9 INT THE RECEIVING ROOM 9
Veerta is waiting; she looks impatient.
Veerta talks to Qui – Gon.
VEERTA
This meeting is a waste of time. Offworld will make us pretty promises and then break them.
QUI –GON
I'm here to make sure they don't do that.
The door opens and Clat'Ha enters.
Qui – Gon steps forward and meets her with a bow, she returns it.
They all stand around waiting and nothing happens.
Then an annoyed Son Tag indicates to the cushions.
SON TAG
We may as well start the meeting. If they are trying to intimidate us, I'm not going to fall for it.
Everyone sits, and the cushions rise so everyone is at eye level.
SON TAG
Right, the mines are...
Qui – Gon was not listening he was looking out to the window. He was distracted; he wore a puzzled look on his face. There was a disturbance in the force, but he didn't know who or what is the cause of it.
Son Tag and Veerta continue speaking.
Suddenly the door flies open. A young man enters; Xanatos looks a Qui – Gon and broke into a smile. He rushes up to meet him.
XANATOS
Old friend! So here you are. I hardly dared to hope.
Qui – Gon looks bemused.
Xanatos strides over to Son Tag; he greets her in the Meerian way, and then bows.
Qui – Gon's bemused look changes back to neutral.
XANATOS
Governor I must apologies for my lateness. My transporter was held up in an ion storm. Nothing was more important to me than getting here on time. I am Xanatos, the representative of Offworld.
Son Tag greets him with raised palms.
SON TAG
I see you already know Qui – Gon Jinn.
XANATOS
Yes, I have that good fortune. But I have not seen him in many years.
Xanatos turns and bows to Qui – Gon. His bow contains no mockery. Yet Qui – Gon doesn't trust it.
Qui - Gon
I got your message on arrival.
XANATOS
Yes, I heard you were dispatched from Coruscant. Since I have been appointed Offworld representative I just knew our paths would meet. Nothing gave me more satisfaction.
Qui – Gon still doesn't trust the young man.
XANATOS Cont
You mistrust me; your sense of caution has not changed. But surely other apprentices have left the path of the Jedi without your mistrust?
QUI – GON
Every apprentice is free to leave at any time, you know that. If they leave honorably, then there is no mistrust.
XANATOS
So I left. It was best for me, and for the Jedi. I failed to leave that life, yet it isn't a source of regret. I was not meant to leave the life of a Jedi.
Xanatos flashed a smile at Son Tag, Clat'Ha and Veerta, and looked at them.
XANATOS
I value my training as a Jedi, but it didn't prepare me for the shock of reentry. I must confess that I went astray for a few years. That was the last time Qui – Gon knew me.
Xanatos looks at Qui – Gon.
XANATOS
But I have changes. Off World has given me that chance.
Xanatos leans forward watching Veerta.
XANATOS
That is why I admire you, Veerta. Off World sent me to tell you that the company will not interfere with your project. A richer more secure Bandomeer is better for all of us.
Xanatos touches his heart and takes a deep breath.
XANATOS
I admire your leadership because I love my home planet, too. Telos will always be in my heart.
He turns and looks at Son Tag.
XANATOS
Perhaps if Off World donates 10 percent of its profits to the Bandomeer reclamation effort, it would convince you of our sincerity?
Son Tag looks flustered. Who turns to look at Qui – Gon who also looks surprised for a second then is look changes back to it neutral look.
SON TAG
That would be an awful lot of money. We would be very grateful.
XANATOS
This is what the new Off World is all about.
Qui – Gon senses this must be a trick.
Son Tag and Veerta both look very pleased with this offer.
Clat'Ha Still looks wary as she remembers the fight with the Hutt's from Off World.
Xanatos sense her mistrust. He turns his blue eyes on Clat'Ha.
Veerta is waiting; she looks impatient.
Veerta talks to Qui – Gon.
VEERTA
This meeting is a waste of time. Offworld will make us pretty promises and then break them.
QUI –GON
I'm here to make sure they don't do that.
The door opens and Clat'Ha enters.
Qui – Gon steps forward and meets her with a bow, she returns it.
They all stand around waiting and nothing happens.
Then an annoyed Son Tag indicates to the cushions.
SON TAG
We may as well start the meeting. If they are trying to intimidate us, I'm not going to fall for it.
Everyone sits, and the cushions rise so everyone is at eye level.
SON TAG
Right, the mines are...
Qui – Gon was not listening he was looking out to the window. He was distracted; he wore a puzzled look on his face. There was a disturbance in the force, but he didn't know who or what is the cause of it.
Son Tag and Veerta continue speaking.
Suddenly the door flies open. A young man enters; Xanatos looks a Qui – Gon and broke into a smile. He rushes up to meet him.
XANATOS
Old friend! So here you are. I hardly dared to hope.
Qui – Gon looks bemused.
Xanatos strides over to Son Tag; he greets her in the Meerian way, and then bows.
Qui – Gon's bemused look changes back to neutral.
XANATOS
Governor I must apologies for my lateness. My transporter was held up in an ion storm. Nothing was more important to me than getting here on time. I am Xanatos, the representative of Offworld.
Son Tag greets him with raised palms.
SON TAG
I see you already know Qui – Gon Jinn.
XANATOS
Yes, I have that good fortune. But I have not seen him in many years.
Xanatos turns and bows to Qui – Gon. His bow contains no mockery. Yet Qui – Gon doesn't trust it.
Qui - Gon
I got your message on arrival.
XANATOS
Yes, I heard you were dispatched from Coruscant. Since I have been appointed Offworld representative I just knew our paths would meet. Nothing gave me more satisfaction.
Qui – Gon still doesn't trust the young man.
XANATOS Cont
You mistrust me; your sense of caution has not changed. But surely other apprentices have left the path of the Jedi without your mistrust?
QUI – GON
Every apprentice is free to leave at any time, you know that. If they leave honorably, then there is no mistrust.
XANATOS
So I left. It was best for me, and for the Jedi. I failed to leave that life, yet it isn't a source of regret. I was not meant to leave the life of a Jedi.
Xanatos flashed a smile at Son Tag, Clat'Ha and Veerta, and looked at them.
XANATOS
I value my training as a Jedi, but it didn't prepare me for the shock of reentry. I must confess that I went astray for a few years. That was the last time Qui – Gon knew me.
Xanatos looks at Qui – Gon.
XANATOS
But I have changes. Off World has given me that chance.
Xanatos leans forward watching Veerta.
XANATOS
That is why I admire you, Veerta. Off World sent me to tell you that the company will not interfere with your project. A richer more secure Bandomeer is better for all of us.
Xanatos touches his heart and takes a deep breath.
XANATOS
I admire your leadership because I love my home planet, too. Telos will always be in my heart.
He turns and looks at Son Tag.
XANATOS
Perhaps if Off World donates 10 percent of its profits to the Bandomeer reclamation effort, it would convince you of our sincerity?
Son Tag looks flustered. Who turns to look at Qui – Gon who also looks surprised for a second then is look changes back to it neutral look.
SON TAG
That would be an awful lot of money. We would be very grateful.
XANATOS
This is what the new Off World is all about.
Qui – Gon senses this must be a trick.
Son Tag and Veerta both look very pleased with this offer.
Clat'Ha Still looks wary as she remembers the fight with the Hutt's from Off World.
Xanatos sense her mistrust. He turns his blue eyes on Clat'Ha.
