After a distressing message from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin and Padmé decide to depart Tatooine and aid their friend. Unfortunately, this results in the two of them getting captured, put on trial, found guilty, and tied to execution posts right along with Obi-Wan. Ultimately, it’s Jedi Master Yoda that does the real rescuing here. The scenes on this page deal with Anakin and Padmé’s failed rescue attempt along with some of the surrounding events involving C-3PO and R2-D2.
HUMAN BEHAVIOR
In some ways, Anakin and Padmé’s relationship is a bit like Leia and Han’s. In Attack of the Clones, Padmé was clearly the dominant partner, bossing Anakin around and sometimes making him look foolish in front of others. Anakin’s submissiveness made him seem weak in the final cut, but it wasn’t always that way. The two had a few more spirited discussions according to the original script.
One good example is the scene where Anakin and Padmé arrive on Geonosis and set off to find Obi-Wan. In the 2nd draft of the script, Anakin and Padmé have an argument very reminiscent of a Han and Leia spat. In the rewritten/final version, Padmé just barks orders at the now submissive Anakin who has given up trying to fight with her. C-3PO even gets a dig in at the end. Here’s the excerpt from the 2nd draft of Attack of the Clones:
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARFIGHTER – DAY
ANAKIN switches off the engines. ARTOO and THREEPIO are in the navigation area of the cockpit. PADMÉ is in the co-pilot’s seat. She gets up.ANAKIN
Hey, where are you going?PADMÉ
To find Obi-Wan.ANAKIN gets up and goes over to her.
ANAKIN
No! You’re not!He grabs her arm.
PADMÉ
Let go of me!ANAKIN
I’m not letting you go out there.
It’s too dangerous.PADMÉ
What?!?ANAKIN
It’s my job to protect you. I said it’s
too dangerous. You’re not going,
and that’s final!PADMÉ
Don’t you give me orders, Annie!
I’m a Senator of the Galactic Republic.
You have no authority to contain me,
restrain me, or direct me! You remember
your place, young man. (standing up)
Now you can come along and protect
me or stay here. It’s up to you.PADMÉ storms out of the cockpit of the Naboo Starfighter. ANAKIN stands scratching his head, then follows.
ARTOO BEEPS and WHISTLES.
C-3PO
Yes, it is, Artoo. Most confusing.
One moment they’re generating a pleasant
mutual attraction and the next, waves
of violent hostility. Even though I’m
programmed to understand them,
I doubt if I ever shall.ARTOO WHISTLES a plaintive sigh.
If you check out the hidden gag reel on the Attack of the Clones DVD, you’ll see a blooper from this scene where Anakin “forgets” to grab Padmé’s arm. She still recites her line, “Let go of me!” even though he’s not touching her.
ANAKIN AND PADMÉ ARE CAPTURED
In the finished film, when Anakin and Padmé arrive on Geonosis, they are immediately find themselves in trouble with some nasty Geonosians, and then with some nasty droid factory conveyor belts. This ultimately leads to their capture by the Separatist leader and former Jedi, Count Dooku. This entire scene was added to the film during pick-up shots, many months after principal photography was completed. It was shot to replace a completely different scene containing far less action which also led to their capture not in the droid factory, but in a location scripted as the Geonosian Central Square. In this talky scene, Count Dooku appears from the shadows and has Anakin and Padmé led away. In some of the related photos, Padmé is wearing a different headpiece we never saw in the finished film.
The stock reason given as to why it was replaced is that George Lucas felt the movie needed some more action. Here’s the excerpt from the 2nd draft of Attack of the Clones:
INT. GEONOSIS, CORRIDORS – DAY
ANAKIN and PADMÉ enter the stalagmite city. They stop, looking around in wonder at the emptiness.PADMÉ
(in a low voice)
It’s empty!They start forward. As they pass, the surface of the pillars seems to pulse slowly and move. High above WINGED CREATURES grow from the pillars and detach themselves.
INT. GEONOSIS, CENTRAL SQUARE – DAY
ANAKIN and PADMÉ cross the square, reaching the middle. They stop suddenly as FOUR GEONOSIANS grab them. ANAKIN reaches for his lightsaber.PADMÉ
Wait!TWENTY WINGED GEONOSIANS carrying weapons alight on the flagstones in front of them.
The GEONOSIANS part, and COUNT DOOKU appears. He bows courteously.
COUNT DOOKU
Senator Amidala,
I’ve heard so much about you.PADMÉ
Count Dooku, I assume.COUNT DOOKU
I’m delighted to meet you at last.
We have a great deal to discuss, Senator.
I hope you can keep your young
Jedi under control.PADMÉ
Don’t worry he’s housebroken.
Getting back to the “Droid Factory” scene, when the original DVD of the film was released it included what was called a “Depth” commentary. If you put the DVD into your computer you could access this exclusive feature which contained numerous facts about the film, one which mentioned a deleted bit from the Droid Factory:
As envisioned, this scene was to have been a direct echo of Luke and Leia’s Death Star chasm-swing, complete with grappling hook attempt.
This is also discussed by sound designer/editor Ben Burtt in the DVD’s audio commentary. Apparently, Anakin and Padmé were going to try and swing across the chasm ala Luke and Leia, but Anakin missed the first try, had to reel the cable in, and try again. Padmé, according to Burtt, looked at Anakin as if to say, “Jedi, huh?”
So now you’re probably wondering what chasm we’re talking about. In the finished film, right before Padmé (followed by Anakin) falls down onto the conveyor belt, you’ll notice she’s standing on a small ledge which retracts very quickly. Initially, Anakin and Padmé were standing on this ledge a bit longer. This is where they tried to swing across the chasm to safety. In some of the related pictures you can clearly see that Anakin’s focus is on something on the other side of the ledge. He even appears to be reaching for something on his belt. In one image, the door behind them is closed, much like in A New Hope when Luke and Leia are on the Death Star’s ledge.
It’s common practice for artists who illustrate graphic novel film adaptations to use production stills given to them for reference, well before the film’s release. If you look closely at the relevant image from the comic adaptation, you’ll notice two things: First, the floor is very reminiscent of the usual Geonosian floor patterns, and it doesn’t look like Anakin and Padmé are in the hallway outside of the droid factory. Second, it appears that the Geonosians are flying down from far above, just as it’s written in the original script.
DOOKU TALKS TO ANAKIN AND PADMÉ
In the finished film, 
Anakin and Padmé show up on Geonosis, are captured, and then before we know it they’re being wheeled off to be executed without any kind of trial or hearing. In the original edit, however, Count Dooku is a bit more procedural.
There was a scene included on the DVD where Dooku interrogated Anakin and Padmé, though she was the focus of his questioning. The scene also appears to be somewhat incomplete. The dialogue differs greatly from the script’s second draft. Jango Fett is present in this scene and is standing behind Dooku. This can be corroborated by some of the published images and by Ben Burtt’s audio commentary on the DVD.
The excerpt below from The Art of Attack of the Clones contains a few other differences from the 2nd draft. The most noticeable ones being Anakin motioning for his lightsaber a few times and Jango Fett taking it away from him at the end of the scene saying, “I’ll take that weapon.” After Anakin hesitates to hand it over, Count Dooku tells him, “You may cause a lot of bloodshed, my young Jedi… but you will not escape.” Padmé then urges Anakin to give it up, and he begrudgingly hands it to Fett. Here’s the excerpt:
INT. GEONOSIS, CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
Count Dooku sits at a large conference table with Padmé on the far side. Anakin stands behind her with four Geonosian guards standing behind him. Jango Fett stands behind Count Dooku, and six Geonosian guards stand behind him.PADMÉ
You are holding a Jedi Knight,
Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am formally requesting
you turn him over to me, now.COUNT DOOKU
He has been convicted of espionage,
Senator, and will be executed.
In just a few hours, I believe.Count Dooku smiles.
PADMÉ
He is an officer of the Republic.
You can’t do that.COUNT DOOKU
We don’t recognize the Republic here, Senator,
but if Naboo were to join our Alliance,
I could easily hear your plea for clemency.PADMÉ
And if I don’t join your rebellion,
I assume this Jedi with me will also die?COUNT DOOKU
I don’t wish to make you to join our cause
against your will, Senator, but you are a rational,
honest representative of your people and I
assume you want to do what’s in their best interest.
Aren’t they fed up with the corruption, the bureaucrats,
the hypocrisy of it all? Aren’t you?
Be honest, Senator.PADMÉ
The ideals are still alive, Count,
even if the institution is failing.COUNT DOOKU
You believe in the same ideals
we believe in! The same ideals we
are striving to make prominent.PADMÉ
If what you say is true, you should
stay in the Republic and help Chancellor
Palpatine put things right.COUNT DOOKU
The Chancellor means well, M’Lady, but
he is incompetent. He has promised to cut the
bureaucracy, but the bureaucrats are stronger than
ever, no? The Republic cannot be fixed, M’Lady.
It is time to start over. The democratic process
in the Republic is a sham, no? A shell game
played on the voters. The time will come when
that cult of greed, called the Republic will lose
even the pretext of democracy and freedom.PADMÉ
I cannot believe that. I know of your
treaties with the Trade Federation, the
Commerce Guilds, and the others, Count.
What is happening here is not government
that has been bought out by business…
it’s business becoming government! I will not
forsake all I have honored and worked for
and betray the Republic.COUNT DOOKU
Then you will betray your Jedi friends?
Without your cooperation I can do
nothing to stop their execution.PADMÉ
And what about me?
Am I to be executed also?COUNT DOOKU
I wouldn’t think of such an offense.
But, there are individuals who have a strong
interest in your demise, M’Lady. It has nothing
to do with politics, I’m afraid. It’s purely personal,
and they have already paid great sums to have you
assassinated. I’m sure they will push hard to have
you included in the executions. I’m sorry but, if you
are not going to cooperate, I must turn you over to
the Geonosians for justice. Without your cooperation,
I’ve done all I can for you.JANGO FETT
Take them away.
Clip of Count Dooku speaking to Padmé from the Attack of the Clones DVD.
ANAKIN AND PADMÉ ON TRIAL
Not long after Dooku’s conference with Padmé and Anakin, the two are brought before a court led by the Geonosian Poggle the Lesser and are sentenced to death before a crowd of witnesses, including Dooku and other members of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
As with some of the other deleted scenes included on the Attack of the Clones DVD, there are some more details left out when comparing to the original drafts. There was also a character named Sun Rit, an aide to Poggle the Lesser, who never made it into the film at all. Here’s the excerpt from The Art of Attack of the Clones:
150 INT. GEONOSIS, HIGH AUDIENCE CHAMBER – DAY
Anakin and Padmé are standing in the center of what looks like a courtroom. Seated before them in a tall boxed-off area is Poggle the Lesser, the Archduke of Geonosis. He is accompanied by his underling, Sun Rit. Off to one side sit Separatist Senators Po Nudo, Tessek, and Toonbuck Toora. Next to them are the Commerce Dignitaries, Shu Mai, Nute Gunray, Passel Argente, Wat Tambor, and San Hill of the Intergalactic Bank Clan. Along the wall about a hundred Geonosians wait for a verdict.SUN RIT
You have been charged and
found guilty of espionage.POGGLE
Do you have anything to say
before your sentence is carried out?PADMÉ
You are committing an act of war,
Archduke. I hope you are prepared
for the consequences.Poggle laughs. Count Dooku simply smiles.
POGGLE
We build weapons, Senator…
that is our business!
Of course we’re prepared!NUTE GUNRAY
Get on with it. Carry out the
sentence. I want to see her suffer.POGGLE
Your other Jedi friend is waiting
for you, Senator. Take them
to the arena!Four guards take hold of Padmé and Anakin. They are escorted out of the chamber to the sounds of chuckling.
Clip of Anakin and Padmé on trial from the Attack of the Clones DVD.
SUN RIT/SUN FAC
The Geonosian aide of Poggle the Lesser I’ve mentioned had two different names before he was removed from the film entirely. In the earliest versions of the script, he was named SUN RIT but in the published version in The Art of Attack of the Clones, he’s named SUN FAC. Whatever you call him, he shows up at various times in the scripts including while Obi-Wan is snooping around on Geonosis before he’s caught, when Anakin and Padmé are sentenced to death, and when the execution begins in the arena. In the finished film, Sun Rit/Fac is non-existent. Here’s an excerpt from The Art of Attack of the Clones:
SUN FAC
The felons before you have been convicted
of espionage against the Sovereign System of Geonosis.
Their sentence of death is to be carried out in this
public arena henceforth.The crowd roars and cheers. In the box, Poggle the Lesser rises. The crowd becomes quiet.
POGGLE
Let the executions begin!The crowd goes wild.
LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD
George Lucas never hid the fact that Attack of the Clones is as much a love story as it is an action film. The relationship between the Jedi and the Senator is key to all the events that follow. At the core of that relationship, is love. It may have been unrequited at first, but after sending mixed signals to Anakin the whole film, Padmé finally decides, while being wheeled out for execution, to come clean and express her true feelings to a somewhat confused Anakin. Kisses follow, of course.
Comparing the second draft to the published script reveals a few minor differences, including an extra kiss. Here’s the excerpt from The Art of Attack of the Clones with extra lines (merged) from the second draft denoted by an asterisk (*):
151 INT. GEONOSIS, TUNNEL TO EXECUTION ARENA – DAY
In the gloomy tunnel, Anakin and Padmé are tossed into an open cart. The murmur of a vast crowd is heard off screen. Guards extend their arms along the framework and tie them so that they stand facing each other.The Driver gets up onto his seat.
ANAKIN
Don’t be afraid.PADMÉ
I’m not afraid to die. I’ve been
dying a little bit each day since you
came back into my life.ANAKIN
What are you talking about?PADMÉ
I love you.ANAKIN
You love me?! I thought we decided
not to fall in love. That we would be forced
to live a lie. That it would
destroy our lives…PADMÉ
I think our lives are about to be destroyed,
anyway. My love for you is a puzzle, Annie,
for which I have no answers. I can’t control it…
and now I don’t care. I truly, deeply love you
and before we die I want you to know.Padmé leans toward Anakin. By straining hard, it is just possible for their lips to meet. They kiss.
* ANAKIN
* I have no desire to be cured of this love
either. Long or short, I vow to spend the
rest of my life with you.* They kiss again.
The driver cracks his whip over the Orray harnessed between the shafts. The cart jerks forward. Suddenly, there is a huge roar and blinding sunlight as they emerge into the arena.
ALL SHINED UP AND NO PLACE TO GO
C-3PO and R2-D2 had quite an adventure on Geonosis in the finished film, but in the original drafts they stayed put on the Naboo starship the entire time that Anakin and Padmé were gone. They were there for Anakin and Padmé’s capture, the near-execution, and all the action scenes, which is a pretty long time for them to sit on a ship with nothing to do. In the end, George decided they should get off the ship and provide some comic relief.
The following excerpts from The Art of Attack of the Clones are bits and pieces of various scenes with the droids as they wait for their masters to return:
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP – DAY
ARTOO BEEPSC-3PO
Yes, it has been rather a long time.
Do you suppose something’s
happened to them?ARTOO BEEPS and WHISTLES.
C-3PO
(continuing)
Danger? Oh no, I shouldn’t think so.
It looks a very dull planet to me.
They should be back shortly.
Just stop worrying, Artoo.
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP
ARTOO whistles.C-3PO
I don’t hear anything. (Artoo beeps)
You’re scaring me! Stop imagining things!
INT. COCKPIT, NABOO STARSHIP – DAY
THREEPIO and ARTOO see flashes outside of the ship, exploding everywhere.C-3PO
I’m sure I heard something, this time.
Didn’t you? It’s probably just a celebration.ARTOO lets out an EXHAUSTED BLEEP.