Star Wars: Episode III - Page Eight
Star Wars Episode III
The Path of Darkness
page 8
EXT ALDERAAN - SAME TIME
A small ship blasts away from Alderaan and leaps into hyperspace, bound for the outer rim. Darthine Jez follows in her fighter.
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INT ALDERAAN - ROYAL PALACE - BEDROOM - CONTINUING
Amidala sobs, her heart broken. Obi Wan holds her, doing his best to comfort her.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Luke will be a Jedi. I will protect him. I swear it.
AMIDALA
I miss him.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Luke ... or Anakin?
AMIDALA
Both.
OBI WAN KENOBI
I'll do everything in my power to get Anakin back. If I can't ...
Obi Wan trails off, not wanting to continue the thought. Amidala finishes it for him.
AMIDALA
Make it quick. Please.
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EXT MALASCHU'CKAR - CLONING FACILITY - NIGHT
The Jedi Knights mill around, having no enemies to fight, and nothing to do.
Anakin talks to one of the generals, TEEVO SCHREBB, a tall, gangly humanoid.
ANAKIN
I want you to take the troops to Botham Caruz.
TEEVO SCHREBB
Where are you going?
ANAKIN
Back to Coruscant. I have felt a disturbance. I will join you soon.
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INT JEDI TEMPLE - TRAINING ARENA - DAY
Mace Windu walks slowly through the Temple, overwhelmed by the great devastation.
MACE WINDU
The prophesies never spoke of this.
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INT JEDI TEMPLE - ENTRYWAY - EVENING
Obi Wan enters. He stops short. Chaos abounds in the once beautiful temple. Dried blood streaks the walls.
MACE WINDU (O.S.)
They are all dead, Obi Wan.
Mace Windu picks up a piece of a broken statue as he steps from the shadows.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Who did this?
MACE WINDU
The Sith.
Obi Wan tries to fight back anger and hatred for this wanton destruction.
OBI WAN KENOBI
What do we do now?
MACE WINDU
We go to Botham Caruz.
OBI WAN KENOBI
To our destruction.
MACE WINDU
Yoda said that not all would be destroyed.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Is Master Yoda ...?
MACE WINDU
He has gone into hiding.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Where?
MACE WINDU
Dagobah.
Mace Windu reaches out and puts a hand on Obi Wan's shoulder.
MACE WINDU
We cannot bring them back, but we can honor their memory.
OBI WAN KENOBI
"There is no death, there is the force."
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INT CORUSCANT - IMPERIAL PALACE - EMPEROR'S THRONE ROOM - NIGHT
Anakin storms in. He brushes past the Imperial Guards, heedless of their force-pikes thrusting toward his back.
ANAKIN
What did you do to the Jedi Temple?
PALPATINE
They would not submit to the law.
ANAKIN
You killed them.
PALPATINE
On the contrary, my apprentice, you killed them.
ANAKIN
No.
PALPATINE
You set the trap on Botham Caruz.
ANAKIN
I set that to kill the clones.
PALPATINE
I regret to say that very soon, all the Jedi will be destroyed.
Anakin races out of the room. Palpatine smiles in cruel amusement.
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EXT TATTOOINE - SAME TIME
Twin suns glow brightly against the parched planet. The small jedi ship races toward the planet.
Darthine Jez drops out of hyperspace right behind them.
INT JEDI SHIP - CONTINUING
Rabe looks at the controls.
RABE
Someone's following us.
SHMI SKYWALKER
Hurry.
EXT TATTOOINE - DESERT - CONTINUING
The Jedi ship lands near a small moisture farm. Shmi holds Luke close to her. Rabe carries two blasters. She looks around warily, keenly aware of the impending danger.
SHMI SKYWALKER
There it is.
Darthine's ship lands behind them. Darthine stalks out, determination and loathing mixed on her face.
Shmi hurries faster. Rabe gets off a few shots. All of them are blocked by Darthine's lightsaber.
Shmi gives Luke to Rabe.
RABE
You can't stop her.
SHMI SKYWALKER
Protect him.
Shmi turns back to face Darthine. Rabe runs with the child toward the moisture farm, calling for help.
DARTHINE JEZ
Shmi. It's been too long.
SHMI SKYWALKER
I will not let you take him, Jezi. You may destroy me, but you will never destroy the Skywalker line.
DARTHINE JEZ
And just how do you plan on stopping me?
Shmi reaches within herself, calling on latent force powers. She lashes out with the force, decades of frustration bursting forth in one powerful blow.
Darthine flies backwards and crashes into Shmi's ship, knocking her to the ground.
Shmi advances. Darthine gets up. She is thrown backwards again.
SHMI SKYWALKER
I will not let you take the child.
DARTHINE JEZ
How can you ...? You have no training.
SHMI SKYWALKER
The force is with me.
Shmi hurls Darthine into the ship again. Darthine reels at the force of the blow. She ignites her lightsaber.
SHMI SKYWALKER
I am a daughter of the Sun. I will not let you harm my children.
Darthine flies back into the ship again. Her lightsaber digs deeply into the ship, severing a fuel line. Fuel spills out on the ground.
DARTHINE JEZ
I'll kill you.
Shmi says nothing.
DARTHINE JEZ
Well? Say something!
Shmi once again remains silent.
DARTHINE JEZ
Say something!
The door to the moisture farm opens. OWEN LARS KENOBI looks out. He holds a blaster rifle. Rabe looks between him and the battle with Shmi.
RABE
Here. Take this baby. His name is Luke Skywalker. Your brother told me you'd take care of him.
OWEN LARS
Who are you?
RABE
I'm a friend of Obi Wan's. I have to help her.
Rabe hands Luke to Owen. He awkwardly takes the bundled child. Rabe runs out toward Shmi.
OWEN LARS
Beru! Get up here!
Shmi places herself between the moisture farm and Darthine Jez.
DARTHINE JEZ
I should have killed you myself. That assassin was worthless.
Shmi throws her backwards into the ship again.
Blood trickles from Darthine's mouth. She pulls her Chakram from her belt.
DARTHINE JEZ
Now you die.
SHMI SKYWALKER
There is no death. There is the force.
Darthine hurls the Chakram at Shmi. It rips through her clothing.
Shmi disappears into the force. Her clothing falls to the earth.
RABE (O.S.)
No!
Rabe fires both blasters at Darthine, racing towards her. The blasts miss and hit the leaking fuel.
The small ship explodes. Darthine disappears in the ball of fire. Rabe falls backwards from the force of the blast.
Owen and Beru Lars rush out and help Rabe to her feet.
Behind the burning ship. Darthine's ship lifts off and races into the sky.
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EXT BOTHAM CARUZ - DUSK
Anakin's ship approaches Botham Caruz. Suddenly Anakin reels backwards in his seat, overwhelmed by a surge of pain.
ANAKIN
Mother!
Tears blur his eyes. He grits his teeth. His ship plummets toward the planet.
EXT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CONTINUING
Mandalorian Clones and Jedi battle for survival. White armored Stormtroopers are also mixed in the fray.
Anakin's ship races overhead. He lets loose a volley of blasts that decimate ranks of battling warriors. He doesn't care how many jedi he kills along with the clones.
Rage blinds Anakin to everything.
His ship lands. He jumps out and hacks and slashes the nearest beings, whether they be jedi or clones.
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CONTINUING
Obi Wan and Mace Windu force their way into the building. It is empty.
A shot rings out, scorching the wall next to them. In the distance, down a corridor, Mandalore and his second, the new BOBA FETT, stand with smoking blasters.
Mace Windu narrows his eyes.
OBI WAN KENOBI
It appears we have found our enemy.
MACE WINDU
Indeed it does.
The jedi race in pursuit of the two Mandalorians.
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INT ALDERAAN - ROYAL PALACE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Amidala lies on her deathbed. Her face is drained of all color. Her breathing comes in ragged gasps. She would cry, but it seems she has no more tears to weep.
Bail Organa confers with the doctor, Telley Zimron.
TELLEY ZIMRON
I'm sorry, Lord Organa. It appears that her miraculous recovery was only temporary. There is nothing that I can do for her.
BAIL ORGANA
How much time does she have?
TELLEY ZIMRON
I do not expect her to last the night.
Lady Organa sits next to Amidala. She brushes a damp strand of hair away from Amidala's face.
Amberle Organa enters, holding Leia. She places Leia in Amidala's arms.
Amidala musters all her strength and only manages a weak smile. She touches Leia's face tenderly. The tears show in her eyes, but they do not fall.
AMIDALA
She is so beautiful.
Bail smiles at Amidala, trying to convey a sense of hope.
BAIL ORGANA
The doctors say that you'll live to see Leia grow up.
AMIDALA
No. I can feel my life slipping away.
AMBERLE ORGANA
I don't want you to die.
AMIDALA
As long you have Leia, you will always have me.
BAIL ORGANA
Is there anything that we can do for you?
Amidala looks down at Leia. Her face contorts in grief. She composes herself, but speaks in ragged tones.
AMIDALA
Promise me.
She gets up her strength for her final plea.
AMIDALA
Promise me you'll never tell her about her father.
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INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CONTINUING
Anakin throws open the doors. His eyes don't see clearly - rage drives his actions.
Lightsaber in hand, Anakin stalks down the corridors toward the trap he set.
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CORRIDORS - CONTINUING
Blaster fire shatters the walls all around the two jedi masters. They race after the Mandalorians.
EXT BOTHAM CARUZ - CONTINUING
A fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers drops out of hyperspace.
INT STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - CONTINUING
Grand Moff Tarkin addresses a hologram of Emperor Palpatine.
GRAND MOFF TARKIN
We are in position, Emperor.
PALPATINE
Await the signal from Skywalker. Then destroy the planet.
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CHASM - CONTINUING
Great catwalks span a steaming chasm. Huge pipes run down the central core of the planet.
Mandalore stands alone in the middle of a catwalk. Boba Fett is nowhere to be seen.
Mace Windu steps forward. Obi Wan backs away cautiously, searching for Boba Fett.
MACE WINDU
This one is mine.
Mace Windu snaps out his lightsaber. Mandalore steps into a defensive stance. He pulls a dark bladed sword from a scabbard on his back.
MACE WINDU
A sword?
MANDALORE
Is it so different from your lightsaber, Jedi?
Mace Windu feints left and thrusts straight at Mandalore. Mandalore easily sidesteps the thrust and lashes out at Mace. His sword slices part of Mace Windu's sleeve.
MANDALORE
We share a common bond of honor. You disdain me, and I loathe you. But we are warriors.
MACE WINDU
Then let us settle this as warriors.
Mace Windu slips out of his outer brown cloak. Mandalore pulls off his cape.
Obi Wan searches the shadows for Boba Fett. There is no sign of him anywhere. Obi Wan keeps his lightsaber up, just in case.
High above the battle, Boba Fett watches from a precarious perch atop a shadowed pipe.
MANDALORE
I have long wondered if the legendary Mace Windu was a match for Mandalore.
Mace Windu slashes downward with his saber. It clashes on Mandalore's sword ... and stops!
MANDALORE
Mandalorian Iron.
MACE WINDU
Very well.
They launch into a dizzying display of kicks, punches and slashes. Mandalore thrusts straight at Mace Windu's face. He bends over backwards, and parries upwards. Their dance of death ranges over the entire catwalk.
Mace Windu flips over the top of Mandalore and drops low, spinning and taking out Mandalore's feet.
Mandalore falls, but slashes out and cuts Mace on the arm.
An explosion rocks the room. Smoke pours through the door. Obi Wan goes to investigate.
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CORRIDORS - CONTINUING
Obi Wan's lightsaber glows blue against the thick smoke. He sees another blue lightsaber slashing down against the metal walls.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Anakin!
Anakin strides out of the smoke, eyes blazing.
ANAKIN
You! You made me choose the jedi over her! You made me leave!
Obi Wan holds his hand up to halt Anakin.
OBI WAN KENOBI
You make your choice.
ANAKIN
Who killed her?
OBI WAN KENOBI
Who?
ANAKIN
My mother.
OBI WAN KENOBI
I don't know.
ANAKIN
You do.
OBI WAN KENOBI
I sent her home. If she died, she died on Tattooine.
ANAKIN
She's still dead.
Anakin slashes down. Obi Wan meets his blow. Their sabers collide in a shower of sparks.
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CHASM - CONTINUING
Boba Fett watches the dazzling display of swordsmanship play out beneath him.
Both combatants breathe heavily. Mace Windu favors his left side. A dark stain grows on his left leg. Mandalore holds his left hand close to his chest. He is missing three fingers.
MANDALORE
You are a true warrior. I salute you.
MACE WINDU
But still we fight.
Mandalore steps back and sets his sword on the floor.
MANDALORE
I set down my sword. You put down your lightsaber. You go your way. I go mine.
Mace Windu stoops down slowly, never taking his eyes off Mandalore. He turns off his lightsaber and places it on the ground, but doesn't take his hand off it.
In the background, Obi Wan backs into the room, battling Anakin. Mace Windu's eyes shift to that battle.
Mandalore kicks his sword with his toe, sending it streaking towards Mace Windu. Mace throws himself to the side, but the blade slices him across the chest.
Mace Windu rolls to his feet and slashes Mandalore with the lightsaber.
Mandalore stops cold. He looks down at the gaping wound across his torso. He smiles at Mace Windu, then falls off the catwalk into the distant lava below.
Mace Windu touches his hand to his chest. It comes away dripping with blood. He grimaces, but heads toward Anakin and Obi Wan.
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INT ALDERAAN - ROYAL PALACE - BEDROOM - SAME TIME
Amidala barely breathes. Leia lies next to her mother silently. She looks up at her mother's ashen face.
Amberle holds Amidala's hand tightly. Amidala looks over at her. A small smile barely crosses her lips.
Amidala closes her eyes in the sleep of death. With her last breath, she breathes out her final word.
AMIDALA
(almost silently)
Anakin.
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INT BOTHAM CARUZ - GEOTHERMAL GENERATOR - CHASM -
Mace Windu runs painfully over to where Anakin and Obi Wan battle. Obi Wan is clearly on the defensive, not understanding the meaning of Anakin's ravings.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Anakin, calm down. Remember the force.
ANAKIN
You poisoned my mind. You and the Council. You betrayed the truth.
MACE WINDU
Anakin! Silence!
Mace Windu throws Anakin backwards with the force.
Anakin hits the wall, hate filling his eyes. He takes a step towards Mace Windu, then falls to his knees. His eyes screw shut in pain and realization.
ANAKIN
(hoarsely)
Amidala.
Obi Wan and Mace Windu share a quick, concerned look.
When Anakin raises his head, something cold enters into his eyes. This is not the Jedi Knight they once knew.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Anakin? Are you all right?
Anakin's voice comes out ragged and hoarse, as if he is forcing every word.
ANAKIN
Anakin Skywalker is dead.
MACE WINDU
Who are you, then?
ANAKIN
I am the Chosen One. I am The Jedi Prophet. I am Vader.
Anakin rises slowly to his feet. He takes a defensive stance and glares at both Jedi Masters.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Remember Amidala. Don't lose her.
ANAKIN
Amidala is dead.
(growling)
You said you healed her.
Anakin attacks, full of the fury of the dark side. He drives Obi Wan backwards into the railing. Mace Windu drops the the floor and sweeps Anakin's feet.
Obi Wan regains his footing. Anakin has already gone after Mace Windu. Mace scrambles backward, rolling and dodging thrust after thrust.
Obi Wan races after Anakin.
OBI WAN KENOBI
Anakin!
Anakin whirls and blocks Obi Wan's downward slash. He spins his lightsaber in a blinding display of skill. Obi Wan blocks and parries, but is unable to get in any hits of his own.
Suddenly Anakin thrusts straight backwards, impaling Mace Windu. Mace gurgles once, then topples over the railing. Anakin steps toward the middle of the catwalk.
He doesn't see Mace Windu's body disappear before it hits the lava. Only Mace Windu's lightsaber splashes as it hits the steaming lava pool.
ANAKIN
Now, Old Man, it is you and me.
OBI WAN KENOBI
I am still your master.
ANAKIN
I have no master.
OBI WAN KENOBI
The Emperor plays you like a puppet.
ANAKIN
I am the Chosen One. I am my own master!
Obi Wan goes after Anakin. Two blue lightsabers spark and hiss as they clash in the smoky cavern.
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