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PADME : You're...a slave?
ANAKIN looks at PADME defiantly.
ANAKIN : I am a person! My name is Anakin.
PADME : I'm sorry. I don't fully understand. (looking around)This is a strange world to me.
ANAKIN studies her intently.
JAR JAR pushes the nose on what appears to be a LITTLE DROID, and it instantly comes to life, grows legs and arms, and starts marching around, knocking over everything. JAR JAR hold on but can't stop it.
ANAKIN : (Cont'd) Hit the nose!
JAR JAR hits the nose, and the DROID collapses back into its original state. ANAKIN and PADME laugh. ANAKIN watches PADME straighten her hair.
EXT. WATTO'S JUNK YARD - BEHIND SHOP - DAY
WATTO reads a small portable monitor he is holding. He stands before a hyperdrive.
WATTO : ...Here it is...a T-14 hyperdrive generator!! Thee in luck, I'm the only one hereabouts who has one...but thee might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper, I think...Sying of which, how's thee going to pay for all this?
QUI-GON : I have 20,000 Republic dactarians.
WATTO : Republic credits?!? Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real...
QUI-GON : I don't have anything else. (raising his hand) But credits will do fine.
WATTO : No they won'ta.
QUI-GON, using his mind power, waves his hand again.
QUI-GON : Credits will do fine.
WATTO : No, they won'ta. What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive, I promise you that.
QUI-GON gives a smerk and begins to walk away.
INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY
JAR JAR pulls a part out of a stack of parts to inspect it, and they all come tumblimg down. He struggles to catch them, only to knock more down. ANAKIN and PADME are oblivious.
ANAKIN : ...wouldn't have lasted long if I weren't so good at fixing things.
QUI-GON hurries into the shop, followed by ARTOO.
QUI-GON : We're leaving.
JAR JAR follows QUI-GON. PADME gives ANAKIN a loving look.
PADME : I'm glad I met you,....Anakin.
PADME turns, and ANAKIN looks sad as he watches her leave.
ANAKIN : I'm glad I met you too.
WATTO enters the junk yard, shaking his head.
WATTO : (subtitled) Ootmians! Tinka me chasa hopoe ma booty na nolia. (Outlanders! They think , we don't know nothing.)
ANAKIN : (subtitled) La lova num botaffa. (They seemed nice to me.)
WATTO : (subtitled) Fweepa niaga. Tolpa da bunky dunko. (Clean the racks, then you can go home.)
ANAKIN lets out a "yipee" and runs out the back.
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - ALCOVE - DAY
QUI-GON, ARTOO, JAR JAR, and PADME have found a quiet spot between two buildings. The busy street beyond is filled with dangerous looking creatures. QUI-GON is talking on his com-link, while JAR JAR nervously watches the street. OBI-WAN is in the main hold of the Naboo craft.
QUI-GON : ...Obi-Wan, you're sure there isn't anything of value left on board?
OBI-WAN : (V.O) A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough for you to barter with. Not in the ammounts you're talking about.
QUI-GON : All right. Another solution will present itself. I'll check back.
QUI-GON puts his comlink away and starts out into the main street. JAR JAR grabs his arm.
JAR JAR : Noah gain...da beings hereabouts cawazy. Wesa be robbed un crunched.
QUI-GON : Not likely. We have nothing of value, that's our problem.
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - MARKET - DAY
QUI-GON, PADME, JAR JAR, and
ARTOO move out into the street. JAR JAR is walking behind the
others. They walk by an outdoor cafe filled with a rough gang
of aliens, one of which is especially ugly, SEBULBA, a spider-like
creature. JAR JAR stops for a moment in front of a stall selling
dead frogs hanging on a wire. He looks around to see if anyone
is looknig, then sticks out his tongue, and gets hold of one,
pulling it into his mouth. Unfortunately, the frog is tied tightly
to the wire. The
vendor suddenly appears.
VENDOR : Te wata wonga? Whusen sem wupiupi.
JAR JAR : Wupiupi
JAR JAR opens his mouth in surprise, and the frog snaps away, ricochets around the market, and lands in Sebulba's soup, splashing him. As JAR JAR moves away from the VENDOR, SEBULBA jumps up on the table and grabs the hapless Gungan.
SEBULBA : (subtitled) Chuba!! (You!!)
JAR JAR : Who, mesa??
SEBULBA : (subtitled) Ni chuba na?? (Is this yours??)
SEBULBA holds the frog up to the Gungan threateningly. SEBULBA shoves JAR JAR to the ground. The Gungan desperately tries to scramble to safety.
JAR JAR turns to see ANAKNI pushing his way next to him. The boy stands up to SEBULBA in a very self-assured way.
ANAKIN : (subtitled) Chess ko, Sebulba...Coo wolpa tooney rana. (Careful, Sebulba...Hes a big time outlander.)
SEBULBA stops his assault on JAR JAR and turns to ANAKIN.
ANAKIN : (subtitled) Me teesa rodda co pana pee choppa chawa. (I'd hate to see you diced before we race again.)
SEBULBA : (subtitled) Neek me chowa, wermo, mo killee ma klounkee(Next time we race, wermo, it will be the end of you!) Una noto wo shag, me wompity du pom pom. (If you weren't a slave, I'd squash you right now.)
SEBULBA turns away.
ANAKIN : (subtitled) Eh, chee bana do mullee ra. (Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to pay for me.)
QUI-GON, PADME and ARTOO arrive.
ANAKIN : (Cont'd) Hi! Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug. An especially dangerous Dug called Sebulba.
JAR JAR : Nosir, nosir. Mesa hate crunchen. Dat's da last ting mesa wanten.
QUI-GON : Nevertheless, the boy is right...you were heading for trouble. Thank you, my young friend.
PADME looks at ANAKIN and smiles; he smiles back. They start walking down the crowded street.
JAR JAR : Mesa doen nutten!
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - SPACESHIP - DAY
OBI-WAN stands in front of the Naboo spacecraft as the wind picks up and begins to whip at his robe. CAPTAIN PANAKA exits the ship and joins him.
OBI-WAN : This storm's going to slow them down.
CAPT. PANAKA : It looks pretty bad. We'd better seal the ship.
CAPTAIN PANAKA'S comlink sounds off.
CAPT. PANAKA : (Cont'd) Yes?
COMLINK : Receiving a message from home.
CAPT. PANAKA : We'll be right there.
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - FRUIT STAND - DAY
ANAKIN and the GROUP stop at a fruit stand run by a jolly, but very poor, old lady named JIRA.
QUI-GON looks around the market place.
ANAKIN : Here here, you like the pallies.
QUI-GON : Thank you.
QUI-GON puts the pallies under his belt and reveals his lightsaber to the boy.
JIRA : Gracious, my bones are aching...storm's coming on, Annie. You'd better get home quick.
ANAKIN : (to QUI-GON) Do you have shelter?
QUI-GON : We'll hed back to our ship.
ANAKIN : Is it far?
PADME : On the outskirts.
ANAKIN : You'll never reach the outskirts in time...sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!
The GROUP follows ANAKIN as he rushes down the windy street.
EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - STREET - SANDSTORM - DAY
The wind is blowing hard as QUI-GON, JAR JAR, and PADME follow ANAKIN down the street and into a slave hovel.
INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY
QUI-GON, JAR JAR, ARTOO, and PADME enter a small living space.
ANAKIN : Mom! Mom! I'm home.
JAR JAR : Dissen cozy.
Anakin's mother, SHMI SKYWALKER, a warm, friendly woman of forty, enters from her work area and is startled to see the room full of people.
SHMI : Oh, my!! Annie, what's this?
ANAKIN : These are my friends, Mom.
QUI-GON : Im QUI-GON JIN
ANAKIN : I'm building a droid. You wanna see?
QUI-GON : Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter.
ANAKIN : Come on! Let me show you Threepio!
ANAKIN leads PADME into the other room. ARTOO follows, beeping all the way.
SHMI : Yes, I know.
INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - BEDROOM - DAY
ANAKIN shows off his ANDROID, which is lying on his workbench. There is one eye in the head; the body, arms, and legs have no outer coverings.
ANAKIN : Isn't he great?! He's
not finished yet.
PADME : He's wonderful!
ANAKIN : You reall like him? He's a protocol droid...to help Mom. Watch!
THREEPIO : Oh my, where is everybody.
ANAKIN pushes a switch, and the DROID sits up. Anakin rushes around, grabs an eye and puts it in one of the sockets.
THREEPIO : Much better. How do you do, I am See-Threepio, Human Cyborg Relations. How might I serve you?
PADME : He's perfect.
THREEPIO : Oh, perfect.
ANAKIN : When the storm is over, you can see my racer. I'm building a Podracer!
PADME smiles at his enthusiasm. ARTOO lets out a flurry of beeps and whistles.
THREEPIO : Oh hello there. I dont think we have been formaly entroduced. I am C-3PO human cyborg relations.
R2-D2 lets out a few beeps.
THREEPIO : R2-D2. Pleased to meet you.
R2-D2 lets our a few more beeps.
THREEPIO : I beg your pardon....what do you mean naked?
ARTOO BEEPS
THREEPIO : (Cont'd) My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness. How embarrassing!
INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - QUEENS CHAMBERS
AMIDALA, EIRTAE, RABE, and OBI-WAN watch a very bad transmission of a SIO BIBBLE hologram.
BIBBLE : ...the death toll is catastrophic...we must bow to their wishes, you must contact me...
AMIDALA looks upset...almost nervous.
OBI-WAN : It's a trick. Send no reply... Send no transmission of any kind.
INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY
QUI-GON listens to his comlink. OBI-WAN is in the cockpit.
QUI-GON : It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace.
OBI-WAN : What if it is true and the people are dying?
QUI-GON : Either way, we're running out of time.
EXT. CORUSCANT - BALCONY OVERLOOKING CITY - NIGHT
DARTH SIDIOUS and DARTH MAUL look out over the vast city.
DARTH MAUL : Tatooine is vastly populated. If the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, Master.
DARTH SIDIOUS : Move against the Jedi first...you will then have no difficulty in taking the Queen back to Naboo, where she will sign the treaty.
DARTH MAUL : At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge.
DARTH SIDIOUS : You have been well trained, my young apprentice.
EXT. MOS ESPA - SANDSTORM - DAY
The giant sandstorm engulfs the town, including the Naboo spaceship on the outskirts of the city center, where Watto's ship is; and the slave quarters, where drifts of sand begin building up against Anakin's house.
INT. ANAKIN'S HOVEL - MAIN ROOM - DAY
QUI-GON, ANAKIN, SHMI, JAR JAR, and PADME are seated around a makeshift table, having dinner as the wind howls outside. JAR JAR slurps his soup rather loudly. Everyone looks at him. He turns a little brighter red.
SHMI : All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere.
ANAKIN : I've been working on a scanner to try and locate mine...
SHMI : Any attempt to escape...
ANAKIN : ...and they blow you up...BOOM!
PADME and JAR JAR are horrified.
JAR JAR : How wude.
PADME : I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy. The Republic's anti-slavery laws...
SHMI : The Republic doesn't exist out here...we must survive on our own.
An awkward silence. ANAKIN attempts to end the embarrassment.
ANAKIN : Has anybody ever seen a Podrace?
PADME shakes her head no. She notices the concern of SHMI. JAR JAR snatches some food from a bowl at the other end of the table with his tongue. QUI-GON gives him a dirty look.
QUI-GON : They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous.
ANAKIN : I'm the only human who can do it.
SHMI looks askance at her son.
QUI-GON : You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods.
ANAKIN smiles. JAR JAR attempts to snare another bit of food from the bowl with his tongue, but QUI-GON, in a flash, grabs it between his thumb and forefinger. JAR JAR is startled.
QUI-GON : (Cont'd) Don't do that again.
JAR JAR tries to acknowledge with some silly mumbling. QUI-GON lets go of the tongue, and it snaps back into JAR JAR's mouth.
ANIKAN :You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?
QUI-GON : What makes you think that?
ANAKIN : I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon.
QUI-GON leans back and slowly smiles.
QUI-GON : Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him.
ANAKIN : I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi.
QUI-GON : I wish that were so...
ANAKIN. I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves...have you come to free us?
QUI-GON : No, I'm afraid not...
ANAKIN : I think you have...why else would you be here?
QUI-GON thinks for a moment.
QUI-GON : I can see there's no fooling you...(leans forward) we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission.
ANAKIN : How did you end up here in the outer rim?
PADME : Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it.
ANAKIN : I can help! I can fix anything!
QUI-GON : I believe you can, but first we must aquire the parts we need...
JAR JAR : Wit no-nutten mula to trade.
PADME : These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind.
SHMI : Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races.
QUI-GON : Podracing... Greed can be a powerful ally.. if it's used properly.
ANAKIN : I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever...There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod.
SHMI : Anakin, Watto won't let you...
ANAKIN : Watto doesn't know I've built it. (to Qui-Gon) You could make him think it's your's, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you.
QUI-GON looks to SHMI. She is upset.
SHMI : I don't want you to race, Annie...It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it.
ANAKIN : But Mom, I love it...and the prize money would more than pay for the parts they need.
JAR JAR : Wesa ina pitty bad goo.
GUI-GON : Your mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?
SHMI shakes her head no.
ANAKIN : Mom, you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other...
SHMI : Anakin, don't...
JAR JAR belches. There is silence for a moment as they eat.
PADME : I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way...
SHMI : No, there is no other way... I may not like it, but he can help you...he was meant to help you. He was ment to help you.
The storm continues to rage outside the slave hovel.
EXT. MOS ESPA - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY
PADME stops QUI-GON as he is about to enter the Watto's shop.
PADME : Are you sure about this? Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know. The Queen will not approve.
QUI-GON : The Queen does not need to know.
PADME : Well, I don't approve.
QUI-GON turns and starts into the shop.
INT. WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY
WATTO and ANAKIN are in the middle of an animated discussion in Huttese.
WATTO : Patta go bolla!
ANKAIN : No batta!
WATTO : Pedunky. Maa kee cheelya.
ANAKIN : Bayno, Bayno!
QUI-GON walks in, and WATTO and ANAKIN join him.
WATTO : The boy tells me you wanta sponser hi insa race. How can you do this? Not on Republic credits, I think. (he laughs)
QUI-GON : My ship will be the entry fee.
QUI-GON pulls a small object that looks like a watch out of his pocket, and a hologram of the Naboo spacecraft appears about a foot long in front of WATTO. He studies it.
WATTO : Not bad...not bad...a Nubian.
QUI-GON : It's in good order, except for the parts we need.
WATTO : ...but what would the boy ride? He smashed up my Pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it.
ANAKIN is embarrassed and steps forward.
ANAKIN : Ahhhh....it wasn't my fault really...Sebulba flashed me with his vent ports. I actually saved the Pod...mostly.
WATTO : (laughing) That you did. The boy is good, no doubts there.
QUI-GON : I have...acquired a Pod in a game of chance. "The fastest ever built."
WATTO : I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it. (laughs) So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think.
QUI-GON : Fifty-fifty!?! If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need...If we lose, you keep my ship.
WATTO thinks about this. ANAKIN tries not to be nervous.
QUI-GON : (Cont'd) Either way, you win.
WATTO : (subtitled) Deal! Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya. (Your friend is a follish one, methinks.)
EXT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - TATOOINE DESERT - DAY
OBI-WAN stands outside the Naboo spacecraft, speaking into his comlink. QUI-GON is on the back porch of the hovel.
OBI-WAN : What if this plan fails, Master? We could be stuck here for a very long time.
QUI-GON : (V.O) A ship without a power supply will not get us anywhere, ...and there is something about this boy...
EXT MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - PORCH - DAY
QUI-GON puts the comlink away as SHMI comes onto the porch PADME, ANAKIN, JAR JAR, and ARTOO work on the engines of the Podracer in the courtyard below.
QUI-GON : You should be proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward.
SHMI : He knows nothing of greed. He has...
QUI-GON : He has special powers.
SHMI : Yes...
QUI-GON : He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait.
SHMI : He deserves better than a slave's life.
QUI-GON : The Force is unusally strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father?
SHMI : There was no father, that
I know of...I carried him, I gave him birth...I can't explain
what happened. Can you help him?
QUI-GON : I'm afraid not. Had he been born in the Republic, we
would have identified him early.
EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - BACK YARD - DAY
KITSTER (a young boy about Anakin's age), SEEK (a boy of ten), AMEE (a girl of six), and WALD (a Greedo Type, six years old) join ANAKIN, JAR JAR, ARTOO, and PADME securing some wiring.
KITSTER : Wow, a real Astro Droid...how'd you get so lucky?
ANAKIN : This isn't the half of it. I'm entered in the Boonta Race tomorrow!
KITSTER : What? With this??
WALD : (subtitled) Annie, Jesko na joka. (You are such a joke, Annie.)
AMEE : You've been working on that thing for years. It's never going to run.
SEEK : Come on, let's go play ball. Keep it up, Annie, and you're gonna be bug squash.
SEEK, WALD, and AMEE take off, laughing. JAR JAR is fiddling with one of the energy binder plates.
ANAKIN : Hey! Jar Jar! Stay away from those energy binders...
JAR JAR : Who, mesa?
ANAKIN : If your hand gets caught in that beam, it will go numb for hours.
JAR JAR peeks at the energy plate;
it makes a little electronic pop, zaps him in the mouth and jumps
back. JAR JAR tries to say something, but his mouth is numb and
his words are garbled.
JAR JAR : Ouch-dats muy bigo Oucho. (Gibberish)
KITSTER : But you don't even know if this thing will run.
ANAKIN : It will.
QUI-GON approaches the GROUP and gives ANAKIN a small battery. JAR JAR gets his hand caught in the afterburner and tries to tell Anakin, but can't get words out that make sense.
QUI-GON : I think it's time we found out. Use this power charge.
ANAKIN : Yes, sir!!
ANAKIN jumps into the little capsule behind the two giant engines. He puts the power pack back into the dashboard. EVERYONE backs away, except for JAR JAR who calls for help. Finally PADME frees him and the engines ignite with a ROAR. EVERYONE cheers.
EXT. MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - PORCH - DAY
SHMI, watching from the porch, smiles sadly.
EXT. SLAVE QUARTERS - BALCONY - NIGHT
ANAKIN sits on the balcony rail of his hovel as QUI-GON tends to a cut. The BOY leans back to look at the vast blanket of stars in the sky.
QUI-GON : Sit still, Annie. Let me clean this cut.
ANAKIN : There are so many! Do they all have a system of planets?
QUI-GON : Most of them.
ANAKIN : Has anyone been to them all?
QU-IG0N : (laughs) Not likely.
ANAKIN : I want to be the first
one to see them all... Ouch!
QUI-GON wipes a patch of blood off ANAKIN'S arm.
QUI-GON : There, good as new...
SHMI yells from inside the hovel.
SHMI : (O.S.) Annie, bedtime
QUI-GON scrapes ANAKIN's blood onto a comlink chip.
ANAKIN : What are you doing?
QUI-GON : Checking your blood for infections.
ANAKIN : I've never seen...
SHMI : (O.S.) Annie! I'm not going to tell you again!
QUI-GON : Go on, you have a big day tomorrow. (beat) Goodnight.
ANAKIN rolls his eyes and runs into the hovel. QUI-GON takes the blood stained chip and inserts it into the comlink, then calls OBI-WAN.
QUI-GON : (Cont'd) Obi-Wan...
OBI-WAN : Yes, Master.
QUI-GON : Make an analysis of this blood sample I'm sending you.
OBI-WAN : Wait a minute...
QUI-GON : I need a midi-chlorian count.
OBI-WAN : All right. I've got it.
OBI-WAN : The reading's off the chart...over twenty thousand. Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high!
QUI-GON : No Jedi has.
OBI-WAN : What does it mean?
QUI-GON : I'm not sure.
The JEDI KNIGHT looks up and sees SHMI in the doorway watching him. Embarrassed, she goes back into the kitchen while QUI-GON ponders the situation.
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - NIGHT
The sinister looking Sith spacecraft lands on top of a desert mesa at dus, scattering a herd of banthas. DARTH MAUL walks to the edge of the mesa and studies the landscape with a pair of electrobinoculars. He picks out the lights of three different cities in the distance, then pushes buttons on his electronic armband. Six football-sized PROBE DROIDS float out of the ship and head off in three different directions toward the cities. DARTH MAUL stands on the mesa and watches them through his electrobinoculars.
INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY
RACE CREWS mill about outside the Main Hanger.
The hanger is a large building with a dozen or so Podracers being readied for the race. ALIEN CREWS and PILOTS rush about, making last minute fixes on their vehicles. WATTO, QUI-GON, and JAR JAR walk through the activity.
WATTO : ...I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over.
QUI-GON : Patienc, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away from here.
WATTO : Not if your ship belongs to me, I think...I warn you, no funny business.
QUI-GON : You don't think Anakin will win?
WATTO stops before an orange racer. Sitting to one side, having his shoulders and neck massaged by TWIN YOBANAS, is SEBULBA.
WATTO : Don't get me wrong. I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going to win, I think.
QUI-GON : Why?
WATTO : He always wins. (laughs) I'm betting everything on Sebulba.
QUI-GON : I'll take that bet.
WATTO : (suddenly stops laughing) What??!! What do you mean?
QUI-GON : I'll wager my new racing pod against...say...the boy and his mother.
WATTO : No pod is worth two slaves. Not by a long shot.
QUI-GON : The boy, then...
WATTO pulls out a small cube from his pocket.
WATTO : We'll let fate decide. Blue it's the boy, red his mother...
WATTO tosses the cube down. QUI-GON lifts his hand slightly; it turns blue. QUI-GON smiles. WATTO is angry.
WATTO : (Cont'd) You won the small toss, outlander, bou you won't win the race, so...it makes little difference.
ANAKIN and PADME enter the hanger on one of the EOPIES, pulling an engine. KITSTER, on the other EOPIE, is pulling another engine. With THREEPIO walking alongside, ARTOO trundles behind, pulling the Pod with SHMI sitting on it. WATTO passes ANAKIN as he leaves.
WATTO : (Cont'd) (subtitled) Bonapa keesa pateeso, o wanna meetee chobodd. (Better stop your friends betting, or I'll end up owning him, too.)
WATTO walks off, laughing.
ANAKIN : What did he mean by that?
QUI-GON : I'll tell you later.
ARTOO beeps at THREEPIO.
THREEPIO : Oh my! Space travel sounds rather perilous.ARTOO emits a series of beeps.
THREEPIO : I can assure you they will never get me onto one of those dreadful starships!
KITSTER : (to Anakin) This is so wizard! I'm sure you'll do it this time, Annie.
PADME : Do what?
KITSTER : Finish the race, of course!
PADME : You've never won a race?
ANAKIN : Well...not exactly...
PADME : Not even finished?!
ANAKN looks sheepish.
ANAKIN : ...but Kitster's right, I will this time.
QUI-GON : Of course you will.
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY
One of Darth Maul's PROBE DROIDS slowly floats down the main street of Tatooine. It looks in shops and studies PEOPLE as it searches for OBI-WAN, QI-GON, or the QUEEN.
EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY
An EXTREME HIGH WIDE ANGLE reveals a vast arena in the Tatooine desert. A large semi-circular amphitheatre that holds at least a hundred thousand people dominates the landscape. Large viewing platforms loom over the racetrack.
INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)
A two-headed ANNOUNCER describes the scene.
FODE/BEED : -
A: Toogi! Toogie! (Greetings) Toong mee cha kulkah du Boonta magi!
tah oos azalus ooval Poddraces. (We have perfect weather today
for the Boonta classic. The most hazardous of all Podraces.)
B : That's absolutly right. And a big turnout here, from all corners of the Outer Rim territories. I see the contestants are making their way out onto the starting grid.
EXT. MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY
On the left side of the tracks across from the grandstands, a line of Podracers emerges from the large hanger, surrounded by several CREW MEMBERS. Pods are pulled by a wide variety of CREATURES and are led by aliens carrying flags. The PILOTS stand facing the royal box.
FODE/BEED : -
(O.S) A : La Yma beestoo (Yes, there they are!)
B : I see Ben Quadinaros from the Tund system.
A : ...eh Gasgano doowa newpa Ord Petrovia! (And Gasgano in thenew Ord Pedrovia.)
B : Two time winner, Boles Roor...
A : Poo tula moosta, woe grane champio Sebulba du Pixelito! Splastyleeya bookie ookie!! (On the front line the reigning champion, Sebulba from Pixelito. By far the favorite today.)
B : And a late entry, Anakin Skywalker, a local boy.
A : Wampa peedunkee unko ( I hope he has better luck this time.)
B : I see the flaggers are moving onto the track.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - GRANDSTAND - DAY
Colorful canopies shade some of the SPECTATORS. VENDORS sell barbecued creature parts and colorful drinks.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)
All the PILOTS bow from the waist as JABBA THE HUTT enters the box and waves to the crowd.
FODE/BEED : -
A : O grandio lust, Jabba Du Hutt, amu intoe tah parena. (His honor, our glorious host, Jabba the Hutt has entered the arena.) The crowd ROARS. SEVERAL OTHER SLUG-LIKE HUTTS follow, along with humans and aliens. Several SLAVE GIRLS on a chain are led alongside JABBA.
JABBA : (subtitled) Chowbaso! Tam ka chee Boonta rulee ya, kee madda hodrudda du wundee. (Welcome!) Sebulba tuta Pixelito...
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY
SEBULBA, who is right next to ANAKIN, stands and waves to his fans. A small pep band plays as his fans wave and cheer. KITSTER attaches the giant engins to Anakin's Pod with a long cable. SHMI gives ANAKIN a big hug and kiss. She looks him right in the eye.
SHMI : Be safe.
ANAKIN : I will, Mom. I promise.
She leaves as ANAKIN checks the cable hitches.
JABBA : ...Mawhonic tuta Hok, Teemto Pagalies tuta Moonus Mandel, Anakin SKywalker tuta Tatoonine....
The CROWD YELLS. ANAKIN waves to the crowd, as JABBA continues with his introductions. SEBULBA moves over to one of Anakin's engines. KITSTER and JAR JAR unhitch the EOPIES, and KITSTER leads them away. ARTOO beeps that everything is OK. JAR JAR pats ANAKIN on the back.
JAR JAR : Dis berry loony, Annie. May da guds be kind, mesa palo.
PADME comes up and gives ANAKIN a little kiss on the cheeek. SEBULBA bangs on a part protruding from Anakin's engine. He looks around to see if anyone has noticed.
PADME : You carry all our hopes.
ANAKIN : I won't let you down.
PADME moves away as SEBULBA edges his way next to ANAKIN and gives him a sinister grin.
SEBULBA : Bazda wahota, shag. Dobiella Nok. Yoka to Bantha poodoo. (You won't walk away from this one, slave scum! You're Bantha poodoo.)
ANAKIN : (subtitled) Cha skrundee da pat, sleemo. (Don't count on it, slime-ball.)
ANAKIN looks the evil SEBULBA in the eye with a cold stare. QUI-GON approaches, and SEBULBA backs off toward his racer.
JABBA : (sutitled)...Ka bazza kundee hodrudda! (...Let the race begin!)
The CROWD lets out a LOUD CHEER. QUI-GON helps ANAKIN into his Pod. The boy straps himself into the tiny racer.
QUI-GON : Are you all set, Annie? (Anakin nods) Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don't think. Trust your instincts. (he smiles) May the Force be with you.
QUI-GON steps away as ANAKIN puts on his goggles. The PILOTS flip switches, and powerful energy binders shoot between the engines. ANAKIN flips a switch, and his engine starts. The incredible ROAR of high-powered engines igniting echoes throughout the arena. One driver, ODY MANDRELL, yells at a droid (DUM-4) to get away from the front of his engine. The crowd is tense.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY
The giant power-house engines torque as the PILOTS gun them. The PILOTS flip switches, and poerful energy binders shoot between the engines. Aliens carrying large flags move off the track. JAR JAR covers his eyes.
JAR JAR : Mesa no watch. Dissen ganna be messy!
FODE/BEED : -
A : Ya pawa culka doe rundee! (The power couplings are being activated)
B : Hey, it looks like they're clearing the grid.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY
SHMI looks nervously to QUI-GON as he enters a veiwing platform. PADME and JAR JAR are already on board. The platform rises like an elevator.
SHMI : Is he nervous?
QUI-GON : He's fine.
PADME : You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen...
QUI-GON : The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too.
PADME : You assume too much.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)
FODE/BEED : -
B : Start your engines.The earth-pounding ROAR of the engines revving is deafening.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)
Jabba bites off the head of a frog and spits it at a gong, signaling the start of the race.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY
On a bridge over the track, a great green light at the center flashes. The Podracers shoot forward with a high-pitches scream. ANAKIN'S engine floods and coughs - then dies. All the other Podracers except one swerve around him and dissapear down the track. The slave boy struggles to get his racer started. The two-headed announcer reports.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
A : An dare ovv! (And they're off!)
B : Oh...wait. Little Skywalker has stalled.
PADME and JAR JAR are very dissapointed with ANAKIN. QUI-GON puts his arm around a very worried SHMI to comfort her. Finally, Anakin's engines ignite. He zooms away after the receeding pack of competitors, leaving one quadra-Pod racer still trying to get started. The two-headed ANNOUNCER describes the race as it progresses.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
B : And there goes Skywalker... He'll be hard pressed to catch up with the leaders today.
EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)
The Podracers fly across the desert. SEBULBA is running neck and neck with MAWHONIC. They round the first turn in the track, side by side. SEBULBA drives his Pod into his rival, forcing him into the wall of a large rock formation. MAWHONIC crashes in a spectacular display of fire and smoke. ANAKIN is much faster than the back-end stragglers and passes them easily. One of the drivers, GASGANO, won't let ANAKIN by. ANAKIN tries to pass him on one side and is cut off. He then tries to pass him on the other side and is cut off. As they come up on a cliff drop-off, ANAKIN backs off, then guns it as GASGANO goes over the cliff. ANAKIN accelerates so fast that he sails right over the top of GASGANO and speeds away.Four TUSKEN RAIDERS perched above the race course fire their rifles at the Pods racing in the canyon below them. One shot ricochets off the back of Anakin's Pod.
FODE/BEED : -
B : Looks like a few Tusken Riaders have campe out on the canyon dune turn.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY
JABBA THE HUTT and the crowd watch the progress of the race on small, hand-held view screens. JAR JAR is looking over the shoulder of a strange alien named FANTA.
JAR JAR : Where's Skywalker?
FANTA moves the view screen out of Jar Jar's view. PADME, SHMI, and QUI-GON watch another screen and look worried.ARTOO, down in the pits with KITSTER, lets out a worried sigh. The driver of the quadra-Pod looks worried.
EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)
ANAKIN is powering around corners and over hills and cliffs, passing other racers right and left. SEBULBA is in the lead. He is being challenged by another racer, XELBREE. SEBULBA slows a little, and as XELBREE pulls alongside, he opens a side vent on the racer's engine and the exhaust starts to cut through the alien's engine.The blast cuts along the engine until finally it EXPLODES. SEBULBA deftly veers away.ANAKIN works his way through a dense mass of racers as they zoom over a dune sea, kicking up dust. His Pod shakes violently as he goes over a jump. One of the Podracers, ODY, catches one of his engines in the sand, and the whole thing EXPLODES.
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY
QUI-GON sits quietly, meditating. PADME and SHMI search the landscape for any sign of the racers. JAR JAR is still annoying FANTA for information. The crowd SCREAMS. WATTO is laughing with his friends, confident in Anakin's defeat.The quadra-Pod engines start just as the racers come around the corner. The DRIVER, BEN QUADINAROS, puts it in gear, and the four engines go off in all directions, EXPLODING in a spectacular display. The Pod drops to the ground as SEBULBA enters the arena, closely followed by all the OTHER RACERS. KITSTER strains to see as ARTOO beeps excitedly. The announcer continues.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S)
B ; There goes Quadinaros' power couplings.
A : Sebulba! Ka pa me cheespa wata! (Here comes Sebulba in record time.)
QUI-GON, PADME, SHMI, and JAR JAR yell for joy as ANAKIN passes. JAR JAR is very nervous and pounds on the back of his alien neighbor, FANTA.
JAR JAR : What gooie-on?
FANTA : Bug off.
Lap two. SEBULBA and the pack race past the main arena. The crowd stands and YELLS as the Podracers scream off into the distance. QUI-GON and PADME look worried.
JAR JAR : He musta crash-ud.
PADME : Here he comes!
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - PIT AREA - DAY (FX)
ARTOO lets out an excited whistle, as KITSTER yells.
THREEPIO : He has to complete two more circuits? Oh dear!
EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)
Sure enough, coming around the bend is ANAKIN, quickly gaining on the pack. The two-headed announcer describes the action. The crowd goes wild.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
B : It looks like Skywalker is moving up through the field. He's in...
A : Steeth pa nagoola! (Sixth place, not bad.)
ANAKIN continues to gain on the pack. Tension for SHMI and PADME is unbearable.ODY stops in the pits. Droids work on his engines. DUM-4 stands in front of the engine and is sucked in, causing the engine to die. DUM-4 is spit out the back of the engine, very bent up. The engine lets out one final wheeze, then EXPLODES in a puff of smoke.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
A : Ody Mandrell! Coona wa wunda dunko! (Ody Mandrell into the pits for some attention.)
ODY : Droids!
TERTER is getting close to SEBULBA, who purposely breaks a small part off his Pod, sending it into Terter's engine, causing him to veer into ANAKIN, and unhooks one of the main straps on Anakin's engines that links the Pod to his engines.ANAKIN struggles to keep control of the little Pod. It whips about wildly. As the Pod swings near the broken engine strap, ANAKIN grabs for it. Finally, he catches the strap and manages to unhook it to the Pod. SEBULBA cuts the engine of OBITOKI with his side exhaust, and the racer crashes with a cloud of dust. A THIRD RACER, HABBA, flie into the cloud of dust and crashes into OBITOKI. ANAKIN rounds a corner and heads into the cloud of smoke. He hits a part of one of the engines but regains control.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
B :At the start of the third and final lap, Sebulba is in the lead, closely followed by Skywalker...
ANAKIN finally catches up with SEBULBA, and runs neck and neck over the rough terrain. JAR JAR, QUI-GON, SHMI, and PADME all SCREAM s ANAKIN comes through the arena. The lights in the tower indicate that this is the third and last lap. WATTO begins to worry.SEBULBA uses his side exhaust port to try to cut through Anakin's engines. ANAKIN manages to avoid having his engine disabled but is forced off course.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
B : Skywalker is forced onto the service ramp!
A : Oh noah!
On a tight corner, ANAKIN dives to the inside and takes the lead.
FODE BEED : - (O.S.)
B : Amazing... a controlled thrust and he's back on course! What a move!SEBULBA is furious. He stay's right on Anakin's tail, crowding him and pushing him through the turns.SEBULBA pushes ANAKIN harder, and the young boy has a difficult time keeping control. One of the parts on Anakin's engines begins to shake loose. ANAKIN sees it and switches over to an auxiliary system. While he is trying to accomplish this maneuver, SEBULBA races past him.ANAKIN tries to get around SEBULBA, to no avail. Every move ANAKIN makes, SEBULBA is able to block. Finally, ANAKIN fakes a move into the inside as he usually does, then tries to go around SEBULBA on the outside. They race sid by side down the final stretch of the track.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
B : He's catching Sebulba.
A : Inkabunga. (Incredible!)
SEBULBA veers toward ANAKIN and bangs into his Pod. He crashes into ANAKIN over and over. The young boy struggles to maintain control as the steering rods on the two Pods become hooked together. SEBULBA laughs at ANAKIN.
FODE/BEED : - (O.S.)
B : That little human being is out of his mind.
A : Punda tah punda! (They're neck and neck!)
B : They're side by side!
A : Bongo du bongu! (Shoulder to shoulder!)
As they head for the final stretch, ANAKIN fights to unlock the steering rods by trying to pull away from SEBULBA. The strain on the steering rod is tremendous. Suddenly, ANAKIN's steering arm breaks, and his Pos starts spinning.
The release of tension sends SEBULBA into an ancient statue. One engine EXPLODES, then the other. SEBULBA skids through the fire-balls, blackened, but unhurt. He slides to a smoking stop, gets out of his racer, and throws what's left of a shifter arm on the ground. Suddenly he realizes his pants are on fire, and he struggles to put them out. ANAKIN flies through the EXPLOSION as the crowd stands, CHERRING. PADME and JAR JAR jump up and down with excitment, PADME screaming for joy. ARTOO and KITSTER whistle hysterically. QUI-GON and SHMI smile. ANAKIN races over the finish line, the winner.
INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCERS BOX - DAY (FX)
The two-headed announcer excitedly calls the finish.
FODE/BEED : -
B : It's Skywalker! The crowd are going nuts! Oh Ah Oh Ah (rock head in tandem with partner)
EXT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - DAY
As ANAKIN stops the Podracer, KISTER turns up, and they embrace. Hundreds of SPECTATORS join them and put ANAKIN on their shoulders, marching off, CHEERING AND CHANTING. Darth Maul's PROBE DROIDS move through the crowd.
INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA - PRIVATE BOX - DAY