Watto's flunky

"Ah, my friend here is a little more sociable after a drink or two."

- Kreg

Watto's flunky was a Human male who lived in Tatooine, in the city of Mos Espa. He sometimes helped the Toydarian junk dealer Watto sort junk. In 32 BBY, he was in the junkyard of Watto's Shop when he was approached by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. The two had a conversation, in which Jinn asked the flunky about a T-14 hyperdrive generator, which he needed to buy. The flunky told that Watto had one, but it would cost greatly. Jinn then met Watto himself, and when he failed to buy the generator due to its high price, he made a bet with the junk dealer; should Watto's young slave, Anakin Skywalker, win the annual Boonta Eve Classic podrace, which would be held the next day, Watto would provide the Jedi with the T-14, and free Skywalker.

The next day, the flunky was enjoying a day off with his friend Kreg in the Mos Espa Grand Arena. He was drinking alcohol in the cantina, 7-Gee Lounge, when Jinn came to ask him about the location of Watto, with whom he had to speak. The drunken flunky refused to help the Jedi, wanting to party in peace, but soon changed his mind when Jinn bought him a juri juice. The flunky directed Jinn to Watto, and continued his partying. Soon after, the race started, and the flunky watched it with Watto. The race ended suprisingly when Anakin Skywalker beat the current podracer champion, Sebulba, freeing himself from slavery and gaining the T-14 for Jinn.

Career on Mos Espa
"I think Watto has one around here somewhere. But unless you got a lot of money, you ain't gonna get it."

- The flunky, to Qui-Gon Jinn, on a T-14 hyperdrive generator

A Human male living on the planet Tatooine in the city of Mos Espa, Watto's flunky worked for the Toydarian junk dealer, sometimes sorting junk for him in Watto's Shop. Besides Watto, whom he befriended, the flunky was acquainted with several other individuals, like his Ithorian friend Kreg, podracer and his "drinking buddy" Teemto Pagalies, as well as Watto's young slave boy Anakin Skywalker.

In 32 BBY, a day before the annual Boonta Eve Classic podrace would be held, the flunky was passing time in the junkyard of Watto's Shop, sitting on a piece of wreckage, when Skywalker walked past him, accompanied by a tall, bearded Human man. The man was Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who was looking for Watto to buy a T-14 hyperdrive generator from the Toydarian. While the Jedi was walking past the flunky, he asked what Jinn wanted.

Stopping in front of the flunky, Jinn asked who he was, and the flunky explained his job as Watto's henchman. When Jinn asked about the T-14, the flunky warned him that while Watto indeed had one, he would not sell it cheap. The Jedi Master also inquired what the flunky knew about Watto and Skywalker. The flunky revealed that Watto liked to bet on the winner of the Boonta Eve race, but expressed distrust that the Toydarian would wager with Jinn. About Skywalker, the flunky told that while the boy owned a podracer, and was skilled at pilotting it, the flunky would not bet his money on the boy's victory, as he believed Skywalker could not win the reigning podracer champion of Tatooine, Sebulba, who usually emerged victorious in the race. With this information, Jinn ended the conversation.

The Jedi entered Watto's Shop, and learned from the junk dealer that the hyperdrive generator costed one hundred peggats. As the Jedi only had Republic credits, which were nearly valueless on Tatooine, he was forced to make a bet with Watto, wagering that Skywalker would win the year's Boonta Eve race; should the slave boy win, Watto would free him, and give the T-14 for the Jedi. To the contrary of the flunky's beliefs, the Toydarian agreed on the terms of the bet.

The Boonta Eve race
"Hey&hellip; hey, boss&hellip; Wh&hellip; Wh&hellip; What if Anakin really wins?"

- The flunky, to Watto

The next day, the flunky received a vacation from Watto, which he used to attend the race. Short time before the race started, the flunky met with Kreg at the Mos Espa Grand Arena, where the race would be held, and the pair settled on the 7-Gee Lounge, a cantina just next the arena. Listening the performance of a pair of Wookiee and Ortolan musicians while drinking alcohol, the flunky soon became drunk. Jinn, meanwhile, was looking for Watto in the arena, to discuss the terms of their bet. When he could not find the Toydarian on his own, he entered the cantina.

The Jedi asked about Watto's whereabouts from Teemto Pagalies, who was also drinking in the cantina. With some persuasion, Pagalies agreed to help Jinn, and directed him to the flunky, claiming that he would know where Watto was.

Jinn went to talk with the flunky, who was not too happy to have his drinking interrupted. Jinn asked if the flunky could take him to Watto, but the man refused, telling the Jedi Master to leave him to drink in peace. Having heard the conversation, Kreg suggested that Jinn bought the flunky a juri juice or a bantha blaster to loosen his tongue. Jinn bought a glass of juri juice from the bartender droid EV-7G7, and gave it to the flunky, who quickly became more friendly toward the Jedi. Jinn once again asked about Watto, but the flunky asked him first to buy a drink for Kreg too. Jinn did so, and queried about the Toydarian for the third time. The flunky told the Jedi to wait at the cantina while he would go to ask if Watto would want to speak with Jinn, and rushed to Watto's private box. However, Jinn instead decided to follow the flunky on the box, much to the suprise of the drunken man. Jinn then went to speak with Watto, while the flunky headed back on the cantina.

When the race finally started, the flunky accompanied Watto in the private box, to watch the race. While at first disadvantaged, Skywalker soon started to catch up with Sebulba. The flunky started to have a change of mind, and asked Watto what would happen if the slave would actually win the race. The Toydarian remained confident that Sebulba would best the boy, but was soon proved wrong when Skywalker caused the champion's podracer to crash. Skywalker crossed the finishing line, winning the race, earning his freedom and gaining the T-14 hyperdrive generator for Jinn.

Personality and traits
"I never drink alone."

- The flunky

The flunky held somewhat of changing opinions on different matters. When he met Jinn for the first time, he showed neither kindness or spite toward Jinn. Later, however, the flunky was annoyed when the Jedi Master disrupted his partying by questioning about the location of Watto. Viewing Jinn as a nerfherder, the flunky bluntly ordered him to scram, but immediately changed his mind when Jinn offered him a juri juice. While he initially believed that Skywalker could not defeat Sebulba in the podrace, he began to suspect that the boy actually had the chance to win as the race came to its final lap. The flunky had several friends, and he was quick to make more of them; he considered Jinn as one when the Jedi bought him a drink.

While under the influence of alcohol, the flunky's voice remarkably changed, as did his attitude. His usually calm appearance became more short-tempered, and he wanted to enjoy his day off without being bothered by businesses. However, as his friend Kreg noted, he became social after few drinks, and could be persuaded to help with a drink. The flunky chose not to drink alone, and asked Jinn to buy a juri juice for his Ithorian friend too. When the flunky agreed to ask Watto about Jinn, he warned the Jedi not to hope too much, as he believed the Toydarian would not want to speak with the Jedi. The flunky was suprised and slightly angered when he realized that Jinn had not wait at the cantina as the flunky had ordered, and tried in vain to command Jinn to go back at there.

Behind the scenes
Watto's flunky appears in the Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace video game, in which he is voiced by Joe Alaskey. While his name is not relevealed in the game, the game's credits list him "Watto's Flunky".

Canonicity
"You killed my friend. Now I will never help you."

- Watto, to Qui-Gon Jinn, if the latter killed the flunky

The Phantom Menace provides several alternative choices on how to deal with the flunky. In the game, he is first met by Qui-Gon Jinn, who is controlled by the player, in the sixth level "Mos Espa". Jinn does not have to interact with him at this level in any way, and having a conversation with him does not affect the game's storyline. In addition, Jinn can kill the flunky, but this will cause Watto and Anakin to refuse their aid from the murderer, basically making the finishing of the level impossible.

The flunky plays a relatively major part in next level, "Mos Espa Arena". Only he can open the door which leads to Watto, whom it is essential to talk in order to finish the level. Jinn can persuade Teemto Pagalies to help him to find Watto, and the racer will direct him to the flunky, although the Jedi can speak with the flunky on his own. Killing the flunky is again possible, and if done after talking with Watto, the level can be completed. However, even if killed, he is still seen alive, in the end of the level, watching the podrace with Watto.

Due to these options, the canonical way to deal with the flunky is ambiguous. However, the flunky's dialogue in the arena level implies that Jinn has already talked with him in the previous level. Since he was seen alive during the Boonta Eve race, his possible death in the game is non-canonical. Furthermore, the exact canonical form of the dialogue choices Jinn uses is ambiguous. This article assumes 100% game completion.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game