EXT: SPACE

A Jedi Starfighter attached to a hyperspace transport ring reverts back into normal space. The view is just like the star map hologram, plus, the storm-shrouded planet of Kamino is exactly where it ought to be. Obi-Wan’s starship disengages from the hyperspace ring and flies and heads down toward the planet.

OBI-WAN: There it is, Arfour, right where it should be. Our missing planet, Kamino.

His droid companion, ARFOUR-DEESEVENTEEN, chirps from his slot.

EXT. KAMINO – TIPOCA CITY – LANDING PLATFORM (RAINSTORM) – DAY

Heavy rains and hard-driving winds lash the platform as Obi-Wan’s starship approaches. The huge, ultra-modern city of Tipoca rests on great stilts that keep it above the pounding and ever-present waves that cover the surface of this watery world.

The Starfighter lands. Obi-Wan gets out and makes his way through the howling wind toward a tower on the far side of the platform. A door slides open. A shaft of brilliant light pierces the swirling rain. Obi-Wan passes through it and goes inside.

INT. TIPOCA CITY – CORRIDOR ENTRANCE – DAY

Obi-Wan pushes the soaking hood from his face. wipes the rain from his face and blinks in surprise at a tall, pasty-white alien named TAUN WE. She has large, almond shaped eyes.

TAUN WE: Master Jedi. The Prime Minister is expecting you.

OBI-WAN: (warily) I’m expected?

TAUN WE: Of course! He is anxious to meet you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren’t coming. Now please, this way.

INT. TIPOCA CITY – PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE – DAY

The door slides open. Obi-Wan and Taun We enter and cross to where LAMA SU rises from his chair, which, like all the furniture on Kamino, seems made out of pure light.

TAUN WE: May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino. And this is Master Jedi…

OBI-WAN: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

LAMA SU: I trust you are going to enjoy your stay. Please.

Lama Su gestures to a chair that emerges from the ceiling. Obi-Wan sits down.

LAMA SU: (Con’t) And now to business. You will be delighted to hear we are on schedule. Two hundred thousand units are ready, with a million more well on the way.

OBI-WAN: (improvising) That’s…good news.

LAMA SU: Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that his order will be met on time.

OBI-WAN: I’m sorry? Master – ?

LAMA SU: Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?

OBI-WAN: Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost ten years ago.

LAMA SU: Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. But I’m sure he would have been proud of the army we’ve built for him.

OBI-WAN: The army?

LAMA SU: Yes, a clone army. And, I must say, one of the finest we’ve ever created.

OBI-WAN: Tell me, Prime Minister, when my Master first contacted you about the army, did-did he say who it was for?

LAMA SU: Of course he did. This army is for the Republic. But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself.

OBI-WAN: That’s why I’m here.

Obi-Wan and Lama Su rise and walk toward the door.

I have to admit I was impressed with the Kaminoans. (Ewan might have been impressed, too, if he could have seen them. ) An homage to Speilberg? Close Encounters? E.T.? No, wait…he already did that in the Senate scene on TPM DVD.

A lot of comments about the whole clone army thing can wait until later on in the script, but I will say this is a creaky way to hide an army. On a planet whose absence in one set of star charts stored in the very place where the client for the army has set up shop would get someone’s attention if they happened to want to look for it?

Excuse me while I untie some knots. Got to restore the circulation.

EXT. NABOO SPACEPORT – DAY

The Starfreighter lands in the giant port city of Theed.

EXT. NABOO PALACE, GRAND COURTYARD – AFTERNOON

A speeder bus lands. Padmé, Anakin, and Artoo get out. The great courtyard stretches before them, and they see the rose-colored domes of the palace on the far side. They pick up their gear and start to cross the courtyard. Artoo trundles behind them.

PADMé: I wasn’t the youngest Queen ever elected, but now that I think back on it, I’m not sure I was old enough. I’m not sure I was ready.

ANAKIN: The people you served thought you did a good job. I heard they even tried to amend the Constitution so you could stay in office.

PADME: I was relieved when my two terms were up. But when the Queen asked me to serve as Senator, I couldn’t refuse her.

“Terms”? Was she the Queen of Naboo or the President of Naboo?

ANAKIN: I agree with her. I think the Republic needs you. I’m glad you chose to serve.

Anakin and Padmé walk toward the palace. Artoo continues to
follow.

INT. NABOO PALACE – THRONE ROOM – AFTERNOON

QUEEN JAMILLIA is seated on the throne, flanked by SIO BIBBLE and a COUPLE OF ADVISORS. TWO HANDMAIDENS sit close by, and GUARDS are at the doors.

PADMÉ: If the Senate votes to create an army, I’m sure it’s going to push us into a civil war.

SIO BIBBLE: It’s unthinkable! There hasn’t been a full scale war since the formation of the Republic.

QUEEN JAMILLIA: Do you see any way, through negotiations, to bring the separatists back into the Republic?

Did Naboo ever have any kings? Three movies and three different queens. At least Jamillia doesn’t look like she’s 14.

And about “negotiations”. Since when did talking in the SW universe ever get anywhere?

PADMÉ: Not if they feel threatened. My guess is they will turn to the Commerce Guilds or the Trade Federation for help.

SIO BIBBLE: It’s outrageous that, after four trials in the Supreme Court, Nute Gunray is still the Viceroy of the Trade Federation. I fear the Senate is powerless to resolve this crisis.

QUEEN JAMILLIA: We must keep our faith in the Republic.

The Queen rises from her throne, and the others with her. Padmé, Anakin and Sio Bibble walk with her.

QUEEN JAMILLIA: (Con’t) The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it.

PADMÉ: Let’s pray that day never comes.

QUEEN JAMILLIA: In the meantime, we must consider your own safety.

Coming back to your home planet when people are out there trying to kill you and know where you come from. Real smart.

SIO BIBBLE: (To Anakin) What is your suggestion, Master Jedi?

PADMÉ: Oh, Anakin’s not a Jedi yet. He’s still a Padawan learner. But I was thinking–

ANAKIN: (Annoyed) Hold on a minute!

PADMÉ: Excuse me! I was thinking I would stay in the Lake Country. There are some places up there that are very isolated.

ANAKIN: Excuse me. I’m in charge of security here, M’Lady.

They stop. Padme turns to Anakin.

PADMÉ: And this is my home. I know it very well. That is why we’re here. I think it would be wise for you to take advantage of my knowledge in
this instance.

ANAKIN: (Takes a deep breath) Sorry, M’Lady.

QUEEN JAMILLIA: Perfect. It’s settled then.

INT. JEDI TEMPLE – MAIN HALLWAY – DAY

Obi-Wan walks through the main hallway to the training area.

INT. JEDI TEMPLE – TRAINING VERANDA – DAY

Obi-Wan comes out onto the veranda and stops, watching TWENTY or so FOUR-YEAR-OLDS doing training exercises, supervised by Yoda. They wear helmets over their eyes and try to block the bolts from little training droids with their miniature lightsabers.

YODA: Reach out…sense the Force around you. Use your feelings you must.

He sees Obi-Wan, and taps his cane to get the children’s attention.

YODA: Younglings…younglings.

*teeth starting to itch*

The children slide back their helmets and deactivate their lightsabers.

YODA: A visitor we have.

CHILDREN: Hello, Master Obi-Wan!

OBI-WAN: Hello. (To Yoda) I’m sorry to disturb you, Master.

YODA: What help can I be, Obi-Wan, hmm?

OBI-WAN: I’m looking for a planet described to me by an old friend. I trust him, but the systems don’t show on the archive maps.

YODA: Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing…how embarrassing. Liam, the shades. Gather around the map reader. Clear your minds and find Obi-Wan’s wayward planet, we will.

The reader is a small shaft with a hollow opening at the top. The children gather around it. Obi-Wan takes out a little glass ball and places it into the bowl. The window shades close, the reader lights up and projects the star map hologram into the room. Obi-Wan walks into the display.

OBI-WAN: It ought to be… here (points), but it isn’t. Gravity is pulling all the stars in this area inward to this spot.

YODA: Hmm. Gravity’s silhouette remains, but the star and all its planets, disappeared they have. How can this be? Hmm? A thought? Anyone?

There is a brief pause. Then a little boy speaks.

BOY: Master? Because someone erased it from the archive memory.

Yoda chuckles.

YODA: Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. The Padawan is right. Go to the center of the gravity’s pull, and find your planet you will.

Yoda and Obi-Wan move away from the children. With a hand movement, Obi-Wan causes the star map to disappear. Obi-Wan uses the Force to call the glass ball back to his hand as the two walk into an adjoining room.

YODA: The data must have been erased.

OBI-WAN: But, Master Yoda, who could empty information from the archives? That’s impossible, isn’t it?

YODA: Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is. Only a Jedi could have erased those files. But who and why, harder to answer. Meditate on this, I will.