Star Wars: Cloud Of Suspicion

[Jacen Solo]

<span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">STAR WARS</span>

CLOUD OF SUSPICION
The Murder of Count Dooku

The battle of Naboo is over. While the greedy leaders of the Trade Federation have been driven off the planet, this victory has not come without great sacrifice.

The Galactic Senate is in an uproar. The question of whether or not the Trade Federation should be disarmed is in dispute. Unable to mediate, the newly elected Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is turning to the Jedi Knights for guidance in this critical issue.

Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith, is furious with the Neimoidians for their failure to take Naboo, and also with the Jedi for the death of his apprentice, Darth Maul. Hidden in a dark abandoned warehouse, he silently plans for his next move that will eventually ensure him complete control of the galaxy ...</span>

<span style="color:green">**********************</span>

<span style="color:red">The adventure begins soon!!</span>

[Jacen Solo]

<span style="color:green">[The opening scroll fades, and the camera tilts down to Coruscant. Once the atmosphere fades away, the busy traffic lanes of the city-planet can be seen. The camera sweeps to an old abandoned warehouse in the old Coruscant industrial district. Looking inside the building, we see DARTH SIDIOUS, the Dark Lord of the Sith, speaking to a holograph of Viceroy NUTE GUNRAY.]

SIDIOUS
What has happened?

NUTE GUNRAY
Queen Amidala has emerged victorious.

SIDIOUS
You have much to answer for, Viceroy. The battle has been lost, and the treaty destroyed. My apprentice has also been destroyed at the hand of a Jedi Knight.

NUTE GUNRAY
The Queen has released me and my associate, Rune Haako. She has promised retribution from the Senate concerning our failed invasion.

SIDIOUS
Your invasion should not have failed, Viceroy.

NUTE GUNRAY
The Queen ... she caught us off guard. The deflector shield of one of our droid control ships was knocked out, and one of the Star Fighters flew inside and knocked out the main reactor. Queen Amidala herself also organized a strike team ... and they stormed the palace. Lord Sidious, you guaranteed the battle would take place far from here.

SIDIOUS
You guaranteed that your droid army was big enough to wipe the entire population out.

NUTE GUNRAY
The Trade Federation will be made to suffer dearly for what has happened. I would ask your promise, Lord Sidious, to persuade the Senate not to disband the Federation ... or my position as Viceroy.

SIDIOUS
You stunted slime ... you will get no such promise from me. You have failed me, Viceroy. The fate of those who fail me is complete destruction.

NUTE GUNRAY
But, Lord Sidious ...

SIDIOUS
Think yourself lucky that I will not cause such a thing to fall upon you, Viceroy. Now, get out of my sight. (The cowardly Neimoidian begins to protest, and SIDIOUS silences him instantly with a wave of his hand.) Leave, you weak-minded fool, before I change my mind. (Just to frighten the Viceroy, the Dark Lord ignites a short barrage of lightning toward the holo. Instantly, the holo disappears.) I may need you cowards in the future. Until then, you are banished from this place, and from my sight. (He is silent for awhile.) They will pay, Lord Maul. They will pay dearly for your death ... all of them.

[Cut to the office of Supreme Chancellor PALPATINE, in the Senate building on Coruscant. PALPATINE is seated behind his desk, surrounded by a number of Jedi Knights; included in the small company are Jedi Master YODA, MACE WINDU, KI-ADI MUNDI, YADDLE, LUMINARA UNDALA, Master SIFO-DYAS, KIT FITSO, and COUNT DOOKU.]

PALPATINE
She has inflicted great damage upon the Trade Federation. With the destruction of the droid control ship, over half the Federation army now lies waste. Queen Amidala has indeed won this war against the Trade Federation.

MASTER YODA
So certain, you are, Chancellor. Won the battle, Naboo has, indeed. Much fear, I still sense, from the remains of the Trade Federation.

MACE WINDU
They will surely attack again, as soon as they can rebuild what they have lost.

PALPATINE
Master Jedi, what do you suggest should be done?

KI-ADI MUNDI
Surely the Senate will take action to stop this from happening again.

PALPATINE
Indeed. Yes, a proposal has been submitted by newly appointed Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, suggesting disarmament of what is left of the Trade Federation.

MASTER YODA
Oh? Submitted, you say? Taken, has any action been, in the Senate?

PALPATINE
I'm afraid not, Master Yoda. In fact, they are now fighting like rancors over a dead bantha. I try my best to keep order in the Senate. But ... it is nearly impossible with the vast number of systems in the Republic. And that number is still growing.

YADDLE
Loyal, are many star systems, to the Federation, I feel.

PALPATINE
I estimate that the Trade Federation has forged some sort or other alliance with nearly half the systems in the Republic. They have made many friends over the decades.

KI-ADI MUNDI (with a slight note of contempt)
Friends, indeed.

PALPATINE
Be that as it may. What I am saying is that the Senate may not be able to come to a decision over this matter. That is, of course, unless I make the decision for them.

KI-ADI MUNDI
What you are proposing, Chancellor, would not be a democratic solution. It may seem, at the moment, the quickest and easiest way to resolve the crisis, but the quickest and easiest way often leads to the Dark Side. (All are silent.)

PALPATINE
There may be a way to side-step the Senate's involvement -- the pointless and corruptive squabble which you know will take place over this issue -- and stay within the bounds of democracy.

MACE WINDU
Speak on.

PALPATINE
Perhaps we could turn the matter over to the Supreme Court.

KI-ADI MUNDI
That is a possibility.

MASTER YODA
Not so certain, am I, the right path, this would be. Meditate on this, we must.

PALPATINE
Very well. Let me know when you come up with any ideas.

MACE WINDU
Then we will be on our way. Thank you for your time, Chancellor. (PALPATINE nods as the Jedi leave the office -- all except for COUNT DOOKU, who lingers behind.)

PALPATINE
And you, Count Dooku. It is always a privilege to see you ... and I am indeed sorry to learn of your former Padawan's untimely death.

COUNT DOOKU
Thank you for your condolences, Chancellor.

PALPATINE
And what are your feelings on this matter, Count?

COUNT DOOKU
Your Honor, I too feel that the Senate will not be able to come to a concensus on this matter. I fear they will eventually be so bitterly divided that the Republic itself will not be strong enough to stand. (Silence.) Qui-Gon Jinn ... would have agreed with me on this.

PALPATINE
Were it not for these Jedi, I would take the matter into my own hands ... and that would be the end. I will not let this Republic fall. It has stood strong for one thousand years.

COUNT DOOKU
What my masters seek is a democratic solution. The Jedi Knights are keepers of peace and protectors of democracy. (The aging chancellor regards the Jedi Knight for a moment.) I am not saying I disagree with your solution. I do feel that side-stepping democracy to obtain a quicker peace would be a better solution.

PALPATINE
Your masters do not see it so, my Jedi friend. I fear their vision may be clouded by the Dark Side ... specifically, there is a rumor that the Dark Lord of the Sith may be on Coruscant even as we speak. The Jedi seem to be in a turmoil of their own, at times.

COUNT DOOKU
There is much they have done lately that I do not agree with. (PALPATINE again regards the Jedi.) They have allowed Obi-Wan Kenobi to take Anakin Skywalker, the young boy Qui-Gon picked up on Tatooine, as his apprentice. The boy is very dangerous. They can all sense that in him, as can I.

PALPATINE
You do realize that young Anakin Skywalker is a hero. I believe he was the one responsible for the demise of the Federation ship.

COUNT DOOKU
Only because he disobeyed orders and flew out of the hangar like a Geonosian who just discovered he had wings.

PALPATINE
I see.

COUNT DOOKU
I must return to the Jedi Temple. My masters will be expecting me.

PALPATINE (very suddenly)
Do you resent them, Count Dooku? (The Count is very silent for awhile.)

COUNT DOOKU
Yes. Frankly, I believe at times that the Jedi wish their own destruction.</span>

[Lord Rocha]

Taking Palpatine as protagonist. Good choice style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif