Saga Episode 3.1, Revenge of the Sith Revisited - screenplay rewrite strengthening Padmé's role

This rewrite of the ROTS screenplay is not a parody, but rather a serious attempt to enhance the story's character development, especially that of Padmé Amidala who, except for one powerful scene, was, I feel, not given her due. It is done in a way that, at least in the major areas, preserves the timeline for the Original Trilogy.

The full script appears as a series of replies to this introductory post. I apologize for the text conversion having altered the screenplay's format. It was originally a Word document.

Please note that you have to get past the first act (rescue of Palaptine) before you'll start to see major differences from what is in the movie. Also, do not fear. This is not an attempt to change the film's political message. Padme's enhanced role does add to the political story, however.

(Note for fan sites concerned about ratings: There is no bad language. Sexual themes are developed more than they are in the movie, but they are non-explicit, and there is no "slash". Descriptions of violence are no more explicit than they are in the Lucas version. However, the dramatic impact on the characters is more intense in some scenes.)

 

STAR WARS EPISODE 3.1

REVENGE OF THE SITH REVISITED

An Unofficial Rewrite of the Screenplay by George Lucas

Previously Published and/or Produced Material by George Lucas

New and Replacement Material by Sam Rosenbaum
Based on Characters and Story Settings Created by George Lucas


Updated
January 16, 2006
samrosenbaum@cox.net



FADE IN:

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

EXT. SPACE

A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the Main Title, followed by a rollup, which crawls into infinity.

War! The Republic is crumbling under attacks by the ruthless Sith Lord, Count Dooku. There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere.

In a stunning move, the fiendish Droid leader, General Grievous, has swept into the Republic capital and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate.

As the Separatist Droid Army attempts to flee the besieged capital with their valuable hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a desperate mission to rescue the captive Chancellor . . .

PAN DOWN to reveal a Republic Attack Cruiser. Continue to PAN with the Cruiser, as two Jedi
Starfighters enter and head toward an enemy Battle Cruiser. TRUCK with the Jedi fighters, as they maneuver in unison, dodging flack and enemy LASER FIRE. R2-D2 is on Anakin's ship. R4-P17 is on Obi-Wan's ship. A giant space battle is revealed as the tiny Jedi ships continue their assault in a synchronous ballet.

INT. OBI-WAN'S STARFIGHTER COCKPIT - SPACE

OBI-WAN KENOBI, now in his late 30?s with a longer beard, bounces through the flack with a frown. His ship ROCKS violently.

INT. ANAKIN?S STARFIGHTER COCKPIT - SPACE

ANAKIN SKYWALKER, now in his 20?s with longer, curly hair, smiles, as he BLASTS a Trade Federation Droid drop fighter.

ANAKIN
There isn't a Droid made that can out fly you, Master, and no other way to get to the Chancellor.

OBI-WAN
Look out, four Droids inbound.

EXT. CORUSCANT - SPACE BATTLE

The two Jedi fighters swerve in unison as four Trade Federation Droid drop fighters attack.
After several clever moves by the Jedi, two of the Federation Droid drop fighters collide with each other in a ball of flame.

INTERCUT ? INT. OBI-WAN'S AND ANAKIN?S STARFIGTHER COCKPITS, EXT. STARFIGHTERS, AND EXT. SPACE BATTLE

Obi-Wan struggles to maintain control of his ship.

OBI-WAN
We've got to split them up.

ANAKIN
Break left, fly through the guns on that tower.

Obi-Wan flies to the left of a huge tower on a Republic Cruiser. The two Droid drop fighters follow.

OBI-WAN
Easy for you to say . . . why am I always the bait?

ANAKIN
Don't worry. I'm coming around behind you.

Obi-Wan deftly maneuvers around a large starship's superstructure, but the two Droid fighters stay on his tail, BLASTING him with intense laser fire.

OBI-WAN
Anakin, they're all over me!

ANAKIN
Dead ahead! Closing . . . lock onto him, Artoo.

R2 BEEPS his reply, as Anakin swoops in for the kill. Anakin BLASTS one of the Droid drop fighters. It EXPLODES.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
(laughs)
We got him, Artoo!

Anakin BLASTS away at the second Droid drop fighter, as R2 BEEPS an angry warning.

ANAKIN
I copy, Artoo.

OBI-WAN
I'm going down on the deck.

ANAKIN
Good idea . . . I need some room to maneuver.

Obi-Wan dives toward the surface of one of the larger Trade Federation Battleships and is forced to fly through a maelstrom

of laser flack. He skims the surface, followed by the Droid drop fighter, which is followed by Anakin.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
Cut right. Do you hear me?! Cut right. Don't let him get a handle on you. Come on, Artoo, lock on! Lock on!

R2 BEEPS. The crosshairs merge on the Droid drop fighter.

OBI-WAN
Hurry up! I don't like this!

Obi-Wan flies through a narrow gap between two towers on a battleship. The Droid drop fighter hits one of Obi-Wan's wings with a laser blast, and parts of the ship go flying around Obi-Wan's Astro Droid, R4.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
Ouch!

R4 BEEPS a blue streak.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
Don't even try to

 

INT. BRIDGE ? SAME TIME

GENERAL GRIEVOUS
Prepare for attack.

PILOT
All batteries fire! Fire!

INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER ? BATTLESTATIONS ? SAME TIME

CLONE GUNNERS FIRE on the Trade Federation Cruiser and take FIRE in return. Gun emplacements are destroyed. Clone troopers go flying.

INT. TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER - GENERAL'S QUARTERS ? SAME TIME

Anakin carries Obi-Wan to the elevator doors and hits the button. Palpatine joins him.

ANAKIN
The elevator's not working.
(into his comlink)
Artoo . . .

R2 BEEPS a response over the comlink.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
Activate Elevator 3224.

INSERT - EXT. BATTLE ? SPACE

A beam from the Republic Cruiser penetrates the Trade Federation Cruiser?s lower hull, causing an EXPLOSION.

BACK TO SCENE

Suddenly the ship shifts to its side, as the elevator doors open. Palpatine is thrown to the floor. Anakin jumps to the door frame and looks into the elevator shaft.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
Artoo, do you copy? Artoo, come in!

INT. MAIN HANGAR ? SAME TIME

As the ship rolls, spacecraft and equipment CRASH from one side of the ship to the other. Several objects BREAK THROUGH the metal blast doors, causing objects to be SUCKED into space. R2 starts to slide toward one of the small holes.

INT. GENERAL'S QUARTERS ? SAME TIME

As the elevator shaft rotates, it has become a long hallway. Anakin clings to the doorframe
with Obi-Wan on his shoulder, as the Chancellor struggles to join him.

INT. MAIN HANGAR ? SAME TIME

R2 continues to skid and slide toward open space. He BEEPS, as he dodges the LASER BLASTS of the Battle Droids. One BOLT hits very near him, and he SCREAMS in terror. One of the Battle Droids stumbles and is consumed by the electronic shield in a ZAP.

R2 is about to be overtaken by a Starfighter sliding behind him. He falls into a heap of broken Battle Droid parts, and the fighter BOUNCES over him.

EXT. SPACE ? CORUSCANT ? SAME TIME

The Trade Federation Cruiser heads straight down toward the planet.

INT. TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER ? GENERAL?S QUARTERS ? SAME TIME

Anakin jumps into the horizontal elevator shaft with Obi-Wan still on his shoulder.

ANAKIN
We can't wait. Come on, we have to be fast.

Palpatine climbs into the elevator shaft also.

INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT ON SIDE

They start running. The ship begins to roll again, and the Jedi and the Chancellor are forced to jump from one side of the elevator to the other.

INT. BRIDGE ? SAME TIME

GENERAL GRIEVOUS
Fire the emergency booster engines.

PILOT
Leveling out, sir.

INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT ON SIDE ? SAME TIME

Anakin, still carrying Obi-Wan on his back, and Palpatine run down the elevator shaft, as it starts to move upright. Anakin cuts a control box on one of the doors, but before the doors can open, the ship moves to an angle, causing him and Palpatine to start sliding down the shaft. Anakin grabs some wires in the control box with one hand. Palpatine grabs onto the Jedi's leg. As the ship rights itself, they are left hanging in the bottomless elevator shaft. Obi-Wan regains consciousness and tries to look around.

ANAKIN
Easy . . . We're in a bit of a situation.

OBI-WAN
Did I miss something?

He looks down and sees Palpatine and the bottomless pit. They hear R2 BEEPING on Obi-Wan's comlink. The ship begins to roll, causing the now vertical shaft to move into a forty-five-degree angle. They hear the ELEVATOR BRAKES RELEASE and look up to see the
elevator heading toward them.

ANAKIN
Hold on.

OBI-WAN
What is that?

Obi-Wan and Anakin look up to watch the elevator approach them at high speed, then Obi-Wan turns to Anakin.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
Oops.

ANAKIN
(to comlink)
Artoo, Artoo, shut down the elevator!

OBI-WAN
Too late! Jump!

They fall about three hundred feet before the tilt of the ship catches up with them, and
they hit the side of the shaft and slide at great speed just ahead of the elevator. The
shaft continues to rotate until it is completely horizontal.

Anakin and Obi-Wan take out and thr

 

EXT. SENATE OFFICE BUILDING - LANDING PLATFORM - LATE AFTERNOON

The Jedi shuttle touches down on the landing platform just outside the massive office building?s high-altitude main entrance. There are a DOZEN SENATORS waiting, including BAIL ORGANA, 40?s, strong build, polite. C-3PO is also there. Palpatine, R2-D2, and Anakin emerge from the shuttle. Obi-Wan stays in the shuttle doorway.

ANAKIN
(to Obi-Wan)
Are you coming, Master?

OBI-WAN
Oh no. I'm not brave enough for politics. I have to report to the Council. Besides, someone needs to be the poster boy.

ANAKIN
Hold on, this whole operation was your idea. You?re the one who planned it and led the rescue. You?re the one who reports to the Senate on missions like this. You have to be the one to take the bows this time.

OBI-WAN
Sorry, old friend. Let?s not forget that you killed Count Dooku, rescued the Chancellor, rescued me twice, and managed to land that bucket of bolts safely.

ANAKIN
All because of your training, Master. You deserve all those speeches of your greatness.

OBI-WAN
The endless speeches . . . Anakin, let's be fair. Today, you are the hero, and you deserve your glorious day with the politicians.

ANAKIN
All right. But you owe me . . . and not for saving your skin for the tenth time.

OBI-WAN
Ninth time . . . that business on Cato Nemoidia doesn't count. I'll see you at the briefing.

Anakin smiles and walks away from Obi-Wan.

The Chancellor and the entourage of Senators (minus Bail Organa) that has formed around him approach MACE WINDU. Mace is still bald, tough and no-nonsense.

MACE
Chancellor Palpatine, are you well? Do you need medical attention?

PALPATINE
I am well, thanks to your two Jedi Knights. They killed Count Dooku, but General Grievous has escaped once again.

MACE
General Grievous will run and hide as he always does. He is a coward.

PALPATINE
That may be true, but with Count Dooku dead, he is the leader of the Droid Army, and I assure you, the Senate will vote to continue the war as long as Grievous is alive.

MACE
Then the Jedi Council will make finding Grievous our highest priority.

Bail walks with Anakin, as the crowd exits the platform and moves toward the Grand Hallway. There to greet them is PADMÉ AMIDALA, now approaching 30 and more mature, having toned down the extravagant fashion somewhat.

PADMÉ
(smiles)
Anakin Skywalker, the Republic cannot praise you enough.

Anakin, Padmé and Bail enter the hallway.

ANAKIN
Thank you, My Lady. The kidnapping was a bold move by the Separatists, but it was a mistake that Obi-Wan and I were able to take advantage of.

R2-D2 and C-3PO follow behind the crowd.

C-3PO
It couldn't possibly be as bad as all that.

R2 BEEPS.

C-3PO (cont?d)
Well, there, I agree with you. In fact, I could do with a tune-up myself.

INT. SENATE OFFICE BUILDING - MAIN HALLWAY ? SAME TIME

Anakin is at the back of the crowd of Senators, talking with Bail. Padmé has joined another conversation. R2-D2 and C-3PO scoot along ahead of them.

BAIL
The end of Count Dooku will surely bring an end to this war, and an end to the Chancellor's draconian security measures.

ANAKIN
I wish that were so, but the fighting is going to continue until General Grievous is spare parts . . . The Chancellor is very clear about that.

BAIL
I'll speak to Senator Amidala, and we?ll do everything we can. Anakin looks to see that, with the crowd having moved on, Padmé has disappeared.

ANAKIN
Excuse me.

BAIL
Certainly.

Anakin stops, and Bail goes off after Palpatine and the others. Anakin goes behind one of the giant columns to meet up with Padmé. They embrace and kiss.

PADMÉ
I wanted to say thank goodness, you?re back safe, and how worried I was, but that wouldn?t have been formal.

ANAKIN
I missed you, Padmé. It feels like we've been apart for a lifetime. And it might have been . . . If the Chancellor hadn't been kidnapped, I don't think they would have ever brought us back from the Outer Rim sieges.

He starts to

 

EXT. CORUSCANT - REPUBLIC AVENUE ? LATE AFTERNOON

Flanked by her two aides, Padmé walks along the busy avenue, where airborne speeders WHIZ by, and steam vents from under parts of the sidewalk. She glances at the CLONE TROOPS patrolling the area. No real need for bodyguards here. Then she hears a CRASH o.s. and looks to see . . .

INSERT ? PADMÉ?S P.O.V.

TWO CLONE SOLDIERS dragging a struggling NEIMOIDIAN out of a café. His only crime appears to be
that he?s the same species as Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray (from The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones).

BACK TO SCENE

Ellé and Moteé see it too. Padmé turns to them.

PADMÉ
You two can go on without me. I?ll see you in the morning.

ELLÉ
But My Lady . . .

PADMÉ
I?ll be fine.

She turns and starts following the Clones. Ellé and Moteé look on with concern.

MOMENTS LATER

Padmé continues following the Clones, just far enough back to keep from getting made. The Clones turn a corner with their captive.

EXT. SIDE STREET ? CONTINUOUS

The Clones drag their captive up the nearly deserted street and past a NOISY STEAM VENT.
Padmé turns the corner onto the side street and starts up it. The Clones and their prisoner
disappear into an alley. Passing the STEAM VENT, Padmé approaches the corner of the alley cautiously and looks.

INSERT ? PADMÉ?S P.O.V. ? ALLEY

The Clones throw their prisoner against the wall and start inflicting shocks with their electric batons.

BACK TO SCENE

Distressed, Padmé looks around to see that no one else is near, then she enters the alley.

A MINUTE LATER

Padmé is helping the alien out of the alley and toward the major avenue, consoling him inaudibly, as they pass the STEAM VENT. The Clones step out of the alley and head off in another direction, as if nothing happened.

EXT. PADMÉ?S APARTMENT ? VERANDA - SUNSET

Padmé stands, watching the sunset, deep in thought. A shadowy figure moves toward her. She senses something.

ANAKIN (O.S.)
Beautiful, isn't it?

Padmé jumps and turns around.

PADMÉ
You startled me.

Anakin sits down on the bench.

ANAKIN
That?s unusual for you. How are you feeling?

PADMÉ
He keeps kicking.

ANAKIN
He?! Why do you think it's a boy?

PADMÉ
(laughs)
My motherly intuition.

She sits next to him and puts his hand on her belly.

ANAKIN
Whoa! With a kick that strong, it's got to be a girl.

They laugh.

PADMÉ
I hear the Council accepted your appointment. Anakin, I'm so proud of you.

ANAKIN
I may be on the Council, but they refused to accept me as a Master.

PADMÉ
Have patience. In time, they?ll recognize your skills. You?ll earn your place among the Jedi, without a Chancellor?s decree.

ANAKIN
They still treat me as if I were a Padawan learner . . . they fear my power, that's the problem.

PADMÉ
Anakin, I don?t think that?s it.

ANAKIN
Sometimes, I wonder what's happening to the Jedi Order . . . I think this war is destroying the principles of the Republic. We?re fighting among ourselves, instead of being unified against the Separatist threat . . . And your fighting the Chancellor only encourages those who are on the wrong side.

PADMÉ
Have you ever considered that we may be on the wrong side?

ANAKIN
(suspicious)
What do you mean?

PADMÉ
You?ve been out there. You?ve seen what?s happening. 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?

ANAKIN
I don't believe that. And you're sounding like a Separatist sympathizer!

PADMÉ
Anakin, above all, this war represents a failure to listen.

ANAKIN
Listen to who? Enemies of the Republic? Why should we? We?re winning. Eventually, we?ll wipe them out.

Padmé stands suddenly.

PADMÉ
But at what cost?! Anakin, will you listen to yourself? Do you know what you?re saying? Do you know that I?m seeing and hearing, day after day, what ?wipe them out? truly means?

ANAKIN
(embarrassed)
I didn?t mean it that way, P

 

INT. JEDI TEMPLE ? WAR ROOM ? DAY

Mace and the holograms of Ki-Adi-Mundi, Yoda and Obi-Wan are seated at a large table. Above
it is a holographic map of the war zones and troop movements amongst the star systems. Yet,
at the moment, they are not talking about the map.

OBI-WAN (holo)
I, too, sense that Anakin is in danger from the path he?s taking, but that this path is not
entirely his own. I have reason to suspect that someone on Coruscant is using the Dark Side
in an attempt to turn Anakin.

Mace reacts with a flash of anger, but not at Obi-Wan.

MACE
(to all)
I?ll give you one guess who it is!

KI-ADI-MUNDI (holo)
Do you mean Chancellor Palpatine?

MACE
The Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor. I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office.

Obi-Wan already looks sorry he brought this up.

OBI-WAN (holo)
That could be dangerous . . . the Jedi Council would have to take control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition. I do not like that idea.

KI-ADI-MUNDI (holo)
We should wait. Word has spread very fast that there?s an insurgent movement in the Senate that could make this issue moot.

MACE
There is. They just announced it today. But I?m not holding out any hope for politicians
resolving this crisis. We must be ready to act.

YODA (holo)
To a dark place this line of thought will carry us. Hmmmmm . . . great care we must take.

INT. REPUBLIC BATTLE CRUISER ? HANGAR - SPACE

CLONE TROOPERS stand at attention in rows on the floor of the hangar deck, waiting to board landing craft. Obi-Wan stands next to his blue Jedi fighter, talking to SEVERAL CLONE COMMANDERS with their helmets off, all looking like Jango Fett.

A hologram of the planet Utapau is projected by Obi-Wan?s new Astro Droid (R4-G9) into the middle of the hangar.

CLONE COMMANDER CODY
Fortunately, most of the cities are concentrated on this small continent here . . . on the far side.

OBI-WAN
I'll keep them distracted until you get there. Just don't take too long.

CLONE COMMANDER CODY
Come on, boss, when have I ever let you down?

They laugh.

OBI-WAN
Cato Nemoidia . . . for starters.

He climbs into his Jedi fighter.

CLONE COMMANDER CODY
That was Anakin, who was late, I believe.

OBI-WAN
(smiles)
Yes.

He FIRES UP the engine.

EXT. JEDI FIGHTER - SPACE

Obi-Wan?s blue Jedi fighter BLASTS out of the Republic Battle Cruiser and into the hyperspace ring. The ring jumps to hyperspace.

EXT. CORUSCANT ? SENATE OFFICE BUILDING ? LANDING PLATFORM - LATE AFTERNOON

A transport lands, and Chancellor Palpatine emerges with FOUR REPUBLIC GUARDS and Mas Amedda. The guards move off in another direction, as Palpatine greets Anakin, who has been waiting for him.

PALPATINE
Well, Anakin, did you see your friend off?

ANAKIN
He will soon have Grievous' head.

PALPATINE
We can only hope the Council didn't make a mistake.

ANAKIN
The Council was very sure in its decision.

PALPATINE
There are rumors in the Senate about Master Kenobi. Many believe he is not fit for this assignment.

ANAKIN
Not fit? Why would anyone think that?

They exit the landing platform and walk toward the building entrance.

PALPATINE
They say his mind has become fogged by the influence of a certain female Senator . . . the one he reports to as a Jedi liaison. It is said there is another kind of liaison going on between them.

This disturbs Anakin.

PALPATINE (cont?d)
Were it to be true, both of them would be having significant conflicts of interest.

ANAKIN
With all due respect, Chancellor, I don?t believe Obi-Wan would do such a thing . . . or Senator Amidala, for that matter, from what I know of her.

PALPATINE
Are you sure about that? Search your feelings. Haven?t you been sensing things about your friend?

This disturbs Anakin even more, as they enter the grand hallway.

INT. MAIN HALLWAY ? CONTINUOUS

PALPATINE (cont?d)
As fo

 

INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI GUNSHIP - LANDING PLATFORM - EARLY EVENING

Mace, Agen Kolar and TWO MORE JEDI are preparing to board a Jedi gunship to the Chancellor?s office. Anakin enters the hangar.

ANAKIN
Master Windu, I must talk to you.

MACE
What is it, Skywalker? We are in a hurry. We just received word that Obi-Wan has destroyed
General Grievous. We?re on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency powers to the Senate.

ANAKIN
He won't give up his power. He may not, even if the Senate forces him. I've just learned a terrible truth. I think Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord we?ve been looking for.

MACE
(alarmed)
How do you know this?

ANAKIN
He knows the ways of the Force. He?s been trained to use the Dark Side.

MACE
Are you sure? It is vital that you be sure!

ANAKIN
I am sure. Absolutely.

MACE
Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly, if the Jedi Order is to survive.

ANAKIN
Master, the Chancellor is very powerful. You will need my help if you?re going to arrest him.

MACE
For your own good, stay out of this affair. I sense a great deal of confusion in you, young Skywalker. There is much fear that clouds your judgment.

ANAKIN
I sense fear in you too, Master. I must go.

MACE
(growing angry)
Do not pretend to know what you sense in me, Skywalker!

ANAKIN
I?m sorry, Master.

MACE
If what you told me is true, you will have gained my trust, but for now remain here. Wait for us in the Council Chamber.

ANAKIN
Yes, Master.

Anakin watches, as the Jedi leave in their ship.

EXT. SENATE ARENA ? EARLY EVENING

The sky has darkened, but the lights are on in and around the massive, elliptical Senate arena, which stands atop the many times more massive Senate Office Building.

INT. SENATE CHAMBER ? EARLY EVENING

There is lots of ACTIVITY in the vast chamber, which has been thrown into a rare night session. Mon Mothma is talking inaudibly with several OTHER SENATORS in one of the pods. Padmé and Bail meet behind another pod.

BAIL
I have four more.

PADMÉ
So have I.

BAIL
That?s a gain of over a hundred, so far. How are you holding up?

PADMÉ
(like we?ve never seen her)
Better than I have in years! Better than I could ever have hoped! There's no need to worry about my . . . condition.

There is an uncomfortable pause. Bail does, indeed, look worried. Padmé moves closer to him.

PADMÉ (cont?d)
At last, we?re doing something worthwhile . . . what our people sent us here to do . . . for their children to have a future. That?s where the real power lies. Senators are finally realizing that following a Chancellor who destroys our Republic in the name of saving isn?t their only choice. To truly save it . . . to gain the influence to win the peace, once this war ends, will take a new governing coalition . . .
(touches him softly)
one for which you, Bail, deserve the credit.

BAIL
It will be a tenuous one. Keeping it together will mean many compromises.

PADMÉ
I know, but what else can we do? That?s the price of democracy, and I?m willing to pay it.

BAIL
(looks around)
It?s strange the Chancellor isn?t here opposing this.

PADMÉ
Perhaps he knows he has lost.

She turns to go talk to more Senators.

INT. JEDI TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBER ? SAME TIME

Anakin sits alone in the Council Chamber, thinking.

PALPATINE (V.O.)
You do know, don't you, if the Jedi destroy me, any chance of saving her will be lost.

PADMÉ (V.O.)
You don't need more power, Anakin. I believe you can protect me against anything, just as
you are . . . and . . . even if something were to happen to me, I?ll love you all the same.

ANAKIN
I can't do this . . . I can't let you die.

He rushes out of the Council Chamber . . .

INT. JEDI TEMPLE ? HANGAR ? SECONDS LATER

and to his speeder bike. The hangar door opens, and he LIFTS OFF.

INT. LOBBY TO CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

Mace Windu and his three Jedi enter the lobby, raising their arms, and send an AIDE flying aga

 

EXT. PADME'S APARTMENT ? VERANDA - PRE-DAWN

Padmé rushes onto the veranda, as Anakin exits his green Jedi fighter, leaving R2-D2 in the
service cockpit. They embrace.

PADMÉ
Anakin, are you all right?
(before he can answer)
I heard there was an attack on the Jedi Temple. You can see the smoke from here.

ANAKIN
I'm fine. I'm fine. I came to see if you and the baby are safe. With Captain Typho away-

PADMÉ
(interrupting)
We're all right. We?re safe. Were you there at the Temple? That?s what Threepio told me.

ANAKIN
Yes, I was overseeing the raid for the Chancellor.

PADMÉ
(backs away)
You would fight against the Jedi?

ANAKIN
The situation is not good. The Jedi have tried to overthrow the Republic. They have betrayed us. I was forced to take a side.

PADMÉ
I don?t believe it. Something?s very wrong here.
(uses her fingers to illustrate)
We were this close to bringing the Republic back to the democratic principles it stood for! Then this happens! I can?t believe it?s a coincidence!

ANAKIN
I couldn?t believe it either, but I saw Master Windu attempt to assassinate the Chancellor myself.

Padmé turns away.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
I will not betray the Republic. My loyalties lie with the Chancellor and with the Senate . . . and with you.

PADMÉ
What about Obi-Wan?

ANAKIN
I don't know . . . Many Jedi have been killed. We can only hope that he's remained loyal.

Padmé thinks a moment.

PADMÉ
You said you saw Master Windu attempt to assassinate the Chancellor.
(turns to Anakin)
Mace Windu doesn?t attempt to kill someone. Save for the few who can match him in battle, when he means to kill, he kills.

How is it that the Chancellor is alive then?

ANAKIN
I saved him . . .

Padmé stares at him.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
And, now, I have to save you. There are traitors in the Senate.

PADMÉ
(incredulous)
What?

ANAKIN
You need to begin distancing yourself from your friends.

PADMÉ
If you mean the group that launched the petition, then you have a strange idea of what a traitor is.

ANAKIN
The Chancellor believes many of them conspired with the Jedi, and that you may have too.

Padmé reacts with a troubled thought.

ANAKIN (cont?d)
Say that you didn?t know what they were really up to. The Chancellor says they are going to be dealt with, when this conflict is over. He?s already forming an inquiry.

PADMÉ
You mean an inquisition.

ANAKIN
He?s compiled a list . . . added many names. Yours isn?t on it . . . yet. Pray he does not add to it further.

PADMÉ
And if he does . . . what will you do?

Anakin approaches Padmé and places his hands on her shoulders.

ANAKIN
If you stay quiet, and do nothing, I can use my influence with him to protect you. And, soon, I will have more. The Chancellor has given me a very important mission. The Separatists have gathered in the Mustafar system. I?m going there to end this war. Wait for me, until I return. Things will be different. I promise.

They kiss. Anakin turns to leave.

PADMÉ
Ani . . . Since there are going to be inquiries, I have one of my own. The Younglings in the Temple . . . There hasn?t been any word of them. Are they safe?

Anakin doesn?t look at her.

PADMÉ (cont?d)
(realizing)
They?re not safe. Are they dead? Did Clone Soldiers kill them? Anakin . . . please, tell me.

ANAKIN
I can?t.

PADMÉ
You can?t? . . . Or you won?t?

ANAKIN
I know what you?d try to do with it. I won?t betray the Republic.

PADMÉ
(hurt)
Anakin, this isn?t about the Republic. Not here. Not now. This is just you and me.

ANAKIN
It?s just you and me now. But tomorrow, what will it be? Believe me, when I say that you?ll be putting yourself in even more danger.

PADMÉ
You?re closer than ever to the Chancellor, now. I know that. You don?t want to say anything to hurt him. But look at what it?s doing to you. Look at what it?s doing to us. You witnessed something terrible, and, along with everything else that?s been happening, it?s consuming you.
(em

 

INT. PADMÉ?S APARTMENT ? LIVING ROOM - TWILIGHT

Bail helps Padmé into the living room. Outside the window, the sun has just set. C-3PO
approaches them.

C-3PO
Oh dear, My Lady, you?re injured! How did this happen? What should I do?

Bail helps Padmé onto the largest of the couches, where she lies down.

BAIL
(to C-3PO)
Go prepare a med device to heal her foot.

C-3PO
Right away, sir.

C-3PO heads away, as Bail pours Padmé a cup of juice from the pitcher on the low table. She drinks it down. C-3PO turns around.

C-3PO (cont?d)
Oh, I think you should know. Master Kenobi is . . .

Obi-Wan appears from the hallway.

C-3PO (cont?d)
Here.

C-3PO exits to the other room. Bail sits on one of the other couches, as Obi-Wan approaches.

OBI-WAN
You were . . . brilliant today, Padmé.

PADMÉ
You saw it?

OBI-WAN
Most of it.

PADMÉ
I wasn?t brilliant. I failed.

OBI-WAN
(paces slowly)
You unmasked the Emperor . . . took away his pretense . . . and, we can hope, shortened his reign. There was nothing more you could have done. The Republic had already fallen. It was too far-gone. It?s now up to Master Yoda.

PADMÉ
To assassinate him?

OBI-WAN
(turns to her)
No, to fight him fairly, as the Jedi always have.

PADMÉ
Palpatine doesn?t fight fairly, in case you haven?t noticed. Master Yoda doesn?t stand much of a chance, does he?

OBI-WAN
Are you suggesting . . .?

PADMÉ
No, I?m not. I know what would happen then. Even one with as much good in him as Master Yoda would become lost to the Dark Side, and, with him, so would we.
(softly)
But I almost did. That man has taken away everything we stood for . . . everything I?ve lived for . . . even Anakin . . . my Ani.
(raises up)
I must go to Anakin and try to bring him back . . . back to us . . . back to me.

OBI-WAN
(paces again)
That may not be possible. Anakin, too, may be too far-gone. He, too, has been made a Lord of the Sith, and they?ve given him a name . . . Darth Vader.

Padmé lies back down. Obi-Wan turns to her.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
I don?t know where the Emperor has sent Anakin, and I need to find him. Do you know where he has gone?

PADMÉ
(realizing)
You?re going to kill him.

OBI-WAN
I will, if I have to . . . if he leaves me no choice. And, to be completely sincere . . . I doubt that I?ll have a choice.

PADMÉ
Then . . . to be completely sincere . . . Yes, I know where he went, but I won?t tell you.

She turns her face away. Obi-Wan sits on another of the couches, eyes lowered.

OBI-WAN
Padmé . . . this is very difficult . . . but, if you?re intent on seeing Anakin again, you must know . . . I?ve been to the Jedi Temple.

Bail sits forward anxiously.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
I?ve seen the bodies of the Younglings . . . their condition.

Padmé raises up, apprehensive.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
I?ve seen the security recording.

PADMÉ
(softly, shaking her head)
No.

BAIL
General, please don?t do this.

OBI-WAN
Only the few who got out were killed by Clones. The rest . . .

PADMÉ
No, not Ani.

OBI-WAN
Yes.

PADMÉ
(lies back)
I don?t believe you! I can?t!

OBI-WAN
(softly)
Search you feelings. You know it to be true.

Padmé cries.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
I?m sorry.

PADMÉ
Please, go now.

Bail gets up and walks over to where Obi-Wan is still sitting. Obi-Wan is genuinely in pain.

OBI-WAN
I?m truly sorry.

BAIL
(tugs at Obi-Wan)
Come, let?s go.

OBI-WAN
(stands)
Your children . . .

Padmé looks straight at him.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
Anakin?s the father?

PADMÉ
Get out!

OBI-WAN
Padmé, I?ll help you any way I can. Just don?t give up. There is hope, for you and for them!

PADMÉ
GET OUT!

BAIL
(to Padme, as he grabs Obi-Wan)
We?re going.

Bail pulls Obi-Wan with him toward the outer door.

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING ? ELEVATOR ? MINUTES LATER

Obi-Wan and Bail descend in the glass elevator, with the city lights rising behind them.

Obi-Wan is distraught.

OBI-WAN
We s

 

INT. CORUSCANT - SENATE ARENA - CHANCELLOR'S HOLDING OFFICE ? SAME TIME

Yoda enters, using the Force to throw the two Republic Guards (the second pair) against the
wall, knocking them unconscious. Darth Sidious turns his chair toward Yoda. Mas Amedda stands behind Sidious' desk.

YODA
I hear a new apprentice, you have, Emperor, or should I call you Darth Sidious.

DARTH SIDIOUS
Master Yoda, you survived.

YODA
Surprised?

DARTH SIDIOUS
Your arrogance blinds you, Master Yoda. Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side.

The Dark Lord raises his arms, and LIGHTNING BOLTS shoot out, surrounding Yoda. Yoda is picked up and thrown across the room, hitting the wall and sliding down in a crumpled heap. Sidious chuckles.

INT. MUSTAFAR - PASSAGES TO CONTROL CENTER ? SAME TIME

Anakin and Obi-Wan move their fight toward the main control center. As the laser swords fly, bits of the hallway are cut up. Obi-Wan and Anakin jump and use every trick in the Jedi book.

INT. CORUSCANT - HOLDING OFFICE ? SAME TIME

Mas Amedda leaves the room. Darth Sidious approaches a stunned Yoda.

DARTH SIDIOUS
I have waited a long time for this moment, my little green friend. At last, the Jedi are no more.

YODA
Not if anything I have to say about it, Lord Sidious.

Yoda uses the Force to throw Sidious back, knocking him clear over his desk and onto the floor in a heap.

YODA (cont?d)
At an end your rule is and not short enough it was, I must say.

Darth Sidious flies through the air, cape flapping, heading toward the exit. At the last second, Yoda flies into the exit and stops the Dark Lord.

YODA (cont?d)
If so powerful you are, why leave??

Yoda ignites his light saber.

DARTH SIDIOUS
You will not stop me. Darth Vader shall become more powerful than either of us.

Sidious ignites his light saber.

YODA
Faith in your new apprentice, misplaced may be, as is your faith in the Dark side of the Force.

Their swords CLASH. The battle is extremely fast and furious.

INT. MUSTAFAR - MAIN CONTROL CENTER ? SAME TIME

View screens EXPLODE around Anakin and Obi-Wan, as they work their way into the Control Room. The fighting is intense. Obi-Wan is on the defensive, as he jumps up on the table view screen in the center of the room.

ANAKIN
Don't make me destroy you, Master. You're no match for the Dark Side.

OBI-WAN
I've heard that before, Anakin . . . but I never thought I'd hear it from you.

Anakin forces Obi-Wan back into the Conference Room, where the quarters are much closer.
SPARKS fly everywhere. Anakin jumps onto the conference table. Obi-Wan slides across the
table, knocking Anakin over, both of them dropping their light sabers as they fall. Obi-Wan
uses the Force to summon his dropped light saber. Anakin does the same.

INT. CORUSCANT - SENATE CHAMBER ? SAME TIME

Darth Sidious seeks refuge in the vast Senate chamber. He gets into the Chancellor's podium, and it starts to rise up into the arena. Yoda makes a giant leap into the control pod. The sword fighting is intense in the confined space.

INT. MUSTAFAR - MAIN CONTROL CENTER ? SAME TIME

The battle intensifies.

OBI-WAN (cont?d)
The flaw of power is arrogance.

He stands looking at his former apprentice for a moment.

ANAKIN
You hesitate . . . the flaw of compassion.

They lock sabers. Obi-Wan puts out his hand to use the Force to push Anakin away. Anakin puts out his hand to block Obi-Wan. Both combatants are BLASTED backwards onto the control panels. They regain their footing, and the battle continues. Anakin kicks Obi-Wan away.

They battle around the room, and eventually the door to the exterior is knocked open. They continue battling out onto the balcony.

INT. CORUSCANT - SENATE CHAMBER ? SAME TIME

Yoda unleashes a ferocious assault on Sidious, causing him to almost go over the edge. The Dark Lord drops his light saber but recovers with a BLAST OF ENERGY from his hands that surrounds Yoda. Yoda deflects the Sith Lord's LIGHTNING BOLTS. The ENERGY BOL

 

Padme's denunciation of Palpatine in the Senate is one of the more amazing things I have ever read. It was wonderful, and completely believable.

Thank you for doing this.

 

You did a really great job. I mean it. I loved how much stronger you had Padme be. It reminded of the Padme from Epiosde I. I admire the you taking the time to rewrite much of the dialogue.

Hurray for you!

- Rachel

 

A very appreciative thank you. It's gratifying that people (here and elsewhere) are singling out the expanded Senate sequence in their responses, since that scene was my starting point for the rewrite and the trigger for its existence.

 

This was very good, I like it when a story is complete when I read it, but posting so much at once can be a deterrence for some readers. And there is a better chance of getting more readers if you serialize your stories more.

I like how you added so much depth to the story. Palpatine telling Anakin that Padme may be cheating on him with Obi-Wan for example.

Palpatine?s line: ?And she and I used to get along so well.? Was great, I can so see him saying that.

The senate scene was awesome! It was incredible; I wish the movies scene was half that good!

Then in the next part when Obi says, ?Search you feelings. You know it to be true.? That was also great, because Vader said it later?

And a very powerful line from Bail, ?I don?t know anymore. The Jedi . . . the Sith. In a way, you deserve each other.?

Also Obi?s speech before Anakin?s, ?I HATE YOU!? was much better then in the movie.

All in all a wonderful rewrite!

 

Thanks for the specifics. It's good to know what has impact.

I thought about serializing, but since the first half-hour is nearly identical to the movie, and the most dramatic differences are in the last hour, I thought it best to post all at once.

Though not in the movie, Palpatine inciting Anakin to jealousy is in the Lucas script. The rewrite does approach it differently, however. "And she and I used to get along so well" kind of crept in there, and I knew it was risky, because people might interpret it all sorts of ways. I'm gratified it worked for you.

The Senate scene is what started it all. When I saw the scene in the movie, and Padme said her famous line quietly to Bail, I wanted her, instead, to shout it at the top of her voice.

"Search your feelings. You know it to be true." Couldn't resist.

At the time Bail's line came into the script, I thought it would be controversial. Then I learned that there seems to be a consensus among fans that the Jedi bear part of the responsibility for what happened to them. I was also taking a risk with the more harrowing version of the Anakin vs Obi-Wan duel and its aftermath, not knowing if it was going over the top or not. I'm gratified these also worked for you.

 

Just to let people know, I've fixed a blooper where I had mis-identified a character as Eeth Koth, who appeared in the Lucas screenplay but apparently not in the film. I've dropped that mystery character and am using Shaak Ti instead. It wasn't anything against Shaak Ti that was why I didn't include her earlier. It was just my trying to apply the screenwriter's Law of Economy of Characters.

 

AFTERWORD

A Possible Alternate Ending for ?Return of the Jedi?



George Lucas has twice changed the ending of Return of the Jedi, first adding victory celebrations across the galaxy, then changing the appearance of Anakin?s consciousness form, which appears alongside those of Obi-Wan and Yoda. So, why not take it one step further? Obi-Wan and Yoda learned from Qui-Gon how ?to become one with the Force, and influence still have,? but Anakin did not. He certainly didn?t learn it from Emperor Sidious, since ?a state acquired through compassion, not greed, it is.? So, Anakin must have been able to do it on his own, through a combination of being as strong as he is with the Force and his final act of compassion.

Padmé wasn?t a trained Jedi. However, in this revision, she was sensitive enough to the Force to be affected by its changes, had extensive knowledge of it through her Senate committee?s oversight of the Jedi, and even seemed to have picked up a technique or two of theirs. So, the combination of her actions in this story with the events in Return of the Jedi, which prove her right about both the rebellion and Anakin, might enable Padmé to return in consciousness form to be with Anakin once again.

So, in the final scene, where Luke sees Obi-Wan and Yoda, and then Anakin, Anakin would hold out his hand, and Padmé would appear and take it. When Leia, who up till now hasn?t paid any attention to the ghosts, comes to get Luke to join in the victory celebration, she would stop as she recognizes her mother. (She says earlier in Jedi that she remembers her.) The parents? wordless expressions to their children would communicate that they are very proud of them and wish them to carry on. Luke and Leia would then go and join the others, who are celebrating the end of the Empire and the beginning of whatever new adventures lie ahead.

 

Now this is very, very well-done. I like Padme in this - she's strong and gutsy and still the gentle creature we recognise from all 3 films. I don't think the idea of Padme in the ending sequence of RotJ is outrageous. It links the two sagas and includes Leia in the 'reconcilliation' sequence in the end. (Between you and me, Leia being Luke's sister and part of the Skywalker legacy, never really added or removed anything to the overal plot of the story. I sometimes wonder if GL won't have just let her remain the random Best Girl Friend, instead of looking for the best way to pacify the Luke/Leia shippers.)

You write really great stuff. Please PM me if you ever start something new.

 

Thanks for the PM. I fixed that name. I've also updated the scene where Anakin first tells Padme about his new powers, based on a discussion with someone in another story thread.

I agree that, although the OT develops Leia very well in some ways, Lucas' afterthought of her being Luke's sister and part of the Force-sensitive Skywalker legacy could have been taken further than it was. From what little I know of the EU, it seems that some of the authors there took the idea and ran with it.

 

I have to say, I love this rewrite!!
I'm glad someone bothered to fix the biggest problem of RotS.

Good job, and I hope to hear more from you

 

this was great! you did a agreat work with padme, I never liked the way she was portrayed in return of the sith, like she was a fragile thing that could be crushed by any wind , not like the one we had seen in the other two movies.
Anakin is a bulkhead, here and in canon, that just doesn't change

 

Eirate_rules,

Thank you. I felt that no character in SW has been more wronged by the writing than Padme in ROTS, which is what caused me to rewrite the screenplay.

On hoping to hear more, I may soon be collaborating with some other writers on a story. I'll keep you posted.

And michaellover,

Thank you, also. You make a good point about Padme's fragility ROTS being out of character from how she is in the two previous films. I know the reasons for it, given by the movie's most passionate defenders, but I don't buy them and think they send the wrong message. Not that I think Lucas intended ROTS to have a sexist theme. I don't. I understand that he was trying to incorporate a 19th century romantic tragedy into the story. It would be fine, if the story were about the 19th century. Then you would expect the characters' values to be of that time. But placed in a setting with futuristic technology and modern politics, it looks dated and out of place. It isn't like the Jedi story, which works in the sci fi setting even though it's based on ancient mythology. That's because the myths that are used, via Joseph Campbell, are relatively timeless.

I hadn't thought of the word you used, but you're right. Anakin is a "bulkhead." He has to be, to turn to the Dark Side the way he does. So, I followed the advice of someone who said, long ago in a screenwriters' workshop, "If you have a problem that you can't do anything about, brandish it." The rewrire makes Padme more verbally combative with Anakin, which makes him give her some frightening bulkheaded responses, which makes her realize, earlier than she does in the movie, that he's turning to the Dark Side.

 

A note that, since having first posted it, I've been updating the script frequently, with such things as tweaking dialogue that didn't come out quite right the first time, adjusting characters' ages (I originally thought Padmé was a few years older, and Obi-Wan a few years younger, than I later learned. She's still described as "approaching 30," however, to emphasize that she's more mature than before.), and fixing glitches involving minor characters. I've also tweaked scenes to better address issues being debated on this and another website.

The update I've done just now was to rephrase some dialogue between Padme and Bail in a scene that didn't come out quite right the first time and that I've kept going back to. (Not the famous scene from the movie, but an earlier one.) The original lines were artifacts of the Chayefsky influence on my writing, which I think usually is not a bad thing, but in the context of the story, one or more of them may have been over the top.

 

I like how cannon you remained, while making Padme believable and strong. Her running off to find Anakin makes more sense in your version, and why no one went with her(as far as she knew)

 

Thanks. Rather than create a tangent AU (which I have nothing against doing. There are some wonderful AU stories in this forum, and I've accepted an invitation to participate in one of them), my goal here was to make the existing story work better, while keeping it, at least in the major areas, within the timeline leading from the previous films and to the OT.

I'm happy you picked up on Padme's reasons for going to confront Anakin in the rewrite, versus in the movie. One of the main things that bothered me in the film was how much in denial Padme seems to be about Anakin turning to the Dark Side, until Obi-Wan coldly manipulates her into going to find him. In the rewrite, she figures things out sooner and, by this point, knows what she's getting into. Rather than going to find out the truth, she's going as a last, desperate move.