Revenge of the Sith: Illustrated Screenplay: Star Wars: Episode III (7 page)

Y
ODA:
Premonitions . . . premonitions . . . Hmmmm . . . these visions you have . . .

A
NAKIN:
They are of pain, suffering, death . . .

Y
ODA:
Yourself you speak of, or someone you know?

A
NAKIN:
Someone . . .

Y
ODA:
. . . close to you?

A
NAKIN:
Yes.

Y
ODA:
Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side.

A
NAKIN:
I won’t let these visions come true, Master Yoda.

Y
ODA:
Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is.

A
NAKIN:
What must I do, Master Yoda?

Y
ODA:
Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.

78 INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI TEMPLE—HALLWAY—DAY

ANAKIN hurries down a temple hallway, heading toward a Jedi Briefing Room. SEVERAL JEDI are exiting.

79 (58) INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI TEMPLE—BRIEFING ROOM—DAY

ANAKIN rushes into the Briefing Room. By the time he reaches the Chamber, the last of the Jedi are leaving. Only OBI-WAN remains at the front of the lecture hall. He is shutting off some holograms and electronic charts and maps.

O
BI-
W
AN:
You missed the report on the Outer Rim sieges.

A
NAKIN:
I’m sorry, I was held up. I have no excuse.

O
BI-
W
AN:
In short, they are going very well. Saleucami has fallen, and Master Vos has moved his troops to Boz Pity.

A
NAKIN:
What’s wrong then?

O
BI-
W
AN:
The Senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the Chancellor today.

A
NAKIN:
Well, that can only mean less deliberating and more action. Is that bad? It will make it easier for us to end this war.

O
BI-
W
AN:
Anakin, be careful of your friend Palpatine.

A
NAKIN:
Be careful of what?

O
BI-
W
AN:
He has requested your presence.

A
NAKIN:
What for?

O
BI-
W
AN:
He would not say.

A
NAKIN:
He didn’t inform the Jedi Council? That’s unusual, isn’t it?

O
BI-
W
AN:
All of this is unusual, and it’s making me feel uneasy. You’re probably aware that relations between the Council and the Chancellor are stressed.

A
NAKIN:
I know the Council has grown wary of the Chancellor’s power, mine also for that matter. Aren’t we all working together to save the Republic? Why all this distrust?

O
BI-
W
AN:
The Force grows dark, Anakin, and we are all affected by it. Be wary of your feelings.

80 (59) INT. CORUSCANT—CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE—DAY

ANAKIN stands with PALPATINE at his window overlooking the vastness of Coruscant. Several buildings have been destroyed. A brown haze hangs over the landscape.

P
ALPATINE:
Anakin, this afternoon the Senate is going to call on me to take direct control of the Jedi Council.

A
NAKIN:
The Jedi will no longer report to the Senate?

P
ALPATINE:
They will report to me . . . personally. The Senate is too unfocused to conduct a war. This will bring a quick end to things.

A
NAKIN:
I agree, but the Jedi Council may not see it that way.

P
ALPATINE:
There are times when we must all endure adjustments to the constitution in the name of security.

A
NAKIN:
With all due respect, sir, the Council is in no mood for more constitutional amendments.

P
ALPATINE:
Thank you, my friend, but in this case I have no choice . . . this war must be won.

A
NAKIN:
Everyone will agree on that.

P
ALPATINE:
Anakin, I’ve known you since you were a small boy. I have advised you over the years when I could . . . I am very proud of your accomplishments. You have won many battles the Jedi Council thought were lost . . . and you saved my life. I hope you trust me, Anakin.

A
NAKIN:
Of course.

P
ALPATINE:
I need your help, son.

A
NAKIN:
What do you mean?

P
ALPATINE:
I fear the Jedi. The Council keeps pushing for more control. They’re shrouded in secrecy and obsessed with maintaining their autonomy . . . ideals. I find simply incomprehensible in a democracy.

A
NAKIN:
I can assure you that the Jedi are dedicated to the values of the Republic, sir.

P
ALPATINE:
Nevertheless, their actions will speak more loudly than their words. I’m depending on you.

A
NAKIN:
For what? I don’t understand.

P
ALPATINE:
To be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic . . .

ANAKIN thinks about this.

P
ALPATINE:
(continuing
) Anakin . . . I’m appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council.

A
NAKIN:
Me? A Master? I am overwhelmed, sir, but the Council elects its own members. They will never accept this.

P
ALPATINE:
I think they will . . . they need you more than you know.

81 (60) INT. CORUSCANT—BAIL ORGANA’S OFFICE—DAY

PADMÉ, BAIL ORGANA, and SENATORS MON MOTHMA, FANG ZAR, TERR TANEEL, and GIDDEAN DANU sit in Senator Organa’s office.

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
Now that he has control of the Jedi Council, the Chancellor has appointed Governors to oversee all star systems in the Republic.

F
ANG
Z
AR:
When did this happen?

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
The decree was posted this morning.

P
ADMÉ:
Do you think he will dismantle the Senate?

M
ON
M
OTHMA:
Why bother? As a practical matter, the Senate no longer exists.

G
IDDEAN
D
ANU:
The constitution is in shreds. Amendment after amendment . . . executive directives, sometimes a dozen in one day.

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
We can’t let a thousand years of democracy disappear without a fight.

EVERYONE looks at each other, a little worried at the implications of what was just said.

T
ERR
T
ANEEL:
What are you suggesting?

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
I apologize. I didn’t mean to sound like a Separatist.

M
ON
M
OTHMA:
We are not Separatists trying to leave the Republic. We are loyalists, trying to preserve democracy in the Republic.

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
It has become increasingly clear to many of us that the Chancellor has become an enemy of democracy.

P
ADMÉ:
I can’t believe it has come to this! Chancellor Palpatine is one of my oldest advisors. He served as my Ambassador when I was Queen.

G
IDDEAN
D
ANU:
Senator, I fear you underestimate the amount of corruption that has taken hold in the Senate.

M
ON
M
OTHMA:
The Chancellor has played the Senators well. They know where the power lies, and they will do whatever it takes to share in it. Palpatine has become a dictator and we have helped him to do it.

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
We can’t sit around debating any longer, we have decided to do what we can to stop it. Senator Mon Mothma and I are putting together an organization . . .

P
ADMÉ:
Say no more, Senator Organa. I understand. At this point, it’s better to leave some things unsaid.

B
AIL
O
RGANA:
Yes, I agree and we must not discuss this with anyone, without everyone in this group agreeing.

M
ON
M
OTHMA:
That means those closest to you . . . even family . . . no one can be told.

They ALL nod their heads. PADMÉ considers this for a moment.

P
ADMÉ:
Agreed.

82 INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI TEMPLE—HALLWAY OUTSIDE COUNCIL CHAMBERS—DAY

ANAKIN stands pensively in front of the Jedi Council Chambers. The door opens.

83 (62) INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI TEMPLE—COUNCIL CHAMBERS—DAY

ANAKIN enters and stands in the middle of the room. He is surrounded by the Jedi Council: MACE WINDU, EETH KOTH, OBI-WAN, YODA, the HOLOGRAMS of PLO KOON and KI-ADI-MUNDI.

M
ACE:
Anakin Skywalker, we have approved your appointment to the Council as the Chancellor’s personal representative.

A
NAKIN:
I will do my best to uphold the principles of the Jedi Order.

Y
ODA:
Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not. Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine.

A
NAKIN:
I understand.

M
ACE:
You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master.

Anakin reacts with anger.

A
NAKIN:
What?! How can you do this?? . . . This is outrageous, it’s unfair . . . I’m more powerful than any of you. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?

M
ACE:
Take a seat, young Skywalker.

A
NAKIN:
Forgive me, Master.

ANAKIN goes and sits in one of the empty chairs. Everyone is embarrassed. KI-ADI-MUNDI, WHO APPEARS AS A HOLOGRAM, speaks.

K
I-
A
DI-
M
UNDI:
We have surveyed all systems in the Republic, and have found no sign of General Grievous.

Y
ODA:
Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is. The outlying systems, you must sweep.

O
BI-
W
AN:
It may take some time . . . we do not have many ships to spare.

M
ACE:
We cannot take ships from the front line.

O
BI-
W
AN:
And yet, it would be fatal for us to allow the droid armies to regroup.

Y
ODA:
Master Kenobi, our spies contact, you must, and then wait.

K
I-
A
DI-
M
UNDI:
What about the droid attack on the Wookiees?

M
ACE:
It is critical we send an attack group there, immediately!

O
BI-
W
AN:
He’s right, that is a system we cannot afford to lose. It’s the main navigation route for the southwestern quadrant.

A
NAKIN:
I know that system well. It would take us little time to drive the droids off that planet.

M
ACE:
Skywalker, your assignment is here with the Chancellor, and Kenobi must find General Grievous.

Y
ODA:
Go, I will. Good relations with the Wookiees, I have.

M
ACE:
It is settled then. Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. May the Force be with us all.