Qui-Gon believes Anakin is the "Chosen One"—prophesied to bring balance to the Force. He makes a bet with Watto: Anakin will race his pod in the dangerous Boonta Eve Classic. If Anakin wins, Watto frees him; if he loses, Qui-Gon gives up his starship. Meanwhile, Padmé bonds with Anakin, who is kind, generous, and deeply misses his mother, Shmi.
Upon landing, Qui-Gon saves a bumbling, clumsy, but well-meaning Gungan outcast named Jar Jar Binks from a transport vehicle. Jar Jar, indebted by Gungan life-debt, leads the Jedi to the underwater Gungan city of Otoh Gunga. There, Qui-Gon tries to persuade Boss Nass to help the Naboo, but the Gungans refuse, distrusting the surface dwellers. The Jedi depart in a bongo submarine, traveling through the planet's core to the capital city, Theed. Star Wars- Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Realizing the Senate will not save her people, Padmé decides to return to Naboo with the Jedi and fight the Trade Federation directly. Qui-Gon believes Anakin is the "Chosen One"—prophesied to
Meanwhile, Queen Amidala (the real one, revealed to be the handmaiden Padmé all along) addresses the Senate. But she sees the bureaucracy is paralyzed by corruption. The Supreme Chancellor’s puppet, Senator Palpatine (secretly Darth Sidious), manipulates her: "Vote for a vote of no confidence in Valorum. Then they will elect a new chancellor… a strong chancellor." She does so, and Palpatine is elected Supreme Chancellor. Meanwhile, Padmé bonds with Anakin, who is kind,
On Tatooine, Qui-Gon, Jar Jar, and the handmaiden Padmé (disguised as a handmaiden while the queen is in decoy armor) seek spare parts from the junk dealer Watto. Qui-Gon senses a powerful Force presence in a young slave boy: Anakin Skywalker. Anakin is a nine-year-old genius who built his own protocol droid, C-3PO, and is an incredible podracer pilot.
Opening Crawl: Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute.