A New Hope (6 page)

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 thr ough 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 furcovered 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.