The Phantom Menace: Juicy Politics

We get a glimpse Palpatine's underlying plan, and Qui-Gon drops a couple of bombshells on the Jedi Council.

Script copyright George Lucas
Script excerpted from this site:
http://www.supershadow.com/star_wars/episode_1/the_phantom_menace/script.html


INT. PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - ANTEROOM - DAY

QUEEN AMIDALA is sitting listening to PALPATINE. EIRTAE and
RABE stand behind the QUEEN; PADME is nowhere to be sen.
ANAKIN and JAR JAR are waiting in an adjoining room. They
can see the Queen but cannot hear what is being said.

JAR JAR
Dissen all pitty odd to my.

ANAKIN
Don't look at me. I don't know what's
going on.

Capt. Panaka enters, then goes into the room with QUEEN
AMIDALA.

INT. PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - LIVING AREA - DAY

PALPATINE is pacing as Capt. Panaka enters. EIRTAE and RABE
stand to one side.

PALPATINE
...the Republic is not what it once
was. The Senate is full of greedy,
squabbling delegates who are only
looking out for themselves and their
home sytems. There is no interest
in the common good...no civility,
only politics...its disgusting. I
must be frank, Your Majesty, there
is little chance the Senate will act
on the invasion.

AMIDALA
Chancellor Valorum seems to think
there is hope.

PALPATINE
If I may say so, Your Majesty, the
Chancellor has little real power...he
is mired down by baseless accusations
of corruption. A manufactured scandal
surrounds him. The bureaucrats are
in charge now.

AMIDALA
What options do we have?

PALPATINE
Our best choice would be to push for
the election of a stronger Supreme
Chancellor. One who will take control
of the bureaucrats, enforces the
laws, and give us justice. You could
call for a vote of no confidence in
Chancellor Valorum.

AMIDALA
He has been our strongest supporter.
Is there any other way?

PALPATINE
Our only other choice would to be to
submit a plea to the courts...

AMIDALA
There's no time for that. The courts
take even longer to decide things
than the Senate. Our people are dying,
Senator...more and more each day. We
must do something quickly to stop
the Federation.

PALPATINE
To be realistic, Your Highness, I'd
say we're going to have to accept
Federation control for the time being.

AMIDALA
There is something I cannot do.

EXT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - DAY (FX)

A unique building with it tall spires stands out against the
Coruscant skyline. A small transport passes by the vast
temple.

INT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - DAY

QUI-GON stands in a tall stately room. Twelve JEDI sit in a
semi-circle. OBI-WAN stands behind QUI-GON in the center of
the room.

The Senior Jedi is MACE WINDU. To his left is an alien Jedi
named KI-ADI-MUNDI, and to his right, the Jedi Master, YODA.

QUI-GON
...my only conclusion can be that it
was a Sith Lord.

MACE WINDU
A Sith Lord?!?

KI-ADI
Impossible! The Sith have been extinct
for a millenium.

YODA
The very Republic is threatened, if
involved the Sith are.

MACE WINDU
I do not believe they could have
returned without us knowing.

YODA
Hard to see, the dark side is.
Discover who this assassin is, we
must.

KI-ADI
I sense he will reveal himself again.

MACE WINDU
This attack was with purpose, that
is clear, and I agree the Queen is
the target.

YODA
With this Naboo queen you must stay,
Qui-Gon. Protect her.

MACE WINDU
We will use all our resources here
to unravel this mystery and discover
the identity of your attacker... May
the Force be with you.

YODA
May the Force be with you.

OBI-WAN turns to leave, but QUI-GON continues to face the
Council.

YODA
Master Qui-Gon more to say have you?

QUI-GON
With your permission, my Master. I
have encountered a vergence in the
Force.

YODA
A vergence, you say?

MACE WINDU
Located around a person?

QUI-GON
A boy... his cells have the highest
concentration of midi-chlorians I
have seen in a life form. It is
possible he was conceived by the
midi-chlorians.

MACE WINDU
You're referring to the prophesy of
the one who will bring balance to
the Force...you believe it's this
boy??

QUI-GON
I don't pressume...

YODA
But you do! Rrevealed your opinion
is.

QUI-GON
I request the boy be tested.

The JEDI all look to one another. They nod and turn back to
OBI-WAN and QUI-GON.

YODA
Trained as a Jedi, you request for
him?

QUI-GON
Finding him was the will of the
Force...I have no doubt of that.

There is too much happening here...

MACE WINDU
Bring him before us, then.

YODA
Tested he will be. 

The Phantom Menace: Arrival at Coruscant

We see Coruscant and get a face-to-face with Palpatine.

Script copyright George Lucas
Script excerpted from this site:
http://www.supershadow.com/star_wars/episode_1/the_phantom_menace/script.html


EXT. SPACE - PLANET CORUSCANT (FX)

MOVE with the ship as it heads toward Coruscant.

INT. CORUSCANT - CITYSCAPE - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The spacecraft dlies over the endlesscityscape of Coruscant,
the capital of the galaxy.

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT

ANAKIN looks out the cockpit window in awe.

RIC OLIE
Coruscant...the capital of the
Republic...the entire planet is one
big city.

ANAKIN
Wow! It's so huge!

INT. NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The ship flies through the cityscape of Coruscant.

EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - DAY

Supreme Chancellor VALORUM, SEVERAL GUARDS, and SENATOR
PALPATINE stand on a landing platform.

The sleek Naboo spacecraft lands on the platform high above
the street level of the galactic capital. The ramp lowers.
OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, JAR JAR and ANAKIN descend the ramp first
and bow before PALPATINE and VALORUM.

Capt. Panaka, TWO GUARDS, QUEEN AMIDALA, then PADME, RABE,
EIRTAE, and MORE GUARDS descend the ramp. QUEEN AMIDALA stops
before the group.

ANAKIN and JAR JAR stand to one side, looking at the huge
city. PADME smiles at ANAKIN. PALPATINE bows before the Queen.

PALPATINE
It is a great gift to see you alive,
Your Majesty. May I present Supreme
Chancellor Valorum.

VALORUM
Welcome, Your Highness. It is an
honor to finally meet you in person.
I must relay to you how distressed
everyone is over the currant
situation. I've called for a special
session of the Senate to hear your
position.

AMIDALA
I am grateful for your concern,
Chancellor.

PALPATINE starts to lead QUEEN AMIDALA and her RETINUE off
the platform toward a waiting air taxi.

PALPATINE
There is a question of precedure,
but I feel confident we can overcome
it...

JAR JAR and ANAKIN start to follow, then stop, noticing that
OBI-WAN and QUI-GON are staying with the SUPREME CHANCELLOR.
QUEEN AMIDALA waves to the duo to follow her. ANAKIN looks
back to QUI-GON, and he nods to go ahead.

ANAKIN and JAR JAR join the QUEEN, PALPATINE, PADME, RABE
and EIRTAE in the taxi. PALPATINE gives the Gungan and the
boy in the back of the taxi a skeptical look. JAR JAR leans
over to ANAKIN.

JAR JAR
Da Queens- a bein grossly nice, mesa
tinks.
(he looks around)
Pitty hot!

VALORUM and the JEDI watch the taxi move off into the city.

QUI-GON
I must speak with the Jei Council
immediately, Your Honor. The situation
has become more complicated.