INT. LAVA PIT

ANAKIN stands on the edge of a large lava pit, his face illuminated red by the bubbling lava, 30ft. below. The CAMERA pans down his body. As it nears his feet, we see that he is not standing on the edge of the pit. Rather, he is levitating 1/2 inch above, causing small pebbles and clumps of dirt to levitate with him or speed away.

ANAKIN's gaze rises from that of the burning red pit, sensing something. He smiles.

ANAKIN

(with a hint of mocking and immortality)

You've come?

OBI-WAN stands at the mouth of the cave, behind ANAKIN, a grave expression on his face.

OBI-WAN

Anakin, I cannot let you do this.

ANAKIN says nothing, staring off across the pit.

OBI-WAN

You are vein, Anakin. You think that you are immortal!

ANAKIN takes a deep breath, full of sulfur, and continues to stare across the pit.

OBI-WAN

I could have pushed you in...

I could have pushed you in before you ever sensed me...

I could have...

OBI-WAN's voice cracks.

ANAKIN

(interrupting)

... used a Force blast, to knock me in.

ANAKIN pauses.

ANAKIN

(mocking)

But you didn't. Instead, you came to talk to me...

to reason with me...

to appeal to my senses...

to convince me otherwise...

(darker, spitting the following words)

to go back...

ANAKIN pauses, again.

ANAKIN

(speaking down to OBI-WAN)

I've heard everything you have to say, Old Man...

I am not convinced...

You're time is over...

OBI-WAN's left hand twitches at his side. ANAKIN's face flops to one side, as if slapped.

OBI-WAN

(angry, but trying to hide it)

I made you who you are! Never forget that.

ANAKIN smiles, a red mark across his face. He drops to the ground, sending out a small wave of dust and wind. ANAKIN spins on his heels, turning toward OBI-WAN. ANAKIN laughs.

ANAKIN pulls out his lightsabre, turning it on, and raises it's hilt above his head, with the blade extending down to his knees, in a single movement. The whole of his torso is guarded. Both his hands are tightly bound around its hilt.

OBI-WAN pulls his lightsabre off his belt and turns it on, still at his side. The blade extends to just above the ground. The sabre is held loosely in just the tips of the fingers of his left hand. OBI-WAN sighs.

ANAKIN raises the blade of his sabre above his head and swings it down, in a large arc. OBI-WAN moves his lightsabre up, across his chest, batting ANAKIN's away, still with just one hand. The sabre is an extension of his arm.

ANAKIN snarls and forces himself upon OBI-WAN, who blocks all of ANAKIN's thrusts. OBI-WAN, now using both hands, advances 10ft. ANAKIN then pushes him back. This dueling continues around the edge of the lava pit, neither scoring a hit on the opponent, each knowing the others next move in advance.

A jet of smoke rises up from a crack in the ground, obscuring both OBI-WAN and ANAKIN's vision. Only their lightsabres can be seen.

As the smoke dissipates, ANAKIN lands a luck shot, passing just beyond OBI-WAN's left ear, singeing his hair. OBI-WAN now realizes that he may have to fight ANAKIN, rather than just toying with him.

OBI-WAN grips his lightsabre like a club and forces all his weight into a slash, forcing ANAKIN to the ground, caught off guard by the power of the blow.

ANAKIN kneels on one knee, his lightsabre over his head, tying to stop OBI-WAN's blows.

OBI-WAN

I created you.

ANAKIN lowers his lightsabre, allowing OBI-WAN's to hit the ground. ANAKIN spins around, his lightsabre ready to cut into OBI-WAN's back. OBI-WAN wheels backward, catching ANAKIN's blade.

Their eye's lock.

Both faces are illuminated by their lightsabres, forced against each other.

ANAKIN spits on OBI-WAN's face.

OBI-WAN lets out a heavy breath and flashes his teeth. He pushes forward, ramming his left shoulder into ANAKIN.

ANAKIN falters back a few steps, releasing his lightsabre from his right hand. After taking two short breaths and dodging a vertical cut from OBI-WAN, ANAKIN swings his sabre over his head. His two handed grip returns, and he cuts down furiously. He then delivers two horizontal cuts, all of which OBI-WAN avoids.

ANAKIN snarls and thrusts his sabre out. OBI-WAN knocks it aside and again runs his shoulder into ANAKIN. This time, ANAKIN comes right back. He charges at OBI-WAN, his sabre waving like a bat.

OBI-WAN catches it. The two lock together, trying to force the other down.

ANAKIN

(panting)

You... are... dead... Kenobi...

OBI-WAN's only answer is a stern glare. He jumps back, sending ANAKIN's blade into the ground. ANAKIN brings it up and swings it forward. OBI-WAN takes another jump back.

Their sabres clash.

ANAKIN screams and overpowers OBI-WAN. ANAKIN then whips OBI-WAN in the face with the butt of his sabre. OBI-WAN quickly recovers and brings his sabre up, blocking a downward blow coming from ANAKIN.

The two breath heavily. They stand, feet apart, waiting for the other to make the next move. ANAKIN shows his teeth, angry. OBI-WAN shows a cautious and tired look. He bites his lip.

OBI-WAN

(questioning but compassionate)

Anakin, tell me something. What are you going

to do after you defeat me? Hmmm? What?

Who's the next you're going to slaughter?

ANAKIN is unfazed by OBI-WAN's questioning.

OBI-WAN

(loudly)

...Podme?

ANAKIN is visibly shaken by this. His eyes loose the savage hostility found there moments prior, as he remembers all that that name is connected to.

This was all that OBI-WAN needed. As ANAKIN remembers, OBI-WAN swings his sabre, severing ANAKIN's right arm and sabre with it.

ANAKIN is violently shaken from his mind. The pain of a phantom arm causes him to cry out. After viewing the bloody stump, he flashes his eyes upward toward OBI-WAN. ANAKIN is in pain, no longer wanting this battle. It can be seen in his eyes. He is afraid.

OBI-WAN, however, is full of rage. He extends his left hand, sending out a Force blast, knocking ANAKIN back. He swings is sabre, catching the bleeding ANAKIN several times.

ANAKIN is now crying out.

OBI-WAN swings his sabre like a bat, diagonally down across ANAKIN, who narrowly avoids it. OBI-WAN quickly swings his left arm, hitting ANAKIN across the jar with his forearm.

OBI-WAN is overcome by rage.

ANAKIN, covered in red, is teetering with his back over the edge of the lava pit. OBI-WAN stands before ANAKIN. Their eyes lock. ANAKIN's are filled with terror and sorrow. OBI-WAN's are red with rage.

ANAKIN's mouth opens, but no sound escapes.

OBI-WAN stares ANAKIN down. OBI-WAN's eye twitches. The ground below ANAKIN cracks and gives way, as ANAKIN looks down.

ANAKIN manages to cling on to the ledge, with his single hand.

ANAKIN

(pleading)

PLEASE!!! HELP ME!!! I'M SORRY!!! PLEASE!!!

OBI-WAN

(emotionless)

I created you. I should be the one who destroys you.

OBI-WAN steps on ANAKIN's fingers, crushing them. ANAKIN slips away, falling toward the fire.

OBI-WAN turns away, before ANAKIN hits. OBI-WAN looks down, at the blood stained dirt. He looks back up, his eyes filled with tears, realizing that he has succumbed to his own Dark Side. He looks down at his side, his sabre still ignited. He clicks it off. Slowly, the blade retreats back into it's hilt. Sheepishly, he attaches it to his side.

OBI-WAN slowly turns to ANAKIN's arm. The sabre, on, lays inches next to the lifeless hand. OBI-WAN picks up the arm and hurls it out into the middle of the pit, tears cascading down OBI-WAN cheeks. OBI-WAN, now, picks up the red stained sabre. He turns it off and prepares to fling it out into the pit. He hesitates.

OBI-WAN closes his eyes, bites his lip, and runs out of the cave, clinging to ANAKIN's sabre, tears running down his cheeks.

---

Peter Tatara
3.28.1999