin. Yet now I see thou hast

Been hurt—a scratch from thy wild metal beast.

I bid thee, sit thou here and I’ll mend it.

ANAKIN

Behold the stars above, so numerous!

So brightly do they shine upon the world

That I can almost see my future by them.

Do all have planetary systems, sir?

QUI-GON

Belike near all the stars have planets, too.

ANAKIN

Has e’er there been a voyager who hath

Made journey unto each and ev’ry one?

QUI-GON

Nay, nay.

ANAKIN

—In that I shall be primary,

Should Fate weave me a way from this bleak place.

[Qui-Gon takes a small sample of Anakin’s blood as he finishes the bandage.

QUI-GON

See? Thou art whole again. Now, off to bed.

ANAKIN

What are your good intentions for my blood?

QUI-GON

Naught but to see thou hast infections none.

And now, I prithee, take thy needed rest:

Tomorrow is a vital day for thee.

[Into communicator:] I bid thee, Obi-Wan, art thou about?

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, on balcony.

OBI-WAN

Aye, Master. How may I fulfill your needs?

QUI-GON

Make thou what keen analysis thou canst

Of this blood sample I send thee e’en now.

OBI-WAN

It shall completed be upon the instant.

QUI-GON

The count of midi-chlorians I need.

OBI-WAN

What strange monstrosity is this I see?

What cunning twist of nature’s pure design?

I ne’er encounter’d such as this before—

A count of midi-chlorians so vast,

Surpassing twenty thousand—O, ’tis dire!

’Tis past all reckoning, past thought or sense,

What creature can it be that Fate hath wrought

To be so strong and powerful as this?

Is it the boy? What wonder to bethink—

His count is higher e’en than Yoda’s is.

QUI-GON

No Jedi hath a count so high as that.

OBI-WAN

O, Master, tell me then: what doth it mean?

QUI-GON

I do not know. So many things today

Have been beyond my understanding that

I know not what the sum of them shall be.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan from balcony.

Enter DARTH MAUL.

MAUL

Here on the planet Tatooine I’ve come

To seek the Jedi and the errant queen.

The glory of her capture and their deaths

Is expectation sweet unto my soul.

[Darth Maul sends out probes to search for the Jedi.

Go forth, discerning probes, and seek them out—

Of my sure victory I have no doubt.

[Exit.

SCENE 6.

The podracing grounds at Mos Espa on the planet Tatooine.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, JAR JAR BINKS, and WATTO.

WATTO

I would your spaceship see the moment this

Fast race hath been competed. Understand?

QUI-GON

Pray, patience, bluish friend. Thy winnings shall

Be thine before the double sun hath set,

And we shall be far gone from this grim place.

WATTO

Unless your ship doth then belong to me.

I warn you, ply no trickstery on me.

QUI-GON

Thou thinkest Anakin shall not prevail?

WATTO Mistake me not: the boy is talented

And in him I’ve a wealth of conference.

The boy, indeed, is credit to your race.

JAR JAR

[aside:] ’Tis e’er a double-sided compliment.

WATTO And yet, methinks, Sebulba shall be first.

QUI-GON

O wherefore dost thou think it shall be so?

WATTO

’Tis but the odds: Sebulba ever wins.

In expedition of his victory

I’ve wager’d all my riches. He’ll not fail.

QUI-GON

Thy wager shall be mine, if thou dost wish

To wager more with assets than with words.

WATTO

Eh?

QUI-GON

—I shall wager my new racing pod

Against the boy and his kind mother, too.

If thou dost win, thou hast the podracer,

If I do win, their lives are in my hand.

WATTO Ha ha, you jest! No pod hath equal worth

As two hardworking, loyal human slaves.

QUI-GON

Thou hast it right. Thus wager but the boy.

WATTO

We shall let that old weaver, Fate, decide.

A chance cube doth reside within my pouch.

If blue appears, your sky is clear: the boy.

But if red shows, the other goes: his mother.

[Watto throws the chance cube.

Qui-Gon uses the Force to make it land on blue.

You have prevail’d in this, outlander, aye,

But shall not win the race. Thus, little doth

This wager make a whit of diffidence.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER, PADMÉ, SHMI SKYWALKER, R2-D2, C-3PO, and KITSTER.

O, fie! [To Anakin:] Bonapa keesa pateeso.

Buki chanaga o wanna meetee

Chopodd, eh? Ha ha!

[Exit Watto.

ANAKIN

—“Your friend here should cease

His betting lest anon I own him, too.”

What meaning’s in these enigmatic words?

QUI-GON

I shall tell thee another time. [To Shmi:] Good morn!

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, squeak, beep, whistle, whistle, hoo!

C-3PO

Space travel soundeth perilous, indeed.

R2-D2

Meep, meep, beep, nee, ahh, squeak.

C-3PO

—I tell thee true,

They never shall convince me to embark

Upon a starship, nay! Were droids suppos’d

To fly, the maker surely would have giv’n

Us wings to do so. Nay, no flier I!

KITSTER

O Anakin, ’tis wondrous thou shalt race.

I’ve ev’ry confidence in thy success

And certain am thou shalt do it this time.

PADMÉ

I pray, what feat shall Anakin perform?

KITSTER

To finish th’race.

PADMÉ

[to Anakin:] —Thou ne’er hast won a race?

ANAKIN

’Tis possible I ne’er have done so. Nay.

PADMÉ

Yet finish’d e’en the course?

ANAKIN

—Good Kitster hath

Foreseen aright, my lady: this shall be

The day I see the end of the podrace.

PADMÉ

Aye, so fear I.

QUI-GON

—Thou wilt have swift success.

Now go ye and prepare, the race begins!

[Exeunt Anakin, Padmé, Jar Jar, Shmi, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Kitster.

O Force, in battle steel this soldier’s heart.

Give unto Anakin the strength he doth

Require to make a goodly run today.

Our hopes all rest upon this worthy lad,

Who in a time but short hath made his mark

Upon our story—yea, upon our souls.

Whate’er befalls, our fate is now with his

One and the same, fast tether’d life to life.

Thus rise, O Force, and be his constant stay:

When he doth ride, make his reflexes swift,

When he meets obstacles, guide then his hand,

When he doth need quick thinking, be his mind,

When he is challeng’d, swell his bravery,

And in the end, grant him—and us—success.

If the Republic would have justice done,

This boy shall be the linchpin of that cause:

If he doth win today, we fix the ship,

The ship then being fix’d, we fly from here,

We fly and make our way to Coruscant,

In Coruscant we tell the crimes of trade,

The crimes then told, the Federation falls,

The Federation down, ’tis justice done.

It doth begin today with this contest:

This crucial podrace shall prove bust or best.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.

The podracing track at Mos Espa on the planet Tatooine.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

ANAKIN

How all occasions do inform toward me

To spur my action here! The Jedi comes—

Of all the junk shops in all towns in all

Of Tatooine, he walketh into mine.

Yea, enters he unto my simple life

Upon the instant my machine’s complete.

My podracer is ready for the nonce

As though ’twere Fortune’s hand that crafted it.

Now lies their fate—and mayhap mine as well—

Upon the skill with which I race today.

Be with me, brave gone souls of slaves who pass’d

Before me, those who work’d and sweated for

Another’s gain. Ancestors mine, be here—

O, make me quick in my maneuvering,

And strong in my resolve and my control,

And brave to face those who would do me wrong.

I ride with what I am and as I may—

I ride, and in the end it must suffice.

Enter SEBULBA and other PODRACERS below, preparing to race and waving to the crowd, with QUI-GON JINN, SHMI SKYWALKER, JAR JAR BINKS, R2-D2, C-3PO, and KITSTER coming to help ANAKIN. Enter FODE AND BEED, a two-headed creature, commentating aside.

BEED

Toong mee cha kulkah du Boonta magi!

Tah oos azalus ooval podraces!

FODE

Indeed, the sun doth shine and all is calm

For this year’s Boonta Classic. Crowds arrive

From all the far-flung territories of

The Outer Rim. Behold, contestants ’gin

To make their preparation on the grid

Where our great race commenceth. See them now,

Familiar in our mouths as household words—

Ben Quadinaros, podracer of Tund,

Gasgano, he who hath from Troiken come,

The two-time champion, e’en he: Boles Roor,

The reigning winner, swift Sebulba of

The city Pixelito, and the one

Consider’d favorite to win today.

Shall favor smile upon the favorite?

Next, in the front, by pole position near,

It is Mawhonic, he of third-eye sight.

And greetings, too, to Clegg Holdfast and his

Sharp Voltec KT9 Wasp podracer.

Returning to th’arena is Dud Bolt,

With the Vulptereen three-two-seven, it

Of marvelous construction and design.

Behold one who hath fervent hopes today:

Ody Mandrell, with droid pit team that hath

Establish’d standards new for skill and speed.

And last, one lately come into the fray,

Young Anakin Skywalker, local lad.

The standards in procession are display’d

As all anticipate the starting sign.

[A procession is held, with C-3PO carrying a canopy.

SHMI

O, Anakin, I bid thee: be thou safe.

ANAKIN

Thy words, sweet mother, are like balm to me.

Thus hear my dutiful response: I shall

In ev’ry turn attempt to keep me safe.

[Exit Shmi. Sebulba, aside, breaks a part of Anakin’s podracer.

SEBULBA

Uh-oh … ha ha! [Approaching Anakin:] Bazda wahota, shag.

Dob’ella Nok. Yoka to Bantha pood’.

ANAKIN

Cha skrunee da pat, sleemo.

[Exit Sebulba.

He doth say

This race shall see the end of me, but nay,

Methinks that I shall see the end of it.

QUI-GON

Art thou preparèd, Anakin?

ANAKIN

—Forsooth!

QUI-GON

Then I shall lift thee e’en as thou lift us.

[Qui-Gon lifts Anakin into his podracer.

I prithee, do remember these few things:

Fear not, but concentrate upon the moment,

Be mindful of thy feelings, not thy thoughts,

And utilize what instincts thou dost have.

ANAKIN

Kind sir, I thank thee and shall these obey.

QUI-GON

The Force be always with thee, brilliant boy.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon and Jar Jar as Anakin dons his helmet.

BEED

O grandio lust, amu intoe paren’:

A Jabba o du Hutt.

FODE

—See Jabba here

To start our glorious race.

Enter JABBA OF THE HUTT, aside.

JABBA

—Tam ka chee Boon’

Kee madda hodrudda du wundee na.

Ka bazza kundee hodrudda, ho ho!

BEED

Ya pawa culka doe rundee hazzah!

FODE

With Jabba’s speech the race may now commence!

The power couplings are engag’d, whilst all

Do flee the grid. The race begins anon!

[Exit Jabba.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, PADMÉ, JAR JAR BINKS, and SHMI SKYWALKER above, on balcony, spectating.

SHMI

Are all his nerves beset with fear and angst?

QUI-GON

Methinks he shall do well; be not afeard.

PADMÉ

You Jedi have an undue recklessness.

The queen shall not—

QUI-GON

—Nay, handmaiden, be still.

Presume thou not to speak for thy great queen.

She trusts my judgment, e’en as thou shouldst do.

PADMÉ

Thou dost assume too much, with pride too great.

FODE

Podracers all, give fire unto your engines!

JAR JAR

O dissen be messee, me no watch …

[Courtiers play a fanfare, signaling the start of the podrace. The podracers fly off, exiting, except Anakin Skywalker and Ben Quadinaros.

ANAKIN

Alack, so swift begun and swiftly stopp’d!

The others fly, while I am here assail’d.

My engine runneth down—what foul mischance!

FODE

Ahh, look! Small Skywalker hath stall’d at once.

KITSTER

O, Anakin, be gone—take wing and fly!

ANAKIN

The field flies far beyond me, gone. Fie, fie!

FODE

Ben Quadinaros hath some trouble, too.

ANAKIN

The systems now respond. ’Tis not too late!

Go, vessel swift, and help us reach the goal.

[Anakin’s podracer flies off; exit Anakin.

FODE

Skywalker hath let fly at last. He goes!

Wethinks he’ll find it difficult indeed

To match the others’ speed and take the lead.

QUI-GON

[to Padmé and Jar Jar:] I bid thee, mark the race and bring us news.

[Exeunt Padmé and Jar Jar.

[To Shmi:] My lady, do not fear: all shall be well,

For verily the boy’s a pilot skill’d.

He knoweth well the import of this race

And I believe he shall not fail our hopes.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

JAR JAR

Sebulba knockee Mawhonic, oo,

He downee onna grounnee hurtsa.

QUI-GON

And what of Anakin? Hast thou seen him?

JAR JAR

He stilla comin’ from behinnee—

Dey comin’ to da canyon soonee.

[Exit Jar Jar Binks.

QUI-GON

The canyon putteth all of them betwixt

A formidable rock and a hard place.

Enter PADMÉ.

PADMÉ

He pulls ahead with speed superior!

Those farthest back he passeth easily—

Mayhap the lad may still the leaders catch.

They disappear’d unto the dark-fill’d caves,

Some other pod and Anakin withal.

Upon the other side did Anakin

Come forth, yet not the other—maybe he

Some misadventure in the tunnel had.

QUI-GON

I bid thee thanks for this complete report.

[Exit Padmé.

SHMI

He still doth live: thus far, it is enough.

FODE

Some Tusken Raiders are position’d on

The canyon dune turn, there to fire upon

The hapless racers.

SHMI

—Nay? May they do this?

QUI-GON

E’en if they may not, seemeth it they will.

[Ben Quadinaros’s podracer bursts into flame and breaks into pieces.

FODE

The last to start is now the first who’s finish’d:

Ben Quadinaros’ power coupling fails!

Contenders in the ranks now lack by one.

Enter SEBULBA and other PODRACERS on one side. All fly through and quickly exit except ODY MANDRELL, who stops to make repairs to his podracer.

BEED

Chubba ni chees!

FODE

—Sebulba in the lead!

BEED

Ody Mandrell coona wa wunda dung’.

FODE

His droid pit team is slow to make repairs.

And what’s this we behold? One droid is pull’d

Into his engine, and his pod’s destroy’d.

C-3PO

But where is Master Anakin?

R2-D2

—Beep, squeak!

SHMI

Look now, he comes anon. O, Anakin!

FODE

Young Skywalker advanceth in the field!

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER and other PODRACERS on one side, flying through and quickly exiting.

KITSTER

Hurrah!

R2-D2

[aside:]        —Exciting ’tis, but all’s not won:

Let us not spend our eagerness too soon.

[To C-3PO:] Beep, meep, meep, hoo, squeak, whistle, whistle, beep.

C-3PO

Full two more revolutions he must make?

O dear—I fear ’tis two too many, troth.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

QUI-GON

What news canst share? Hath he yet passèd more?

JAR JAR

De bad Gasgano stay in frontee.

No lettee Anakin go passee.

And den Boles Roor did hittee Ani,

But he jes’ flip and pass him over!

QUI-GON

Your words do testify unto his skill.

[Exit Jar Jar Binks.

SHMI

[aside:] O, hear my plea, you fates and fortunes all:

Let not my boy meet his untimely end

Upon this field where injury and death

So speedily consume whome’er they wish.

He is not made for crushing done in haste,

He’d not be broken by rapidity,

He should not in a hurry meet his end,

He doth deserve a life at his own pace.

Instead, let him return for all that shall

Occur in his most strange and charmèd life.

These strangers to his future hold the key,

’Tis plain to me, though ’tis unknown as yet.

Thus, give him all success for their fond hopes.

Yet even more, my heart’s entreaty is:

Bring him yet safely back into my arms,

That I may tell him of his mother’s love.

Enter PADMÉ.

PADMÉ

More news: Sebulba plied his trickery

Upon a racer, which did make him crash.

The fragments of his podracer ran swift

Past Anakin. Indeed, I thought him gone,

For none could those projectiles large avoid.

Yet I was wrong, the boy did make escape,

And started to draw nearer to the front.

QUI-GON

’Tis wonderful.

PADMÉ

—Nay, I have not told all.

As he approach’d, his cockpit disengag’d

From one of his two engines. This did throw

His pod into some disarray. The last

That I did see, ere hither I return’d,

He had not set his errant pod aright.

FODE

Skywalker spinneth wildly, sans control!

QUI-GON

Go quickly, handmaiden, see what befalls!

[Exit Padmé.

The lad is clever, madam, and shall make

This problem into opportunity.

Pray, mark my words: his instincts shall not fail.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

JAR JAR

Be nottee fraydee, he’s okayee!

The little Anakin did usee

A magnet, wowsa powafulla,

He pullee line back to his selfa,

Den reconnect da ting and fixee!

Den back he go, into da canyon.

SHMI

Thank ev’ry mercy that my son is safe.

Full many thanks, sweet Jar Jar, for this news.

QUI-GON

Now thither go again to see what’s next!

JAR JAR

[aside:] Mayhap he should go see it for himself.

Am I his scratching post and eyesight both?

But soft now, Jar Jar, all is for the good:

This boy indeed shall fashion our next steps.

[Exit Jar Jar.

FODE

Alas, I care not where thou hailest from,

Such crash shall put thee in a wretched state.

SHMI

What’s this of “crash”? What doth the creature mean?

QUI-GON

Indeed, I do not know. Belike our true

And loyal messengers shall tell us all.

SHMI

It is the knowing not that maketh me

So ache with fear and anguish for my boy.

Enter PADMÉ.

QUI-GON

What now, what news? We heard some tell of crash.

PADMÉ

’Twas not our Anakin. The Tuskens have

Once more struck from the heights, and with their guns

Did shoot down yet another luckless pod.

By all that’s marvelous, the lad still flies,

And ever nearer to Sebulba draws.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

JAR JAR

Behold, iss Anakin. Owooee!

Enter SEBULBA, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, and other PODRACERS on one side, flying through and quickly exiting.

FODE

Against all expectation, as the lap—

Yea, e’en the final lap—commenceth, ’tis

Sebulba in the front with Skywalker

Near to his heels, and biting at his lead!

KITSTER

O fly, swift Anakin, and make me proud!

PADMÉ

Pray, do not say the word, Qui-Gon: we go

To eagerly behold the final act.

[Exeunt Padmé and Jar Jar Binks.

QUI-GON

I said so ere this, winsome lady, and

Declare once more: I sense the boy shall win,

And when he doth prevail we shall behold

The swift fulfillment of our mighty hope.

SHMI

Your solace is most reassuring, sir,

Yet I maintain: the mother’s sole concern

Is for the son, and not the broader cause.

FODE

Young Skywalker is forc’d to ride upon

The service ramp—unfortunate this turn!

SHMI

First down, then up, and next in danger great.

This racing of the pods is made for souls

Much braver, more courageous than myself.

Enter PADMÉ.

QUI-GON

How now? Art back so soon?

PADMÉ

—’Tis pain t’observe!

With what abusive knocks Sebulba drives

The boy aside, e’en to the limit of

The path. ’Twas nearly more than I could bear.

As Anakin was forcèd far off course,

It seem’d Sebulba had the lead secure,

And nothing could disrupt his triumph sure.

Yet even then all was not lost, in truth—

Another startling turn had Fate to make:

Like some astounding phoenix rising from

The ashes where it recently did burn,

The boy comes swooping o’er the enemy

And in a blaze of fire doth fly ahead.

SHMI

What can this mean?

PADMÉ

—Hear, madam, and believe:

The boy hath ta’en the lead.

SHMI

—Ahh, can it be?

I almost am more shaken by this news

That he could win, than when I did believe

He had but little chance.

FODE

—’Tis Skywalker!

A swift control thrust putteth him on track—

Such flying we’ve not seen for ages. Zounds!

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

JAR JAR

His podracer is breakee breakee!

QUI-GON

What’s this? [To Padmé:] I prithee, go and see again.

[Exit Padmé.

FODE

Now ’tis some trouble for small Skywalker—

Sebulba hath again reclaim’d the front.

JAR JAR

De bad Sebulba come behindee,

He sneakee up, and Ani scaredee.

Den did a part fall off his shippee,

Dere lotsa smoke, Sebulba coughin’,

But den Sebulba zoom in frontee.

O! Meesa canna take it nowa.

QUI-GON

Divulge yourself, most honor’d, noble Force!

Be seen by ev’ry soul that gathers here

To watch the pods fly o’er this desert course.

Show them the power that the Force doth give,

E’en to a lowly youth as Anakin.

Display the wisdom and experience

That one is heir to in the Force’s sway.

Reveal how weak are those who nothing know

Of your astonishing and awesome strength.

Make known here in the sight of this large crowd,

That none succeed who do not know your name.

Enter PADMÉ.

PADMÉ

Another turn upon another turn!

FODE

The lad again doth chase Sebulba’s tail—

And nearly hath he overtaken him!

BEED

O inkabunga!

FODE

—Mad the human small

Most certain be, to make such desperate

Maneuvers.

BEED

—Punda tah punda.

FODE

—E’en now

The two are side by side.

BEED

—Bangu du bang’!

PADMÉ

The double-man speaks true! Our Anakin

Had lost his engine—nearly did he wreck—

Yet manag’d he to bring it back online.

As they tore through the canyon, Anakin

Gave chase until he ran not far behind.

Then, with a valor well beyond his years,

Drew he aside Sebulba, and did hook

The Dug’s fleet pod so that they rode as one.

At last, when Anakin had all arrang’d,

He drove his vessel forward, which did blow

Sebulba’s pod into a thousand parts.

A’whining and a’crying in the sand,

Sebulba is defeated! I expect

The swift return of Ani’s pod anon!

QUI-GON

O, thank the Force!

SHMI

—Past expectation, this!

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER, crossing the finish line in triumph.

KITSTER

Hurrah!

R2-D2

—Beep, meep, beep, squeak!

C-3PO

—O merry day!

Mine eyes had not believ’d it possible.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon, Shmi, Padmé, and Jar Jar from balcony.

FODE

How all in joy and frenzied mirth do greet

This unexpected, wondrous champion!

The cheer that rises from the thousands here

Is more than we have heard in all our days!

Enter QUI-GON JINN, SHMI SKYWALKER, PADMÉ, and JAR JAR BINKS to welcome ANAKIN.

JAR JAR

Yay, Anakin! De clever boyee!

ANAKIN

O mother! Didst thou see? I have prevail’d!

QUI-GON

What marvelous accomplishment, bright star

Of Tatooine. Thou makest me most proud.

The Force was present with thee here, forsooth.

PADMÉ

[embracing Anakin:] We owe to thee our boundless gratitude—

When we look’d for a hero, thou didst come.

ANAKIN

Fine lady, if I did but make you glad,

Then ev’ry nervous turn was worth its pain.

QUI-GON

Now, pardon, I must seek old Watto out,

And claim from him our wages justly earn’d.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé, Jar Jar Binks, Fode and Beed, R2-D2, C-3PO, Kitster, podracers, and crowd.

ANAKIN

Thou hadst no need of worry, mother mine:

Thy boy is safe, is here, and he is thine.

[Shmi takes Anakin in her arms, singing.

SHMI

[sings:] Shall I make merry? O, shall I make mirth?

Thee did I love, since th’instant of thy birth,

To see thee win is unto my heart gain,

Yet still I fear, and sense some future pain.

Hark! Cracks a mother’s heart.

Shall I make merry, O, shall I make mirth?

Today thou hast prov’d thy most ample worth,

Thou showest scores of strength to ev’ryone,

And by the showing, shall I lose a son?

Hark! Cracks a mother’s heart.

Shall I make merry, O, shall I make mirth?

Of quiet moments have our lives a dearth,

The visitors who come are noble men,

Yet when they go, shall I know peace again?

Hark! Cracks a mother’s heart.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

On the planet Tatooine.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and WATTO.

WATTO

You vile dissembler, cheat and villain rank—

Somehow I have been swindl’d in your deal.

You knew—by magic most unnational—

The boy would find the will to win the race.

My fortune hath been most unfortunate,

And all that I did think to win I’ve lost.

QUI-GON

And yet the sport is gambling call’d for there

Is e’er the chance that one shall sorely lose.

When one doth walk e’er near th’inferno’s edge,

One must expect to burn from time to time.

Now to our business: bring thou the parts

Unto the hangar where I’ll make my claim.

Thereafter I shall visit thy small shop,

That thou may to my care release the boy.

WATTO Nay, I shall never let you take him hence;

A wager’s mollified when one doth cheat.

QUI-GON

Mayhap thou wouldst prefer to talk it o’er

Within the court and justice of the Hutts?

I have no doubt they would take merriment

In proffering a settlement twixt us.

I would delight to witness Jabba’s face

As thou explainest thine absurd complaint.

WATTO

[aside:] This mention of the Hutts destroys my case.

[To Qui-Gon:] Forsooth, the boy is yours—both be accurs’d!

[Exit Watto.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI.

QUI-GON

We have the needed parts to take our flight,

And may this abject settlement depart.

Yet first must I go thither to complete

A vital matter—I shall not be long.

OBI-WAN

Say, wherefore do I sense that we shall add

Another wretched life-form to our group?

QUI-GON

It is the boy who hath made possible

Our flight beyond this planet desolate.

Now our responsibility’s to him—

Our path becometh his path, Obi-Wan.

Install the hyperdrive with all good haste,

That we may fly the moment I return.

[Qui-Gon walks aside.

Obi-Wan begins to exit.

OBI-WAN

[aside:] What news is this that comes from

Master Qui-Gon?

The four who left our ship shall now be five?

We have acquir’d a hyperdrive and in

The acquisition comes a boy as well.

What strange part shops have they on Tatooine

That do include a lad with ev’ry sale!

’Tis double-dealing ta’en to an extreme.

[Exit Obi-Wan.

QUI-GON

Pray, madam and young Anakin, come forth!

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER and SHMI SKYWALKER.

ANAKIN

What is it, sir?

QUI-GON

—First must I render to

Thee what is due: the money for thy pod.

[Qui-Gon gives the money to Anakin, who gives it to Shmi.

ANAKIN

Behold, sweet mother—wealth we ne’er have known.

SHMI

’Tis wonderful beyond expectancy.

QUI-GON

Yet I shall render e’en a greater prize:

Thy freedom thou obtain’d in the podrace.

I say again, young Anakin: th’art free.

ANAKIN

Mine ears do play me tricks: what did you say?

QUI-GON

No longer art thou slave to anyone.

ANAKIN

Hast heard, dear mother? Freedom now is mine!

SHMI

There’s naught shall hold thee back now, cherish’d child.

Thou art a free man, free at last to dream

And make thy dreams into reality.

It is a privilege thou shouldst embrace.

[To Qui-Gon:] With all my heart I beg you: take him hence,

Deliver him from this cruel life we lead

And make him yet a Jedi like yourself.

QUI-GON

Thy wish is mine as well, and I believe

’Twas no coincidence we three did meet.

The Force knows not of accident nor chance,

But wisely guides our footfalls, one by one.

ANAKIN

Then I shall fly within your starship, sir?

QUI-GON

I bid thee, understand now, Anakin:

To be a Jedi’s not an easy path,

The training is a task that few endure,

A challenge to the mind and heart and soul.

E’en if thou dost in training find success,

’Tis but the prelude to a life most rare

And rife with difficulty sans compare.

ANAKIN

Yet ’tis a life I wish for, have wish’d for.

My mind is settl’d: I shall go with you.

[To Shmi:] O, mother mine, dost give me leave to go?

SHMI

My son, ’tis not my place to give or take.

This path is set before thee—thou alone.

The choice, therefore, lies not with me, but thee.

Dost thou choose to depart—what is thy will?

Know this: no choice that thou canst make herein

Shall alter my unending love for thee.

ANAKIN

Then I shall go—it is mine earnest wish.

QUI-GON

Go then, and swift thy preparations make.

ANAKIN

Hurrah! [Aside:] Yet wait, what’s this that comes to me?

A thought o’er which I’d not reflected yet.

[To Qui-Gon:] What of my mother? May she also come?

QUI-GON

There is no use in hiding truth from thee:

I did attempt to free her, Anakin—

I tried as well I could. Yet Watto did

Refuse to let your mother come withal.

ANAKIN

And yet, thou shalt come with us, Mother, yea?

SHMI

My place is here, my future here as well.

The time hath come for thou to just let go—

This change shall do thee well, be not afeard.

ANAKIN

Why do we worship at the shrine of change?

Hath change e’er put a meal upon our board?

Is change a thing to be devoutly wish’d?

Doth change betoken something positive?

Or may it be that change for changing’s sake

But changes good to evil, bad to worse?

SHMI

Yet change cannot be stopp’d, lest thou would stop

The sun from setting, or stop death itself.

ANAKIN

How shall a heart be whole that’s rent in twain?

Would that I could be two instead of one

Both boy who doth remain with mother true,

And man who shall become a Jedi Knight.

I cannot be a man by staying here,

Therefore I’ll be a boy who takes his leave.

SHMI

Go with my love, my heart, my joy, my life.

[Anakin walks aside, to his chamber, where C-3PO sits, turned off.

[To Qui-Gon:] I thank you, e’en though it is difficult.

QUI-GON

I shall look after him: thou hast my word.

Wilt thou be well?

SHMI

—As well as I can be.

QUI-GON

Thou knowest, I do hope, how much I wish

We could take thee withal. Some part of me

Remaineth here, with thee, on Tatooine.

SHMI

Indeed, I know. In taking my sweet boy,

You take with you my heart, and it is yours.

Pray, treat it well.

QUI-GON

—’Twill be my life’s pursuit.

And now farewell, dear lady. Be at peace.

[Anakin turns on C-3PO.

C-3PO

Awake again—good Master Anakin!

I stand a’ready at your service, sir.

ANAKIN

C-3PO, I have been freed today,

And presently must take my leave from thee.

I shall by starship fly from Tatooine.

C-3PO

I wish you well, my maker, master, both—

Yet I would wish to be complete ere you

Depart for stars and systems still unknown.

ANAKIN

I beg thy pardon, Threepio, for I

Have not the time to finish thee or give

Thee all the coverings thou dost deserve.

I’ll miss the time I spent constructing thee,

And e’en though thou art droid, thou wert a friend.

I shall entreat my mother not to sell thee.

C-3PO

Alack, to sell me?

ANAKIN

—Now, adieu.

C-3PO

—O, my!

[Exit C-3PO. Anakin returns to Shmi and embraces her.

ANAKIN

I cannot part from thee, my mother, nay.

SHMI

O, Anakin, have courage and endure.

ANAKIN

O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again?

SHMI

What is the whisper of thy heart, dear one?

ANAKIN

I do not know; I hope so. I say: aye.

SHMI

If thou dost say it, truly it shall be.

Keep me within thy heart until that time.

ANAKIN

I shall return and grant your freedom, too.

This is my promise and my solemn vow.

SHMI

Now go, my son, and look not backward. Yea,

I bid thee, keep thine eyes e’er forward turn’d.

O, look not backward.

[Exit Anakin.

Agony most rare!

With ev’ry yearning of this mother’s will

I would both let him go and keep him here.

The two desires make duel in me still:

The selfish one would keep him for mine own,

The better one would see him go, be free.

That better part hath power o’er my tongue,

Whilst cries the selfish part within my soul.

For one, this is a mother’s proudest time,

For th’other, ’tis the height of pain and grief.

Such gain, such loss, such blessing and such burthen,

Beyond all measure anguish, joy, and fear.

Was ever mother fortunate as I?

Was ever mother desolate as I?

O, Fate, go with these two who leave me now:

The man and boy—nay, rather ’tis two men.

One young, one older, aye, yet both are men.

This is my solace: I did raise the boy,

Did give him all I could whilst he was mine,

And now, as a young man, the bird shall fly.

Thus shall my tears turn to a healing balm,

And sighs of sorrow turn to breath of life.

Goodbye, mine Anakin, mine only son:

My life is whole since thine hath just begun.

[Exit.

SCENE 3.

On the planet Tatooine.

Enter DARTH MAUL.

MAUL

The Jedi’s whereabouts my droids have found,

And I shall make my strike on them anon.

I see them now—the older Jedi comes

With boy of little consequence behind.

I’ll make my swift attack upon the elder,

And finish with the youth once he is dead.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

QUI-GON

Behold, what’s this? An enemy? [To Anakin:] Make haste!

Unto the ship make thou the swiftest flight,

And tell them to depart most urgently!

[Exit Anakin. Qui-Gon and Darth Maul begin to duel.

MAUL

Your pow’rs are weak, and agèd your technique.

You art no match for one so skill’d as I.

QUI-GON

Alas, such speed and fleet agility

I ne’er have seen but in the Jedi ranks.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, R2-D2, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and RIC OLIÉ on balcony, in the cockpit of the Naboo cruiser.

PANAKA

Great trouble doth pursue Qui-Gon below!

OBI-WAN

I prithee, pilot, take off now!

RIC

—I shall!

OBI-WAN

Draw near to them—fly low that he may leap.

[Qui-Gon begins to lose strength.

MAUL

You grow still weaker; soon I’ll see you fall.

QUI-GON

Perchance I’ve one last leap to save myself.

[Qui-Gon jumps into the ship, on the balcony.

MAUL

This battle ends, and you are barely sav’d:

Next time you shall not be so fortunate.

[Exit Darth Maul.

ANAKIN

Good sir, is’t well with you?

OBI-WAN

—What was the thing?

QUI-GON

I am not certain, merely do I know

That it was trainèd well in Jedi arts.

Belike it hither came to take our queen—

And, lo, the game it plays is dangerous.

ANAKIN

What shall we do?

QUI-GON

—For now we bide our time,

And strive for calm and patience in all things.

Young Anakin Skywalker, I present

My strong apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

ANAKIN

Well met, dear sir. Are you a Jedi, too?

OBI-WAN

Indeed, my lad, as well thou mayest be.

QUI-GON

Together we shall this new threat confront—

Belike we’ll answers find on Coruscant.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, SIO BIBBLE, OOM-9, and other GUARD DROIDS.

NUTE

Your queen is lost, your people feebly starve,

And it appears their governor—e’en you—

May not outlive them. Truth, your life is mine,

A prize that I do mean to claim anon.

SIO

Your ill-advis’d attack shall gain you nil.

Naboo is proudly a democracy:

Its citizens decide, and they did speak

Decisively enough against your rule.

NUTE

Your insolence offends. [To guards:] Take him away!

[Exeunt several guards with Sio Bibble.

OOM-9

My troops have ta’en position in the swamps,

Where they seek out the underwater towns

About which rumor hath been spread of late.

What hidden is shall soon revealèd be.

NUTE

I thank thee, Captain: thy words ease my mind.

Make me a full report of what they find.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 5.

Aboard the Naboo cruiser and on the planet Coruscant.

Enter RUMOR.

RUMOR

Whilst cruelly doth the Federation find

Excuse to starve Naboo’s poor, conquer’d hordes,

Fear starts to rise within each troubl’d mind—

Look ye, and see how Rumor knots her cords.

Young Anakin by guilt is overrun,

Thinks he of her he left with sad regret.

Old Qui-Gon and the younger Obi-Wan

Consider this portentous recent threat.

O, how fleet Rumor does her labor—see?—

Runs to and fro to make them sick with fear.

Unsung is my impact on history,

Such times as these are wherefore I am here.

Catch all, I shall, within the net I threw

And witness each sharp pain they undergo.

Now, watch as one more cometh into view:

The maiden Padmé, full of care and woe.

[Exit Rumor.

Enter PADMÉ.

PADMÉ

By dark of night I come to hear what news

I can of my defenseless countrymen.

Would that I could be present with them there

To share in their torment and suffering

And be handmaiden to their ev’ry hope.

Yet since, for now, I am a traveler

And spinning through the echelons of space,

My path lies not with that of my dear ones.

Thus must I steal a hidden glimpse of them.

PADMÉ turns on the computer.

Enter SIO BIBBLE in beam.

SIO

The death toll hath been catastrophic here.

Conform unto their wishes, Highness, please,

And contact me anon, ere more are dead.

[Exit Sio Bibble from beam.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

PADMÉ

Sweet boy, how dost thou fare?

ANAKIN

—I’m very ill.

And how do you?

PADMÉ

—Ahh, very ill, too, lad.

ANAKIN

I find the depths of space turn my blood cold,

The blood that knows the heat of Tatooine.

[Padmé wraps a blanket around Anakin.

PADMÉ

Forsooth, thou comest from a planet warm,

Belike too warm for mine own temp’rate taste.

In truth, space is a cold and empty place.

ANAKIN

And you: why doth my lady say she’s ill?

Your visage could recite a thousand woes.

PADMÉ

The queen is worried; her concern is mine.

The people of Naboo face pain and death.

The queen must make the Senate understand

That they must rise anon and intervene

To stop the cruel invasion, else all’s lost.

The outcome is beyond what I can see.

[Anakin removes a pendant from his pouch.

ANAKIN

I fashion’d this small trinket for you, miss,

That you might oft remember Anakin.

’Tis carvèd from a snippet of japor—

Perchance it shall bring fortune to your path.

PADMÉ

’Tis passing beautiful, kind Anakin.

Yet need I not a trinket to recall

The brave and solemn boy before me here.

Ne’er shall your memory be far from me,

Whether I am adorn’d with this or no.

Pray understand that many things must change

When safely we arrive at Coruscant;

What shall not change is how I care for thee.

ANAKIN

My heart doth hold you in its care as well,

Though even this reeks of duplicity,

For how can one heart hold the care for two?

PADMÉ

Thou dost yearn for thy mother kind, I know.

’Tis meet and right to do so, Anakin.

[Exit Padmé.

ANAKIN

Then wherefore doth it make my spirit burn?

Enter RIC OLIÉ.

RIC

Attend, lad, we soon land on Coruscant!

Behold its lights and iridescent glow—

The planet whole is but one city vast,

Which giveth light at all times, day or night.

Below, ’tis Chancellor Valorum’s craft,

And there, upon the landing dock, doth wait

Sir Palpatine, an honorable man.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala, PADMÉ, JAR JAR BINKS, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and, separately, CHANCELLOR VALORUM and SENATOR PALPATINE.

QUI-GON

With humble mien, we greet ye heartily.

[Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi bow to Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine.

PALPATINE

And you as well, ye noble Jedi Knights.

[To Sabé:] Your Majesty, ’tis gift to see you well.

I fear’d the worst, but you are here: alive.

The dire communications breakdown did

Upset us quite, and have us all concern’d.

I shall with eagerness hear your report

Of all that hath befallen since Naboo.

Straight may I introduce unto your grace

The Chancellor Supreme, Valorum, he.

VALORUM Your Highness, I do bid you hearty welcome:

It is a privilege to meet your person.

SABÉ

All thanks, respected Chancellor Supreme.

VALORUM

Your situation is full well distressing,

The Senate is most strain’d by all the rumors.

I’ve call’d a special meeting of the Senate,

Wherein we may your circumstance consider.

SABÉ

Most grateful am I for thy deep concern.

PALPATINE

A question of procedure did arise,

Yet I am confident we’ll overcome.

QUI-GON

[aside, to Valorum:] Good Chancellor, I must anon address

The Jedi Council. All is not as ’twas,

The situation hath new obstacles.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Chancellor Valorum as the others move to Senator Palpatine’s quarters.

PALPATINE

My queen, here is there no civility.

Aye, no civility: mere politics.

What once the strong Republic was it is

No longer: weak and feeble ’tis become.

The Senate’s rife with babbling delegates,

E’er greedy for their taste of power’s meat.

The common good’s become a most rare dish,

Unsav’ry to their growing appetites.

I would not lie to you, Your Majesty,

There is but little chance the Senate shall

Move to suppress or censor this attack.

SABÉ

The chancellor, it seems, would disagree.

He spoke of hope it may yet be put right.

PALPATINE

And yet, the chancellor hath little pow’r.

He e’er by accusations is beset,

All whispering corruption’s damning name.

Full baseless, yea, but still he lacketh might—

’Tis bureaucrats who rule the Senate now.

SABÉ

I prithee, say: what options have we, then?

PALPATINE

’Twould grant us greatest chance of Fate’s esteem

If we could push t’elect a chancellor

Who could be stronger, verily supreme.

Belike a one as this could then control

The bureaucrats and rule for justice’s sake.

If you put forth a vote: no confidence

In Chancellor Valorum, ’twould suffice.

SABÉ

Are you beyond all reason? He hath been

An ardent friend and patron of Naboo.

PALPATINE

’Tis not the only course: we could, as well,

Submit a plea unto the courts of law.

SABÉ

Which would but take far longer even than

The Senate in its plodding, snail-like pace.

Our people groan and die, O, Senator:

The Federation must be quickly stopp’d.

PALPATINE

If we bethink but realistically,

Your Majesty, it well may be our lot

To bear the Federation’s cruel control—

Not for eternity, but for a time.

SABÉ

Not even for a second, Senator.

I never shall accept their unjust rule.

Were we to let it be, e’en for a trice,

Their vicious claws would sink far deeper in,

And ev’ry day that pass’d would render their

Control o’er our most happy, peaceful globe

More palatable for th’Republic to

Take in: a moment would become a time,

A time would quickly turn into an age,

And all would soon forget that e’er Naboo

Had once been rul’d by its own government.

Seek not to make me hide their vice from view,

For this is something that I cannot do.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 1.

On the planet Coruscant.

Enter YODA, MACE WINDU, QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, KI-ADI-MUNDI, and other members of the JEDI COUNCIL.

QUI-GON

Whate’er it was that fought with me that day,

’Twas trainèd well in all the Jedi arts.

’Tis my conclusion, painful though it be,

That I did face a Sith on Tatooine.

KI-ADI

Impossible. The evil Sith have been

Extinct well nigh a thousand years. ’Tis true?

MACE

It seemeth quite unlikely they could rise

Again, without the Jedi Council’s knowledge.

Indeed, it is unthinkable to me.

YODA

Yet be we mindful

’Tis hard to see, the dark side,

Hard enough, forsooth.

MACE

Our ev’ry resource we’ll to this employ,

So this dark menace to society

May swiftly be discover’d. By my troth,

I’ll warrant we shall find th’assailant soon.

The Force be ever with thee, Qui-Gon Jinn.

[Obi-Wan turns to leave, but Qui-Gon hesitates.

YODA

Good Master Qui-Gon,

More to say have you to us?

I bid you, speak it.

QUI-GON

With your permission, Master, I report:

A vergence I’ve encounter’d in the Force.

YODA

A vergence, say you?

Divergent is your news, which

Converges on us.

MACE

Located ’round a person? ’Tis a fluke.

QUI-GON

Nay, ’tis a boy: a boy whose cells have stores

Of midi-chlorians that do surpass

The number found in any life-form I

Did e’er encounter, or think possible.

Yea, ’tis a number higher than I did

Imagine could be found in anyone.

Perchance the boy was actu’lly conceiv’d

By midi-chlorians, strange though it seems.

MACE

You reference the prophecy that speaks

Of one who shall bring balance to the Force.

And you believe it is this fresh young boy?

QUI-GON

’Tis not my will nor place to here presume—

YODA

But presume you do.

Reveal’d your opinion is.

’Tis plain enough, hmm?

QUI-GON

I do but wish the boy to tested be.

YODA

Ahh, train’d as Jedi?

For him this is your request?

So certain are you?

QUI-GON

It was the Force’s will that we would meet.

’Twas not by chance we came unto his shop,

But we were thither brought to set him free,

That he, in turn, would bravely rescue us,

And we together should make journey here.

MACE

Bring him before us then, unto our sphere,

And we shall test him in the Council here.

[Qui-Gon bows as all exeunt.

SCENE 2.

On the planet Coruscant.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER, a GUARD, and RABE, a handmaiden to the queen.

GUARD

The boy doth seek to visit Padmé here.

ANAKIN

Indeed, if ’tis permissible to do.

[Exit guard.

RABE

Apologies, but Padmé is not here.

Enter QUEEN AMIDALA.

AMIDALA

Who is’t who comes?

RABE

—’Tis Anakin, who would

Hold one or two brief words with Padmé, Highness.

AMIDALA

Upon an errand Padmé hath been sent.

ANAKIN

I take my leave now, to the temple bound,

Therein my Jedi training to begin.

Methinks I never may see her again,

And did but wish to say a fond farewell.

AMIDALA

Thy message shall we soon relay to her,

And hear thou this: by royal wisdom we

Are certain that her heart doth follow thee.

ANAKIN

With gratitude I thank Your Majesty.

[Exeunt Anakin and Rabe.

AMIDALA

My hope lies past all expectation now:

Unto the Senate I am bound at last,

To plead my case and ask for mercy there.

Yet ’mongst the politicians shall I find

A kindly voice to answer mine appeal?

The senator—e’en Palpatine—doth thirst

To set things right for us, yet hath consum’d

More than a measure of ambition’s drink.

Another friend we’ve none within the hall

Where the Galactic Senate soon shall meet.

Thus, if the time hath not supplied a friend,

I’ll fashion one or two with mine own plea.

Mayhap when they behold the regal tears,

Their hearts shall open, blocking out their greed.

I cannot be a man and threaten them,

So shall I with a woman’s cunning win.

Pray, hold me fast, O Fate, let me not slip:

Support me by your ever-weaving hands.

Enter MEMBERS OF THE GALACTIC SENATE, including SENATOR PALPATINE, CHANCELLOR VALORUM, LOTT DOD of the Trade Federation, and the SENATOR OF MALASTARE.

VALORUM

The high, exalted, and unquestionable

Galactic Senate now is call’d to order—

Let harmony be present as we gather.

The chair doth recognize the senior statesman

Who cometh from Naboo, the sov’reign system.

PALPATINE

Wise Chancellor Supreme, and delegates

Of this strong Senate, I must make report:

A tragedy of vast proportions hath

Occurr’d upon our innocent Naboo.

Its genesis was in this chamber here,

Taxation of the trade routes its first cause.

The tragedy engulf’d our planet in

Th’oppression of the Federation cruel.

LOTT

These accusations are outrageous words!

Unto these statements I object with zeal.

VALORUM The chair hath not yet seen fit to acknowledge

The senator from the Trade Federation.

PALPATINE

To speak for our great planet and present

Our allegations solemn and severe,

I introduce the newly minted queen—

She of the late election in Naboo—

Queen Amidala, who shall prick your ears,

And, if they can be movèd, hearts as well.

AMIDALA

O, honorable representatives

Of this republic we do call our home:

I speak before you as a broken queen,

Within your presence due to dire events

That have of late befallen on Naboo.

Our system hath been senselessly attack’d

By the droid armies of the Federation.

LOTT

I heartily object! Where is her proof?

Her words are but an idle tale, spun out

From some outlandish dream or whim. Instead,

We recommend a quick commission, sent

To ascertain the truth about Naboo.

SENATOR

The senator of Malastare concurs

With what the Federation’s delegate

Doth in this matter recommend and wish.

A commission must be sent unto Naboo.

VALORUM The point is made. Pray, grant me consultation …

[Chancellor Valorum leans aside to speak with his advisors.

PALPATINE

[aside:] The perfect part the chancellor now plays,

That I may write the passage I desire.

[To Amidala:] Behold, Your Majesty, the bureaucrats

A group of thespians who craftily

Do rule the scene upon their stage of pow’r.

Their coffers by the Federation fill’d,

They act to bend the chancellor’s own thoughts

And sap his strength by softly spoken lines,

Until the curtain falls and they have won.

VALORUM

The Federation’s point hath been conceded.

Will you, Your Majesty, defer your motion

That we may soon appoint a keen commission,

Which shall investigate your accusations?

AMIDALA

Nay, I shall not defer nor be deterr’d,

Nor shall I grant you any deference.

I come before you here in urgency,

Not that we may be turn’d aside again

But that you may resolve this vile attack

Upon our sovereignty even now—

E’en here, e’en on the very instant. Fie!

No more of this delay shall I endure!

My land did not elect me that I might

Deliver it to suffering and death,

Whilst ye in words both weak and impotent

Discuss the dire invasion in committee!

I tell you truly: if incapable

This body is of acting for the right,

Methinks new leadership is warranted.

PALPATINE

[aside:] The trap is set, and she hath sprung it quite.

AMIDALA

I move a somber vote: no confidence

In Chancellor Valorum’s leadership.

[The other senators begin chanting their approval.

PALPATINE

Well done, Your Majesty. They shall elect

Another chancellor—a strong one, sure,

Who shall not let our tragedy endure.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 3.

On the planet Coruscant.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and OBI-WAN KENOBI on balcony.

OBI-WAN

Methinks the boy shall never pass the test

The Jedi Council will before him place.

He is too old, e’en at his tender age.

QUI-GON

Nay, Anakin shall be a Jedi yet.

I promise thee, in time it will be so.

OBI-WAN

Do not defy the council yet again.

QUI-GON

If I defy them, marry ’tis but what

The situation calleth for. No more.

OBI-WAN

The council, Master, is within your reach:

If you but follow’d faithfully the code,

You would be on the council, I suspect.

Aye, in this matter their thoughts are not yours,

And they shall not approve of what you wish.

QUI-GON

Thou still hast much to learn, apprentice mine.

[Exeunt.

Enter, below, YODA, MACE WINDU, KI-ADI-MUNDI, MEMBERS OF THE JEDI COUNCIL, and ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

YODA

Anakin, young one,

Let thy mind be free, and sense

What thou dost see not.

ANAKIN

I sense a ship … a cup … a ship … a speeder.

MACE

[to Yoda:] The boy hath spoken right in this big game.

YODA

Well ’tis, my young one.

Now, speakest thou verily:

How, pray, dost thou feel?

ANAKIN

In troth, I have been cold since Tatooine.

YODA

Indeed thou mayest,

For climes as thine much heat give.

Yet afeard art thou?

ANAKIN

Nay, sir, I suffer neither fear nor dread.

YODA

See through thee we can.

To be brave excellent is;

Forthright is better.

MACE

Be mindful of th’emotions of the spirit.

KI-ADI

Thy thoughts upon thy mother sadly dwell.

ANAKIN

My soul doth hunger for her warm embrace.

YODA

Mmm, a dish of which

Thou art scared to lose the taste:

A mother’s regard.

ANAKIN

Of what import is that unto this test?

Doth sadness o’er my mother mount to aught?

YODA

Aye, ev’rything ’tis.

To the dark side of the Force,

Fear’s the surest path.

Fear leads to anger,

Onward leads anger to hate,

Hate to suffering.

A bounty of fear

Is present in thy spirit—

Fear beyond measure.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and OBI-WAN KENOBI.

QUI-GON

Wise masters, we have come to hear your will,

To say what shall become of this brave youth.

KI-ADI

The force is strong with him; we all do see’t.

QUI-GON

He shall be trainèd, then? That is your word?

MACE

Nay, though the Force may be unbreakable

Within the boy, he shall not trainèd be.

QUI-GON

Yet wherefore is this so? What reason is’t?

MACE

It is but basic: he hath grown too old.

QUI-GON

He is the chosen one. Had ye but one

Eye working ’mongst you all, it would be seen.

YODA

Mmm, easy ’tis not,

For cloudy this boy’s future

Appeareth in sight.

QUI-GON

Then I shall train the lad, if you will not.

As Padawan I claim young Anakin.

The boy hereafter mine apprentice is.

YODA

Your apprentice is?

Forgotten have you, e’en now,

You’ve one already?

’Tis impossible,

Aye ’tis never permitted,

That one doth two train.

MACE

Rules of engagement do forbid such plans.

QUI-GON

Keen Obi-Wan is utterly prepar’d.

OBI-WAN

Forsooth, I stand a’ready, trials to face.

YODA

Our own counsel shall

We heed on who is ready.

Presume not to tell.

QUI-GON

The man is obstinate and still hath much

To learn about the Force that liveth, yet

More capable in skill and strength there’s none.

Like mother bird who sees her fledgling fly,

There’s little more I can teach Obi-Wan.

I prithee, let him take to wing and soar;

Allow room for a new egg in the nest.

YODA

Young Skywalker’s fate

Shall not yet be unravel’d:

’Tis work for later.

MACE

The present is no time for chirping talk:

The Senate shall soon in their chamber vote

For their new Chancellor Supreme. This may

Cause some unrest within Republic ranks,

Put pressure new upon the Federation,

Thus meeting evil with a broader threat.

KI-ADI

The queen’s attacker you encounter’d there

On Tatooine may be drawn out by this.

MACE

It is for you to safeguard this good queen

And find out the identity of this

Dark foe beyond a reasonable doubt.

We think this shall be circumstance enough

To bring to light this myst’ry of the Sith.

YODA

O, hesitate not!

Success we wish you—adieu,

The Force be with you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

On the planet Coruscant.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

JAR JAR

The course of justice never did run smooth.

Those who are weak by laws are weaker made,

Those who have pow’r by laws are given more.

’Tis near impossible to e’er persuade

The ones with power to surrender it.

Indeed, they often claim they’ve power none,

And cannot see their unjust privilege.

When some gross fault of theirs is then expos’d,

They throw their hands unto the sky and cry,

“O, now ’tis us who sorely are oppress’d!”

Thus do the dominating twist the tale

And make themselves the subject of their pity,

Whilst turning blind eye to those truly plagued

By burthens those in pow’r can never know.

’Tis certain that the Senate’s powerless

And we no justice in its court shall find.

The queen by fear and worry is beset

And cannot make inform’d decisions thus.

We must away, returning to Naboo.

Our hope lies not within the Senate’s care,

For only double crossing there we’ll find.

Our only hope doth lie in joining strengths:

The Naboo and the Gungans fix’d as one,

Leave Coruscant and take the battle home.

The queen shall never listen to a fool,

Yet she may be convinc’d by foolish words

If they are spoken by coincidence.

Then shall the notion flourish in her mind

As though it were her own. But soft, she comes!

Enter QUEEN AMIDALA.

Are yousa thinkin’ people gon’ die?

AMIDALA

I do not know; unclear the future is.

JAR JAR

And Gungans gettin’ pasted too, eh?

AMIDALA

It is my fervent hope that shall not be.

JAR JAR

De Gungans no die sans a fightee.

We allsa warriors—grand armee!

Methinks that’s whysa you no like us.

Enter CAPTAIN PANAKA and SENATOR PALPATINE.

PANAKA

Your Highness, I bring tidings of delight!

Our noble Palpatine is nominee

To soon succeed Valorum’s feeble rule

As Chancellor Supreme. Is not this grand?

PALPATINE

Surprising ’tis, Your Highness. Welcome, too—

If I elected am, I’ll put an end

To all the Senate’s vile, corrupted ways.

AMIDALA

Who else a nomination did receive?

PANAKA

one Bail Antilles of old Alderaan,

And Ainlee Teem of Malastare as well.

PALPATINE

I feel most confident full many votes

Of sympathy our cause shall garner us.

Forsooth, I shall be chancellor anon.

AMIDALA

Once you have o’er the bureaucrats control,

I fear our people shall no longer be:

Our way of life shall, by then, be destroy’d.

PALPATINE

I understand your worry, Majesty.

The Federation, though, doth revel in

Possession o’er our planet even now.

AMIDALA

Good Senator, this is your chosen sphere—

Among the politicians you excel,

Troth, I have ev’ry hope of your success

And faith in your most shrewd abilities.

My sphere doth call most urgently to me,

Its voice doth cry with desperation loud,

And so unto Naboo I must return:

Where I am needed, thither I shall go.

JAR JAR

[aside:] The queen doth walk upon the fool-made path.

PALPATINE

Return, Your Majesty? I bid you, pause,

Consider the reality you face.

If you go back, you shall be forc’d to sign

The wretched treaty most assuredly.

AMIDALA

Nay, hear me now: no treaty shall I sign.

Whatever Fate hath woven for Naboo

Shall be my final destiny as well.

Good Captain?

PAN AKA

—Highness?

AMIDALA

—Go, prepare the ship.

PALPATINE

I prithee, Highness, stay here where ’tis safe.

AMIDALA

I have a good eye, Senator; I can

Yet see a Jedi temple by daylight.

’Tis plain to me that our Republic doth

No longer function for the good of all.

’Tis plain that your proud Senate doth exist

To serve itself, not its constituents.

’Tis plain that if I would for justice seek,

I must look elsewhere than on Coruscant.

If you would serve me here, bring reason once

Again unto the Senate. Now, adieu.

[Exeunt Queen Amidala, Jar Jar Binks, and Captain Panaka.

PALPATINE

A royal wish doth move my soul no wise,

For I am made to answer no one’s wish

Save for mine own. This sniv’ling, sullen girl

Shall be but slight impediment unto

The plan for the Republic I’ll devise.

Devising shall become division when

I sow the seeds of discord in this place,

Which shall spread o’er the galaxy anon.

O, Queen, your words do reek of schoolgirl’s moans,

E’er braying for some smear she hath endur’d.

Your actions are no wiser, as you seek

Nobility in death upon Naboo.

Yet, ’tis no matter: I shall write the end

I carefully have plann’d despite—or e’en

In spite of—her departure to her home.

My plans shall by no regal deed be still’d,

For I’ll perform whatever I have will’d.

[Exit.

SCENE 5.

On the planet Coruscant.

Enter JEDI 1 and JEDI 2.

JEDI 1

Well met, my friend! Say, art thou well?

JEDI 2

—Indeed,

As merry as the day is long. And thou?

JEDI 1

A pleasant afternoon I just have spent

A’poring o’er the Jedi archives here.

JEDI 2

What is within to perk thine interest?

I do confess I find them rather dry.

JEDI 1

O, say not so! The archives are a key

That opens up a world of scholarship.

JEDI 2

I never took thee for a bookish owl.

What didst thou find today t’excite thy mind?

JEDI 1

A pattern hid within the history

Of our vast galaxy leap’d fore my sight.

JEDI 2

A pattern, aye?

JEDI 1

—As clear as is the sun.

It seemeth each millennium or two

There is a backward movement in the Force—

Indeed, in all of life—such that the things

That now seem commonplace would, in some years,

Seem wildly futuristic.

JEDI 2

—An example?

JEDI 1

We have technology appropriate

Unto our era, and we Jedi have

Th’ability to leap across large chasms.

Imagine, then, if in some future time

All life betook a giant backward step:

Our ships would duller seem, we Jedi would

Not soar and spring as we are wont to do.

Canst thou imagine such a sharp decline?

JEDI 2

Such retrograde must be impossible.

JEDI 1

Nay, ’twas the pattern I so clearly saw!

More fascinating is: it seemeth we

Are due for just another swift step back

Within mere decades hence.

JEDI 2

—But can this be?

JEDI 1

The hist’ry doth not lie. If I have done

The calculations right, within a span

Of thirty years, we’ll see a sharp turn back

In our technology and Jedi skills—

E’en fashion shall regression undergo.

JEDI 2

What wilt thou do with this discovery?

JEDI 1

I first did think to share with Yoda.

JEDI 2

—Aye,

’Tis sensible enough as he is wise

And pure, and serveth on the council with

A voice most fair and just. Keen choice, my friend.

JEDI 1

Yet in the end, ’twas not he I did choose.

JEDI 2

Then whom?

JEDI 1

—The senator, e’en Palpatine—

A noble sort of fellow, good and kind.

I shall inform him of the things to come.

JEDI 2

Art thou most sure thou shouldst not give this news

To one among the Jedi, worthy friend?

If it shall be the Jedi are less skill’d,

Should not this news be shar’d among our own?

JEDI 1

Alas, we Jedi are becoming known

For our mistrust of others! Troth, this news

Shall show us ready for collaboration:

The Jedi and the politicians join’d

As one in mind, with peaceful harmony.

JEDI 2

Mayhap thou art correct. And even so,

Perchance the pattern thou observ’st is false.

JEDI 1

would it were so. I would not like to see’t!

JEDI 2

I sooner dead would be. Now shall we keep

Our habit and go dine at Dex’s place?

JEDI 1

A pattern I shall haply follow, friend.

[Exeunt Jedi 1 and Jedi 2.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and OBI-WAN KENOBI.

OBI-WAN

of disrespect I’ve none, sir, ’tis but truth.

QUI-GON

The truth, yet from thy certain point of view.

OBI-WAN

The boy is dangerous, they all sense it—

Say wherefore, then, can you not see it, too?

QUI-GON

What Fate prepares for him is still unclear.

In troth, he is no danger, Obi-Wan.

The council shall his future settle, not

Both thou and I contending o’er what’s true.

I prithee, let these words suffice for thee

And board the waiting ship; we soon fly hence.

[Exit Obi-Wan.

Have I been blinded by ambition’s light?

If it is so, it is a grievous fault,

And grievously I may yet answer it.

Yet this small child hath captur’d all my thoughts

As I have not for ages been consum’d.

I feel a presence in him that doth stir

My blood and sounds the call of destiny

To meet, befriend, and train this noble lad.

I trust the Jedi Council, yet they did

Not see his exploits in the podracing.

Their judgment is distorted by his age;

They see his fear, yet not his aptitude.

I am a Jedi, bound by discipline,

Yet in this matter I shall press the bounds

To bring their hesitation to assent.

In doing so, I earn a double share:

The boy is train’d in all the Jedi arts,

The council stretches and in wisdom grows,

And I do reap the benefit of both.

Thus I desire, and trust the Force shall soon

Fulfill this noble—if ambitious—work.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER and R2-D2.

ANAKIN

I would not be a problem, Qui-Gon, sir.

QUI-GON

I’ll warrant thou wilt never problem be.

As yet, I am not given leave to train

Thee, but do ask thee to be mindful and

To watch o’er ev’ry move thou seest me make.

Remember, if thou canst: thy focus doth

Determine what shall be reality.

Stay by my side and e’er shalt thou be safe.

ANAKIN

If I may yet another question ask

Of midi-chlorians wise Yoda spoke—

Such term is unfamiliar to mine ears,

Pray tell me, what are midi-chlorians?

QUI-GON

Once our vast galaxy did come to be,

Life came to being, wondrous miracle.

The energy of all potential life

Was bas’d in these first creatures, which did spread

And soon infusèd ev’ry living thing.

These masters of abundant, pure life force

We now know as the midi-chlorians.

The midi-chlorians are life-forms small,

Yea, microscopic are they, and reside

In ev’ry living being, in the cells.

ANAKIN

They live within my body?

QUI-GON

—Aye, inside.

All living things are symbionts with them.

ANAKIN

From one strange word unto another, sir—

I prithee, tell me what are symbionts?

QUI-GON

Two life-forms that together dwell as one,

Each make the other stronger when they’re join’d,

And both do benefit in the exchange.

These, then, are symbionts. Thus, if there were

No midi-chlorians, life would be naught.

And neither would we know the Force’s pow’r.

If we but listen, they e’er speak to us

And tell us of the Force and what it wills.

As thou dost learn to quiet thine own mind,

Thou shalt, like whisper’d poetry, hear their

Majestic voices ringing in thine ears.

’Tis like a music written for thy soul,

A symphony of words compos’d for thee.

ANAKIN

’Tis difficult to comprehend this news.

QUI-GON

O, thou art not alone, if thou canst not

The midi-chlorians yet understand.

Yet be thou patient and, in time, thou shalt.

ANAKIN

[aside:] If I have heard aright, it seems to me

The midi-chlorians make a tough cell.

Enter QUEEN AMIDALA and JAR JAR BINKS.

QUI-GON

Your Majesty, it is our honor to

Continue in your service and defense.

AMIDALA

Your aid is fully welcome. Palpatine

Believes I do but flee the frying pot

To face the Federation’s fire at home.

QUI-GON

Whilst you are in my charge, I’ll chill the threat

Of any Federation flames that rise.

As long as I have breath, I’ll guard your life.

JAR JAR

Hurrah! Now weesa goin’ homee!

AMIDALA

Methinks it may be trouble we pursue—

If so, we fly to battle on Naboo.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 6.

On the planet Naboo and aboard the Naboo cruiser.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY and RUNE HAAKO on balcony, with DARTH SIDIOUS in beam.

SIDIOUS

Have you the planet verily secur’d?

NUTE

We’ve ta’en control of all the remnants of

The primitives that o’er the planet roam.

Naboo is now in our complete command.

SIDIOUS

’Tis well. I shall, for my part, cause such stalls

Within the Senate that all shall remain

Just as it is. The status quo shall hold.

To be assur’d of your continu’d strength,

I shall send my apprentice, e’en Darth Maul,

To help maintain your power o’er Naboo.

NUTE

Indeed, my lord.

[Exit Darth Sidious from beam.

RUNE

—A Sith shall hither come?

Now doth a madness new before us rise.

[Exeunt Nute and Rune from balcony.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, RIC OLIÉ, and ANAKIN SKYWALKER aside, in the cockpit of the Naboo cruiser.

RIC

Those do control the forward stabilizers.

ANAKIN

And these control the pitch?

RIC

—They do, indeed.

Thou art a student quick and most astute.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, QUEEN AMIDALA, JAR JAR BINKS, and CAPTAIN PANAKA.

PANAKA

once we do land, the Federation shall

Arrest your royal person, bind you as

A common criminal, and force you then

To sign their awful treaty.

QUI-GON

—I agree.

I do not see what profit comes of this.

AMIDALA

I shall but even out our bottom line,

And take back what belongs to us by right.

’Tis not for profit, but for justice’s sake.

PANAKA

We few, we happy few, are but too few.

We have no army that can match their count.

QUI-GON

I can protect you, but can fight no war.

AMIDALA

’Tis understood. I call on Jar Jar Binks.

JAR JAR

You wantin’ meesa, Youra Highness?

AMIDALA

I do. The queen hath need of thy kind help.

[Obi-Wan, Ric, and Anakin join the others.

RIC

As we did land, a battleship was seen

Upon our scopes—a single one, ’tis true,

Yet one shall be enough to give us chase.

OBI-WAN

It was a droid control ship, orbiting.

PANAKA

Belike they saw us as we landing made.

OBI-WAN

To make it brief: time runneth short for us.

[Exeunt.

Enter RUMOR.

RUMOR

Below, upon the ground, a hope doth wait,

E’en as the ship doth land, all have new fears.

Herein all those on board shall find their fate—

O, how it frightfully unknown appears.

Look now, as I do make their hearts afraid,

Determin’d, yet deterr’d by all their doubt.

The final act shall on Naboo be play’d,

Hath Rumor set the pieces to work out?

E’en now, the Jedi start to doubt their place:

Guards they shall be unto the queen no more.

Uniting these two people face-to-face—

Naboo’s hopes to ensure—is not their chore.

Good soldiers of the queen become nonpluss’d

And e’en Queen Amidala, in her breast,

Now hath, by Rumor’s will, more doubt than trust:

Shall they on Jar Jar all their future rest?

Enter QUI-GON JINN and OBI-WAN KENOBI.

OBI-WAN

Toward the Gungan city Jar Jar’s gone.

QUI-GON

’Tis well.

OBI-WAN

—Think you the queen’s idea shall fly?

QUI-GON

The Gungans shall not easily be sway’d;

Thus let us hope the urgency’s enough

To give wing to Her Majesty’s idea.

We cannot use the pow’r we have to help,

As we are peacekeepers, not warring men.

OBI-WAN

Good Master, what e’er comes, I’d have you know:

For my behavior I apologize.

’Tis not my place to disagree with you

About the boy, and hearty thanks I feel

That you should think me ready for the trials.

QUI-GON

Thou art a keen apprentice, Obi-Wan,

And art a wiser man by leagues than I.

’Tis clear, as I upon the waters of

Thy future gaze, that thou shalt navigate

What is to come with grace, be pilot of

A wondrous course, a winsome Jedi Knight.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS (from water), SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala, PADMÉ, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, R2-D2, CAPTAIN PANAKA, RIC OLIÉ, other NABOO SOLDIERS, and, separately, MEMBERS OF THE QUEEN’S COURT.

JAR JAR

Nobody’s dere! De Gungan city

Deserted is. Some fight, me thinkin’.

OBI-WAN

Think’st thou they have been taken to the camps,

Where Federation’s foes are all intern’d?

PANAKA

Belike the Gungans all have been destroy’d.

JAR JAR

Yet meesa nowee think so, Captain.

QUI-GON

Dost know where they may be, meek Jar Jar? Eh?

JAR JAR

When trouble come, they go place sacred.

Come, meesa show you it! Come withee!

All journey to the Gungan sacred site. Enter BOSS NASS, other GUNGAN BOSSES, and CAPTAIN TARPALS.

TARPALS

Your honor, wise Boss Nass, I do present

Queen Amidala, ruler of Naboo.

JAR JAR

Hello, de big Boss Nass, your honor.

NASS

o, Jar Jar Binks, now who’s da uss-en uthers?

SABÉ

I am Queen Amidala of Naboo.

I come before your royal court in peace.

NASS

Naboo biggen. Youse bringin’ mackineeks,

And yousa bringin’ trouble, all bombad.

SABÉ

We humbly come before you to suggest

Betwixt our peoples an alliance strong.

PADMÉ

Your honor.

NASS

—Whosa diss? And why she speak?

PADMÉ

I am Queen Amidala. This is but

My decoy, my protection, loyal guard.

She speaketh for me when it serves the time,

But you, Boss Nass, deserve the rightful queen.

QUI-GON

[aside:] The handmaiden had play’d a hidden hand,

And dealt us all an unexpected shock.

PADMÉ

For this deception, my apology;

’Twas necessary to protect myself.

Your honor, hear my deferential plea:

Though our two peoples have not e’er agreed,

Our two societies have liv’d in peace.

The vile Trade Federation hath destroy’d

All we have work’d so ardently to build.

If action is not swift, all shall be lost.

I call on you to help us. [Kneeling:] Nay, I beg—

A queen’s humility giv’n for your aid.

Myself and those with me are servants now.

[The Naboo, the Jedi, and Anakin Skywalker kneel.

You work the loom of our yet unknown fate.

NASS

Ha! Yousa nowa thinkin’ yousa great

Beyond de Gungans now. Me lika dis!

Mayhap shall be dat weesa bein’ friends.

PANAKA

I shall away, to learn what may be found

That may be advantageous to our cause.

[Exit Captain Panaka. The Gungans and the Naboo embrace and then begin forming battle lines.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and DARTH MAUL on balcony, with DARTH SIDIOUS in beam.

NUTE

Our strong patrols have been sent forth, my lord.

Their starship in the swamplands hath been found.

It shall not be too long ere they’re destroy’d.

SIDIOUS

An unexpected play this is for her.

’Tis too aggressive. [To Darth Maul:] Mindful be,

Lord Maul.

Pray, let them be the first to make a move.

MAUL

Indeed, my master, just as you do say.

SIDIOUS

She is more foolish than I e’er did think.

NUTE

All troops have been dispatch’d unto the swamp

Where she with her small force assembles now.

It doth appear she’s join’d with primitives.

SIDIOUS

This shall be an advantage to us, quite.

NUTE

I may proceed, then?

SIDIOUS

—Yea. Destroy them all,

Erase all trace or memory of them.

[Exeunt Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, Darth Maul, and Darth Sidious from beam.

NASS

[to Jar Jar:] O, yousa doin’ grand, good Jar Jar. You

Hat uss-en and Naboo together brought.

Thus, weesa make you bombad general!

JAR JAR

A general! O meeso happy!

Enter CAPTAIN PANAKA with several NABOO SOLDIERS.

QUI-GON

Good Captain, how doth our position stand?

PANAKA

They have ta’en nearly ev’ryone to camps.

There are, as yet, some hundreds who have form’d

An underground resistance movement here.

Full many as I could, I’ve hither brought.

So far’s the news that we may count as good,

Yet there is more that rings a grimmer note:

The Federation’s army is more vast

And far more pow’rful than we first bethought.

Your Highness, I believe we’ll not prevail—

I fear this battle may undo us quite.

PADMÉ

This battle’s but a side dish to the main—

A savory diversion to the feast.

The truer course shall elsewhere be array’d,

A table we shall in the city set.

Keen R2-D2, furnish us the plans.

[R2-D2 projects a beam showing a map of the city.

The Gungans hither draw the droidly throng,

Whilst we make way into the city by

The hidden passage near the waterfalls.

Once we obtain unto the entrance main,

Panaka shall a new diversion craft.

This being done, we others shall go forth

Into the palace, capturing the viceroy.

Sans him, they shall be lost and sore confus’d,

And thus, the day is ours. What do you think?

QUI-GON

A cunning plan, if all doth go as hop’d.

The viceroy shall be guarded thoroughly.

PANAKA

It shall take pains the throne room to obtain,

But once therein, it shall be easier.

QUI-GON

There is an ample possibility

That in this action many Gungans fall.

NASS

Ahh, weesa all prepar’d to do ours part.

PADMÉ

We have a plan that shall immobilize

The army of the droids. Our pilots brave

Shall fly unto the droid control ship, which

E’en now doth make its orbit, and destroy

It utterly, disabling all the droids.

QUI-GON

A plan most well-conceiv’d, and dangerous.

The risks are bounteous, as well you know.

Your fighters’ weapons may not penetrate

The large ship’s shields.

OBI-WAN

—An even greater risk:

If it doth happen that the viceroy ’scapes,

He shall another army bring to bear.

PADMÉ

’Tis clear, then, why we must the viceroy take—

No different conclusion shall suffice.

Upon that ending all our hopes begin.

R2-D2

Beep, squeak! [Aside:] O, cause most noble—may it rise!

[Exeunt Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Padmé, Anakin, Sabé, Captain Panaka, Ric Olié, R2-D2, and Naboo soldiers. Gungans begin preparing for battle.

Enter GUNGANS riding fambaas.

TARPALS

The shields we now be starting up. Make ready!

JAR JAR

[aside:] O, sight that bringeth tears unto mine eyes:

The Gungans brave astride their fambaas raise

A shield that shall protect us verily.

This is the moment for which I have liv’d,

To see my sore oppress’d and careworn folk

Rise with one voice and hope with the Naboo.

O shield, give us protection from this war,

O shield, be our defense against the wrong,

O shield, guard all our peaceful future days,

O shield, let we beleaguer’d souls have rest.

TARPALS

Behold, there in the distance, foes they come!

JAR JAR

[aside:] The battle hath begun, and ’tis our time—

This day shall live fore’er in song and rhyme!

[Exeunt, marching toward battle.

SCENE 1.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, PADMÉ, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, R2-D2, CAPTAIN PANAKA, NABOO SOLDIERS, and PILOTS, including RIC OLIÉ, across from BATTLE DROIDS.

QUI-GON

Pray listen, Anakin: once we’re inside,

Thou shouldst be hidden and await us there.

ANAKIN

Indeed, sir. Aye.

QUI-GON

—Await us there—move not!

[The Naboo forces begin dueling with battle droids.

Exeunt Naboo soldiers and battle droids.

PADMÉ

Anon, good friends, let us toward the throne,

Where we shall take the viceroy by surprise.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and DARTH MAUL above, on balcony, observing the battle on a screen.

NUTE

Methought the battle would be far from here!

How is’t that they the courtyard have achiev’d?

This is too close. O, shall this mean our end?

[Exeunt Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, and Darth Maul.

Enter more BATTLE DROIDS, engaging in combat.

OBI-WAN

The battle is upon us now—press on!

We speedily rush t’ward the hangar to

Release the pilots to the skies above.

Courageously these men and women fly

To strike the ship that doth control these droids!

QUI-GON

Young Anakin, the time is now—flee, hide!

And stay thou in one place till this fight’s o’er.

ANAKIN

I go, kind sir, and shall await you here.

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, whistle, squeak, beep, meep, nee, hoo!

[Aside:] Abide with him I shall, and keep him safe.

[Anakin and R2-D2 run aside to take cover.

PADMÉ

Ye pilots brave, make for your ships and fly!

QUI-GON

They go, amidst the constant blaster fire,

They go to serve our hope with their own lives!

Take wing, ye gentles all, and aid our cause!

R2-D2

Beep, whistle, hoo! [Aside:] This zealous ship hath pull’d

Me whole within to ready for a launch.

Alas, the pilot who would lead me falls!

What shall I do?

ANAKIN

—The blaster shots fire fast

And quick, just barely passing by my head.

I shall be safer in the cockpit of

This ship that here doth sit without an owner.

[Anakin climbs aboard the ship into which R2-D2 has just been placed.

OBI-WAN

The droids are all defeated: for a time

We have some rest. Yet it shall surely pass.

PADMÉ

The viceroy must within the throne room be.

PANAKA

One group, two groups—red group, blue group—make haste!

Attend me now, come join our latest quest.

ANAKIN

Pray, wait for me, I come anon.

QUI-GON

—Nay, stay!

Thou shalt be safe within that armor’d ship.

ANAKIN

But I would follow.

QUI-GON

—Hear my words: remain

Within that cockpit till we do return.

Enter DARTH MAUL.

[To Padmé:] This fight is ours. Your Highness, fare you well.

PADMÉ

We’ll to the throne room by another route.

[Exeunt Padmé, Captain Panaka, and other Naboo soldiers.

QUI-GON

I know not who you are or what you want,

Yet I do have skills most particular,

Acquir’d throughout a Jedi’s long career.

These skills do make me nightmarish to such

As you. Surrender now, and you shall live—

If not, you shall be dead, and there’s an end.

MAUL

I’ll not be taken by you, man naïve;

Your feeble skills are naught when match’d to mine.

This is the moment I have longèd for:

Two Jedi to assuage mine appetite.

OBI-WAN

We are no feast for you, O wretched knave.

QUI-GON

Lay on, you Sith, and by us be you damn’d!

[Exeunt Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Darth Maul, dueling.

Enter DROIDEKAS, firing.

ANAKIN

We must do something speedily, R2!

R2-D2

Beep, meep!

ANAKIN

—I know not where the trigger is.

I’ll try this button here—but wait, what’s this?

This vessel doth begin to fly—’tis live!

Ahh, here are the controls that operate

The guns—feel ye the taste of laser fire!

[Anakin shoots, destroying the droidekas.

R2-D2

Squeak, whistle, nee!

ANAKIN

—It flies of its own will.

Hold steady, R2—fly we into space!

[Anakin flies aside.

Enter RIC OLIÉ and PILOTS aside, in space, with FEDERATION FIGHTERS opposing them.

RIC

Be cautious all, ’tis fighters straight ahead.

BRAVO 2

Forsooth, good Bravo Leader.

BRAVO 3

—Aye, indeed!

R2-D2

Beep, squeak, beep, whistle, meep!

ANAKIN

—Behold, R2,

Our comrades there do fight the errant foe.

The autopilot takes us there e’en now.

Although by this machine I am drawn forth,

It echoes my desire as well, as though

’Twere I who had programm’d this speedy ship.

Away to heav’n, respective lenity,

And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now.

Let us away, and thither join the fray!

RIC

The shield deflector’s much too strong for us!

ANAKIN

This fighting is intense beyond all reason.

I prithee, R2, do thine expert work

And from this autopilot give release

Before we both are cruelly kill’d herein!

R2-D2

Beep, whistle!

ANAKIN

—Clever droid, R2—hast done!

Let us unto the portside deviate.

R2-D2

[aside:] This boy, methinks, hath still a manner wild—

Mayhap he thinks this is a podrace field.

[To Anakin:] Meep, squeak?

ANAKIN

—Return? Why no, it shall not be.

The master Qui-Gon order’d me direct

To stay within the cockpit of this ship.

I shall fulfill his mandate to the word—

The letter of the law is thus fulfill’d,

E’en if, in doing so, the spirit’s snubb’d.

R2-D2

Meep, woo, beep, whistle, squeak, beep, whistle, nee!

ANAKIN

’Tis plain we are in trouble. Pray, hold fast!

This battle is my first, may be my last!

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS, CAPTAIN TARPALS, and other GUNGANS fighting BATTLE DROIDS, stage left.

JAR JAR

[aside:] Thus far the battle is not ours or theirs.

Their tanks could not pull down our mighty shield,

Yet now have they made breach with countless droids.

I ne’er imagin’d such a massive force

As that the Federation did release.

’Twas hundred, nay ’twas thousands of the droids,

All lin’d up rank on rank to work us woe.

’Twas more than we could bear—thus we retreat.

We flee, but still the fool hath crafty tricks.

A battle droid lies broken on the ground,

Yet blaster shall not come loose from its grasp.

Thus, jump upon it now, and trigger fire,

Destroying other droids that are nearby!

This fool is not so foul against a foe.

Clutch tightly, hands, around the catapult,

Releasing all the power’d spheres within.

Though they are meant to fly into the air,

They do as well a’rolling on the ground

And striking our grim enemies mid-spin.

Now for the final act, the fool’s finale

Make use of this small sphere, a boomer, aye,

And strike this droid and his vast battle tank.

The droid hath been defeated, but alack—

We are surrounded by a thousand more.

TARPALS

No gibben up now, General Jar Jar,

For meesa tink of something.

DROID 1

—Hands aloft!

JAR JAR

o, meesa do surrender quickee!

[Jar Jar Binks, Captain Tarpals, and other Gungans freeze as they are surrounded by battle droids.

Enter PADMÉ, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and NABOO SOLDIERS, stage center, fighting with BATTLE DROIDS.

PADMÉ

Good Captain, we’ve but little time for this—

The droids do not concern us. Only shall

The viceroy’s capture and defeat give us

The victory we sorely need today.

PANAKA

Let us, then, by another path make way.

[Captain Panaka shoots the windows.

Your Highness, go! As ’twere a wingèd bird,

Our group shall to the throne room make ascent,

Brave soldiers, let fly your ascension guns!

[Padmé, Captain Panaka, and Naboo soldiers rise to the balcony with pulleys.

PADMÉ

Make entrance to the throne room, where we shall

Our enemies with arm of valor meet.

PANAKA

We go with you, my queen—would die with you!

Enter DROIDEKAS AND BATTLE DROIDS on balcony, threatening.

PADMÉ

Your wish may be, O captain valiant.

They now have won, if temporarily.

[Padmé, Captain Panaka, and Naboo soldiers are escorted to the throne room.

Enter NUTE GUNRAY and RUNE HAAKO.

NUTE

Your tiny insurrection makes its end

E’en now, Your Highness of conspiracy.

You shall anon put writing hands to use

And sign the treaty ere the hour is o’er.

In doing so, you give us victory

And cease the Senate’s meaningless debate.

Enter SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala and other NABOO SOLDIERS.

SABÉ

Cruel Viceroy, hear the rightful queen’s decree:

Your occupation shall conclude at once!

NUTE

Pursue her, droids! [Indicating Padmé:] This one’s a decoy rank!

O clever ruse—but shall not be for long!

[Exeunt Sabé and Naboo soldiers, pursued by droidekas and battle droids.

PADMÉ

Act swiftly, Captain—we shall win the day!

PANAKA

I prithee, men, block all the exits out.

[The soldiers shut the doors.

PADMÉ

Perhaps you did believe that as I am

A ruler young, I’d not bring you defeat.

Yet in the present moment you’ll discern

The meaning of my generation’s strength.

Not made for weakness or timidity,

My rule is one of wisdom past my years.

The youth whom you did think to overthrow

Is now the queen who ends your treachery.

Thus shall we here a treaty new devise,

Wherein you part forever from Naboo.

[Exeunt Padmé, Captain Panaka, Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, and soldiers.

Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER and R2-D2, stage right.

R2-D2

Woo, nee!

ANAKIN

—We have been hit, R2, we fall!

[Anakin flies inside the Federation’s droid control ship.

Confus’d within this ship, but not yet slain.

I fain would stop, but cannot seem to do’t!

At last, collaps’d inside an unkind ship,

Full many battle droids approach me now.

Still, all’s not lost, R2 restoreth pow’r.

Pray, put the strong shields up for our defense,

Then perish, droids, with sweet torpedo’s kiss!

[Anakin fires at the droids, then fires into the hallway leading to the reactor.

R2-D2

[aside:] The boy, by chance, hath hit th’reactor main!

[To Anakin:] Beep, squeak, meep, whistle, whistle, beep, meep, hoo!

ANAKIN

I see it, R2—let us fly with haste!

Enter DAULTAY DOFINE and TEY HOW, aside.

TEY

The ship is losing power, sir! The main

Reactor fails.

DAULTAY

—Nay, ’tis impossible!

Enter RIC OLIÉ and other PILOTS.

BRAVO

2 Behold that blast—it cometh from within!

RIC

’Twas not our shot that did so smite the ship.

BRAVO

1 And still, I’ll warrant, we shall not complain.

PILOTS

Hurrah!

ANAKIN

—We fly beyond its walls, R2—

This truly is what podracing should be!

BRAVO

1 Look, sir, ’tis one of ours from the main hold.

[The Federation ship explodes, killing Daultay Dofine, Tey How, and droids.

RIC

The victory is ours, let us make cheer!

[Exeunt Anakin Skywalker, R2-D2, Ric Olié, and pilots. Amid the Gungans stage left, the droids fail.

JAR JAR

What ho? Was’n they doin’ failin’?

TARPALS

The droid control ship hath just been destroy’d!

JAR JAR

Ha! They all broke-ed. We be savee!

[Aside:] And if they triumph thither, on Naboo,

Two peoples shall be join’d in union true.

[Exeunt Jar Jar Binks, Captain Tarpals, and Gungans in merriment.

SCENE 3.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, and DARTH MAUL, dueling.

QUI-GON

He parries with such speed as doth amaze—

I ne’er have seen a Jedi move this quick.

’Tis like the crash of thunder when it sounds,

Or like the wind that rushes through the hills.

When once I think I’ve caught him, he doth fly

With stamina most awesome to behold.

I almost would his sprightly moves admire

Were they not us’d to strike upon my life.

OBI-WAN

A double lightsaber he wields with ease,

Each end a deadly kiss of viper’s tongue.

How like a snake he slithers from our grasp

And snaps at us with kicks and jabs severe.

He knocketh Master Qui-Gon down, whilst I

In vain do seek to gain the upper hand.

Then I am knock’d as well, as Qui-Gon fights.

With such proficiency this Sith doth use

The Force to duck and dodge and move things, too.

Shall this be th’end, or shall we yet prevail?

MAUL

Ha, by these two I’ll not defeated be.

This old man here and his apprentice weak

Are no match for the infamous Darth Maul!

Were it but one against me here ’twould be

Already done—the Jedi would be slain

And I stand tall, triumphant. Yet the two

Present a challenge—hap’ly I do greet it!

Come, fools, deliver unto me your lives!

QUI-GON

The power generator cavity

Unknowingly we three have stumbl’d ’pon.

He thumps on Obi-Wan, who falls below

Onto another platform. Feel my blow!

MAUL

I fall, yet do not fear the landing, nay—

For falling is but prelude to a climb.

Ere he hath from the dais jump’d to me,

I’m on my feet, for battle well prepar’d.

OBI-WAN

Methinks I did unto this chasm profound

Near lose my life. More careful I must be!

Now Qui-Gon is alone to fight the beast,

And I must soon return to give him aid.

MAUL

Into a hall of rays I have been press’d,

Such rays as shall a person slice in twain.

The lightsabers with which we fight are naught

Compar’d to fiery blaze of these sharp lights.

[A beam appears between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul.

OBI-WAN

Behold—my master and the wretched Sith

Are separated by a deadly beam,

Whilst I am well behind, too far to strike.

The Sith doth pace about, much like a cat,

Whilst Qui-Gon kneels and with the Force communes.

QUI-GON

[kneeling:] Be still, my soul, the Force is on thy side.

Be silent, heart, and let thy raging cease.

Be quiet, mind, and to this time assent.

Be calm, my body, take the proffer’d rest.

I know not whether I may yet prevail,

Or if this shall become old Qui-Gon’s end.

If I defeat this foe, still doubts remain:

Who is behind this killer’s presence here?

And how did they arise again, the Sith?

’Twould be a better ending if I could

Subdue the foe and question him at length.

Yet murther is within his aspect. Yea,

He shall not let me live another hour

And shall not answer any query pos’d.

’Tis he or I shall live—or die—herein.

Ye Jedi ancestors, hear now my plea:

If I do slay him, help us find the source

Of this most strange and frightful newfound threat.

If ’tis my time to die, let it be swift

And painless, let my spirit fly with grace.

I think upon the things that I have done,

And those things yet undone that I would do,

Mayhap they shall not be, when I am gone.

A tragic and a weighty thought is this.

Mine only cares are for the wondrous boy,

And for my young apprentice, Obi-Wan,

And for the Jedi in whose name I serve.

If now the time for me is come, O ghosts

Of Jedi past and gone, I ask but this:

Protect my friends, for they are all my life.

OBI-WAN

I must prepare, the beam shall disappear.

MAUL

You fool, e’en now your ending draweth nigh.

[The beams disappear. Qui-Gon and Darth Maul begin to duel.

OBI-WAN

My master fights with purpose full renew’d!

How quickly he doth press toward the beast.

The beams have gone—be jubilant, my feet!

Make haste to run, aid Qui-Gon in the fight.

[The beam appears again, separating Obi-Wan from Qui-Gon and Darth Maul.

So near I was, yet not quite near enough.

I train mine eyes and hope upon the two:

With both I seek the outcome I desire.

MAUL

He had th’advantage, but the tide has turn’d.

His weakness do I sense as he doth tire.

I push him, stun him, strike the blow forsooth!

[Darth Maul runs Qui-Gon through with his lightsaber.

QUI-GON

Et tu, Sith? Then fall, Qui-Gon Jinn!

OBI-WAN

—Nay, nay!

You beastly villain, feel my anger’s wrath!

[The beams disappear. Obi-Wan and Darth Maul begin to duel.

I strike, and cold revenge doth warm my soul,

So like a flash of lightning I attack.

MAUL

With strength renew’d he fighteth for his friend,

Avenging this old man with sharpest strikes.

He hopes to claim the life that I have ta’en,

But little doth he know I shall take two.

OBI-WAN

Vile foe—I swipe, and this is the result:

Your double lightsaber is singl’d out.

’Tis now a fight more even, and shall be

E’en fairer when I take the life you owe,

The one that you from Master Qui-Gon stole.

MAUL

Not so, foul boy. You have the upper hand,

But yet have turn’d your back upon the chasm.

And now, whilst o’er my lightsaber you fret

I strike with th’Force and send you falling down.

[Darth Maul uses the Force to strike Obi-Wan and knock him into a chasm, where Obi-Wan grasps a nozzle.

OBI-WAN

Alas, I fall! My lightsaber is gone,

Yet still I cling and am not finish’d yet.

E’en as I hang here, grasping for my life,

I know how much doth hang upon this duel.

Be patient, Obi-Wan, be calm in mind.

Think carefully about thy movement next,

Lest it shall be the final one thou mak’st.

MAUL

He hangeth there, but just prolongs his death.

’Tis either down into the endless pit

Or up above, where, with no lightsaber

His death shall be as swift as I allow—

Or slow, perhaps, so he shall beg for it.

OBI-WAN

’Tis certain I cannot go down from here,

So must ascend with mighty upward leap.

This much he shall expect, yet shall he think

I am unarm’d—which, in the main, is true.

However, in my mind’s eye I behold

Another weapon I may master yet.

Now to it, Obi-Wan: earn thy revenge!

[Obi-Wan flips upward, using the Force to pull Qui-Gon’s lightsaber into his hands.

As he lands, he then cuts Darth Maul in two using the lightsaber.

Let vengeance howl! The Jedi so decides.

[Darth Maul falls into the pit.

QUI-GON

Good Obi-Wan?

OBI-WAN

—what ho! He liveth still.

QUI-GON

It is too late for me, dear Obi-Wan.

Yet one thing doth remain: I pray, attend:

But promise me thou shalt train Anakin.

OBI-WAN

Yea, Master, yea.

QUI-GON

—He is the chosen one.

Forsooth, he shall bring balance to the Force.

Train him! My spirit goes; I can no more.

[Qui-Gon Jinn dies.

OBI-WAN

O noble man, by treachery o’erthrown!

A mightier and better Jedi ne’er

Did roam the corners of our galaxy.

The light that hath so shone within my days

Hath here been snuff’d most rancorously out.

Yet let it not be said his death’s for naught,

Nor that he fac’d his end with anything

That’s less than perfect valor, bravery

Beyond the pale of what a man should show.

He went unto his death as unto life:

With energy, with passion, and with strength.

How fortunate I am to be his last

Apprentice, aye, to learn so much from such

A brilliant star as he put in the sky.

We did but pale when he shin’d forth—nay, not

When he did shine, but as he still doth shine,

And ever shall, until the universe

Itself is dark and all’s but memory.

Farewell, my valiant master Qui-Gon Jinn,

Deep peace be yours until we meet again.

[Exit.

SCENE 4.

On the planet Naboo.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, QUEEN AMIDALA, CAPTAIN PANAKA, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, NUTE GUNRAY, RUNE HAAKO, and many NABOO SOLDIERS and CITIZENS.

AMIDALA

O, Viceroy, get you gone and ne’er return.

You must unto the Senate go and tell

How your abuse of power did occur,

How you attack’d a people innocent,

How you conspir’d with men of evil deeds,

How you did seek to conquer brave Naboo.

PANAKA

It seems your dream of harsh, unending pow’r

Hath interrupted been and shall ne’er be.

[Exeunt Nute Gunray and Rune Haako escorted by Captain Panaka and guards.

Enter YODA, MACE WINDU, KI-ADI-MUNDI, members of the Jedi Council, and CHANCELLOR PALPATINE.

PALPATINE

We are indebted to you heartily,

Courageous Obi-Wan Kenobi. Aye,

And thou, young Skywalker, with interest

We shall watch o’er the progress of thy days.

AMIDALA

Congratulations on your grand election,

Good Palpatine, now Chancellor Supreme.

PALPATINE

Your spirit bold hath sav’d our sweet Naboo,

’Tis you to whom congratulation’s due.

As one, we two together shall bring peace,

Prosperity and joy to the Republic.

[Exeunt all but Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who kneels.

YODA

Confer on thee, now,

The level of Jedi Knight

The Council doth. Rise!

Yet agree with this—

Taking as Padawan th’boy—

I do not, indeed.

OBI-WAN

Yet Qui-Gon had a strong belief in him.

YODA

Mayhap ’tis correct

That the boy’s the chosen one.

Belike it is true.

Nevertheless, O!

A danger grave foresee I

In his being train’d.

OBI-WAN

Wise Master Yoda, I did give my word

To Qui-Gon as he knock’d upon death’s door.

I will train Anakin, and can, and shall—

Without approval of the council, if

Indeed it doth come to that point and time.

YODA

Qui-Gon’s defiance

Is greatly renew’d in thee.

Need that thou dost not.

Agree with thy wish

The council doth, despite me.

The boy shall be train’d.

Thy new apprentice

Anakin Skywalker is.

The Force be with thee.

[Exit Yoda.

Enter QUEEN AMIDALA, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, JAR JAR BINKS, CHANCELLOR PALPATINE, R2-D2, BOSS NASS, NABOO CITIZENS, and GUNGANS in celebration.

ANAKIN

What is the path that I shall follow next?

OBI-WAN

The council hath permission granted that

I may take you as my new Padawan.

Thou wilt be train’d by me, if it shall suit.

Thou shalt a Jedi be, I promise thee.

ANAKIN

I stand prepar’d to follow and obey.

Enter YODA and MACE WINDU, above on balcony.

MACE

There is no doubt: the man mysterious,

The one who slew Qui-Gon, he was a Sith.

YODA

Always two there are.

’Tis no more and no fewer:

Master, apprentice.

MACE

Yet who was he destroyèd in the shaft?

The master or apprentice? None can say.

NASS

O, strike up, pipers! Sing us merry songs!

[The people of Naboo and the Gungans join together in song.

CITIZENS

[sing:] Fly happily upon your feet,

Sing ho and be ye merry!

The wretched foe hath seen defeat,

O, be ye merry! Very!

Our frightful battle all is done,

Sing ho and be ye merry!

Naboo and Gungans now are one,

O, be ye merry! Very!

The strife is o’er, the woe is pass’d,

Sing ho and be ye merry!

And now sweet peace hath come at last,

O, be ye merry! Very!

[Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, and Anakin Skywalker come forward as all freeze.

ANAKIN

The first adventure hath both come and gone,

And in its tranquil outcome we find rest.

Toward the future we now look with hope,

And seek to enter it with spirits brave.

AMIDALA

A boy took his first step on th’Jedi path,

A Jedi from a killer sav’d a queen,

A queen releas’d her people from a threat,

A people made sweet peace with neighbors kind.

OBI-WAN

New friends were made, another dear friend lost,

And all hath grown by this experience.

These star wars end in celebration here,

Despite the pain, betrayal, hurt, and fear.

Enter CHORUS as epilogue.

CHORUS

With beating drums a’pounding in the air

And standards wav’d in flight above each head,

With decorations streaming o’er the square

And marching Gungans, joy is here widespread.

Young Anakin, now dress’d as Padawan,

Doth give a knowing nod unto the queen.

His master Jedi Knight, e’en Obi-Wan,

Looks on as Jar Jar rides his kaadu keen.

The Jedi Council watches the parade,

And Palpatine’s odd visage none can probe.

Boss Nass walks forth in pomp, his help repaid

As Padmé offers him a glist’ning globe.

This globe of peace o’er all Naboo holds sway,

Whilst falls the curtain on our merry play.

[Exeunt omnes.

END.

AFTERWORD.

Let’s begin with the hot-button issue: any retelling of The Phantom Menace must address Jar Jar Binks. Jar Jar is perhaps the most hotly debated character in cinematic history—some loathe him, whereas others love him (witness any child under age twelve). In William Shakespeare’s The Phantom of Menace, I did two things with Jar Jar. First, his speech from the movie is transcribed into iambic pentameter … almost. In fact, I reimagined Jar Jar’s dialogue from the movie in lines of nine syllables, meaning he is one syllable short of a pentameter (yes, like being one sandwich short of a picnic). The other Gungans all speak in full iambic pentameter while maintaining their accents. The second thing I did was to make Jar Jar keenly aware of what’s going on around him. In my version of the story, Jar Jar was exiled not because he nearly destroyed the Gungan city, but because of his radical ideas. Banished to the surface of Naboo, he learned human speech and syntax and sharpened his thoughts about how difference races interact. He recognizes, then, that although Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan may be very useful to him and his people—they are Jedi, after all—they also treat him as a savage. (This recognition is backed up in the movie, with Qui-Gon derisively calling Jar Jar “a local” while speaking to Obi-Wan—right in front of Jar Jar!) In this play, Jar Jar is a radical thinker who—using his simple speech pattern—conforms to the humans’ expectations of him in order to bring hope to the Gungans, a long-disrespected race.

Other characters get some fun moments, too. Watto is my Dogberry (from Much Ado about Nothing), trying to impress people and misusing words in the process. Podrace commentators Fode and Beed, being a two-headed creature, speak as “we” in the first person, not “I.” I even gave them a “wethinks” instead of “methinks,” for good measure. Chancellor Valorum speaks only with weak endings (an unstressed eleventh syllable at the end of the line), since his character is nothing but a weak puppet. And each line of Mace Windu has a little something special thrown in for the Samuel L. Jackson fans.

Going back to the podrace: how do you capture ten exciting minutes of high-speed, on-screen action in a stage play? My strategy was to make this like a battle scene in Shakespeare’s works, with messengers—in this case Padmé and Jar Jar—running in and out describing what’s going on, with all-seeing Fode and Beed adding bits of good and bad news as well. Meanwhile, the racers enter and exit quickly as they complete their laps. I imagined the actors running from one side of the stage to the other as they jockey for first place. In a live stage production, these elements would bring at least some of the urgency and excitement created by the high-speed race in the film.

One of the fun things about writing the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series is that I am learning more and more about Shakespeare’s language. In Shakespeare’s time, generally speaking (though with Shakespeare there are always exceptions), “thou” is used informally, as between friends, and “you” is used more formally. “Thou” is also used to express superiority over someone—if you are my subordinate, I will refer to you as “thou,” but you will refer to me as “you” as a sign of respect. In the original William Shakespeare’s Star Wars trilogy I was looser about “thou” versus “you”—beginning with William Shakespeare’s The Phantom of Menace the distinction is, hopefully, clearer.

Diving into the prequels has been more fun than I expected. Reimagining the characters introduced to us in The Phantom Menace as characters involved in an intricate Shakespearean plot gave me new insight into and interest in the film as a whole. I hope the same is true for you.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

This book is dedicated to my wonderful college friends Heidi Altman, Chris Martin, Naomi Walcott, and Ethan Youngerman. Thank you, all of you, for who you are and who you have been for me.

Thanks to my parents, Beth and Bob Doescher; my brother Erik; his family Em, Aracelli, and Addison; and my aunt Holly Havens.

When I started this project, I got together with a group of key people to discuss the challenges and the opportunities the prequels present. Thank you to my good friend Josh Hicks, fangirls Jessica Mason and Kristy Thompson, the encyclopedic Dan Zehr, and Ethan (again) and Erik (again).

Thank you to the wonderful people of Quirk Books: editors Jason Rekulak and Rick Chillot, boss-man Brett Cohen, publicity mavens Nicole De Jackmo and Suzanne Wallace, the heroic Eric Smith, and everyone else at Quirk. Thank you to my agent, Adriann Ranta, for the patience of a saint. Thank you to Jennifer Heddle at Lucasfilm and illustrator Nicolas Delort, both of you a delight.

Continued special thanks to my college professor and friend Murray Biggs.

Thank you to the usual suspects: Audu Besmer, Emmy Betz and Michael Hoke, Jane Bidwell, Travis Boeh and Sarah Woodburn, Chris Buehler and Marian Hammond, Erin and Nathan Buehler, Jeff and Caryl Creswell, Ken Evers-Hood, Mark Fordice, Chris Frimoth, Alana Garrigues, Brian Heron, Jim and Nancy Hicks, Anne Huebsch, Apricot and David Irving, Doree Jarboe, Alexis Kaushansky, Rebecca Lessem, Bobby Lopez, Andrea Martin, Bruce McDonald, Joan and Grady Miller, Jim Moiso, Janice Morgan, Michael Morrill and Tara Schuster, Dave Nieuwstraten, Julia Rodriguez-O’Donnell, Scott Roehm, Larry Rothe, Steve Weeks, Ryan Wilmot, Ben and Katie Wire, and members of the 501st Legion.

To my spouse, Jennifer, who sacrificed time with her husband to assorted Jedi, Sith, and Gungans: thank you, Love. To our children, Liam and Graham: I love you even if you think the prequels are better.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(1564–1616) was a poet and playwright. He is widely considered one of the greatest writers in the English language.

GEORGE LUCAS is a film producer, screenwriter, director, and the creator of the Star Wars motion picture saga. He lives in California.

IAN DOESCHER is the New York Times best-selling author of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family. Visit him at IanDoescher.com.

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