Here we spend some time getting to know Anakin better as Mother Nature threatens.
As always, see the comments section for our commentary.
Script coypright Geoge Lucas
script excerpted from this site:
http://www.supershadow.com/star_wars/episode_1/the_phantom_menace/script.html
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - ALCOVE - DAY
QUI-GON, ARTOO, JAR JAR, and PADME have found a quiet spot
between two buildings. The busy street beyond is filled with
dangerous looking creatures. QUI-GON is talking on his com-
link, while JAR JAR nervously watches the street. OBI-WAN is
in the main hold of the Naboo craft.
QUI-GON
...Obi-Wan, you're sure there isn't
anything of value left on board?
OBI-WAN (V.O.)
A few containers of supplies, the
Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough
for you to barter with. Not in the
ammounts you're talking about.
QUI-GON
All right. Another solution will
present itself. I'll check back.
QUI-GON puts his comlink away and starts out into the main
street. JAR JAR grabs his arm.
JAR JAR
Noah gain...da beings hereabouts
cawazy. Wesa be robbed un crunched.
QUI-GON
Not likely. We have nothing of value,
that's our problem.
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - MARKET - DAY
QUI-GON, PADME, JAR JAR, and ARTOO move out into the street.
JAR JAR is walking behind the others. They walk by an outdoor
cafe filled with a rough gang of aliens, one of which is
especially ugly, SEBULBA, a spider-like creature. JAR JAR
stops for a moment in front of a stall selling dead frogs
hanging on a wire. He looks around to see if anyone is
looknig, then sticks out his tongue, and gets hold of one,
pulling it into his mouth.
Unfortunately, the frog is tied tightly to the wire. The
vendor suddenly appears.
VENDOR
Hey, that will be seven truguts!!
JAR JAR opens his mouth in surprise, and the frog snaps away,
ricochets around the market, and lands in Sebulba's soup,
splashing him. As JAR JAR moves away from the VENDOR, SEBULBA
jumps up on the table and grabs the hapless Gungan.
SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Chuba!!
(You!!)
JAR JAR
Who, mesa??
SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Ni chuba na??
(Is this yours??)
SEBULBA holds the frog up to the Gungan threateningly. SEVERAL
OTHER CREATURES start to gather. SEBULBA shoves JAR JAR to
the ground. The Gungan desperately tries to scramble to
safety.
JAR JAR
(to himself)
Why mesa always da one??
ANAKIN (O.S.)
Because you're afraid.
JAR JAR turns to see ANAKIN pushing his way next to him. The
boy stands up to SEBULBA in a very self-assured way.
ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Chess ko, Sebulba...Coo wolpa tooney
rana.
(Careful, Sebulba...This one's very
connected.)
SEBULBA stops his assault on JAR JAR and turns to ANAKIN.
SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Tooney rana nu pratta dunko, shag.
(Connected?? Whada you mean, slave?)
ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Oh da Hutt...cha porko ootman
geesa...me teesa rodda co pana pee
choppa chawa.
(As in Hutt...big time outlander,
this one... I'd hate to see you diced
before we race again.)
SEBULBA (SUBTITLED)
Neek me chowa, wermo, mo killee ma
klounkee
(Next time we race, wermo, it will
be the end of you!)
Una noto wo shag, me wompity du pom
pom.
(If you weren't a slave, I'd squash
you right now.)
SEBULBA turns away.
ANAKIN (SUBTITLED)
Eh, chee bana do mullee ra.
(Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to
pay for me.)
QUI-GON, PADME and ARTOO arrive.
ANAKIN
Hi! Your buddy here was about to be
turned into orange goo. He picked a
fight with a Dug. An especially
dangerous Dug called Sebulba.
JAR JAR
Nosir, nosir. Mesa hate crunchen.
Dat's da last ting mesa wanten.
QUI-GON
Nevertheless, the boy is right...
you were heading for trouble. Thank
you, my young friend.
PADME looks at ANAKINB and smiles; he smiles back. They start
walking down the crowded street.
JAR JAR
Mesa doen nutten!
ANAKIN
Fear attracts the fearful. He was
trying to overcome his fear by
squashing you... be less afraid.
PADME
And that works for you.
ANAKIN
To a point.
(he smiles)
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - SPACESHIP - DAY
OBI-WAN stands in front of the Naboo spacecraft as the wind
picks up and begins to whip at his robe. Capt. Panaka exits
the ship and joins him.
OBI-WAN
This storm's going to slow them down.
CAPT. PANAKA
It looks pretty bad. We'd better
seal the ship.
Capt. Panaka'S comlink sounds off.
CAPT. PANAKA
Yes?
(listens)
We'll be right there.
EXT. MOS ESPA - STREET - FRUIT STAND - DAY
ANAKIN and the GROUP stop at a fruit stand run by a jolly,
but very poor, old lady named JIRA.
ANAKIN
How are you feeling today, Jira?
JIRA
The heat's never been kind to me,
you know, Annie!
ANAKIN
Guess what? I've found that cooling
unit I've been searching for.
It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no
time, I promise.
JIRA
You're a fine boy, Annie.
ANAKIN
I'll take four pallies today.
(to Padme)
You'll like these...
ANAKIN reaches in his pocket and comes up with three coins.
He drops one.
QUI-GON picks it up, revealing for a moment, his lightsabre.
ANAKIN
Whoops, I thought I had more... Make
thgat three, I'm not hungry.
The wind picks up. SHOP OWNERS are starting to close up their
shops as JIRA gives them their pallies.
JIRA
Gracious, my bones are aching...
storm's coming on, Annie. You'd better
get home quick.
ANAKIN
(to QUI-GON)
Do you have shelter?
QUI-GON
We'll head back to our ship.
ANAKIN
Is it far?
PADME
On the outskirts.
ANAKIN
You'll never reach the outskirts in
time... sandstorms are very, very
dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!
The GROUP follows ANAKIN as he rushes down the windy street.
Ok, so obviously our badass Gungan scoundrel doesn't get caught with his tongue on someone else's frog. So we need some other way to get Sebulba in to this. Except, of course, that I don't give a fuck about Sebulba or the upcoming podraces. But just in case... maybe our scoundrel gets caught *intentionally* stealing? Still kind of weak. We could always just have Sebulba hate the look of him, like in the original cantina.
ReplyDeleteI like our slightly older Anakin here, too. It's FREAKY for a child to be as "wise" as he is here. If he's 12+, I'm happier. Although I still have a hard time reconciling this character with the stooge from the rest of this trilogy. Hormones? Let's blame hormones.
This scene's not bad once we eliminate JJ. Well, and the horrible acting of our tragic "star".
Do sandstorms really come in that quick? Shouldn't there be air raid sirens or somesuch?
Ack! Apparently "remove content" does not let you edit your post. It simply irrevocably deletes but leaves a record that you posted something that was removed.
ReplyDeleteAs opposed to "delete," which removes the poster icon as well. What a uselessly redundant function.
Also, blogspot, I would have been quite happy to get a warning that the "remove content" thing could not be undone.
Ouch.
ReplyDeleteSo.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea that the conflict between Sebulba (if we really need to meet him just now) and Jar Jar has more of a cantina scene feel to it. As it stands, the scene as filmed looks like a freaking Looney Tunes cartoon, with Sebulba strangling Jar Jar and the frog bouncing around all over the place. It looks like Brer Bear strangling Brer Rabbit, and THAT movie's already been banned.
Anakin is a disaster here. We go straight from the "Are you an angel/Yippee" scene to him sounding like Mr. Miyagi. Besides, we don't need him to save Jar Jar, we have a freaking Jedi right beside him. Like Obi-Wan in the cantina, let him whip out his lightsaber and do some damage. Let Anakin be wandering by on his way home, see the lightsaber, and become interested by the conflict.
Now, the air conditioner lady (who I don't remember...was she cut from the film?). I see what Lucas is trying to do here. He's setting up Anakin as a slave with a heart of gold, always looking out for the people. But he WAY overdoes it here. He's trying to show Anakin is a good guy, maybe to set up Anakin's ultimate redemption in Return of the Jedi. But COME ON. This kid is way too much of a goody twoshoes here. It's ridiculous. Again, though, making him 15 makes this scene easier to swallow, especially the bit about him fixing an air conditioner. And we haven't even gotten to the magical 3PO yet.
Finally, let's go back to our idea from the last scene, to have Anakin enamored by the powerful Watto. Anakin could EASILY be supplying the air conditioner from Watto, eh? It could appear to be Watto who is helping this lady out, and Anakin is helping Watto and seeing how a powerful man can benefit others. A benign despot. Perhaps there is a later scene where Watto requires something of the AC lady in return, a la the Godfather.
Ah, oh yeah, the sandstorm. This is an easy fix. Back when Qui-Gon is discussing how the planet is controlled by the Hutts, he could mention the volatility of the weather and difficulty of forecasting it, and mention sandstorms in particular. Then everything is set up.