HISTORY --
This script dates back to before the theatrical release of STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE - THE PHANTOM MENACE.
It was on Friday, May 14, 1999 that I wrote what would eventually become the conversation between MACE WINDU and ATKINSON RAIN inside the war room on Coruscant.
(In the original version, this heated conversation takes place onboard a "Breetai Command Ship" just hours before the battle over Alderaan; however, due to continuity, it takes place much earlier and on Coruscant in the finished script.)
I had no formalized plans to write an actual script. The conversation was just something I did to occupy my time.
But, things soon changes, and on the very next day, May 15th, I began writing DARKNESS ASCENDING.
I handled this project differently from several others that I have yet to finish.
I don't write outlines or the like.
I just write.
In the case of my others projects, I do write cryptic little notes on scraps of paper. Well, I've got a binder full of them.
The moment I write it down, I can forget about it.
There's my problem.
With this, I didn't write anything down.
I kept it all inside my head and wrote it nice and linearly.
The only notes that I ever wrote on paper were the names of the Republic ships and, during the final read through, lines that I had forgotten to put in.
I began writing the script in ClarisWorks, formatting everything manually.
However, on July 3rd, I imported it into a script writing program called Final Draft.
It was 61 pages.
I was scared that I wouldn't be able to make it to page 120.
By July 31, it would be up to 227.
PLOT --
I never sat down and formally thought about the plot. I just wrote.
It all seemed common sense. It was all perfectly logical.
I just wrote and everything that I wanted in there, was there.
The little prophetic notes seemed natural.
I dropped a lot of hints about what's to come.
Some of the stuff was incidental. I'd be thinking and just get an idea. I'd go with it. A lot of the script originated as hypothetical situations in my mind.
TITLE --
The title and crawl were not the first thing that I did.
They were actually the last.
I had no idea about what to put in the crawl, but as I wrote, it just formed. I liked it.
For most of the project, EPISODE II was known as SECRET OF THE PLANETS. It was never meant as a serious title. It was actually taken from the Late Show, as David Letterman had referred to THE PHANTOM MENACE as SECRET OF THE PLANETS several times.
The actual title went through several phases.
These alternate titles were WELL OF FIRE, WHEEL OF FIRE, SHADOW FALL, SOLDIERS OF DAWN, and SOLDIERS OF FIRE.
The funny thing is, I have the perfect title to EPISODE III and had to make the EPISODE II title fit in with it.
I didn't want both to involve fire.
ATKINSON RAIN --
So, who's ATKINSON RAIN?
She's the reason that the script exists.
I wrote that first scene because of her.
But, who is she?
Well, to be completely honest, she's the PIZZA HUT GIRL.
Yes, you heard me.
She's the PIZZA HUT GIRL.
Or, at least, she was originally based on her.
JASTER MAREEL --
Yes, he's Boba Fett.
Originally, he was going to be a Vir Cotto type character, with Palpatine acting as Londo.
I wanted Jaster to be completely innocent and ignorant until he shot Aurra Sing. (Read the next section to see who he was going to originally shoot.)
As I wrote, though, a darker character emerged.
He played Palpatine's game.
He was like a son to the Chancellor.
I guess that some of the evil rubbed off on him.
KAO DAL AND AURRA SING --
This was the biggest limb that I walked out on.
I made Aurra Sing a Mandalorian.
Normally, I have a complete vision of things, but I was stumped when I tried to design the Mandalorian. I mean, we have NO idea about how they look.
Kao and the Mandalorian design went through as many changes as the Neimoidians.
Originally, they were going to be scaly like B5's Drazi or DS9's Jem Hadar.
Aurra was never in my original story, but when I read that she'd be back in the real EPISODE II, I decided to put her in.
She wrote herself.
And, I just made her a Mandalore.
My only regret is that Aurra's part was originally played by Kao Dal. Originally, he was never killed... until Jaster did him in.
And, I liked that. I liked that symmetry. Kao tries to kill Jaster early on. Palpatine stops him. In the end, Jaster kills Kao, saving Palpatine.
But, I put Aurra in.
That allowed me to put in that little nugget of wisdom that Palpatine tells Jaster when Aurra arrives in his quarters.
Also, the starmap in the beginning never really did anything in the original draft.
It doesn't really do anything in the final version, either.
Back to Aurra. I just realized it now. Look at it. Think about it. Boba Fett kills Aurra Sing.
Kinda cool, eh?
There's symmety. There's a circle.
SHMI --
I didn't want to do this.
I really didn't want to do this.
And, recent word from Lucas is that she'll be back.
Oops.
I never wanted to kill her.
I really, really like Pernilla August.
Yet, it is a death with a purpose.
BUT WHERE'S R2-D2? --
I know. I know.
I was already well into the script when I realized that I had completely forgotten about our two favorite droids.
C-3PO was a natural placement. It added closure to the story.
As for R2. There wasn't anything for him to accomplish. I couldn't find anywhere for him to fit in.
I snuck him in, when I made my final changes, though.
Don't worry.
He'll be in EPISODE III. Boy, will he.
NELL WYNDSUNG --
Nell's original name was Sun-Yet-Sen.
I liked the flow, but obviously had to change it.
Nell Windsong was the natural evolution.
I felt that Windsong was too close to Windu, so I altered the spelling.
As for this Sith name, Darth Pause, it's always been there from the beginning. I feel that the less I say about it, the better.
An interesting bit about Nell is that right from the beginning, he was meaningless. Sidious just needed someone to save the stop for Anakin. Nell was never meant to accomplish anything. Sidious knew that.
Now, Lucas has just spoke about THE Episode II in a UK magazine.
He states, "the whole issue of having apprentices, poor Sidious having to replenish his apprentice supply, is one of the main plot points."
SAMMIE PORTER --
Either this name means something to you or it doesn't.
If it does, the answer is yes.
SONORA DODD --
Originally, she was a spineless character, but as I wrote her, she soon changed dramatically.
She'll be back in EPISODE III.
DUG FINN --
Dug Finn in not a Dug, rather a silver haired pilot from Naboo. I don't mean he's old. I mean he actually has silver hair. If you look at his lines and scroll down to see the guy I'd like to play him, you should be able to figure out why.
Maybe.
GALACTIC SENATE --
You may have noticed that some of the races represented in the Galactic Senate aren't STAR WARS natives.
They're just filler names, never meant to reflect the actual races.
It was easier for me to just slap down some B5 races than search for some obscure STAR WARS ones to use.
MAULER FIGHTER --
Anakin's ship is a Guardian heavy fighter; however, through most of the writing process it was called a Mauler fighter.
His fighter isn't supposed to be pretty. It's an ugly, bulky machine. It's just guns and a cockpit soddered onto a large engine.
It's a vicious thing.
And, I needed a name to describe it.
Mauler was all that I could think of; however, well, it was just too similar to Mr. Maul from TPM. I couldn't call it a Mauler because you'd immediately think of Darth Maul.
I didn't want that.
So, I had to change it.
Before settling on Guardian, Defender and Avenger were possibilities.
OBI-WAN, GLASS SWALLOWER --
Obi-Wan tells Palpatine that he won't go with the Council to the meeting for the same reason he "doesn't swallow glass". Do you know why Obi-Wan uses those words?
FINAL FANTASY --
Both FINAL FANTASY VII AND VIII were influences. So was B5. Wait until you see the similarities between Atkinson and Squall.
FINAL FIGHT --
Do you know the significance of the conversation Atkinson and Nell have at the end of their fight? Look into the origins of EPISODE ONE. Dig deep and you may find the meaning... or the meaning may find you.
ENDING --
It's been stated that the real EPISODE II will feature a cliff hanger equal to EMPIRE.
Well, I decided to cram pack my EPISODE II full of them.
The problem is, if the chara's in the classic trilogy, you know that they don't die.
Still, you gotta fear for Amidala's life.
I tried to keep the cliff hangers away from death. They are emotional. They deal with relationships. Truth and Lie.
What's going to happen with Anakin?
What's Palpatine going to say to him?
What's going on in his head?
What about Mace Windu? Did he survive? Originally, he killed the corrupt Council members with Atkinson. Obi-Wan did it in the later script. Or did he?
Jaster Mareel? Sonora Dodd?
What's going to happen to them?
The only real life-and-death cliff hanger is that of Atkinson Rain and Nell Wyndsung.
Who won?
Nell stuck his blaster into Rain's side. What did Atkinson mean when she shouted that last word? If you watch B5, you know.
Who won?
We will see.
EPISODE III --
Yes, there will be an EPISODE III.
I actually began planning it while still writing DARKNESS ASCENDING.
And, boy, is it dark.
I know how it starts. I know what's in the middle. I know how it ends.
It opens in a way that you will never believe.
Includes a dance scene.
Has a tear-jerking scene with Obi-Wan and Amidala on Naboo, late in the film.
Introduces Storm Troopers, Star Destroyers, and TIE fighters.
Shows us a dark Anakin, a pre-helmet Darth Vader.
I can go on.
I can go on.
Oh, wait until you see what Sonora Dodd gets into.
And the lightsabre fights!
The lightsabre fights!
CASTING --
I'll end with speculative casting for DARKNESS ASCENDING.
ATKINSON RAIN - Pizza Hut Girl (after all, that's who she's based on) or Jules Asner
JASTER MAREEL - Bill Mumy, David Hyde-Pierce, or David Spade
NELL WYNDSUNG - Jason Carter
SAMMIE PORTER - Andrea Libman or Amy Jo Johnson
DUG FINN - Ian James Corlett
---
Peter Tatara
8.2.1999