STAR WARS
Episode VII: Escape from Peril
An Original Screenplay
By
Jeremy Lazar
And
GenMadine

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EXT. SPACE ? CORUSCANT

Bustling traffic zooms all around the planet of Coruscant.

INT. CORUSCANT ? SENATE BUILDING - SUNRISE

The domed Senate building sits majestically over the main thoroughfare.

INT. SENATE - MAIN SENATE CHAMBER

Chancellor LEIA ORGANA-SOLO is presiding a debate in the Senate. SEE-THREEPIO is at her side, both providing her with information as well as translating.

QUARREN SENATOR
The Jedi are our best source for
(more)

QUARREN SENATOR (con?d)
protection and peacekeeping in the galaxy. To undermine their authority is ludicrous.

LEIA
Local security squads are for everyday matters, Senator, we are talking about returning them as protectors of the Republic. To use their autonomy to help with disputes that benefit the galaxy as a whole. Like this matter with the Coalition.

ITHORIAN SENATOR
Jedi can make the jobs of our armed forces a whole lot easier.

DUG SENATOR
Echam wonna Jedi eit take bukka woe min ehy tabba whu. Deh mo anomen.

THREEPIO
Senator Setoka says that the Jedi cannot be allowed to roam the galaxy free to do what they please. They have to be regulated.

LEIA
The Senate will have authority, but you cannot take away their basic freedoms!

Threepio takes Leia aside.

THREEPIO
Madame Chancellor, if I may, Malastare has a history of disliking Jedi for centuries. I do no think you can change their minds today.

LEIA
I have to try.
(To senate)
To continue to serve the galaxy in the best way possible, I urge this (more)

LEIA (con?d)
body to discontinue their distrust of the Jedi. The Jedi were the pillars of the Old Republic.

The aging, blue skinned, red eyed, pointy eared, SENATOR GOLEMUN moves his platform forwards.

SENATOR GOLEMUN
The Jedi were responsible for the fall of the Old Republic, if I am not mistaken.

LEIA
Senator Golemun, that is simply untrue-

GOLEMUN
I was there, Madame Chancellor. The Republic was by destroyed by Palpatine, whose manipulations the Jedi could not detect. We relied too heavily on their guidance, and as a result, the Jedi?s weakness led to decades of war.

Rumblings and cheers emit from various pods throughout the senate. Leia starts to look concerned.

THREEPIO
Oh my!

GOLEMUN
Why should we trust them now?

LEIA
The Coalition forces are growing, Senator. We need to support this body?s position on the Jedi if they are to help us with this new threat.

GOLEMUN
Threat? Threat, my lady? The Coalition is simply fulfilling the promises that this body has lacked the ability to accomplish.

RODIAN SENATOR
Here here!

LEIA
Under current conditions, the Jedi are stinted. They cannot make a move without this body?s approval. They need more freedom to perform their duties.

GOLEMUN
The Empire was free of Jedi interference to complicate matters. The galaxy is once more in turmoil, and we?re here again talking about Jedi. I myself am beginning to think that the Coalition might be more effective in running the galaxy than either Empire or Republic.

There is an uproar. The Senators begin to argue.

MON CALAMARI SENATOR
That is treason!

THREEPIO
This is not good.

LEIA
Senator Golemun, enough! We are going in circles. The Coalition is consolidating their forces. We need to decide this issue as soon as we can.

Leia notices Jedi Master MARA JADE-SKYWALKER standing in the viewers area.

LEIA (con?d)
We will revisit this topic when we reconvene. Thank you all for your time. Senate adjourned.

The turmoil begins to die down as the Senators leave.

INT. SENATE ? HALLWAY

Leia and Threepio walk with Mara down to Leia?s office.

LEIA
I don?t know how much more I can take, Mara. This debate about the Jedi has been going on for months.

MARA
The number of Senators sharing Golemun?s point of view is growing.

LEIA
Golemun has his own agenda. He?s only using this issue as a catalyst.

MARA
And he?s doing a very good job.

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Script Pages:

Intro  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33

Full Script: 1 of 2  (2 of 2)

Download the script (pdf)

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