Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Opening)

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.

INT REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT

In the cockpit of the cruise, the CAPTAIN and PILOT maneuver closer to one of the battleships.

QUI-GON JINN (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.

The CAPTAIN looks to her view screen, where NUTE GUNRAY, a Neimoidian trade viceroy, waits for a reply.

CAPTAIN: With all due respect, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately.

NUTE: Yes, yes, of course... as you know, our blockade is perfectly legal, and we'd be happy to receive the Ambassador.

The screen goes black. Out the cockpit window, the sinister battleship looms ever closer.

EXT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE (FX)

The small space cruiser docks in the enormous main bay of the Federation battleship.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE

A PROTOCOL DROID, TC-14, waits at the door to the docking bay. 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.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

A door slides open, and the two cloaked shapes are led PAST CAMERA into the formal conference room by TC-14.

TC-14: We are greatly honored by your visit Ambassadors. Make yourselves comfortable. My master will be with you shortly.

The droid bows before OBI-WAN KENOBI and QUI-GON JINN. She 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, forty years old, has long brown 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.

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 anxieties, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs.

OBI-WAN: But 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.

They walk over to the window and gaze out into space.

OBI-WAN (CONT'D): 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.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

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're here to force a settlement.

NUTE: Distract them. I will 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.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN sit at the large conference table.

OBI-WAN: Is it in 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.

TC-14 walks over to OBI-WAN who takes a drink. The droid then walks over to QUI-GON who takes a drink as TC-14 leaves the room.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE, DOFINE, and RUNE HAAKO are before the hologram of DARTH SIDIOUS, a robed figure whose face is obscured by a hood.

DARTH SIDIOUS: What is it?

DOFINE: ... This scheme of yours has failed, Lord Sidious. The blockade is finished! We dare not go against these Jedi.

DARTH SIDIOUS: Viceroy, I don't want this stunted slim in my sight again.

NUTE gives DOFINE a stern look and DOFINE bows his head in shame as he turns and walks away.

DARTH SIDIOUS: This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans. Begin landing your troops.

NUTE: My Lord, is that... legal?

DARTH SIDIOUS: I will make it legal.

NUTE: And the... Jedi?

DARTH SIDIOUS: The Chancellor should have never brought them into this. Kill them, immediately.

NUTE: Yes... yes, My Lord. As you wish.

INT REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT - DOCKING BAY

In the cockpit of the cruiser, the CAPTAIN and PILOT look up to see a gun turret swing around and point directly at them.

PILOT: Captain?! Look!!

The CAPTAIN looks up and just seconds before they are fired upon says something inaudible.

EXT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HANGAR BAY - SPACE (FX)

The battleship gun fires and the republic cruiser EXPLODES.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN leap to a standing position with their laser swords drawn. TC-14 jumps back, startled, spilling the drinks on the tray.

TC-14: ... Sorry.

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN turn off their laser swords and listen intently. A faint hissing sound can be heard.

QUI-GON: Dioxin!

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY

A hologram of NUTE, surrounded by BATTLE DROIDS, appears in the conference room hallway.

NUTE: They must be dead by now. Destroy, 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.

The PROTOCOL DROID passes the armed camp.

OWO-1: Check it out Corporal. We'll cover you.

BATTLE DROID: Roger, roger.

Two flashing laser swords suddenly fly out of the deadly fog.

OWO-1: Uh-oh, blast them...

The two Jedi start cutting down BATTLE DROIDS as the droids fire on them. OBI-WAN jumps in the air and does a mid-air flip as he deflects laser bolts.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE and RUNE watch OWO-1 on the viewscreen. OWO-1 is suddenly cut in half. RUNE gives NUTE a worried look.

NUTE: What is going on down there?

The bridge is a cacophony of alarms.

TEY HOW: We've lost the transmission, sir.

RUNE: Have you ever encountered a Jedi Knight before, sir?

NUTE: Well, no, but I don't... (panicked) Seal off the bridge.

TEY HOW: Yes sir.

RUNE: That won't be enough, sir.

NUTE: I want droidekas up here at once!

RUNE: We will not survive this.

The doors to the bridge slam shut.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE

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.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

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.

NUTE: That will hold them.

QUI-GON stabs the door with his sword. The screen goes black as a red spot appears in the center of the blast door. OBI-WAN cuts down another BATTLE DROID in defense of his Master.

RUNE: They're still coming through!

On the door, chunks of molten metal begin to drop away.

NUTE: This is impossible!

RUNE: Where are those droidekas?!

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE

Two 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.

OBI-WAN: Master, destroyers.

QUI-GON stops penetrating the blast doors and turns to fight off the destroyer droids with OBI-WAN. The droids start to shoot their laser guns at the Jedi and an invisible shield appears around them.

OBI-WAN: They have shield generators.

QUI-GON: It's a standoff! Let's go!

QUI-GON and OBI-Wan leave the hallway just outside the bridge as the two destroyer droids turn around and continue shooting. 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.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE and RUNE stand on the bridge, watching the view screen as the WHEEL DROIDS' POV speeds to the doorway.

RUNE: They're no match for droidekas.

TEY HOW: Sir, they've gone up the ventilation shaft.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - MAIN BAY

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN appear at a large vent in a giant hanger 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 invisible army.

QUI-GON: This is 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.

INT FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

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, EIRTAE, YANE, RABE, and SACHE.

NUTE (CONT'D): Again you come before me, Your Highness.

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'm aware the Chancellor's Ambassadors are with you now, and that you have been commanded to reach a settlement.

NUTE: I know nothing of any Ambassadors... you must be mistaken.

AMIDALA, surprised at his reaction, studies him carefully.

AMIDALA: Beware, Viceroy....the Federation has gone too far this time.

NUTE: 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.

INT NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM

The QUEEN, EIRTAE, SACHE and her Governor, SIO BIBBLE, stand before a hologram of SENATOR PALPATINE, a thin, kindly man.

PALPATINE: ...The negotiations haven't started because the Ambassadors aren't there? How could that be true? I have assurances from the Chancellor... his Ambassadors did arrive. It must be the... get... negotiate...

The hologram of PALPATIONE sputters and fades away.

AMIDALA: Senator Palpatine?!? (turns to Panaka) What's happening?

CAPTAIN PANAKA turns to his SERGEANT.

CAPT. PANAKA: Check the transmission generators...

BIBBLE: A communications disruption can only mean one thing. Invasion.

AMIDALA: 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 Chancellors Ambassadors?

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.