matril

After a quick scene showing us two of the scum-and-villainy sort planning the next attack on Padmé, we return to the Jedi bodyguards, and begin an intercut of their conversation with shots of the sleeping Senator. Note the significance of the topic they're discussing just as the poisonous worms start creeping toward her -- a disagreement about the Chancellor's moral status. Anakin denies his corruption; Obi-Wan disputes that. And the worms creep closer, entirely unnoticed even by Artoo's scans.

Ewww. An apt symbol for the evil that seeps deeper and deeper into the Republic while everyone remains blissfully unaware.

They literally come this close to Padmé before the Jedi sense the danger and leap into action. Alas, they won't recognize the danger to the Republic until it's too late. And this won't be the last time Senator Amidala serves as a symbol for the ideals of the Republic. She represents everything that is lost when the Emperor takes command.

Next time, a startling metaphorical image....