A New Hope (12 page)

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.

INTERIOR 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.