EXT.
MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - PORCH - SUNRISE
Padme
exits the hovel.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - SLAVE QUARTERS - BACK YARD - SUNRISE
As
the twin suns rise, ARTOO is busy painting the racing
Pod. ANAKIN is asleep. PADME passes ARTOO.
PADME
: I hope you're about finished.
ARTOO
whistles a positive reply. PADME sees KITSTER riding
toward them on an EOPIE, a strange camel-lile creature.
He is leading a second EOPIE behind him. PADME goes
over to ANAKIN. He looks very vulnerable as he sleeps.
She watches him, then touches him on the cheek. ANAKIN
wakes up, yawns, and looks at her, a little puzzled.
ANAKIN
: You were in my dream...you were leading a huge army
into battle.
PADME : I hope not; I hate fighting. Your mother wants
you to come in and clean up. We have to leave soon.
ANAKIN stands up and stretches just as KITSTER arrives.
ANAKIN
: Hook 'em up, Kitster. (to Padme) I won't be long.
Where's Qui-Gon?
PADME : He and Jar Jar left already. They're with Watto
at the arena.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY
RACE
CREWS mill about outside the Main Hanger.
INT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY
The
hanger is a large building with a dozen or so Podracers
being readied for the race. ALIEN CREWS and PILOTS rush
about, making last minute fixes on their vehicles. WATTO,
QUI-GON, and JAR JAR walk through the activity.
WATTO
: ...I want to see your spaceship the moment the race
is over.
QUI-GON : Patienc, my blue friend. You'll have your
winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away
from here.
WATTO : Not if your ship belongs to me, I think...I
warn you, no funny business.
QUI-GON : You don't think Anakin will win?
WATTO
stops before an orange racer. Sitting to one side, having
his shoulders and neck massaged by TWIN YOBANAS, is
SEBULBA.
WATTO
: Don't get me wrongo. I have great faith in the boy.
He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going
to win, I think.
QUI-GON : Why?
WATTO : He always wins. (laughs) I'm betting heavily
on Sebulba.
QUI-GON : I'll take that bet.
WATTO : (suddenly stops laughing) What??!! What do you
mean?
QUI-GON : I'll wager my new racing pod against...say...the
boy and his mother.
WATTO : A Pod for slaves. I don't think so...well, poerhaps.
Just one...the mother, maybe...the boy isn't for sale.
QUI-GON : The boy is small, he can't be worth much.
WATTO
shakes his head.
QUI-GON
: (Cont'd) For the fastest Pod ever built?!
WATTO
shakes his head again.
QUI-GON
: (Cont'd) Both, or no bet.
WATTO : No Pod's worth two slaves...not by a long shot...one
slave or nothing.
QUI-GON : The boy, then...
WATTO
pulls out a small cube from his pocket.
WATTO
: We'll let fate decide. Blue it's the boy, red his
mother...
WATTO
tosses the cube down. QUI-GON lifts his hand slightly;
it turns blue. QUI-GON smiles. WATTO is angry.
WATTO
: (Cont'd) You won the small toss, outlander, bou you
won't win the race, so...it makes little difference.
ANAKIN
and PADME enter the hanger on one of the EOPIES, pulling
an engine. KITSTER, on the other EOPIE, is pulling another
engine. With THREEPIO walking alongside, ARTOO trundles
behind, pulling the Pod with SHMI sitting on it. WATTO
passes ANAKIN as he leaves.
WATTO
: (Cont'd) (subtitled) Bonapa keesa pateeso, o wanna
meetee chobodd. (Better stop your friends betting, or
I'll end up owning him, too.)
WATTO
walks off, laughing.
ANAKIN
: What did he mean by that?
QUI-GON
: I'll tell you later.
ARTOO
beeps at THREEPIO.
THREEPIO
: Oh my! Space travel sounds rather perilous.
ARTOO
emits a series of beeps.
THREEPIO
: I can assure you they will never get me onto one of
those dreadful starships!
KITSTER : (to Anakin) This is so wizard! I'm sure you'll
do it this time, Annie.
PADME : Do what?
KITSTER : Finish the race, of course!
PADME : You've never won a race?
ANAKIN : Well...not exactly...
PADME : Not even finished?!
ANAKN
looks sheepish.
ANAKIN
: ...but Kitster's right, I will this time.
QUI-GON : Of course you will.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - STREET - DAY
One
of Darth Maul's PROBE DROIDS slowly floats down the
main street of Tatooine. It looks in shops and studies
PEOPLE as it searches for OBI-WAN, QI-GON, or the QUEEN.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY
An
EXTREME HIGH WIDE ANGLE reveals a vast arena in the
Tatooine desert. A large semi-circular amphitheatre
that holds at least a hundred thousand people dominates
the landscape. Large viewing platforms loom over the
racetrack. INT. MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY
(FX)
A
two-headed ANNOUNCER describes the scene.
FODE/BEED
: -
A: Toogi! Toogie! (Greetings) Toong mee cha kulkah du
Boonta magi! tah oos azalus ooval Poddraces. (We have
perfect weather today for the Boonta classic. The most
hazardous of all Podraces.)
B : That's absolutly right. And a big turnout here,
from all corners of the Outer Rim territories. I see
the contestants are making their way out onto the starting
grid.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - DESERT RACE ARENA - DAY
On
the left side of the tracks across from the grandstands,
a line of Podracers emerges from the large hanger, surrounded
by several CREW MEMBERS. Pods are pulled by a wide variety
of CREATURES and are led by aliens carrying flags. The
PILOTS stand facing the royal box.
FODE/BEED
: -
(O.S) A : La Yma beestoo (Yes, there they are!)
B : I see Ben Quadinaros from the Tund system.
A : ...eh Gasgano doowa newpa Ord Petrovia! (And Gasgano
in thenew Ord Pedrovia.)
B : Two time winner, Boles Roor...
A : Poo tula moosta, woe grane champio Sebulba du Pixelito!
Splastyleeya bookie ookie!! (On the front line the reigning
champion, Sebulba from Pixelito. By far the favorite
today.)
B : And a late entry, Anakin Skywalker, a local boy.
A : Wampa peedunkee unko ( I hope he has better luck
this time.)
B : I see the flaggers are moving onto the track.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - GRANDSTAND - DAY
Colorful
canopies shade some of the SPECTATORS. VENDORS sell
barbecued creature parts and colorful drinks.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)
All
the PILOTS bow from the waist as JABBA THE HUTT enters
the box and waves to the crowd.
FODE/BEED
: -
A : O grandio lust, Jabba Du Hutt, amu intoe tah parena.
(His honor, our glorious host, Jabba the Hutt has entered
the arena.)
The
crowd ROARS. SEVERAL OTHER SLUG-LIKE HUTTS follow, along
with humans and aliens. Several SLAVE GIRLS on a chain
are led alongside JABBA.
JABBA
: (subtitled) Chowbaso! Tam ka chee Boonta rulee ya,
kee madda hodrudda du wundee. (Welcome!) Sebulba tuta
Pixelito...
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY
SEBULBA,
who is right next to ANAKIN, stands and waves to his
fans. A small pep band plays as his fans wave and cheer.
KITSTER
attaches the giant engins to Anakin's Pod with a long
cable. SHMI gives ANAKIN a big hug and kiss. She looks
him right in the eye.
SHMI
: Be safe.
ANAKIN : I will, Mom. I promise.
She
leaves as ANAKIN checks the cable hitches.
JABBA
: ...Mawhonic tuta Hok, Teemto Pagalies tuta Moonus
Mandel, Anakin SKywalker tuta Tatoonine....
The
CROWD YELLS. ANAKIN waves to the crowd, as JABBA continues
with his introductions. SEBULBA moves over to one of
Anakin's engines. KITSTER and JAR JAR unhitch the EOPIES,
and KITSTER leads them away. ARTOO beeps that everything
is OK. JAR JAR pats ANAKIN on the back.
JAR
JAR : Dis berry loony, Annie. May da guds be kind, mesa
palo.
PADME
comes up and gives ANAKIN a little kiss on the cheeek.
SEBULBA bangs on a part protruding from Anakin's engine.
He looks around to see if anyone has noticed.
PADME
: You carry all our hopes.
ANAKIN : I won't let you down.
PADME
moves away as SEBULBA edges his way next to ANAKIN and
gives him a sinister grin.
SEBULBA
: Bazda wahota, shag. Dobiella Nok. Yoka to Bantha poodoo.
(You won't walk away from this one, slave scum! You're
Bantha poodoo.)
ANAKIN : (subtitled) Cha skrundee da pat, sleemo. (Don't
count on it, slime-ball.)
ANAKIN
looks the evil SEBULBA in the eye with a cold stare.
QUI-GON approaches, and SEBULBA backs off toward his
racer.
JABBA
: (sutitled)...Ka bazza kundee hodrudda! (...Let the
challenge begin!)
The
CROWD lets out a LOUD CHEER. QUI-GON helps ANAKIN into
his Pod. The boy straps himself into the tiny racer.
QUI-GON
: Are you all set, Annie? (Anakin nods) Remember, concentrate
on the moment. Feel. Don't think. Trust your instincts.
(he smiles) May the Force be with you.
QUI-GON
steps away as ANAKIN puts on his goggles. The PILOTS
flip switches, and powerful energy binders shoot between
the engines. ANAKIN flips a switch, and his engine starts.
The incredible ROAR of high-powered engines igniting
echoes throughout the arena. One driver, ODY MANDRELL,
yells at a droid (DUM-4) to get away from the front
of his engine. The crowd is tense.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY
The
giant power-house engines torque as the PILOTS gun them.
The PILOTS flip switches, and poerful energy binders
shoot between the engines. Aliens carrying large flags
move off the track. JAR JAR covers his eyes.
JAR
JAR : Mesa no watch. Dissen ganna be messy!
FODE/BEED : -
A : Ya pawa culka doe rundee! (The power couplings are
being activated)
B : Hey, it looks like they're clearing the grid.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY
SHMI
looks nervously to QUI-GON as he enters a veiwing platform.
PADME and JAR JAR are already on board. The platform
rises like an elevator.
SHMI
: Is he nervous?
QUI-GON : He's fine.
PADME : You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen...
QUI-GON : The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden.
You should too.
PADME : You assume too much.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCER'S BOX - DAY (FX)
FODE/BEED
: -
B : Start your engines.
The
earth-pounding ROAR of the engines revving is deafening.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - ROYAL BOX - DAY (FX)
Jabba
bites off the head of a frog and spits it at a gong,
signaling the start of the race.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - STARTING GRID - DAY
On
a bridge over the track, a great green light at the
center flashes. The Podracers shoot forward with a high-pitches
scream. ANAKIN'S engine floods and coughs - then dies.
All the other Podracers except one swerve around him
and dissapear down the track. The slave boy struggles
to get his racer started. The two-headed announcer reports.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
A : An dare ovv! (And they're off!)
B : Oh...wait. Little Skywalker has stalled.
PADME
and JAR JAR are very dissapointed with ANAKIN. QUI-GON
puts his arm around a very worried SHMI to comfort her.
Finally, Anakin's engines ignite. He zooms away after
the receeding pack of competitors, leaving one quadra-Pod
racer still trying to get started. The two-headed ANNOUNCER
describes the race as it progresses.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
B : And there goes Skywalker... He'll be hard pressed
to catch up with the leaders today.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)
The
Podracers fly across the desert. SEBULBA is running
neck and neck with MAWHONIC. They round the first turn
in the track, side by side. SEBULBA drives his Pod into
his rival, forcing him into the wall of a large rock
formation. MAWHONIC crashes in a spectacular display
of fire and smoke.
ANAKIN is much faster than the back-end stragglers and
passes them easily.
One of the drivers, GASGANO, won't let ANAKIN by. ANAKIN
tries to pass him on one side and is cut off. He then
tries to pass him on the other side ansd is cut off.
As they come up on a cliff drop-off, ANAKIN backs off,
then guns it as GASGANO goes over the cliff. ANAJIN
accelerates so fast that he sails right over the top
of GASGANO and speeds away.
Four TUSKEN RAIDERS perched above the race course fire
their rifles at the Pods racing in the canyon below
them. One shot ricochets off the back of Anakin's Pod.
FODE/BEED
: -
B : Looks like a few Tusken Riaders have campe out on
the canyon dune turn.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY
JABBA
THE HUTT and the crowd watch the progress of the race
on small, hand-held view screens. JAR JAR is looking
over the shoulder of a strange alien named FANTA.
JAR
JAR : Where's Skywalker?
FANTA
moves the view screen out of Jar Jar's view. PADME,
SHMI, and QUI-GON watch another screen and look worried.
ARTOO, down in the pits with KITSTER, lets out a worried
sigh. The driver of the quadra-Pod looks worried.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)
ANAKIN
is powering around corners and over hills and cliffs,
passing other racers right and left. SEBULBA is in the
lead. He is being challenged by another racer, XELBREE.
SEBULBA slows a little, and as XELBREE pulls alongside,
he opens a side vent on the racer's engine and the exhaust
starts to cut through the alien's engine.
The blast cuts along the engine until finally it EXPLODES.
SEBULBA deftly veers away.
ANAKIN works his way through a dense mass of racers
as they zoom over a dune sea, kicking up dust. His Pod
shakes violently as he goes over a jump. One of the
Podracers, ODY, catches one of his engines in the sand,
and the whole thing EXPLODES.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - VIEWING PLATFORM - DAY
QUI-GON
sits quietly, meditating. PADME and SHMI search the
landscape for any sign of the racers. JAR JAR is still
annoying FANTA for information. The crowd SCREAMS. WATTO
is laughing with his friends, confident in Anakin's
defeat.
The quadra-Pod engines start just as the racers come
around the corner. The DRIVER, BEN QUADINAROS, puts
it in gear, and the four engines go off in all directions,
EXPLODING in a spectacular display. The Pod drops to
the ground as SEBULBA enters the arena, closely followed
by all the OTHER RACERS. KITSTER strains to see as ARTOO
beeps excitedly. The announcer continues.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S)
B ; There goes Quadinaros' power couplings.
A : Sebulba! Ka pa me cheespa wata! (Here comes Sebulba
in record time.)
QUI-GON,
PADME, SHMI, and JAR JAR yell for joy as ANAKIN passes.
JAR JAR is very nervous and pounds on the back of his
alien neighbor, FANTA.
JAR
JAR : What gooie-on?
FANTA : Bug off.
Lap
two. SEBULBA and the pack race past the main arena.
The crowd stands and YELLS as the Podracers scream off
into the distance. QUI-GON and PADME look worried.
JAR
JAR : He musta crash-ud.
PADME : Here he comes!
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - PIT AREA - DAY (FX)
ARTOO
lets out an excited whistle, as KITSTER yells.
THREEPIO
: He has to complete two more circuits? Oh dear!
EXT. MOS ESPA - RACETRACK - DAY (FX)
Sure
enough, coming around the bend is ANAKIN, quickly gaining
on the pack. The two-headed announcer describes the
action. The crowd goes wild.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
B : It looks like Skywalker is moving up through the
field. He's in...
A : Steeth pa nagoola! (Sixth place, not bad.)
ANAKIN
continues to gain on the pack. Tension for SHMI and
PADME is unbearable.
ODY stops in the pits. Droids work on his engines. DUM-4
stands in front of the engine and is sucked in, causing
the engine to die. DUM-4 is spit out the back of the
engine, very bent up. The engine lets out one final
wheeze, then EXPLODES in a puff of smoke.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
A : Ody Mandrell! Coona wa wunda dunko! (Ody Mandrell
into the pits for some attention.)
ODY : Droids!
TERTER
is getting close to SEBULBA, who purposely breaks a
small part off his Pod, sending it into Terter's engine,
causing him to veer into ANAKIN, and unhooks one of
the main straps on Anakin's engines that links the Pod
to his engines.
ANAKIN struggles to keep control of the little Pod.
It whips about wildly. As the Pod swings near the broken
engine strap, ANAKIN grabs for it. Finally, he catches
the strap and manages to unhook it to the Pod.
SEBULBA cuts the engine of OBITOKI with his side exhaust,
and the racer crashes with a cloud of dust. A THIRD
RACER, HABBA, flie into the cloud of dust and crashes
into OBITOKI. ANAKIN rounds a corner and heads into
the cloud of smoke. He hits a part of one of the engines
but regains control.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
B :At the start of the third and final lap, Sebulba
is in the lead, closely followed by Skywalker...
ANAKIN
finally catches up with SEBULBA, and runs neck and neck
over the rough terrain. JAR JAR, QUI-GON, SHMI, and
PADME all SCREAM s ANAKIN comes through the arena. The
lights in the tower indicate that this is the third
and last lap. WATTO begins to worry.
SEBULBA uses his side exhaust port to try to cut through
Anakin's engines. ANAKIN manages to avoid having his
engine disabled but is forced off course.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
B : Skywalker is forced onto the service ramp!
A : Oh noah!
On
a tight corner, ANAKIN dives to the inside and takes
the lead.
FODE
BEED : - (O.S.)
B : Amazing... a controlled thrust and he's back on
course! What a move!
SEBULBA
is furious. He stay's right on Anakin's tail, crowding
him and pushing him through the turns.
SEBULBA pushes ANAKIN harder, and the young boy has
a difficult time keeping control. One of the parts on
Anakin's engines begins to shake loose. ANAKIN sees
it and switches over to an auxiliary system. While he
is trying to accomplish this maneuver, SEBULBA races
past him.
ANAKIN tries to get around SEBULBA, to no avail. Every
move ANAKIN makes, SEBULBA is able to block.
Finally, ANAKIN fakes a move into the inside as he usually
does, then tries to go around SEBULBA on the outside.
They race sid by side down the final stretch of the
track.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
B : He's catching Sebulba.
A : Inkabunga. (Incredible!)
SEBULBA
veers toward ANAKIN and bangs into his Pod. He crashes
into ANAKIN over and over. The young boy struggles to
maintain control as the steering rods on the two Pods
become hooked together. SEBULBA laughs at ANAKIN.
FODE/BEED
: - (O.S.)
B : That little human being is out of his mind.
A : Punda tah punda! (They're neck and neck!)
B : They're side by side!
A : Bongo du bongu! (Shoulder to shoulder!)
As
they head for the final stretch, ANAKIN fights to unlock
the steering rods by trying to pull away from SEBULBA.
The strain on the steering rod is tremendous. Suddenly,
ANAKIN's steering arm breaks, and his Pos starts spinning.
The release of tension sends SEBULBA into an ancient
statue. One engine EXPLODES, then the other. SEBULBA
skids through the fire-balls, blackened, but unhurt.
He slides to a smoking stop, gets out of his racer,
and throws what's left of a shifter arm on the ground.
Suddenly he realizes his pants are on fire, and he struggles
to put them out. ANAKIN flies through the EXPLOSION
as the crowd stands, CHERRING. PADME and JAR JAR jump
up and down with excitment, PADME screaming for joy.
ARTOO and KITSTER whistle hysterically. QUI-GON and
SHMI smile. ANAKIN races over the finish line, the winner.
INT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA ANNOUNCERS BOX - DAY (FX)
The
two-headed announcer excitedly calls the finish.
FODE/BEED
: -
B : It's Skywalker! The crowd are going nuts! Oh Ah
Oh Ah (rock head in tandem with partner)
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - DAY
As
ANAKIN stops the Podracer, KISTER turns up, and they
embrace. Hundreds of SPECTATORS join them and put ANAKIN
on their shoulders, marching off, CHEERING AND CHANTING.
Darth Maul's PROBE DROIDS move through the crowd.
INT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - PRIVATE BOX - DAY
Several
ALIENS leave Watto's box, laughing and counting their
money. WATTO sees QUI-GON standing in the doorway.
WATTO
: You! You swindled me! You knew the boy was going to
win! Somehow you knew it! I lost everything.
WATTO
flies up to QUI-GON and puts his face right up against
QUI-GON's. QUI-GON simply smiles.
QUI-GON
: Whenever you gamble, my freind, eventually you'll
lose. Bring the parts to the main hanger. I'll come
by your shop later so you can release the boy.
WATTO : You can't have him! It wasn't a fair bet!
QUI-GON : Would you like to discuss it with the Hutts...I'm
sure they can settle this.
WATTO : No, no! I want no more of your tricks! Take
him!
The
SITH PROBE DROID watches with great interest.
EXT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY
The
Main Hanger is almost deserted as RACERS depart.
INT.
MOS ESPA - ARENA - MAIN HANGER - DAY
JAR
JAR gives ANAKIN a great hug, then PADME gives him a
hug, then SHMI.
ANAKIN
: Ah, gee...enough of this...
SHMI : It's so wonderful, Annie. You have brought hope
to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you...
PADME : We owe you everything.
ANAKIN : Just feeling this good was worth it.
In
the background, QUI-GON has harnessed the EOPIES to
containers full of parts.
QUI-GON
: Padme. Jar Jar, let's go, we've got to get these parts
back to the ship.
The
GROUP walks over to QUI-GON and the EOPIES.
PADME climbs on behind QUI-GON. JAR JAR swings up onto
the second EOPIE, only to slwly slide off the other
side. ARTOO whistles. ANAKIN and SHMI wave as they ride
off.
QUI-GON
: (Cont'd) I'll return the eopies by midday.
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