Revenge of the Sith: Illustrated Screenplay: Star Wars: Episode III (13 page)

A
NAKIN:
Yes, Master.

ANAKIN watches as the JEDI leave in their ship.

125 INT. CORUSCANT—JEDI COUNCIL/PADMÉ’S APARTMENT—EARLY EVENING(iNTERCUT)

PADMÉ is alone in her apartment, thinking of Anakin. ANAKIN sits alone in the Jedi Council Chamber thinking of PADMÉ.

P
ALPATINE:
(V.O.
) You do know, don’t you, if the Jedi destroy me, any chance of saving her will be lost.

P
ADMÉ:
I truly, deeply love you. Before I die, I want you to know.

C
-
3PO
:
My Lady, are you. . . . Are you all right?

A
NAKIN:
I can’t do this . . . I can’t let her die.

ANAKIN rushes out of the Council Chamber and to his speeder. The hangar door opens and he lifts off.

126 (97) EXT. CORUSCANT—SENATE OFFICE BUILDING—LANDING PLATFORM—EARLY EVENING

The sky is still blue as a JEDI GUNSHIP lands on the Senate Office Building landing platform.

FOUR JEDI exit the SHUTTLE and enter the Senate Office Building. MACE WINDU, AGEN KOLAR, KIT FISTO, and SAESEE TIIN, like gunfighters out of the Old West, walk through the massive hallway, four across.

127 (98) INT. CORUSCANT—LOBBY TO CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE—EARLY EVENING

The FOUR JEDI enter the lobby, raising their arms, and send the Chancellor’s aide, DAR WAC, flying against the wall, along with TWO REPUBLIC GUARDS. They storm into the Chancellor’s office.

128 (99) INT. CORUSCANT—CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE—EARLY EVENING

MACE arrives with THREE JEDI to arrest PALPATINE.

P
ALPATINE:
Master Windu. I take it General Grievous has been destroyed then. I must say, you’re here sooner than expected.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor.

MACE WINDU and the other JEDI ignite their lightsabers.

P
ALPATINE:
Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?

M
ACE:
The Senate will decide your fate.

P
ALPATINE:
(burst of anger) I am the Senate!

M
ACE:
Not yet!

PALPATINE stands, a laser sword appears out of his cloak sleeve, and he spins toward the JEDI.

P
ALPATINE:
It’s treason, then.

A close shot of PALPATINE as the fight begins. Close shots of THREE JEDI getting cut down by PALPATINE. PALPATINE and MACE continue to fight.

Jedi Master MACE WINDU and the Sith Lord fight their way down the hallway and into the main office area. PALPATINE is able to use the Force to slam MACE against the wall, but he recovers before the Chancellor can cut him down.

ANAKIN lands his speeder, jumps out, and runs down a long corridor toward the Chancellor’s office.

In the heat of battle, MACE cuts the window behind the Chancellor’s desk, and it crashes away. MACE is forced out onto the ledge, which is twenty stories up. They fight over the precipice.

ANAKIN arrives to see PALPATINE and MACE fighting.

They stop as MACE forces PALPATINE to drop his sword. PALPATINE and MACE start yelling at each other.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
You are under arrest, My Lord.

P
ALPATINE:
Anakin! I told you it would come to this. I was right. The Jedi are taking over.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
You old fool. The oppression of the Sith will never return. Your plot to regain control of the Republic is over . . . you have lost . . .

P
ALPATINE:
No! No!
You
will die!

PALPATINE raises his hands, and lightning bolts shoot out. They are blocked by MACE’s lightsaber. PALPATINE is pushed back against the window sill.

P
ALPATINE:
He is a traitor, Anakin.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
He’s the traitor. Stop him!

P
ALPATINE:
Come to your senses, boy. The Jedi are in revolt. They will betray you, just as they betrayed me.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
Aarrrrggghhhhh . . .

P
ALPATINE:
You are not one of them, Anakin. Don’t let him kill me.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
Aarrrrggghhhhh . . .

P
ALPATINE:
I am your pathway to power. I have the power to save the one you love. You must choose. You must stop him.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
Don’t listen to him, Anakin.

P
ALPATINE:
Help me! Don’t let him kill me. I can’t hold on any longer. Ahhhhhhh . . . ahhhhhhh . . . ahhhhhhh . . .

MACE pushes PALPATINE out to the edge of the ledge. As the Jedi moves closer, the bolts from Palpatine’s hands begin to arch back on him. The Chancellor’s face begins to twist and distort.

His eyes become yellow as he struggles to intensify his powers.

P
ALPATINE:
I can’t . . . I give up. Help me. I am weak . . . I am too weak. Don’t kill me. I give up. I’m dying. I can’t hold on any longer.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
You Sith disease. I am going to end this once and for all.

A
NAKIN:
You can’t kill him, Master. He must stand trial.

M
ACE
W
INDU:
He has too much control of the Senate and the Courts. He is too dangerous to be kept alive.

P
ALPATINE:
I’m too weak. Don’t kill me. Please.

A
NAKIN:
It is not the Jedi way . . .

MACE raises his sword to kill the CHANCELLOR.

A
NAKIN:
(continuing
) He must live . . .

P
ALPATINE:
Please don’t, please don’t . . .

A
NAKIN:
I need him . . .

P
ALPATINE:
Please don’t . . .

A
NAKIN:
NO!!!

Just as MACE is about to slash PALPATINE, ANAKIN steps in and cuts off the Jedi’s hand holding the lightsaber.

As MACE stares at ANAKIN in shock, PALPATINE springs to life. The full force of Palpatine’s powerful bolts blasts MACE. He attempts to deflect them with his one good hand, but the force is too great. As blue rays engulf his body, he is flung out the window and falls twenty stories to his death. No more screams. No more moans. PALPATINE lowers his arm.

P
ALPATINE:
Power! Unlimited power!

His face has changed into a horrible mask of evil. ANAKIN looks on in horror. PALPATINE cackles.

A
NAKIN:
What have I done?

ANAKIN sits.

P
ALPATINE:
You are fulfilling your destiny, Anakin. Become my apprentice. Learn to use the dark side of the Force.

A
NAKIN:
I will do whatever you ask.

P
ALPATINE:
Good.

A
NAKIN:
Just help me save Padmé’s life. I can’t live without her. I won’t let her die. I want the power to stop death.

P
ALPATINE:
To cheat death is a power only one has achieved, but if we work together, I know we can discover the secret.

ANAKIN kneels before PALPATINE.

A
NAKIN:
I pledge myself to your teachings. To the ways of the Sith.