by Cavan Scott
LENE:
Keep the bandage under your sleeve. No one will see it or question it. And if you are troubled in future…
SIFO-DYAS:
Repeat the ritual.
LENE:
As often as you need. The ancient Jedi did this every day. We have forgotten so much.
DOOKU:
And what now?
LENE:
We return to Coruscant. The journey will give us opportunity to meditate.
SIFO-DYAS:
I feel so tired.
LENE:
You must rest, my Padawan. You’ve been through a lot. We all have.
SIFO-DYAS:
Yes, Master.
DOOKU:
Would you like me to stay with you, Sifo?
SIFO-DYAS:
No. I need to be alone.
DOOKU:
Only if you’re sure.
LENE:
I’ll let you know when we’re almost home.
She leaves the room, Dooku hurrying after her into the corridor.
DOOKU:
Lene, wait.
LENE:
I suggest you do the same, Dooku. Get some rest.
DOOKU:
But…what are we going to tell Master Yoda?
LENE:
Nothing.
DOOKU:
But this isn’t like Mantero. The things we saw. (ASHAMED) The things we did.
LENE:
Dooku, listen to me. Yoda already has doubts about my work. He tolerates what I do, but if he found out I exposed two Padawans to the dark side…
DOOKU:
He’d shut you down.
LENE:
In an instant. This has to be our secret. Do you understand?
DOOKU:
It doesn’t feel right. He’s my Master.
LENE:
And it pains me to ask you, Dooku. But the work is too important, to the Order, to the galaxy as a whole. You see that, don’t you? Especially now. You’ve seen the dark side. You know what it’s capable of.
DOOKU:
What I’m capable of, you mean.
LENE:
No. No, I don’t. The visions. (DROPS HER VOICE) The lightning. That wasn’t you. It was that place. But you’re stronger.
DOOKU:
“The Force is strong.”
LENE:
“The Force is strong.” Don’t worry. Please. The future you saw, whatever it was, won’t come to pass. I can guarantee it. You’re a good man, Dooku. A good man.
SCENE 72. EXT. ROOFTOP. RAIN.
VENTRESS:
A good man…(SNORTS)
She swipes through to another page.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Are you all right?
She swipes back.
VENTRESS:
“A woman. With bone-white skin.” Sound familiar?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
It could be a coincidence.
VENTRESS:
Says the dead man. (THOUGHTFUL) Maybe everything has already been written, none of us with a choice.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
He did. Dooku. The man I knew would never have hurt you.
VENTRESS:
You knew him? You knew Dooku?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
He taught me. He taught us all.
VENTRESS:
Maybe you told me that. I can’t remember.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
The Dooku I knew was older. He’d been a Jedi a long time. Still had the beard from the holos, but it had already turned to gray. And a Knighted Padawan of his own, for that matter.
VENTRESS:
Ah. Dooku has mentioned him. Qui-Gon, wasn’t it?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Qui-Gon Jinn. But he wasn’t Dooku’s first. Oh no. First came Rael. Rael Averross. As untidy as Dooku was smart, and as friendly as he was stern. A hyperstorm waiting to happen, that’s what Master Sinube called him. And he was right. But I liked Rael. We all did.
VENTRESS:
Even Dooku?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
See for yourself.
VENTRESS:
What? How?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Dooku’s journal. He’ll be in there. We all will…
PART FIVE
SCENE 73. EXT. JEDI TEMPLE. TRAINING GROUND.
Atmosphere: A gentle wind rustling through the leaves of the kukra tree.
Dooku, now a Jedi Master—and nearer than ever to the Dooku we know—is putting a group of Initiates through their paces, each facing a holographic opponent.
DOOKU: (FIFTY-SOMETHING)
That’s it. Very good. Now…Let’s cycle through the marks of contact. Sai cha.
Ten lightsabers sweep and stop.
DOOKU:
Excellent. Cho sun.
Again, there are ten swipes.
DOOKU:
Cho mai.
And again.
DOOKU:
Hmm. A little more precision if you please, Ovana. (BEAT) Sun djem.
And again.
DOOKU:
Mou kei.
And again, one lightsaber slightly out of step.
DOOKU:
I said mou kei, Pars, not cho mok. If these were your trials, you would have failed.
Rael walks into the garden.
RAEL:
Don’t let him give you a hard time, kid. You’re doing just fine.
DOOKU:
Rael. Now is not the time for coddling, my former Padawan. If the Initiates are to be ready…
RAEL:
They will be. Won’t you, younglings?
PARS-VALO:
With Master Dooku’s guidance, Jedi Averross.
RAEL:
Ha-ha! See. You have them well trained already, Master. Total obedience.
DOOKU:
If only the same could have been said of you. Look at the state of those robes. And that sash…
RAEL:
(SHAKES HEAD) Same old Dooku.
DOOKU:
I beg your pardon.
RAEL:
Tell me, kids, would ya rather play with training holograms all afternoon or witness a practical demonstration?
Rael activates his lightsaber.
DOOKU:
You’re challenging me to a duel?
RAEL:
For old times’ sake.
Dooku ignites his lightsaber.
DOOKU:
Holograms off.
The training holos shimmer off.
RAEL:
That’s better. What style shall we use?
DOOKU:
Whichever you like. It’ll make little difference.
RAEL:
You’ve always been too confident. It will be your undoing. Sun djem!
He sweeps his lightsaber as he announces the cuts, Dooku easily blocking every move.
DOOKU:
Whereas you talk too much. Shiim!
Another block. And then Rael performs three swift moves, each blocked by Dooku.
RAEL:
That’s true, I guess. While no one could accuse you of being chatty. Cho sun! Mou kei! Sai tok!
Their lightsabers sizzle as they lock.
DOOKU:
Really? The Bisecting Blow? I taught you better than that, Rael.
RAEL:
Eh. Sometimes I like to play dirty. As do you!
They go into a full li
ghtsaber battle, forgetting about the marks now, just reveling in the duel, ribbing each other as they fight.
DOOKU:
You should be careful, my former pupil. You don’t want to tire yourself out. You have a long journey ahead of you.
RAEL:
Don’t worry on my account, Master. I could do this all day.
DOOKU:
That won’t be necessary.
Dooku performs a skilled maneuver, getting the upper hand.
RAEL:
Ha-ha! Okay, okay. I yield. Solah! Solah!
They extinguish their lightsabers.
DOOKU:
You need to work on your lateral extension. You leave yourself open to attack.
RAEL:
And there you have it, Initiates. Always the teacher. Always knows best. And don’t any of ya forget it.
DOOKU:
(TO THE YOUNGLINGS) That will be all for today, younglings, but before you go, remember, while we may practice the marks of contact, a Jedi preserves life above all else. In combat we seek only to disarm, never to destroy. Do you understand?
INITIATES: (TOGETHER)
Yes, Master Dooku.
DOOKU:
Very good. Now off with you. Master Braylon is waiting in the Hall of Discovery.
The Initiates file out, talking among themselves.
RAEL:
You’re hard on ’em, you know that?
DOOKU:
Too hard?
RAEL:
They still have plenty of time. Besides, as you always told me, lightsaber conflict is purely ceremonial.
DOOKU:
More’s the pity.
RAEL:
You don’t mean that.
DOOKU:
And you know as well as anyone that the galaxy is a dangerous place.
RAEL:
Is that your way of tellin’ me to be careful?
DOOKU:
You will be. I trained you. Just remember, diplomacy can quickly fail.
RAEL:
When neither party hungers for peace. I know. But I’m sure Yanis will be different.
DOOKU:
I hope so. For everyone’s sake. I’ll walk with you to the hangar.
RAEL:
(MOCK SURPRISE) You’re comin’ to see me off? I didn’t know you cared, Master.
DOOKU:
Just don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to protect.
SCENE 74. EXT. JEDI TEMPLE. SHUTTLE HANGAR.
Atmosphere: A busy shuttle bay, ships being prepared for departure, droids bleeping and rolling about.
Doors swish open, and Rael and Dooku enter.
RAEL:
Ah, now I see why ya wanted to be here. I’ll try not to be too disappointed.
LENE:
Dooku.
DOOKU:
Master Kostana. I’m glad I caught you.
LENE:
And I you. (CALLING OVER) Sifo. Dooku’s come to wave us off.
SIFO-DYAS: (OFF-MIC)
Oh. I’m…er…a bit busy. I’ll…um…I’ll be over in a minute.
RAEL:
Well, that’s not awkward at all.
DOOKU:
(WARNING) Rael.
RAEL:
I know when I’m not wanted. If you need me, I’ll be on my interceptor.
Rael walks off, calling to an astromech.
RAEL:
(CALLING) Aitch-Sixteen! You fitted those laser capacitors yet?
An astromech burbles back.
RAEL:
Don’t give me that. You’ve had plenty of time.
LENE:
He hasn’t changed.
DOOKU:
And I hope he never does.
LENE:
Dooku, listen. About Sifo. It’s not you…
DOOKU:
I know. It’s just been so long.
LENE:
It’s one of the reasons we stayed away.
DOOKU:
You still travel together.
LENE:
He needs me.
DOOKU:
You’re not responsible for him anymore.
LENE:
We both know he’s vulnerable. And we work well together. We always have.
DOOKU:
And his visions?
She doesn’t reply.
DOOKU:
Lene.
LENE:
They’re getting worse.
DOOKU:
You should talk to the Council.
LENE:
What good would that do? They’d lock him away.
DOOKU:
He’s not a criminal.
LENE:
No. But in their eyes, he’s dangerous. I’ve heard…
DOOKU:
What?
LENE:
(LEANING IN CONSPIRATORIALLY) They’ve opened a new correctional unit on Lola Sayu. For those with foresight.
DOOKU:
Within the Citadel? I find that hard to believe.
LENE:
You haven’t been there. The thought of Sifo-Dyas ending up in a place like that. No, he’s better with me. And it’s not that unusual. The Jedi of old traveled together, sometimes in pairs. Sometimes more.
DOOKU:
(HESITANT) The last thing I’d want is to cause him distress.
LENE:
Thank you. But there is something you can do.
DOOKU:
Name it.
LENE:
(LOOKING AROUND) Where is she? Ah, there we are. (WHISTLES)
A convor flies down to land on Lene’s arm.
DOOKU:
(LAUGHING) You’ve trained a new convor.
LENE:
She’ll never replace poor Ferana, but she’s beautiful, aren’t you, girl?
She ruffles the convor’s feathers, the bird chirping happily.
DOOKU:
She’s certainly very striking.
LENE:
And that, Calleen, is as near a compliment as you’re ever going to get from Master Dooku.
DOOKU:
Calleen. The Altiri goddess of wisdom.
LENE:
I’m impressed.
DOOKU:
Even a teacher must study.
LENE:
Will you look after her for me? She gets skittish around Sifo.
DOOKU:
It will be my pleasure. I shall construct a roost in my chambers.
LENE:
There’s no need to go to any trouble.
DOOKU:
There’s every need. It is good to meet you, Calleen.
The convor chirps and jumps to Dooku’s arm.
DOOKU:
(LAUGHS)
LENE:
(LAUGHING, TOO) Will you look at that? The beginning of a beautiful friendship. You look after him as well, eh, Calleen?
The convor chirps.
LENE:
Good. I’ll see you soon, Dooku.
DOOKU:
I hope so.
Lene returns to her ship as Rael walks back up to his old Master.
RAEL:
If I hadn’t taken a vow of celibacy…
DOOKU:
It’s never stopped you before…
RAEL:
She’s a fine woman.
DOOKU:
I think you mean, a great Jedi.
RAEL:
�
�Course I do. (BEAT) You all right?
DOOKU:
Why wouldn’t I be? Meet Calleen.
The convor squawks.
RAEL:
Don’t think she likes me.
DOOKU:
Then it appears she has excellent taste.
RAEL:
But seriously, your friend…I know what Sifo-Dyas means to you.
DOOKU:
We’ve known each other for a long time, but the Force has led us down different paths. Sifo-Dyas is an explorer, while I am doomed to endure ridicule from my former students.
RAEL:
Quite right, too. Just promise me one thing. Don’t wait too long.
DOOKU:
For what?
RAEL:
To take another Padawan.
DOOKU:
As if you could be so easily replaced.
RAEL:
You know what I mean.
DOOKU:
Worry about Yanis, Jedi Averross. Your old Master will take care of himself.
Dooku walks away.
RAEL:
(CALLING AFTER HIM) I thought we weren’t saying old?
SCENE 75. EXT. ROOFTOP. RAIN.
VENTRESS:
According to this, he would take another Padawan, sooner than anyone expected.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Himself included?
She swipes through to another entry.
VENTRESS:
I thought you would remember. Looks like you were there…
SCENE 76. INT. JEDI TEMPLE. TRAINING GALLERY.
A lightsaber duel is in process, a group of Initiates watching from the side of the gallery.
KY NAREC:
Gretz? Is he here? Can you see him?
GRETZ:
Stop panicking, Ky. He’s there. Behind Master Aerith.
KY NAREC:
I thought he wasn’t coming.
GRETZ:
Dooku never misses the tournaments.
KY NAREC:
Yeah, but he never picks a Padawan, either. Not since Rael.
GRETZ:
Maybe this year will change all that.
KY NAREC:
And I suppose you think he’ll pick you.
GRETZ:
Can you think of any reason why he won’t?
KY NAREC:
Yeah. You’re looking at him.
GRETZ:
You?
KY NAREC:
Why not?
GRETZ:
Ky, you yield in every duel.
KY NAREC:
I do not!
GRETZ:
What do you think, Qui-Gon?
QUI-GON:
I think you should be quiet. I’m trying to watch Ima-Gun and Yeeda.