[b]STAR WARS :
The Rise to Revenge

A Screenplay by
James C. Howell

Based on "Star Wars",
Created by
George Lucas[/b]

Cast

Senator Palpatine/Darth Sidious
Darth Plagueis
Virzi Takassa
Ronan Sneed
Jennis Sneed
Mama Palpatine
Daddy Palpatine
Baby Palpatine
T-101 (A Droid)
Maul
Spil- Man Mot
Raina Ooten
Rath Kenar
Tam Whiting
Barlis Orfis
Barlis's Henchmen (at least 3)

Set List

Neutralizer (Plagueis's Ship)
Hallway
Plagueis's Meditation Room
Bridge
Docking Bay
Medical Bay

Naboo Exteriors
Palpatine's Yard
Hilly Area
Wooded Area
Field

Naboo Interiors
Palpatine Home (Living Room Only)

Coruscant Interiors
Senate Building

Set List (cont'd)
Toggin Exteriors
Backyard of Sneed Mansion
Top of Building Near the Mansion
Riverwalk

Toggin Interiors
Sneed Living Room
Sneed Foyer
Sneed Kitchen

Pylar Interiors
Abandoned Warehouse

Pylar Exteriors
Area Surrounding the Abandoned Warehouse

Nar Shadda Exteriors
Balcony

[i]A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...[/i]
[b]Star Wars
The Rise to Revenge[/b]

 A thousand years ago, the Sith were the ultimate enemy of the Jedi.  Trained to use the dark side of The Force, they sought to overtake the galaxy and plunge it into darkness.  They became so power hungry that they turned on each other, effectively wiping out the entire order.  The Sith were believed to be long gone, the stuff of myth and fantasy.
 Unknown to even the Jedi, the order survived.  Restructured for survival, the Sith are now composed of only two members: a Master, and an Apprentice.  They work in secret, setting into motion events that will tear apart the Republic and allow them to rule the galaxy once and for all.
 The current Master, Darth Plagueis, scours the galaxy for an apprentice worthy of his teachings.  His search leads him to the planet Naboo, where two Jedi have stumbled upon a child with exceptional Force abilities...

[i]Pan Down through space to...[/i]
[b]1. EXT.  SPACE[/b]
The planet Naboo takes up an enormous portion of the bottom half of the screen.  Plagueis's starship, The Neutralizer, enters overhead and  enters the planet's atmosphere.

[b]2.EXT. NABOO-AERIAL-DAY[/b]
The Neutralizer glides over the Naboo landscape-an aesthetic collection of lush green hills and crystal clear lakes.

[b]3.EXT. NABOO-HILLTOP-DAY[/b]
A large clearing in the dense forest provides the ideal location to land.  The Neutralizer sets down beside a second ship.  This second ship will later be revealed to be a Jedi transport.  The hatch of The Neutralizer opens, and a ramp slides down to the ground.

[b]4.CLOSE-UP ON RAMP, NORMAL ANGLE[/b]
From Camera-Right, a left  black boot stamps on the ramp, followed by the right.  They cross left, down the ramp, until offscreen.

[b]5. EXT. NABOO-HILLTOP[/b]
Close-up, normal angle on boots, profiled.  The boots step off of the ramp and pause.  The camera slowly moves up the body, revealing black slacks followed by a matching tunic.  The camera finally rests on the profile of a face concealed by a hood.  A pale white nose is the only visible part of the man's countenance.

[b]6. EXT. NABOO, FOREST-DAY[/b]
The camera follows Plagueis, high angle, as he treks through the forest.  He stops at a lookout point that offers a spectacular view of the valley below.  It is lush green countryside, with the occasional cow-like creature milling about.  In the center of the valley rests a large yet unobtrusive house, smoke curls gently rolling from the chimney.  Dolly In on the house.

[b]7. INT. PALPATINE HOUSE-DAY[/b]
The Jedi Master, Spil-Man-Mot, and his padawan, Raina Ooten, stand in the living room.  Across from them are Mama and Daddy Palpatine.  Mama Palpatine cradles her baby, which is concealed in a mess of blankets.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
The choice you have placed before you today is the greatest, and most difficult, decision any parent will have to make for their child.  The love you feel for your baby is very powerful; I can feel it radiating from you.  To place your baby's life in the hands of total strangers is the most terrifying thing to do.  But your child is special.  He has powers that very few will ever have.

[b]Mama Palpatine[/b]
He was upset one day, crying, and everything in the house started levitating.  We didn't know what to do.

[b]Daddy Palpatine[/b]
I couldn't do anything.  I was too busy trying to get off of the ceiling.

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
And things like that will continue to happen.  The Jedi are prepared for such circumstances.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
But more importantly, your child will be taught control over his powers, and how and when it is proper to use them.

[b]Mama Palpatine[/b]
I understand that, Master Jedi.  Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the sake of the greater good.  But at the same time, we want our child raised in an environment that makes him strive to be a better person, and not just the means to an ideology's ends.  Can the Jedi provide that?

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
Every moment of a Jedi's life is a quest to find peace.  Not only with the outside world, but with the conflicts that lie within our hearts.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
Jedi younglings are never punished for their mistakes.  Instead, they are taught to seek wisdom through their errors.  Through that knowledge they gain a greater understanding of the Force.

[b]Daddy Palpatine[/b]
We want our son to do something significant with his life.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
Your son will be a Jedi.  Everything he does will be significant.

Mama and Daddy Palpatine look at each other, contemplating the decision before them...
                             [b]dissolve[/b]

[b]8. EXT. NABOO, HILLSIDE-DAY[/b]
Spil-Man-Mot and Raina Ooten are climbing a large hill (The same one we saw Plagueis hiding from earlier).  The baby Palpatine is cradled in Raina's arms.

[b]9. CLOSE-UP ON BABY PALPATINE[/b]
He is awake, eyes wide open, but not crying or screaming.  Very pacified.

[b]10.  CLOSE SHOT ON SPIL-MAN-MOT AND RAINA[/b]

Raina Ooten
It has to be very difficult for parents to give up a child for ideologies that don't understand.  Do you think the Palpatine's will spend the rest of their lives regretting their decision?  Will they lie awake at night, wondering about the person their child will become?

They reach the top of the hill.  A dense forest awaits them.

1[b]1. EXT. NABOO, FOREST-DAY, CONTINUING[/b]

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
The Palpatines realize that the Jedi can offer their son more than the best schools here on Naboo.  They wish only that he reach his true potential.  They will feel no remorse for their actions.

Spil-Man-Mot pauses.  He turns to study his Padawan.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
I sense something is troubling you, Padawan.  What is it?

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
To be honest, Master, I often think about my own family.  Are they still alive?  Would they care to see me again?  If we met on a street, would I recognize them, or would we pass each other like strangers?

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
It is natural to be curious about the family you never knew, Raina, but be cautious.  You mustn't obsess over things in which you have no control.  That is a path to the dark side.

[b]Raina[/b]
Yes, Master.

They continue moving.  Raina looks down at Baby Palpatine.

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
The council will be most pleased when they learn of this baby you've found.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
Yes, I believe they will.  This child has a midichlorian count that rivals Master Yoda's.  Perhaps this is the prophesied "chosen one".

He looks at Raina.  They both laugh.

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
You don't believe that "chosen one" rubbish, do you?

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
Perhaps.  Perhaps not.  It is obvious, however, that this child will become a very powerful Jedi.

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
I know.  It makes me happy that our communications satellite is broken.  I can't wait to see the look on the council member's faces when you present the baby in person.

[b]12. P.O.V., PLAGUEIS[/b]
The Dark Lord is watching the Jedi through the cover of trees.

[b]13.  ANGLE ON SPIL-MAN-MOT AND RAINA OOTEN[/b]

Spil-Man-Mot
Yes, that would be-

Spil-Man-Mot stops dead in his tracks.  He withdraws his lightsaber and ignites it.  A green energy beam bursts out of the hilt.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
(Cont'd)
I feel a presence near us.  It is strong in the Dark Side.

[b]Raina[/b]
I sense it also.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
Be on your guard, Raina.  If it is trained to use a lightsaber-

[b]Plagueis[/b]
[i](O.C.)[/i]
Make no mistake, Jedi.  It knows how to wield a lightsaber very well.

The Jedi look forward.  Plagueis stands before them, a few feet away.  His head is lowered, with the hood up.  He removes the hood and raises his head.  Plagueis is bald, with pale, albino-like skin.  His pupils are colorless, like the pupils of some Huskies.  Throwing off his cloak, Plagueis ignites his lightsaber (red blade, of course) and charges Spil-Man.  Lightsabers collide.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
He's after the baby!  Get him to the ship and take off!

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
I'll not leave you!

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
The baby is more important.  Now go!  I can handle this!

Raina hesitates, then runs.

[b]Plagueis[/b]
Sacrificing yourself so your Padawan can get away?  How sentimental.  It's too bad that I'm going to have to finish you off quickly now.  I do love taking my time killing Jedis.

[b]Spil-Man-Mot[/b]
You may find this Jedi a little hard to kill.

Spil-Man-Mot lunges forward.  Plagueis steps to the side and slides his lightsaber into his rib cage.  Spil-Man-Mot stumbles once, then falls over, dead.

[b]Plagueis[/b]
Perhaps not.

[b]14. DEEPER IN THE FOREST[/b]
Raina sprints through the forest, dodging trees and ducking branches as she goes.  Baby Palpatine remains in her arms, still resting quietly.

[b]15. NABOO HILLTOP-CONTINUING[/b]
Raina enters the clearing where both ships are.  She sees hers, and runs for it.  She is almost home free when Plagueis, springing from nowhere, grabs her and slings her to the ground.  Baby Palpatine flies out of her hands.

[b]16. CLOSE UP ON RAINA[/b]
She rolls over on her stomach quickly.  She stretches her right hand out, palm raised, toward Baby Palpatine.

[b]17. CLOSE UP ON BABY PALPATINE[/b]
The baby floats, feather-like, onto a bush.

[b]18.  WIDE SHOT[/b]
Raina jumps up, igniting her lightsaber.  Plagueis watches her, arms crossed, definitely not impressed.

[b]Raina Ooten[/b]
You'll pay for what you've done to my Master.

[b]Plagueis[/b]
Oh, I doubt that.

[b]19. EXTREME CLOSE-UP ON PLAGUEIS'S EYES[/b]
He stares deep into Raina's.

[b]20. EXTREME CLOSE-UP ON RAINA'S EYES[/b]
They lose their aggressiveness, and become terrified.

[b]21. WIDE SHOT[/b]
Raina falls to her knees, clutching her head and screaming in agony.  Plagueis walks up to her, stoops down to whisper in her left ear.

[b]Plagueis[/b]
You understand it now, don't you?  All of your training, all those years spent fettered to the Jedi doctrine?  They meant nothing.  You refuse power that is rightfully yours, and that has made you weak. 
The time of the Jedi is over.  A storm is coming, little girl, a storm that will wash the stain of the Jedi away forever.  You know the truth now, for you have been schooled by a Sith.

Plagueis rises, turning his back to Raina.

[b]Plagueis[/b]
(Cont'd)
Unfortunately, school's over.

[b]22. CLOSE ON RAINA[/b]
There is a loud snapping sound as Raina's brain explodes inside her skull.  Blood vessels burst in her eyes.  She topples over, backward.

[b]23. WIDE ANGLES[/b]
Plagueis scoops up the Baby Palpatine.

[b]Plagueis[/b]
You, my little friend, have caused your share of problems for one day, haven't you?  Look at you.  How can one so little and so needy have so much power.  You do, little one.  More power than the Jedi could ever realize.  But they'll know soon enough.  When it's time.  For now, though, let them bask in their ignorance of the world that surrounds them.  Their days are numbered, and you and I shall be the calendars of their desolation.  Rest on that, little one, for the day is almost done and tomorrow begins a new chapter in your life.
There is only one thing left to do today.

[b]24. INT.  PALPATINE HOUSE- DAY[/b]
The doorbell rings.

[b]Mama Palpatine[/b]
I'll get it.

She opens the front door and finds Plagueis standing there.

[b]Mama Palpatine[/b]
Hello?

[b]25. EXT. CLOSE UP ON PLAGUEIS'S HAND, MAMA PALPATINE IN BACKGROUND[/b]
His lightsaber flares up.  Mama Palpatine stares down in disbelief.

[b]26. CLOSE UP ON BABY PALPATINE[/b]
He lies still in the grass beside the house.  The sounds of a lightsaber mingled with screams of horror can be heard as we dolly-in to an EXTREME CLOSE-UP of the future Sith Lord's eyes...

  [b]DISSOLVE[/b]