Phantom Menace: Opening sequence

From the Star Wars Phantom Menace script, copyright George Lucas:



STAR WARS : EPISODE 1 : THE PHANTOM MENACE

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

A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the MAIN TITLE,
followed by a ROLL UP, which crawls up into infinity.

"EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE"

"Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of
trade routes to outlaying star systems is in dispute. Hoping
to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships,
the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the
small planet of Naboo.

While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this
alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly
dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and
justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict....."

PAN DOWN to reveal a small space cruiser heading TOWARD CAMERA
at great speed. PAN with the cruiser as it heads towardthe
beautiful green planet of Naboo, which is surrounded by
hundreds of Trade Federation battleships.

INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT

In the cockpit of the cruise, the CAPTAIN and PILOT maneuver
closer to one of the battleships.

QUI-GON (O.S.)
Captain.

The Captain turns to an unseen figure sitting behind her.

CAPTAIN
Yes, sir?

QUI-GON (O.S.)
Tell them we wish to board at once.

CAPTAIN
Yes, sir.

The CAPTAIN looks to her view screen, where NUTE GUNRAY, a
Neimoidian trade viceroy, waits for a reply.

CAPTAIN
With all due respect for the Trade
Federation, the Ambassadors for the
Supreme Chancellor wish to board
immediately.

NUTE
Yes, yes, of coarse...ahhh...as you
know, our blockade is perfectly legal,
and we'd be happy to recieve the
Ambassador...Happy to.

The screen goes black. Out the cockpit window, the sinister
battleship looms ever closer.

EXT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE (FX)

The small space cruiser docks in the enormous main bay of
the Federation battleship.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - DOCKING BAY - SPACE

A PROTOCOL DROID, TC-14, waits at the door to the docking
bay. Two WORKER DROIDS, PK-4 and EG-9 watch.

PK-4
They must be important if the Viceroy
sent one of those useless protocol
gearheads to greet them.

The door opens, and the Republic cruiser can be seen in the
docking bay. Two darkly robed figures are greeted by TC-14.

TC-14
I'm TC-14 at your service. This way,
please.

They move off down the hallway.

EG-9
A Republic cruiser! That's
trouble...don't you think?

PK-4
I'm not made to think.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

A door slides open, and the two cloaked shapes are led PAST
CAMERA into the formal conference room by TC-14.

TC-14
I hope you honoured sirs with the
most comfortable here. My master
will be with you shortly.

The droid bows before OBI-WAN KENOBI and QUI- GON JINN. He
backs out the door and it closes. The JEDI lower their hoods
and look out a large window at the lush green planet of Naboo.
QUI-GON sixty years old, has long white hair in a ponytail.
He is tall and striking, with blue eyes. OBI-WAN is twenty
five, with very short brown hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.
Several exotic, bird-like creatures SING in a cage near the
door.

OBI-WAN
I have a bad feeling about this.

QUI-GON
I don't sense anything.

OBI-WAN
It's not about the mission, Master,
it's somethging...elsewhere...elusive.

QUI-GON
Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-
Wan. Keep your concentration here
and now where it belongs.

OBI-WAN
Master Yoda says I should be mindful
of the future...

QUI-GON
...but not at the expense of the
moment. Be mindful of the living
Force, my young Padawan.

OBI-WAN
Yes, Master...how do you think the
trade viceroy will deal with the
chancellor's demands?

QUI-GON
These Federation types are cowards.
The negotiations will be short.



INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE GUNRAY and DAULTRAY DOFINE stand, stunned, before TC-
14.

NUTE
(shaken)
What?!? What did you say?

TC-14
The Ambassadors are Jedi Knights, I
believe.

DOFINE
I knew it! They were sent to force a
settlement, eh. Blind me, we're done
for!

NUTE
Stay calm? I'll wager the Senate
isn't aware of the Supreme
Chancellor's moves here. Go. Distract
them until I can contact Lord Sidious.

DOFINE
Are you brain dead? I'm not going in
there with two Jedi! Send the droid.

Dofine turns to TC-14, who lets out a squeaky sigh.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

OBI-WAN
Is it their nature to make us wait
this long?

The door to the conference room slides open, and TC-14 enters
with a tray of drinks and food.

QUI-GON
No. I sense an unusual amount of
fear for something as trivial as
this dispute.

Obi-Wan takes a drink.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

Nute, Dofine, and Rune Haako are before the hologram of Darth
Sidious, a robed figure whose face is obscured by a hood.

DOFINE
This scheme of yours has failed,
Lord Sidious. The blockade is
finished! We dare not go against
these Jedi.

DARTH SIDIOUS
You seem more worried about the Jedi
than you are of me, Dofine. I am
amused.. Viceroy!

Nute, looking very nervous, steps forward.

NUTE
Yes, My lord.

DARTH SIDIOUS
I don't want that stunted slime in
my sight again. Do you understand?

NUTE
Yes, My Lord.

Nute gives Dofine a fierce look, and Dofine, terrified, rushed
off the bridge.

DARTH SIDIOUS
This turns of events is unfortunate.
We must accelerate our plans, Viceroy.
Begin landing your troops.

NUTE
Ahh, My Lord, is that, Legal?

DARTH SIDIOUS
I will make it legal.

NUTE
And, the Jedi??

DARTH SIDIOUS
The Chancellor should never have
brought them into this. Kill them,
immediatly.

NUTE
Ye..Yes, My Lord. As you wish.

INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COCKPIT - DOCKING BAY

In the Cockpit of the Cruiser, the Captain and Pilot look up
and see a gun turret swing around and point directly at them.

PILOT
Captain !? Look !!

CAPTAIN
No! Warn...

EXT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HANGER BAY

The battle gun fires. The Republic Cruiser explodes.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - CONFERENCE ROOM

Gui-Gon and Obi-Wan leap up to a standing position with their
light sabers drawn. TC-14 jumps back, startled, spilling the
drinks tray.

TC-14
Ahhh, Sorry, sir. The Viceroy...

Gui-Gon and Obi-Wan turn off their swords and listen intently.
A faint hissing sound can be heard.

GUI-GON
Gas!

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan each taken a sudden deep breath and
holding it. The exotic bird-like creatures in the cage dorp
dead.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY

A hologram of NUTE , surrounded by BATTLE DROIDS, appears in
the conference room hallway.

NUTE
They must be dead by now. Blast,
what's left of them.

The hologram fades off, as a BATTLE DROID, OWO-1, cautiously
opens the door. A deadly green cloud billows from the room.
BATTLE DROIDS cock their weapons as a figure stumbles out of
the smoke. It is TC-14 , carrying the tray of drinks.

TC-14
Oh, excuse me, so sorry.

The PROTOCOL DROID passes the armed camp just as two flashing
laser swords fly out of the deadly fog, cutting down several
BATTLE DROIDS before they can fire.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

The bridge is a cocophony of alarms. NUTE and RUNE watch OWO-
1 on the viewscreen.

OWO-1
Not sure exactly what...

OWO-1 is suddenly cut in half in mid-sentence. RUNE gives
NUTE a worried look.

NUTE
What in blazes is going on down there?

RUNE
Have you ever encountered a Jedi
Knight before, sir?

NUTE
Well, not exactly, but I don't...
(panicked)
Seal off the bridge.

RUNE
That won't be enough, sir.

The doors to the bridge SLAM shut.

NUTE
I want destroyer droids up here at
once!!!

RUNE
We will not survive this.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE

QUI-GON cuts several BATTLE DROIDS in half, creating a shower
of sparks and metal parts. OBI-WAN raises his hand, sending
several BATTLE DROIDS crashing into the wall.

QUI-GON makes his way to the bridge door and begins to cut
through it.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

The CREW is very nervous as sparks start flying around the
bridge door.

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN are on the view screen.

NUTE
Close the blast doors!!!

The huge, very thick blast door slams shut, followed by a
second door, then a third. There is a hissing sound as the
huge doors seal shut. QUI-GON tabs the door with his sword.
The screen goes black as a red spot appears in the center of
the blast door.

RUNE
...They're still coming through!

On the door, chunks of molten metal begin to drop away.

NUTE
Impossible!! This is impossible!!

RUNE
Where are those destroyer droids?!

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE BRIDGE

Ten ugly destroyer WHEEL DROIDS roll down the hallway at
full speed. Just before they get to the bridge area, they
stop and transform into their battle configuration. QUI-GON
can't see them but senses their presence.

QUI-GON
Destroyer droids!

OBI-WAN
Offhand, I'd say this mission is
past the negotiaion stage.

The WHEEL DROIDS, led by P-59, rush the entry area from three
hallways, blasting away with their laser guns. They stop
firing and stand in a semi-circle as the smoke clears. OBI-
WAN and QUI-GON are nowhere to be seen.

P-59
Switch to bio...There they are!

The Jedi materialize at the far end of the hallway and dash
through the doorway that slams shut. The WHEEL DROIDS blast
away at the two JEDI with their laser swords.

OBI-WAN
They have shield generators!

QUI-GON
It's a standoff! Let's go!

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - BRIDGE

NUTE and RUNE stand on the bridge, watching the view screen
as the WHEEL

DROIDS' POV speeds to the doorway.

RUNE
We have them on the run, sir...they're
no match for destroyer droids.

TEY HOW
Sir, they've gone up the ventilation
shaft.

INT. FEDERATION BATTLESHIP - MAIN BAY

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN appear at a large vent in a giant hanger
bay. They are careful not to be seen. Thousands of BATTLE
DROIDS are loading onto landing craft.

QUI-GON
Battle droids.

OBI-WAN
It's an invisible army.

QUI-GON
It's an odd play for the Trade
Federation. We've got to warn the
Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum.
Let's split up. Stow aboard separate
ships and meet down on the planet.

OBI-WAN
You were right about one thing,
Master. The negotiations were short.


http://www.supershadow.com/star_wars/episode_1/the_phantom_menace/script.html

Phantom Menace: Scene by Scene

Starting in my next blog post, we're going to break down Star Wars: The Phantom Menace scene by scene.

My contention for years has been that Phantom Menace could have been a REALLY good movie.  We're going to go through the script and try to correct its errors.

General comments on the Phantom Menace not necessarily specific to a given scene should be made on this thread.

Here is the website we'll use to access the script:

http://www.supershadow.com/star_wars/episode_1/the_phantom_menace/script.html

You've been wanting to rewrite this movie for years, right?  Here's your chance.