Episode IV
A NEW HOPE
From the
JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS
by
George Lucas
Revised Fourth Draft
January 15, 1976
LUCASFILM LTD.
----------------------
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away...
A vast sea of stars serves
as the backdrop for the main
title. War drums echo through
the heavens as a rollup
slowly crawls into infinity.
It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking
from a
hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic
Empire.
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret
plans to the
Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star, an armored space station
with enough power to destroy an entire planet.
Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess Leia
races home
aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her
people and restore freedom to the galaxy...
The awesome yellow planet
of Tatooine emerges from a total
eclipse, her two moons glowing
against the darkness. A tiny
silver spacecraft, a Rebel
Blockade Runner firing lasers from
the back of the ship, races
through space. It is pursed by a
giant Imperial Stardestroyer.
Hundreds of deadly laserbolts
streak from the Imperial
Stardestroyer, causing the main solar
fin of the Rebel craft to
disintegrate.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER -- MAIN PASSAGEWAY.
An explosion rocks the ship
as two robots, Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
and See-Threepio (C-3PO)
struggle to make their way through the
shaking, bouncing passageway.
Both robots are old and battered.
Artoo is a short, claw-armed
tripod. His face is a mass of
computer lights surrounding
a radar eye. Threepio, on the
other hand, is a tall, slender
robot of human proportions. He
has a gleaming bronze-like
metallic surface of an Art Deco
design.
Another
blast shakes them as they struggle along their
way.
THREEPIO: Did you hear that? They've shut down the main reactor. We'll
be destroyed for sure. This is madness!
Rebel troopers
rush past the robots and take up positions
in the main passageway.
They aim their weapons toward the door.
THREEPIO: We're doomed!
The little
R2 unit makes a series of electronic sounds that
only another robot could
understand.
THREEPIO: There'll be no escape for the Princess this time.
Artoo continues
making beeping sounds. Tension mounts as
loud metallic latches clank
and the scream of heavy equipment
are heard moving around
the outside hull of the ship.
THREEPIO: What's that?
EXTERIOR: SPACECRAFT IN SPACE.
The Imperial craft has easily
overtaken the Rebel Blockade
Runner. The smaller Rebel
ship is being drawn into the
underside dock of the giant
Imperial starship.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER.
The nervous Rebel troopers
aim their weapons. Suddenly a
tremendous blast opens up
a hole in the main passageway and a
score of fearsome armored
spacesuited stormtroopers make their
way into the smoke-filled
corridor.
In a few
minutes the entire passageway is ablaze with
laserfire. The deadly bolts
ricochet in wild random patterns
creating huge explosions.
Stormtroopers scatter and duck
behind storage lockers.
Laserbolts hit several Rebel soldiers
who scream and stagger through
the smoke, holding shattered
arms and faces.
An explosion
hits near the robots.
THREEPIO: I should have known better than to trust the logic of a
half-sized thermocapsulary dehousing assister...
Artoo counters
with an angry rebuttal as the battle rages
around the two hapless robots.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DESERT WASTELAND -- DAY.
A death-white wasteland stretches
from horizon to horizon. The
tremendous heat of two huge
twin suns settle on a lone figure,
Luke Skywalker, a farm boy
with heroic aspirations who looks
much younger than his eighteen
years. His shaggy hair and
baggy tunic give him the
air of a simple but lovable lad with
a prize-winning smile.
A light
wind whips at him as he adjusts several valves on a
large battered moisture
vaporator which sticks out of the
desert floor much like an
oil pipe with valves. He is aided by
a beatup tread-robot with
six claw arms. The little robot
appears to be barely functioning
and moves with jerky motions.
A bright sparkle in the
morning sky catches Luke's eye and he
instinctively grabs a pair
of electrobinoculars from his utility
belt. He stands transfixed
for a few moments studying the
heavens, then dashed toward
his dented, crudely repaired
Landspeeder (an auto-like
transport that travels a few feet
above the ground on a magnetic-field).
He motions for the tiny
robot to follow him.
LUKE: Hurry up! Come with me! What are you waiting for?! Get in gear!
The robot
scoots around in a tight circle, stops short, and
smoke begins to pour out
of every joint. Luke throws his arms
up in disgust. Exasperated,
the young farm boy jumps into his
Landspeeder leaving the
smoldering robot to hum madly.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER -- MAIN HALLWAY.
The awesome, seven-foot-tall
Dark Lord of the Sith makes his
way into the blinding light
of the main passageway. This is
Darth Vader, right hand
of the Emperor. His face is obscured
by his flowing black robes
and grotesque breath mask, which
stands out next to the fascist
white armored suits of the
Imperial stormtroopers.
Everyone instinctively backs away from
the imposing warrior and
a deathly quiet sweeps through the
Rebel troops. Several of
the Rebel troops break and run in a
frenzied panic.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER.
A woman's hand puts a card
into an opening in Artoo's dome.
Artoo makes beeping sounds.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER.
Threepio stands in a hallway,
somewhat bewildered. Artoo is
nowhere in sight. The pitiful
screams of the doomed Rebel
soldiers can be heard in
the distance.
THREEPIO: Artoo! Artoo-Detoo, where are you?
A familiar
clanking sound attacks Threepio's attention and
he spots little Artoo at
the end of the hallway in a
smoke-filled alcove. A beautiful
young girl (about sixteen
years old) stands in front
of Artoo. Surreal and out of place,
dreamlike and half hidden
in the smoke, she finishes adjusting
something on Artoo's computer
face, then watches as the little
robot joins his companion.
THREEPIO: At last! Where have you been?
Stormtroopers can be heard battling in the distance.
THREEPIO: They're heading in this direction. What are we going to do?
We'll be sent to the spice mine of Kessel or smashed into who knows
what!
Artoo scoots
past his bronze friend and races down the
subhallway. Threepio chases
after him.
THREEPIO: Wait a minute, where are you going?
Artoo responds with electronic beeps.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER -- CORRIDOR
The evil Darth Vader stands
amid the broken and twisted bodies
of his foes. He grabs a
wounded Rebel Officer by the neck as
an Imperial Officer rushes
up to the Dark Lord.
IMPERIAL OFFICER: The Death Star plans are not in the main computer.
Vader squeezes
the neck of the Rebel Officer, who struggles
in vain.
VADER: Where are those transmissions you intercepted?
Vader lifts the Rebel off his feet by his throat.
VADER: What have you done with those plans?
REBEL OFFICER: We intercepted no transmissions. Aaah....This is a
consular ship. Were on a diplomatic mission.
VADER: If this is a consular ship...were is the Ambassador?
The Rebel
refuses to speak but eventually cries out as the
Dark Lord begins to squeeze
the officer's throat, creating a
gruesome snapping and choking,
until the soldier goes limp.
Vader tosses the dead soldier
against the wall and turns to
his troops.
VADER: Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans
and bring me the Ambassador. I want her alive!
The stormtroopers scurry into the subhallways.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER -- SUBHALLWAY.
The lovely young girl huddles
in a small alcove as the
stormtroopers search through
the ship. She is Princess Leia
Organa, a member of the
Alderaan Senate. The fear in her eyes
slowly gives way to anger
as the muted crushing sounds of the
approaching stormtroopers
grow louder. One of the troopers
spots her.
TROOPER: There she is! Set for stun!
Leia steps
from her hiding place and blasts a trooper with
her laser pistol. She starts
to run but is felled by a
paralyzing ray. The troopers
inspect her inert body.
TROOPER: She'll be all right. Inform Lord Vader we have a prisoner.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER -- SUBHALLWAY.
Artoo stops before the small
hatch of an emergency lifepod. He
snaps the seal on the main
latch and a red warning light
begins to flash. The stubby
astro-robot works his way into the
cramped four-man pod.
THREEPIO: Hey, you're not permitted in there. It's restricted. You'll
be deactivated for sure..
Artoo beeps something to him.
THREEPIO: Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob
of
grease! Now come out before somebody sees you.
Artoo whistles
something at his reluctant friend regarding
the mission he is about
to perform.
THREEPIO: Secret mission? What plans? What are you talking about? I'm
not getting in there!
Artoo isn't
happy with Threepio's stubbornness, and he beeps
and twangs angrily.
A new explosion, this time
very close, sends dust and debris
through the narrow subhallway.
Flames lick at Threepio and,
after a flurry of electronic
swearing from Artoo, the lanky
robot jumps into the lifepod.
THREEPIO: I'm going to regret this.
INTERIOR: IMPERIAL STARDESTROYER.
On the main viewscreen, the
lifepod carrying the two terrified
robots speeds away from
the stricken Rebel spacecraft.
CHIEF PILOT: There goes another one.
CAPTAIN: Hold your fire. There are no life forms. It must have been
short-circuited.
INTERIOR: LIFEPOD.
Artoo and Threepio look out
at the receding Imperial starship.
Stars circle as the pod
rotates through the galaxy.
THREEPIO: That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here.
Artoo beeps an assuring response.
THREEPIO: Are you sure this things safe?
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT -- POWER STATION -- DAY.
Heat waves radiate from the
dozen or so bleached white
buildings. Luke pilots his
Landspeeder through the dusty empty
street of the tiny settlement.
An old woman runs to get out of
the way of the speeding
vehicle, shaking her fist at Luke as
he flies past.
WOMAN: I've told you kids to slow down!
INTERIOR: POWER STATION -- DAY.
Luke bursts into the power
station, waking The Fixer, a rugged
mechanic and Camie, a sexy,
disheveled girl who has been
asleep in his lap. They
grumbled as he races through the
office, yelling wildly.
FIXER: Did I hear a young noise blast through here?
CAMIE: It was just wormie on another rampage.
Luke bounces
into a small room behind the office where Deak
and Windy, two tough boys
about the same age as Luke, are
playing a computer pool-like
game with Biggs, a burly,
handsome boy a few years
older than the rest. His flashy city
attire is a sharp contrast
to the loose-fitting tunics of the
farm boys. A robot repairs
some equipment in the background.
LUKE: Shape it up you guys!.... Biggs?
Luke's
surprise at the appearance of Biggs gives way to
great joy and emotion. They
give each other a great bear hug.
LUKE: I didn't know you were back! When did you get in?
BIGGS: Just now. I wanted to surprise you, hot shot. I thought you'd
be
here...certainly didn't expect you to be out working. (he laughs.)
LUKE: The Academy didn't change you much...but you're back so soon?
Hey, what happened, didn't you get your commission?
Biggs has an air of cool that seems slightly phony.
BIGGS: Of course I got it. Signed aboard The Rand Ecliptic last week.
First mate Biggs Darklighter at your service...(he salutes)...I just
came to say good-bye to all you unfortunate landlocked simpletons.
Everyone
laughs. The dazzling spectacle of his dashing
friend is almost too much
for Luke, but suddenly he snaps out
of it.
LUKE: I almost forgot. There's a battle going on! Right here in our
system. Come and look!
DEAK: Not again! Forget it.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ANCHORHEAD -- SETTLEMENT -- POWER STATION -- DAY.
The group stumbles out into
the stifling desert sun. Camie and
The Fixer complain and are
forced to shade their eyes. Luke
has his binoculars out scanning
the heavens.
LUKE: There they are!
Biggs takes
the binoculars from Luke as the others strain
to see something with the
naked eye. Through the binoculars
Biggs sees two small silver
specks.
BIGGS: That's no battle, hot shot...they're just sitting there!
Probably a freighter-tanker refueling.
LUKE: But there was a lot of firing earlier...
Camie grabs
the binoculars away banging them against the
building in the process.
Luke grabs them.
LUKE: Hey, easy with those...
CAMIE: Don't worry about it, Wormie.
The Fixer
gives Luke a hard look and the young farm boy
shrugs his shoulders in
resignation.
FIXER: I keep telling you, the Rebellion is a long way from here. I
doubt if the Empire would even fight to keep this system. Believe me
Luke, this planet is a big hunk of nothing...
Luke agrees,
although it's obvious he isn't sure why. The
group stumbles back into
the power station, grumbling about
Luke's ineptitude.
INTERIOR: REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER -- HALLWAY
Princess Leia is led down
a low-ceilinged hallway by a squad
of armored stormtroopers.
Her hands are bound and she is
brutally shoved when she
is unable to keep up with the briskly
marching troops. They stop
in a smoky hallway as Darth Vader
emerges from the shadows.
The sinister Dark Lord stares hard
at the frail young senator,
but she doesn't move.
LEIA: Lord Vader, I should have known. Only you could be so bold. The
Imperial Senate will not sit for this, when they hear you've attacked
a diplomatic...
VADER: Don't play games with me, Your Highness. You weren't on any
mercy mission this time. You passed directly through a restricted
system. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies.
I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you.
LEIA: I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a member of the
Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan...
VADER: You're a part of the Rebel Alliance...and a traitor. Take her
away!
Leia is
marched away down the hallway and into the
smoldering hole blasted
in the side of the ship. An Imperial
Commander turns to Vader.
COMMANDER: Holding her is dangerous. If word of this gets out, it
could generate sympathy for the Rebellion in the senate.
VADER: I have traced the Rebel spies to her. Now she is my only link
to find their secret base!
COMMANDER: She'll die before she tells you anything.
VADER: Leave that to me. Send a distress signal and then inform the
senate that all aboard were killed!
Another
Imperial Officer approaches Vader and the
Commander. They stop and
snap to attention.
SECOND OFFICER: Lord Vader, the battle station plans are not aboard
this ship! And no transmissions were made. An escape pod was
jettisoned during the fighting, but no life forms were aboard.
Vader turns to the Commander.
VADER: She must have hidden the plans in the escape pod. Send a
detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally, Commander.
There'll be no one to stop us this time.
COMMANDER: Yes, sir.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The Imperial Stardestroyer
comes over the surface of the
planet Tatooine.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DESERT.
Jundland, or "No Man's Land",
where the rugged desert mesas
meet the foreboding dune
sea. The two helpless astro-droids
kick up clouds of sand as
they leave the lifepod and clumsily
work their way across the
desert wasteland. The lifepod in the
distance rests half buried
in the sand.
THREEPIO: How did I get into this mess? I really don't know how. We
seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life.
Artoo answers with beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: I've got to rest before I fall apart. My joints are almost
frozen.
Artoo continues to respond with beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: What a desolate place this is.
Suddenly
Artoo whistles, makes a sharp right turn and
starts off in the direction
of the rocky desert mesas. Threepio
stops and yells at him.
THREEPIO: Where are you going?
A stream
of electronic noises pours forth from the small
robot.
THREEPIO: Well, I'm not going that way. It's much too rocky. This way
is much easier.
Artoo counters with a long whistle.
THREEPIO: What makes you think there are settlements over there?
Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: Don't get technical with me.
Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: What mission? What are you talking about? I've had just
about enough of you! Go that way! You'll be malfunctioning within a
day, you nearsighted scrap pile!
Threepio
gives the little robot a kick and starts off in
the direction of the vast
dune sea.
THREEPIO: And don't let me catch you following me begging for help,
because you won't get it.
Artoo's
reply is a rather rude sound. He turns and trudges
off in the direction of
the towering mesas.
THREEPIO: No more adventures. I'm not going that way.
Artoo beeps
to himself as he makes his way toward the
distant mountains.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DUNE SEA.
Threepio, hot and tired,
struggles up over the ridge of a dune;
only to find more dunes,
which seem to go on for endless
miles. He looks back
in the direction of the now distant rock
mesas.
THREEPIO: That malfunctioning little twerp. This is all his fault! He
tricked me into going this way, but he'll do no better.
In a huff
of anger and frustration, Threepio knocks the
sand from his joints. His
plight seems hopeless, when a glint
of reflected light in the
distance reveals an object moving
towards him.
THREEPIO: Wait, what's that? A transport! I'm saved!
The bronze
android waves frantically and yells at the
approaching transport.
THREEPIO: Over here! Help! Please, help!
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT -- POWER STATION -- DAY.
Luke and Biggs are walking
and drinking a malt brew. Fixer and
the others can be heard
working inside.
LUKE: (Very animated)...so I cut off my power, shut down the
afterburners and came in low on Deak's trail. I was so close I thought
I was going to fry my instruments. As it was I busted up the Skyhopper
pretty bad. Uncle Owen was pretty upset. He grounded me for the rest
of the season. You should have been there...it was fantastic.
BIGGS: You ought to take it easy Luke. You may be the hottest
bushpilot this side of Mos Eisley, but those little Skyhoppers are
dangerous. Keep it up, and one day, whammo, you're going to be nothing
more than a dark spot on the down side of a canyon wall.
LUKE: Look who's talking. Now that you've been around those giant
starships you're beginning to sound like my uncle. You've gotten soft
in the city...
BIGGS: I've missed you kid.
LUKE: Well, things haven't been the same since you left, Biggs. It's
been so...quiet.
Biggs looks around then leans close to Luke.
BIGGS: Luke, I didn't come back just to say good-bye...I shouldn't
tell you this, but you're the only one I can trust...and if I don't
come back, I want somebody to know.
Luke's eyes are wide with Biggs' seriousness and loyalty.
LUKE: What are you talking about?
BIGGS: I made some friends at the Academy. (he whispers)...when our
frigate goes to one of the central systems, we're going to jump ship
and join the Alliance...
Luke, amazed and stunned, is almost speechless.
LUKE: Join the Rebellion?! Are you kidding! How?
BIGGS: Quiet down will ya! You got a mouth bigger than a meteor
crater!
LUKE: I'm sorry. I'm quiet. (he whispers) Listen how quiet I am. You
can barely hear me...
Biggs shakes his head angrily and then continues.
BIGGS: My friend has a friend on Bestine who might help us make
contact.
LUKE: Your crazy! You could wander around forever trying to find them.
BIGGS: I know it's a long shot, but if I don't find them I'll do what
I can on my own...It's what we always talked about. Luke, I'm not
going to wait for the Empire to draft me into service. The Rebellion
is spreading and I want to be on the right side -- the side I believe
in.
LUKE: And I'm stuck here...
BIGGS: I thought you were going to the Academy next term. You'll get
your chance to get off this rock.
LUKE: Not likely! I had to cancel my application. There has been a lot
of unrest among the Sandpeople since you left...they've even raided
the outskirts of Anchorhead.
BIGGS: Your uncle could hold off a whole colony of Sandpeople with one
blaster.
LUKE: I know, but he's got enough vaporators going to make the place
pay off. He needs me for just one more season. I can't leave him now.
BIGGS: I feel for you, Luke, you're going to have to learn what seems
to be important or what really is important. What good is all your
uncle's work if it's taken over by the Empire?...You know they're
starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems...it won't
be
long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater
glory of the Empire.
LUKE: It couldn't happen here. You said it yourself. The Empire won't
bother with this rock.
BIGGS: Things always change.
LUKE: I wish I was going...Are you going to be around long?
BIGGS: No, I'm leaving in the morning...
LUKE: Then I guess I won't see you.
BIGGS: Maybe someday...I'll keep a lookout.
LUKE: Well, I'll be at the Academy next season...after that who knows.
I won't be drafted into the Imperial Starfleet that's for sure...Take
care of yourself, you'll always be the best friend I've got.
BIGGS: So long, Luke.
Biggs turns
away from his old friend and heads towards the
power station.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- SUNSET.
The gargantuan rock formations
are shrouded in a strange
foreboding mist and the
onimous sounds of unearthly creatures
fill the air. Artoo moves
cautiously through the creepy rock
canyon, inadvertently making
a loud clicking noise as he goes.
He hears a distant, hard,
metallic sound and stops for a
moment. Convinced he is
alone, he continues on his way.
In the
distance, a pepple tumbles down the steep canyon
wall and a small dark figure
darts into the shadows. A little
further up the canyon a
slight flicker of light reveals a pair
of eyes in the dark recesses
only a few feet from the narrow
path.
The unsuspecting
robot waddles along the rugged trail until
suddenly, out of nowhere,
a powerful magnetic ray shoots out
of the rocks and engulfs
him in an eerie glow. He manages one
short electronic squeak
before he topples over onto his back.
His bright computer lights
flicker off, then on, then off
again. Out of the rocks
scurry three Jawas, no taller than
Artoo. They holster strange
and complex weapons as they
cautiously approach the
robot. They wear grubby cloaks and
their faces are shrouded
so only their glowing eyes can be
seen. They hiss and make
odd guttural sounds as they heave the
heavy robot onto their shoulders
and carry him off down the
trail.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- SANDCRAWLER -- SUNSET.
The eight Jawas carry Artoo
out of the canyon to a huge
tank-like vehicle the size
of a four-story house. They weld a
small disk on the side of
Artoo and then put him under a large
tube on the side of the
vehicle and the little robot is sucked
into the giant machine.
The filthy
little Jawas scurry like rats up small ladders
and enter the main cabin
of the behemoth transport.
INTERIOR: SANDCRAWLER -- HOLD AREA.
It is dim inside the hold
area of the Sandcrawler. Artoo
switches on a small floodlight
on his forehead and stumbles
around the scrap heap. The
narrow beam swings across rusty
metal rocket parts and an
array of grotesquely twisted and
maimed astro-robots. He
lets out a pathetic electronic whimper
and stumbles off toward
what appears to be a door at the end
of the chamber.
INTERIOR: SANDCRAWLER -- PRISON AREA.
Artoo enters a wide room
with a four-foot ceiling. In the
middle of the scrap heap
sit a dozen or so robots of various
shapes and sizes. Some are
engaged in electronic conversation,
while others simply mill
about. A voice of recognition calls
out from the gloom.
THREEPIO: Artoo-Detoo! It's you! It's you!
A battered Threepio scrambles up to Artoo and embraces him.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- SANDCRAWLER -- SUNSET.
The enormous Sandcrawler
lumbers off toward the magnificent
twin suns, which are slowly
setting over a distant mountain
ridge.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DESERT -- DAY.
Four Imperial stormtroopers
mill about in front of the half-
buried lifepod that brought
Artoo and Threepio to Tatooine. A
trooper yells to an officer
some distance away.
FIRST TROOPER: Someone was in the pod. The tracks go off in this
direction.
A second
trooper picks a small bit of metal out of the sand
and gives it to the first
trooper.
SECOND TROOPER: Look, sir -- droids.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DUNES.
The Sandcrawler moves slowly down a great sand dune.
INTERIOR: SANDCRAWLER.
Threepio and Artoo noisily
bounce along inside the cramped
prison chamber. Artoo appears
to be shut off.
THREEPIO: Wake up! Wake up!
Suddenly
the shaking and bouncing of the Sandcrawler stops,
creating quite a commotion
among the mechanical men.
Threepio's fist bangs the
head of Artoo whose computer lights
pop on as he begins beeping.
At the far end of the long
chamber a hatch opens, filling
the chamber with blinding white
light. a dozen or so Jawas
make their way through the odd
assortment of robots.
THREEPIO: We're doomed.
A Jawa starts moving toward them.
THREEPIO: Do you think they'll melt us down?
Artoo responds, making beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Will this never end?
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DESERT -- LARS HOMESTEAD -- AFTERNOON.
The Jawas mutter gibberish
as they busily line up their
battered captives, including
Artoo and Threepio, in front of
the enormous Sandcrawler,
which is parked beside a small
homestead consisting of
three large holes in the ground
surrounded by several tall
moisture vaporators and one small
adobe block house.
The Jawas
scurry around fussing over the robots,
straightening them up or
brushing some dust from a dented
metallic elbow. The shrouded
little creatures smell horribly,
attracting small insects
to the dark areas when their mouths
and nostrils should be.
Out of
the shadows of a dingy side-building limps Owen
Lars, a large burly man
in his mid-fifties. His reddish eyes
are sunken in a dust-covered
face. As the farmer carefully
inspects each robot, he
is closely followed by his slump-
shouldered nephew, Luke
Skywalker. One of the vile little
Jawas walks ahead of the
farmer spouting an animated sales
pitch in a queer, unintelligible
language.
A voice
calls out from one of the huge holes that form the
homestead. Luke goes over
to the edge and sees his Aunt Beru
standing in the main courtyard.
BERU: Luke, tell Owen that if he gets a translator to be sure it
speaks Bocce.
LUKE: It looks like we don't have much of a choice but I'll remind
him.
Luke returns
to his uncle as they look over the equipment
for sale with the Jawa leader.
OWEN: I have no need for a protocol droid.
THREEPIO: (quickly) Sir -- not in an environment such as this --
that's why I've also been programmed for over thirty secondary
functions that...
OWEN: What I really need is a droid that understands the binary
language of moisture vaporators.
THREEPIO: Vaporators! Sir -- My first job was programming binary load
lifter...very similar to your vaporators. You could say...
OWEN: Do you speak Bocce?
THREEPIO: Of course I can, sir. It's like a second language for
me...I'm as fluent in Bocce...
OWEN: All right shut up! (turning to Jawa) I'll take this one.
THREEPIO: Shutting up, sir.
OWEN: Luke, take these two over to the garage, will you? I want you
to
have both of them cleaned up before dinner.
LUKE: But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power
converters...
OWEN: You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done.
Now come on, get to it!
LUKE: All right, come on! And the red one, come on. Well, come on,
Red, let's go.
As the
Jawas start to lead the three remaining robots
back into the Sandcrawler,
Artoo lets out a pathetic little
beep and starts after his
old friend Threepio. He is
restrained by a slimy Jawa,
who zaps him with a control box.
Owen is
negotiating with the head Jawa. Luke and the two
robots start off for the
garage when a plate pops off the head
of the red astro-droid's
head plate and it sparks wildly.
LUKE: Uncle Owen...
OWEN: Yeah?
LUKE: This R2 unit has a bad motivator. Look!
OWEN: (to the head Jawa) Hey, what're you trying to push on us?
The Jawa
goes into a loud spiel. Meanwhile, Artoo has
sneaked out of line and
is moving up and down trying to
attract attention. He lets
out with a low whistle. Threepio
taps Luke on the shoulder.
THREEPIO: (pointing to Artoo) Excuse me, sir, but that R2 unit is in
prime condition. A real bargain.
LUKE: Uncle Owen...
OWEN: Yeah?
LUKE: What about that one?
OWEN: (to Jawa) What about that blue one? We'll take that one.
With a
little reluctance the scruffy dwarf trades the
damaged astro-droid for
Artoo.
LUKE: Yeah, take it away.
THREEPIO: Uh, I'm quite sure you'll be very pleased with that one,
sir. He really is in first-class condition. I've worked with him
before. Here he comes.
Owen pays
off the whining Jawa as Luke and the two robots
trudge off toward a grimy
homestead entry.
LUKE: Okay, let's go.
THREEPIO: (to Artoo) Now, don't you forget this! Why I should stick
my
neck out for you is quite beyond my capacity!
INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- GARAGE AREA -- LATE AFTERNOON.
The garage is cluttered and
worn, but a friendly peaceful
atmosphere permeates the
low grey chamber. Threepio lowers
himself into a large tub
filled with warm oil. Near the
battered Landspeeder little
Artoo rests on a large battery
with a cord to his face.
THREEPIO: Thank the maker! This oil bath is going to feel so good.
I've got such a bad case of dust contamination, I can barely move!
Artoo beeps
a muffled reply. Luke seems to be lost in
thought as he runs his hand
over the damaged fin of a small
two-man Skyhopper spaceship
resting in a low hangar off the
garage. Finally Luke's frustrations
get the better of him and
he slams a wrench across
the workbench.
LUKE: It just isn't fair. Oh, Biggs is right. I'm never gonna get out
of here!
THREEPIO: Is there anything I might do to help?
Luke glances
at the battered robot. A bit of his anger
drains and a tiny smile
creeps across his face.
LUKE: Well, not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest, or
teleport me off this rock!
THREEPIO: I don't think so, sir. I'm only a droid and not very
knowledgeable about such things. Not on this planet, anyways. As a
matter of fact, I'm not even sure which planet I'm on.
LUKE: Well, if there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the
planet that it's farthest from.
THREEPIO: I see, sir.
LUKE: Uh, you can call me Luke.
THREEPIO: I see, sir Luke.
LUKE: (laughing) Just Luke.
THREEPIO: And I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg relations, and this is
my counterpart, Artoo-Detoo.
LUKE: Hello.
Artoo beeps
in response. Luke unplugs Artoo and begins to
scrape several connectors
on the robot's head with a chrome
pick. Threepio climbs out
of the oil tub and begins wiping oil
from his bronze body.
LUKE: You got a lot of carbon scoring here. It looks like you boys
have seen a lot of action.
THREEPIO: With all we've been through, sometimes I'm amazed we're in
as good condition as we are, what with the Rebellion and all.
LUKE: You know of the Rebellion against the Empire?
THREEPIO: That's how we came to be in your service, if you take my
meaning, sir.
LUKE: Have you been in many battles?
THREEPIO: Several, I think. Actually, there's not much to tell. I'm
not much more than an interpreter, and not very good at telling
stories. Well, not at making them interesting, anyways.
Luke struggles
to remove a small metal fragment from Artoo's
neck joint. He uses a larger
pick.
LUKE: Well, my little friend, you've got something jammed in here real
good. Were you on a cruiser or...
The fragment
breaks loose with a snap, sending Luke
tumbling head over heels.
He sits up and sees a twelve-inch
three-dimensional hologram
of Leia Organa, the Rebel senator,
being projected from the
face of little Artoo. The image is a
rainbow of colors as it
flickers and jiggles in the dimly lit
garage. Luke's mouth hangs
open in awe.
LEIA: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.
LUKE: What's this?
Artoo looks
around and sheepishly beeps an answer for
Threepio to translate. Leia
continues to repeat the sentence
fragment over and over.
THREEPIO: What is what?!? He asked you a question...(pointing to Leia)
What is that?
Artoo whistles
his surprise as he pretends to just notice
the hologram. He looks around
and sheepishly beeps an answer
for Threepio to translate.
Leia continues to repeat the
sentence fragment over and
over.
LEIA: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. Help me, Obi-Wan
Kenobi. You're my only hope.
THREEPIO: Oh, he says it's nothing, sir. Merely a malfunction. Old
data. Pay it no mind.
Luke becomes intrigued by the beautiful girl.
LUKE: Who is she? She's beautiful.
THREEPIO: I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir.
LEIA: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi...
THREEPIO: I think she was a passenger on our last voyage. A person of
some importance, sir -- I believe. Our captain was attached to...
LUKE: Is there more to this recording?
Luke reaches
out for Artoo but he lets out several frantic
squeaks and a whistle.
THREEPIO: Behave yourself, Artoo. You're going to get us in trouble.
It's all right, you can trust him. He's our new master.
Artoo whistles and beeps a long message to Threepio.
THREEPIO: He says he's the property of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a resident of
these parts. And it's a private message for him. Quite frankly, sir
I
don't know what he's talking about. Our last master was Captain
Antilles, but with what we've been through, this little R2 unit has
become a bit eccentric.
LUKE: Obi-Wan Kenobi? I wonder if he means old Ben Kenobi?
THREEPIO: I beg your pardon, sir, but do you know what he's talking
about?
LUKE: Well, I don't know anyone named Obi-Wan, but old Ben lives out
beyond the dune sea. He's kind of a strange old hermit.
Luke's
gazes at the beautiful young princess for a few
moments.
LUKE: I wonder who she is. It sounds like she's in trouble. I'd better
play back the whole thing.
Artoo beeps something to Threepio.
THREEPIO: He says the restraining bolt has short circuited his
recording system. He suggests that if you remove the bolt, he might
be
able to play back the entire recording.
Luke looks
longingly at the lovely, little princess and
hasn't really heard what
Threepio has been saying.
LUKE: H'm? Oh, yeah, well, I guess you're too small to run away on me
if I take this off! Okay.
Luke takes
a wedged bar and pops the restraining bolt off
Artoo's side.
LUKE: There you go.
The princess immediately disappears...
LUKE: Well, wait a minute. Where'd she go? Bring her back! Play back
the entire message.
Artoo beeps
an innocent reply as Threepio sits up in
embarrassment.
THREEPIO: What message? The one you're carrying inside your rusty
innards!
A women's voice calls out from another room.
AUNT BERU: Luke? Luke! Come to dinner!
Luke stands
up and shakes his head at the malfunctioning
robot.
LUKE: All right, I'll be right there, Aunt Beru.
THREEPIO: I'm sorry, sir, but he appears to have picked up a slight
flutter.
Luke tosses
Artoo's restraining bolt on the workbench and
hurries out of the room.
LUKE: Well, see what you can do with him. I'll be right back.
THREEPIO: (to Artoo) Just you reconsider playing that message for him.
Artoo beeps in response.
THREEPIO: No, I don't think he likes you at all.
Artoo beeps.
THREEPIO: No, I don't like you either.
INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- DINING AREA.
Luke's Aunt Beru, a
warm, motherly woman, fills a pitcher
with blue fluid from a refrigerated
container in the well-used
kitchen. She puts the pitcher
on a tray with some bowls of
food and starts for the
dining area.
Luke sits
with his Uncle Owen before a table covered with
steaming bowls of food as
Aunt Beru carries in a bowl of red
grain.
LUKE: You know, I think that R2 unit we bought might have been stolen.
OWEN: What makes you think that?
LUKE: Well, I stumbled across a recording while I was cleaning him.
He
says he belongs to someone called Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Owen is
greatly alarmed at the mention of his name, but
manages to control himself.
LUKE: I thought he might have meant old Ben. Do you know what he's
talking about? Well, I wonder if he's related to Ben.
Owen breaks loose with a fit of uncontrolled anger.
OWEN: That old man's just a crazy old wizard. Tomorrow I want you to
take that R2 unit into Anchorhead and have its memory flushed. That'll
be the end of it. It belongs to us now.
LUKE: But what if this Obi-Wan comes looking for him?
OWEN: He won't, I don't think he exists any more. He died about the
same time as your father.
LUKE: He knew my father?
OWEN: I told you to forget it. Your only concern is to prepare the new
droids for tomorrow. In the morning I want them on the south ridge
working out those condensers.
LUKE: Yes, sir. I think those new droids are going to work out fine.
In fact, I, uh, was also thinking about our agreement about my staying
on another season. And if these new droids do work out, I want to
transmit my application to the Academy this year.
Owen's
face becomes a scowl, although he tries to suppress
it.
OWEN: You mean the next semester before harvest?
LUKE: Sure, there're more than enough droids.
OWEN: Harvest is when I need you the most. Only one more season. This
year we'll make enough on the harvest so I'll be able to hire some
more hands. And then you can go to the Academy next year.
Luke continues
to toy with his food, not looking at his
uncle.
OWEN: You must understand I need you here, Luke.
LUKE: But it's a whole 'nother year.
OWEN: Look, it's only one more season.
Luke pushes his half-eaten plate of food aside and stands.
LUKE: Yeah, that's what you said last year when Biggs and Tank left.
AUNT BERU: Where are you going?
LUKE: It looks like I'm going nowhere. I have to finish cleaning those
droids.
Resigned
to his fate, Luke paddles out of the room. Owen
mechanically finishes his
dinner.
AUNT BERU: Owen, he can't stay here forever. Most of his friends have
gone. It means so much to him.
OWEN: I'll make it up to him next year. I promise.
AUNT BERU: Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his
father in him.
OWEN: That's what I'm afraid of.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.
The giant twin suns of Tatooine
slowly disappear behind a
distant dune range. Luke
stands watching them for a few
moments, then reluctantly
enters the doomed entrance to the
homestead.
INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- GARAGE.
Luke enters
the garage to discover the robots nowhere in
sight. He takes a small
control box from his utility belt
similar to the one the Jawas
were carrying. He activates the
box, which creates a low
hum, and Threepio, letting out a
short yell, pops up from
behind the Skyhopper spaceship.
LUKE: What are you doing hiding there?
Threepio
stumbles forward, but Artoo is still nowhere in
sight.
THREEPIO: It wasn't my fault, sir. Please don't deactivate me. I told
him not to go, but he's faulty, malfunctioning; kept babbling on about
his mission.
LUKE: Oh, no!
Luke races out of the garage followed by Threepio.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.
Luke rushes out of the small
doomed entry to the homestead and
searches the darkening horizon
for the small triped astro-
robot. Threepio struggles
out of the homestead and on the salt
flat as Luke scans the landscape
with his electrobinoculars.
THREEPIO: That R2 unit has always been a problem. These astro-droids
are getting quite out of hand. Even I can't understand their logic
at
times.
LUKE: How could I be so stupid? He's nowhere in sight. Blast it!
THREEPIO: Pardon me, sir, but couldn't we go after him?
LUKE: It's too dangerous with all the Sandpeople around. We'll have
to
wait until morning.
Owen yells up from the homestead plaza.
OWEN: Luke, I'm shutting the power down for the night.
LUKE: All right, I'll be there in a few minutes. Boy, am I gonna get it.
He takes one final look across the dim horizon.
LUKE: You know that little droid is going to cause me a lot of
trouble.
THREEPIO: Oh, he excels at that, sir.
INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- PLAZA.
Morning slowly creeps into
the sparse but sparkling oasis of
the open courtyard. The
idyll is broken be the yelling of
Uncle Owen, his voice echoing
throughout the homestead.
OWEN: Luke? Luke? Luke? Where could he be loafing now!
INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- KITCHEN.
The interior of the kitchen
is a worm glow as Aunt Beru prepares
the morning breakfast. Owen
enters in a huff.
OWEN: Have you seen Luke this morning?
AUNT BERU: He said he had some things to do before he started today,
so he left early.
OWEN: Uh? Did he take those two new droids with him?
AUNT BERU: I think so.
OWEN: Well, he'd better have those units in the south range repaired
be midday or there'll be hell to pay!
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DESERT WASTELAND -- LUKE'S SPEEDER -- DAY.
The rock and sand of the
desert floor are a blur as Threepio
pilots the sleek Landspeeder
gracefully across the vast
wasteland.
INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: LUKE'S SPEEDER -- DESERT WASTELAND -- TRAVELING -- DAY.
Luke leans over the back
of the speeder and adjusts something
in the motor compartment.
LUKE: (yelling) How's that.
Threepio
signals that is fine and Luke turns back into the
wind-whipped cockpit and
pops the canopy shut.
LUKE: Old Ben Kenobi lives out in this direction somewhere, but I
don't see how that R2 unit could have come this far. We must have
missed him. Uncle Owen isn't going to take this very well.
THREEPIO: Sir, would it help if you told him it was my fault.
LUKE: (brightening) Sure. He needs you. He'd probably only deactivate
you for a day or so...
THREEPIO: Deactivate! Well, on the other hand if you hadn't removed
his restraining bolt...
LUKE: Wait, there's something dead ahead on the scanner. It looks like
our droid...hit the accelerator.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK MESA -- DUNE SEA -- COASTLINE -- DAY.
From high on a rock mesa,
the tiny Landspeeder can be seen
gliding across the desert
floor. Suddenly in the foreground
two weather-beaten Sandpeople
shrouded in their grimy desert
cloaks peer over the edge
of the rock mesa. One of the
marginally human creatures
raises a long ominous laser rifle
and points it at the speeder
but the second creature grabs the
gun before it can be fired.
The Sandpeople,
or Tusken Raiders as they're sometimes
called, speak in a coarse
barbaric language as they get into
an animated argument. The
second Tusken Raider seems to get in
the final word and the nomads
scurry over the rocky terrain.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK MESA -- CANYON.
The Tusken Raider approaches
two large Banthas standing tied
to a rock. The monstrous,
bear-like creatures are as large as
elephants, with huge red
eyes, tremendous looped horns, and
long, furry, dinosaur-like
tails. The Tusken Raiders mount
saddles strapped to the
huge creatures' shaggy backs and ride
off down the rugged bluff.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- FLOOR.
The speeder is parked on
the floor of a massive canyon. Luke,
with his long laser rifle
slung over his shoulder, stands
before little Artoo.
LUKE: Hey, whoa, just where do you think you're going?
The little
droid whistles a feeble reply, as Threepio poses
menacingly behind the little
runaway.
THREEPIO: Master Luke here is your rightful owner. We'll have no more
of this Obi-Wan Kenobi jibberish...and don't talk to me about your
mission, either. You're fortunate he doesn't blast you into a million
pieces right here.
LUKE: Well, come on. It's getting late. I only hope we can get back
before Uncle Owen really blows up.
THREEPIO: If you don't mind my saying so, sir, I think you should
deactivate the little fugitive until you've gotten him back to your
workshop.
LUKE: No, he's not going to try anything.
Suddenly
the little robot jumps to life with a mass of
frantic whistles and screams.
LUKE: What's wrong with him now?
THREEPIO: Oh my...sir, he says there are several creatures approaching
from the southeast.
Luke swings his rifle into position and looks to the south.
LUKE: Sandpeople! Or worst! Come on, let's have a look. Come on.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- RIDGE -- DAY.
Luke carefully makes his
way to the top of a rock ridge and
scans the canyon with his
electrobinoculars. He spots the two
riderless Banthas. Threepio
struggles up behind the young
adventurer.
LUKE: There are two Banthas down there but I don't see any...wait a
second, they're Sandpeople all right. I can see one of them now.
Luke watches
the distant Tusken Raider through his
electrobinoculars. Suddenly
something huge moves in front of
his field of view. Before
Luke or Threepio can react, a large,
gruesome Tusken Raider looms
over them. Threepio is startled
and backs away, right off
the side if the cliff. He can be
heard for several moments
as he clangs, bangs and rattles down
the side of the mountain.
The towering
creature brings down his curved,
double-pointed gaderffii
-- the dreaded axe blade that has
struck terror in the heart
of the local settlers. But Luke
manages to block the blow
with his laser rifle, which is
smashed to pieces. The terrified
farm boy scrambles backward
until he is forced to the
edge of a deep crevice. The sinister
Raider stands over him with
his weapon raised and lets out a
horrible shrieking laugh.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- FLOOR -- DAY.
Artoo forces himself into
the shadows of a small alcove in the
rocks as the vicious Sandpeople
walk past carrying the inert
Luke Skywalker, who is dropped
in a heap before the speeder.
The Sandpeople ransack the
speeder, throwing parts and
supplies in all directions.
Suddenly they stop. Then
everything is quiet for
a few moments. A great howling moan is
heard echoing throughout
the canyon which sends the Sandpeople
fleeing in terror.
Artoo
moves even tighter into the shadows as the slight
swishing sound that frightened
off the Sandpeople grows even
closer, until a shabby old
desert-rat-of-a-man appears and
leans over Luke. His ancient
leathery face, cracked and
weathered by exotic climates
is set off by dark, penetrating
eyes and a scraggly white
beard. Ben Kenobi squints his eyes
as he scrutinizes the unconscious
farm boy. Artoo makes a
slight sound and Ben turns
and looks right at him.
BEN: Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don't be afraid.
Artoo waddles over to were
Luke lies crumpled in a
heap and begins to whistle
and beep his concern. Ben
puts his hand on Luke's
forehead and he begins to
come around.
BEN: Don't worry, he'll be all right.
LUKE: What happened?
BEN: Rest easy, son, you've had a busy day. You're fortunate you're
still in one piece.
LUKE: Ben? Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I glad to see you!
BEN: The Jundland wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me young
Luke, what brings you out this far?
LUKE: Oh, this little droid! I think he's searching for his former
master...I've never seen such devotion in a droid before...there
seems to be no stopping him. He claims to be the property of an Obi-
Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking
about?
Ben ponders this for a moment, scratching his scruffy beard.
BEN: Obi-Wan Kenobi...Obi-Wan? Now thats a name I haven't heard in a
long time...a long time.
LUKE: I think my uncle knew him. He said he was dead.
BEN: Oh, he's not dead, not...not yet.
LUKE: You know him!
BEN: Well of course, of course I know him. He's me! I haven't gone by
the name Obi-Wan since oh, before you were born.
LUKE: Then the droid does belong to you.
BEN: Don't seem to remember ever owning a droid. Very interesting...
He suddenly looks up at the overhanging cliffs.
BEN: I think we better get indoors. The Sandpeople are easily startled
but they will soon be back and in greater numbers.
Luke sits up and rubs his
head. Artoo lets out a pathetic
beep causing Luke to remember
something. He looks around.
LUKE: Threepio!
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- SAND PIT -- ROCK MESA -- DAY.
Little Artoo stands at the
edge of a large sand pit and begins
to chatter away in electronic
whistles and beeps. Luke and Ben
stand over a very dented
and tangled Threepio lying half
buried in the sand. One
of his arms has broken off.
Luke tries
to revive the inert robot by shaking him and
then flips a hidden switch
on his back several times until
finally the mechanical man's
systems turn on.
THREEPIO: Where am I? I must have taken a bad step...
LUKE: Can you stand? We've got to get out of here before the
Sandpeople return.
THREEPIO: I don't think I can make it. You go on, Master Luke. There's
no sense in you risking yourself on my account. I'm done for.
Artoo
makes a beeping sound.
LUKE: No, you're not. What kind of talk is that?
Luke and
Ben help the battered robot to his feet. Little
Artoo watches from the top
of the pit. Ben glances around
suspiciously. Sensing something,
he stands up and sniffs the
air.
BEN: Quickly, son...they're on the move.
INTERIOR: KENOBI'S DWELLING.
The small, spartan hovel
is cluttered with desert junk but
still manages to radiate
an air of time-worn comfort and
security. Luke is in one
corner repairing Threepio's arm, as
old Ben sits thinking.
LUKE: No, my father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on
a
spice freighter.
BEN: That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your
father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten
involved.
LUKE: You fought in the Clone Wars?
BEN: Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father.
LUKE: I wish I'd known him.
BEN: He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior.
I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was
a
good friend. Which reminds me...
Ben gets
up and goes to a chest where he rummages around.
As Luke finishes repairing
Threepio and starts to fit the
restraining bolt back on,
Threepio looks at him nervously.
Luke thinks about the bolt
for a moment then puts it on the
table. Ben shuffles up and
presents Luke with a short handle
with several electronic
gadgets attached to it.
BEN: I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have
this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He
feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic
crusade like your father did.
THREEPIO: Sir, if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for
awhile.
LUKE: Sure, go ahead.
Ben hands Luke the saber.
LUKE: What is it?
BEN: Your fathers lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not
as clumsy or as random as a blaster.
Luke pushes
a button on the handle. A long beam shoots out
about four feet and flickers
there. The light plays across the
ceiling.
BEN: An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand
generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice
in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.
Luke hasn't really been listening.
LUKE: How did my father die?
BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he
turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi
Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all
but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.
LUKE: The Force?
BEN: Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy
field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates
us.
It binds the galaxy together.
Artoo makes beeping sounds.
BEN: Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little
friend. And where you come from.
LUKE: I saw part of the message he was...
Luke is
cut short as the recorded image of the beautiful
young Rebel princess is
projected from Artoo's face.
BEN: I seem to have found it.
Luke stops
his work as the lovely girl's image flickers
before his eyes.
LEIA: General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone
Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire.
I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in
person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission
to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital
to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2
unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid
safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.
There is a little static
and the transmission is cut short.
Old Ben leans back and scratches
his head. He silently puffs
on a tarnished chrome water
pipe. Luke has stars in his eyes.
BEN: You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me
to
Alderaan.
LUKE: (laughing) Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go
home. It's late, I'm in for it as it is.
BEN: I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old
for this sort of thing.
LUKE: I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like
the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right
now. It's such a long way from here.
BEN: That's your uncle talking.
LUKE: (sighing) Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain
this?
BEN: Learn about the Force, Luke.
LUKE: Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a
transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going.
BEN: You must do what you feel is right, of course.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
An Imperial Stardestroyer
heads toward the evil planet-like
battle station: the Death
Star!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONFERENCE ROOM.
Eight Imperial senators and
generals sit around a black
conference table. Imperial
stormtroopers stand guard around
the room. Commander Tagge,
a young, slimy-looking general, is
speaking.
TAGGE: Until this battle station is fully operational we are
vulnerable. The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They're more
dangerous than you realize.
The bitter Admiral Motti twists nervously in his chair.
MOTTI: Dangerous to your starfleet, Commander, not to this battle
station!
TAGGE: The Rebellion will continue to gain a support in the Imperial
Senate as long as....
Suddenly
all heads turn as Commander Tagge's speech is cut
short and the Grand Moff
Tarkin, governor of the Imperial
outland regions, enters.
He is followed by his powerful ally,
The Sith Lord, Darth Vader.
All of the generals stand and bow
before the thin, evil-looking
governor as he takes his place
at the head of the table.
The Dark Lord stands behind him.
TARKIN: The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us.
I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council
permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept
away.
TAGGE: That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control
without the bureaucracy?
TARKIN: The regional governors now have direct control over
territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this
battle station.
TAGGE: And what of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a
complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however
unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it.
VADER: The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.
MOTTI: Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a
useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. This
station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use
it!
VADER: Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've
constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next
to
the power of the Force.
MOTTI: Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader.
Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure
up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find
the
Rebel's hidden fort...
Suddenly
Motti chokes and starts to turn blue under Vader's
spell.
VADER: I find your lack of faith disturbing.
TARKIN: Enough of this! Vader, release him!
VADER: As you wish.
TARKIN: This bickering is pointless. Lord Vader will provide us with
the location of the Rebel fortress by the time this station is
operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.
The speeder stops before
what remains of the huge Jawas
Sandcrawler. Luke and Ben
walk among the smoldering rubble
and scattered bodies.
LUKE: It looks like Sandpeople did this, all right. Look, here are
Gaffi sticks, Bantha tracks. It's just...I never heard of them hitting
anything this big before.
Ben is crouching in the sand studying the tracks.
BEN: They didn't. But we are meant to think they did. These tracks are
side by side. Sandpeople always ride single file to hide their numbers.
LUKE: These are the same Jawas that sold us Artoo and Threepio.
BEN: And these blast points, too accurate for Sandpeople. Only
Imperial stormtroopers are so precise.
LUKE: Why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?
Luke looks
back at the speeder where Artoo and Threepio are
inspecting the dead Jawas,
and put two and two together.
LUKE: If they traced the robots here, they may have learned who they
sold them to. And that would lead them home!
Luke reaches
a sudden horrible realization, then races for
the speeder and jumps it.
BEN: Wait, Luke! It's too dangerous.
Luke races
off leaving Ben and the two robots alone with
the burning Sandcrawler.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.
Luke races across the wasteland in his battered Landspeeder.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.
The speeder roars up to the
burning homestead. Luke jumps out
and runs to the smoking
holes that were once his home. Debris
is scattered everywhere
and it looks as if a great battle has
taken place.
LUKE: Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru! Uncle Owen!
Luke stumbles
around in a daze looking for his aunt and
uncle. Suddenly he comes
upon their smoldering remains. He is
stunned, and cannot speak.
Hate replaces fear and a new
resolve comes over him.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Imperial TIE fighter races toward the Death Star.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DETENTION CORRIDOR.
Two stormtroopers open an
electronic cell door and allow
several Imperial guards
to enter. Princess Leia's face is
filled with defiance, which
slowly gives way to fear as a
giant black torture robot
enters, followed by Darth Vader.
VADER: And, now Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your
hidden Rebel base.
The torture
robot gives off a steady beeping sound as it
approaches Princess Leia
and extends one of its mechanical
arms bearing a large hypodermic
needle. The door slides shut
and the long cell block
hallway appears peaceful. The muffled
screams of the Rebel princess
are barely heard.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.
There is a large bonfire
of Jawa bodies blazing in front of
the Sandcrawler as Ben and
the robots finish burning the dead.
Luke drives up in the speeder
and Ben walks over to him.
BEN: There's nothing you could have done, Luke, had you been there.
You'd have been killed, too, and the droids would be in the hands of
the Empire.
LUKE: I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing here for
me
now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my
father.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.
The Landspeeder with Luke,
Artoo, Threepio, and Ben in it
zooms across the desert.
The speeder stops on a bluff
overlooking the spaceport
at Mos Eisley. It is a haphazard
array of low, grey, concrete
structures and semi-domes. A
harsh gale blows across
the stark canyon floor. Luke adjusts
his goggles and walks to
the edge of the craggy bluff where
Ben is standing.
BEN: Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive
of
scum and villainy. We must be cautious.
Ben looks
over at Luke, who gives the old Jedi a determined
smile.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.
The speeder is stopped on
a crowded street by several
combat-hardend stormtroopers
who look over the two robots. A
Trooper questions Luke.
TROOPER: How long have you had these droids?
LUKE: About three or four seasons.
BEN: They're for sale if you want them.
TROOPER: Let me see your identification.
Luke becomes
very nervous as he fumbles to find his ID
while Ben speaks to the
Trooper in a very controlled voice.
BEN: You don't need to see his identification.
TROOPER: We don't need to see his identification.
BEN: These are not the droids your looking for.
TROOPER: These are not the droids we're looking for.
BEN: He can go about his business.
TROOPER: You can go about your business.
BEN: (to Luke) Move along.
TROOPER: Move along. Move along.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.
The speeder pulls up in front
of a rundown blockhouse cantina
on the outskirts of the
spaceport. Various strange forms of
transport, including several
unusual beasts of burden, are
parked outside the bar.
A Jawa runs up and begins to fondle
the speeder.
THREEPIO: I can't abide these Jawas. Disgusting creatures.
As Luke
gets out of the speeder he tries to shoo the Jawa
away.
LUKE: Go on, go on. I can't understand how we got by those troopers.
I
thought we were dead.
BEN: The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. You
will find it a powerful ally.
LUKE: Do you really think we're going to find a pilot here that'll
take us to Alderaan?
BEN: Well, most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only
watch your step. This place can be a little rough.
LUKE: I'm ready for anything.
THREEPIO: Come along, Artoo.
INTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.
The young adventurer and
his two mechanical servants follow
Ben Kenobi into the smoke-filled
cantina. The murky, moldy den
is filled with a startling
array of weird and exotic alien
creatures and monsters at
the long metallic bar. At first the
sight is horrifying. One-eyed,
thousand-eyed, slimy, furry,
scaly, tentacled, and clawed
creatures huddle over drinks. Ben
moves to an empty spot at
the bar near a group of repulsive
but human scum. A huge,
rough-looking Bartender stops Luke and
the robots.
BARTENDER: We don't serve their kind here!
Luke still
recovering from the shock of seeing so many
outlandish creatures, doesn't
quite catch the bartender's
drift.
LUKE: What?
BARTENDER: Your droids. They'll have to wait outside. We don't want
them here.
Luke looks
at old Ben, who is busy talking to one of the
Galactic pirates. He notices
several of the gruesome creatures
along the bar are giving
him a very unfriendly glare.
Luke pats
Threepio on the shoulder.
LUKE: Listen, why don't you wait out by the speeder. We don't want any
trouble.
THREEPIO: I heartily agree with you sir.
Threepio and his stubby partner
go outside and most of the
creatures at the bar go
back to their drinks.
Ben is
standing next to Chewbacca, an eight-foot-tall-
savage-looking creature
resembling a huge grey bushbaby monkey
with fierce baboon-like
fangs. His large blue eyes dominate a
fur-covered face and soften
his otherwise awesome appearance.
Over his matted, furry body
he wears two chrome bandoliers,
and little else. He is a
two-hundred-year-old Wookiee and a
sight to behold.
Ben speaks
to the Wookiee, pointing to Luke several times
during his conversation
and the huge creature suddenly lets
out a horrifying laugh.
Luke is more than a little bit
disconcerted and pretends
not to hear the conversation between
Ben and the giant Wookiee.
Luke is
terrified but tries not to show it. He quietly sips
his drink, looking over
the crowd for a more sympathetic ear
or whatever.
A large,
multiple-eyed Creature gives Luke a rough shove.
CREATURE: Negola dewaghi wooldugger?!?
The hideous
freak is obviously drunk. Luke tries to ignore
the creature and turns back
on his drink. A short, grubby
Human and an even smaller
rodent-like beast join the
belligerent monstrosity.
HUMAN: He doesn't like you.
LUKE: I'm sorry.
HUMAN: I don't like you either
The big
creature is getting agitated and yells out some
unintelligible gibberish
at the now rather nervous, young
adventurer.
HUMAN: (continued) Don't insult us. You just watch yourself. We're
wanted men. I have the death sentence in twelve systems.
LUKE: I'll be careful than.
HUMAN: You'll be dead.
The rodent
lets out a loud grunt and everything at the bar
moves away. Luke tries to
remain cool but it isn't easy. His
three adversaries ready
their weapons. Old Ben moves in behind
Luke.
BEN: This little one isn't worth the effort. Come let me buy you
something...
A powerful
blow from the unpleasant creature sends the
young would-be Jedi sailing
across the room, crashing through
tables and breaking a large
jug filled with a foul-looking
liquid. With a blood curdling
shriek, the monster draws a
wicked chrome laser pistol
from his belt and levels it at old
Ben. The bartender panics.
BARTENDER: No blasters! No blaster!
With astounding
agility old Ben's laser sword sparks to
life and in a flash an arm
lies on the floor. The rodent is
cut in two and the giant
multiple-eyed creature lies doubled,
cut from chin to groin.
Ben carefully and precisely turns off
his laser sword and replaces
it on his utility belt. Luke,
shaking and totally amazed
at the old man's abilities, attempts
to stand. The entire fight
has lasted only a matter of seconds.
The cantina goes back to
normal, although Ben is given a
respectable amount of room
at the bar. Luke, rubbing his
bruised head, approaches
the old man with new awe. Ben points
the the Wookiee.
BEN: This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our
needs.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.
Threepio paces in front of
the cantina as Artoo carries on an
electronic conversation
with another little red astro-droid. A
creature comes out of the
cantina and approaches two
stormtroopers in the street.
THREEPIO: I don't like the look of this.
INTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.
Strange creatures play exotic
big band music on odd-looking
instruments as Luke, still
giddy, downs a fresh drink and
follows Ben and Chewbacca
to a booth where Han Solo is
sitting. Han is a tough,
roguish starpilot about thirty years
old. A mercenary on a starship,
he is simple, sentimental, and
cocksure.
HAN: Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells
me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.
BEN: Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship.
HAN: Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?
BEN: Should I have?
HAN: It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve
parasecs!
Ben reacts
to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with
obvious misinformation.
HAN: (continued) I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local
bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships
now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?
BEN: Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions
asked.
HAN: What is it? Some kind of local trouble?
BEN: Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.
HAN: Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you
something extra. Ten thousand in advance.
LUKE: Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!
HAN: But who's going to fly it, kid! You?
LUKE: You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have
to sit here and listen...
BEN: We haven't that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand
now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.
HAN: Seventeen, huh!
Han ponders this for a few moments.
HAN: Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're
ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.
BEN: Ninety-four.
HAN: Looks like somebody's beginning to take an interest in your
handiwork.
Ben and
Luke turn around to see four Imperial stormtroopers
looking at the dead bodies
and asking the bartenders some
questions. The bartender
points to the booth.
TROOPER: All right, we'll check it out.
The stormtroopers
look over at the booth but Luke and Ben
are gone. The bartender
shrugs his shoulders in puzzlement.
HAN: Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This
could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.
BEN: You'll have to sell your speeder.
LUKE: That's okay. I'm never coming back to this planet again.
INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.
As Han is about to leave,
Greedo, a slimy green-faced alien
with a short trunk-nose,
pokes a gun in his side. The creature
speaks in a foreign tongue
translated into English subtitles.
GREEDO: Going somewhere, Solo?
HAN: Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your
boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money.
Han sits
down and the alien sits across from him holding
the gun on him.
GREEDO: It's too late. You should have paid him when you had the
chance. Jabba's put a price on your head, so large that every bounty
hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you
first.
HAN: Yeah, but this time I got the money.
GREEDO: If you give it to me, I might forget I found you.
HAN: I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba...
GREEDO: Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who
drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.
HAN: Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?
Han Solo
slowly reaches for his gun under the table.
GREEDO: You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship.
HAN: Over my dead body.
GREEDO: That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for
a long time.
HAN: Yes, I'll bet you have.
Suddenly
the slimy alien disappears in a blinding flash of
light. Han pulls his smoking
gun from beneath the table as the
other patron look on in
bemused amazement. Han gets up and
starts out of the cantina,
flipping the bartender some coins
as he leaves.
HAN: Sorry about the mess.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Several TIE fighters approach the Death Star.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
VADER: Her resistance to the mind probe is considerable. It will be
some time before we can extract any information from her.
An Imperial Officer interrupts the meeting.
IMPERIAL OFFICER: The final check-out is complete. All systems are
operational. What course shall we set?
TARKIN: Perhaps she would respond to an alternative form of
persuasion.
VADER: What do you mean?
TARKIN: I think it is time we demonstrate the full power of this
station. (to soldier) Set your course for Princess Leia's home planet
of Alderaan.
TROOPER: With pleasure.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.
Four heavily-armed stormtroopers
move menacingly along a
narrow slum alleyway crowed
with darkly clad creatures hawking
exotic goods in the dingy
little stalls. Men, monsters, and
robots crouch in the waste-filled
doorways, whispering and
hiding from the hot winds.
THREEPIO: Lock the door, Artoo.
One of
the troopers checks a tightly locked door and moves
on down the alleyway. The
door slides open a crack and
Threepio peeks out. Artoo
is barely visible in the background.
TROOPER: All right, check that side of the street. It's secure. Move
on to the next door.
The door opens, Threepio moves into the doorway.
THREEPIO: I would much rather have gone with Master Luke than stay
here with you. I don't know what all the trouble is about, but I'm
sure it must be your fault.
Artoo makes beeping sounds.
THREEPIO: You watch your language!
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET -- ALLEYWAY -- USED SPEEDER LOT.
Ben and Luke are standing
in a sleazy used speeder lot,
talking with a tall, grotesque,
insect-like used speeder
dealer. Strange exotic bodies
and spindly-legged beasts pass
by as the insect concludes
the sale by giving Luke some coins.
LUKE: He says it's the best he can do. Since the XP-38 came out,
they're just not in demand.
BEN: It will be enough.
Ben and
Luke leave the speeder lot and walk down the dusty
alleyway past a small robot
herding a bunch of anteater-like
creatures. Luke turns and
gives one last forlorn look at his
faithful speeder as he rounds
a corner. A darkly clad creature
moves out of the shadows
as they pass and watches them as they
disappear down another alley.
BEN: If the ship's as fast as he's boasting, we ought to do well.
INTERIOR: DOCKING BAY 94 -- DAY.
Jabba the Hut and a half-dozen
grisly alien pirates and purple
creatures stand in the middle
of the docking bay. Jabba is the
grossest of the slavering
hulks and his scarred face is a grim
testimonial to his prowess
as a vicious killer. He is a fat,
slug-like creature with
eyes on extended feelers and a huge
ugly mouth.
JABBA: Come on out, Solo!
A voice
from directly behind the pirates startles them and
they turn around to see
Han Solo and the giant Wookiee,
Chewbacca, standing behind
them with no weapons in sight.
HAN: I've been waiting for you, Jabba.
JABBA: I expected you would be.
HAN: I'm not the type to run.
JABBA: (fatherly-smooth) Han, my boy, there are times when you
disappoint me...why haven't you paid me? And why did you have to fry
poor Greedo like that...after all we've been through together.
HAN: You sent Greedo to blast me.
JABBA: (mock surprise) Han, why you're the best smuggler in the
business. You're too valuable to fry. He was only relaying my concern
at your delays. He wasn't going to blast you.
HAN: I think he thought he was. Next time don't send one of those
twerps. If you've got something to say to me, come see me yourself.
JABBA: Han, Han! If only you hadn't had to dump that shipment of
spice...you understand I just can't make an exception. Where would
I
be if every pilot who smuggled for me dumped their shipment at the
first sign of an Imperial starship? It's not good business.
HAN: You know, even I get boarded sometimes, Jabba. I had no choice,
but I've got a charter now and I can pay you back, plus a little
extra. I just need some more time.
JABBA: (to his men) Put your blasters away. Han, my boy, I'm only
doing this because you're the best and I need you. So, for an extra,
say twenty percent I'll give you a little more time...but this is it.
If you disappoint me again, I'll put a price on your head so large
you
won't be able to go near a civilized system for the rest of your short
life.
HAN: Jabba, I'll pay you because it's my pleasure.
EXTERIOR: DOCKING PORT ENTRY -- ALLEYWAY.
Chewbacca waits restlessly
at the entrance to Docking Bay 94.
Ben, Luke, and the robots
make their way up the street.
Chewbacca jabbers excitedly
and signals for them to hurry. The
darkly clad creature has
followed them from the speeder lot.
He stops in a nearby doorway
and speaks into a small
transmitter.
INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT -- DOCKING BAY 94
Chewbacca leads the group
into a giant dirt pit that is Docking
Bay 94. Resting in the middle
of the huge hole is a large,
round, beat-up, pieced-together
hunk of junk that could only
loosely be called a starship.
LUKE: What a piece of junk.
The tall figure of Han Solo comes down the boarding ramp.
HAN: She'll make point five beyond the speed of light. She may not
look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've added some
special modifications myself.
Luke scratches
his head. It's obvious he isn't sure about
all this. Chewbacca rushes
up the ramp and urges the others to
follow.
HAN: We're a little rushed, so if you'll hurry aboard we'll get out
of
here.
The group
rushes up the gang plank, passing a grinning Han
Solo.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON.
Chewbacca settles into the
pilot's chair and starts the mighty
engines of the starship.
INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT -- DOCKING BAY 94.
Luke, Ben, Threepio, and
Artoo move toward the Millennium
Falcon passing Solo.
THREEPIO: Hello, sir.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.
Eight Imperial stormtroopers
rush up to the darkly clad
creature.
TROOPER: Which way?
The darkly
clad creature points to the door of the docking
bay.
TROOPER: All right, men. Load your weapons!
INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT -- DOCKING BAY 94.
The troops hold their guns
at the ready and charge down the
docking bay entrance.
TROOPER: Stop that ship!
Han Solo
looks up and sees the Imperial stormtroopers
rushing into the docking
bay. Several of the troopers fire at
Han as he ducks into the
spaceship.
TROOPER: Blast 'em!
Han draws
his laser pistol and pops off a couple of shots
which force the stormtroopers
to dive for safety. The
pirateship engines whine
as Han hits the release button that
slams the overhead entry
shut.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON.
HAN: Chewie, get us out of here!
The group straps in for take off.
THREEPIO: Oh, my. I'd forgotten how much I hate space travel.
EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREETS.
The half-dozen stormtroopers
at a check point hear the general
alarm and look to the sky
as the huge starship rises above the
dingy slum dwellings and
quickly disappears into the morning
sky.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Han climbs into the pilot's
chair next to Chewbacca, who
chatters away as he points
to something on the radar scope.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- PLANET TATOOINE.
The Corellian pirateship zooms from Tatooine into space.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Han frantically types information
into the ship's computer.
Little Artoo appears momentarily
at the cockpit doorway, makes
a few beeping remarks, then
scurries away.
HAN: It looks like an Imperial cruiser. Our passengers must be hotter
than I thought. Try and hold them off. Angle the deflector shield
while I make the calculations for the jump to light speed.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- PLANET TATOOINE.
The Millennium Falcon pirateship
races away from the yellow
planet, Tatooine. It is
followed by two huge Imperial
stardestroyers.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Over the shoulders of Chewbacca
and Han, we can see the galaxy
spread before them. Luke
and Ben make their way into the
cramped cockpit where Han
continues his calculation.
HAN: Stay sharp! There are two more coming in; they're going to try
to
cut us off.
LUKE: Why don't you outrun them? I thought you said this thing was
fast.
HAN: Watch your mouth, kid, or you're going to find yourself floating
home. We'll be safe enough once we make the jump to hyperspace.
Besides, I know a few maneuvers. We'll lose them!
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- PLANET TATOOINE.
Imperial cruisers fire at the pirateship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
The ship shudders as an explosion flashes outside the window.
HAN: Here's where the fun begins!
BEN: How long before you can make the jump to light speed?
HAN: It'll take a few moments to get the coordinates from the
navi-computer.
The ship begins to rock violently as lasers hit it.
LUKE: Are you kidding? At the rate they're gaining...
HAN: Traveling through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy!
Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star or
bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick,
wouldn't it?
The ship
is now constantly battered with laserfire as a red
warning light begins to
flash.
LUKE: What's that flashing?
HAN: We're losing our deflector shield. Go strap yourself in, I'm
going to make the jump to light speed.
The galaxy
brightens and they move faster, almost as if
crashing a barrier. Stars
become streaks as the pirateship
makes the jump to hyperspace.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The Millennium Falcon zooms
into infinity in less than a
second.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Alderaan looms behind the Death Star battlestation.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
Admiral Motti enters the
quiet control room and bows before
Governor Tarkin, who stands
before the huge wall screen
displaying a small green
planet.
MOTTI: We've entered the Alderaan system.
Vader and
two stormtroopers enter with Princess Leia. Her
hands are bound.
LEIA: Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding
Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on
board.
TARKIN: Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it
signing the order to terminate your life!
LEIA: I surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility
yourself!
TARKIN: Princess Leia, before your execution I would like you to be
my
guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational.
No
star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.
LEIA: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems
will slip through your fingers.
TARKIN: Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way,
you have determined the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed
first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the
Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power...
on your home planet of Alderaan.
LEIA: No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can't
possibly...
TARKIN: You would prefer another target? A military target? Then name
the system!
Tarkin waves menacingly toward Leia.
TARKIN: I grow tired of asking this. So it'll be the last time. Where
is the Rebel base?
Leia overhears
an intercom voice announcing the approach to
Alderaan.
LEIA: (softly) Dantooine.
Leia lowers her head.
LEIA: They're on Dantooine.
TARKIN: There. You see Lord Vader, she can be reasonable. (addressing
Motti) Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready.
LEIA: What?
TARKIN: You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an
effective demonstration. But don't worry. We will deal with your Rebel
friends soon enough.
LEIA: No!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- BLAST CHAMBER.
VADER: Commence primary ignition.
A button
is pressed which switches on a panel of lights. A
hooded Imperial soldier
reaches overhead and pulls a lever.
Another lever is pulled.
Vader reaches for still another lever
and a bank of lights on
a panel and wall light up. A huge beam
of light emanates from within
a cone-shaped area and converges
into a single laser beam
out toward Alderaan. The small green
planet of Alderaan is blown
into space dust.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- CENTRAL HOLD AREA.
Ben watches Luke practice
the lightsaber with a small "seeker"
robot. Ben suddenly turns
away and sits down. He falters,
seems almost faint.
LUKE: Are you all right? What's wrong?
BEN: I felt a great disturbance in the Force...as if millions of
voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear
something terrible has happened.
Ben rubs
his forehead. He seems to drift into a trance. Then
he fixes his gaze on Luke.
BEN: You'd better get on with your exercises.
Han Solo enters the room.
HAN: Well, you can forget your troubles with those Imperial slugs. I
told you I'd outrun 'em.
Luke is once again practicing with the lightsaber.
HAN: Don't everyone thank me at once.
Threepio
watches Chewbacca and Artoo who are engrossed in a
game in which three-dimensional
holographic figures move along
a chess-type board.
HAN: Anyway, we should be at Alderaan about oh-two-hundred hours.
Chewbacca
and the two robots sit around the lighted table
covered with small holographic
monsters. Each side of the
table has a small computer
monitor embedded in it. Chewbacca
seems very pleased with
himself as he rests his lanky fur-
covered arms over his head.
THREEPIO: Now be careful, Artoo.
Artoo immediately
reaches up and taps the computer with his
stubby claw hand, causing
one of the holographic creatures to
walk to the new square.
A sudden frown crosses Chewbacca's
face and he begins yelling
gibberish at the tiny robot.
Threepio intercedes on behalf
of his small companion and
begins to argue with the
huge Wookiee.
THREEPIO: He made a fair move. Screaming about it won't help you.
HAN: (interrupting) Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee.
THREEPIO: But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
HAN: That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their socket
when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
THREEPIO: I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, Artoo. Let
the Wookiee win.
Luke stands
in the middle of the small hold area; he seems
frozen in place. A humming
lightsaber is held high over his
head. Ben watches him from
the corner, studying his movements.
Han watches with a bit of
smugness.
BEN: Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him.
LUKE: You mean it controls your actions?
BEN: Partially. But it also obeys your commands.
Suspended
at eye level, about ten feet in front of Luke, a
"seeker", a chrome baseball-like
robot covered with antennae,
hovers slowly in a wide
arc. The ball floats to one side of
the youth then the other.
Suddenly it makes a lightning-swift
lunge and stops within a
few feet of Luke's face. Luke doesn't
move and the ball backs
off. It slowly moves behind the boy,
then makes another quick
lunge, this time emitting a blood red
laser beam as it attacks.
It hits Luke in the leg causing him
to tumble over. Han lets
loose with a burst of laughter.
HAN: Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good
blaster at your side, kid.
LUKE: You don't believe in the Force, do you?
HAN: Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've
seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me
believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's
no mystical energy field that controls my destiny.
Ben smiles quietly
HAN: It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.
BEN: I suggest you try it again, Luke.
Ben places
a large helmet on Luke's head which covers his
eyes.
BEN: This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct.
LUKE: (laughing) With the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am
I supposed to fight?
BEN: Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them.
Han skeptically
shakes his head as Ben throws the seeker
into the air. The ball shoots
straight up in the air, then
drops like a rock. Luke
swings the lightsaber around blindly
missing the seeker, which
fires off a laserbolt which hits
Luke square on the seat
of the pants. He lets out a painful
yell and attempts to hit
the seeker.
BEN: Stretch out with your feelings.
Luke stands
in one place, seemingly frozen. The seeker
makes a dive at Luke and,
incredibly, he managed to deflect
the bolt. The ball ceases
fire and moves back to its original
position.
BEN: You see, you can do it.
HAN: I call it luck.
BEN: In my experience, there's no such thing as luck.
HAN: Look, going good against remotes is one thing. Going good against
the living? That's something else.
Solo notices
a small light flashing on the far side of the
control panel.
HAN: Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan.
Han and Chewbacca head back to the cockpit.
LUKE: You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the remote.
BEN: That's good. You have taken your first step into a larger world.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONFERENCE ROOM.
Imperial Officer Cass stands
before Governor Tarkin and the
evil Dark Lord Darth Vader.
TARKIN: Yes.
OFFICER CASS: Our scout ships have reached Dantooine. They found the
remains of a Rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted
for some time. They are now conducting an extensive search of the
surrounding systems.
TARKIN: She lied! She lied to us!
VADER: I told you she would never consciously betray the Rebellion.
TARKIN: Terminate her...immediately!
EXTERIOR: HYPERSPACE.
The pirateship is just coming
out of hyperspace; a strange
surreal light show surrounds
the ship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
HAN: Stand by, Chewie, here we go. Cut in the sublight engines.
Han pulls
back on a control lever. Outside the cockpit
window stars begin streaking
past, seem to decrease in speed,
then stop. Suddenly the
starship begins to shudder and
violently shake about. Asteroids
begin to race toward them,
battering the sides of the
ship.
HAN: What the...? Aw, we've come out of hyperspace into a meteor
shower. Some kind of asteroid collision. It's not on any of the
charts.
The Wookiee
flips off several controls and seems very cool
in the emergency. Luke makes
his way into the bouncing
cockpit.
LUKE: What's going on?
HAN: Our position is correct, except...no, Alderaan!
LUKE: What do you mean? Where is it?
HAN: Thats what I'm trying to tell you, kid. It ain't there. It's been
totally blown away.
LUKE: What? How?
Ben moves
into the cockpit behind Luke as the ship begins
to settle down.
BEN: Destroyed...by the Empire!
HAN: The entire starfleet couldn't destroy the whole planet. It'd take
a thousand ships with more fire power than I've...
A signal
starts flashing on the control panel and a muffled
alarm starts humming.
HAN: There's another ship coming in.
LUKE: Maybe they know what happened.
BEN: It's an Imperial fighter.
Chewbacca
barks his concern. A huge explosion bursts
outside the cockpit window,
shaking the ship violently. A
tiny, finned Imperial TIE
fighter races past the cockpit
window.
LUKE: It followed us!
BEN: No. It's a short range fighter.
HAN: There aren't any bases around here. Where did it come from?
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The fighter races past the Corellian pirateship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
LUKE: It sure is leaving in a big hurry. If they identify us, we're
in
big trouble.
HAN: Not if I can help it. Chewie...jam it's transmissions.
BEN: It'd be as well to let it go. It's too far out of range.
HAN: Not for long...
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The pirateship zooms over
the camera and away into the
vastness of space after
the Imperial TIE fighter.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
The tension mounts as the
pirateship gains on the tiny fighter.
In the distance, one of
the stars becomes brighter until it is
obvious that the TIE ship
is heading for it. Ben stands behind
Chewbacca.
BEN: A fighter that size couldn't get this deep into space on its own.
LUKE It must have gotten lost, been part of a convoy or something.
HAN: Well, he ain't going to be around long enough to tell anyone
about us.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The TIE fighter is losing
ground to the larger pirateship as
they race toward camera
and disappear over head.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
The distant star can be distinguished
as a small moon or
planet.
LUKE: Look at him. He's headed for that small moon.
HAN: I think I can get him before he gets there...he's almost in
range.
The small
moon begins to take on the appearance of a
monstrous spherical battle
station.
BEN: That's no moon! It's a space station.
HAN: It's too big to be a space station.
LUKE: I have a very bad feeling about this.
BEN: Yeah, I think your right. Full reverse! Chewie, lock in the
auxiliary power.
The pirateship
shudders and the TIE fighter accelerates
away toward the gargantuan
battle station.
LUKE: Why are we still moving towards it?
HAN: We're caught in a tractor beam! It's pulling us in!
LUKE: But there's gotta be something you can do!
HAN: There's nothin' I can do about it, kid. I'm in full power. I'm
going to have to shut down. But they're not going to get me without
a
fight!
Ben Kenobi puts a hand on his shoulder.
BEN: You can't win. But there are alternatives to fighting.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- DEATH STAR.
As the battered pirate starship
is towed closer to the awesome
metal moon, the immense
size of the massive battle station
becomes staggering. Running
along the equator of the gigantic
sphere is a mile-high band
of huge docking ports into which
the helpless pirateship
is dragged.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HUGE PORT DOORS.
The helpless Millennium Falcon
is pulled past a docking port
control room and huge laser
turret cannons.
VOICE OVER DEATH STAR INTERCOM: Clear Bay twenty-three-seven. We are
opening the magnetic field.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DOCKING BAY 2037.
The pirateship is pulled
in through port doors of the Death
Star, coming to rest in
a huge hangar. Thirty stormtroopers
stand at attention in a
central assembly area.
OFFICER: To you stations!
OFFICER: (to another officer) Come with me.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HALLWAY.
Stormtroopers run to their posts.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HANGAR 2037.
A line of stormtroopers march
toward the pirateship in
readiness to board it, while
other troopers stand with weapons
ready to fire.
OFFICER: Close all outboard shields! Close all outboard shields!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONFERENCE ROOM.
Tarkin pushes a button and
responds to the intercom buzz.
TARKIN: Yes.
VOICE: (over intercom) We've captured a freighter entering the remains
of the Alderaan system. It's markings match those of a ship that
blasted its way out of Mos Eisley.
VADER: They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the princess.
She may yet be of some use to us.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DOCKING BAY 2037.
Vader and a commander approach
the troops as an Officer and
several heavily armed troops
exit the spacecraft.
VOICE: (over intercom) Unlock one-five-seven and nine. Release
charges.
OFFICER: (to Vader) There's no one on board, sir. According to the
log, the crew abandoned ship right after takeoff. It must be a decoy,
sir. Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned.
VADER: Did you find any droids?
OFFICER: No, sir. If there were any on board, they must also have
jettisoned.
VADER: Send a scanning crew on board. I want every part of this ship
checked.
OFFICER: Yes, sir.
VADER: I sense something...a presence I haven't felt since...
Vader turns quickly and exits the hangar.
OFFICER: Get me a scanning crew in here on the double. I want every
part of this ship checked!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HALLWAY.
A trooper runs through the
hallway heading for the exit. In a
few moments all is quiet.
The muffled sounds of a distant
officer giving orders finally
fade. Two floor panels suddenly
pop up revealing Han Solo
and Luke. Ben Kenobi sticks his head
out of a third locker.
LUKE: Boy, it's lucky you had these compartments.
HAN: I use them for smuggling. I never thought I'd be smuggling myself
in them. This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off, I'd never get
past the tractor beam.
BEN: Leave that to me!
HAN: Damn fool. I knew that you were going to say that!
BEN: Who's the more foolish...the fool or the fool who follows him?
Han shakes
his head, muttering to himself. Chewbacca
agrees.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY.
The crewmen carry a heavy
box on board the ship, past the two
stormtroopers guarding either
side of the ramp.
TROOPER: The ship's all yours. If the scanners pick up anything,
report it immediately. All right, let's go.
The crewmen
enter the pirateship and a loud crashing sound
is followed by a voice calling
to the guard below.
HAN'S VOICE: Hey down there, could you give us a hand with this?
The stormtroopers
enter the ship and a quick round of
gunfire is heard.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- FORWARD BAY -- COMMAND OFFICE.
In a very small command office
near the entrance to the
pirateship, a Gantry Officer
looks out his window and notices
the guards are missing.
He speaks into the comlink.
GANTRY OFFICER: TX-four-one-two. Why aren't you at your post?
TX-four-one-two, do you copy?
A stormtrooper
comes down the ramp of the pirateship and
waves to the gantry officer,
pointing to his ear indicating
his comlink is not working.
The gantry officer shakes his head
in disgust and heads for
the door, giving his aide an annoyed
look.
GANTRY OFFICER: Take over. We've got a bad transmitter. I'll see what
I can do.
As the
officer approaches the door, it slides open
revealing the towering Chewbacca.
The gantry officer, in a
momentary state of shock,
stumbles backward. With a bone-
chilling howl, the giant
Wookiee flattens the officer with one
blow. The aide immediately
reaches for his pistol, but is
blasted by Han, dressed
as an Imperial stormtrooper. Ben and
the robots enter the room
quickly followed by Luke, also
dressed as a stormtrooper.
Luke quickly removes his helmet.
LUKE: You know, between his howling and your blasting everything in
sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here.
HAN: Bring them on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking
around.
THREEPIO: We found the computer outlet, sir.
Ben feeds
some information into the computer and a map of
the city appears on the
monitor. He begins to inspect it
carefully. Threepio and
Artoo look over the control panel.
Artoo finds something that
makes him whistle wildly.
BEN: Plug in. He should be able to interpret the entire Imperial
computer network.
Artoo punches
his claw arm into the computer socket and the
vast Imperial brain network
comes to life, feeding information
to the little robot. After
a few moments, he beeps something.
THREEPIO: He says he's found the main computer to power the tractor
beam that's holding the ship here. He'll try to make the precise
location appear on the monitor.
The computer monitor flashes readouts.
THREEPIO: The tractor beam is coupled to the main reactor in seven
locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship
to
leave.
Ben studies the data on the monitor readout.
BEN: I don't think you boys can help. I must go alone.
HAN: Whatever you say. I've done more that I bargained for on this
trip already.
LUKE I want to go with you.
BEN: Be patient, Luke. Stay and watch over the droids.
LUKE: But he can...
BEN: They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer
the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path
than mine. The Force will be with you...always!
Ben adjusts
the lightsaber on his belt and silently steps
out of the command office,
then disappears down a long grey
hallway. Chewbacca barks
a comment and Han shakes his head in
agreement.
HAN: Boy you said it, Chewie.
Han looks at Luke.
HAN: Where did you dig up that old fossil?
LUKE: Ben is a great man.
HAN: Yeah, great at getting us into trouble.
LUKE: I didn't hear you give any ideas...
HAN: Well, anything would be better than just hanging around waiting
for him to pick us up...
LUKE: Who do you think...
Suddenly
Artoo begins to whistle and beep a blue streak.
Luke goes over to him.
LUKE: What is it?
THREEPIO: I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir. He says "I found her",
and keeps repeating, "She's here."
LUKE: Well, who...who has he found?
Artoo whistles a frantic reply.
THREEPIO: Princess Leia.
LUKE: The princess? She's here?
HAN: Princess? What's going on?
THREEPIO: Level five. Detention block A A-twenty-three. I'm afraid
she's scheduled to be terminated.
LUKE: Oh, no! We've got to do something.
HAN: What are you talking about?
LUKE: The droid belongs to her. She's the one in the message.. We've
got to help her.
HAN: Now, look, don't get any funny ideas. The old man wants us to
wait right here.
LUKE: But he didn't know she was here. Look, will you just find a way
back into the detention block?
HAN: I'm not going anywhere.
LUKE: They're going to execute her. Look, a few minutes ago you said
you didn't want to just wait here to be captured. Now all you want
to
do is stay.
HAN: Marching into the detention area is not what I had in mind.
LUKE: But they're going to kill her!
HAN: Better her than me...
LUKE: She's rich.
Chewbacca growls.
HAN: Rich?
LUKE: Yes. Rich, powerful! Listen, if you were to rescue her, the
reward would be...
HAN: What?
LUKE: Well more wealth that you can imagine.
HAN: I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit!
LUKE: You'll get it!
HAN: I better!
LUKE: You will...
HAN: All right, kid. But you'd better be right about this.
Han looks at Chewie, who grunts a short grunt.
LUKE: All right.
HAN: What's your plan?
LUKE: Uh...Threepio, hand me those binders there will you?
Luke moves toward Chewbacca with electronic cuffs.
LUKE: Okay. Now, I'm going to put these on you.
Chewie lets out a hideous growl.
LUKE: Okay. Han, you put these on.
Luke sheepishly hands the binders to Han.
HAN: Don't worry, Chewie. I think I know what he has in mind.
The Wookiee
has a worried and frightened look on his face
as Han binds him with the
electronic cuffs.
THREEPIO: Master Luke, sir! Pardon me for asking...but, ah...what
should Artoo and I do if we're discovered here?
LUKE: Lock the door!
HAN: And hope they don't have blasters.
THREEPIO: That isn't very reassuring.
Luke and
Han put on their armored stormtrooper helmets and
start off into the giant
Imperial Death Star.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DETENTION AREA -- ELEVATOR TUBE.
Han and Luke try to look
inconspicuous in their armored suits
as they wait for a vacuum
elevator to arrive. Troops,
bureaucrats, and robots
bustle about, ignoring the trio
completely. Only a few give
the giant Wookiee a curious
glance.
Finally
a small elevator arrives and the trio enters.
LUKE: I can't see a thing in this helmet.
A bureaucrat races to get
aboard also, but is signaled away by
Han. The door to the pod-like
vehicle slides closed and the
elevator car takes off through
a vacuum tube.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN HALLWAY.
Several Imperial officers
walk through the wide main
passageway. They pass several
stormtroopers and a robot
similar to Threepio but
with an insect face. At the far end of
the hallway, a passing flash
of Ben Kenobi appears, then
disappears down a small
hallway. His appearance is so fleeting
that it is hard to tell
if he is real or just an illusion. No
one in the hallway seems
to notice him.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- INTERIOR ELEVATOR -- DETENTION SECURITY AREA.
Luke and Han step forward
to exit the elevator, but the door
slides open behind them.
The giant Wookiee and his two guards
enter the old grey security
station. Guards and laser gates
are everywhere. Han whispers
to Luke under his breath.
HAN: This is not going to work.
LUKE: Why didn't you say so before?
HAN: I did say so before!
INTERIOR: DETENTION AREA.
Elevator doors open. A tall,
grim looking Officer approaches
the trio.
OFFICER: Where are you taking this...thing?
Chewie
growls a bit at the remark but Han nudges him to
shut up.
LUKE: Prisoner transfer from Block one-one-three-eight.
OFFICER: I wasn't notified. I'll have to clear it.
The officer
goes back to his console and begins to punch in
the information. There are
only three other troopers in the
area. Luke and Han survey
the situation, checking all of the
alarms, laser gates, and
camera eyes. Han unfastens one of
Chewbacca's electronic cuffs
and shrugs to Luke.
Suddenly
Chewbacca throws up his hands and lets out with
one of his ear-piercing
howls. He grabs Han's laser rifle.
HAN: Look out! He's loose!
LUKE: He's going to pull us all apart.
HAN: Go get him!
The startled
guards are momentarily dumbfounded. Luke and
Han have already pulled
out their laser pistols and are
blasting away at the terrifying
Wookiee. Their barrage of
laserfire misses Chewbacca,
but hits the camera eyes, laser
gate controls, and the Imperial
guards. The officer is the
last of the guards to fall
under the laserfire just as he is
about to push the alarm
system. Han rushes to the comlink
system, which is screeching
questions about what is going on.
He quickly checks the computer
readout.
HAN: We've got to find out which cell this princess of yours is in.
Here it is...cell twenty-one-eight-seven. You go get her. I'll hold
them here.
Luke races down one of the
cell corridors. Han speaks into the
buzzing comlink.
HAN: (sounding official) Everything is under control. Situation
normal.
INTERCOM VOICE: What happened?
HAN: (getting nervous) Uh...had a slight weapons malfunction. But, uh,
everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here,
now, thank you. How are you?
INTERCOM VOICE: We're sending a squad up.
HAN: Uh, uh, negative. We had a reactor leak here now. Give us a few
minutes to lock it down. Large leak...very dangerous.
INTERCOM VOICE: Who is this? What's your operating number?
Han blasts the comlink and it explodes.
HAN: Boring conversation anyway. (yelling down the hall) Luke! We're
going to have company!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CELL ROW.
Luke stops in front of one
of the cells and blasts the door
away with a laser pistol.
When the smoke clears, Luke sees the
dazzling young princess-senator.
She had been sleeping and is
now looking at him with
an uncomprehending look on her face.
Luke is stunned by her incredible
beauty and stands staring at
her with his mouth hanging
open.
LEIA: (finally) Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper?
Luke takes off his helmet, coming out of it.
LUKE: What? Oh...the uniform. I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue
you.
LEIA: You're who?
LUKE: I'm here to rescue you. I've got your R2 unit. I'm here with Ben
Kenobi.
LEIA: Ben Kenobi is here! Where is he?
LUKE: Come on!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONFERENCE ROOM.
Darth Vader paces the room
as Governor Tarkin sits at the far
end of the conference table.
VADER: He is here...
TARKIN: Obi-Wan Kenobi! What makes you think so?
VADER: A tremor in the Force. The last time I felt it was in the
presence of my old master.
TARKIN: Surely he must be dead by now.
VADER: Don't underestimate the power of the Force.
TARKIN: The Jedi are extinct, their fire has gone out of the universe.
You, my friend, are all that's left of their religion.
There is a quiet buzz on the comlink.
TARKIN: Yes.
INTERCOM VOICE: Governor Tarkin, we have an emergency alert in
detention block A A-twenty-three.
TARKIN: The princess! Put all sections on alert!
VADER: Obi-Wan is here. The Force is with him.
TARKIN: If you're right, he must not be allowed to escape.
VADER: Escape is not his plan. I must face him alone.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DETENTION AREA -- HALLWAY.
An ominous buzzing sound
is heard on the other side of the
elevator door.
HAN: Chewie!
Chewbacca responds with a growling noise.
HAN: Get behind me! Get behind me!
A series
of explosions knock a hole in the elevator door
through which several Imperial
troops begin to emerge.
Han and
Chewie fire laser pistols at them through the smoke
and flame. They turn and
run down the cell hallway, meeting up
with Luke and Leia rushing
toward them.
HAN: Can't get out that way.
LEIA: Looks like you managed to cut off our only escape route.
HAN: (sarcastically) Maybe you'd like it back in your cell, Your
Highness.
Luke takes
a small comlink transmitter from his belt as
they continue to exchange
fire with stormtroopers making their
way down the corridor.
LUKE: See-Threepio! See-Threepio!
THREEPIO: (over comlink) Yes sir?
LUKE: We've been cut off! Are there any other ways out of the cell
bay?...What was that? I didn't copy!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN BAY GANTRY -- CONTROL TOWER.
Threepio paces the control
center as little Artoo beeps and
whistles a blue streak.
Threepio yells into the small comlink
transmitter.
THREEPIO: I said, all systems have been alerted to your presence, sir.
The main entrance seems to be the only way in or out; all other
information on your level is restricted.
Someone begins banging on the door.
TROOPER VOICE: Open up in there!
THREEPIO: Oh, no!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DETENTION CORRIDOR.
Luke and Leia crouch together
in an alcove for protection as
they continue to exchange
fire with troops. Han and Chewbacca
are barely able to keep
the stormtroopers at bay at the far
and of the hallway. The
laserfire is very intense, and smoke
fills the narrow cell corridor.
LUKE: There isn't any other way out.
HAN: I can't hold them off forever! Now what?
LEIA: This is some rescue. When you came in here, didn't you have a
plan for getting out?
HAN: (pointing to Luke) He's the brains, sweetheart.
Luke manages a sheepish grin and shrugs his shoulders.
LUKE: Well, I didn't...
The princess
grabs Luke's gun and fires at a small grate in
the wall next to Han, almost
frying him.
HAN: What the hell are you doing?
LEIA: Somebody has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, wise
guy.
She jumps
through the narrow opening as Han and Chewbacca
look on in amazement. Chewbacca
sniffs the garbage chute and
says something.
HAN: Get in there you big furry oaf! I don't care what you smell! Get
in there and don't worry about it.
Han gives
him a kick and the Wookiee disappears into the
tiny opening. Luke and Han
continue firing as they work their
way toward the opening.
HAN: Wonderful girl! Either I'm going to kill her or I'm beginning to
like her. Get in there!
Luke ducks
laserfire as he jumps into the darkness. Han
fires off a couple of quick
blasts creating a smokey cover,
then slides into the chute
himself and is gone.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
Han tumbles into the large
room filled with garbage and muck.
Luke is already stumbling
around looking for an exit. He finds
a small hatchway and struggles
to get it open. It won't budge.
HAN: (sarcastically) Oh! The garbage chute was a really wonderful
idea. What an incredible smell you've discovered! Let's get out of
here! Get away from there...
LUKE: No! wait!
Han draws
his laser pistol and fires at the hatch. The
laserbolt ricochets wildly
around the small metal room.
Everyone dives for cover
in the garbage as the bolt explodes
almost on top of them. Leia
climbs out of the garbage with a
rather grim look on her
face.
LUKE: Will you forget it? I already tried it. It's magnetically
sealed!
LEIA: Put that thing away! You're going to get us all killed.
HAN: Absolutely, Your Worship. Look, I had everything under control
until you led us down here. You know, it's not going to take them long
to figure out what happened to us.
LEIA: It could be worst...
A loud,
horrible, inhuman moan works its way up from the
murky depths. Chewbacca
lets out a terrified howl and begins
to back away. Han and Luke
stand fast with their laser pistols
drawn. The Wookiee is cowering
near one of the walls.
HAN: It's worst.
LUKE: There's something alive in here!
HAN: That's your imagination.
LUKE: Something just moves past my leg! Look! Did you see that?
HAN: What?
LUKE: Help!
Suddenly Luke is yanked under the garbage.
HAN: Luke! Luke! Luke!
Solo tries
to get to Luke. Luke surfaces with a gasp of air
and thrashing of limbs.
A membrane tentacle is wrapped around
his throat.
LEIA: Luke!
Leia extends a long pipe toward him.
LEIA: Luke, Luke, grab a hold of this.
LUKE: Blast it, will you! My gun's jammed.
HAN: Where?
LUKE: Anywhere! Oh!!
Solo fires
his gun downward. Luke is pulled back into the
muck by the slimy tentacle.
HAN: Luke! Luke!
Suddenly
the walls of the garbage receptacle shudder and
move in a couple of inches.
Then everything is deathly quiet.
Han and Leia give each other
a worried look as Chewbacca howls
in the corner. With a rush
of bubbles and muck Luke suddenly
bobs to the surface.
LEIA: Grab him!
Luke seems to be released by the thing.
LEIA: What happened?
LUKE: I don't know, it just let go of me and disappeared...
HAN: I've got a very bad feeling about this.
Before
anyone can say anything the walls begin to rumble
and edge toward the Rebels.
LUKE: The walls are moving!
LEIA: Don't just stand there. Try to brace it with something.
They place
poles and long metal beams between the closing
walls, but they are simply
snapped and bent as the giant
trashmasher rumbles on.
The situation doesn't look too good.
LUKE: Wait a minute!
Luke pulls out his comlink.
LUKE: Threepio! Come in Threepio! Threepio! Where could he be?
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN GANTRY -- COMMAND OFFICE.
A soft buzzer and the muted
voice of Luke calling out for
See-Threepio can be heard
on Threepio's hand comlink, which is
sitting on the deserted
computer console. Artoo and Threepio
are nowhere in sight. Suddenly
there is a great explosion and
the door of the control
tower flies across the floor. Four
armed stormtroopers enter
the chamber.
FIRST TROOPER: Take over! (pointing to the dead officer) See to him!
Look there!
A trooper
pushes a button and the supply cabinet door
slides open. See-Threepio
and Artoo-Detoo are inside. Artoo
follows his bronze companion
out into the office.
THREEPIO: They're madmen! They're heading for the prison level. If you
hurry, you might catch them.
FIRST OFFICER: (to his troops) Follow me! You stand guard.
The troops
hustle off down the hallway, leaving a guard to
watch over the command office.
THREEPIO: (to Artoo) Come on!
The guard aims a blaster at them.
THREEPIO: Oh! All this excitement has overrun the circuits of my
counterpart here. If you don't mind, I'd like to take him down to
maintenance.
TROOPER: All right.
The guard
nods and Threepio, with little Artoo in tow,
hurries out the door.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
As the walls rumble closed,
the room gets smaller and smaller.
Chewie is whining and trying to hold a wall back with his giant paws.
Han is leaning back against the other wall. Garbage is snapping and
popping. Luke is trying to reach Threepio.
LUKE: Threepio! Come in, Threepio! Threepio!
Han and
Leia try to brace the contracting walls with a
pole. Leia begins to sink
into the trash.
HAN: Get to the top!
LEIA: I can't
LUKE: Where could he be? Threepio! Threepio, will you come in?
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY -- SERVICE PANEL.
THREEPIO: They aren't here! Something must have happened to them. See
if they've been captured.
Little
Artoo carefully plugs his claw arm into a new wall
socket and a complex array
of electronic sounds spew from the
tiny robot.
THREEPIO: Hurry!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
The walls are only feet apart.
Leia and Han are braced against
the walls. The princess
is frightened. They look at each
other. Leia reaches out
and takes Han's hand and she holds it
tightly. She's terrified
and suddenly groans as she feels the
first crushing pressure
against her body.
HAN: One thing's for sure. We're all going to be a lot thinner! (to
Leia) Get on top of it!
LEIA: I'm trying!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY -- SERVICE PANEL.
THREEPIO: (to Artoo) Thank goodness, they haven't found them! Where
could they be?
Artoo
frantically beeps something to See-Threepio.
THREEPIO: Use the comlink? Oh, my! I forgot I turned it off!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
Meanwhile, Luke is lying
on his side, trying to keep his head
above the rising ooze. Luke's
comlink begins to buzz and he
rips it off his belt.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY -- SERVICE PANEL.
Muffled sounds of Luke's
voice over the comlink can be heard,
but not distinctly.
THREEPIO: Are you there, sir?
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
LUKE: Threepio!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY -- SERVICE PANEL.
THREEPIO: We've had some problems...
LUKE: (over comlink) Will you shut up and listen to me? Shut down all
garbage mashers on the detention level, will you? Do you copy?
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
LUKE: Shut down all the garbage mashers on the detention level.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY -- SERVICE PANEL.
LUKE: (over comlink) Shut down all the garbage mashers on the
detention level.
THREEPIO: (to Artoo) No. Shut them all down! Hurry!
Threepio
holds his head in agony as he hears the incredible
screaming and hollering
from Luke's comlink.
THREEPIO: Listen to them! They're dying, Artoo! Curse my metal body!
I
wasn't fast enough. It's all my fault! My poor master!
LUKE: (over comlink) Threepio, we're all right!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GARBAGE ROOM.
The screaming and hollering
is the sound of joyous relief. The
walls have stopped moving.
Han, Chewie and Leia embrace in the
background.
LUKE: We're all right. You did great.
Luke moves
to the pressure sensitive hatch, looking for a
number.
LUKE: Hey...hey, open the pressure maintenance hatch on unit number...
where are we?
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY -- SERVICE PANEL.
HAN: (over comlink) Three-two-six-eight-two-seven.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- TRACTOR BEAM -- POWER GENERATOR TRENCH.
Ben enters a humming service
trench that powers the huge
tractor beam. The trench
seems to be a hundred miles deep. The
clacking sound of huge switching
devices can be heard. The old
Jedi edges his his way along
a narrow ledge leading to a
control panel that connects
two large cables. He carefully
makes several adjustments
in the computer terminal, and
several lights on the board
go from red to blue.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- UNUSED HALLWAY.
The group exits the garbage
room into a dusty, unused hallway.
Han and Luke remove the
trooper suits and strap on the blaster
belts.
HAN: If we can just avoid any more female advice, we ought to be able
to get out of here.
Luke smiles
and scratches his head as he takes a blaster
from Solo.
LUKE: Well, let's get moving!
Chewie
begins growling and points to the hatch to the
garbage room, as he runs
away and then stops howling.
HAN: (to Chewie) Where are you going?
The Dia
Nogu bangs against the hatch and a long, slimy
tentacle works its way out
of the doorway searching for a
victim. Han aims his pistol.
LEIA: No, wait. They'll hear!
Han fires
at the doorway. The noise of the blast echoes
relentlessly throughout
the empty passageway. Luke simply
shakes his head in disgust.
HAN: (to Chewie) Come here, you big coward!
Chewie shakes his head "no."
HAN: Chewie! Come here!
LEIA: Listen. I don't know who you are, or where you came from, but
from now on, you do as I tell you. Okay?
Han is stunned at the command of the petite young girl.
HAN: Look, Your Worshipfulness, let's get one thing straight! I take
orders from one person! Me!
LEIA: It's a wonder you're still alive. (looking at Chewie) Will
somebody get this big walking carpet out of my way?
Han watches her start away. He looks at Luke.
HAN: No reward is worth this.
They follow her, moving swiftly down the deserted corridor.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- POWER TRENCH.
Suddenly a door behind Ben
slides open and a detachment of
stormtroopers marches to
the power trench. Ben instantly slips
into the shadows as an Officer
moves to within a few feet of
him.
OFFICER: Secure this area until the alert is canceled.
FIRST TROOPER: Give me regular reports.
All but two of the stormtroopers leave.
FIRST TROOPER: Do you know what's going on?
SECOND TROOPER: Maybe it's another drill.
Ben moves
around the tractor beam, watching the
stormtroopers as they turn
their backs to him. Ben gestures
with his hand toward them,
as the troops think they hear
something in the other hallway.
With the help of the Force,
Ben deftly slips past the
troopers and into the main hallway.
SECOND TROOPER: What was that?
FIRST TROOPER: Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HALLWAY.
Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and
Leia run down an empty hallway and
stop before a bay window
overlooking the pirateship. Troopers
are milling about the ship.
Luke takes out his pocket comlink.
HAN: (looking at his ship) There she is.
LUKE: See-Threepio, do you copy?
THREEPIO: (voice) For the moment. Uh, we're in the main hangar across
from the ship.
LUKE: We're right above you. Stand by.
Han is
watching the dozen or so troops moving in and out of
the pirateship. Leia moves
towards Han, touches his arm and
points out the window to
the ship.
LEIA: You came in that thing? You're braver that I thought.
HAN: Nice! Come on!
Han gives
her a dirty look, and they start off down the
hallway. They round a corner
and run right into twenty
Imperial stormtroopers heading
toward them. Both groups are
taken by surprise and stop
in their tracks.
FIRST TROOPER: It's them! Blast them!
Before
even thinking, Han draws his laser pistol and
charges the troops, firing.
His blaster knocks one of the
stormtroopers into the air.
Chewie follows his captain down
the corridor, stepping over
the fallen trooper on the floor.
HAN: (to Luke and Leia) Get back to the ship!
LUKE: Where are you going? Come back!
Han has already rounded a corner and does not hear.
LEIA: He certainly has courage.
LUKE: What good will it do us if he gets himself killed? Come on!
Luke is
furious but doesn't have time to think about it for
muted alarms begin to go
off down on the hangar deck. Luke and
Leia start off toward the
starship hangar.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- SUBHALLWAY.
Han chases the stormtroopers
down a long subhallway. He is
yelling and brandishing
his laser pistol. The troops reach a
dead end and are forced
to turn and fight. Han stops a few
feet from them and assumes
a defensive position. The troops
begin to raise their laser
guns. Soon all ten troopers are
moving into an attack position
in front of the lone
starpirate. Han's determined
look begins to fade as the troops
begin to advance. Solo jumps
backward as they fire at him.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- SUBHALLWAY.
Chewbacca runs down the subhallway
in a last-ditch attempt to
save his bold captain. Suddenly
he hears the firing of laser
guns and yelling. Around
the corner shoots Han, pirate
extraordinaire, running
for his life, followed by a host of
furious stormtroopers. Chewbacca
turns and starts running the
other way also.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- SUBHALLWAY.
Luke fires his laser pistol
wildly as he and Leia rush down a
narrow subhallway, chased
by several stormtroopers. They
quickly reach the end of
the subhallway and race through an
open hatchway.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CENTRAL CORE SHAFT.
Luke and Leia race through
the hatch onto a narrow bridge that
spans a huge, deep shaft
that seems to go into infinity. The
bridge has been retracted
into the wall of the shaft, and Luke
almost rushes into the abyss.
He loses his balance off the end
of the bridge as Leia, behind
him, takes hold of his arm and
pulls him back.
LUKE: (gasping) I think we took a wrong turn.
Blasts
from the stormtroopers' laser guns explode nearby
reminding them of the oncoming
danger. Luke fires back at the
advancing troops. Leia reaches
over and hits a switch that
pops the hatch door shut
with a resounding boom, leaving them
precariously perched on
a short piece of bridge overhang.
Laserfire from the troopers
continues to hit the steel door.
LEIA: There's no lock!
Luke blasts the controls with his laser pistol.
LUKE: That oughta hold it for a while.
LEIA: Quick, we've got to get across. Find the control that extends
the bridge.
LUKE: Oh, I think I just blasted it.
Luke looks
at the blasted bridge control while the
stormtroopers on the opposite
side of the door begin making
ominous drilling and pounding
sounds.
LEIA: They're coming through!
Luke notices
something on his stormtrooper belt, when
laserfire hits the wall
behind him. Luke aims his laser pistol
at a stormtrooper perched
on a higher bridge overhang across
the abyss from them. They
exchange fire. Two more troops
appear on another overhang,
also firing. A trooper is hit, and
grabs at his chest.
Another
trooper standing on the bridge overhang is hit by
Luke's laserfire, and plummets
down the shaft. Troopers move
back off the bridge; Luke
hands the gun to Leia.
LUKE: Here, hold this.
Luke pulls
a thin nylon cable from his trooper utility
belt. It has a grappler
hook on it. A trooper appears on a
bridge overhang and fires
at Luke and Leia. As Luke works with
the rope, Leia returns the
laser volley. Another trooper
appears and fires at them,
as Leia returns his fire as well.
Suddenly, the hatch door
begins to open, revealing the feet of
more troops.
LEIA: Here they come!
Leia hits
one of the stormtroopers on the bridge above, and
he falls into the abyss.
Luke tosses the rope across the gorge
and it wraps itself around
an outcropping of pipes. He tugs on
the rope to make sure it
is secure, then grabs the princess in
his arms. Leia looks at
Luke, then kisses him quickly on the
lips. Luke is very surprised.
LEIA: For luck!
Luke pushes
off and they swing across the treacherous abyss
to the corresponding hatchway
on the opposite side. Just as
Luke and Leia reach the
far side of the canyon, the
stormtroopers break through
the hatch and begin to fire at
the escaping duo. Luke returns
the fire before ducking into
the tiny subhallway.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- NARROW PASSAGEWAY.
Ben hides in the shadows
of the narrow passageway as several
stormtroopers rush past
him in the main hallway. He checks to
make sure they're gone,
then runs down the hallway in the
opposite direction. Darth
Vader appears at the far end of the
hallway and starts after
the old Jedi.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY.
Threepio looks around at
the troops milling about the
pirateship entry ramp.
THREEPIO: Where could they be?
Artoo,
plugged into the computer socket, turns his dome
left and right, beeping
a response.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CORRIDOR -- BLAST SHIELDS DOOR.
Han and Chewbacca run down
a long corridor with several
troopers hot on their trail.
TROOPER: Close the blast doors!
At the
end of the hallway, blast doors begin to close in
front of them. The young
starpilot and his furry companion
race past the huge doors
just as they are closing, and manage
to get off a couple off
laserblasts at the pursuing troops
before the doors slam shut.
TROOPER: Open the blast doors! Open the blast doors!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HALLWAY LEADING TO MAIN FORWARD BAY.
Ben hurries along one of
the tunnels leading to the hangar
where the pirateship waits.
Just before he reaches the hangar,
Darth Vader steps into view
at the end of the tunnel, not ten
feet away. Vader lights
his saber. Ben also ignites his and
steps slowly forward.
VADER: I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The
circle is now complete.
Ben Kenobi
moves with elegant ease into a classical
offensive position. The
fearsome Dark Knight takes a defensive
stance.
VADER: When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master.
BEN: Only a master of evil, Darth.
The two
Galactic warriors stand perfectly still for a few
moments, sizing each other
up and waiting for the right
moment. Ben seems to be
under increasing pressure and strain,
as if an invisible weight
were being placed upon him. He
shakes his head and, blinking,
tries to clear his eyes.
Ben makes
a sudden lunge at the huge warrior but is checked
by a lightning movement
of The Sith. A masterful slash stroke
by Vader is blocked by the
old Jedi. Another of the Jedi's
blows is blocked, then countered.
Ben moves around the Dark
Lord and starts backing
into the massive starship hangar. The
two powerful warriors stand
motionless for a few moments with
laser swords locked in mid-air,
creating a low buzzing sound.
VADER: Your powers are weak, old man.
BEN: You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more
powerful than you can possibly imagine.
Their lightsabers continue to meet in combat.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- MAIN FORWARD BAY.
Han Solo and Chewbacca, their
weapons in hand, lean back
against the wall surveying
the forward bay, watching the
Imperial stormtroopers make
their rounds of the hangar.
HAN: Didn't we just leave this party?
Chewbacca
growls a reply, as Luke and the princess join
them.
HAN: What kept you?
LEIA: We ran into some old friends.
LUKE: Is the ship all right?
HAN: Seems okay, if we can get to it. Just hope the old man got the
tractor beam out of commission.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HALLWAY.
Vader and Ben Kenobi continue
their powerful duel. As they hit
their lightsabers together,
lightning flashes on impact.
Troopers look on in interest
as the old Jedi and Dark Lord of
The Sith fight. Suddenly
Luke spots the battle from his
group's vantage point.
LUKE: Look!
Luke, Leia,
Han, and Chewie look up and see Ben and Vader
emerging from the hallways
on the far side of the docking bay.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DOCKING BAY.
Threepio and Artoo-Detoo
are in the center of the Death Star's
Imperial docking bay.
THREEPIO: Come on, Artoo, we're going!
Threepio
ducks out of sight as the seven stormtroopers who
were guarding the starship
rush past them heading towards Ben
and The Sith Knight. He
pulls on Artoo.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- HALLWAY.
Solo, Chewie, Luke, and Leia
tensely watch the duel. The
troops rush toward the battling
knights.
HAN: Now's our chance! Go!
They start for the Millennium
Falcon. Ben sees the troops
charging toward him and
realizes that he is trapped. Vader
takes advantage of Ben's
momentary distraction and brings his
mighty lightsaber down on
the old man. Ben manages to deflect
the blow and swiftly turns
around.
The old
Jedi Knight looks over his shoulder at Luke, lifts
his sword from Vader's then
watches his opponent with a serene
look on his face.
Vader
brings his sword down, cutting old Ben in half. Ben's
cloak falls to the floor
in two parts, but Ben is not in it.
Vader is puzzled at Ben's
disappearance and pokes at the empty
cloak. As the guards are
distracted, the adventurers and the
robots reach the starship.
Luke sees Ben cut in two and starts
for him. Aghast, he yells
out.
LUKE: No!
The stormtroopers
turn toward Luke and begin firing at him.
The robots are already moving
up the ramp into the Millennium
Falcon, while Luke, transfixed
by anger and awe, returns their
fire. Solo joins in the
laserfire. Vader looks up and advances
toward them, as one of his
troopers is struck down.
HAN: (to Luke) Come on!
LEIA: Come on! Luke, its too late!
HAN: Blast the door! Kid!
Luke fires
his pistol at the door control panel, and it
explodes. The door begins
to slide shut. Three troopers charge
forward firing laser bolts,
as the door slides to a close
behind them, shutting Vader
and the other troops out of the
docking bay. A stormtrooper
lies dead at the feet of his
onrushing compatriots. Luke
starts for the advancing troops,
as Solo and Leia move up
the ramp into the pirateship. He
fires, hitting a stormtrooper,
who crumbles to the floor.
BEN'S VOICE: Run, Luke! Run!
Luke looks
around to see where the voice came from. He
turns toward the pirateship,
ducking Imperial gunfire from the
troopers and races into
the ship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Han pulls back on the controls
and the ship begins to move. The
dull thud of laser bolts
bouncing off the outside of the ship
as Chewie adjusts his controls.
HAN: I hope the old man got that tractor beam out if commission, or
this is going to be a real short trip. Okay, hit it!
Chewbacca growls in agreement.
EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON.
The Millennium Falcon powers
away from the Death Star docking
bay, makes a spectacular
turn and disappears into the vastness
of space.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- CENTRAL HOLD AREA.
Luke, saddened by the loss
of Obi-Wan Kenobi, stares off
blankly as the robots look
on. Leia puts a blanket around him
protectively, and Luke turns
and looks up at her. She sits
down beside him.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Solo spots approaching enemy ships.
HAN: (to Chewie) We're coming up on the sentry ships. Hold 'em off!
Angle the deflector shields while I charge up the main guns!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- CENTRAL HOLD AREA.
Luke looks downward sadly,
shaking his head back and forth, as
the princess smiles comfortingly
at him.
LUKE: I can't believe he's gone.
Artoo-Detoo beeps a reply.
LEIA: There wasn't anything you could have done.
Han rushes
into the hold area where Luke is sitting with
the princess.
HAN: (to Luke) Come on, buddy, we're not out of this yet!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS -- COCKPIT.
Solo climbs into his attack position in the topside gunport.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD AREA.
Luke gets up and moves out
toward the gunports as Leia heads
for the cockpit.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS -- COCKPIT.
Luke climbs down the ladder
into the gunport cockpit, settling
into one of the two main
laser cannons mounted in large
rotating turrets on either
side of the ship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- SOLO'S GUNPORT.
Han adjusts his headset as
he sits before the controls of his
laser cannon, then speaks
into the attached microphone.
HAN: (to Luke) You in, kid? Okay, stay sharp!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS -- COCKPIT.
Chewbacca and Princess Leia
search the heavens for attacking
TIE fighters. The Wookiee
pulls back on the speed controls as
the ship bounces slightly.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- SOLO'S GUNPORT -- COCKPIT.
Computer graphic readouts
form on Solo's target screen, as Han
reaches for controls.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORT -- COCKPIT.
Luke sits in readiness for
the attack, his hand on the laser
cannon's control button.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Chewbacca spots the enemy ships and barks.
LEIA: (into intercom) Here they come!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT -- POV (POINT OF VIEW) -- SPACE.
The Imperial TIE fighters
move towards the Millennium Falcon,
one each veering off to
the left and right of the pirateship.
INTERIOR: TIE FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
The stars whip past behind
the Imperial pilot as he adjusts
his maneuvering joy stick.
EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- IN SPACE.
The TIE fighter races past
the Falcon, firing laser beams as
it passes.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD AREA.
Threepio is seated in the
hold area, next to Artoo-Detoo. The
pirateship bounces and vibrates
as the power goes out in the
room and then comes back
on.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT -- GUNPORTS.
A TIE fighter maneuvers in
front of Han, who follows it and
fires at it with the laser
cannon. Luke does likewise, as the
fighter streaks into view.
The ship has suffered a minor hit,
and bounces slightly.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Two TIE fighters dive down toward the pirateship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS.
Luke fires at an unseen fighter.
LUKE: They're coming in too fast!
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON/TIE FIGHTERS.
Pan with pirateship as two
TIE fighters charge through the
background. Laserbolts streak
from all the craft.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- CHEWBACCA.
The ship shudders as a laserbolt
hits very close to the
cockpit. The Wookiee chatters
something to Leia.
EXTERIOR: TIE FIGHTER -- SPACE.
Full shot of a TIE fighter
as it moves fast through the frame,
firing on the pirate starship.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- TIE FIGHTERS.
The two TIE fighters fire
a barrage of laserbeams at the
pirateship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- MAIN PASSAGEWAY.
A laserbolt streaks into
the side of the pirateship. The ship
lurches violently, throwing
poor Threepio into a cabinet fill
of small computer chips.
THREEPIO: Oooh!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT -- GUNPORTS.
Leia watches the computer
readout as Chewbacca manipulates the
ship's controls.
LEIA: We've lost lateral controls.
HAN: Don't worry, she'll hold together.
An enemy
laserbolt hits the pirateship's control panel,
causing it to blow out in
a shower of sparks.
HAN: (to ship) You hear me, baby? Hold together!
Artoo-Detoo
advances toward the smoking sparking control
panel, dousing the inferno
by spraying it with fire retardant
beeping all the while.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORT.
Luke swivels in his gun mount,
following the TIE fighter with
his laser cannon.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORT.
Solo aims his laser cannon at the enemy fighter.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
A TIE fighter streaks in front of the starship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Leia watches the TIE fighter ship fly over.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
A TIE fighter heads right
for the pirateship, then zooms
overhead.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS.
Luke follows the TIE fighter
across his field of view, firing
laserbeams from his cannon.
EXTERIOR: TIE FIGHTER.
A TIE fighter dives past the pirateship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS.
Luke fires at a TIE fighter.
At his port, Han follows a
fighter in his sights, releasing
a blast of laserfire. He
connects, and the fighter
explodes into fiery dust. Han laughs
victoriously.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Two TIE fighters move toward
and over the Millennium Falcon,
unleashing a barrage of
laserbolts at the ship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS.
Another TIE fighter moves
in on the pirateship and Luke,
smiling, fires the laser
cannon at it, scoring a spectacular
direct hit.
LUKE: Got him! I got him!
Han turns
and gives Luke a victory wave which Luke
gleefully returns.
HAN: Great kid! Don't get cocky.
Han turns back to his laser cannon.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Two more TIE fighters cross in front of the pirateship.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
While Chewbacca manipulates
the controls, Leia turns, looking
over her shoulder out the
ports.
LEIA: There are still two more of them out there!
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
A TIE fighter moves up over
the pirateship, firing laserblasts
at it.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS.
Luke and Han look into their
respective projected target
screens. An Imperial fighter
crosses Solo's port, and Han
swivels in his chair, following
it with blasts from his laser
cannon. Another fighter
crosses Luke's port, and he reacts in
a like manner, the glow
of his target screen lighting his
face.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The TIE fighter zooms toward
the pirateship, firing
destructive blasts at it.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORTS.
Luke fires a laserblast at
the approaching enemy fighter, and
it bursts into a spectacular
explosion. Luke's projected
screen gives a readout of
the hit. The pirateship bounces
slightly as it is struck
by the enemy fire.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- TIE FIGHTER.
The last of the attacking
Imperial TIE fighters looms in,
firing upon the Falcon.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GUNPORT.
Solo swivels behind his cannon,
his aim describing the arc of
the TIE fighter. The fighter
comes closer, firing at the
pirateship, but a well-aimed
blast from Solo's laser cannon
hits the attacker, which
blows up in a small atomic shower of
burning fragments.
LUKE: (laughing) That's it! We did it!
The princess
jumps up and gives Chewie a congratulatory
hug.
LEIA: We did it!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- PASSAGEWAY.
Threepio lies on the floor
of the ship, completely tangled in
the smoking, sparking wires.
THREEPIO: Help! I think I'm melting! (to Artoo) This is all your
fault.
Artoo turns
his dome from side to side, beeping in
response.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON.
The victorious Millennium
Falcon moves off majestically
through space.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
Darth Vader strides into
the control room, where Tarkin is
watching the huge view screen.
A sea of stars is before him.
TARKIN: Are they away?
VADER: They have just made the jump into hyperspace.
TARKIN: You're sure the homing beacon is secure aboard their ship? I'm
taking an awful risk, Vader. This had better work.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Han, removes his gloves and
smiling, is at the controls of the
ship. Chewie moves into
the aft section to check the damage.
Leia is seated near Han.
HAN: Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh? You know, sometimes I even amaze
myself.
LEIA: That doesn't sound too hard. Besides, they let us go. It's the
only explanation for the ease of our escape.
HAN: Easy...you call that easy?
LEIA: Their tracking us!
HAN: Not this ship, sister.
Frustrated, Leia shakes her head.
LEIA: At least the information in Artoo is still intact.
HAN: What's so important? What's he carrying?
LEIA: The technical readouts of that battle station. I only hope that
when the data is analyzed, a weakness can be found. It's not over yet!
HAN: It is for me, sister! Look, I ain't in this for your revolution,
and I'm not in it for you, Princess. I expect to be well paid. I'm
in
it for the money!
LEIA: You needn't worry about your reward. If money is all that you
love, then that's what you'll receive!
She angrily
turns, and as she starts out of the cockpit,
passes Luke coming in.
LEIA: Your friend is quite a mercenary. I wonder if he really cares
about anything...or anyone.
LUKE: I care!
Luke, shaking
his head, sits in the copilot seat. He and
Han stare out at the vast
blackness of space.
LUKE: So...what do you think of her, Han?
HAN: I'm trying not to, kid!
LUKE: (under his breath) Good...
HAN: Still, she's got a lot of spirit. I don't know, what do you
think? Do you think a princess and a guy like me...
LUKE: No!
Luke says
it with finality and looks away. Han smiles at
young Luke's jealousy.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND FOURTH MOON OF YAVIN.
The battered pirateship drifts
into orbit around the planet
Yavin and proceeds to one
of its tiny green moons.
EXTERIOR: FOURTH MOON OF YAVIN.
The pirateship soars over the dense jungle.
EXTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST.
An alert guard, his laser
gun in hand, scans the countryside.
He sets the gun down and
looks toward the temple, barely
visible in the foliage.
EXTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- JUNGLE TEMPLE.
Rotting in a forest of gargantuan
trees, an ancient temple
lies shrouded in an eerie
mist. The air is heavy with the
fantastic cries of unimaginable
creatures. Han, Luke and the
others are greeted by the
Rebel troops.
Luke and
the group ride into the massive temple on an
armored military speeder.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI -- MAIN HANGAR DECK.
The military speeder stops
in a huge spaceship hangar, set up
in the interior of the crumbling
temple. Willard, the
commander of the Rebel forces,
rushes up to the group and
gives Leia a big hug. Every
one is pleased to see her.
WILLARD: (holding Leia) You're safe! We had feared the worst.
Willard composes himself, steps back and bows formally.
WILLARD: When we heard about Alderaan, we were afraid that you were...
lost along with your father.
LEIA: We don't have time for our sorrows, Commander. The battle
station has surely tracked us here (looking pointedly to Han). It's
the only explanation for the ease of our escape. You must use the
information in this R2 unit to plan the attack. It is our only hope.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The surface of the Death
Star ominously approaches the red
planet Yavin.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
Grand Moff Tarkin and Lord
Vader are interrupted in their
discussion by the buzz of
the comlink. Tarkin moves to answer
the call.
TARKIN: Yes.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: We are approaching the planet Yavin. The
Rebel base is on a moon on the far side. We are preparing to orbit
the
planet.
EXTERIOR: YAVIN -- JUNGLE.
A lone guard stands in a
tower high above the Yavin landscape,
surveying the countryside.
A mist hangs over the jungle of
twisted green.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI -- WAR ROOM BRIEFING AREA.
Dodonna stands before a large
electronic wall display. Leia
and several other senators
are to one side of the giant
readout. The low-ceilinged
room is filled with starpilots,
navigators, and a sprinkling
of R2-type robots. Everyone is
listening intently to what
Dodonna is saying. Han and
Chewbacca are standing near
the back.
DODONNA: The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a
firepower greater than half the star fleet. It's defenses are designed
around a direct large-scale assault. A small one-man fighter should
be
able to penetrate the outer defense.
Gold Leader,
a rough looking man in his early thirties,
stands and addresses Dodonna.
GOLD LEADER: Pardon me for asking, sir, but what good are snub
fighters going to be against that?
DODONNA: Well, the Empire doesn't consider a small one-man fighter to
be any threat, or they'd have a tighter defense. An analysis of the
plans provided by Princess Leia has demonstrated a weakness in the
battle station.
Artoo-Detoo
stands next to a similar robot, makes beeping
sounds, and turns his head
from right to left.
DODONNA: The approach will not be easy. You are required to maneuver
straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The
target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust
port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the
reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should
destroy the station.
A murmer of disbelief runs through the room.
DODONNA: Only a precise hit will set up a chain reaction. The shaft
is
ray-shielded, so you'll have to use proton torpedoes.
Luke is
sitting next to Wedge Antilles, a hotshot pilot
about sixteen years old.
WEDGE: That's impossible, even for a computer.
LUKE: It's not impossible. I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my
T-sixteen back home. They're not much bigger than two meters.
DODONNA: Man your ships! And may the Force be with you!
The group rises and begins to leave.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The Death Star begins to
move around the planet toward the
tiny green moon.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Tarkin and Vader watch the
computer projected screen with
interest, as a circle of
lights intertwines around one another
on the screen showing it's
position in relation to Yavin and
the forth moon.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity.
The moon with the Rebel base will be in range in thirty minutes.
VADER: This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of
Kenobi and it will soon see the end of the Rebellion.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- MAIN HANGAR DECK.
Luke, Threepio and little
Artoo enter the huge spaceship
hangar and hurry along a
long line of gleaming spacefighters.
Flight crews rush around
loading last-minute armaments and
unlocking power couplings.
In an area isolated from this
activity Luke finds Han
and Chewbacca loading small boxes onto
an armored speeder.
MAN'S VOICE: (over loudspeaker) All flight trooper, man your stations.
All flight troops, man your stations.
Han is
deliberately ignoring the activity of the fighter
pilots' preparation. Luke
is quite saddened at the sight of
his friend's departure.
LUKE: So...you got your reward and you're just leaving then?
HAN: That's right, yeah! I got some old debts I've got to pay off with
this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to
stick around here, do you? Why don't you come with us? You're pretty
good in a fight. I could use you.
LUKE: (getting angry) Come on! Why don't you take a look around? You
know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use
a
good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them.
HAN: What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it? Besides,
attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like
suicide.
LUKE: All right. Well, take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's
what you're best at, isn't it?
Luke goes off and Han hesitates, then calls to him.
HAN: Hey, Luke...may the Force be with you!
Luke turns
and sees Han wink at him. Luke lifts his hand in
a small wave and then goes
off.
Han turns
to Chewie who growls at his captain,
HAN: What're you lookin' at? I know what I'm doing.
INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR DECK -- LUKE'S SHIP.
Luke, Leia, and Dodonna meet under a huge space fighter.
LEIA: What's wrong?
LUKE: Oh, it's Han! I don't know, I really thought he'd change his
mind.
LEIA: He's got to follow his own path. No one can choose it for him.
LUKE: I only wish Ben were here.
Leia gives
Luke a little kiss, turns, and goes off. As Luke
heads for his ship, another
pilot rushes up to him and grabs
his arm.
BIGGS: Luke! I don't believe it! How'd you get here...are you going
out with us?!
LUKE: Biggs! Of course, I'll be up there with you! Listen, have I got
some stories to tell...
Red Leader,
a rugged handsome man in his forties, comes up
behind Luke and Biggs. He
has the confident smile of a born
leader.
RED LEADER: Are you...Luke Skywalker? Have you been checked out on the
Incom T-sixty-five?
BIGGS: Sir, Luke is the best bushpilot in the outer rim territories.
Red Leader
pats Luke on the back as they stop in front of
his fighter.
RED LEADER: I met your father once when I was just a boy, he was a
great pilot. You'll do all right. If you've got half of your father's
skill, you'll do better than all right.
LUKE: Thank you, sir. I'll try.
Red Leader hurries to his own ship.
BIGGS: I've got to get aboard. Listen, you'll tell me your stories
when we come back. All right?
LUKE: I told you I'd make it someday, Biggs.
BIGGS: (going off) You did, all right. It's going to be like old
times, Luke. We're a couple of shooting stars that'll never be
stopped!
Luke laughs
and shakes his head in agreement. He heads for
his ship.
As Luke
begins to climb up the ladder into his sleek,
deadly spaceship, the crew
chief, who is working on the craft,
points to little Artoo,
who is being hoisted into a socket on
the back of the fighter.
CHIEF: This R2 unit of your seems a bit beat up. Do you want a new
one?
LUKE: Not on your life! That little droid and I have been through a
lot together. (to Artoo) You okay, Artoo?
The crewmen
lower Artoo-Detoo into the craft. Now a part of
the exterior shell of the
starship, the little droid beeps
that he is fine.
Luke climbs
up into the cockpit of his fighter and puts an
his helmet. Threepio looks
on from the floor of the massive
hangar as the crewmen secure
his little electronic partner
into Luke's X-wing. It's
an emotional-filled moment as Artoo
beeps good-bye.
CHIEF: Okay, easy she goes!
THREEPIO: Hang on tight,Artoo, you've got to come back.
Artoo beeps in agreement.
THREEPIO: You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?
Artoo whistles
his reply.
All final
preparations are made for the approaching battle.
The hangar is buzzing with
the last minute activity as the
pilots and crewmen alike
make their final adjustments. The hum
of activity is occasionally
trespassed by the distorted voice
of the loudspeaker issuing
commands. Coupling hoses are
disconnected from the ships
as they are fueled. Cockpit
shields roll smoothly into
place over each pilot. A signalman,
holding red guiding lights,
directs the ships. Luke, a trace
of a smile gracing his lips,
peers about through his goggles.
BEN'S VOICE: Luke, the Force will be with you.
Luke is confused at the voice and taps his headphones.
EXTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- JUNGLE.
All that can be seen of the
fortress is a lone guard standing
on a small pedestal jutting
out above the dense jungle. The
muted gruesome crying sounds
that naturally permeate this
eerie purgatory are overwhelmed
by the thundering din of ion
rockets as four silver starships
catapult from the foliage in
a tight formation and disappears
into the morning cloud cover.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
The princess, Threepio, and
a field commander sit quietly
before the giant display
showing the planet Yavin and its four
moons. The red dot that
represents the Death Star moves ever
closer to the system. A
series of green dots appear around the
fourth moon. A din of indistinct
chatter fills the war room.
MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE: Stand-by alert. Death Star approaching.
Estimated time to firing range, fifteen minutes.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The Death Star slowly moves
behind the massive yellow surface
of Yavin in the foreground,
as many X-wing fighters flying in
formation zoom toward us
and out of the frame.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- ANOTHER ANGLE.
Light from a distant sun
creates an eerie atmospheric glow
around a huge planet, Yavin.
Rebel fighters flying in
formation settle ominously
in the foreground and very slowly
pull away.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER STARSHIP -- COCKPIT.
Red Leader lowers his visor
and adjusts his gun sights,
looking to each side at
his wing men.
RED LEADER: All wings report in.
INTERIOR: ANOTHER COCKPIT.
One of the Rebel fighters checks in through his mike.
RED TEN: Red Ten standing by.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
Biggs checks his fighter's
controls, alert and ready for
combat.
RED SEVEN: (over Biggs' headset) Red Seven standing by.
BIGGS: Red Three standing by.
INTERIOR: PORKINS' COCKPIT.
PORKINS: Red Six standing by.
RED NINE: (over headset) Red Nine standing by.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
WEDGE: Red Two standing by.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
RED ELEVEN: (over headset) Red Eleven standing by.
LUKE: Red Five standing by.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER
Artoo-Detoo, in position
outside of the fighter, turns his
head from side to side and
makes beeping sounds.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: Lock S-foils in attack position.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The group of X-wing fighters
move in formation toward the
Death Star, unfolding the
wings and locking them in the "X"
position.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT
READ LEADER: (over headset) We're passing through their magnetic
field.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: Hold tight!
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke adjusts his controls
as he concentrates on the
approaching Death Star.
The ship begins to be buffeted
slightly.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Switch your deflectors on.
INTERIOR: ANOTHER COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Double front!
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The fighters, now X-shaped
darts, move in formation. The Death
Star now appears to be a
small moon growing rapidly in size as
the Rebel fighters approach.
Complex patterns on the metallic
surface begin to become
visible. A large dish antenna is built
into the surface on one
side.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
Wedge is amazed and slightly
frightened at the awesome
spectacle.
WEDGE: Look at the size of that thing!
RED LEADER: (over headset) Cut the chatter, Red Two.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: Accelerate to attack speed. This is it, boys!
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
As the fighters move closer
to the Death Star, the awesome
size of the gargantuan Imperial
fortress is revealed. Half of
the deadly space station
is in shadow and this area sparkles
with thousands of small
lights running in thin lines and
occasionally grouped in
large clusters; somewhat like a city
at night as seen from a
weather satellite.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S COCKPIT.
GOLD LEADER: Red Leader, this is Gold Leader.
RED LEADER: (over headset) I copy, Gold Leader.
GOLD LEADER: We're starting for the target shaft now.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader looks around at
his wingmen; the Death Star looming
in from behind. Two Y-wing
fighters bob back and forth in the
background. He moves his
computer targeting device into
position.
RED LEADER: We're in position. I'm going to cut across the axis and
try and draw their fire.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Two squads of Rebel fighters
peel off. The X-wings dive
towards the Death Star surface.
A thousand lights glow across
the dark grey expanse of
the huge station.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Alarm sirens scream as soldiers
scramble to large turbo-
powered laser gun emplacements.
Electronic drivers rotate the
huge guns into position
as crew adjust their targeting
devices.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Laserbolts streak through
the star-filled night. The Rebel
X-wing fighters move in
toward the Imperial base, as the Death
Star aims its massive laser
guns at the Rebel forces and
fires.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Princess Leia listens to
the battle over the intercom.
Threepio is at her side.
WEDGE: (over war room speaker system) Heavy fire, boss! Twenty-degrees.
RED LEADER: (over speaker) I see it. Stay low.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
An X-wing zooms across the surface of the Death Star.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Technical crews scurry here
and there loading last-minute
armaments and unlocking
power cables.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
Wedge maneuvers his fighter toward the menacing Death Star.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
X-wings continue in their attack course on the Death Star.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke nosedives radically,
starting his attack on the monstrous
fortress. The Death Star
surface streaks past the cockpit
window.
LUKE: This is Red Five; I'm going in!
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Luke's X-wing races toward
the Death Star. Laserbolts streak
from Luke's weapons, creating
a huge fireball explosion on the
dim surface.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Terror crosses Luke's face
as he realizes he won't be able to
pull out in time to avoid
the fireball.
BIGGS: (over headset) Luke, pull up!
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF DEATH STAR.
Luke's ship emerges from
the fireball, with the leading edges
of his wings slightly scorched.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
BIGGS: Are you all right?
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke adjusts his controls
and breathes a sigh of relief. Flak
bursts outside the cockpit
window.
LUKE: I got a little cooked, but I'm okay.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Rebel fighters continue to
strafe the Death Star's surface
with laserbolts.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Walls buckle and cave in.
Troops and equipment are blown in
all directions. Stormtroopers
stagger out of the rubble.
Standing in the middle of
the chaos, a vision of calm and
foreboding, is Darth Vader.
One of his Astro-Officers rushes
up to him.
ASTRO-OFFICER: We count thirty Rebel ships, Lord Vader. But they're
so
small they're evading our turbo-lasers!
VADER: We'll have to destroy them ship to ship. Get the crews to their
fighters.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Smoke belches from the giant
laser guns as they wind up their
turbine generators to create
sufficient power. The crew rushes
about preparing for another
blast. Even the troopers head gear
is not adequate to protect
them from the overwhelming noise of
the monstrous weapon. One
troopers bangs his helmet with his
hand in an attempt to stop
the ringing.
INTERIOR: READ LEADER'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Red Leader flies through a heavy hail of flak.
RED LEADER: Luke, let me know when you're going in.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
The Red Leader's X-wing flies
past Luke as he puts his nose
down and starts his attack
dive.
LUKE: I'm on my way in now...
RED LEADER: Watch yourself! There's a lot of fire coming from the
right side of that deflection tower.
LUKE: I'm on it.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke flings his X-wing into
a twisting dive across the horizon
and down onto the dim grey
surface.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING TRAVELING.
A shot hurls from Luke's
guns. Laserbolts streak toward the
onrushing Death Star surface.
Several small radar emplacements
erupt in flame. Laserfire
erupts from a protruding tower on
the surface.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
The blurry Death Star surface
races past the cockpit window as
a big smile sweeps across
Luke's face at the success of his
run. Flak thunders on all
sides of him.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
The Death Star superstructure
races past Luke as he maneuvers
his craft through a wall
of laserfire and peels away from the
surface towards the heavens.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
The thunder and smoke of
the big guns reverberate throughout
the massive structure. Many
soldiers rush about in the smoke
and chaos, silhouetted by
the almost continual flash of
explosions.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Biggs dives through a forest
of radar domes, antennae, and gun
towers as he shoots low
across the Death Star surface. A dense
barrage of laserfire streaks
by on all sides.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Imperial star pilots dash
in unison to a line of small
auxiliary hatches that lead
to Imperial TIE fighters.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Princess Leia, surrounded
by her generals and aides, paces
nervously before a lighted
computer table. On all sides
technicians work in front
of many lighted glass walls. Dodonna
watches quietly from one
corner. One of the officers working
over a screen speaks into
his headset.
CONTROL OFFICER: Squad leaders, we've picked up a new group of
signals. Enemy fighters coming your way.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Luke looks around to see
if he can spot the approaching
Imperial fighters.
LUKE: My scope's negative. I don't see anything.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S X-WING -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
The Death Star's surface
sweeps past as Red Leader searches
the sky for the Imperial
fighters. Flak pounds at his ship.
RED LEADER: Keep up your visual scanning. With all this jamming,
they'll be on top of you before your scope can pick them up.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Silhouetted against the rim
lights of the Death Star horizon,
four ferocious Imperial
TIE ships dive on the Rebel fighters.
Two of the TIE fighters
peel off and drop out of frame. Pan
with the remaining two TIE
ships.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Biggs panics when he discovers
a TIE ship on his tail. The
horizon in the background
twists around as he peels off,
hoping to lose the Imperial
fighter.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: Biggs! You've picked one up...watch it!
BIGGS: I can't see it! Where is he?!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Biggs zooms off the surface
and into space, closely followed
by an Imperial TIE fighter.
The TIE ship fires several
laserbolts at Biggs, but
misses.
: BIGGS' COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Biggs see the TIE ship behind
him and swings around, trying to
avoid him.
BIGGS: He's on me tight, I can't shake him...I can't shake him.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Biggs, flying at high altitude,
peels off and dives toward the
Death Star surface, but
he is unable to lose the TIE fighter,
who sticks close to his
tail.
INTERIOR: X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Luke is flying upside down.
He rotates his ship around to
normal attitude as he comes
out of his dive.
LUKE: Hang on, Biggs, I'm coming in.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Biggs and the tailing TIE
ship dive for the surface, now
followed by a fast-gaining
Luke. After Biggs dives out of
sight, Luke chases the Imperial
fighter.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
In the foreground, the Imperial
fighter races across the Death
Star's surface, closely
followed by Luke in the background.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
There is a shot from Luke's
X-wing of the TIE ship exploding
in a mass of flames.
LUKE: Got him!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Darth Vader strides purposefully
down a Death Star corridor,
flanked by Imperial stormtroopers.
VADER: Several fighters have broken off from the main group. Come with
me!
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
A concerned Princess Leia,
Threepio, Dodonna, and other
officers of the Rebellion
stand around the huge round readout
screen, listening to the
ship-to-ship communication on the
room's loudspeaker.
BIGGS: (over speaker) Pull in! Luke...pull in!
WEDGE: (over speaker) Watch your back, Luke!
INTERIOR LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
WEDGE: (over headset) Watch your back! Fighter's above you, coming in!
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Luke's ship soars away from
the Death Star's surface as he
spots the tailing TIE fighter.
INTERIOR: TIE FIGHTER'S COCKPIT.
The TIE pilot takes aim at Luke's X-wing.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The Imperial TIE fighter
pilot scores a hit on Luke's ship.
Fire breaks out on the right
side of the X-wing.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks out of his cockpit at the flames on his ship.
LUKE: I'm hit, but not bad.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
Smoke pours out from behind Artoo-Detoo.
LUKE'S VOICE: Artoo, see what you can do with it. Hang on back there.
Green laserfire moves past
the beeping little robot as his
head turns.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke nervously works his controls.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Red Six...
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
In the war room, Leia stands
frozen as she listens and worries
about Luke.
RED LEADER: (over speaker) Can you see Red Five?
RED TEN: (over speaker) There's a heavy fire zone on this side. Red
Five, where are you?
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke spots the TIE fighter
behind him and soars away from the
Death Star surface.
LUKE: I can't shake him!
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's ship soars closer
to the surface of the Death Star, an
Imperial TIE fighter closing
in on him in hot pursuit.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
The Death Star whips below Wedge.
WEDGE: I'm on him, Luke!
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
WEDGE: (over headset) Hold on!
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Wedge dives across the horizon
toward Luke and the TIE
fighter.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
Wedge moves his X-wing in rapidly.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke reacts frantically.
LUKE: Blast it! Wedge where are you?
INTERIOR: TIE FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
The fighter pilot watches
Wedge's X-wing approach. Another
X-wing joins him, and both
unleash a volley of laserfire on
the Imperial fighter.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The TIE fighter explodes,
filling the screen with white light.
Luke's ship can be seen
far in the distance.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks about in relief.
LUKE: Thanks, Wedge.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia, Threepio, Dodonna and
other Rebel officers are listening
to the Rebel Fighter's radio
transmissions over the war room
intercom.
BIGGS: (over speaker) Good shooting, Wedge!
GOLD LEADER: (over speaker) Red Leader...
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Leader peels off and
starts toward the long trenches at
the Death Star surface pole.
GOLD LEADER: This is Gold Leader. We're starting out attack run.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Three Y-wing fighters of
the Gold group dive out of the stars
toward the Death Star surface.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others are grouped
around the screen, as
technicians move about attending
to their duties.
RED LEADER: (over speaker) I copy, Gold Leader. Move into position.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Three Imperial TIE ships
in precise formation dive toward the
Death Star surface.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Darth Vader calmly adjusts
his control stick as the stars whip
past in the window above
his head.
VADER: Stay in attack formation!
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Technicians are seated at the computer readout table.
GOLD LEADER: (over speaker) The exhaust post is...
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
GOLD LEADER: ...marked and locked in!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Gold Leader approaches the
surface and pulls out to skim the
surface of the huge station.
The ship moves into a deep
trench, firing laserbolts.
The surface streaks past as
laserfire is returned by
the Death Star.
INTERIOR: GOLD FIVE'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT -- TRAVELING.
Gold Five is a pilot in his
early fifties with a very battered
helmet that looks like it's
been through many battles. He
looks around to see if enemy
ships are near. His fighter is
buffeted by Imperial flak.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Leader races down the
enormous trench that leads to the
exhaust port. Laserbolts
blast toward him in increasing
numbers, occasionally exploding
near the ship causing it to
bounce about.
GOLD LEADER: Switch power to front deflector screens.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Three Y-wing skim the Death
Star surface deep in the trench,
as laserbolts streak past
on all sides.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR SURFACE -- GUN EMPLACEMENTS.
An exterior surface gun blazes
away at the oncoming Rebel
fighters.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
GOLD LEADER: How many guns do you think, Gold Five.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
GOLD FIVE: (over speaker) I'd say about twenty guns. Some on the
surface, some on the towers.
Leia, Threepio,
and the technicians view the projected
target screen, as red and
blue target lights glow. The red
target near the center blinks
on and off.
MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE: (over speaker) Death Star will be in range
in
five minutes.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
The three
Y-wing fighters race toward camera and zoom
overhead through a hail
of laserfire.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Leader
pulls his computer targeting device down in
front of his eye. Laserbolts
continue to batter the Rebel
craft.
GOLD LEADER: Switching to targeting computer.
INTERIOR: GOLD TWO'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Two,
a younger pilot about Luke's age, pulls down his
targeting eye viewer and
adjusts it. His ship shudders under
intense laser barrage.
GOLD TWO: Computer's locked. Getting a signal.
As the
fighters begin to approach the target area, suddenly
all the laserfire stops.
An eerie clam clings over the trench
as the surface whips past
in a blur.
GOLD TWO: The guns...they've stopped!
EXTERIOR: GOLD FIVE'S COCKPIT.
Gold Five looks behind him.
GOLD FIVE: Stabilize your read deflectors. Watch for enemy fighters.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
GOLD LEADER: They've coming in! Three marks at two ten.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Three Imperial TIE ships,
Darth Vader in the center flanked by
two wingmen, dive in precise
formation almost vertically
toward the Death Star surface.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Darth Vader calmly adjusts
his control stick as the stars zoom
by.
VADER: I'll take them myself! Cover me!
WINGMAN'S VOICE: (over speaker) Yes, sir.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Three TIE fighters zoom across the surface of the Death Star.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader lines up Gold Two in
his targeting computer. Vader's
hands grip the control stick
as he presses the button.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT
The cockpit explodes around Gold Two. His head falls forward.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
As Gold Two's ship explodes, debris is flung out into space.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Leader looks over his shoulder at the scene.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR TRENCH.
The three TIE fighters race
along in the trench in a tight
formation.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Leader panics.
GOLD LEADER: (into mike) I can't maneuver!
INTERIOR: GOLD FIVE'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Five, the old veteran, trys to calm Gold Leader.
GOLD FIVE: Stay on target.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
The Death Star races by outside
the cockpit window as he
adjusts his targeting device.
GOLD LEADER: We're too close.
INTERIOR: GOLD FIVE'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
The older pilot remains calm.
GOLD FIVE: Stay on target!
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Now he's really panicked.
GOLD LEADER: Loosen up!
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader calmly adjusts his
targeting computer and pushes the
fire button.
INTERIOR: GOLD LEADER'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Leader's ship is hit by Vader's laser.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Gold Leader explodes in a
ball of flames, throwing debris in
all directions.
INTERIOR: GOLD FIVE'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
Gold Five moves in on the exhaust port.
GOLD FIVE: Gold Five to Red Leader...
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks over his shoulder
at the action outside of his
cockpit.
GOLD FIVE: (over headset) Lost Tiree, lost Dutch.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: I copy, Gold Five.
INTERIOR: GOLD FIVE'S Y-WING -- COCKPIT.
GOLD FIVE: They came from behind....
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
One of the engines explodes
on Gold Five's Y-wing fighter,
blazing out of control.
He dives past the horizon toward the
Death Star's surface, passing
a TIE fighter during his
descent. Gold Five, a veteran
of countless campaigns, spins
toward his death.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks nervously about him at the explosive battle.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
Grant Moff Tarkin and a Chief
Officer stand in the Death
Star's control room.
OFFICER: We've analyzed their attack, sir, and there is a danger.
Should I have your ship standing by?
TARKIN: Evacuate? In out moment of triumph? I think you overestimate
their chances!
Tarkin
turns to the computer readout screen. Flames move
around the green disk at
the center of the screen, as numbers
read across the bottom.
VOICE: (over speaker) Rebel base, three minutes and closing.
INTERIOR: READ LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader looks over at his wingmen.
RED LEADER: Red Group, this is Red Leader.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Dodonna moves to the intercom
as he fiddles with the computer
keys.
RED LEADER: (over speaker) Rendezvous at mark six point one.
WEDGE: (over speaker) This is Red Two. Flying toward you.
BIGGS: (over speaker) Red Three, standing by.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT:
DODONNA: (over headset) Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your
group out of range for the next run.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
RED LEADER'S VOICE: (over headset) Copy, Base One. Luke, take Red Two
and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal...to start your run.
Luke nods his head.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
The X-wing fighters of Luke,
Biggs, and Wedge fly in formation
high above the Death Star's
surface.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke peers out from his cockpit.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Two X-wings move across the
surface of the Death Star. Red
Leader's X-wing drops down
to the surface leading to the
exhaust port.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader looks around to
watch for the TIE fighters. He
begins to perspire.
RED LEADER: This is it!
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Red Leader roams down the
trench of the Death Star as lasers
streak across the black
heavens.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR SURFACE -- GUN EMPLACEMENTS.
A huge remote-control laser
cannon fires at the approaching
Rebel fighters.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR TRENCH.
The Rebel fighters evade the Imperial laser blasts.
INTERIOR: RED TEN'S COCKPIT.
Red Ten looks around for the Imperial fighters.
RED TEN: We should be able to see it by now.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR TRENCH.
From the cockpits of the
Rebel pilots, the surface of the
Death Star streaks by, with
Imperial laserfire shooting toward
them.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: Keep your eyes open for those fighters!
INTERIOR: RED TEN'S COCKPIT.
RED TEN: There's too much interference!
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- DEATH STAR TRENCH.
Three X-wing fighters move
in formation down the Death Star
trench.
RED TEN'S VOICE: Red Five, can you see them from where you are?
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks down at the Death Star surface below.
LUKE: No sign of any...wait!
INTERIOR: RED TEN'S COCKPIT.
Red Ten looks up and sees the Imperial fighters.
LUKE: (over headset) Coming in point three five.
RED TEN: I see them.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Three TIE fighters, Vader
flanked by two wingmen, dive in a
tight formation. The sun
reflects off their dominate solar
fins as they loop toward
the Death Star's surface.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader pulls his targeting
device in front of his eyes and
makes several adjustments.
RED LEADER: I'm in range.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Red Leader's X-wing moves up the Death Star trench.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: Target's coming up!
Red Leader
looks at his computer target readout screen. He
then looks into his targeting
device.
RED LEADER: Just hold them off for a few seconds.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader adjusts his control
lever and dives on the X-wing
fighters.
VADER: Close up formation.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR TRENCH.
The three TIE fighters move
in formation across the Death Star
surface.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader
lines up his target on the targeting device
cross hairs.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Vader and his wingmen zoom down the trench.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader rapidly approaches
the two X-wings of Red Ten and Red
Twelve. Vader's laser cannon
flashes below the view of the
front porthole. the X-wings
show in the center of Vader's
computer screen.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
Red Twelve's X-wing fighter
is hit by Vader's laserfire, and
it explodes into flames
against the trench.
INTERIOR: RED TEN'S COCKPIT.
Red Ten works at his controls
furiously, trying to avoid
Vader's fighter behind him.
RED TEN: You'd better let her loose.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader is concentrating on his targeting device.
RED LEADER: Almost there!
INTERIOR: RED TEN'S COCKPIT.
Red Ten panics.
RED TEN: I can't hold them!
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Vader and his wingmen whip
through the trench in pursuit of
the Rebel fighters.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader cooly pushes the fire button on his control stick.
INTERIOR: RED TEN'S COCKPIT.
Darth Vader's well-aimed
laserfire proves to be unavoidable,
and strikes Red Ten's ship.
Red Ten screams in anguish and
pain.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Red Ten's ship explodes and bursts into flames.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Grimly, Red Leader takes
careful aim and watches his computer
targeting device, which
shows the target lined up in the cross
hairs, and fires.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
RED LEADER: It's away!
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
An armed Imperial stormtrooper
is knocked to the floor from
the attack explosion. Other
troopers scurrying about the
corridors are knocked against
the wall and lose their balance.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others stare at the computer screen.
RED NINE'S VOICE: (over speaker) It's a hit!
RED LEADER: (over speaker) Negative.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader looks back at
the receding Death Star. Tiny
explosions are visible in
the distance.
RED LEADER: Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the
surface.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR -- TIE FIGHTER.
Darth Vader peels off in
pursuit as Red Leader's X-wing passes
the Death Star horizon.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader swings his ship around for the next kill.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
LUKE: (over headset) Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to
point...
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke tries to spot Red Leader.
He looks down at the Death Star
surface.
LUKE: ...oh-five; we'll cover for you.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Stay there...
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
A wary Red Leader looks about nervously.
RED LEADER: ...I just lost my starboard engine.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks excitedly toward Red Leader's X-wing.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Get set to make your attack run.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader's gloved hands make
contact with the control sticks, and
he presses their firing
buttons.
INTERIOR: RED LEADER'S COCKPIT.
Red Leader fights to gain control of his ship.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Laserbolts are flung from
Vader's TIE fighter, connecting with
Red Leader's Rebel X-wing
fighter. Red Leader buys it,
creating a tremendous explosion
far below. He screams and is
destroyed.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks out the window
of his X-wing at the explosion far
below. For the first time,
he feels the helplessness of his
situation.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Grand Moff Tarkin casts a sinister eye at the computer screen.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Rebel base, one minute and closing.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Dodonna and Princess Leia,
with Threepio beside them, listen
intently to the talk between
the pilots. The room is grim
after Red Leader's death.
Princess Leia nervously paces the
room.
LUKE: (over speaker) Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in.
We're going in full throttle.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
The horizon twists as Wedge begins to pull out.
WEDGE: Right with you, boss.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
The two X-wings peel off
against a background of stars and
dive toward the Death Star.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
BIGGS: Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
LUKE: It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
The three X-wings move in,
unleashing a barrage of laserfire.
Laserbolts are returned
from the Death Star.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
Luke's lifelong friend struggles with his controls.
BIGGS: We'll stay back far enough to cover you.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S COCKPIT.
Flak and laserbolts flash outside Luke's cockpit window.
WEDGE: (over headset) My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the
exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- GUN EMPLACEMENTS.
The Death Star laser cannon
slowly rotates as it shoots
laserbolts.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks around for the
Imperial TIE fighters. He thinks for
a moment and then moves
his targeting device into position.
LUKE: Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
Wedge looks excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters.
WEDGE: What about the tower?
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
LUKE: You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR SURFACE.
Luke's X-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke breaks into a nervous
sweat as the laserfire is returned,
knicking one of his wings
close to the engine.
LUKE: (to Artoo) Artoo...that, that stabilizer's broken loose again!
See if you can't lock it down!
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
Artoo works to repair the
damages. The canyon wall rushes by
in the background, making
his delicate task seem even more
precarious.
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Two laser cannons are firing on the Rebel fighters.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
Wedge looks up and sees the TIE ships.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke's targeting device marks off the distance to the target.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Vader and his wingmen zoom closer.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader adjusts his controls
and fires laserbolts at two X-wings
flying down the trench.
He scores a direct hit on Wedge.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others are grouped around the computer board.
WEDGE: (over speaker) I'm hit! I can't stay with you.
LUKE: (over speaker) Get clear, Wedge.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
LUKE: You can't do any more good back there!
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S COCKPIT.
WEDGE: Sorry!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Wedge pulls his crippled X-wing back away from the battle.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader watches the escape but issues a command to his wingmen.
VADER: Let him go! Stay on the leader!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's X-wing speeds down
the trench; the three TIE fighters,
still in perfect unbroken
formation, tail close behind.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
Biggs looks around at the TIE fighters. He is worried.
BIGGS: Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't
hold them!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
The three TIE fighters move
ever closer, closing in on Luke
and Biggs.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks back anxiously at little Artoo.
LUKE: Artoo, try and increase the power!
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
Ignoring the bumpy ride,
flak, and lasers, a beeping
Artoo-Detoo struggles to
increase the power, his dome turning
from side to side.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Stealthily, the TIE formation creeps closer.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader adjusts his control stick.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
Biggs looks around at the TIE fighters.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
Luke looks into his targeting
device. He moves it away for a
moment and ponders its use.
He looks back into the computer
targeter.
BIGGS: (over headset) Hurry up, Luke!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Vader and his wingmen race
through the Death Star trench.
Biggs moves in to cover
for Luke, but Vader gains on him.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
Biggs sees the TIE fighter aiming at him.
BIGGS: Wait!
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader squeezes the fire button on his controls.
INTERIOR: BIGGS' COCKPIT.
Biggs' cockpit explodes around him, lighting him in red.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Biggs' ship bursts into a
million flaming bits and scatters
across the surface.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others stare at the computer board.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING COCKPIT.
Luke is stunned by Biggs'
death. His eyes are watering, but
his anger is also growing.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
Grand Moff Tarkin watches
the projected target screen with
satisfaction.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Rebel base, thirty seconds and closing.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader takes aim on Luke and talks to the wingmen.
VADER: I'm on the leader.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR -- LUKE'S SHIP.
Luke's ship streaks through the trench of the Death Star.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Princess Leia returns her
general's worried and doubtful
glances with solid, grim
determination. Threepio seems nervous.
THREEPIO: Hang on, Artoo!
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke concentrates on his targeting device.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Three TIE fighters charge away down the trench toward Luke.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader's finger's curls around the control stick.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke adjusts the lens of his targeting device.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's ship charges down the trench.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke lines up the yellow
cross-hair lines of the targeting
device's screen. He looks
into the targeting device, then
starts at a voice he hears.
BEN'S VOICE: Use the Force, Luke.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
The Death Star trench zooms by.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks up, then starts
to look back into the targeting
device. He has second thoughts.
BEN'S VOICE: Let go, Luke.
A grim
determination sweeps across Luke's face as he closes
his eyes and starts to mumble
Ben's training to himself.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's fighter streaks through the trench.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
VADER: The Force is strong with this one!
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Vader follows Luke's X-wing down the trench.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks to the targeting
device, then away as he hears
Ben's voice.
BEN'S VOICE: Luke, trust me.
Luke's
hand reaches for the control panel and presses the
button. The targeting device
moves away.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others stand watching the projected screen.
BASE VOICE: (over speaker) His computer's off. Luke, you switched off
your targeting computer. What's wrong?
LUKE: (over speaker) Nothing. I'm all right.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's ship streaks ever close to the exhaust port.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks at the Death Star surface streaking by.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
Artoo-Detoo turns his head
from side to side, beeping in
anticipation.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
The three TIE fighters, manned
by Vader and his two wingmen,
follow Luke's X-wing down
the trench.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader maneuvers his controls
as he looks at his doomed target.
He presses the fire buttons
on his control sticks. Laserfire
shoots toward Luke's X-wing
fighter.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
A large burst of Vader's
laserfire engulfs Artoo. The arms go
limp on the smoking little
droid as he makes a high-pitched
sound.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks frantically back over his shoulder at Artoo.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER.
Smoke billows out around little Artoo and sparks begin to fly.
LUKE: I've lost Artoo!
Artoo's beeping sounds die out.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others stare
intently at the projected screen,
while Threepio watches the
Princess. Lights representing the
Death Star and targets glow
brightly.
MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE: The Death Star has cleared the planet. The
Death Star has cleared the planet.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONTROL ROOM.
Tarkin glares at the projected target screen.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Rebel base, in range.
TARKIN: You may fire when ready.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Commence primary ignition.
An officer
reaches up and pushes buttons on the control
panel, as green lighted
buttons turn to red.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
The three TIE fighters zoom
down the Death Star trench in
pursuit of Luke, never breaking
formation.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S COCKPIT.
Luke looks anxiously at the exhaust port.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader adjusts his control
sticks, checking his projected
targeting screen.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's ship barrels down the trench.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader's targeting computer
swings around into position. Vader
takes careful aim on Luke's
X-wing fighter.
VADER: I have you now.
He pushes the fire buttons.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
The three TIE fighters move
in on Luke. As Vader's center
fighter unleashes a volley
of laserfire, one of the TIE ships
at his side is hit and explodes
into flame. The two remaining
ships continue to move in.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks about, wondering
whose laserfire destroyed Vader's
wingman.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader is taken by surprise, and looks out from his cockpit.
VADER: What?
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S WINGMAN -- COCKPIT.
Vader's wingman searches
around him trying to locate the
unknown attacker.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Han and Chewbacca grin from ear to ear.
HAN: (yelling) Yahoo!
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
The Millennium Falcon heads
right at the two TIE fighters.
It's a collision course.
INTERIOR: WINGMAN'S COCKPIT.
The wingman spots the pirateship
coming at him and warns the
Dark Lord.
WINGMAN: Look out!
EXTERIOR: DEATH STAR TRENCH.
Vader's wingman panics at
the sight of the oncoming pirate
starship and veers radically
to one side, colliding with
Vader's TIE fighter in the
process. Vader's wingman crashes
into the side wall of the
trench and explodes. Vader's damaged
ship spins out of the trench
with a damaged wing.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Vader's ship spins out of
control with a bent solar fin,
heading for deep space.
INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.
Vader turns round and round
in circles as his ship spins
into space.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Solo's ship moves in toward the Death Star trench.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
Solo, smiling, speaks to Luke over his headset mike.
HAN: (into mike) You're all clear, kid.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- WAR ROOM.
Leia and the others listen to Solo's transmission.
HAN: (over speaker) Now let's blow this thing and go home!
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke looks up and smiles.
He concentrates on the exhaust port,
then fires his laser torpedoes.
EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.
Luke's torpedoes shoot toward
the port and seems to simply
disappear into the surface
and not explode. But the shots do
find their mark and have
gone into the exhaust port and are
heading for the main reactor.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke throws his head back in relief.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
An Imperial soldier runs
to the control panel board and pulls
the attack lever as the
board behind him lights up.
INTERCOM VOICE: Stand by to fire at Rebel base.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
Two X-wings, a Y-wing, and
the pirateship race toward Yavin in
the distance.
INTERIOR: DEATH STAR.
Several Imperial soldiers,
flanking a pensive Grand Moff
Tarkin, busily push control
levers and buttons.
INTERCOM VOICE: Standing by.
The rumble of a distant explosion begins.
EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.
The Rebel ships race out
of sight, leaving the moon-like Death
Star alone against a blanket
of stars. Several small flashes
appear on the surface. The
Death Star bursts into a supernova,
creating a spectacular heavenly
display.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.
HAN: Great shot, kid. That was one in a million.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.
Luke is at ease, and his eyes are closed.
BEN'S VOICE: Remember, the Force will be with you...always.
The ship rocks back and forth.
EXTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S TIE FIGHTER.
Vader's ship spins off into space.
EXTERIOR: SPACE.
The Rebel ships race toward the fourth moon of Yavin.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- MAIN HANGAR.
Luke climbs out of his starship
fighter and is cheered by a
throng of ground crew and
pilots. Luke climbs down the ladder
as they all welcome him
with laughter, cheers, and shouting.
Princess
Leia rushes toward him.
LEIA: Luke! Luke! Luke!
She throws
her arms around Luke and hugs him as they dance
around in a circle. Solo
runs in toward Luke and they embrace
one another, slapping each
other on the back.
HAN: (laughing) Hey! Hey!
LUKE: (laughing) I knew you'd come back! I just knew it!
HAN: Well, I wasn't gonna let you get all the credit and take all the
reward.
Luke and
Han look at one another, as Solo playfully shoves
at Luke's face. Leia moves
in between them.
LEIA: (laughing) Hey, I knew there was more to you than money.
Luke looks toward the ship.
LUKE: Oh, no!
The fried little Artoo-Detoo
is lifted off the back of the
fighter and carried off
under the worried eyes of Threepio.
THREEPIO: Oh, my! Artoo! Can you hear me? Say something! (to mechanic)
You can repair him, can't you?
TECHNICIAN: We'll get to work on him right away.
THREEPIO: You must repair him! Sir, if any of my circuits or gears
will help, I'll gladly donate them.
LUKE: He'll be all right.
INTERIOR: MASSASSI OUTPOST -- MAIN THRONE ROOM.
Luke, Han, and Chewbacca
enter the huge ruins of the main
temple. Hundreds of troops
are lined up in neat rows. Banners
are flying and at the far
end stands a vision in white, the
beautiful young Senator
Leia. Luke and the others solemnly
march up the long aisle
and kneel before Senator Leia. From
one side of the temple marches
a shined-up and fully repaired
Artoo-Detoo. He waddles
up to the group and stands next to an
equally pristine Threepio,
who is rather awestruck by the
whole event. Chewbacca is
confused. Dodonna and several other
dignitaries sit on the left
of the Princess Leia. Leia is
dressed in a long white
dress and is staggeringly beautiful.
She rises and places a gold
medallion around Han's neck. He
winks at her. She then repeats
the ceremony with Luke, who is
moved by the event. They
turn and face the assembled troops,
who all bow before them.
Chewbacca growls and Artoo beeps with
happiness.
FADE OUT
END CREDITS OVER STARS
THE END
-----------------------
CREDITS
Written and Directed by
GEORGE LUCAS
Produced by
GARY KURTZ
STARRING
MARK HAMILL HARRISON FORD CARRIE FISHER
PETER CUSHING
and ALEC GUINNESS
with
ANTHONY DANIELS, KENNY BAKER, PETER MAYHEW,
DAVID PROWSE, JACK PURVIS, EDDIE BYRNE
Production Designer
JOHN BARRY
Director of Photography
GILBERT TAYLOR, B.S.C.
Music by
JOHN WILLIAMS
Performed
by The London Symphony Orchestra; Original Music
Copyright 1977 by Fox Fanfare Music, Inc.
Special Photographic Effects Supervisor
JOHN DYKSTRA
Special Production and Mechanical Effects Supervisor
JOHN STEARS
Film Editiors
PAUL HIRSCH, MARCIA LUCAS, RICHARD CHEW
Production Supervisor
ROBERT WATTS
Production Illustration
RALPH McQUARRIE
Costume Designer
JOHN MOLLO
Art Directors
NORMAN REYNOLDS, LESLIE DILLEY
Make up Supervisor
STUART FREEBORN
Production Sound Mixer
DEREK BALL
Casting
IRENE LAMB, DIANE CRITTENDEN, VIC RAMOS
Supervising Sound Editor
SAM SHAW
Special Dialogue and Sound Effects
BEN BURTT
Sound Editors
ROBERT R. RUTLEDGE, GORDON DAVIDSON,
GENE CORSO
Supervising Music Editor
KENNETH WANNBERG
Rerecording Mixers
DON MacDOUGALL, BOB MINKLER, RAY WEST,
ROBERT LITT, MIKE MINKLER, LESTER FRESHOLTZ,
RICHARD PORTMAN
Dolby Sound Consultant
STEPHEN KATZ
Orchestrations
HERBERT W. SPENCER
Music Scoring Mixer
ERIC TOMLINSON
Assistant Film Editors
TODD BOEKELHEIDE, JAY MIRACLE,
COLIN KITCHENS, BONNIE KOEHLER
Camera Operators
RONNIE TAYLOR, GEOFF GLOVER
Set Decorator
ROGER CHRISTIAN
Production Manager
BRUCE SHARMAN
Assistant Directors
TONY WAYE, GERRY GAVIGAN, TERRY MADDEN
Location Manager
ARNOLD ROSS
Assistant to Producer
BUNNY ALSUP
Assistant to Director
LUCY AUTREY WILSON
Production Assistant
PAT CARR, MIKI HERMAN
Gaffer
RON TABERA
Property Master
FRANK BRUTON
Wardrobe Supervisor
RON BECK
Stunt Coordinator
PETER DIAMOND
Continuity
ANN SKINNER
Titles
DAN PERRI
Second Unit Photography
CARROLL BALLARD, RICK CLEMENTE,
ROBERT DALVA, TAK FUIJIMOTO
Second Unit Art Direction
LEON ERICKSON, AL LOCATELLI
Second Unit Production Managers
DAVID LESTER, PETER HERALD, PEPI LENZI
Second Unit Make-up
RICK BAKER, DOUGLAS BESWICK
Assistant Sound Editors
ROXANNE JONES, KAREN SHARP
Production Controller
BRIAN GIBBS
Location Auditor
RALPH M. LEO
Assistant Auditors
STEVE CULLIP, PENNY McCARTHY, KIM FALKINBURG
Advertising/Publicity Supervisor
CHARLES LIPPINCOTT
Unit Publicist
BRIAN DOYLE
Still Photographer
JOHN JAY
MINIATURE AND OPTICAL EFFECTS UNIT
First Camerman
RICHARD EDLUND
Second Camerman
DENNIS MUREN
Assistant Camermen
DOUGLAS SMITH, KENNETH RALSTON, DAVID ROBMAN
Second Unit Photography
BRUCE LOGAN
Composite Optical Photography
ROBERT BLALACK (PRAXIS)
Optical Photography Coordinator
PAUL ROTH
Optical Printer Operators
DAVID BERRY, DAVID McCUE, RICHARD PECORELLA,
ELDON RICKMAN, JAMES VAN TREES, JR.
Optical Camera Assistants
CALEB ASCHKYNAZO, JOHN C. MOULDS,
BRUCE NICHOLSON,
GARY SMITH, BERT TERRERI,
DONNA TRACEY, JIM WELLS, VICKY WITT
Production Supervisor
GEORGE E. MATHER
Matte Artist
P. S. ELLENSHAW
Planet and Satellite Artist
RALF McQUARRIE
Effects Illustration and Design
JOSEPH JOHNSTON
Additional Spacecraft Design
COLIN CANTWELL
Chief Model Maker
GRANT McCUNE
Model Builders
DAVID BEASLEY, JON ERLAND, LORNE PETERSON,
STEVE GAWLEY, PAUL HUSTON, DAVID JONES
Animation and Rotoscope Design
ADAM BECKETT
Animators
MICHAEL ROSS, PETER KURAN, JONATHAN SEAY,
CHRIS CASADY, LYN GERRY, DIANA WILSON
Stop Motion Animation
JON BERG, PHIL TIPPET
Miniature Explosions
JOE VISKOCIL, GREG AUER
Computer Animation and Graphics Displays
DAN O'BANNON, LARRY CUBA, JOHN WALSH,
JAY TEITZELL, IMAGE WEST
Film Control Coordinator
MARY M. LIND
Film Librarians
CINDY ISMAN, CONNIE McCRUM, PAMELA MALOUF
Electronic Designs
ALVAH J. MILLER
Special Components
JAMES SHOURT
Assistants,
MASAAKI NORIHORO, ELEANOR PORTER
Camera and Mechanical Design
DON TRUMBULL, RICHARD ALEXANDER,
WILLIAM SHOURT
Special Mechanical Equipment
JERRY GREENWOOD, DOUGLAS BARNETT, STUART ZIFF,
DAVID SCOTT
Production Managers
BOB SHEPHERD, LON TINNEY
Production Staff
PATRICIA ROSE DUIGNAN, MARK KLINE,
RHONDA PECK, RON NATHAN
Assistant Editor (Opticals)
BRUCE MICHAEL GREEN
Additional Optical Effects
VAN DER VEER PHOTO EFFECTS,
RAY MERCER & COMPANY,
MODERN FILM EFFECTS,
MASTER FILM EFFECTS
DE PATIE-FRELENG ENTERPRISES, INC.
PANAVISION TECHNICOLOR Prints by DELUXE
Making Films Sound Better, DOLBY SYSTEM
Noise Reduction -- High Fidelity
CAST
Luke Skywalker
MARK HAMILL
Han Solo
HARRISON FORD
Princess Leia Organa
CARRIE FISHER
Grand Moff Tarkin
PETER CUSHING
Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
ALEC GUINNESS
See-Threepio (C-3PO)
ANTHONY DANIELS
Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
KENNY BAKER
Chewbacca
PETER MAYHEW
Lord Darth Vader
DAVID PROWSE
Uncle Owen
PHIL BROWN
Aunt Beru
SHELAGH FRASER
Chief Jawa
JACK PERVIS
General Dodonna
ALEX McCRINDLE
General Willard
EDDIE BYRNE
Red Leader
DREWE HEMLEY
Red Two (Wedge)
DENNIS LAWSON
Red Three (Biggs)
GARRICK HAGON
Red Four (John "D")
JACK KLAFF
Red Six (Porkins)
WILLIAM HOOTKINS
Gold Leader
ANGUS McINNIS
Gold Two
JEREMY SINDEN
Gold Five
GRAHAM ASHLEY
General Taggi
DON HENDERSON
General Motti
RICHARD LE PARMENTIER
Commander One
LESLIE SCHOFIELD
Photographed in Tunisia
Tikal National Park, Guatemala
Death Valley National Monument, California
and at EMI Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, England
Music
Recorded at Anvil Recording Studios, Denham, England
Post Production Completed at American Zoetrope, San Francisco,
California
Rerecording at Samuel
Goldwyn Studios, Los Angeles, California
The producers wish to thank the government of Tunisia,
the Institute of
Anthropology and History of Guatemala, and the National
Park Service,
United States Department of the Interior, for their
cooperation.
Copyright 1977 by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
A LUCASFILM LTD. PRODUCTION
Ownership of this motion picture is protected
by copyright and other
applicable laws and any unauthorized
duplication, distribution, or
exhibition of this motion picture could
result in criminal prosecution
as well as civil liability.