SPY REPORT: Conference Posted By Joshua on April 4, 2002
Our man on the inside, Big Red, gives us more spoilers for Episode II concerning scenes we've heard mention of before, but never in such detail. Here's the scoop, beware of spoilers so highlight the white space below to reveal the hidden text:
Back to the infamous conference room. Dooku sits at one end, with Jango standing behind him and a few Geonosian guards. Padmé is at the other, with Anakin behind her and some more Geonosian guards. Padmé opens the negotiations, formally requesting that Dooku turn Obi-Wan Kenobi over to her. Dooku explains that Obi-Wan has been convicted of espionage. He smiles, and adds that he's scheduled to be executed in just a few hours. Padmé counters that Obi-Wan is an officer of the Republic, and cannot be executed like that. Dooku responds that the Republic is not recognised on Geonosis, but he would hear her plea if...
...she allowed Naboo to join the Alliance.
Anakin grabs his lightsaber, but leaves it deactivated. Padmé continues. She asks Dooku if she doesn't join his rebellion, then will Anakin also die? (this doesn't come across as Anakin meaning more to her than Obi-Wan or anything, I know it could be interpreted that way) Dooku tells her that he doesn't wish to make her join their cause against her will. She's a good representative of her people and would do what is in their best interest. He asks her if her people are fed up with the bureucrats, and their corruption and hypocrisy. Padmé responds that the Republic's ideals are still alive, even if it is beginning to fail as an institution. Dooku counters that her ideals are the same that he believes in.
Padmé tells him that if that is true, then he should stay in the Republic and help the Chancellor put things right. Dooku sighs and tells her that the Chancellor means well, but is incompetent. His promise to cut bureaucracy has failed. The Republic cannot be fixed, and it is time to start over. It's deomcracy is a shell game played on the voters, and it won't be long before the Republic will lose any feel of democracy or freedom. Not far from the truth there...
But Padmé doesn't believe that. She will not betray the Republic. She knows about Dooku's treaties, and says that this isn't government being bought out by business, it's business becoming government. Dooku asks her if she would betray her Jedi friends, they will die without her cooperation. Padmé asks if she is also destined to be executed. Dooku says he wouldn't even think about it. However, he adds that there are other individuals who want her to die for personal reasons, and will pay great deals of money to do so. Nute Gunray is one of these for sure, and I expect Padmé's ex-boyfriend Palo is the other (joke!). Dooku tells her that if she will not cooperate, then she will be turned over to the Geonosians.