Star Wars - A New Hope
Page 6
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 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
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.