THE MYSTERIES OF DAGOBAH (excerpt)
Introduction: The idea for this story was written at some point during the premiere season of the animated television show. It had the working title "Yoda vs. Dooku, Round 2" as it would feature another battle between the two (following their duel in the second cinematic episode). The purpose of the story was to explain how Yoda knew about the planet Dagobah and why he went into exile there. Interestingly enough, the series would explore this concept a few years later during the "Lost Missions" episodes.
The first act of the story is below:
STAR WARS The Clone Wars
The Mysteries of Dagobah
NEWSREEL (NARRATOR)
It is an age of treachery and
deceit! Entire planets have been
erased from the archives of the
Jedi Order. While the Clone Wars
rage across the galaxy, Jedi Master
Yoda seeks out these missing
planetary systems, hoping to learn
their secrets....
As the narrator speaks, there is a montage of battle action
from the war. One shot shows Yoda leaving Coruscant on a
ship. The final shot shows that same ship traveling through
hyperspace. The camera angle focuses in on the bridge of
the ship as the story begins.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
JEDI MASTER YODA is on the bridge of a Republic ship. It is
a survey vessel the size of a freighter. With him are
six Clone Troopers including JEK, THIRE, and RYS (previously seen
in the episode "Ambush"). Rys looks down at Yoda and asks a
question.
RYS
Something I don’t understand,
sir. How can an entire planet go
missing?
Yoda lets out a humph and replies with:
YODA
Deceived the Jedi were by Count
Dooku.
THIRE
I heard he even erased our home
planet of Kamino from the Jedi
archives too.
YODA
Startling it is, how events have
unfolded. Never must the Sith be
underestimated.
The CLONE PILOT looks back at Yoda from his seat. The
swirling blues of hyperspace can be seen outside the cockpit.
CLONE PILOT
We’re coming up on the coordinates
you gave us, sir. But according to
the charts, there’s nothing out
there but empty space.
Yoda sits down in a seat behind the pilot.
YODA
Inaccurate the charts are. A
planet we will find. Why it was
erased from the archives, our
mission to answer.
EXT. SPACE
The Republic ship emerges from hyperspace. It passes the
camera position which turns to follow it. A green
planet with thick white clouds is dead ahead.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
The body language of the pilot is one of surprise as he
perks up in his seat.
CLONE PILOT
Well... You were right
sir. There’s your missing planet.
THIRE
Are you picking up any signals?
CLONE PILOT
Negative. Not a peep. But
scanners indicate a LOT of life
down there.
Yoda has a look as if he is about to sneeze.
YODA
Strange. Feel right, this does
not. Very wrong, something is.
CLONE PILOT
Should we go in for a closer look?
YODA
Patience. For now, orbit the
planet we will. The northern
hemisphere, we will begin with.
CLONE PILOT
Yes, sir.
JEK
Any idea what this place is called?
YODA
A name, I did find. Dagobah.
EXT. SPACE
The ship orbits the planet. The camera pans to a dark and
lifeless object floating in space; a Sith probe droid. It
suddenly powers up and focus its attention on the Republic
ship. The probe sends a signal.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
An indicator signal beeps from the control panel.
CLONE PILOT
Sir, I’m getting something. We are
being scanned.
Yoda examines the signal for himself.
YODA
It’s a trap!
(or)
A trap, it is!
EXT. SPACE
Several vulture droids launch from one of Dagobah’s
moons. They head directly towards the Republic ship.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
CLONE PILOT
Vulture droids, closing fast!
THIRE
Can we outrun them?
CLONE PILOT
Not a chance. Someone man the guns
while I calculate a jump to
hyperspace.
Thire doesn’t hesitate to take control of the laser cannons.
EXT. SPACE
One of the droids launches a missile. Three other droids do the same.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
CLONE PILOT
Incoming missiles!
Thire starts shooting at the missiles.
EXT. SPACE
Unfortunately, Thire can’t stop them all. One missile hits
the ship.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
Everyone is rocked by the explosion.
CLONE PILOT
They took out the hyperdrive.
Jek tends to one of the other Clones.
JEK
Kad is dead.
EXT. SPACE
The droid fighters swoop in and begin shooting. The
Republic ship is trailing fire as it is rocked by laser
blasts.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
They have only one option.
YODA
To the planet, we must go.
CLONE PILOT
Won’t argue with that.
EXT. SPACE
The Republic ship heads into the atmosphere and disappears
in the thick clouds. The droid fighters do not
follow. They break off and head away from the planet.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
The ship bounces and rocks. One of the Clones loses his
footing and falls down.
CLONE PILOT
Woah! Can’t hold her steady. I
can’t see a thing. Hold on boys,
we’re going down!
RYS
Brace for impact!
The Clones fight to get to their seats and strap in. Yoda
is calm.
EXT. DAGOBAH - BOG
The ship has a hard landing, slamming into the
ground. Everyone inside is rocked. The ship slides along
the surface of Dagobah. One wing strikes a tree, causing
the ship to spin and careen to a stop.
INT. REPUBLIC SHIP - BRIDGE
Everything inside the ship is a mess and illuminated by red
emergency lighting. Jek is the first to his feet.
JEK
Master Yoda, are you all right?
Yoda gets to his feet and places a hand on his head.
YODA
Fine I am. Help the others.
JEK
Sign off. Is everyone all right?
THIRE
I need some help over here.
CLONE
Rys is dead.
There is a groan from the pilot’s seat.
CLONE PILOT
Agh. My leg. I’m stuck.
The ship shutters violently and everyone gets that sinking
feeling. Muddy water starts to fill the ship.
YODA
Clear the ship, we must.
JEK
Everybody out!
THIRE
The door is jammed.
Yoda reaches for his lightsaber, but it’s not there. He
jumps down into the growing pool of murky water and
disappears. Jek and Thire tend to the pilot and are able to
get him free. Yoda jumps out of the water and activates his
saber. A quick slice and they are climbing out of the
ship.
EXT. DAGOBAH - BOG
Yoda and three clones are the only survivors. But before
they can catch their breath, a giant mud squid emerges from
the murk. It grabs the pilot and pulls him under. Yoda
slashes his lightsaber at one of the tentacles and the mud
squid retreats under the bog.
Yoda, Jek and Thire make their way to solid ground.
THIRE
Something tells me coming here was
a bad idea.
WIPE TO:
INT. COUNT DOOKU’S FORTRESS
COUNT DOOKU, the Sith Lord also known as Darth Tyranus, is
meditating in his private chambers. A signal chimes from a
kiosk in the room. He opens his eyes, stands and activates
a button on the kiosk. A hologram of his master, DARTH
SIDIOUS, appears. Dooku obediently kneels.
COUNT DOOKU
What is thy bidding, my master?
DARTH SIDIOUS
(hologram)
A Republic ship has been spotted
over a key Sith planet.
COUNT DOOKU
I shall dispatch Ventress there at
once.
DARTH SIDIOUS
(hologram)
No! This is no mission for a
child. You will go Lord
Tyranus. And you will not fail me.
There is a brief pause before Dooku asks:
COUNT DOOKU
Tell me master, why is this system
so valuable?
Dooku raises his head to look at the hologram. Sidious
growls lightly.
DARTH SIDIOUS
(hologram)
There was once a Sith Lord who
conducted experiments on the life
forms that inhabit the planet. The
Jedi must not know what he did
there. You will see to that.
COUNT DOOKU
I shall depart at once.
Dooku again lowers his head.
EXT. SERENNO
The camera looks over Dooku’s castle as a shuttle rises away
from the planet.
EXT. SPACE - ABOVE SERENNO
The shuttle docks with a massive capital
warship. Moments later, the ship turns and jumps into hyperspace.
END ACT 1