SCENE 2.

The hero of our quick escape is here:

This little droid, so well and deftly made.

Sans doubt it sav’d the ship and our own lives.

The droid shall have my royal commendation.

What is the droidly number it doth bear?

’Tis R2-D2, Highness.

—All our thanks

And gratitude we bear to thee, good droid:

Thou brave and gallant R2-D2.

—Beep!

Pray, Padmé, clean this droid with all thy skill.

It is deserving of what kindness we

May proffer to it.

—Meep, beep, whistle, squeak!

[Padmé and R2-D2 move aside and she begins cleaning the droid.

Continue with thy briefing, Captain, please.

I call on Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn to speak.

Your Highness, with permission we shall fly

Unto a planet small call’d Tatooine.

It lieth in a system far beyond

The Federation’s harsh and grasping reach.

The Jedi’s will and mine do not agree.

I prithee, trust my judgment, Highness. Let

My wisdom make its proof by worthy deeds.

[Exeunt Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Sabé, and Captain Panaka.

Enter JAR JAR BINKS.

Hello! Say whosa are-a yousa?

I’m Padmé call’d, handmaiden to the queen.

And meesa Jar Jar Binks, dass meesa.

Thou art a Gungan, art thou not? ’Tis true?

[aside:] O, she is swift of mind. “A Gungan,” ha!

Her thoughts already label me as brute.

How didst thou come to be on board with us?

[aside:] And wherefore doth she ask? A ship, belike,

Is no place for a Gungan to be found.

She would assume we lurk in swamp and mire,

Not in her precious folly-laden ship.

But soft you, Jar Jar, give the girl your best.

[To Padmé:] Ahh, me no know. Me daysa startin’

So okeeday with brisky mornin’

A’munchen. Den de boomy boomy,

And meesa scardee, grabbin’ Jedi,

Then powsa, meesa wit you heera.

Now meesa gettin’ very scardee.

Indeed, this is a day for fear and doubt—

It seems your cause and mine are well align’d.

[Exeunt Jar Jar and Padmé.

Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and RIC OLIÉ in cockpit.

’Tis there, below! The planet Tatooine.

Our scope doth show a settlement nearby.

Land thou the ship beyond its boundary.

I would not seek more notice than we need.

[Exeunt Captain Panaka and Ric Olié.

The generator of the hyperdrive

Is done and finish’d, Master. We shall need

To make repair ere we depart from here.

This is a complication to our plans.

And there is more: I pray, be on thy guard:

I sense a great disturbance in the Force.

I feel it also, Master. ’Tis as if

Some evil is arising in our midst.

Be certain that they no transmissions make.

I shall go forth to find a hyperdrive

That shall suffice to make the ship’s repair.

Stay thou behind, her Highness to defend.

[Exit Qui-Gon.

Now wherefore am I left to watch the ship

When I too am a Jedi, just as he?

Nay, still my tongue—’tis not for me to guess

At my wise master’s thoughts, or criticize.

My master Qui-Gon is a pow’rful man

And hath been more than teacher unto me.

Full fortunate am I—and well I know’t—

To be the man’s apprentice. Many would

Consider such a post and master more

Than any Jedi should expect. Indeed,

To be with Qui-Gon is to be well serv’d

By the uncertain, fickle hand of Fate.

I shall be dutiful till he come back,

And keep the queen protected from attack.

[Exit.