The first line of the finished film belongs to Anakin Skywalker when he tells R2-D2 to lock onto an enemy \u2013 but this wasn\u2019t always the case. In fact, that line was originally spoken later in the battle.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an excerpt from an early version of the script that gives us the original opening of the film. Note the change in Obi-Wan\u2019s droid\u2019s name. R4-P17 from Episode II<\/em> was replaced in the film with another R4 droid, R4-G8:<\/p>\n PAN DOWN to reveal a REPUBLIC ATTACK CRUISER. Continue to PAN with the Cruiser as TWO JEDI STARFIGHTERS enter and head toward an enemy Battle Cruiser. TRUCK with the Jedi Fighters as they maneuver in unison, dodging flack and enemy laser fire. R2-D2 is on Anakin’s ship. R4-P17 is on Obi-Wan’s ship. A giant space battle is revealed as the tiny Jedi ships continue their assault in a synchronous ballet. <\/em><\/p>\n 2 INT. OBI-WAN’S STARFIGHTER COCKPIT-SPACE<\/strong> 3 INT. ANAKIN’S STARFIGHTER COCKPIT-SPACE<\/strong> ANAKIN OBI-WAN 4 EXT. CORUSCANT-SPACE BATTLE<\/strong> 5 INT. OBI-WAN’S STARFIGHTER COCKPIT-SPACE<\/strong> OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN flies to the left of a huge tower on a REPUBLIC CRUISER. The TWO DROID DROP FIGHTERS follow.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN deftly maneuvers around a large Starship’s superstructure, but the TWO DROID FIGHTERS stay on his tail, BLASTING him with intense laser fire.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN ARTOO BEEPS his reply as ANAKIN swoops in for the kill. ANAKIN BLASTS one of the DROID DROP FIGHTERS. It EXPLODES.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN ANAKIN BLASTS away at the second DROID DROP FIGHTER as ARTOO BEEPS an angry warning.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN dives toward the surface of one of the larger TRADE FEDERATION BATTLESHIPS and is forced to fly through a maelstrom of laser flack. He skims the surface, followed by the DROID DROP FIGHTER, which is followed by ANAKIN.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN ARTOO BEEPS. The crosshairs merge on the DROID DROP FIGHTER.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN OBI-WAN flies through a narrow gap between two towers on a Battleship. The DROID DROP FIGHTER hits one of Obi-Wan’s wings with a laser blast, and parts of the ship go flying around Obi-Wan’s Astro Droid, ARFOUR.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN R-4 BEEPS a blue streak.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN ANAKIN drops in behind the DROID DROP FIGHTER and blows him apart. ARTOO SQUEALS with delight.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN R-4 BEEPS a blue streak.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN So was this opening bait-and-switch maneuver actually shot? I can\u2019t say for sure because there isn\u2019t much information on this specific scene out there. If it was shot and deleted later, that would mean that George Lucas trimmed the opening and saved himself a few minutes of valuable screen time but sacrificed some cool action shots. Fortunately, the opening of the film contains so much action that we don\u2019t even miss it, really.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to include some other excerpts from the opening space battle that contain lines of dialogue not included in the theatrical version. Most are minor changes with trims for flow or to speed things up but they are fun to note.<\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN \n<\/blockquote>\n 8 INT. ANAKIN’S FIGHTER COCKPIT-SPACE<\/strong><\/p>\n ANAKIN ARTOO BEEPS a worried message.<\/strong><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN Four Clone Fighters move into formation behind the Jedi.<\/em><\/p>\n ODD BALL ANAKIN ARTOO SQUEALS as five DROID TRI-FIGHTERS pass by at high speed on the right.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN Four more VULTURE DROID FIGHTERS pass at high speed from the left. All hell breaks loose. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN continue to fly in unison, backing up each other. ARTOO SQUEALS.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN The Jedi ships split up and make a quick loop around the DROID TRI-FIGHTERS, ending up behind them. BLASTING away. The DROID TRI-FIGHTERS EXPLODE.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN In one incredible move, ANAKIN swings in behind the DROID TRI-FIGHTERS, blowing them away one by one until there is only one left. ARTOO CHIRPS.<\/em><\/p>\n ARTOO lets out a HOWL as ANAKIN accelerates past the last DROID TRI-FIGHTER, slams on his brakes, flips the Fighter around, and BLASTS the Fighter from the front. ARTOO BEEPS frantically as they fly through the debris of the destroyed ships. ANAKIN looks behind him.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN Obi-Wan shakes his head.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN swoops low and skims across a TRADE FEDERATION BATTLESHIP, dodging flack as ARTOO bounces along, trying to get out a sentence.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN drops in behind the DROID VULTURE FIGHTERS chasing Anakin. ARFOUR BEEPS to OBI-WAN.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN OBI-WAN fires as he swings across the back of the VULTURE DROIDS, BLASTING four of them away. ANAKIN heads for a trench along the surface of one of the Trade Federation Battleships. He flies into the trench, which ends in a conning tower with a small slit between two main struts.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ARTOO BEEPS nervously.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ARTOO SQUEALS in a panic. On the view screen Artoo’s squeal reads out, “WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.”<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN ANAKIN slips through the narrow gap. The trailing VULTURE DROID FIGHTERS CRASH.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN continues to fire on the VULTURE DROID FIGHTERS, driving them into the EXPLOSION.<\/em><\/p>\n A CLONE fighter is hit and explodes, spewing debris. The CLONE PILOT spins off into space. ODD BALL CLONE PILOT 2 ANAKIN OBI-WAN It’s interesting to note that there were originally supposed to be a few mentions of the Jedi named Shaak Ti who has an interesting history involving her deletions from this film. It seems that Lucas really tried his best to get her in there somehow but she only made it into one tiny Jedi Council hologram shot.<\/p>\n Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo was allowed to attend the shooting of the film for Starwars.com coverage.\u00a0Pablo has seen not one but many versions of the script as well as the many additions\/deletions made on the fly. On July 29, 2005, he posted a diary entry called “The Space Battle on Paper” which covered the many issues faced in filming the sequence.<\/p>\n The first thing I noticed in his report is that he mentions that the script pans LEFT after the crawl instead of down. The published script mentions a pan down so Pablo is hinting to a different opening altogether, perhaps one where the Jedi ships are making their way into battle.<\/p>\n Pablo also mentions that in the earlier scripts, Obi-Wan had the first line: “Flying is for droids!” which was moved to another location in the battle. He also goes on to mention the Droid Drop Fighters. Those droid fighters are actually the ones that ended up on Kashyyyk – nowhere to be seen in this opening battle, much like the Republic V-wings that accompany Palpatine’s shuttle near the end of the film which were also supposed to be part of the opening battle. Those were replaced by the more X-wing-like ARC-170 fighters.<\/p>\n Pablo talks a lot about the ships that were in and out of the battle. The tri-droids were in, out, then back in.\u00a0 He goes on about the various ships used by the Republic and the various Separatist groups plus talks about the buzz droid sequence.\u00a0 The set diaries, unfortunately, have since been deleted.<\/p>\n Some of the images I’m including here are ones I was made privy to long before the film came out. Some are slightly altered by the source for better viewing. Note that these are not the final versions of the ships in the film. The one that looks like a shark but has the star-filled background behind it is a composite sent in by Darth Darthy. One image featuring the Jedi ships clearly shows Utapau in the distance so I’m assuming this is some sort of composite for promotional use. I did find a similar shot with Coruscant in the background, however.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n AN UNEXPECTED SWIM<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the DVD, this scene was to take place after Grievous kills Shaak Ti. The Jedi and Grievous exchange some dialogue, Grievous kills Shaak Ti, and they cut their way through the floor, landing in a fuel tank. They have to find a way out before the fuel rises. They can’t use their lightsabers. Super Battle Droids are swimming toward them and the room is filling up fast.<\/p>\n It appears that in rewrites, since Shaak Ti was removed from the beginning of the film, the Jedi meet up with two of Grievous’ bodyguards instead of Grievous himself.<\/p>\n Here is a script excerpt from the published version which differs quite a bit from the scene you’ll find on the Episode III<\/em> DVD<\/a>.<\/p>\n 11 INT. HANGAR-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> BODYGUARD I OBI-WAN As a dozen more droids join the group, the JEDI ignite their lightsabers and stand back-to-back.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN ANAKIN and OBI-WAN use their lightsabers and cut a large circle in the floor.<\/em><\/p>\n 12 INT. GENERATOR ROOM-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN They run, EXPLOSIONS rattle the ship, and pipes continue to burst around them, spilling more fuel into the hallway. At the far end, SIX SUPER BATTLE DROIDS drop into the fuel. The SOUNDS OF SHIELD DOORS CLOSING AND LOCKING ECHO throughout the hallway. They pass several large power generators, which are topped with SPARKING excess power dischargers.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN The last of the DOORS CAN BE HEARD CLOSING in the distance.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN They move along a wall. ANAKIN climbs up the side to a small vent. The fuel gets closer to the SPARKING dischargers.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN They move toward a second vent. OBI-WAN is swimming in the fuel as it reaches to within a couple yards of the ceiling. ANAKIN feels along the ceiling and finds another smaller vent. He closes his eyes and tries to sense an opening, then he moves on. OBI-WAN is forced into hand-to-hand combat with one of the SUPER BATTLE DROIDS. It pulls the Jedi under the fuel. Just before he is about to drown, OBI-WAN disables the SUPER BATTLE DROID by pushing him into an exhaust pipe.<\/em><\/p>\n The fuel is up to the Jedi’s chins. ANAKIN finds a very, very small metal grate, then pounds on it until the tiny grate breaks loose.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN ANAKIN grabs the side of the tiny hole and gives it a big yank, ripping a large panel loose revealing a “man-sized” work shaft. They scramble through it as the DROIDS swim closer.<\/em><\/p>\n 13 INT. VENT SHAFT-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> ANAKIN As the SUPER BATTLE DROIDS reach the opening in the ceiling and the fuel gets to within a few feet of the power generator sparks, the JEDI work the keyboard on the pressure lock, opening the latch.<\/em><\/p>\n 14 INT. SMALL PASSAGEWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> 15 INT. HALLWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN 16 INT. VENT SHAFT-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> SUPER BATTLE DROID R77 17 INT. GENERATOR ROOM-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> 18 EXT. TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER-BATTLE<\/strong> 19 INT. HALLWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> OBI-WAN ANAKIN grins at OBI-WAN, and they run down the hallway.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n You have to enjoy the fact that a super battle droid would have said the famous line, “I have a bad feeling about this.”<\/p>\n On a side note, in the rough draft of the script, there are some organisms similar to jellyfish that live inside the fuel. They’re called Nitro Fobos and they were supposed to attack Obi-Wan and Anakin as the fuel began to rise.<\/p>\n Included here are images from this scene that made it into the Episode III<\/em> Comic Adaptation<\/a>, The Making of Revenge of the Sith<\/a><\/em>, The Art of Revenge of the Sith<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and other sources.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n DUELING DOOKU<\/strong><\/p>\n The duel with Dooku remained very much as it was scripted outside of a few minor changes. I’ll include some bits of dialogue from the published script that didn’t survive:<\/p>\n COUNT DOOKU DOOKU lunges at the JEDI and they fall back…<\/em><\/p>\n COUNT DOOKU (continuing) PALPATINE ANAKIN PALPATINE ANAKIN cuts off COUNT DOOKU’s head. A huge EXPLOSION somewhere deep in the ship rattles everything.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN PALPATINE ANAKIN drops COUNT DOOKU’s lightsaber, moving to PALPATINE.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN ANAKIN raises his hands toward PALPATINE, who is strapped in the Admiral’s Chair. The Chancellor’s restraints pop loose.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN (continuing) PALPATINE stands up, rubbing his wrists.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN PALPATINE There’s another line of dialogue not included in the excerpts that I should mention, mostly because there’s existing footage. Right before the Jedi start to duel with Dooku, he says to them, “Just because there are two of you, don’t assume you have the advantage.”<\/em> This was removed from the film, but you can see this extra bit of footage\u00a0 in the Episode III<\/em> video game<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Comic Adaptation<\/a> features many of the subtle differences between the script, the comic, and the finished film. For example, in the comic Anakin only takes one of Dooku’s hands. The comic skips all the elevator antics and goes straight to the ray shields scene with Obi-Wan waking up right after Dooku dies saying it’s a pity that he’s dead. Did an early version of the script contain this dialogue? Did an earlier version have Obi-Wan waking up so soon? I talked to a friend at Dark Horse comics who told me that at one point those lines of\u00a0 Obi-Wan’s were in the script, since the comic was based entirely on an old version.<\/p>\n I’m including a great shot of Palpatine in his chair with two lightsabers crossed before him. This isn’t in the film but it mirrors a similar shot from Return of the Jedi<\/em> when Vader and Luke clash sabers before a cackling Palpatine. This image was out long before the film was so I was a little surprised when it wasn’t in the final edit. I thought it was a nice opportunity to subtly connect the two trilogies, but so be it…Lucas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n NAVIGATING THE INVISIBLE HAND<\/strong><\/p>\n The scene with Obi-Wan and Anakin in the elevator was changed a bit from script to screen. Originally there was supposed to be a big blast hole in the door, but that was scrapped. The hole was supposed to have been the result of some battle droids that blasted their way into the elevator after Anakin cut a hole onto the roof. The shots of the Jedi exiting the elevator were reshot to depict them traditionally leaving the lift, instead of ducking through the blast hole.<\/p>\n There’s a photo included here of the Jedi in the elevator with their lightsabers ignited. Though this scene is in the film, this particular still most definitely is not.\u00a0 It’s actually one of the promotional stills from Lucasfilm but those are many times given out a long time before the film is edited into its final form.<\/p>\n During the opening hijinks, R2-D2’s role seemed to be endlessly changing. He was literally all over the place. Sometimes he was with the Jedi, sometimes he wasn’t. Sometimes he showed up to help, other times he stayed in the hangar. In the finished film, he mostly stays put but he did have a few more shots that didn’t make it into the film. For example, Pablo Hidalgo mentioned that R2-D2 was originally meant to be with the Jedi and the Chancellor when they are caught in the ray shields. He was later removed and the shot where he skids in was added down the line.<\/p>\n In another set diary, Pablo goes on to explain another confrontation between R2-D2 and a super battle droid:<\/p>\n The little droid places a “signal beacon” at the end of a beam balanced on a large fuel pipe. He rockets high overhead and activates the beacon. As a battle droid inspects it, Artoo slams hard on the other end of the beam, see-sawing the battle droid into the ceiling in a spectacular crash. The battle droid’s debris then falls and hits the beam hard, sending Artoo flying in turn. The little droid smashes into the battle droid, “causing the battle droid to squash to about one quarter of its former size.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Once Palpatine was rescued and Obi-Wan awakened from his Sith-induced slumber, the Jedi had to navigate their way off of the Invisible Hand<\/em> with the uncharacteristically athletic Chancellor Palpatine following behind.<\/p>\n Originally, there was to be a scene where the trio walked across some unsteady pipe work trying to get from point A to point B. R2-D2 was supposed to fly up and help out the Chancellor when he dangles from the pipe at one point. There are a few shots from this scene included at various points in the DVD bonus footage if you look carefully.<\/p>\n Obi-Wan wants to head to the hangar bay to find something flyable. In the finished film, we get the impression that when the ray shields are activated, they’re still on their way there but in the original script, they actually did get to the hangar bay, but found nothing useful.<\/p>\n Here are the relevant script passages:<\/p>\n 56 INT. HALLWAY TO HANGAR BAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> 57 INT. DOORWAY TO HANGAR BAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> OBI-WAN ANAKIN PALPATINE ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN and PALPATINE both look to OBI-WAN. He shrugs his shoulders. Anakin’s Fighter has been sucked out of the hangar bay and is totaled. Suddenly, the ship turns on its side.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN hands PALPATINE the end of a cable that is attached to his utility belt. PALPATINE attaches it around his waist. ANAKIN and OBI-WAN throw their utility cables to some pipes in the ceiling and swing to a second set of pipes.<\/em><\/p>\n 58 INT. MAIN HANGAR-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> 59 INT. HANGAR DOORWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER ANAKIN\/OBI-WAN They laugh.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In the days before the film’s release, the Star Wars Trivial Pursuit DVD Game<\/a> was released and contained a video clip of this shot with the Battle Droid clearing calling him, “Stubby” instead.<\/p>\n 61 INT. HALLWAY-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> ANAKIN OBI-WAN takes a deep breath to express his total disappointment.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN PALPATINE The Jedi look at each other in disbelief.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN ARTOO comes skidding across the hallway and bashes into the opposite wall. He takes a moment to compose himself.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN (continuing) Suddenly several doorways open, revealing TWO DESTROYER DROIDS. SIXTEEN SUPER BATTLE DROIDS emerge from behind the DESTROYER DROIDS.<\/em><\/p>\n ARTOO turns and zaps one of the SUPER BATTLE DROIDS who then kicks ARTOO over.<\/em><\/p>\n SUPER BATTLE DROID OBI-WAN Originally, Anakin had a different plan than waiting on R2. He was going to wait for the battle droids to show up and release the shields. Then they could wipe out the droids and be on their way. Pablo Hidalgo mentions a line of dialogue that isn’t in the published script: “Security patrols are always those skinny useless battle droids,” says Anakin. Of course, droidekas and super battle droids show up instead.<\/p>\n Because the filmmakers knew somewhat early on that the death of Shaak Ti was not going to make it into the opening scenes, some of the scene’s dialogue was moved to the bridge scenes since this was now supposed to be the first real meeting between Grievous and the Jedi. Even with the rewrite, there were a few bits of dialogue that didn’t make it into the theatrical version.<\/p>\n Here’s part of the scripted scene:<\/p>\n 62 EXT. BRIDGE-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> GENERAL GRIEVOUS A BATTLE DROID walks to GENERAL GRIEVOUS and hands him the JEDI’S lightsabers.<\/em><\/p>\n OBI-WAN GENERAL GRIEVOUS ANAKIN Take a close look at the wide digital model image of the hangar bay on its side. If you look closely in the upper left hand corner, you’ll see two figures climbing along the piping. They look like Anakin and Palpatine to me, but where’s Obi-Wan? I remember reading that originally Anakin and Obi-Wan were to be separated once on the ship. Anakin went after Palpatine and Obi-Wan took on Grievous. In that context, this photo (which was probably created very early on) makes perfect sense.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ANOTHER HAPPY LANDING<\/strong><\/p>\n The changes are not that drastic. There’s just a line here or there from certain characters that you won’t see in the final version plus some other antics.<\/p>\n It’s important to note that during the bridge fights, there were supposed to be moments where the ship started tumbling again. The droids would magnetize themselves to the floor forcing the Jedi to fight them upside-down, standing on the ceiling which was now the floor for them.<\/p>\n Here are some script excerpts from the “Crash” scenes and the landing\/meeting on the surface:<\/p>\n PILOT GENERAL GRIEVOUS OBI-WAN and ANAKIN destroy the remaining DROIDS. GENERAL GRIEVOUS retrieves one of the BODYGUARD’S staffs and faces OBI-WAN. ANAKIN leaps over a console and lands behind GENERAL GRIEVOUS.<\/em><\/p>\n GENERAL GRIEVOUS One of the PILOTS stands next to the General.<\/em><\/p>\n PILOT GENERAL GRIEVOUS INT. BRIDGE-TRADE FEDERATION CRUISER<\/strong> ANAKIN and OBI-WAN cut through the rest of the DROIDS as if they were made of butter. PALPATINE stands in shock as he watches the carnage. Droid parts are firing everywhere. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN stand back to back and cut down the last of the DROIDS just as there is a huge shudder, followed by more alarms. SPARKS begin to fly outside the windows. <\/em><\/p>\n PALPATINE OBI-WAN ARTOO beeps.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN A large part of the ship breaks away.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN points to one of the controls. ARTOO beeps madly.<\/em><\/p>\n ANAKIN OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN FlRESHIP PILOT OBI-WAN ANAKIN OBI-WAN The ship leaves a contrail as it streaks across the Coruscant skyline. PALPATINE and OBI-WAN hold on for dear life as the ship shakes and rattles toward an industrial landing platform.<\/em><\/p>\n 68 EXT. CORUSCANT-INDUSTRIAL LANDING PLATFORM-AFTERNOON<\/strong>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/starwarz.com\/tbone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/806.jpg\" "\\"806\\"")
<\/a>The opening space battle of Episode III<\/em> was pretty huge but no scene ever comes away unscathed from an editor’s touch.<\/p>\n
\nOBI-WAN bounces through the flack with a frown. His ship rocks violently.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nANAKIN smiles as he blasts a TRADE FEDERATION DROID DROP FIGHTER.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThere isn’t a droid made that
\ncan out fly you, Master, and no
\nother way to get to the
\nChancellor…<\/p>\n
\nLook out, four droids inbound…<\/p>\n
\nThe TWO JEDI FIGHTERS swerve in unison as FOUR TRADE FEDERATION DROID DROP FIGHTERS attack. After several clever moves by the Jedi, two of the FEDERATION DROID DROP FIGHTERS collide with each other in a ball of flame.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOBI-WAN struggles to maintain control of his ship.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWe’ve got to split them up.<\/p>\n
\nBreak left, fly through the
\nguns on that tower.<\/p>\n
\nEasy for you to say…
\nwhy am I always the bait?<\/p>\n
\nDon’t worry. I’m coming around
\nbehind you.<\/p>\n
\nAnakin, they’re all over me!<\/p>\n
\nDead ahead! Closing…
\nLock onto him, Artoo…<\/p>\n
\n(continuing, laughs)
\nWe got him, Artoo!<\/p>\n
\nI copy, Artoo.<\/p>\n
\nI’m going down on the deck.<\/p>\n
\nGood idea… I need some room
\nto maneuver.<\/p>\n
\n(continuing)
\nCut right. Do you hear me?! Cut right.
\nDon’t let him get a handle on you.
\nCome on, Artoo, lock on! Lock on!<\/p>\n
\nHurry up! I don’t like this!<\/p>\n
\n(continuing)
\nOuch!<\/p>\n
\n(continuing)
\nDon’t even try to fix it, Arfour.
\nI’ve shut it down.<\/p>\n
\nWe’re locked on…
\nWe’ve got him…<\/p>\n
\n(continuing)
\nYeah! We got him…
\ngood going, Artoo.<\/p>\n
\nNext time you’re the bait…
\nNow let’s find the Command Ship
\nand get on with it…<\/p>\n
\nLock onto them, Artoo.
\nMaster, General Grievous’s ship
\nis directly ahead.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\nCome on, Master.<\/p>\n
\nNot this time. There’s too much at stake.
\nWe need help. Odd Ball, do you copy?<\/p>\n
\nThis is where the fun begins.
\nTen Vulture Droids straight ahead,
\ncoming down the left side.<\/p>\n
\nAdd five Tri-fighters on the right…<\/p>\n
\nI’m going head to head. See you.<\/p>\n
\nTake it easy, Anakin.<\/p>\n
\nI’m on your right, Red Leader.<\/p>\n
\nIncoming!!<\/p>\n
\nFive more on the right!<\/p>\n
\nHere we go.<\/p>\n
\nI’m going high and right.<\/p>\n
\nHang on. There are four more of them.<\/p>\n
\nStay with me… swing back and right…
\nhelp me engage. Back off…
\nLet them pass between us.<\/p>\n
\nI’m coming around.
\nI’m coming around on your tail.<\/p>\n
\nAll right, engage…and hurry.
\nThese droids are all over me like a rash.<\/p>\n
\nHow many back there. Artoo? (Artoo beeps)
\nThree… (continuing)
\nFour… that’s not good.<\/p>\n
\nAnakin, you have four on your tail.<\/p>\n
\nI know. I know!<\/p>\n
\nFour more closing from your left.<\/p>\n
\nI know. I know!<\/p>\n
\nBreak right and go high.<\/p>\n
\nI’m going low and left.<\/p>\n
\n(to himself)
\nHe still has much to learn.<\/p>\n
\nHang on, Artoo. Obi-Wan, do you copy?
\nI’m going to pull them through the needle…<\/p>\n
\nToo dangerous.
\nFirst Jedi rule: “Survive.”<\/p>\n
\nSorry, no choice.
\nCome down here and thin them out a little.<\/p>\n
\nJust keep me steady… hold on…
\nnot yet… now break left.<\/p>\n
\n(continuing)
\nYou’ll never get through
\nthere, Anakin. It’s too tight.<\/p>\n
\nEasy, Artoo…
\nwe’ve done this before.<\/p>\n
\nUse the Force, think yourself
\nthrough, the ship will follow.<\/p>\n
\nWrong thought, Artoo.<\/p>\n
\n(continuing)
\nI’m through.<\/p>\n
\nFinally, OBI-WAN peels off and swings around, pulling up alongside ANAKIN. CLONE FIGHT SQUAD SEVEN battles the DROIDS.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThere are too many of them.<\/p>\n
\nI’m on your wing. Break left.
\nBreak left. They’re all over me.
\nGet them off my…<\/p>\n
\nI’m going to go help them out!<\/p>\n
\nNo, no! They are doing their job
\nso we can do ours. Head for
\nthe Command Ship!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>This scene (which is included with the Episode III<\/em> DVD<\/a>) is one of the casualties of the beginning of the film being too long. After assembling all the footage together, George Lucas felt it was taking too much time to get to the imprisoned Chancellor so a lot of the rescue attempt hijinks were trimmed or deleted.<\/p>\n
\nANAKIN and OBI-WAN head for the elevator. A door opens in the hallway and two of GENERAL GRIEVOUS’s BODYGUARDS confront the JEDI. <\/em><\/p>\n
\nGeneral Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker.
\nWe’ve been waiting for you.<\/p>\n
\nWe are here to relieve you of Chancellor
\nPalpatine, not join him.<\/p>\n
\nAnakin…<\/p>\n
\nReady.<\/p>\n
\nThe TWO JEDI cut their way down several floors into a large generator room. Huge EXPLOSIONS outside the ship have caused several large pipes overhead to break, and fluid is spewing everywhere. The Jedi get up and turn off their light sabers. ANAKIN dips his hand into the fluid and sniffs it.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n…fuel. The slightest charge from our
\nsabers will send this ship into oblivion.
\nThat’s why they’ve stopped shooting.<\/p>\n
\nWell then, we’re safe for the time being.<\/p>\n
\nYour idea of safe is not the same as mine.<\/p>\n
\nThey’re sealing this section off.<\/p>\n
\nSix droids coming our way!<\/p>\n
\nKeep moving. There must be vents…
\nThis way.<\/p>\n
\nWe’ll never get through that.
\nIt’s too small!<\/p>\n
\nI found our escape vent.<\/p>\n
\nAnakin, this is no time for jokes.
\nWe’re in serious trouble here.<\/p>\n
\nOnly in your mind, My Master.
\nLook, no structure…<\/p>\n
\nThe TWO JEDI pull themselves through the narrow vent shaft until they reach a small hatch in the side of the tube.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nHere’s a way out.<\/p>\n
\nThe TWO JEDI climb into a small passageway and slam the hatch shut. They make their way through the ever-shrinking shaft until they reach the end.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA hatch opens in one of the main hallways of the Trade Federation Cruiser, and the JEDI squeeze out, SLAMMING the hatch. Behind them, ANAKIN seals the hatch with his laser sword.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThat won’t hold when the fuel
\nhits those power dischargers.<\/p>\n
\nThe blast will break the hull.
\nThis side’s pressurized.<\/p>\n
\nYou still have much to
\nlearn, Anakin.<\/p>\n
\nThe SUPER BATTLE DROIDS climb up the vent shaft. SUPER BATTLE DROID R77 and SEVERAL OTHER DROIDS wait in the generator room as the fuel continues to rise toward the power discharger.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI have a bad feeling
\nabout this.<\/p>\n
\nThe fuel hits the SPARKING power discharger, and there is a HUGE EXPLOSION.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA GREAT EXPLOSION and a flaming gas cloud spray out of the side of the Federation Cruiser.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA large bulge appears in the wall around the sealed hatch as the EXPLOSION hits. OBI-WAN jumps back, then stands amazed.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAll right, you win.
\nI have much to learn.
\nLet’s go!<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n
\nGood. Twice the pride,
\ndouble the fall.<\/p>\n
\nYour moves are clumsy, Kenobi…
\ntoo predictable. You’ll have to do better.<\/p>\n
\n
\nGood, Anakin, good.
\nI knew you could do it.
\nKill him. Kill him now!<\/p>\n
\nI shouldn’t…<\/p>\n
\nDo it!!<\/p>\n
\nI couldn’t stop myself.<\/p>\n
\nYou did well, Anakin.
\nHe was too dangerous to be kept alive.<\/p>\n
\nYes, but he was an unarmed prisoner.<\/p>\n
\nI shouldn’t have done that, Chancellor.
\nIt’s not the Jedi way.<\/p>\n
\n
\nHe seems to be all right.
\nNo broken bones,
\nbreathing’s all right.<\/p>\n
\nLeave him, or we’ll
\nnever make it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a>From a perilous crash landing in the hangar bay to an even more perilous crash landing on the surface of Coruscant, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi had a rough time navigating General Grievous’ flagship: The Invisible Hand<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\nOBI-WAN and ANAKIN lead PALPATINE down a hallway toward the hangar bay.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIt is extremely windy as bits and pieces are continually sucked into space. The hangar bay doors are closed, but great stresses are being exerted as the ship twists, re-entering the atmosphere of Coruscant. They stop in a doorway leading into the hangar bay.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nNone of those ships
\nwill get us anywhere.<\/p>\n
\nI agree.<\/p>\n
\nWhat are we going to do?<\/p>\n
\nI don’t know.<\/p>\n
\nDon’t look at me.
\nI don’t know.<\/p>\n
\nHere, Chancellor, lock this
\naround your waist, and hold on.<\/p>\n
\nWe’ll head toward the bridge
\nand see if we can find
\nan escape pod.<\/p>\n
\nOBI-WAN grabs onto the pipes that run along what was the ceiling and is now the wall. As he moves out into the hangar, TWO SUPER BATTLE DROIDS start firing at him. The Jedi ignites his lightsaber and deflects the bolts back at the DROIDS, blowing them up. ANAKIN and PALPATINE follow OBI-WAN along the pipes running along the ceiling of the hangar. PALPATINE struggles against the escaping air of the pressurized hangar. PALPATINE loses his grip as a pipe breaks, causing a rush of steam, but ANAKIN manages to maintain his grasp on the pipe as the CHANCELLOR dangles on the other end of the utility cable. They are surrounded by SPARKS and EXPLOSIONS as the ship twists and tries to break apart. ANAKIN moves out of the steam and struggles to pull PALPATINE back to safety. ANAKIN is almost pulled loose in the buffeting winds. The ceiling behind them buckles, causing pipes to break, creating geysers of steam. Some bits of pipe go hurling into the blast doors and out into space. They make it through a hangar doorway and close it behind them.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOBI-WAN, ANAKIN and PALPATINE are out of breath.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWell, that was close.<\/p>\n<\/a>In the following excerpt, notice that Palpatine makes a suggestion about what to do once the ray shields are activated. Also note that the Super Battle Droid calls R2-D2 a dummy. In the finished film he just says, “Don’t move.”<\/p>\n
\nThey run down the hallway. Suddenly, ray shields drop around them, putting them in an electronic box in the middle of the hallway.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nRay shields!<\/p>\n
\nWait a minute, how’d
\nthis happen! We’re smarter
\nthan this.<\/p>\n
\nApparently not, Master.
\nThis is the oldest trap in the book…
\nWell… I was distracted.<\/p>\n
\nOh, so all of a sudden
\nit’s my fault.<\/p>\n
\nYou’re the Master.
\nI’m just a hero.<\/p>\n
\nI’m open to suggestions here.<\/p>\n
\nWhy don’t we let them take
\nus to General Grievous.
\nPerhaps with Count Dooku’s
\ndemise, we can negotiate
\nour release.<\/p>\n
\nI say…patience.<\/p>\n
\nPatience! That’s your plan, is it?<\/p>\n
\nYes, Artoo will be along in
\na few moments and he’ll release
\nthe ray shields…<\/p>\n
\nSee! No problem.<\/p>\n
\nDon’t move, dummy.
\nOuch! Zap this.<\/p>\n
\nDo you have a plan B?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n OBI-WAN, ANAKIN PALPATINE, and ARTOO are captured by GENERAL GRIEVOUS. They stand before the ALIEN DROID GENERAL.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOh yes. General Kenobi,
\nthe Negotiator. We’ve been
\nwaiting for you. That wasn’t
\nmuch of a rescue.<\/p>\n
\nThat depends upon your
\npoint of view. Hah!<\/p>\n
\nAnd Anakin Skywalker…
\nI was expecting someone with
\nyour reputation to be a little older.<\/p>\n
\nGeneral Grievous… Supreme
\nCommander of the Droid Armies.
\nYou’re shorter than I expected.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>“Another happy landing,” quips Obi-Wan as what’s left of the Invisible Hand<\/em> comes to a rough stop somewhere on Coruscant. The scene then wipes to a shuttle carrying Palpatine and the Jedi to meet Mace Windu and more Senators than you can shake a lightsaber at.\u00a0 In the original drafts, however, everyone met at the crash site as evident in the Episode III<\/em> Comic Adaptation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\nSir, we are falling out of orbit.
\nAll aft control cells are dead.<\/p>\n
\nStay on course… Don’t bother
\nwith them. Keep the ship in orbit.<\/p>\n
\nYou lose, General Kenobi.<\/p>\n
\nThe ship is breaking up!<\/p>\n
\nWe’ve run out of time.<\/p>\n
\n
\n OBI-WAN continues to fight the BATTLE DROIDS. The DROIDS have backed him into a corner. OBI-WAN hides behind a control panel as the DROIDS blast away at him. He jumps up and over the DROIDS, cutting most of them down before he lands. He destroys the DROIDS and joins ANAKIN.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe hull is burning up!<\/p>\n
\n
\nSteady… Altitude…
\neighteen degrees.<\/p>\n
\nPressure rising. We’ve got to
\nslow this wreck down. Open all hatches,
\nextend all flaps, and drag fins.<\/p>\n
\nTemp steady. Hatches open,
\nflaps extended, drag fins…<\/p>\n
\nWe lost something.<\/p>\n
\nNot to worry, we’re still
\nflying half the ship.<\/p>\n
\nNow we’re really picking up speed…
\nI’m going to shift a few degrees and
\nsee if I can slow us down.<\/p>\n
\nCareful… we’re heating up-twelve thousand
\n…thirteen thousand…<\/p>\n
\nWhat’s our speed?<\/p>\n
\nEight plus sixty-forty.
\nEight plus sixty-twenty.
\nEight plus sixty. Temp ten
\nthousand, nine thousand…
\nwe’re in the atmosphere…<\/p>\n
\nGrab that…
\nKeep us level.<\/p>\n
\nSteady. Steady.<\/p>\n
\nEasy, Artoo. Hang on, this may
\nget a little rough. We lost our heat shields.<\/p>\n
\nFive thousand. Three thousand…
\ntwo thousand. Fireships on
\nthe left and the right.<\/p>\n
\nWe’ll take you in.<\/p>\n
\nCopy that. Landing strip’s
\nstraight ahead.<\/p>\n
\nWe’re coming in too hot.<\/p>\n
\nEasy-easy.<\/p>\n