The reappearance of the Sith is highly unusual - it is a religious order that follows the dark side of the Force, and is thought to be extinct for a millennium. Senior Jedi official Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) responded: "I do not believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing."
Centuries-old leader of the Council - Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz) adds: "Ah, hard to see, the dark side is." Mace promises to identify the attacker, and adds: "May the Force be with you." Then, Qui-Gon also speaks about a "vergence in the Force" - located in the young boy Anakin: "His cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life-form."
He is indirectly referring to a prophecy of the one who would bring balance to the Force. He requests that the boy be tested, to see whether he could be trained as a Jedi. Qui-Gon reveals: "Finding him was the will of the Force." Young Anakin is brought before the masters of the High Jedi Council for testing. After deliberations amongst them, he is rejected for training (with the reasoning that he is too old).
There are also other concerns: the sense of a clouded future for the boy, and deep fears he has about losing his mother. Yoda explains: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." Willful Qui-Gon announces that he would train the boy, and make him his second Padawan - but it is forbidden by the Council's code.
Nevertheless, he tells the boy to watch him and be mindful: "Stay close to me and you'll be safe." In a session of the Senate, the Naboo Queen presents her case about the invasion of her planet, and complains about how her planet's people are suffering, while the Senate is mired in debate. She refuses to defer and will not agree to a time-consuming commission to examine her accusations.
She calls for new leadership and a vote of no-confidence in Valorum. Shortly later, Senator Palpatine is nominated to succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor, against two other candidates. The frustrated Queen Amidala elects to return to her planet and her people, although she still vows to refuse to sign the treaty and is determined to repel the invasion herself.
The Jedi Council instructs Qui-Gon to accompany the Queen back to Naboo to discover the identity of the "dark warrior" - "This is the clue we need to unravel the mystery of the Sith." Yoda adds: "May the Force be with you." During the trip back to Naboo, the Queen requests help from Jar Jar Binks to request aid from the Gungans. They had recently been attacked at Otoh Gunga by the Trade Federation.
Boss Nass and his people had fled to hide in a secret ruined temple - where Jar Jar quickly locates them. Queen Amidala proposes forming an alliance with the Gungans, when suddenly, handmaiden Padmé steps forward and identifies herself: "I am Queen Amidala." The young female dressed in the Queen's costume, the Queen explains, is her decoy - her protective loyal bodyguard.
After apologizing for the deception, she begs for the Boss' help, and the Gungan leader agrees to an alliance - and to use his army against the Trade Federation. To his astonishment, Jar Jar is appointed Bombad General. The Queen discusses the battle strategy - as a diversion, the Gungan warriors would draw the Battle droids away from the Naboo cities so that they can enter the Theed palace's throne room and capture the Viceroy Gunray.
A second plan is to destroy the Trade Federation Control Ship orbiting the planet to sever communications with its droid army. Lord Darth Sidious knows of the Queen's plans, calling her "foolish," and orders: "Wipe them out. All of them." Action occurs in four overlapping, cross-cutting sequences:
At the Palace: The group of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and the Queen's retinue enter the Theed Palace, but are blasted in the courtyard by Battle droids. Inside the main hangar, some of the Queen's pilots are able to jump into starfighters, fly off, and commence an attack against the Federation control ship, while others join the Queen to approach the throne room.
As they near the location of the Viceroy, the Queen's group is taken prisoner, held at gunpoint, and paraded into the throne room. The Viceroy becomes confused when the Queen's decoy Sabé shouts from another corridor: "Viceroy, your occupation here has ended."
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