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
I'll start at the beginning. I remember being in that theater in 1999 or whenever it was, totally stoked to see the continuation and expansion of my boyhood infatuation with Star Wars. I was going to see the mythical Clone Wars played out. I was going to see Darth Vader betray Obi Wan Kenobi. It was going to be epic.
ReplyDeleteI had been warned beforehand about the horror of Jar Jar Binks. I was prepared.
But here come the first words rolling up the screen, and I'm already disappointed. A trade dispute? Some planet I've never heard of? Who cares? Already the movie is off on the wrong foot.
There's no sense of grandeur in a trade dispute. It's completely mundane, so boring story you don't even pay attention to on Headline News. Not like Star Wars: the opening words describe rebellion against a Galactic Empire! War! Drama!
Here, though...I have failed to get gripped in the first thirty seconds. Things are looking down.
That was going to be my first comment, too. You CANNOT start a space opera trilogy for a new generation with a fucking trade dispute. It's moronic. And while it seems trivial - after all, it's revealed pretty quickly that something else is afoot - it speaks to one of my prime problems with the prequels. Why not actually tell the audience what's going on? I get that the Jedi don't know... but so what? While you're at it, tell my nephews who the fuck Darth Sidious is, because you know and I know, and having it be "secret" is just bullshit. There IS a massive plot afoot here, the galaxy hangs in the balance... and we're going to pretend that it's actually a trade dispute and a bumbling chancellor as long as we can. Because...? Because why? What is gained?
ReplyDeleteThat said, this gets into the nitty gritty pretty fast. We have lasers and blasters and protocol droids and transformers!!! and lightsabers and Sith... all in the first 5 minutes. This is quality action stuff.
Oh - cut the funny accent crap. Have them speak in subtitles, like all the other aliens, or have them speak with an accent that no real world culture can be offended by.
Agreed. There's good stuff here. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are impressive, they're smart. They are clearly poorly briefed on what the situation will be, but they're on their toes and fight through it to survive and pass word along to the folks back home.
ReplyDeleteMy quibbles with this section are really minor. I'm very happy with Liam Neeson and McGregor is fine, if not exactly what I hoped for from Obi-Wan.
So, minor points: Why is the motivation of the trade federation and Darth Sidious so obfuscated? We see their conversations and, at the time, I was totally lost. Even later on when I finally realize "Oh, Palpatine is the Senator for Naboo," it takes me a while (years) to finally piece together that he chose Naboo to orchestrate this Phantom Menace simply because he's from, well, Naboo.
So what are the chances of all this happening in the galaxy, right, and everyone is from either Naboo (Padme, Palpatine) or Tatooine (Luke, Anakin)? I guess that's okay.
So, why not just tell us straight out that Palpatine is orchestrating this whole thing to try to manipulate Padme into going for the vote of "no confidence" for the Chancellor? Actually, let's save that complaint for later--I had some motivation issues there best addressed then.
As for Palpatine (as we'll see in the next scene)...are we rare in that we knew for DECADES that the Emperoro's name was Palpatine? I mean, that gives it away right there, if it is in fact supposed to be a mystery. And if it is a mystery, then the more casual fan isn't going to figure it out until the next movie...bad. To wit: I walked out of this movie was a very intelligent friend, but one who was merely a "big" fan of Star Wars rather than a completist fanatic. His first comment was "That was a pretty cool movie, but I would have liked to have seen how the Emperor rose to power." Oops.
Still....I liked this sequence. It's one of the high points of the movie. At this point in my first viewing, I was quite pleased.
I'm not a fan of the rolling battle droids. If those things are so invincible, how does this army ever lose at anything?
ReplyDeleteI know Anakin turns off their nerve center in the end, but still.
One more thing: Why are you making the damned battle droids "funny," George Lucas? Enemy soldiers are not comic relief. I don't recall any Stormtroopers cracking jokes or making little "roger roger" noises or anything. This is looking suspiciously like a cartoon...let's hope things get all serioused up in the next scene, when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan meet the Naboo natives....
Yes to all. The COMPULSION to have everyone come from the same planets, and have everyone meet the hero droids, and have Yoda and Chewie know each from way back but not tell anyone about it... it's mind-boggling. NOTHING IS GAINED. All you do is piss off the people who are paying attention. GAH! But that's not really in this scene, so shut up.
ReplyDeleteI came away from Ep 1 THRILLED with McGregor. He wasn't what I was expecting, but I thought he was brilliant. And yes, some of that may be because he's hot, yo.
I really thought that everyone knew the Emperor's last name. I got it from the action figures, the same way I knew Leia's last name in 1978 or when-the-fuck-ever. How did anyone know the ewoks' names?
I agree that I left this movie having NO IDEA what the big plot was - by which I meant "plot" as in "conspiracy", but the "plot" as in "story" was equally baffling. I freely admit that I probably missed A LOT about ANH when I was 7-12, but when 30+ year old fanatics leave the movie having absolutely no idea where you're going... that's just a failure to tell the story.
Oh, and yes re comic relief droids. Why?!? But then, as you know, I'm opposed to comic relief in all "serious" movies. The dumbing down of Gimli almost killed me. And if you know that fucking Jar fucking Jar is coming up, do we ALSO need comic relief from the droids?
ReplyDeleteI think this may also be when I first started to wonder why technology had gone SO FAR backwards in the ~20 years that follow.
But here's the problem. How would we do it differently? What do we put in the scroll to get things off on the right foot?
ReplyDeleteHere's the text:
ReplyDelete"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....."
I think you add a third paragraph, or a line, stating that the whole bloody thing is a ploy by the mysterious Darth Sidious, who is maneuvering a takeover/coup of the entire freaking Republic. You up the stakes of the drama, and you let the freaking audience know that this is more serious than just a trade dispute. This is for all the marbles.
So you don't tell us who Palpatine/Sidious is yet? I think that's probably right, but it has to happen in the first movie somewhere, right?
ReplyDeleteI would consider putting it right here in the scroll, but I think it's too important - you need the drama of the reveal moment.
I think it needs to be a whole paragraph, not just a line. And I think it needs to involve the magic word Sith, because even a coup of the Republic... meh? Is the Republic the good guys? How do I know that?
Are we done with this scene?
ReplyDeleteHas it been a week?
ReplyDeleteThe hell with Sidious - this movie should belong to Darth Maul. Maul is the most spectacular and poorly used villian in the history of movies. He looks like evil incarnate, but his screen time is amazingly lacking.
ReplyDeleteYou are damn right you need a big opener to the show and Maul must make an appearance in this scene - preferably eviscerating Jar-Jar Binks and twriling his entrails while hopping around with his devil horns at full attention.
To my mind - Maul is the biggest miss of the whole movie. Portray and use this character correctly and he covers up a lot of flaws. We must see him as the physical arm of Sidious, somewhat beyond control, brutal, and intimidating.
What ho, mysterious stranger? We haven't got to Darth Maul yet. Hold your horses. Otherwise, welcome aboard. You are correct on all counts.
ReplyDeleteAh, very good thoughts on Maul. He would certainly liven up this scene.
ReplyDeleteI'd MUCH rather see the Jedi battling a bizarre Sith than the cartoon monkey soldier robots.
In fact you could spin that in nice ways! Maybe the Sith just surprises the crap out of the Jedi. As they're fleeing Obi-Wan would be yelling stuff like "What was THAT??!!" and Qui-Gon makes some cryptic comment about how it shouldn't be possible....then fills in the backstory of the Sith later on in the movie.
Instead, we'll spend 90 minutes or so on Tatooine....