STAR WARS Episode I: The Phantom Menace Written by George Lucas 1 EXT. SPACE (FX) 1 TITLE CARD: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.... A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the main title, followed by a roll-up, which crawls into infinity. Episode I: THE PHANTOM MENACE Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo. While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict.... PAN DOWN to reveal a small space cruiser heading TOWARD CAMERA at great speed. PAN with the cruiser as it heads toward the beautiful green planet of Naboo, which is surrounded by hundreds of Trade Federation battleships. 2 INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT 2 In the cockpit of the cruiser, the CAPTAIN and PILOT maneuver closer to one of the battleships. QUI-GON (O.S.) Captain. The Captain turns to an unseen figure sitting behind her. CAPTAIN Yes, sir? QUI-GON (V.O.) Tell them we wish to board at once. CAPTAIN Yes, sir. The CAPTAIN looks to her view screen, where NUTE GUNRAY, a Neimoidian trade viceroy, waits for a reply. CAPTAIN (Cont'd) With all due respect for the Trade Federation, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately. NUTE Yes, yes, of course...ahhh...as you know, our blockade is perfectly legal, and we'd be happy to receive the Ambassadors...Happy to. The screen goes black. Out the cockpit window, the sinister battleship looms ever closer. 3 EXT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE (FX) 3 The small space cruiser docks in the enormous main bay of the Federation battleship. 4 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE 4 A PROTOCOL DROID, TC-14, waits at the door to the docking bay. Two WORKER DROIDS, PK-4 and EG-9 watch. PK-4 They must be important if the Viceroy sent one of those useless protocol gearheads to greet them. The door opens, and the Republic cruiser can be seen in the docking bay. Two darkly robed figures are greeted by TC-14. TC-14 I'm TC-14 at your service. This way, please. They move off down the hallway. EG-9 A Republic cruiser! That's trouble... don't you think? PK-4 I'm not made to think. 5 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM 5 A door slides open, and the two cloaked shapes are led PAST CAMERA into the formal conference room by TC-14. TC-14 I hope your honored sirs will be most comfortable here. My master will be with you shortly. The droid bows before OBI-WAN KENOBI and QUI-GON JINN. He backs out the door and it closes. The JEDI lower their hoods and look out a large window at the lush green planet of Naboo. QUI-GON, sixty years old, has very long white hair in a ponytail. He is tall and striking, with blue eyes. OBI-WAN is twenty-five, with very short brown hair, pale skin, and blue eyes. Several exotic, bird-like creatures SING in a cage near the door. OBI-WAN I have a bad feeling about this. QUI-GON I don't sense anything. OBI-WAN It's not about the mission, Master, it's something...elsewhere...elusive. QUI-GON Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs. OBI-WAN Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future... QUI-GON ...but not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan. OBI-WAN Yes, Master... How do you think the trade viceroy will deal with the Chancellor's demands? QUI-GON These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short. 6 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE 6 NUTE GUNRAY and DAULTRAY DOFINE stand, stunned, before TC-14. NUTE (shaken) What?!? What did you say? TC-14 The Ambassadors are Jedi Knights, I believe. DOFINE I knew it! They were sent to force a settlement, eh. Blind me, we're done for! NUTE Stay calm! I'll wager the Senate isn't aware of the Supreme Chancellor's moves here. Go. Distract them until I can contact Lord Sidious. DOFINE Are you brain dead? I'm not going in there with two Jedi! Send the droid. DOFINE turns to TC-14, who lets out a squeaky sigh. 7 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM 7 QUI-GON and OBI-WAN sit at the large conference table. OBI-WAN Is it their nature to make us wait this long? The door to the conference room slides open, and TC-14 enters with a tray of drinks and food. QUI-GON No...I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute. OBI-WAN takes a drink. 8 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE 8 NUTE, DOFINE, and RUNE HAAKO are before the hologram of DARTH SIDIOUS, a robed figure whose face is obscured by a hood. DOFINE ...This scheme of yours has failed, Lord Sidious. The blockade is finished! We dare not go against these Jedi. DARTH SIDIOUS You seem more worried about the Jedi than you are of me, Dofine. I am amused... Viceroy! NUTE Yes, My Lord. DARTH SIDIOUS I don't want that stunted slime in my sight again...do you understand? NUTE Yes, My Lord. NUTE gives DOFINE a fierce look, and DOFINE, terrified, rushes off the bridge. DARTH SIDIOUS This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans, Viceroy. Begin landing your troops. NUTE Ahhh, My Lord, is that...legal? DARTH SIDIOUS I will make it legal. NUTE And the...Jedi?? DARTH SIDIOUS The Chancellor should never have brought them in to this. Kill them, immediately. NUTE Ye...yes, My Lord. As you wish. 9 INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT - DOCKING BAY 9 In the cockpit, the CAPTAIN and PILOT look up and see a gun turret swing around and point directly at them. PILOT Captain!? Look!! CAPTAIN No! Warn... 10 EXT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HANGAR BAY - SPACE (FX) 10 The battleship gun fires. The republic cruiser EXPLODES. 11 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM 11 QUI-GON and OBI-WAN leap to a standing position with their laser swords drawn. TC-14 jumps back, startled, spilling the drinks on its tray. TC-14 Ahhh...Sorry sir. The Viceroy... QUI-GON and OBI-WAN turn off their swords and listen intently. A faint hissing sound can be heard. QUI-GON Gas! QUI-GON and OBI-WAN each take a sudden deep breath and hold it. The exotic bird-like creatures in the cage drop dead. 12 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY 12 A hologram of NUTE, surrounded by BATTLE DROIDS, appears in the conference room hallway. NUTE They must be dead by now. Blast what's left of them. The hologram fades off, as a BATTLE DROID, OWO-1, cautiously opens the door. A deadly green cloud billows from the room. BATTLE DROIDS cock their weapons as a figure stumbles out of the smoke. It is TC-14, carrying the tray of drinks. TC-14 Oh, excuse me, so sorry. The PROTOCOL DROID passes the armed camp just as two flashing laser swords fly out of the deadly fog, cutting down several BATTLE DROIDS before they can fire. 13 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE 13 The bridge is a cacophony of alarms. NUTE and RUNE watch OWO-1 on the viewscreen. OWO-1 Not sure exactly what... OWO-1 is suddenly cut in half in mid-sentence. RUNE gives NUTE a worried look. NUTE What in blazes is going on down there? RUNE Have you ever encountered a Jedi Knight before, sir? NUTE Well, not exactly, but I don't... (panicked) Seal off the bridge... RUNE That won't be enough, sir. The doors to the bridge SLAM shut. NUTE I want destroyer droids up here at once!!! RUNE We will not survive this. 14 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE 14 QUI-GON cuts several BATTLE DROIDS in half, creating a shower of sparks and metal parts. OBI-WAN raises his hand, sending several BATTLE DROIDS crashing into the wall. QUI-GON makes his way to the bridge door and begins to cut through it. 15 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE 15 The CREW is very nervous as sparks start flying around the bridge door. QUI-GON and OBI-WAN are on the view screen. NUTE Close the blast doors!!! The huge, very thick blast door slams shut, followed by a second door, then a third. There is a hissing sound as the huge doors seal shut. QUI-GON stabs the door with his sword. The screen goes black as a red spot appears in the center of the blast door. RUNE ...They're still coming through! On the door, chunks of molten metal begin to drop away. NUTE Impossible!! This is impossible!! RUNE Where are those destroyer droids?! 16 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE 16 Ten ugly destroyer WHEEL DROIDS roll down the hallway at full speed. Just before they get to the bridge area, they stop and transform into their battle configuration. QUI-GON can't see them but senses their presence. QUI-GON Destroyer droids! OBI-WAN Offhand, I'd say this mission is past the negotiation stage. The WHEEL DROIDS, led by P-59, rush the entry area from three hallways, blasting away with their laser guns. They stop firing and stand in a semi-circle as the smoke clears. OBI-WAN and QUI-GON are nowhere to be seen. P-59 Switch to bio...There they are! The Jedi materialize at the far end of the hallway and dash through the doorway that slams shut. The WHEEL DROIDS blast away at the two JEDI with their laser swords. OBI-WAN They have shield generators! QUI-GON It's a standoff! Let's go! 17 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE 17 NUTE and RUNE stand on the bridge, watching the view screen as the WHEEL DROIDS' POV speeds to the doorway. RUNE We have them on the run, sir...they're no match for destroyer droids. TEY HOW Sir, they've gone up the ventilation shaft. 18 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - MAIN BAY 18 QUI-GON and OBI-WAN appear at a large vent in a giant hangar bay. They are careful not to be seen. Thousands of BATTLE DROIDS are loading onto landing craft. QUI-GON Battle droids. OBI-WAN It's an invasion army. QUI-GON It's an odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. Let's split up. Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet. OBI-WAN You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were short. 19 INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE 19 TEY HOW receives a transmission. TEY HOW Sir, a transmission from the planet. RUNE It's Queen Amidala herself. NUTE At last we're getting results. On the view screen, QUEEN AMIDALA appears in her throne room. Wearing her elaborate headdress and robes, she sits, surrounded by the GOVERNING COUNCIL and FOUR HANDMAIDENS, EIRTAÉ, YANÉ, RABÉ, and SACHÉ. NUTE (Cont'd) Again you come before me, Your Highness. The Federation is pleased. AMIDALA You will not be pleased when you hear what I have to say, Viceroy...Your trade boycott of our planet has ended. NUTE smirks at RUNE. NUTE I was not aware of such a failure. AMIDALA I have word that the Senate is finally voting on this blockade of yours. NUTE I take it you know the outcome. I wonder why they bother to vote. AMIDALA Enough of this pretense, Viceroy! I'm aware the Chancellor's Ambassadors are with you now, and that you have been commanded to reach a settlement. NUTE I know nothing about any Ambassadors... you must be mistaken. AMIDALA, surprised at his reaction, studies him carefully. AMIDALA Beware, Viceroy...the Federation is going too far this time. NUTE Your Highness, we would never do anything without the approval of the Senate. You assume too much. AMIDALA We will see. The QUEEN fades off, and the view screen goes black. RUNE She's right, the Senate will never... NUTE It's too late now. RUNE Do you think she suspects an attack? NUTE I don't know, but we must move quickly to disrupt all communications down there. 20 INT. NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM 20 The QUEEN, EIRTAÉ, SACHÉ and her Governor, SIO BIBBLE, stand before a hologram of SENATOR PALPATINE, a thin, kindly man. PALPATINE ...How could that be true? I have assurances from the Chancellor...his Ambassadors did arrive. It must be the ...get...negotiate... The hologram of PALPATINE sputters and fades away. AMIDALA Senator Palpatine?!? (turns to Panaka) What's happening? CAPTAIN PANAKA turns to his SARGEANT. CAPT. PANAKA Check the transmission generators... BIBBLE A malfunction? CAPT. PANAKA It could be the Federation jamming us, Your Highness. BIBBLE A communications disruption can only mean one thing. Invasion! AMIDALA Don't jump to conclusions, Governor. The Federation would not dare go that far. CAPT. PANAKA The Senate would revoke their trade franchise, and they'd be finished. AMIDALA We must continue to rely on negotiation. BIBBLE Negotiation? We've lost all communications!...and where are the Chancellor's Ambassadors? How can we negotiate? We must prepare to defend ourselves. CAPT. PANAKA This is a dangerous situation, Your Highness. Our security volunteers will be no match against a battle-hardened Federation army. AMIDALA I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war. 21 EXT. SPACE LANDING CRAFT - TWILIGHT (FX) 21 Six landing craft fly in formation toward the surface of the planet Naboo. 22 EXT. NABOO SWAMP - SHALLOW LAKE - TWILIGHT 22 Three landing craft slowly descend through the cloud cover of the perpetually gray twilight side of the planet. One by one, the Federation warships land in the eerie swamp. OBI-WAN's head emerges from the mud of a shallow lake. Far in the background, the activities of the invasion force can be seen in the mist. OBI-WAN takes several deep breaths, then disappears again under the muddy swamp. Troop Transports (MTT's) emerge from the landing craft. 23 EXT. NABOO EDGE OF SWAMP / GRASS PLAINS - TWILIGHT (FX) 23 The droid invasion force moves out of the swamp and onto a grassy plain. OOM-9, in his tank, looks out over the vast ARMY marching across the rolling hills. A small hologram of RUNE and NUTE stands on the tank. RUNE ...and there is no trace of the Jedi. They may have gotten onto one of your landing craft. OOM-9 If they are down here, sir, we'll find them. We are moving out of the swamp and are marching on the cities. We are meeting no resistance. NUTE Excellent. 24 EXT. NABOO SWAMP - TWILIGHT 24 QUI-GON runs through the strange landscape, glancing back to see the monstrous troop transports emerging from the mist. Animals begin to run past him in a panic. An odd, frog-like Gungan, JAR JAR BINKS, squats holding a clam he has retrieved from the murky swamp. The shell pops open. JAR JAR's great tongue snaps out and grabs the clam, swallowing it in one gulp. JAR JAR looks up and sees QUI-GON and the other creatures running like the wind toward him. One of the huge MTT's bears down on the JEDI like a charging locomotive. JAR JAR stands transfixed, still holding the clam shell in one hand. JAR JAR Oh, nooooooooo! JAR JAR drops the shell and grabs onto QUI-GON as he passes. The JEDI is caught by surprise. JAR JAR (Cont'd) Hey, hep me! Hep me!! QUI-GON Let go! The machine is about to crush them as QUI-GON drags JAR JAR behind him. Just as the transport is about to hit them, QUI-GON drops, and JAR JAR goes splat into the mud with him. The transport races overhead. QUI-GON and JAR JAR pull themselves out of the mud. They stand watching the war machine disappear into the mist. JAR JAR grabs QUI-GON and hugs him. JAR JAR Oyi, mooie-mooie! I luv yous! The frog-like creature kisses the JEDI. QUI-GON Are you brainless? You almost got us killed! JAR JAR I spake. QUI-GON The ability to speak does not make you intelligent. Now get outta here! QUI-GON starts to move off, and JAR JAR follows. JAR JAR No...no! Mesa stay...Mesa yous humbule servaunt. QUI-GON That won't be necessary. JAR JAR Oh boot tis! Tis demunded byda guds. Tis a live debett, tis. Mesa culled JaJa Binkss. In the distance, two STAPS burst out of the mist at high speed, chasing OBI-WAN. QUI-GON I have no time for this now... JAR JAR Say what? The two STAPS barrel down on OBI-WAN. JAR JAR (Cont'd) Oh, nooooo! Weesa ganna... QUI-GON throws JAR JAR into the mud. QUI-GON Stay down! His head pops up. JAR JAR ...dieeee! The two troops fire laser bolts at OBI-WAN. QUI-GON deflects the bolts back, and the STAPS blow up. One-two. OBI-WAN is exhausted and tries to catch his breath. OBI-WAN Sorry, Master, the water fried my weapon. OBI-WAN pulls out his burnt laser sword handle. QUI-GON inspects it, as JAR JAR pulls himself out of the mud. QUI-GON You forgot to turn your power off again, didn't you? OBI-WAN nods sheepishly. QUI-GON (Cont'd) It won't take long to recharge, but this is a lesson I hope you've learned, my young Padawan. OBI-WAN Yes, Master. JAR JAR Yousa sav-ed my again, hey? OBI-WAN What's this? QUI-GON A local. Let's go, before more of those droids show up. JAR JAR Mure?! Mure did you spake??!? OBI-WAN and QUI-GON start to run. JAR JAR tries to keep up. JAR JAR (Cont'd) Ex-squeeze me, but da moto grande safe place would be Otoh Gunga. Tis where I grew up... Tis safe city. They all stop. QUI-GON A city! (JAR JAR nods his head) Can you take us there? JAR JAR Ahhh, will...on second taut...no, not willy. QUI-GON No??! JAR JAR Iss embarrissing, boot... My afrai my've bean banished. My forgoten der Bosses would do terrible tings to my. Terrible tings if my goen back dare. A PULSATING SOUND is heard in the distance. QUI-GON You hear that? JAR JAR shakes his head yes. QUI-GON (Cont'd) That's the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way... OBI-WAN When they find us, they will crush us, grind us into little pieces, then blast us into oblivion! JAR JAR Oh! Yousa point is well seen. Dis way! Hurry! JAR JAR turns and runs into the swamp. 25 EXT. NABOO SWAMP LAKE - TWILIGHT 25 QUI-GON, OBI-WAN and JAR JAR run into a murky lake and stop as JAR JAR tries to catch his breath. The TRANSPORTS ARE HEARD in the distance.