Five minutes into Attack of the Clones, one thing is perfectly clear. Someone is trying to kill Senator Amidala. Two major attempts to assassinate her are made early in the film. The first takes place on a Coruscant landing platform. Let’s take a look at some of the deleted/altered scenes involving this first attack in the film.
THE LANDING PLATFORM
According to the 2nd draft of the script, Jar Jar Binks was originally supposed to be in the film’s opening scene on the landing platform. Padmé’s handmaiden, Dormé, was also supposed to be with Jar Jar greeting the Senator upon her arrival. This version mentions a group of dignitaries as well. I don’t remember seeing a greeting party in the finished film at all. The dignitaries start to move forward when the explosion happens, and are subsequently “hurled to the ground” with everyone else.
Here’s an excerpt from the 2nd draft of Attack of the Clones:
EXT. CORUSCANT, LANDING PLATFORM
Two Naboo fighters land on one leaf of a three-leaf-clover landing platform. The Royal Starship lands on the central leaf, and the third fighter lands on the remaining platform.A small GROUP OF DIGNITARIES waits to welcome the Senator. One of the members of the group is a well-dressed JAR JAR BINKS, a member of the Galactic Representative Commission, and Dormé, Senator Amidala’s handmaiden.
On a non-Jar Jar related note, a friend of mine named Erwin had the distinct pleasure of seeing an early “Press Screening” version of Episode II at a theater near him. He mentioned that there were a few small differences in that version from the final cut. Here’s something he mentioned about the landing platform scene:
When Amidala’s ship explodes, one of the N1 Starfighters accompanying Amidala, is hurled over the edge and falls into the clowds, it can be seen at the far left, in the theater version we cut to the following shot, but in the press-screening version the camera kept following the N1 as it fell, and fell… and fell… just as in The Phantom Menace where an N1 fighter is shot by a Battle Tank and falls right out of the hangar into the plains lots lower.
PADMÉ ADDRESSES THE SENATE
Included with the Episode II DVD is a deleted scene where Senator Amidala goes before the senate and gives her impassioned speech. The scene was to take place after the landing platform explosion scene at the beginning of the film and before the first meeting in Palpatine’s office. The filmmakers explained that the scene was just too long and slowed down the film, and it was almost immediately apparent that the scene needed to be removed during editing.
There are a few notable characters who ended up on the cutting room floor in this scene. Palpatine’s aide, Uv Gizen, is one of them. Another is Senator Darsana, who was voiced by ILM Lead Animator Rob Coleman, for all you trivia buffs.
The scene, as it is on the DVD, is one of the better ones they decided to include. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be the full scene as it exists in the original script. In that version, Palpatine explains Amidala’s assassination, some other senators express their opinions on various matters, plus a few other small details.
Here’s an excerpt from The Art of Attack of the Clones:
EXT. SENATE BUILDING – DAY
The massive Senate Building glistens in the afternoon sun. Small patches of fog have still to burn off.INT. SENATE CHAMBER – DAY
The vast rotunda is buzzing with chatter. Mas Amedda, the Supreme Chancellor’s majordomo, tries to quiet things down as Palpatine confers with an aide, Uv Gizen, riding a small one man floating scooter.Mas Amedda
Order! We shall have order!
The motion for the republic to
commission an army takes precedent,
and that is what we will vote
on at this time.Everything quiets down. The aide disperses, and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine steps to the podium.
Palpatine
…My esteemed colleagues, excuse me
…I have just received some tragic and
disturbing news. Senator Amidala of the
Naboo system has been assassinated!There is a shock silence in the vast arena.
Palpatine (continuing)
This grievous blow is especially personal
to me. Before I became Chancellor,
I served Amidala when she was Queen.
She was a great leader who fought
for justice, not only in this honorable
assembly, but also on her home planet.
She was so loved she could have been
elected queen for life. She believed
in public service, and she fervently believed
in democracy. Her death is a great loss to
us all. We will all mourn her as a relentless
champion of freedom…
and as a dear friend.There is a moment of silence. Ask Aak, the Senator of Malastare, moves his pod into the center of the arena.
Ask Aak
How many more Senators will die
before this civil strife ends! We must
confront these rebels now,
and we need an army to do it.A second pod moves into the center of the area with Darsana, the Ambassador of Glee Anselm.
Darsana
Why weren’t the Jedi able to stop
this assassination? We are no longer safe
under their protection.Senator Orn Free Taa swings forward in his pod.
Orn Free Taa
The Republic needs more security
now! Before it comes to war.Palpatine
Must I remind the Senator from
Malastare that negotiations are
continuing with the separatists.
Peace is our objective here…not war.The Senators yell pros and cons. Mas Amedda tries to calm things down. Senator Padmé Amidala, with Captain Typho, Jar Jar, and Dormé, maneuvers her pod into the center of the vast arena.
Padmé
My noble colleagues, I concur
with the Supreme Chancellor.
At all costs, we do not want war!The Senate goes quiet, then there is an outburst of cheering and applause.
Palpatine
It is with great surprise and joy
the chair recognizes the Senator
from Naboo, Padmé Amidala.Padmé
Less than an hour ago, as assassination
attempt was made against my life.
One of my bodyguards and six others
were ruthlessly and senselessly murdered.
I was the target but, more importantly,
I believe this security measure before
you was the target. I have led the opposition
to build an army… but there is someone
in this body that will stop at nothing
to assure its passage…Many of the Senators boo and yell at Senator Amidala.
Padmé (continuing)
I warn you, if you vote to create this
army, war will follow. I have experienced
the misery of war firsthand;
I do not wish to do it again.There is sporadic yelling for and against her statements.
Padmé (continuing)
Wake up, Senators…you must wake up!
If we offer the separatists violence, they
can only show us violence in return!
Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom.
This decision could very well destroy the very
foundation of our great Republic.
I pray you do not let fear push you into
a disastrous decision. Vote down this
security measure, which is nothing less
than a declaration of war!
Does anyone here want that?
I cannot believe they do.There is an undercurrent of booing…and groaning. Senator Orn Free Taa moves his pod next to Amidala.
Orn Free Taa
My motion to defer the vote
must be dealt with first.
That is the rule of law.Amidala looks angry and frustrated. Palpatine gives her a sympathetic look.
Palpatine
In view of the lateness of the hour
and the seriousness of this motion,
we will take up these matters tomorrow.
Until then, the Senate stands adjourned.
The images here are courtesy DVDCC.com and PadawansGuide.com. The video clip was captured from the DVD and sent in by Dylan McDermond.
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Download: Clip of Padmé making her speech before the senate from the Episode II DVD. |
MACE WINDU AND YODA IN THE HALLWAY
This scene introduces the (ultimately deleted) concept of Yoda going off alone to probe the Dark Side of the Force for clues about the strange goings on lately. This probing of the Dark Side is a dangerous process, of course. Yoda feels the Sith are involved and memories of a decade ago still linger. The idea was ultimately dropped from the final film.
This scene takes place after Anakin and Obi-Wan meet with Senator Amidala, Captain Typho, Dormé and Jar Jar Binks in Amidala’s apartment. It’s a scene that was deleted in favor of combining its dialogue with another scene where Mace Windu was to walk Obi-Wan to his starfighter to see him off . Instead of having two scenes, Lucas was able to combine them into one and accomplish the same feat, getting all his ideas across perfectly. Oddly enough, that scene with Obi-Wan also ended up deleted although some of its dialogue was used elsewhere.
The original scene took place in a dark hallway somewhere in the Jedi Temple. There are different versions of this scene depending on where you get your information. I’m including two excerpts: one from the 2nd draft that leaked onto the Internet before the film was out and another from The Art Of Attack of the Clones which includes a slightly different version of the final script. They’re very similar except for a few short phrases.
If you check out the Episode II “Making of” documentary #10 called “Good to G.O.”, you’ll see a brief clip of the shooting of this scene.
Here’s the excerpt from The Art Of Attack of the Clones:
15 INT. JEDI TEMPLE, CORRIDOR – EVENING
Mace Windu and Yoda walk down the long hallway, silhouetted by a lit room at the end.MACE WINDU
Why couldn’t we see this
attack on the Senator?YODA
Masking the future, is this
disturbance in the force.MACE WINDU
The prophecy is coming true,
the dark side is growing.YODA
And only those who have turned to
the Dark Side can sense the possibilities
of the future. Only going through
the Dark Side can we see.MACE WINDU
It’s been ten years and the Sith
still have not shown themselves.
Do you think they are behind this?YODA
…Out there, they are.
A certainty, that is.There is a long silence as they walk away. Only footsteps are heard.
Here’s the excerpt from the 2nd draft:
[Same dialogue as above, but numbered scene 12]
YODA
…Out there, they are.
A certainty, that is.MACE WINDU
Do you think Obi-Wan’s apprentice
will be able to bring balance
to the Force?YODA
Only if he chooses to
follow his destiny.There is a long silence as they walk away. Only footsteps are heard.
