By the lake, a secret wedding was being celebrated, attended only by the bride's sister. Everything felt like a fairy tale. The flowers seemed alive. They swayed as they fell, and the sun shone with that perfect balance for a day in the shade—a day by the lagoon, a day meant for long walks and laughter over everything one could see.
-I think this is where we need to start filming these scenes. —Lucas commented, sensing that now there was a stronger need to add a bit of spice, that hint of intrigue found in love novels—the moment when faces are almost revealed, that temptation of gossip. That was the element Lucas wanted to weave into the film.
His companion was none other than David Fincher, fully attuned to the story. There was a shared intention to introduce a darker vision because both Billy and Lucas wanted to show how the world of Star Wars appears warm on the surface, while its darker elements are deliberately ignored. What truly causes the fall is the portrayal of a decadent society spiraling into desperation. Fincher used his unique skill to craft shots capable of making the world tremble, suggesting that everything considered "Star Wars" is, at its core, a rudimentary process in which people slowly lose hope.
-A very good idea. I think it would be best to include a brief exchange about how the Jedi Council exiles a Jedi who chose to marry and condemns him to prison. Just a whisper, a short piece of news that makes Anakin's doubts grow even deeper. —David commented, precise as a clock.
-Very good idea, my friend. —Lucas replied.
-That will give us a cold layer of content, something we'll use to push every millimeter toward a pit called the end. —Lucas added theatrically, clearly pleased, above all by what it represented: a progressive fall toward ruin.
For now, the scene began. What was seen and done would be decisive for the chapters to come. There was still work to be done in San Jose, and the filming of Anakin's arc remained, with its fair share of combat against Asajj Ventress and the cold manner in which Anakin's evolution unfolded.
Lucas made a note: the fight scene had to be immense. A completely wild sequence, epic in style, where two people give every last drop of their souls. Curiously, it would be filmed in Mexico, at the pyramids—some shots taken there, others recreated in San Jose, which had the perfect facilities for that kind of scene. Billy owned a total of thirty-four rooms, and in each room, a different world was constructed. There were nine environments and two special ones: Coruscant and the green screen stage that recreated entire scenes. There were thousands of photographs from all the films and from various landscapes captured by cameras, evoking utterly intense settings—from lava, from ice, from ocean waves. Everything was connected, forming a body of work that delivered exactly what was required. All of this was intended for the upcoming series and the next three films.
There were sets for thousands of moments.
…
-Chapter 2. Scene 12, Take 3. -
Exterior, the country house on Naboo.
-I should be at a Jedi meeting. —Anakin remarked.
-Enough. —Padmé laughed playfully. She wore a white-and-red dress that enhanced her entire presence, making her look radiant. The traditions of Naboo favored pure white.
-Today, gathered here, within the limited corridors of Naboo, we find a happiness that seems to echo across the galaxy. Marriage is not merely a social act nor a fleeting promise; it is a vocation, a path freely chosen and sustained through love, fidelity, respect, and mutual devotion. Today, before me as witness and before those who love them most, they have decided to walk together, sharing joys, hardships, and hopes. Let us ask for strength—one that fortifies their love and accompanies them always in this new life they begin today. -
The priest was an old friend of the Naberrie family, modest by nature and without saying so. A man who had spent his entire life watching the community grow. His silence was imbued with sensitivity toward both the moment and its danger. His speech began slowly and methodically, allowing time for both of them—three minutes that felt like an entire lifetime.
The camera made a long pan, capturing the whole scene with a metallic handheld camera. Everything became a memory—one shared among people about to live their own chapter of life.
-Yes. -
-Yes. —Billy/Anakin whispered.
Everything was stored in a holocron, a small chip handed to the sister.
-It seems our purposes are now united. —Padmé/Natalie commented.
-Across the galaxy. —Anakin/Billy whispered. —Everything will be done, and that fact will become reality. The war will put an end to the Sith, and I will see to it. For all that life was, and for all that life continues to be. -
…
Natalie felt Billy's lips, his tongue brushing against hers, and everything inside her spun wildly out of control. Her head pounded, and she thought about how beautiful everything could be when he was so close. She felt lost in the kisses, and perhaps that was exactly what she needed for the rest of her days—an affection that seemed to stay with him while leaving her breathless, exhaustion blending with the visions she had long imagined in her mind.
-Don't look at me like that. —Billy said calmly and with restraint.
-I… I'm just a little sad. This will be our last week. To see you again, maybe it'll take a year. —Natalie said softly.
-We'll see each other when the time is right. We can write letters in the meantime—that can be fun. What can I say, we can practice writing together, tell me everything you hope for in your days, be traditional, let our words travel. —Billy replied.
-When you have emaill—Natalie answered.
-You saw it? —Billy asked.
-Twice, and I found it fascinating that I could find an English edition here in Italy. —Natalie said with a wide smile.
-My fans. They live for me. —Billy replied calmly and serenely. His ego grew—it felt good to be part of that world, and being part of it was everything he had hoped for.
...