In the summer of 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released. I saw it in Edinburgh sometime in July. 24 hours later, this 20 minute spoof was completed. I planned to have it performed just before Christmas at college, but there were casting difficulties, and we only managed to do the lightsabre fights, in amongst a load of other sketches, some of which are reproduced elsewhere on this site.

STAR WARS EPISODE I :
THE PHAN CLUB MENACE

 

Cast

ONLY WON KENOBI
QUI GON JINANTONIC
JAR-HEAD BINKS / YODEL, JEDI MASTER
SOUTH PARK VOICE OVER / RACE ANNOUNCER VOICE OVER / TURD FEDERATION VICEROY
QUEEN ARMADILLO OF NABOO
CAPTAIN CAVEMAN, HEAD OF NABOO ARMED FORCES
SITH/SENATOR PALPITATE
WATTO / GUARD 1
ANAKIN SKYWALKER
DAFT MOLE
CHANCELLOR VALIUM/GUARD 2

 

Scene 1

ONLY WON KENOBI and QUI GON JINANTONIC in a forest on Naboo. ONLY WON is Stage R, QUI GON is Stage L. Both face Stage L. A rumbling is heard.

Only Won Master?.. Master?.. Master Qui Gon Jinantonic?

Qui Gon Yes, Only Won?

Only Won What's that noise?

Qui Gon It must be the Turd Federation's invasion force.

ONLY WON approaches QUI GON

Only Won Shouldn't we do something?

Qui Gon Yes - run. Split up, I'll meet you back at Naboo city!

They both run off Stage R

 

Scene 2

The rumbling is getting louder. JAR-HEAD BINKS is alone on stage. QUI GON runs on Stage L and is blocked by JAR-HEAD

Qui Gon Get out of the way you stupid animal!

Jar-head What?

Qui Gon Get out of the way!

He manoeuvres JAR-HEAD round so QUI GON is facing Stage Rear

Qui Gon I said move it!

He nuts JAR-HEAD (who falls down), and runs off Stage R. JAR-HEAD sits up. The rumbling reaches a crescendo

Jar-head Oh shit!

Blackout. A loud squelch is heard. The rumbling dies down slowly.

Voice Over (South Park) Oh my God, they killed Jar-head!

Lights on. JAR-HEAD sits up as ONLY WON runs on Stage L. He stops by JAR-HEAD

Only Won Hi! Have you seen a Jedi knight pass by?

Jar-head Did you get the number of that bus?

Only Won It was a number 26. Have you seen a Jedi?

Jar-head What?

Only Won Have you seen a Jedi?

Jar-head Yes

Only Won Which way did he go?

Jar-head That way (Points Stage R) I think

Only Won Thanks

He kicks JAR-HEAD in the fork then runs off Stage R JAR-HEAD staggers up

Jar-head Hey! Wait for me!

He follows the Jedi

 

Scene 3

QUEEN ARMADILLO's Throne Room. QUEEN ARMADILLO and CAPTAIN CAVEMAN are grouped Stage R. Two Federation GUARDS are with them, as is the Federation VICEROY

Viceroy Queen Armadillo, unless you sign a treaty that will legalise our occupation of your planet, I will torture everyone until you do.

Queen Get stuffed!

Viceroy Very well. Guards! Take them to a prison camp!

Guard 1 Yes Sir!

The VICEROY leaves Stage R. The GUARDS begin marching the prisoners off Stage L. QUI GON and ONLY WON enter Stage L, draw their lightsabres and kill the GUARDS.

Qui Gon Queen Armadillo, I must inform you that your planet has been invaded by the Turd Federation.

Queen I realised that.

Qui Gon We must leave for Coruscant immediately.

Captain How? They've captured the spaceport, and there's a blockade around the planet.

Qui Gon We will deal with that problem when we get to it.

Queen Very well, lead on

They exit Stage L. Blackout, in which the GUARDS remove themselves from stage. Lights on. QUI GON, ONLY WON, QUEEN ARMADILLO and CAPTAIN CAVEMAN enter Stage L and walk across to the other exit.

Qui Gon Well how was I to know, it's the first time I've been here!

Only Won The spaceport complex is twenty miles across and visible from space! How can you miss it?

Qui Gon Size is not important. I mean, look at Yodel. Three foot tall and leader of the Jedi Council.

Only Won He is eight hundred years old, Master.

They exit Stage R

 

Scene 4

The Turd Federation VICEROY's flagship. The VICEROY is talking to a shadowy figure near an exit

Viceroy The invasion is going well, My Lord, but Queen Armadillo has vanished.

Sith Vanished? How?

Viceroy We think she was kidnapped from our forces by two Jedi knights.

Sith Jedi knights? I will send my apprentice, Daft Mole, to deal with them. He has been trained well.

SITH backs off stage as a GUARD enters from the other side

Viceroy That was our master on the comm - you had better have good news about Queen Armadillo

Guard Sir, a lone Naboo cruiser managed to sneak past our blockade. We think it was the Royal Flagship.

Viceroy What?

Guard We managed to damage its' hyperdrive sir, it won't be able to go very far.

Viceroy Excellent, put a trace on it.

 

Scene 5

QUEEN ARMADILLO, QUI GON JINANTONIC, and ONLY WON KENOBI are on stage. CAPTAIN CAVEMAN drags JAR-HEAD BINKS on stage

Captain I found it cowering in the repair bay

Queen What is it?

Qui Gon He was in my way back on Naboo. I thought a tank squashed him.

Only Won He was alive when I left him

Jar-head Only just

Queen Victim of war or not, a stowaway is a stowaway. Where are we headed now that our hyperdrive is damaged?

Only Won Tatty-inn. A desert planet on the outer rim with virtually no Federation or Republic presence.

Queen Good, we can leave him there. Will we be able to repair the hyperdrive on Tatty-inn?

Only Won We should be able to, Your Highness, it's not completely backward.

Qui Gon If not, then it's going to be a long wait for a rescue ship from the Senate

 

Scene 6

The planet of Tatty-inn. QUI GON JINANTONIC and ONLY WON KENOBI are talking to a scrap merchant, WATTO, and his assistant, ANAKIN SKYWALKER

Qui Gon We need a new hyperdrive and fuel.

Watto You've come to the right place. I'm the only one on Tatty-inn who sells hyperdives. What sort do you need?

Only Won A class J7 drive for a diplomatic cruiser

Watto Got anything to trade for it?

Qui Gon Twenty thousand Republic Credits

Watto What about them? Republic Credits are no use here.

Qui Gon No, credits will do

Watto No they won't

Only Won Credits will do

Watto They won't. I'm immune to Jedi mind tricks, you know.

Qui Gon One moment please.

He moves away from WATTO and ANAKIN, drawing ONLY WON after him

Qui Gon What can we do about that?

Only Won We could trade him Queen Armadillo's wardrobe

Qui Gon What'd he want with her wardrobe?

Only Won Alright then, we'll leave the costumes inside

Qui Gon I doubt it would be enough.

Anakin Can I go and finish repairing my pod racer now?

Watto No you can't

Qui Gon Pod racer?

Anakin I'm the best pod racer pilot in the sector

Watto You're the only pod racer pilot in the sector

Only Won Pod racers are too fast for most humans to handle, master. Do you think he has Jedi blood?

Qui Gon We can find out later. (To WATTO) Tell me, when is the next pod race?

Watto Tomorrow - the Boomtown Rats Open, here on Tatty-inn.

Qui Gon Is there a big prize?

Watto The biggest

Qui Gon Are you planning to enter?

Watto I don't race, I bet

Anakin I was hoping to enter, but if my racer's not fixed, I won't be able to.

Watto And even if he does fix it, he doesn't have the entry fee.

Only Won Can't you sponsor him?

Watto No.

Qui Gon What if we sponsor him?

Watto What with?

Qui Gon Our ship?

Watto Your ship?

Only Won Our ship?!

Qui Gon If we don't get it repaired we're stuck here. If we sponsor him to race and he wins, we'll have enough local currency to pay for repairs.

Only Won And if he doesn't win, we're stuck here anyway.

Qui Gon Exactly

Watto You got yourself a deal.

They shake hands

Qui Gon What's the boy's name?

Anakin Anakin Skywalker. Most people call me Annie.

Only Won Well, Annie Skywalker, I hope you get your racer repaired in time for tomorrow's race,or I'm going to die laughing after hearing your name every day for the rest of my life.

 

Scene 7

The planet Coruscant. SITH and DAFT MOLE are talking

Sith The Jedi have been traced to Tatty-inn. Kill them first, then return with Queen Armadillo

Daft Mole Tatty-inn is a sparsely populated planet, it will be easy to find them

Sith When we have the Queen, we can begin our takeover of the Senate

Daft Mole At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge.

Sith Yes, we will have revenge. Go! Do not disappoint me.

Daft Mole Yes, my Master.

 

Scene 8

Tatty-inn, the day of the pod race. ANAKIN, QUI GON and JAR-HEAD are on stage

Anakin I've never actually won a race before.

Qui Gon There's a first time for everything

Anakin Actually, I've never finished one either.

Qui Gon There's a first time for everything

Announcer 1 (Off) Pilots to your vehicles!

ANAKIN exits Stage L, and JAR-HEAD starts to follow

Qui Gon Stay where I can see you, and don't touch anything!

Jar-head Okay!

JAR-HEAD exits Stage L

Announcer 2 (Off) Gentlemen, start your engines!

Anakin (Off) Jar-head, you're standing in the engine flare! Get out of the way!

Jar-head (Off) What?

There is a woomph off stage, as of a film of petrol being set alight. JAR-HEAD screams

Voice Over (South Park) Oh my God, they killed Jar-head!

Announcer 1 (Off) Three! Two! One! Go! They're off!

ONLY WON enters Stage R with CAPTAIN CAVEMAN and QUEEN ARMADILLO

Only Won How's Annie doing?

Qui Gon They've only just started

Queen We've just received word from Senator Palpitate

Only Won Who's he?

Captain The Senator for the Naboo system

Queen He says if we have not arrived at Coruscant within a week, he will send a rescue ship.

Only Won Why do we need to go to Coruscant then?

Queen I must present my plea to the Senate in person, or they may not act against the Turd Federation

Announcer 1 (Off) And as they complete the first lap, it's Scumball in the lead, followed closely by Ody Mandrell, and a good two lengths behind it's little Annie Skywalker! What do you think of that, Bob?

Announcer 2 (Off) It's a very exciting race so far, Bob!

Qui Gon He's got to do better than that.

Captain Why?

Only Won (Hissed) You didn't tell them about the arrangement with Watto?

Qui Gon Why should I? It would only make them worry

Queen Tell us what?

Qui Gon Pardon, Your Highness?

Queen Tell us what about the arrangement with Watto?

Qui Gon I'm not sure I follow...

Only Won Republic Credits aren't accepted here. We had to bet your ship against Anakin winning the pod race so we could afford to repair it.

Queen (Outrage) What?

Qui Gon It was the only way, Your Highness. Watto is the only one...

Only Won Yes?

Qui Gon Not you. Watto is the only person on the planet who stocks hyperdive engines, and he won't take Republic Credits in payment.

Announcer 1 (Off) And as the racers near the end of their second lap, there are only three of them left in the race! Scumball in the lead, Annie Skywalker second, and...

Announcer 2 (Off) Wait Bob! There's someone on the track! The pilots haven't seen him! He's going to get...

JAR-HEAD screams offstage

Voice Over (South Park) Oh my God, they killed Jar-head!

Announcer 1 (Off) As they begin the third and final lap, the two remaining pod racers are piloted by Scumball in first place and little Annie Skywalker in second! Over to you, Bob.

Announcer 2 (Off) Well, that isn't the first time a spectator's been killed, Bob.

Queen He's got to do better. A week will be too late for my planet.

Only Won What exactly are the Turd Federation threatening to do?

Captain Unless Queen Armadillo signs a treaty with the Federation legalising the occupation of our planet, the Federation will randomly torture and kill the population until she does.

Qui Gon That approach never works. Sooner or later they'll run out of victims

Queen I am not prepared to allow that to happen

Only Won What about Palpitate? Can't he do anything on Coruscant?

Queen The Senate will only act if I present my plea to them personally

Qui Gon Then Anakin had better win

Only Won Here they come now!

Announcer 1 (Off) And it's neck and neck as the two racers approach the finish line! 400 yards!.. 300 yards!.. 200 yards!..

Announcer 2 (Off) Wait Bob! Skywalker is pulling ahead! 100 yards!.. Skywalker wins!

Everyone cheers, then ANAKIN enters Stage L

Anakin I won! I won! Qui Gon Jinantonic, I won!

Qui Gon Well done! The Force was with you!

Queen Now perhaps we can get our ship repaired?

Anakin I'll go and get my winnings, then I'll take you to Watto

 

Scene 9

ONLY WON, QUI GON and ANAKIN are outside their starship

Qui Gon Are you sure you want to come with us?

Anakin More than anything in the world!

Qui Gon It will be very dangerous

Anakin I don't care. I want to be a Jedi like you

Only Won Master! Look! (He points off Stage R)

Qui Gon I don't know what it is, but it looks dangerous. Get aboard and prepare for takeoff. I'll hold it off until you're aloft.

ANAKIN and ONLY WON exit Stage L. QUI GON draws his lightsabre as DAFT MOLE enters. Brief fight

Captain (Off) Qui Gon! We're airborne! Get aboard!

Qui Gon Coming!

He punches DAFT MOLE in the stomach and runs off Stage L while he's recovering

 

Scene 10

The Naboo flagship has arrived at Coruscant. SENATOR PALPITATE and CHANCELLOR VALIUM are waiting for the passengers to disembark

Palpitate There is much dissention over this issue in the Senate, Chancellor. A firm hand is needed.

Valium And you, no doubt, will provide that hand.

Palpitate If the need arises, Chancellor, I will try and rise to the occasion

QUEEN ARMADILLO, CAPTAIN CAVEMAN, QUI GON JINANTONIC, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, ONLY WON KENOBI and JAR-HEAD BINKS enter Stage L

Queen Chancellor Valium, Senator Palpitate, I greet you.

Valium Welcome to Coruscant, Queen Armadillo. I wish the circumstances surrounding your visit were more favourable.

Queen As do I, Chancellor. My people are suffering while a weak Senate decides not to act

Valium Your Highness, there are procedures that must be followed in any situation such as this. The Turd Federation must present their case, but even then, a committee must be set up...

Queen I would suggest that the weakness of the Senate and its' unwillingness to act is caused by its' leadership. If no action is taken to help my people once I have presented my case, I will call for a vote of no confidence in you.

Palpitate Well said, Your Highness.

Queen Thank, you Chancellor Palpitate

Palpitate Please, follow me. We must discuss your presentation to the Senate this afternoon

PALPITATE and QUEEN ARMADILLO exit Stage R, followed by VALIUM, CAPTAIN CAVEMAN and JAR-HEAD

Anakin What about us?

Qui Gon We are to wait here for Master Yodel, the head of the Jedi Council

Anakin How will he know we're here, you haven't sent any messages

Qui Gon He will know

Only Won What are we going to do with that Jar-head creature?

Qui Gon Leave him with Queen Armadillo

YODEL enters Stage R

Yodel Back welcome, Qui Gon Jinantonic, Only Won Kenobi and

Qui Gon Greetings Master Yodel

Only Won Greetings Master Yodel

Qui Gon Master Yodel, we were forced to stop on Tatty-inn on our way here. We were attacked by a mysterious figure learnéd in the ways of the Jedi

Yodel Know this already I. Think you what it was?

Qui Gon I think it may have been a Sith lord

Yodel Sith? Extinct they have been for millennia!

Qui Gon Nevertheless, Master

Yodel Very well. Brought me have you what?

Qui Gon His name is Anakin Skywalker. I believe he has strong Jedi blood. I believe he is the one spoken of in the Prophecy

Yodel Prophecy of him that balance to Force brings?

Qui Gon Yes, Master

Yodel Say you so. The Force strong in him is

Anakin Thank you Master Yodel

Yodel A good thing that necessarily not is

Qui Gon I request permission to train him in the ways of the Jedi

Yodel Not permitted that is! An apprentice you have already

Qui Gon I believe Only Won is ready to take the tests and become a full Jedi Knight

Only Won I am ready!

Yodel Only Won ready maybe is, but train this boy you must not

Qui Gon Why not, Master?

Yodel Too old he is, clouded his future is

Qui Gon Then what should we do with him?

Yodel Return to Naboo with Armadillo Queen he must

Anakin I don't want to leave Qui Gon

Yodel Going with you they will be

Only Won We are returning to Naboo, Master Yodel?

Yodel Whatever attacked you on Tatty-inn was the Queen after. Protect her you must

Qui Gon As you wish, Master

QUEEN ARMADILLO, CAPTAIN CAVEMAN and SENATOR PALPITATE enter Stage R as YODEL exits

Queen Well that was a farce

Palpitate I did warn Your Highness that the Senate is riddled with corruption, and only a strong leader would be able to make them act

Queen Even though Chancellor Valium will soon be voted down, I have no faith that you will be able to get things moving quickly enough to save my people. I must return to Naboo

Captain Your Highness, it will be much too dangerous!

Palpitate If Your Highness returns, the Turd Federation will only make you sign their treaty, and I will not be able to act

Queen I do not believe you will act in time anyway, Senator Palpitate. When I return I will force the Turd Federation Viceroy to sign my own treaty

All except PALPITATE exit Stage L. JAR-HEAD runs on Stage R

Jar-head Wait for me!

He exits Stage L. PALPITATE shakes his head and exits Stage R

 

Scene 11

The Royal Hangar on Naboo. QUEEN ARMADILLO, CAPTAIN CAVEMAN, JAR-HEAD BINKS, QUI GON JINANTONIC, ONLY WON KENOBI and ANAKIN SKYWALKER on stage

Qui Gon What exactly is your plan, Your Highness?

Queen I was hoping you to advise me

Qui Gon It's your palace

Captain I suggest we find the Viceroy and hold a gun to his head

Only Won Good plan. Where is he likely to be?

Anakin I can find out, all I need is access to a computer terminal

Captain There's one over there (Indicates somewhere offstage R)

ANAKIN exits Stage R

Queen Do you think he can do it?

Qui Gon He has the blood of a Jedi. He will be able to do it

ANAKIN re-enters

Anakin The Viceroy's in the throne room. His army's almost all droids. If I can have more time, I could shut them down for you.

Captain Do it. Your Highness?

ANAKIN goes back to the terminal as DAFT MOLE enters Stage L

Qui Gon Leave this to us

JAR-HEAD, QUEEN ARMADILLO and CAPTAIN CAVEMAN exit Stage R as QUI GON and ONLY WON draw their lightsabres

Only Won It's the Sith Lord again, Master

Qui Gon I know.

DAFT MOLE extends his lightsabre and there is a long fight. Near the end, ONLY WON is stunned and QUI GON is stabbed.

Voice Over (South Park) Oh my God, they killed Qui Gon!

As DAFT MOLE prepares to kill ONLY WON, he recovers. There is a brief fight and ONLY WON kills DAFT MOLE

Only Won Master!

Qui Gon Train the boy. (Dies)

 

Scene 12

The throne room. The VICEROY and two GUARDS are present

Viceroy What's happening?

Guard 1 The droids have been de-activated!

Viceroy Get them back on line!

JAR-HEAD, QUEEN ARMADILLO and CAPTAIN CAVEMAN enter Stage R. GUARD 2 shoots JAR-HEAD

Voice Over (South Park) Oh my God, they killed Jar-Head!

QUEEN ARMADILLO and CAPTAIN CAVEMAN shoot the GUARDS. QUEEN ARMADILLO levels her gun at the VICEROY's head

Queen Now Viceroy, I think we have a treaty to sign

 

Scene 13

The city of Naboo, Chancellor PALPITATE's ship has just landed. QUEEN ARMADILLO, CAPTAIN CAVEMAN, ONLY WON KENOBI and ANAKIN SKYWALKER are waiting. PALPITATE and YODEL enter Stage L

Palpitate Your Highness, I do believe my action in the Senate was unnecessary

Queen I had to do something to save my people

Palpitate Which you have appeared to accomplish

Queen Since my actions have made your actions in the Senate unnecessary, are you going to step down and return control to Valium?

Palpitate Don't be naive. Where is the Federation Viceroy?

Captain I'll take you to him

The CAPTAIN and PALPITATE exit Stage R

Yodel Sorry to hear of Qui Gon's death, I was

Only Won Yes, Master

Yodel Killed you the Sith lord?

Only Won I did, Master

Yodel Then ready you are to be a Jedi knight

Only Won Thank you, Master Yodel

Anakin What about me?

Yodel A Jedi you cannot be

Only Won He is the Chosen One. I gave my word to Qui Gon to train him

Yodel Then him train you must

Only Won Thank you, Master

Yodel Always two, there are - Master and apprentice. Even in Sith

Only Won But which was killed?

Yodel Never is there only one

Only Won Yes Master Yodel?

YODEL yodels

 

THE END