Revenge of the Sith: Illustrated Screenplay: Star Wars: Episode III (8 page)

ANAKIN is disappointed.

84 (63) INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI TEMPLE—MASSIVE MAIN HALLWAY AND ALCOVE—LATE AFTERNOON

ANAKIN and OBI-WAN walk through one of the massive Jedi Temple hallways. ANAKIN is furious.

A
NAKIN:
What kind of nonsense is this, put me on the Council and not make me a Master!?? That’s never been done in the history of the Jedi. It’s insulting!

O
BI-
W
AN:
Calm down, Anakin. You have been given a great honor. To be on the Council at your age . . . It’s never happened before. Listen to me, Anakin. The fact of the matter is you’re too close to the Chancellor. The Council doesn’t like it when he interferes in Jedi affairs.

A
NAKIN:
I swear to you, I didn’t ask to be put on the Council . . .

O
BI-
W
AN:
But it’s what you wanted! Your friendship with Chancellor Palpatine seems to have paid off.

A
NAKIN:
That has nothing to do with this.

O
BI-
W
AN:
Anakin, regardless of how it happened, you find yourself in a delicate situation.

A
NAKIN:
You mean divided loyalties.

O
BI-
W
AN:
I warned you there was tension between the Council and the Chancellor. I was very clear. Why didn’t you listen? You walked right into it.

A
NAKIN:
The Council is upset I’m the youngest to ever serve.

O
BI-
W
AN:
No, it is not. Anakin, I worry when you speak of jealousy and pride. Those are not Jedi thoughts. They’re dangerous, dark thoughts.

A
NAKIN:
Master, you of all people should have confidence in my abilities. I know where my loyalties lie.

O
BI-
W
AN:
I hope so . . .

A
NAKIN:
I sense there’s more to this talk than you’re saying.

O
BI-
W
AN:
Anakin, the only reason the Council has approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you.

A
NAKIN:
And?

O
BI-
W
AN:
Anakin, look, I am on your side. I didn’t want to see you put in this situation.

A
NAKIN:
What situation?

O
BI-
W
AN:
(takes a deep breath
) The Council wants you to report on all of the Chancellor’s dealings. They want to know what he’s up to.

A
NAKIN:
They want me to spy on the Chancellor? That’s treason!

O
BI-
W
AN:
We are at war, Anakin. The Jedi Council is sworn to uphold the principles of the Republic, even if the Chancellor does not.

A
NAKIN:
Why didn’t the Council give me this assignment when we were in session?

O
BI-
W
AN:
This assignment is not to be on record. The Council asked me to approach you on this personally.

A
NAKIN:
The Chancellor is not a bad man, Obi-Wan. He befriended me. He’s watched out for me ever since I arrived here.

O
BI-
W
AN:
That is why you must help us, Anakin. Our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired.

A
NAKIN:
Master, the Senate demanded that he stay longer.

O
BI-
W
AN:
Yes, but use your feelings, Anakin. Something is out of place.

A
NAKIN:
You’re asking me to do something against the Jedi Code. Against the Republic. Against a mentor . . . and a friend. That’s what’s out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?

O
BI-
W
AN:
The Council is asking you.

85 EXT. CORUSCANT—CLONE LANDING PLATFORM—DAY

A JEDI GUNSHIP heads for the huge Clone landing platform.

86 (65) INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI GUNSHIP—DAY

YODA, MACE, and OBI-WAN ride in the GUNSHIP as it heads for the Clone landing platform. Mace and Obi-Wan are sitting.

O
BI-
W
AN:
Anakin did not take to his assignment with much enthusiasm.

Y
ODA:
Too much under the sway of the Chancellor, he is. Much anger there is in him. Too much pride in his powers.

M
ACE:
It’s very dangerous, putting them together. I don’t think the boy can handle it. I don’t trust him.

O
BI-
W
AN:
He’ll be all right. I trust him with my life.

M
ACE:
I wish I did.

O
BI-
W
AN:
With all due respect, Master, is he not the Chosen One? Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?

M
ACE:
So the prophecy says.

Y
ODA:
A prophecy . . . that misread could have been.

O
BI-
W
AN:
He will not let me down. He never has.

Y
ODA:
I hope right you are. And now destroy the Droid armies on Kashyyyk, I will. May the Force be with you.

The GUNSHIP lands and the ramp lowers. YODA exits the GUNSHIP. MACE and OBI-WAN stand and give him a brief bow then take off in the GUNSHIP.

87 (66) EXT. CORUSCANT—PADMÉ’S APARTMENT—VERANDA—SUNSET

Padmé’s Speeder pulls up to the landing platform. CAPTAIN TYPHO escorts PADMÉ onto the veranda, where TWO HANDMAIDENS (ELLÉ and MOTEé) are waiting. PADMÉ turns to CAPTAIN TYPHO.

P
ADMÉ:
Thank you, Captain.

C
APTAIN
T
YPHO:
Rest well, My Lady.

CAPTAIN TYPHO gets back into the Speeder, and it disappears into the cityscape. The HANDMAIDENS, MoteÉ and EllÉ, approach PADMÉ as the SHADOW OF A FIGURE moves in the background. C-3PO is standing nearby.

P
ADMÉ:
I’ll be up in a while.

M
OTEé:
Yes, my lady.

C-3PO stands, confused, as the HANDMAIDENS turn and exit.

C
-
3PO
:
Is there anything I might do for you, my lady?

P
ADMÉ:
Yes, make sure all the security droids are working. Thank you, Threepio.

The golden droid turns and exits.

PADMÉ stands and watches the sunset. The SHADOWY FIGURE moves toward her. She senses something.

A
NAKIN:
Beautiful, isn’t it?

PADMÉ jumps and turns around.

P
ADMÉ:
You startled me.

He sits next to her on the bench.

A
NAKIN:
How are you feeling?

P
ADMÉ:
He keeps kicking.

A
NAKIN:
He?! Why do you think it’s a boy?

P
ADMÉ:
(laughs
) My motherly intuition.

She puts his hand on her belly.

A
NAKIN:
Whoa! With a kick that strong, it’s got to be a girl.

They laugh.

P
ADMÉ:
I heard about your appointment. Anakin, I’m so proud of you.

A
NAKIN:
I may be on the Council, but . . . they refused to accept me as a Jedi Master.

P
ADMÉ:
Patience. In time, they will recognize your skills.

A
NAKIN:
They still treat me as if I were a Padawan learner . . . they fear my power, that’s the problem.

P
ADMÉ:
Anakin . . .

A
NAKIN:
Sometimes, I wonder what’s happening to the Jedi Order . . . I think this war is destroying the principles of the Republic.

P
ADMÉ:
Have you ever considered that we may be on the wrong side?

A
NAKIN:
(suspicious
) What do you mean?

P
ADMÉ:
What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists, and the Republic has become the very evil we have been fighting to destroy?

A
NAKIN:
I don’t believe that. And you’re sounding like a Separatist!

P
ADMÉ:
Anakin, this war represents a failure to listen . . . Now, you’re closer to the Chancellor than anyone. Please, please ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume.

A
NAKIN:
(growing angry
) Don’t ask me to do that, Padmé. Make a motion in the Senate, where that kind of a request belongs. I’m not your errand boy. I’m not anyone’s errand boy!

P
ADMÉ:
What is it?

A
NAKIN:
Nothing.

P
ADMÉ:
Don’t do this . . . don’t shut me out. Let me help you.

A
NAKIN:
You can’t help me . . . I’m trying to help you.

They look in each other’s eyes.

A
NAKIN:
(continuing
) I sense . . . there are things you are not telling me.

PADMÉ is startled at this.

P
ADMÉ:
I sense there are things you are not telling me.

PADMÉ smiles. ANAKIN is a little embarrassed.

P
ADMÉ:
(continuing
) Hold me . . . like you did by the lake on Naboo, so long ago . . . when there was nothing but our love . . . No politics, no plotting . . . no war.

88 (67) INT. CORUSCANT—GALAXIES OPERA HOUSE—NIGHT

ANAKIN lands his speeder and exits.

ANAKIN runs up the stairs at the Galaxies Opera House.

ANAKIN runs through the hallway and enters Palpatine’s box, where the CHANCELLOR is sitting with Mas Amedda and Sly Moore, watching the Mon Calamari Ballet doing “Squid Lake.”

A
NAKIN:
You wanted to see me, Chancellor.

P
ALPATINE:
Yes, Anakin! Come closer. I have good news. Our Clone Intelligence Units have discovered the location of General Grievous. He is hiding in the Utapau system.

A
NAKIN:
At last, we’ll be able to capture that monster and end this war.

P
ALPATINE:
I would worry about the collective wisdom of the Council if they didn’t select you for this assignment. You are the best choice by far . . . but, they can’t always be trusted to do the right thing.

A
NAKIN:
They try.

P
ALPATINE:
Sit down.
(to his aides
) Leave us.

ANAKIN sits next to PALPATINE. The Chancellor leans over to him.

P
ALPATINE:
(continuing
) Anakin, you know I’m not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven’t included you in their plot, they soon will.

A
NAKIN:
I’m not sure I understand.

P
ALPATINE:
You must sense what I have come to suspect . . . the Jedi Council want control of the Republic . . . they’re planning to betray me.

A
NAKIN:
I don’t think . . .

P
ALPATINE:
Anakin, search your feelings. You know, don’t you?

A
NAKIN:
I know they don’t trust you . . .

P
ALPATINE:
Or the Senate . . . or the Republic . . . or democracy for that matter.

A
NAKIN:
I have to admit my trust in them has been shaken.

P
ALPATINE:
Why? They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn’t they?

ANAKIN doesn’t say anything. He simply looks down.