"Evil Plans" marks the eighth installment in the third season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television program. It was originally broadcast on November 5, 2010. Notably, this episode functions as a preceding narrative to the events of "Hostage Crisis."
While C-3PO is casually shopping on Coruscant, the bounty hunter Cad Bane captures him. Bane's objective is to acquire details about the Senate Building for Jabba the Hutt. Discovering that C-3PO lacks the necessary information, Bane and his associates abduct R2-D2 instead. They then extract the crucial data, erase the droids' memories of the event, and release them. The floor plans and security specifications of the Senate building are integral to a scheme orchestrated by the Hutt families. Their aim is to liberate their imprisoned relative, Ziro the Hutt, who possesses potentially incriminating knowledge regarding Hutt activities.
Padmé is under considerable stress while organizing a state banquet, the most significant one of the social season, for Senator Aang, despite Anakin's attempts to alleviate her anxiety. Senator Aang's vote is the deciding factor on the Military Oversight Committee, so Padmé is determined to ensure everything is flawless. Her co-organizer C-3PO is overseeing the details with the waiter droids assigned to serve at the event. He realizes that R2-D2 has forgotten to acquire the jogan fruit that Threepio requested for garnishing the dessert—jogan fruitcake, which happens to be Aang's preferred treat. Padmé tasks Anakin with resolving the issue, and he dispatches their two droids together to prevent them from getting lost or sidetracked, providing them with 40 credits to purchase the required four jogan fruit.
At the marketplace, Threepio expresses his discontent and contends that the astromech droid is more prone to "distractions," a claim that Artoo disputes. They locate a fruit vendor who offers four jogan fruit in a canister package for four credits each, rather than the usual one credit per fruit. Artoo objects, deeming it galactic robbery, but Threepio believes they have no alternative. Apparently eavesdropping on their conversation about their urgent need for the fruit, the vendor abruptly increases the price from 16 to 32 credits, asserting that it's the best price available today. Threepio reluctantly purchases them regardless. As they begin their return journey with their purchase, a droid approaches them and suggests they take a break at the nearby Droid Spa, a maintenance facility offering cosmetic enhancements. Artoo eagerly embraces the suggestion, despite Threepio's objections, and speeds off towards the facility. In the meantime, Threepio is abducted by Cad Bane's droid gang.
While Artoo indulges in the spa's services, Threepio is transported to Bane's hideout, situated in one of the industrial sectors of Coruscant. There, his databanks are forcefully scanned for information regarding the Senate Building's layout. Threepio's memory lacks this information, but he mentions that Artoo possesses it, prompting Bane to shift his focus. As Artoo emerges from the spa and discovers Threepio's absence, he is immediately pursued by Todo and HELIOS-3E. Artoo seeks refuge in a dark alley, but upon overhearing his pursuers' plans to dismantle Threepio, he surrenders himself.
After Bane acquires the desired information, he orders the two droids to be mind-wiped of the kidnapping incident and returned to their original location. The two droids return with their purchase, completely unaware of their ordeal, arriving just in time for the cake to be completed and served to the delighted Aang. Simultaneously, Bane travels to Tatooine and delivers the plans to his employer, Jabba. However, Jabba promptly offers Bane another assignment and contacts the Grand Hutt Council for a private discussion. Bane's new mission is to liberate Ziro the Hutt from imprisonment, as he holds confidential information that could be detrimental to the Hutts if it falls into the hands of the Republic authorities. Bane readily accepts the job.
The Jedi Temple Archives bonus content on The Complete Season Three Blu-ray disc includes a deleted scene titled "C-3PO Reunited with Shiny R2-D2."