116 INT. CORUSCANT-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE-SUNSET
PALPATINE listens to a delegation from the Senate, which includes PADME and five other Senators: NEE ALAVAR, FANG ZAR, MALEDEE, SWEITT CONCORKILL, and MON CALAMARI. ANAKIN stands to one side of PALPATINE.
PALPATINE: I understand your reservations completely, Senator, and I assure you the appointment of Governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate.
PADME: May I take it then, that there will be no further amendments to the Constitution?
PALPATINE: I want this terrible conflict to end as much as you do, My Lady, and when it does I guarantee an immediate return to democracy . . .
PADME: You are pursuing a diplomatic solution to the war, then.
PALPATINE: You must trust me to do the right things, Senator. That is why I am here.
FANGZAR: But surely . . .
The Chancellor turns on FANG ZAR.
PALPATINE: I have said I will do what is right, that should be enough for your . . . committee.
PADME: On behalf of the "delegation of two thousand," I thank you, Chancellor.
PALPATINE: I thank you for bringing this to my attention, Senator.
PADME gives ANAKIN a frustrated look, then turns and exits with the other FIVE SENATORS. PALPATINE turns to ANAKIN.
PALPATINE: (continuing) Their sincerity is to be admired, although I sense there is more to their request than they are telling us.
ANAKIN: What do you mean?
PALPATINE: They are not to be trusted.
ANAKIN: Surely Senator Amidala can be trusted . . .
PALPATINE: These are unstable times for the Republic, Anakin. Some see instability as an opportunity. Senator Amidala is hiding something. I can see it in her eyes.
ANAKIN: I'm sure you're mistaken.
PALPATINE: I'm surprised your Jedi insights are not more sensitive to such things.
ANAKIN: I simply don't sense betrayal in Senator Amidala.
PALPATINE studies ANAKIN carefully and gives him a skeptical look.
PALPATINE: Yes, you do, but you don't seem to want to admit it. There is much conflict in you, Anakin.