by George Lucas
STAR WARS
Episode IV
A NEW HOPE
From the
JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS
by
George Lucas
Revised Fourth Draft
January 15, 1976
LUCASFILM LTD.
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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 stumb
les 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
