by Cavan Scott
Dooku holds the gagging man for a moment longer and then…
DOOKU:
Oh, very well.
He releases him. Sartori drops to the floor.
SARTORI:
(HOARSE) You’re…insane.
DOOKU:
I will get the truth, one way or another, Inspector.
SARTORI:
Is that a promise or a threat?
DOOKU:
It’s both.
Dooku sweeps from the morgue.
QUI-GON:
Master. Wait.
Qui-Gon runs after him.
SCENE 95. EXT. OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT HOUSE.
Atmosphere: A busy street. Dooku sweeps out the doors, marching down the steps. Qui-Gon bursts out after him.
QUI-GON:
Dooku. Stop.
He grabs Dooku’s arm.
QUI-GON:
I said, stop!
DOOKU:
(LAUGHS)
QUI-GON:
I can’t see anything to laugh about. You could have killed him.
DOOKU:
Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon. I must congratulate you.
QUI-GON:
What?
DOOKU:
You played your part beautifully. The loyal Padawan concerned that his grieving Master is going too far.
QUI-GON:
Because you were.
DOOKU:
Was I?
A swoop bike zooms from a nearby alley up into the air.
DOOKU:
Did you see who was on that bike?
QUI-GON:
Inspector Sartori.
DOOKU:
Yes, I threatened the inspector. Yes, I may have even hurt him a little, and for that, I am sorry. But I was never out of control.
QUI-GON:
You were applying pressure—
DOOKU:
So he would scurry off to whoever has him in their pocket.
QUI-GON:
Then we should follow him!
DOOKU:
(SMILING) We already are.
SCENE 96. EXT. THE SKIES OF CORUSCANT.
Sartori’s swoop bike roars as he activates a comm bud in his ear.
SARTORI:
(PITCHING UP OVER THE REPULSOR NOISE) Bagara! I need to see Cenevax now. (BEAT) I don’t care if she’s busy. The Jedi are on to me. I need protection.
A convor flaps in front of the bike, cawing loudly.
SARTORI:
(CRIES OUT)
He slews the swoop bike across traffic. There’s the blare of a horn.
SARTORI:
Stang!
He brings the bike under control.
SARTORI:
What was that? No, I’m fine. It was just a stupid convor. Flew right in front of me. Just make sure Cenevax knows I’m coming. Sartori out.
The comm beeps.
SARTORI:
Stupid bird.
He roars off, and for a moment we stay with the convor—Calleen—flying along.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The inspector never questioned why an Altiri convor was flying along Coruscant’s busiest airlane, or why a nondescript flier was rising up to join the flow of traffic, a Jedi Master at the controls.
Dooku’s flier rises up, and we hear the bleep of a tracker.
QUI-GON:
(LAUGHING) A tracker in Calleen’s collar.
DOOKU:
A Jedi is prepared for every eventuality, Qui-Gon.
QUI-GON:
And you’re okay flying while practicing beast control?
DOOKU:
Animal kinship, my dear Padawan, and of course I am.
QUI-GON:
You never fail to amaze me.
DOOKU:
I’m glad to hear it. Jedi are conspicuous, Qui-Gon, even in this much traffic—
QUI-GON:
But no one would suspect a lone owl.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The bird led us to the Hythan Quarter, where towering chimneys belched smoke into the darkened sky. Calleen swept over production plants and factories, coming to rest on a window ledge high above Sartori’s cooling speeder. We were close behind, our skimmer slowing near a buzzing laser fence.
QUI-GON:
(WHISPER) It looks like it runs all the way around the building.
DOOKU:
(WHISPER) We should be able to leap it easily enough.
QUI-GON:
(WHISPER) Without being spotted by the guards?
DOOKU:
(WHISPER) They’ll never even know we’re here, thanks to that grog can.
QUI-GON:
What grog can?
A drink can clatters across the street.
GUARD:
What was that?
QUI-GON:
(SMILING) Litterbug.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
We vaulted the fence and within minutes were inside, the heavy doors offering little in the way of resistance to a burning lightsaber. We followed our senses, finally reaching a storeroom that had been converted to a vast treasure trove.
Inspector Sartori paced up and down as a Jenet scampered over a mountain of stolen treasure.
Hiding behind thick velvet drapes, we listened to Sartori’s panicked whining…
SCENE 97. INT. CENEVAX’S HOARD.
Atmosphere: There is the constant chinking of coins and golden treasures as Cenevax scrambles through her hoard, picking up trinkets and discarding them, her movements quick and scurrying, like the giant rodent she is.
SARTORI:
Are you even listening to me?
CENEVAX:
Like Cenevax has a choice.
SARTORI:
The Jedi came to the precinct. They threatened me.
CENEVAX:
Threatened you, did they? Poor little Inspector-man. Scared was you? Yer blood pumping, yer little boom-box racing? Boom-boom-boom-boom.
SARTORI:
I thought they were going to kill me! You said the Jedi wouldn’t be a problem. You promised me.
Cenevax continues to rifle through her hoard.
CENEVAX:
Cenevax promised you, eh? Promises, promises. So easy to break. You promised her, Sartori. Cenevax pays you, you keep her enemies away. Remember that promise, do ya?
SARTORI:
And I have. It isn’t easy, you know. Especially when you blow up a speeder with the entire planet watching.
CENEVAX:
He made promises, too, the Serennian, in his furs and his cape. What do you want from Cenevax, Inspector-man? What-what-what?
SARTORI:
I want you to clean up your mess.
CENEVAX:
Clean up the mess. Yes, that would be nice.
She finds something in the hoard.
CENEVAX:
Come here, Inspector-man. Cenevax has found something. Something shiny.
SARTORI:
I don’t care about your baubles. I care about my welfare.
CENEVAX:
Welfare, yes. Important it is. Vital. Come and see. Come and see what Cenevax has found. You’ll like it. It’ll help.
SARTORI:
I don’t see how.
He reluctantly walks over, coins crunching like shingles beneath his feet.
CENEVAX:
Nice and shiny. Heavy, too. What do you think?
SARTORI:
It’s just an old—
Cen
evax whirls around, clubbing him with the lump of precious metal.
CENEVAX:
(BESTIAL ROAR AS SHE HITS HIM).
Sartori goes down, crashing into the treasure.
CENEVAX:
An old trinket box. Told you it was heavy.
SARTORI:
(GROANS)
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Qui-Gon moved to intervene, but I placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
CENEVAX:
Cenevax can’t remember where she got it. And now you’ve gotten blood all over it.
She hits him again with the box.
CENEVAX:
Ruined it is, like you’ve ruined Cenevax. Leading Jedi to her nest.
She punctuates each of her words with another strike.
CENEVAX:
How. Could. You. Be. So. Stupid?
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
It turns out I had been wrong to wait. Trandoshans came out of nowhere, surrounding us before we could reach for our lightsabers.
CENEVAX:
(CALLING OUT) There’s no point hiding. Cenevax can smell you. Yeah. She smelled you the moment you sneaked into her den.
Dooku and Qui-Gon are led out.
QUI-GON:
You won’t get away with this, Cenevax.
CENEVAX:
Get away with what exactly?
QUI-GON:
We just watched you murder a CSF inspector.
CENEVAX:
Watched it, did you? Yeah. But you didn’t stop Cenevax, did you? Strange that. Besides…
She kicks Sartori, who groans.
CENEVAX:
He’s not dead. Not yet. Take their pretty swords.
QUI-GON:
You can try.
DOOKU:
Let them take them.
QUI-GON:
But Master…
DOOKU:
Do it.
CENEVAX:
See. The old one, he has brains.
The Trandoshans grab the lightsabers.
CENEVAX:
That’s it. Bring ’em to Cenevax.
She snatches the hilts from the Trandoshans, examining them.
CENEVAX:
Oooh. Very nice. Very nice indeed. Cenevax has heard there’s crystals inside, yeah? (GIGGLES) Maybe she add ’em to her collection. Quite the prize.
DOOKU:
You’re not going to win, you know.
CENEVAX:
(LAUGHS) Typical Jedi. But you’re not in yer Temple now, oh-no-no-no. You’ll disappear. How sad. And you won’t be missed. Oh no. Not you. Too much like yer brother…Yeah, Cenevax knows who you are, Dooku. You and Ramil. Like clones in a vat the pair of you. He couldn’t obey orders, neither. Paid the price for it, too.
DOOKU:
My brother lives.
CENEVAX:
Not for long. They told you not to interfere, your Council. They told you leave well alone. But no. You just had to stick your nose in Cenevax’s business, didn’t you?
QUI-GON:
How do you know what the Council said?
DOOKU:
Because her influence goes far beyond corrupt inspectors.
CENEVAX:
Oh, Cenevax has spies everywhere.
DOOKU:
As do I. (CALLING) Now, Calleen!
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
With a screech, the convor swept down from on high, talons bared.
CENEVAX:
Sith spawn! What is that?
The bird flaps around the startled Jenet.
CENEVAX:
Get it away. Get it away.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The Trandoshans’ scatterguns came up, but before they could take a shot, we summoned our lightsabers, igniting the blades in midair.
The two lightsabers blaze, cutting down the guards, who thud to the floor.
There’s a pained squawk from the convor, who falls silent.
QUI-GON:
Master. The convor.
CENEVAX:
Tasty. Yes, very tasty indeed.
Cenevax throws the bird’s limp body aside.
DOOKU:
You’ll pay for that.
CENEVAX:
How? You’ll never get out alive.
Cenevax scampers on the treasure hoard to get away.
QUI-GON:
She’s running.
DOOKU:
She won’t get far.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I threw out a hand, stopping the Jenet in her tracks. She clawed at her treasure as I hauled her back.
Cenevax scrambles as she’s pulled back, trying to hold on to her hoard.
CENEVAX:
No. Stop it. Stop it.
DOOKU:
Not until you’ve told me the truth.
CENEVAX:
What are you doing?
DOOKU:
It’s an impressive hoard you’ve collected. You’re obviously very fond of it. Enough gold to drown in.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I could feel Qui-Gon’s eyes on me. I had played this game before to get what we wanted from Sartori, but was I going too far? Would I really smother Cenevax with her own riches? He didn’t know, and the question was, did I?
QUI-GON:
(WARNING) Master.
DOOKU:
She has a contact on the Jedi Council.
CENEVAX:
You have no proof.
DOOKU:
Tell me who it is!
CENEVAX:
You won’t kill Cenevax. You’re Jedi. It’s not in your nature. You’re weak.
There’s a slight crunch of metal as Dooku presses her into the gold.
DOOKU:
Are you sure about that?
SCENE 98. INT. JEDI COUNCIL CHAMBER.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Unaware of what had happened not three districts from their Chamber, the Jedi Council was in session, although their deliberations were about to be interrupted…
Dooku and Qui-Gon enter the chamber.
YODA:
Master Dooku.
JOR:
About time. We summoned you, Dooku. Did you not receive the message?
DOOKU:
The message was received, Master Aerith. Loud and clear.
Dooku drops Calleen’s body on the floor in front of them.
SINUBE:
Is that…
QUI-GON:
Lene Kostana’s convor, Master Sinube.
JOR:
What happened to it?
DOOKU:
A good question. Perhaps you would like to examine her body.
BRAYLON:
We haven’t time for these games, Dooku.
QUI-GON:
Games, Master Braylon? The bird is dead.
YODA:
See that, we can.
DOOKU:
But can you see the tooth marks, Master Yoda? The tooth marks of a Jenet. One of you had dealings with the creature who did this, the creature who tried to kill Ramil of Serenno earlier today.
JOR:
That is a serious accusation.
DOOKU:
For a serious crime. The betrayal of the Jedi Order. Who will admit it? Who will take responsibility?
SINUBE:
Master Dooku. I understand that you are upset.
DOOKU:
Upset?
SINUBE:
Ramil is your brother, after all…
DOOKU:
Only by blood.
SINUBE:
But this is not the way. If you suspect there is a traitor on the Council, you should—
DOOKU:
What? Call the Temple Guards? An excellent idea. (CALLING) Bring her in.
Temple Guards march in, dragging Cenevax with them.
CENEVAX:
Get off Cenevax. Let go.
JOR:
What is the meaning of this?
DOOKU:
Cenevax runs an unlicensed gambling ring. She paid my brother to lose the race, and when it looked as if he was about to renege on the deal…
JOR:
She scuttled his flier.
CENEVAX:
You can’t prove anything.
DOOKU:
Maybe not yet. But we will. We will prove that you have officials in every corner of the Republic. Governors. Inspectors…even Jedi.
Who is it, Cenevax? You wouldn’t tell me in your lair—
CENEVAX:
Only ’cos you didn’t have the guts to hurt Cenevax.
DOOKU:
As you quite rightly pointed out, it is not the Jedi way, but neither is accepting bribes.
CENEVAX:
Cenevax is saying nothing!
QUI-GON:
Fortunately, you don’t have to.
DOOKU:
The traitor’s own feelings betray her. I can sense her guilt from here.
Dooku activates his lightsaber.
JOR:
Dooku! What are you doing?
DOOKU:
Master Braylon. I’ve known you all my life. Will you lie to me now? Will you lie to all of us?
SINUBE:
Braylon?
Braylon rises, her lightsaber blazing into life.
BRAYLON:
Do you intend to fight me, Dooku? To strike me down where I stand?
DOOKU:
I intend only to bring you to justice.
Braylon extinguishes her blade.
BRAYLON:
It’s true. All of it. I have…looked the other way for years, at Madame Cenevax’s behest.
JOR:
But why? You have no need for money, dirty or otherwise.
BRAYLON:
She didn’t pay me. She didn’t have to.
QUI-GON:
Then what was it?
DOOKU:
(REALIZING) Blackmail. What did she have on you, Braylon? What could possibly be so damning that you would abuse your position on the Council?
SCENE 99. INT. JEDI ARCHIVES.