{"id":36,"date":"2010-03-31T09:12:21","date_gmt":"2010-03-31T13:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp\/?p=36"},"modified":"2022-05-10T22:57:12","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T02:57:12","slug":"star-wars-public-version-of-fourth-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/star-wars-public-version-of-fourth-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Star Wars (Public Version of Fourth Draft)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Download: Star Wars (Public Version of Fourth Draft)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Published Script:\u00a0 Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope,\u00a0 from the Journal of the Whills. <\/em>As published in The Art of Star Wars<\/em>, Ballantine 1979
\nLabeled:\u00a0 “Revised Fourth Draft, January 15, 1976.”
\n147 pages
\nJan 15, 1976<\/p>\n

Star Wars
\nPublished Script: Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope, from the Journal of the Whills
\nPublic Version of Fourth Draft.
\nDated: “Revised Fourth Draft, January 15, 1976.”
\nAs published in The Art of Star Wars, Ballantine 1979.<\/p>\n


\nSTAR WARS<\/strong><\/p>\n

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“It is a period of civil war. Rebel
\nspaceships, striking from a hidden
\nbase, have won their first victory
\nagainst the evil Galactic Empire.<\/p>\n

During the battle, Rebel spies managed
\nto steal secret plans to the Empire’s
\nultimate weapon, the Death Star, an
\narmored space station with enough
\npower to destroy an entire planet.<\/p>\n

Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents,
\nPrincess Leia races home aboard her
\nstarship, custodian of the stolen plans
\nthat can save her people and restore
\nfreedom to the galaxy…”<\/p>\n

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 Star Destroyer. Hundreds of deadly laserbolts streak from the Imperial Star Destroyer, causing the main solar fin of the Rebel craft to disintegrate.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER – MAIN PASSAGEWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Another blast shakes them as they struggle along their way.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nDid you hear that? They’ve shut
\ndown the main reactor. We’ll be
\ndestroyed for sure. This is
\nmadness!<\/p>\n

Rebel troopers rush past the robots and take up positions in the main passageway. They aim their weapons toward the door.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWe’re doomed!<\/p>\n

The little R2 unit makes a series of electronic sounds that only another robot could understand.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThere’ll be no escape for the
\nPrincess this time.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhat’s that?
\nEXT. SPACECRAFT IN SPACE<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

An explosion hits near the robots.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI should have known better than to
\ntrust the logic of a half-sized
\nthermocapsulary dehousing assister…<\/p>\n

Artoo counters with an angry rebuttal as the battle rages around the two hapless robots.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DESERT WASTELAND – DAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHurry up! Come with me! What
\nare you waiting for?! Get in gear!<\/p>\n

The robot scoots around in a tight circle, stops short, and
\nsmoke 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.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER – MAIN HALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER<\/p>\n

A woman’s hand puts a card into an opening in Artoo’s dome.
\nArtoo makes beeping sounds.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nArtoo! Artoo-Detoo, where are
\nyou?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nAt last! Where have you been?<\/p>\n

Stormtroopers can be heard battling in the distance.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThey’re heading in this direction.
\nWhat are we going to do? We’ll be
\nsent to the spice mines of Kessel
\nor smashed into who knows what!<\/p>\n

Artoo scoots past his bronze friend and races down the subhallway. Threepio chases after him.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWait a minute, where are you
\ngoing?<\/p>\n

Artoo responds with electronic beeps.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER – CORRIDOR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

IMPERIAL OFFICER
\nThe Death Star plans are not in
\nthe main computer.<\/p>\n

Vader squeezes the neck of the Rebel Officer, who struggles in vain.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nWhere are those transmissions you
\nintercepted? [What have you done with those plans?]<\/p>\n

Vader lifts the Rebel off his feet by his throat.<\/p>\n

REBEL OFFICER
\nWe intercepted no transmissions.
\nAaah… This is a consular ship.
\nWere on a diplomatic mission.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nIf this is a consular ship… where
\nis the Ambassador?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nCommander, tear this ship apart
\nuntil you’ve found those plans
\nand bring me the Ambassador. I
\nwant her alive!<\/p>\n

The stormtroopers scurry into the subhallways.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER – SUBHALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nThere she is! Set for stun!<\/p>\n

Leia steps from her hiding place and blasts a trooper with
\nher laser pistol. She starts to run but is felled by a
\nparalyzing ray. The troopers inspect her inert body.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nShe’ll be all right. Inform Lord
\nVader we have a prisoner.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER – SUBHALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHey, you’re not permitted in there.
\nIt’s restricted. You’ll be
\ndeactivated for sure..<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps something to him.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nDon’t call me a mindless philosopher,
\nyou overweight glob of grease! Now
\ncome out before somebody sees you.<\/p>\n

Artoo whistles something at his reluctant friend regarding
\nthe mission he is about to perform.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nSecret mission? What plans? What
\nare you talking about? I’m not
\ngetting in there!<\/p>\n

Artoo isn’t happy with Threepio’s stubbornness, and he beeps and twangs angrily.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI’m going to regret this.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER<\/p>\n

The safety door snaps shut, and with the thunder of exploding latches the tiny lifepod ejects from the disabled ship.
\nINT. IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER<\/p>\n

On the main viewscreen, the lifepod carrying the two terrified robots speeds away from the stricken Rebel spacecraft.<\/p>\n

CHIEF PILOT
\nThere goes another one.<\/p>\n

CAPTAIN
\nHold your fire. There are no
\nlife forms. It must have been
\nshort-circuited.
\nINT. LIFEPOD<\/p>\n

Artoo and Threepio look out at the receding Imperial starship. Stars circle as the pod rotates through the galaxy.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThat’s funny, the damage doesn’t
\nlook as bad from out here.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps an assuring response.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nAre you sure this things safe?
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT – POWER STATION – DAY<\/p>\n

Heat waves radiate from the dozen or so bleached white
\nbuildings. 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.<\/p>\n

WOMAN
\nI’ve told you kids to slow down!<\/p>\n

Luke pulls up behind a low concrete service station that is all but covered by the shifting desert sands.
\nINT. POWER STATION – DAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

FIXER
\nDid I hear a young noise blast
\nthrough here?<\/p>\n

CAMIE
\nIt was just Wormie on another
\nrampage.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nShape it up you guys!… Biggs?<\/p>\n

Luke’s surprise at the appearance of Biggs gives way to
\ngreat joy and emotion. They give each other a great bear hug.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI didn’t know you were back!
\nWhen did you get in?<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nJust now. I wanted to surprise
\nyou, hot shot. I thought you’d be
\nhere… certainly didn’t expect
\nyou to be out working.
\n(laughs)<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThe Academy didn’t change you
\nmuch… but you’re back so soon?
\nHey, what happened, didn’t you get
\nyour commission?<\/p>\n

Biggs has an air of cool that seems slightly phony.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nOf course I got it. Signed
\naboard The Rand Ecliptic last week.
\nFirst mate Biggs Darklighter at
\nyour service…
\n(he salutes)
\n… I just came back to say goodbye
\nto all you unfortunate landlocked
\nsimpletons.<\/p>\n

Everyone laughs. The dazzling spectacle of his dashing friend is almost too much for Luke, but suddenly he snaps out of it.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI almost forgot. There’s a battle
\ngoing on! Right here in our system.
\nCome and look!<\/p>\n

DEAK
\nNot again! Forget it.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ANCHORHEAD – SETTLEMENT – POWER STATION – DAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThere they are!<\/p>\n

Biggs takes the electrobinoculars from Luke as the others strain to see something with the naked eye. Through the electrobinoculars Biggs sees two small silver specks.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nThat’s no battle, hot shot… they’re
\njust sitting there! Probably a
\nfreighter-tanker refueling.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut there was a lot of firing
\nearlier…<\/p>\n

Camie grabs the electrobinoculars away banging them against the building in the process. Luke grabs them.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHey, easy with those…<\/p>\n

CAMIE
\nDon’t worry about it, Wormie.<\/p>\n

The Fixer gives Luke a hard look and the young farm boy
\nshrugs his shoulders in resignation.<\/p>\n

FIXER
\nI keep telling you, the Rebellion
\nis a long way from here. I doubt
\nif the Empire would even fight to
\nkeep this system. Believe me Luke,
\nthis planet is a big hunk of nothing…<\/p>\n

Luke agrees, although it’s obvious he isn’t sure why. The
\ngroup stumbles back into the power station, grumbling about
\nLuke’s ineptitude.
\nINT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nLord Vader, I should have known.
\nOnly you could be so bold. The
\nImperial Senate will not sit still
\nfor this, when they hear you’ve
\nattacked a diplomatic…<\/p>\n

VADER
\nDon’t play games with me, Your
\nHighness. You weren’t on any mercy
\nmission this time. You passed
\ndirectly through a restricted
\nsystem. Several transmissions were
\nbeamed to this ship by Rebel spies.
\nI want to know what happened to the
\nplans they sent you.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nI don’t know what you’re talking
\nabout. I’m a member of the Imperial
\nSenate on a diplomatic mission to
\nAlderaan…<\/p>\n

VADER
\nYou’re a part of the Rebel Alliance
\n… and a traitor. Take her away!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

COMMANDER
\nHolding her is dangerous. If word
\nof this gets out, it could generate
\nsympathy for the Rebellion in the
\nsenate.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI have traced the Rebel spies
\nto her. Now she is my only link
\nto find their secret base!<\/p>\n

COMMANDER
\nShe’ll die before she’ll tell
\nyou anything.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nLeave that to me. Send a distress
\nsignal and then inform the senate
\nthat all aboard were killed!<\/p>\n

Another Imperial Officer approaches Vader and the Commander. They stop and snap to attention.<\/p>\n

SECOND OFFICER
\nLord Vader, the battle station
\nplans are not aboard this ship!
\nAnd no transmissions were made.
\nAn escape pod was jettisoned during
\nthe fighting, but no life forms
\nwere aboard.<\/p>\n

Vader turns to the Commander.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nShe must have hidden the plans in
\nthe escape pod. Send a detachment
\ndown to retrieve them. See to it
\npersonally, Commander. There’ll be
\nno one to stop us this time.<\/p>\n

COMMANDER
\nYes, sir.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The Imperial Star Destroyer comes over the surface of the
\nplanet Tatooine.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DESERT<\/p>\n

Jundland, or “No Man’s Land”, where the rugged desert mesas
\nmeet the foreboding dune sea. The two helpless astro-robots 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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHow did I get into this mess?
\nI really don’t know how. We seem
\nto be made to suffer. It’s our
\nlot in life.<\/p>\n

Artoo answers with beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI’ve got to rest before I fall
\napart. My joints are almost frozen.<\/p>\n

Artoo continues to respond with beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhat a desolate place this is.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhere are you going?<\/p>\n

A stream of electronic noises pours forth from the small robot.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWell, I’m not going that way. It’s
\nmuch too rocky. This way is much
\neasier.<\/p>\n

Artoo counters with a long whistle.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhat makes you think there are
\nsettlements over there?<\/p>\n

Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nDon’t get technical with me.<\/p>\n

Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhat mission? What are you talking
\nabout? I’ve had just about enough
\nof you! Go that way! You’ll be
\nmalfunctioning within a day, you
\nnearsighted scrap pile!<\/p>\n

Threepio gives the little robot a kick and starts off in the direction of the vast dune sea.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nAnd don’t let me catch you following
\nme begging for help, because you
\nwon’t get it.<\/p>\n

Artoo’s reply is a rather rude sound. He turns and trudges
\noff in the direction of the towering mesas.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nNo more adventures. I’m not
\ngoing that way.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps to himself as he makes his way toward the distant mountains.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DUNE SEA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThat malfunctioning little twerp.
\nThis is all his fault! He tricked
\nme into going this way, but he’ll
\ndo no better.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWait, what’s that? A transport!
\nI’m saved!<\/p>\n

The bronze android waves frantically and yells at the approaching transport.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOver here! Help! Please, help!<\/p>\n

EXT. TATOOINE – ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT – POWER STATION – DAY<\/p>\n

Luke and Biggs are walking and drinking a malt brew. Fixer and the others can be heard working inside.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(Very animated)
\n… so I cut off my power, shut down
\nthe afterburners and came in low on
\nDeak’s trail. I was so close I
\nthought I was going to fry my
\ninstruments. As it was I busted up
\nthe Skyhopper pretty bad. Uncle
\nOwen was pretty upset. He grounded
\nme for the rest of the season. You
\nshould have been there… it was
\nfantastic.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nYou ought to take it a little easy
\nLuke. You may be the hottest
\nbushpilot this side of Mos Eisley,
\nbut those little Skyhoppers are
\ndangerous. Keep it up, and one day,
\nwhammo, you’re going to be nothing
\nmore than a dark spot on the down
\nside of a canyon wall.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nLook who’s talking. Now that
\nyou’ve been around those giant
\nstarships you’re beginning to sound
\nlike my uncle. You’ve gotten soft
\nin the city…<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI’ve missed you kid.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, things haven’t been the same
\nsince you left, Biggs. It’s been
\nso…quiet.<\/p>\n

Biggs looks around then leans close to Luke.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nLuke, I didn’t come back just to
\nsay goodbye… I shouldn’t tell
\nyou this, but you’re the only one
\nI can trust… and if I don’t come
\nback, I want somebody to know.<\/p>\n

Luke’s eyes are wide with Biggs’ seriousness and loyalty.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat are you talking about?<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI made some friends at the Academy.
\n(he whispers)
\n… when our frigate goes to one
\nof the central systems, we’re going
\nto jump ship and join the Alliance…<\/p>\n

Luke, amazed and stunned, is almost speechless.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nJoin the Rebellion?! Are you
\nkidding! How?<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nQuiet down will ya! You got a
\nmouth bigger than a meteor crater!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m sorry. I’m quiet.
\n(he whispers)
\nListen how quiet I am. You can
\nbarely hear me…<\/p>\n

Biggs shakes his head angrily and then continues.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nMy friend has a friend on Bestine
\nwho might help us make contact.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou’re crazy! You could wander
\naround forever trying to find them.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI know it’s a long shot, but if
\nI don’t find them I’ll do what I
\ncan on my own… It’s what we
\nalways talked about. Luke, I’m
\nnot going to wait for the Empire to
\ndraft me into service. The Rebellion
\nis spreading and I want to be on the
\nright side – the side I believe in.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAnd I’m stuck here…<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI thought you were going to the
\nAcademy next term. You’ll get your
\nchance to get off this rock.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNot likely! I had to cancel my
\napplication. There has been a lot
\nof unrest among the Sand People since
\nyou left… they’ve even raided
\nthe outskirts of Anchorhead.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nYour uncle could hold off a whole
\ncolony of Sand People with one blaster.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI know, but he’s got enough vaporators
\ngoing to make the place pay off. He
\nneeds me for just one more season.
\nI can’t leave him now.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI feel for you, Luke, you’re going
\nto have to learn what seems to be
\nimportant or what really is important.
\nWhat good is all your uncle’s work if
\nit’s taken over by the Empire?… You
\nknow they’re starting to nationalize
\ncommerce in the central systems…
\nit won’t be long before your uncle
\nis merely a tenant, slaving for the
\ngreater glory of the Empire.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt couldn’t happen here. You said
\nit yourself. The Empire won’t bother
\nwith this rock.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nThings always change.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI wish I was going… Are you
\ngoing to be around long?<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nNo, I’m leaving in the morning…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThen I guess I won’t see you.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nMaybe someday… I’ll keep a
\nlookout.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, I’ll be at the Academy next
\nseason… after that who knows. I
\nwon’t be drafted into the Imperial
\nStarfleet that’s for sure… Take
\ncare of yourself, you’ll always be
\nthe best friend I’ve got.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nSo long, Luke.<\/p>\n

Biggs turns away from his old friend and heads back towards the power station.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK CANYON – SUNSET<\/p>\n

The gargantuan rock formations are shrouded in a strange
\nforeboding mist and the ominous 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.<\/p>\n

In the distance, a pebble 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 that only their glowing yellow 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.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK CANYON – SANDCRAWLER – SUNSET<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The filthy little Jawas scurry like rats up small ladders and enter the main cabin of the behemoth transport.
\nINT. SANDCRAWLER – HOLD AREA<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. SANDCRAWLER – PRISON AREA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nArtoo-Detoo! It’s you! It’s you!<\/p>\n

A battered Threepio scrambles up to Artoo and embraces him.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK CANYON – SANDCRAWLER – SUNSET<\/p>\n

The enormous Sandcrawler lumbers off toward the magnificent twin suns, which are slowly setting over a distant mountain ridge.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DESERT – DAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

FIRST TROOPER
\nSomeone was in the pod. The
\ntracks go off in this direction.<\/p>\n

A second trooper picks up a small bit of metal out of the sand and gives it to the first trooper.<\/p>\n

SECOND TROOPER
\nLook, sir – droids.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DUNES<\/p>\n

The Sandcrawler moves slowly down a great sand dune.
\nINT. SANDCRAWLER<\/p>\n

Threepio and Artoo noisily bounce along inside the cramped prison chamber. Artoo appears to be shut off.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWake up! Wake up!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWe’re doomed.<\/p>\n

A Jawa starts moving toward them.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nDo you think they’ll melt us down?<\/p>\n

Artoo responds, making beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nDon’t shoot! Don’t shoot! Will
\nthis never end?
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DESERT – LARS HOMESTEAD – AFTERNOON<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 of the robots, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BERU
\nLuke, tell Owen that if he gets
\na translator to be sure it speaks
\nBocce.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt looks like we don’t have much
\nof a choice but I’ll remind him.<\/p>\n

Luke returns to his uncle as they look over the equipment for sale with the Jawa leader.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nI have no need for a protocol droid.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(quickly)
\nSir – not in an environment such
\nas this – that’s why I’ve also
\nbeen programmed for over thirty
\nsecondary functions that…<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nWhat I really need is a droid
\nthat understands the binary
\nlanguages of moisture vaporators.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nVaporators! Sir – My first job
\nwas programming binary load lifters
\n… very similar to your vaporators.
\nYou could say…<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nDo you speak Bocce?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOf course I can, sir. It’s like
\na second language for me… I’m
\nas fluent in Bocce…<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nAll right; shut up!
\n(turning to Jawa)
\nI’ll take this one.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nShutting up, sir.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nLuke, take these two over to
\nthe garage, will you? I want
\nyou to have both of them cleaned
\nup before dinner.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut I was going into Toshi Station
\nto pick up some power converters…<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nYou can waste time with your
\nfriends when your chores are
\ndone. Now, come on, get to it!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAll right, come on! And the
\nred one, come on. Well, come on,
\nRed, let’s go.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Owen is negotiating with the head Jawa. Luke and the two robots start for the garage when a plate pops off the head of the red astro-droid, throwing parts all over the ground. He adjusts the astro-droid’s head plate and it sparks wildly.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nUncle Owen…<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nYeah?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThis R2 unit has a bad motivator.
\nLook!<\/p>\n

OWEN
\n(to the head Jawa)
\nHey, what’re you trying to push
\non us?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(pointing to Artoo)
\nExcuse me, sir, but that R2 unit
\nis in prime condition. A real
\nbargain.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nUncle Owen…<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nYeah?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat about that one?<\/p>\n

OWEN
\n(to Jawa)
\nWhat about that blue one? We’ll
\ntake that one.<\/p>\n

With a little reluctance the scruffy dwarf trades the damaged astro-droid for Artoo.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYeah, take it away.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nUh, I’m quite sure you’ll be very
\npleased with that one, sir. He
\nreally is in first-class condition.
\nI’ve worked with him before. Here
\nhe comes.<\/p>\n

Owen pays off the whining Jawa and the two robots trudge off toward a grimy homestead entry.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOkay, let’s go.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(to Artoo)
\nNow, don’t forget this! Why I
\nshould stick my neck out for you
\nis quite beyond my capacity!
\nINT. LARS HOMESTEAD – GARAGE AREA – LATE AFTERNOON<\/p>\n

The garage is cluttered and worn, but a friendly peaceful atmosphere permeates the low gray 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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThank the maker! This oil bath
\nis going to feel so good. I’ve
\ngot such a bad case of dust
\ncontamination, I can barely move!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt just isn’t fair. Oh, Biggs is
\nright. I’m never gonna get out
\nof here!<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nIs there anything I might do to
\nhelp?<\/p>\n

Luke glances at the battered robot. A bit of his anger drains and a tiny smile creeps across his face.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, not unless you can alter
\ntime, speed up the harvest, or
\nteleport me off this rock!<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI don’t think so, sir. I’m only
\na droid and not very knowledgeable
\nabout such things. Not on this
\nplanet, anyways. As a matter of
\nfact, I’m not even sure which
\nplanet I’m on.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, if there’s a bright center
\nto the universe, you’re on the
\nplanet that it’s farthest from.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI see, sir.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nUh, you can call me Luke.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI see, sir Luke.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(laughing)
\nJust Luke.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nAnd I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg
\nrelations, and this is my counterpart,
\nArtoo-Detoo.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHello.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou got a lot of carbon scoring
\nhere. It looks like you boys have
\nseen a lot of action.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWith all we’ve been through,
\nsometimes I’m amazed we’re in as
\ngood condition as we are, what
\nwith the Rebellion and all.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou know of the Rebellion against
\nthe Empire?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThat’s how we came to be in your
\nservice, if you take my meaning,
\nsir.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHave you been in many battles?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nSeveral, I think. Actually,
\nthere’s not much to tell. I’m
\nnot much more than an interpreter,
\nand not very good at telling stories.
\nWell, not at making them interesting,
\nanyways.<\/p>\n

Luke struggles to remove a small metal fragment from Artoo’s neck joint. He uses a larger pick.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, my little friend, you’ve
\ngot something jammed in here real
\ngood. Were you on a starcruiser or…<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nHelp me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re
\nmy only hope.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat’s this?<\/p>\n

Artoo looks around and sheepishly beeps an answer for Threepio to translate.<\/p>\n

Leia continues to repeat the sentence fragment over and over.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhat is what?!? He asked you a
\nquestion…
\n(pointing to Leia)
\nWhat is that?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nHelp me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re
\nmy only hope. Help me, Obi-Wan
\nKenobi. You’re my only hope.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh, he says it’s nothing, sir.
\nMerely a malfunction. Old data.
\nPay it no mind.<\/p>\n

Luke becomes intrigued by the beautiful girl.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWho is she? She’s beautiful.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI’m afraid I’m not quite sure, sir.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nHelp me, Obi-Wan Kenobi…<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI think she was a passenger on our
\nlast voyage. A person of some
\nimportance, sir – I believe. Our
\ncaptain was attached to…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIs there more to this recording?<\/p>\n

Luke reaches out for Artoo but he lets out several frantic squeaks and a whistle.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nBehave yourself, Artoo. You’re
\ngoing to get us in trouble.
\nIt’s all right, you can trust
\nhim. He’s our new master.<\/p>\n

Artoo whistles and beeps a long message to Threepio.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHe says he’s the property of Obi-
\nWan Kenobi, a resident of these
\nparts. And it’s a private message
\nfor him. Quite frankly, sir, I
\ndon’t know what he’s talking
\nabout. Our last master was Captain
\nAntilles, but with what we’ve been
\nthrough, this little R2 unit has
\nbecome a bit eccentric.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nObi-Wan Kenobi? I wonder if he
\nmeans old Ben Kenobi?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI beg your pardon, sir, but do you
\nknow what he’s talking about?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, I don’t know anyone named
\nObi-Wan, but old Ben lives out
\nbeyond the dune sea. He’s kind
\nof a strange old hermit.<\/p>\n

Luke’s gazes at the beautiful young princess for a few moments.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI wonder who she is. It sounds
\nlike she’s in trouble. I’d better
\nplay back the whole thing.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps something to Threepio.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHe says the restraining bolt has
\nshort circuited his recording
\nsystem. He suggests that if you
\nremove the bolt, he might be able
\nto play back the entire recording.<\/p>\n

Luke looks longingly at the lovely, little princess and hasn’t really heard what Threepio has been saying.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nH’m? Oh, yeah, well, I guess
\nyou’re too small to run away on me
\nif I take this off! Okay.<\/p>\n

Luke takes a wedged bar and pops the restraining bolt off Artoo’s side.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThere you go.<\/p>\n

The princess immediately disappears.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, wait a minute. Where’d she
\ngo? Bring her back! Play back the
\nentire message.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps an innocent reply as Threepio sits up in embarrassment.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhat message? The one you’ve just
\nbeen playing. The one you’re
\ncarrying inside your rusty innards!<\/p>\n

A women’s voice calls out from another room.<\/p>\n

AUNT BERU
\nLuke? Luke! Come to dinner!<\/p>\n

Luke stands up and shakes his head at the malfunctioning robot.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAll right, I’ll be right there,
\nAunt Beru.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI’m sorry, sir, but he appears to
\nhave picked up a slight flutter.<\/p>\n

Luke tosses Artoo’s restraining bolt on the workbench and hurries out of the room.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, see what you can do with
\nhim. I’ll be right back.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(to Artoo)
\nJust you reconsider playing that
\nmessage for him.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps in response.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nNo, I don’t think he likes you
\nat all.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nNo, I don’t like you either.
\nINT. LARS HOMESTEAD – DINING AREA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou know, I think that R2 unit
\nwe bought might have been stolen.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nWhat makes you think that?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, I stumbled across a recording
\nwhile I was cleaning him. He says
\nhe belongs to someone called Obi-
\nWan Kenobi.<\/p>\n

Owen is greatly alarmed at the mention of his name, but manages to control himself.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI thought he might have meant Ben.
\nDo you know what he’s talking
\nabout? Well, I wonder if he’s
\nrelated to Ben.<\/p>\n

Owen breaks loose with a fit of uncontrolled anger.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nThat old man’s just a crazy
\nwizard. Tomorrow I want you to
\ntake that R2 unit into Anchorhead
\nand have its memory flushed.
\nThat’ll be the end of it. It
\nbelongs to us now.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut what if this Obi-Wan comes
\nlooking for him?<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nHe won’t, I don’t think he exists
\nany more. He died about the same
\ntime as your father.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHe knew my father?<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nI told you to forget it. Your
\nonly concern is to prepare the new
\ndroids for tomorrow. In the morning
\nI want them on the south ridge
\nworking out those condensers.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYes, sir. I think those new droids
\nare going to work out fine. In fact,
\nI, uh, was also thinking about our
\nagreement about my staying on another
\nseason. And if these new droids do
\nwork out, I want to transmit my
\napplication to the Academy this year.<\/p>\n

Owen’s face becomes a scowl, although he tries to suppress it.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nYou mean the next semester before
\nharvest?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSure, there’re more than enough
\ndroids.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nHarvest is when I need you the
\nmost. Only one more season.
\nThis year we’ll make enough on
\nthe harvest so I’ll be able to
\nhire some more hands. And then
\nyou can go to the Academy next
\nyear.<\/p>\n

Luke continues to toy with his food, not looking at his uncle.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nYou must understand I need you
\nhere, Luke.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut it’s a whole ‘nother year.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nLook, it’s only one more season.<\/p>\n

Luke pushes his half-eaten plate of food aside and stands.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYeah, that’s what you said last
\nyear when Biggs and Tank left.<\/p>\n

AUNT BERU
\nWhere are you going?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt looks like I’m going nowhere.
\nI have to finish cleaning those
\ndroids.<\/p>\n

Resigned to his fate, Luke paddles out of the room. Owen mechanically finishes his dinner.<\/p>\n

AUNT BERU
\nOwen, he can’t stay here forever.
\nMost of his friends have gone.
\nIt means so much to him.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nI’ll make it up to him next year.
\nI promise.<\/p>\n

AUNT BERU
\nLuke’s just not a farmer, Owen.
\nHe has too much of his father in
\nhim.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nThat’s what I’m afraid of.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – LARS HOMESTEAD<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LARS HOMESTEAD – GARAGE<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat are you doing hiding there?<\/p>\n

Threepio stumbles forward, but Artoo is still nowhere in sight.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nIt wasn’t my fault, sir. Please
\ndon’t deactivate me. I told him
\nnot to go, but he’s faulty,
\nmalfunctioning; kept babbling on
\nabout his mission.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOh, no!<\/p>\n

Luke races out of the garage followed by Threepio.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – LARS HOMESTEAD<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThat R2 unit has always been a
\nproblem. These astro-droids are
\ngetting quite out of hand. Even
\nI can’t understand their logic at
\ntimes.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHow could I be so stupid? He’s
\nnowhere in sight. Blast it!<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nPardon me, sir, but couldn’t we
\ngo after him?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt’s too dangerous with all the
\nSand People around. We’ll have
\nto wait until morning.<\/p>\n

Owen yells up from the homestead plaza.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nLuke, I’m shutting the power down
\nfor the night.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAll right, I’ll be there in a few
\nminutes. Boy, am I gonna get it.<\/p>\n

He takes one final look across the dim horizon.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou know that little droid is
\ngoing to cause me a lot of trouble.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh, he excels at that, sir.
\nINT. LARS HOMESTEAD – PLAZA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nLuke? Luke? Luke? Where could
\nhe be loafing now!
\nINT. LARS HOMESTEAD – KITCHEN<\/p>\n

The interior of the kitchen is a worm glow as Aunt Beru prepares the morning breakfast. Owen enters in a huff.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nHave you seen Luke this morning?<\/p>\n

AUNT BERU
\nHe said he had some things to
\ndo before he started today, so
\nhe left early.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nUh? Did he take those two new
\ndroids with him?<\/p>\n

AUNT BERU
\nI think so.<\/p>\n

OWEN
\nWell, he’d better have those units
\nin the south range repaired be
\nmidday or there’ll be hell to pay!
\nEXT. TATOOINE – DESERT WASTELAND – LUKE’S SPEEDER – DAY<\/p>\n

The rock and sand of the desert floor are a blur as Threepio pilots the sleek Landspeeder gracefully across the vast wasteland.
\nINT.\/EXT. LUKE’S SPEEDER – DESERT WASTELAND – TRAVELING – DAY<\/p>\n

Luke leans over the back of the speeder and adjusts something in the motor compartment.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(yelling)
\nHow’s that.<\/p>\n

Threepio signals that is fine and Luke turns back into the wind-whipped cockpit and pops the canopy shut.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOld Ben Kenobi lives out in this
\ndirection somewhere, but I don’t
\nsee how that R2 unit could have
\ncome this far. We must have
\nmissed him. Uncle Owen isn’t
\ngoing to take this very well.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nSir, would it help if you told
\nhim it was my fault.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(brightening)
\nSure. He needs you. He’d
\nprobably only deactivate you for
\na day or so…<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nDeactivate! Well, on the other
\nhand if you hadn’t removed his
\nrestraining bolt…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWait, there’s something dead ahead
\non the scanner. It looks like our
\ndroid… hit the accelerator.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK MESA – DUNE SEA – COASTLINE – DAY<\/p>\n

From high on a rock mesa, the tiny Landspeeder can be seen gliding across the desert floor. Suddenly in the foreground two weather-beaten Sand People 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.<\/p>\n

The Sand People, 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.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK MESA – CANYON<\/p>\n

The Tusken Raiders 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.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK CANYON – FLOOR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHey, whoa, just where do you
\nthink you’re going?<\/p>\n

The little droid whistles a feeble reply, as Threepio poses menacingly behind the little runaway.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nMaster Luke here is your rightful
\nowner. We’ll have no more of this
\nObi-Wan Kenobi jibberish… and don’t
\ntalk to me of your mission, either.
\nYou’re fortunate he doesn’t blast
\nyou into a million pieces right here.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, come on. It’s getting late.
\nI only hope we can get back before
\nUncle Owen really blows up.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nIf you don’t mind my saying so,
\nsir, I think you should deactivate
\nthe little fugitive until you’ve
\ngotten him back to your workshop.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo, he’s not going to try anything.<\/p>\n

Suddenly the little robot jumps to life with a mass of frantic whistles and screams.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat’s wrong with him now?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh my… sir, he says there are
\nseveral creatures approaching from
\nthe southeast.<\/p>\n

Luke swings his rifle into position and looks to the south.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSand People! Or worse! Come on,
\nlet’s have a look. Come on.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK CANYON – RIDGE – DAY<\/p>\n

Luke carefully makes his way to the top of a rock ridge and scans the canyon with his electrobinoculars.<\/p>\n

He spots the two riderless Banthas. Threepio struggles up behind the young adventurer.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThere are two Banthas down there
\nbut I don’t see any… wait a
\nsecond, they’re Sand People all
\nright. I can see one of them now.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – ROCK CANYON – FLOOR – DAY<\/p>\n

Artoo forces himself into the shadows of a small alcove in the rocks as the vicious Sand People walk past carrying the inert Luke Skywalker, who is dropped in a heap before the speeder. The Sand People 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 Sand People fleeing in terror.<\/p>\n

Artoo moves even tighter into the shadows as the slight swishing sound that frightened off the Sand People 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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nHello there! Come here my
\nlittle friend. Don’t be afraid.<\/p>\n

Artoo waddles over to where 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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nDon’t worry, he’ll be all right.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat happened?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nRest easy, son, you’ve had a busy
\nday. You’re fortunate you’re
\nstill in one piece.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBen? Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I
\nglad to see you!<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThe Jundland Wastes are not to be
\ntraveled lightly. Tell me, young
\nLuke, what brings you out this far?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOh, this little droid! I think
\nhe’s searching for his former master
\n… I’ve never seen such devotion
\nin a droid before… there seems to
\nbe no stopping him. He claims to
\nbe the property of an Obi-Wan
\nKenobi. Is he a relative of yours?
\nDo you know who he’s talking about?<\/p>\n

Ben ponders this for a moment, scratching his scruffy beard.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nObi-Wan Kenobi… Obi-Wan? Now
\nthats a name I haven’t heard in
\na long time… a long time.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI think my uncle knew him. He
\nsaid he was dead.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nOh, he’s not dead, no… not yet.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou know him!<\/p>\n

BEN
\nWell of course, of course I know
\nhim. He’s me! I haven’t gone
\nby the name Obi-Wan since oh,
\nbefore you were born.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThen the droid does belong to you.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nDon’t seem to remember ever owning
\na droid. Very interesting…<\/p>\n

He suddenly looks up at the overhanging cliffs.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI think we better get indoors.
\nThe Sand People are easily startled
\nbut they will soon be back and in
\ngreater numbers.<\/p>\n

Luke sits up and rubs his head. Artoo lets out a pathetic beep causing Luke to remember something. He looks around.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n… Threepio!
\nEXT. TATOOINE – SAND PIT – ROCK MESA – DAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhere am I? I must have taken
\na bad step…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nCan you stand? We’ve got to get
\nout of here before the Sand People
\nreturn.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI don’t think I can make it. You
\ngo on, Master Luke. There’s no
\nsense in you risking yourself on
\nmy account. I’m done for.<\/p>\n

Artoo makes a beeping sound.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo, you’re not. What kind of talk
\nis that?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nQuickly, son… they’re on the
\nmove.
\nINT. KENOBI’S DWELLING<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo, my father didn’t fight in the
\nwars. He was a navigator on a
\nspice freighter.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThat’s what your uncle told you.
\nHe didn’t hold with your father’s
\nideals. Thought he should have
\nstayed here and not gotten involved.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou fought in the Clone Wars?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYes, I was once a Jedi Knight
\nthe same as your father.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI wish I’d known him.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nHe was the best star-pilot in
\nthe galaxy, and a cunning warrior.
\nI understand you’ve become quite
\na good pilot yourself. And he was
\na good friend. Which reminds me…<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI have something here for you.
\nYour father wanted you to have
\nthis when you were old enough,
\nbut your uncle wouldn’t allow it.
\nHe feared you might follow old
\nObi-Wan on some damned-fool
\nidealistic crusade like your
\nfather did.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nSir, if you’ll not be needing me,
\nI’ll close down for awhile.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSure, go ahead.<\/p>\n

Ben hands Luke the saber.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat is it?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYour fathers lightsaber. This
\nis the weapon of a Jedi Knight.
\nNot as clumsy or as random as a
\nblaster.<\/p>\n

Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long beam shoots out about four feet and flickers there. The light plays across the ceiling.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nAn elegant weapon for a more
\ncivilized time. For over a
\nthousand generations the Jedi
\nKnights were the guardians of
\npeace and justice in the Old
\nRepublic. Before the dark times,
\nbefore the Empire.<\/p>\n

Luke hasn’t really been listening.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHow did my father die?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nA young Jedi named Darth Vader,
\nwho was a pupil of mine until he
\nturned to evil, helped the Empire
\nhunt down and destroy the Jedi
\nKnights. He betrayed and murdered
\nyour father. Now the Jedi are all
\nbut extinct. Vader was seduced
\nby the dark side of the Force.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThe Force?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nWell, the Force is what gives the
\nJedi his power. It’s an energy
\nfield created by all living things.
\nIt surrounds us and penetrates us.
\nIt binds the galaxy together.<\/p>\n

Artoo makes beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nNow, let’s see if we can’t figure
\nout what you are, my little
\nfriend. And where you come from.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI saw part of the message he was…<\/p>\n

Luke is cut short as the recorded image of the beautiful young Rebel princess is projected from Artoo’s face.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI seem to have found it.<\/p>\n

Luke stops his work as the lovely girl’s image flickers before his eyes.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nGeneral Kenobi, years ago you
\nserved my father in the Clone
\nWars. Now he begs you to help
\nhim in his struggle against the
\nEmpire. I regret that I am unable
\nto present my father’s request to
\nyou in person, but my ship has
\nfallen under attack and I’m afraid
\nmy mission to bring you to
\nAlderaan has failed. I have
\nplaced information vital to the
\nsurvival of the Rebellion into
\nthe memory systems of this R2
\nunit. My father will know how
\nto retrieve it. You must see this
\ndroid safely delivered to him on
\nAlderaan. This is our most
\ndesperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan
\nKenobi, you’re my only hope.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou must learn the ways of the
\nForce if you’re to come with me
\nto Alderaan.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(laughing)
\nAlderaan? I’m not going to
\nAlderaan. I’ve got to go home.
\nIt’s late, I’m in for it as it is.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI need your help, Luke. I’m getting
\ntoo old for this sort of thing.
\nShe needs your help.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI can’t get involved! I’ve got
\nwork to do! It’s not that I like
\nthe Empire. I hate it! But
\nthere’s nothing I can do about it
\nright now. It’s such a long way
\nfrom here.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThat’s your uncle talking.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(sighing)
\nOh, God, my uncle. How am I ever
\ngoing to explain this?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nLearn about the Force, Luke.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nLook, I can take you as far as
\nAnchorhead. You can get a
\ntransport there to Mos Eisley
\nor wherever you’re going.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou must do what you feel is
\nright, of course.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

An Imperial Star Destroyer heads toward the evil planet-like battle station: the Death Star!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONFERENCE ROOM<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TAGGE
\nUntil this battle station is
\nfully operational we are vulnerable.
\nThe Rebel Alliance is too well
\nequipped. They’re more dangerous
\nthan you realize.<\/p>\n

The bitter Admiral Motti twists nervously in his chair.<\/p>\n

MOTTI
\nDangerous to your starfleet,
\nCommander; not to this battle
\nstation!<\/p>\n

TAGGE
\nThe Rebellion will continue to
\ngain support in the Imperial
\nSenate as long as….<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nThe Imperial Senate will no longer
\nbe of any concern to us. I’ve
\njust received word that the Emperor
\nhas dissolved the council permanently.
\nThe last remnants of the Old Republic
\nhave been swept away.<\/p>\n

TAGGE
\nThat’s impossible! How will the
\nEmperor maintain control without
\nthe bureaucracy?<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nThe regional governors now have
\ndirect control over territories.
\nFear will keep the local systems
\nin line. Fear of this battle station.<\/p>\n

TAGGE
\nAnd what of the Rebellion? If the
\nRebels have obtained a complete
\ntechnical readout of this station,
\nit is possible, however unlikely,
\nthat they might find a weakness and
\nexploit it.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nThe plans you refer to will soon
\nbe back in our hands.<\/p>\n

MOTTI
\nAny attack made by the Rebels
\nagainst this station would be a
\nuseless gesture, no matter what
\ntechnical data they’ve obtained.
\nThis station is now the ultimate
\npower in the universe. I suggest
\nwe use it!<\/p>\n

VADER
\nDon’t be too proud of this
\ntechnological terror you’ve
\nconstructed. The ability to
\ndestroy a planet is insignificant
\nnext to the power of the Force.<\/p>\n

MOTTI
\nDon’t try to frighten us with your
\nsorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. Your
\nsad devotion to that ancient
\nreligion has not helped you conjure
\nup the stolen data tapes, or given
\nyou clairvoyance enough to find the
\nRebel’s hidden fort…<\/p>\n

Suddenly Motti chokes and starts to turn blue under Vader’s spell.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI find your lack of faith disturbing.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nEnough of this! Vader, release
\nhim!<\/p>\n

VADER
\nAs you wish.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nThis bickering is pointless.
\nLord Vader will provide us with
\nthe location of the Rebel fortress
\nby the time this station is
\noperational. We will then crush
\nthe Rebellion with one swift stroke.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – WASTELAND<\/p>\n

The speeder stops before what remains of the huge Jawas Sandcrawler. Luke and Ben walk among the smoldering rubble and scattered bodies.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt looks like Sand People did this,
\nall right. Look, here are gaffi
\nsticks, bantha tracks. It’s
\njust… I never heard of them
\nhitting anything this big before.<\/p>\n

Ben is crouching in the sand studying the tracks.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThey didn’t. But we are meant to
\nthink they did. These tracks are
\nside by side. Sand People always
\nride single file to hide there
\nnumbers.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThese are the same Jawas that sold
\nus Artoo and Threepio.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nAnd these blast points, too
\naccurate for Sand People. Only
\nImperial stormtroopers are so
\nprecise.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhy would Imperial troops want to
\nslaughter Jawas?<\/p>\n

Luke looks back at the speeder where Artoo and Threepio are inspecting the dead Jawas, and put two and two together.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIf they traced the robots here,
\nthey may have learned who they
\nsold them to. And that would
\nlead them back home!<\/p>\n

Luke reaches a sudden horrible realization, then races for the speeder and jumps in.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nWait, Luke! It’s too dangerous.<\/p>\n

Luke races off leaving Ben and the two robots alone with the burning Sandcrawler.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – WASTELAND<\/p>\n

Luke races across the wasteland in his battered Landspeeder.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – LARS HOMESTEAD<\/p>\n

The speeder roars up to the 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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nUncle Owen! Aunt Beru! Uncle
\nOwen!<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Imperial TIE fighter races toward the Death Star.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DETENTION CORRIDOR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nAnd, now Your Highness, we will
\ndiscuss the location of your
\nhidden Rebel base.<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – WASTELAND<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThere’s nothing you could have
\ndone, Luke, had you been there.
\nYou’d have been killed, too, and
\nthe droids would now be in the
\nhands of the Empire.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI want to come with you to Alderaan.
\nThere’s nothing here for me now. I
\nwant to learn the ways of the Force
\nand become a Jedi like my father.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – WASTELAND<\/p>\n

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, gray, 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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nMos Eisley Spaceport. You will
\nnever find a more wretched hive
\nof scum and villainy. We must be
\ncautious.<\/p>\n

Ben looks over at Luke, who gives the old Jedi a determined smile.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET<\/p>\n

The speeder is stopped on a crowded street by several combat-hardened stormtroopers who look over the two robots. A Trooper questions Luke.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nHow long have you had these droids?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAbout three or four seasons.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThey’re for sale if you want them.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nLet me see your identification.<\/p>\n

Luke becomes very nervous as he fumbles to find his ID while Ben speaks to the Trooper in a very controlled voice.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou don’t need to see his
\nidentification.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nWe don’t need to see his
\nidentification.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThese are not the droids you’re
\nlooking for.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nThese are not the droids we’re
\nlooking for.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nHe can go about his business.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nYou can go about your business.<\/p>\n

BEN
\n(to Luke)
\nMove along.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nMove along. Move along.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI can’t abide these Jawas.
\nDisgusting creatures.<\/p>\n

As Luke gets out of the speeder he tries to shoo the Jawa away.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nGo on, go on. I can’t understand
\nhow we got by those troopers. I
\nthought we were dead.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThe Force can have a strong
\ninfluence on the weak-minded. You
\nwill find it a powerful ally.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nDo you really think we’re going
\nto find a pilot here that’ll
\ntake us to Alderaan?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nWell, most of the best freighter
\npilots can be found here. Only
\nwatch your step. This place can
\nbe a little rough.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m ready for anything.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nCome along, Artoo.
\nINT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – CANTINA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BARTENDER
\nWe don’t serve their kind here!<\/p>\n

Luke still recovering from the shock of seeing so many outlandish creatures, doesn’t quite catch the bartender’s drift.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat?<\/p>\n

BARTENDER
\nYour droids. They’ll have to wait
\noutside. We don’t want them here.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Luke pats Threepio on the shoulder.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nListen, why don’t you wait out
\nby the speeder. We don’t want any
\ntrouble.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI heartily agree with you sir.<\/p>\n

Threepio and his stubby partner go outside and most of the creatures at the bar go back to their drinks.<\/p>\n

Ben is standing next to Chewbacca, an eight-foot-tall-savage-looking creature resembling a huge gray 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A large, multiple-eyed Creature gives Luke a rough shove.<\/p>\n

CREATURE
\nNegola dewaghi wooldugger?!?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HUMAN
\nHe doesn’t like you.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m sorry.<\/p>\n

HUMAN
\nI don’t like you either<\/p>\n

The big creature is getting agitated and yells out some unintelligible gibberish at the now rather nervous, young adventurer.<\/p>\n

HUMAN
\n(continuing)
\nDon’t insult us. You just watch
\nyourself. We’re wanted men. I
\nhave the death sentence on twelve
\nsystems.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’ll be careful than.<\/p>\n

HUMAN
\nYou’ll be dead.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThis little one isn’t worth the
\neffort. Come let me buy you
\nsomething…<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BARTENDER
\nNo blasters! No blaster!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThis is Chewbacca. He’s first-
\nmate on a ship that might suit
\nour needs.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI don’t like the look of this.
\nINT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – CANTINA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nHan Solo. I’m captain of the
\nMillennium Falcon. Chewie here
\ntells me you’re looking for
\npassage to the Alderaan system.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYes, indeed. If it’s a fast ship.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nFast ship? You’ve never heard
\nof the Millennium Falcon?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nShould I have?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt’s the ship that made the Kessel
\nrun in less than twelve parsecs!<\/p>\n

Ben reacts to Solo’s stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(continuing)
\nI’ve outrun Imperial starships,
\nnot the local bulk-cruisers, mind
\nyou. I’m talking about the big
\nCorellian ships now. She’s fast
\nenough for you, old man. What’s
\nthe cargo?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nOnly passengers. Myself, the boy,
\ntwo droids, and no questions asked.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat is it? Some kind of local
\ntrouble?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nLet’s just say we’d like to avoid
\nany Imperial entanglements.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWell, that’s the real trick,
\nisn’t it? And it’s going to cost
\nyou something extra. Ten thousand
\nin advance.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nTen thousand? We could almost
\nbuy our own ship for that!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nBut who’s going to fly it, kid!
\nYou?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou bet I could. I’m not such a
\nbad pilot myself! We don’t have
\nto sit here and listen…<\/p>\n

BEN
\nWe haven’t that much with us.
\nBut we could pay you two thousand
\nnow, plus fifteen when we reach
\nAlderaan.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nSeventeen, huh!<\/p>\n

Han ponders this for a few moments.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nOkay. You guys got yourself a
\nship. We’ll leave as soon as you’re
\nready. Docking bay Ninety-four.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nNinety-four.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLooks like somebody’s beginning to
\ntake an interest in your handiwork.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nAll right, we’ll check it out.<\/p>\n

The stormtroopers look over at the booth but Luke and Ben are gone. The bartender shrugs his shoulders in puzzlement.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nSeventeen thousand! Those guys
\nmust really be desperate. This
\ncould really save my neck. Get
\nback to the ship and get her ready.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou’ll have to sell your speeder.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThat’s okay. I’m never coming
\nback to this planet again.
\nINT. MOS EISLEY – CANTINA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GREEDO
\nGoing somewhere, Solo?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYes, Greedo. As a matter of fact,
\nI was just going to see your boss.
\nTell Jabba that I’ve got his money.<\/p>\n

Han sits down and the alien sits across from him holding the gun on him.<\/p>\n

GREEDO
\nIt’s too late. You should have
\npaid him when you had the chance.
\nJabba’s put a price on your head,
\nso large that every bounty hunter
\nin the galaxy will be looking for
\nyou. I’m lucky I found you first.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYeah, but this time I got the money.<\/p>\n

GREEDO
\nIf you give it to me, I might forget
\nI found you.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI don’t have it with me. Tell
\nJabba…<\/p>\n

GREEDO
\nJabba’s through with you. He has
\nno time for smugglers who drop
\ntheir shipments at the first sign
\nof an Imperial cruiser.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nEven I get boarded sometimes. Do
\nyou think I had a choice?<\/p>\n

Han Solo slowly reaches for his gun under the table.<\/p>\n

GREEDO
\nYou can tell that to Jabba. He
\nmay only take your ship.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nOver my dead body.<\/p>\n

GREEDO
\nThat’s the idea I’ve been looking
\nforward to killing you for a long
\ntime.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYes, I’ll bet you have.<\/p>\n

Suddenly the slimy alien disappears in a blinding flash of light. Han pulls his smoking gun from beneath the table as the other patrons look on in bemused amazement. Han gets up and starts out of the cantina, flipping the bartender some coins as he leaves.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nSorry about the mess.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Several TIE fighters approach the Death Star.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

VADER
\nHer resistance to the mind probe
\nis considerable. It will be some
\ntime before we can extract any
\ninformation from her.<\/p>\n

An Imperial Officer interrupts the meeting.<\/p>\n

IMPERIAL OFFICER
\nThe final check-out is complete.
\nAll systems are operational.
\nWhat course shall we set?<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nPerhaps she would respond to an
\nalternative form of persuasion.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nWhat do you mean?<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nI think it is time we demonstrate
\nthe full power of this station.
\n(to soldier)
\nSet your course for Princess Leia’s
\nhome planet of Alderaan.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nWith pleasure.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nLock the door, Artoo.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nAll right, check that side of the
\nstreet. It’s secure. Move on to
\nthe next door.<\/p>\n

The door opens, Threepio moves into the doorway.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI would much rather have gone
\nwith Master Luke than stay here
\nwith you. I don’t know what all
\nthis trouble is about, but I’m
\nsure it must be your fault.<\/p>\n

Artoo makes beeping sounds.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nYou watch your language!
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET – ALLEYWAY – USED SPEEDER LOT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHe says it’s the best he can do.
\nSince the XP-38 came out, they
\njust aren’t in demand.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nIt will be enough.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nIf the ship’s as fast as he’s
\nboasting, we ought to do well.
\nINT. DOCKING BAY 94 – DAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

JABBA
\nCome on out, Solo!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI’ve been waiting for you, Jabba.<\/p>\n

JABBA
\nI expected you would be.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI’m not the type to run.<\/p>\n

JABBA
\n(fatherly-smooth)
\nHan, my boy, there are times when
\nyou disappoint me… why haven’t
\nyou paid me? And why did you have
\nto fry poor Greedo like that…
\nafter all we’ve been through together.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYou sent Greedo to blast me.<\/p>\n

JABBA
\n(mock surprise)
\nHan, why you’re the best smuggler
\nin the business. You’re too valuable
\nto fry. He was only relaying my
\nconcern at your delays. He wasn’t
\ngoing to blast you.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI think he thought he was. Next
\ntime don’t send one of those twerps.
\nIf you’ve got something to say to
\nme, come see me yourself.<\/p>\n

JABBA
\nHan, Han! If only you hadn’t had
\nto dump that shipment of spice…
\nyou understand I just can’t make an
\nexception. Where would I be if every
\npilot who smuggled for me dumped
\ntheir shipment at the first sign of
\nan Imperial starship? It’s not good
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYou know, even I get boarded sometimes,
\nJabba. I had no choice, but I’ve got
\na charter now and I can pay you back,
\nplus a little extra. I just need
\nsome more time.<\/p>\n

JABBA
\n(to his men)
\nPut your blasters away. Han, my
\nboy, I’m only doing this because
\nyou’re the best and I need you. So,
\nfor an extra, say… twenty percent
\nI’ll give you a little more time…
\nbut this is it. If you disappoint
\nme again, I’ll put a price on your
\nhead so large you won’t be able to
\ngo near a civilized system for the
\nrest of your short life.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nJabba, I’ll pay you because it’s my
\npleasure.
\nEXT. DOCKING PORT ENTRY – ALLEYWAY<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT – DOCKING BAY 94<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat a piece of junk.<\/p>\n

The tall figure of Han Solo comes down the boarding ramp.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nShe’ll make point five beyond the
\nspeed of light. She may not look
\nlike much, but she’s got it where
\nit counts, kid. I’ve added some
\nspecial modifications myself.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWe’re a little rushed, so if you’ll
\nhurry aboard we’ll get out of here.<\/p>\n

The group rushes up the gang plank, passing a grinning Han Solo.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON<\/p>\n

Chewbacca settles into the pilot’s chair and starts the mighty engines of the starship.
\nINT. MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT – DOCKING BAY 94<\/p>\n

Luke, Ben, Threepio, and Artoo move toward the Millennium Falcon passing Solo.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHello, sir.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREET<\/p>\n

Eight Imperial stormtroopers rush up to the darkly clad creature.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nWhich way?<\/p>\n

The darkly clad creature points to the door of the docking bay.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nAll right, men. Load your weapons!
\nINT. MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT – DOCKING BAY 94<\/p>\n

The troops hold their guns at the ready and charge down the docking bay entrance.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nStop that ship!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nBlast ’em!<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON<\/p>\n

HAN
\nChewie, get us out of here!<\/p>\n

The group straps in for take off.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh, my. I’d forgotten how much I
\nhate space travel.
\nEXT. TATOOINE – MOS EISLEY – STREETS<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Han climbs into the pilot’s chair next to Chewbacca, who chatters away as he points to something on the radar scope.
\nEXT. SPACE – PLANET TATOOINE<\/p>\n

The Corellian pirateship zooms from Tatooine into space.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt looks like an Imperial cruiser.
\nOur passengers must be hotter than
\nI thought. Try and hold them off.
\nAngle the deflector shield while
\nI make the calculations for the
\njump to light speed.
\nEXT. SPACE – PLANET TATOOINE<\/p>\n

The Millennium Falcon pirateship races away from the yellow planet. It is followed by two huge Imperial Star Destroyers.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Over the shoulders of Chewbacca and Han, we can see the galaxy spread before them. Luke and Ben make their way
\ninto the cramped cockpit where Han continues his calculation.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nStay sharp! There are two more
\ncoming in; they’re going to try
\nto cut us off.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhy don’t you outrun them? I
\nthought you said this thing was
\nfast.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWatch your mouth, kid, or you’re
\ngoing to find yourself floating
\nhome. We’ll be safe enough once
\nwe make the jump to hyperspace.
\nBesides, I know a few maneuvers.
\nWe’ll lose them!
\nEXT. SPACE – PLANET TATOOINE<\/p>\n

Imperial cruisers fire at the pirateship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The ship shudders as an explosion flashes outside the window.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nHere’s where the fun begins!<\/p>\n

BEN
\nHow long before you can make the
\njump to light speed?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt’ll take a few moments to get
\nthe coordinates from the navi-
\ncomputer.<\/p>\n

The ship begins to rock violently as lasers hit it.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAre you kidding? At the rate
\nthey’re gaining…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nTraveling through hyperspace isn’t
\nlike dusting crops, boy! Without
\nprecise calculations we could fly
\nright through a star or bounce too
\nclose to a supernova and that’d end
\nyour trip real quick, wouldn’t it?<\/p>\n

The ship is now constantly battered with laserfire as a red warning light begins to flash.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat’s that flashing?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWe’re losing our deflector shield.
\nGo strap yourself in, I’m going to
\nmake the jump to light speed.<\/p>\n

The galaxy brightens and they move faster, almost as if crashing a barrier. Stars become streaks as the pirateship makes the jump to hyperspace.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The Millennium Falcon zooms into infinity in less than a second.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Alderaan looms behind the Death Star battlestation.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

Admiral Motti enters the quiet control room and bows before Governor Tarkin, who stands before the huge wall screen displaying a small green planet.<\/p>\n

MOTTI
\nWe’ve entered the Alderaan system.<\/p>\n

Vader and two stormtroopers enter with Princess Leia. Her hands are bound.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nGovernor Tarkin, I should have
\nexpected to find you holding
\nVader’s leash. I recognized your
\nfoul stench when I was brought on
\nboard.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nCharming to the last. You don’t
\nknow how hard I found it signing
\nthe order to terminate your life!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nI’m surprised you had the courage
\nto take the responsibility yourself!<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nPrincess Leia, before your execution
\nI would like you to be my guest at
\na ceremony that will make this
\nbattle station operational. No star
\nsystem will dare oppose the Emperor
\nnow.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThe more you tighten your grip,
\nTarkin, the more star systems will
\nslip through your fingers.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nNot after we demonstrate the power
\nof this station. In a way, you
\nhave determined the choice of the
\nplanet that’ll be destroyed first.
\nSince you are reluctant to provide
\nus with the location of the Rebel
\nbase, I have chosen to test this
\nstation’s destructive power…
\non your home planet of Alderaan.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nNo! Alderaan is peaceful. We
\nhave no weapons. You can’t possibly…<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYou would prefer another target?
\nA military target? Then name the
\nsystem!<\/p>\n

Tarkin waves menacingly toward Leia.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nI grow tired of asking this. So
\nit’ll be the last time. Where is
\nthe Rebel base?<\/p>\n

Leia overhears an intercom voice announcing the approach to Alderaan.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\n(softly)
\nDantooine.<\/p>\n

Leia lowers her head.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThey’re on Dantooine.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nThere. You see Lord Vader, she
\ncan be reasonable.
\n(addressing Motti)
\nContinue with the operation. You
\nmay fire when ready.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWhat?<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYou’re far too trusting. Dantooine
\nis too remote to make an effective
\ndemonstration. But don’t worry.
\nWe will deal with your Rebel
\nfriends soon enough.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nNo!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – BLAST CHAMBER<\/p>\n

VADER
\nCommence primary ignition.<\/p>\n

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.
\nA 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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON– CENTRAL HOLD AREA<\/p>\n

Ben watches Luke practice the lightsaber with a small “seeker” robot. Ben suddenly turns away and sits down. He falters, seems almost faint.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAre you all right? What’s wrong?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI felt a great disturbance in
\nthe Force… as if millions of
\nvoices suddenly cried out in terror
\nand were suddenly silenced. I fear
\nsomething terrible has happened.<\/p>\n

Ben rubs his forehead. He seems to drift into a trance. Then he fixes his gaze on Luke.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou’d better get on with your
\nexercises.<\/p>\n

Han Solo enters the room.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWell, you can forget your troubles
\nwith those Imperial slugs. I told
\nyou I’d outrun ’em.<\/p>\n

Luke is once again practicing with the lightsaber.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nDon’t everyone thank me at once.<\/p>\n

Threepio watches Chewbacca and Artoo who are engrossed in a game in which three-dimensional holographic figures move along a chess-type board.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nAnyway, we should be at Alderaan
\nabout oh-two-hundred hours.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nNow be careful, Artoo.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHe made a fair move. Screaming
\nabout it won’t help you.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(interrupting)
\nLet him have it. It’s not wise
\nto upset a Wookiee.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nBut sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThat’s ’cause droids don’t pull
\npeople’s arms out of their socket
\nwhen they lose. Wookiees are known
\nto do that.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI see your point, sir. I suggest
\na new strategy, Artoo. Let the
\nWookiee win.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nRemember, a Jedi can feel the
\nForce flowing through him.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou mean it controls your actions?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nPartially. But it also obeys your
\ncommands.<\/p>\n

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 to 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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nHokey religions and ancient
\nweapons are no match for a good
\nblaster at your side, kid.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou don’t believe in the Force,
\ndo you?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nKid, I’ve flown from one side of
\nthis galaxy to the other. I’ve
\nseen a lot of strange stuff, but
\nI’ve never seen anything to make
\nme believe there’s one all-powerful
\nforce controlling everything.
\nThere’s no mystical energy field
\nthat controls my destiny.<\/p>\n

Ben smiles quietly<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt’s all a lot of simple tricks
\nand nonsense.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI suggest you try it again, Luke.<\/p>\n

Ben places a large helmet on Luke’s head which covers his eyes.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThis time, let go your conscious
\nself and act on instinct.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(laughing)
\nWith the blast shield down, I can’t
\neven see. How am I supposed to
\nfight?<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYour eyes can deceive you. Don’t
\ntrust them.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nStretch out with your feelings.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou see, you can do it.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI call it luck.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nIn my experience, there’s no
\nsuch thing as luck.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLook, going good against remotes
\nis one thing. Going good against
\nthe living? That’s something else.<\/p>\n

Solo notices a small light flashing on the far side of the control panel.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLooks like we’re coming up on
\nAlderaan.<\/p>\n

Han and Chewbacca head back to the cockpit.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou know, I did feel something.
\nI could almost see the remote.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThat’s good. You have taken your
\nfirst step into a larger world.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONFERENCE ROOM<\/p>\n

Imperial Officer Cass stands before Governor Tarkin and the evil Dark Lord Darth Vader.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYes.<\/p>\n

OFFICER CASS
\nOur scout ships have reached
\nDantooine. They found the remains
\nof a Rebel base, but they estimate
\nthat it has been deserted for some
\ntime. They are now conducting an
\nextensive search of the surrounding
\nsystems.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nShe lied! She lied to us!<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI told you she would never
\nconsciously betray the Rebellion.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nTerminate her… immediately!
\nEXT. HYPERSPACE<\/p>\n

The pirateship is just coming out of hyperspace; a strange surreal light show surrounds the ship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

HAN
\nStand by, Chewie, here we go.
\nCut in the sublight engines.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat the…? Aw, we’ve come out
\nof hyperspace into a meteor shower.
\nSome kind of asteroid collision.
\nIt’s not on any of the charts.<\/p>\n

The Wookiee flips off several controls and seems very
\ncool in the emergency. Luke makes his way into the bouncing cockpit.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat’s going on?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nOur position is correct, except…
\nno, Alderaan!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat do you mean? Where is it?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThats what I’m trying to tell
\nyou, kid. It ain’t there. It’s
\nbeen totally blown away.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat? How?<\/p>\n

Ben moves into the cockpit behind Luke as the ship begins to settle down.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nDestroyed… by the Empire!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThe entire starfleet couldn’t
\ndestroy the whole planet. It’d
\ntake a thousand ships with more
\nfire power than I’ve…<\/p>\n

A signal light starts flashing on the control panel and a muffled alarm starts humming.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThere’s another ship coming in.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nMaybe they know what happened.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nIt’s an Imperial fighter.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt followed us!<\/p>\n

BEN
\nNo. It’s a short range fighter.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThere aren’t any bases around
\nhere. Where did it come from?
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The fighter races past the Corellian pirateship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt sure is leaving in a big hurry.
\nIf they identify us, we’re in big
\ntrouble.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNot if I can help it. Chewie…
\njam it’s transmissions.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nIt’d be as well to let it go.
\nIt’s too far out of range.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNot for long…
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The pirateship zooms over the camera and away into the vastness of space after the Imperial TIE fighter.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nA fighter that size couldn’t get
\nthis deep into space on its own.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThen he must have gotten lost,
\nbeen part of a convoy or something…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWell, he ain’t going to be around
\nlong enough to tell anyone about us.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The TIE fighter is losing ground to the larger pirateship as they race toward camera and disappear over head.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The distant star can be distinguished as a small moon or planet.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nLook at him. He’s heading for
\nthat small moon.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI think I can get him before he
\ngets there… he’s almost in range.<\/p>\n

The small moon begins to take on the appearance of a monstrous spherical battle station.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThat’s no moon! It’s a space
\nstation.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt’s too big to be a space station.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI have a very bad feeling about
\nthis.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nTurn the ship around!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYeah, I think your right. Full
\nreverse! Chewie, lock in the
\nauxiliary power.<\/p>\n

The pirateship shudders and the TIE fighter accelerates away toward the gargantuan battle station.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhy are we still moving towards
\nit?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWe’re caught in a tractor beam!
\nIt’s pulling us in!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut there’s gotta be something you
\ncan do!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThere’s nothin’ I can do about it,
\nkid. I’m in full power. I’m going
\nto have to shut down. But they’re
\nnot going to get me without a fight!<\/p>\n

Ben Kenobi puts a hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou can’t win. But there are
\nalternatives to fighting.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR – HUGE PORT DOORS<\/p>\n

The helpless Millennium Falcon is pulled past a docking port control room and huge laser turret cannons.<\/p>\n

VOICE OVER DEATH STAR INTERCOM
\nClear Bay twenty-three-seven.
\nWe are opening the magnetic field.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DOCKING BAY 2037<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nTo your stations!<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\n(to another officer)
\nCome with me.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

Stormtroopers run to their posts.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – HANGAR 2037<\/p>\n

A line of stormtroopers march toward the pirateship in readiness to board it, while other troopers stand with weapons ready to fire.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nClose all outboard shields!
\nClose all outboard shields!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONFERENCE ROOM<\/p>\n

Tarkin pushes a button and responds to the intercom buzz.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYes.<\/p>\n

VOICE
\n(over intercom)
\nWe’ve captured a freighter entering
\nthe remains of the Alderaan system.
\nIt’s markings match those of a ship
\nthat blasted its way out of Mos Eisley.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nThey must be trying to return the
\nstolen plans to the princess. She
\nmay yet be of some use to us.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DOCKING BAY 2037<\/p>\n

Vader and a commander approach the troops as an Officer and several heavily armed troops exit the spacecraft.<\/p>\n

VOICE
\n(over intercom)
\nUnlock one-five-seven and nine.
\nRelease charges.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\n(to Vader)
\nThere’s no one on board, sir.
\nAccording to the log, the crew
\nabandoned ship right after takeoff.
\nIt must be a decoy, sir. Several
\nof the escape pods have been
\njettisoned.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nDid you find any droids?<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nNo, sir. If there were any on
\nboard, they must also have
\njettisoned.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nSend a scanning crew on board.
\nI want every part of this ship
\nchecked.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nYes, sir.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI sense something… a presence I
\nhaven’t felt since…<\/p>\n

Vader turns quickly and exits the hangar.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nGet me a scanning crew in here
\non the double. I want every part
\nof this ship checked!
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBoy, it’s lucky you had these
\ncompartments.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI use them for smuggling. I never
\nthought I’d be smuggling myself in
\nthem. This is ridiculous. Even
\nif I could take off, I’d never get
\npast the tractor beam.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nLeave that to me!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nDamn fool. I knew that you were
\ngoing to say that!<\/p>\n

BEN
\nWho’s the more foolish… the
\nfool or the fool who follows him?<\/p>\n

Han shakes his head, muttering to himself. Chewbacca agrees.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY<\/p>\n

The crewmen carry a heavy box on board the ship, past the two stormtroopers guarding either side of the ramp.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nThe ship’s all yours. If the
\nscanners pick up anything, report
\nit immediately. All right, let’s
\ngo.<\/p>\n

The crewmen enter the pirateship and a loud crashing sound is followed by a voice calling to the guard below.<\/p>\n

HAN’S VOICE
\nHey down there, could you give
\nus a hand with this?<\/p>\n

The stormtroopers enter the ship and a quick round of gunfire is heard.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – FORWARD BAY – COMMAND OFFICE<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GANTRY OFFICER
\nTX-four-one-two. Why aren’t you
\nat your post? TX-four-one-two,
\ndo you copy?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GANTRY OFFICER
\nTake over. We’ve got a bad
\ntransmitter. I’ll see what I
\ncan do.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Ben and the robots enter the room quickly followed by Luke, also dressed as a stormtrooper. Luke quickly removes his helmet.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou know, between his howling
\nand your blasting everything in
\nsight, it’s a wonder the whole
\nstation doesn’t know we’re here.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nBring them on! I prefer a straight
\nfight to all this sneaking around.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWe found the computer outlet, sir.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nPlug in. He should be able to
\ninterpret the entire Imperial
\ncomputer network.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHe says he’s found the main
\ncontrol to the power beam that’s
\nholding the ship here. He’ll
\ntry to make the precise location
\nappear on the monitor.<\/p>\n

The computer monitor flashes readouts.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThe tractor beam is coupled to the
\nmain reactor in seven locations.
\nA power loss at one of the terminals
\nwill allow the ship to leave.<\/p>\n

Ben studies the data on the monitor readout.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nI don’t think you boys can help.
\nI must go alone.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhatever you say. I’ve done more
\nthan I bargained for on this trip
\nalready.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI want to go with you.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nBe patient, Luke. Stay and watch
\nover the droids.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut he can…<\/p>\n

BEN
\nThey must be delivered safely or
\nother star systems will suffer the
\nsame fate as Alderaan. Your destiny
\nlies along a different path from
\nmine. The Force will be with you
\n… always!<\/p>\n

Ben adjusts the lightsaber on his belt and silently steps out of the command office, then disappears down a long gray hallway. Chewbacca barks a comment and Han shakes his head in agreement.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nBoy you said it, Chewie.<\/p>\n

Han looks at Luke.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhere did you dig up that old
\nfossil?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBen is a great man.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nYeah, great at getting us into
\ntrouble.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI didn’t hear you give any ideas…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWell, anything would be better
\nthan just hanging around waiting
\nfor them to pick us up…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWho do you think…<\/p>\n

Suddenly Artoo begins to whistle and beep a blue streak. Luke goes over to him.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat is it?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI’m afraid I’m not quite sure, sir.
\nHe says “I found her,” and keeps
\nrepeating, “She’s here.”<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, who… who has he found?<\/p>\n

Artoo whistles a frantic reply.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nPrincess Leia.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThe princess? She’s here?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nPrincess?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhere… where is she?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nPrincess? What’s going on?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nLevel five. Detention block AA-
\ntwenty-three. I’m afraid she’s
\nscheduled to be terminated.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOh, no! We’ve got to do something.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat are you talking about?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThe droid belongs to her. She’s
\nthe one in the message. We’ve
\ngot to help her.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNow, look, don’t get any funny
\nideas. The old man wants us to
\nwait right here.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut he didn’t know she was here.
\nLook, will you just find a way
\nback into the detention block?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI’m not going anywhere.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThey’re going to execute her.
\nLook, a few minutes ago you said
\nyou didn’t want to just wait here
\nto be captured. Now all you want
\nto do is stay.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nMarching into the detention area
\nis not what I had in mind.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBut they’re going to kill her!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nBetter her than me…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nShe’s rich.<\/p>\n

Chewbacca growls.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nRich?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYes. Rich, powerful! Listen, if
\nyou were to rescue her, the reward
\nwould be…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell more wealth that you can
\nimagine.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI don’t know, I can imagine quite
\na bit!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou’ll get it!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI better!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou will…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nAll right, kid. But you’d
\nbetter be right about this!<\/p>\n

Han looks at Chewie, who grunts a short grunt.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAll right.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat’s your plan?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nUh… Threepio, hand me those
\nbinders there will you?<\/p>\n

Luke moves toward Chewbacca with electronic cuffs.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOkay. Now, I’m going to put these
\non you.<\/p>\n

Chewie lets out a hideous growl.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOkay. Han, you put these on.<\/p>\n

Luke sheepishly hands the binders to Han.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nDon’t worry, Chewie. I think
\nI know what he has in mind.<\/p>\n

The Wookiee has a worried and frightened look on his face as Han binds him with the electronic cuffs.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nMaster Luke, sir! Pardon me for
\nasking… but, ah… what should
\nArtoo and I do if we’re discovered
\nhere?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nLock the door!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nAnd hope they don’t have blasters.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThat isn’t very reassuring.<\/p>\n

Luke and Han put on their armored stormtrooper helmets and start off into the giant Imperial Death Star.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DETENTION AREA – ELEVATOR TUBE<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Finally a small elevator arrives and the trio enters.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI can’t see a thing in this helmet.<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN HALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – INT. ELEVATOR – DETENTION SECURITY AREA<\/p>\n

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 gray security station. Guards and laser gates are everywhere. Han whispers to Luke under his breath.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThis is not going to work.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhy didn’t you say so before?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI did say so before!
\nINT. DETENTION AREA<\/p>\n

Elevator doors open. A tall, grim looking Officer approaches the trio.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nWhere are you taking this… thing?<\/p>\n

Chewie growls a bit at the remark but Han nudges him to shut up.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nPrisoner transfer from Block one-
\none-three-eight.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nI wasn’t notified. I’ll have to
\nclear it.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Suddenly Chewbacca throws up his hands and lets out with one of his ear-piercing howls. He grabs Han’s laser rifle.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLook out! He’s loose!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHe’s going to pull us all apart.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nGo get him!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWe’ve got to find out which cell
\nthis princess of yours is in.
\nHere it is… cell twenty-one-
\neight-seven. You go get her. I’ll
\nhold them here.<\/p>\n

Luke races down one of the cell corridors. Han speaks into the buzzing comlink.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(sounding official)
\nEverything is under control.
\nSituation normal.<\/p>\n

INTERCOM VOICE
\nWhat happened?<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(getting nervous)
\nUh… had a slight weapons
\nmalfunction. But, uh, everything’s
\nperfectly all right now. We’re
\nfine. We’re all fine here, now,
\nthank you. How are you?<\/p>\n

INTERCOM VOICE
\nWe’re sending a squad up.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nUh, uh, negative, negative. We
\nhad a reactor leak here now. Give
\nus a few minutes to lock it down.
\nLarge leak… very dangerous.<\/p>\n

INTERCOM VOICE
\nWho is this? What’s your
\noperating number?<\/p>\n

Han blasts the comlink and it explodes.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nBoring conversation anyway.
\n(yelling down the hall)
\nLuke! We’re going to have company!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CELL ROW<\/p>\n

Luke stops in front of one of the cells and blasts the door away with his 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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\n(finally)
\nAren’t you a little short for a
\nstormtrooper?<\/p>\n

Luke takes off his helmet, coming out of it.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat? Oh… the uniform. I’m
\nLuke Skywalker. I’m here to
\nrescue you.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nYou’re who?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m here to rescue you. I’ve got
\nyour R2 unit. I’m here with Ben
\nKenobi.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nBen Kenobi is here! Where is he?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nCome on!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONFERENCE ROOM<\/p>\n

Darth Vader paces the room as Governor Tarkin sits at the far end of the conference table.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nHe is here…<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nObi-Wan Kenobi! What makes you
\nthink so?<\/p>\n

VADER
\nA tremor in the Force. The last
\ntime I felt it was in the presence
\nof my old master.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nSurely he must be dead by now.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nDon’t underestimate the Force.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nThe Jedi are extinct, their fire
\nhas gone out of the universe.
\nYou, my friend, are all that’s
\nleft of their religion.<\/p>\n

There is a quiet buzz on the comlink.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYes.<\/p>\n

INTERCOM VOICE
\nGovernor Tarkin, we have an
\nemergency alert in detention block
\nAA-twenty-three.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nThe princess! Put all sections
\non alert!<\/p>\n

VADER
\nObi-Wan is here. The Force is
\nwith him.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nIf you’re right, he must not be
\nallowed to escape.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nEscape may not his plan. I
\nmust face him alone.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DETENTION AREA – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

An ominous buzzing sound is heard on the other side of the elevator door.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nChewie!<\/p>\n

Chewbacca responds with a growling noise.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nGet behind me! Get behind me!<\/p>\n

A series of explosions knock a hole in the elevator door through which several Imperial troops begin to emerge.<\/p>\n

Han and Chewie fire their laser pistols at them through the smoke and flames. They turn and run down the cell hallway, meeting up with Luke and Leia rushing toward them.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nCan’t get out that way.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nLooks like you managed to cut off
\nour only escape route.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(sarcastically)
\nMaybe you’d like it back in your
\ncell, Your Highness.<\/p>\n

Luke takes a small comlink transmitter from his belt as they continue to exchange fire with stormtroopers making their way down the corridor.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSee-Threepio! See-Threepio!<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(over comlink)
\nYes sir?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWe’ve been cut off! Are there any
\nother ways out of the cell bay?…
\nWhat was that? I didn’t copy!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN BAY GANTRY – CONTROL TOWER<\/p>\n

Threepio paces the control center as little Artoo beeps and whistles a blue streak. Threepio yells into the small comlink transmitter.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nI said, all systems have been
\nalerted to your presence, sir.
\nThe main entrance seems to be the
\nonly way out; all other information
\non your level is restricted.<\/p>\n

Someone begins banging on the door.<\/p>\n

TROOPER VOICE
\nOpen up in there!<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh, no!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DETENTION CORRIDOR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThere isn’t any other way out.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI can’t hold them off forever!
\nNow what?<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThis is some rescue. When you
\ncame in here, didn’t you have a
\nplan for getting out?<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(pointing to Luke)
\nHe’s the brains, sweetheart.<\/p>\n

Luke manages a sheepish grin and shrugs his shoulders.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, I didn’t…<\/p>\n

The princess grabs Luke’s gun and fires at a small grate in the wall next to Han, almost frying him.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat the hell are you doing?<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nSomebody has to save our skins.
\nInto the garbage chute, wise guy.<\/p>\n

She jumps through the narrow opening as Han and Chewbacca look on in amazement. Chewbacca sniffs the garbage chute and says something.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nGet in there you big furry oaf!
\nI don’t care what you smell! Get
\nin there and don’t worry about it.<\/p>\n

Han gives him a big kick and the Wookiee disappears into the tiny opening. Luke and Han continue firing as they work their way toward the opening.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWonderful girl! Either I’m going
\nto kill her or I’m beginning to
\nlike her. Get in there!<\/p>\n

Luke ducks laserfire as he jumps into the darkness. Han fires off a couple of quick blasts creating a smoky cover, then slides into the chute himself and is gone.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – GARBAGE ROOM<\/p>\n

Han tumbles into a 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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(sarcastically)
\nOh! The garbage chute was a really
\nwonderful idea. What an incredible
\nsmell you’ve discovered! Let’s
\nget out of here! Get away from
\nthere…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo! wait!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWill you forget it? I already
\ntried it. It’s magnetically sealed!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nPut that thing away! You’re going
\nto get us all killed.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nAbsolutely, Your Worship. Look,
\nI had everything under control
\nuntil you led us down here. You
\nknow, it’s not going to take them
\nlong to figure out what happened
\nto us.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nIt could be worse…<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt’s worse.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThere’s something alive in here!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThat’s your imagination.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSomething just moves past my leg!
\nLook! Did you see that?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHelp!<\/p>\n

Suddenly Luke is yanked under the garbage.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLuke! Luke! Luke!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nLuke!<\/p>\n

Leia extends a long pipe toward him.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nLuke, Luke, grab a hold of this.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBlast it, will you! My gun’s
\njammed.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhere?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAnywhere! Oh!!<\/p>\n

Solo fires his gun downward. Luke is pulled back into the muck by the slimy tentacle.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLuke! Luke!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nGrab him!<\/p>\n

Luke seems to be released by the thing.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWhat happened?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI don’t know, it just let go of
\nme and disappeared…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI’ve got a very bad feeling about
\nthis.<\/p>\n

Before anyone can say anything the walls begin to rumble and edge toward the Rebels.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThe walls are moving!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nDon’t just stand there. Try and
\nbrace it with something.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWait a minute!<\/p>\n

Luke pulls out his comlink.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThreepio! Come in Threepio!
\nThreepio! Where could he be?
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN GANTRY – COMMAND OFFICE<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

FIRST TROOPER
\nTake over!
\n(pointing to the dead
\nofficer)
\nSee to him! Look there!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThey’re madmen! They’re heading
\nfor the prison level. If you
\nhurry, you might catch them.<\/p>\n

FIRST OFFICER
\n(to his troops)
\nFollow me! You stand guard.<\/p>\n

The troops hustle off down the hallway, leaving a guard to watch over the command office.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(to Artoo)
\nCome on!<\/p>\n

The guard aims a blaster at them.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh! All this excitement has
\noverrun the circuits of my
\ncounterpart here. If you don’t
\nmind, I’d like to take him down
\nto maintenance.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nAll right.<\/p>\n

The guard nods and Threepio, with little Artoo in tow, hurries out the door.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – GARBAGE ROOM<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThreepio! Come in, Threepio!
\nThreepio!<\/p>\n

Han and Leia try to brace the contracting walls with a pole. Leia begins to sink into the trash.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nGet to the top!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nI can’t<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhere could he be? Threepio!
\nThreepio, will you come in?
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY – SERVICE PANEL<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nThey aren’t here! Something
\nmust have happened to them. See
\nif they’ve been captured.<\/p>\n

Little Artoo carefully plugs his claw arm into a new wall socket and a complex array of electronic sounds spew from the tiny robot.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHurry!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – GARBAGE ROOM<\/p>\n

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 holds it tightly. She’s terrified and suddenly groans as she feels the first crushing pressure against her body.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nOne thing’s for sure. We’re all
\ngoing to be a lot thinner!
\n(to Leia)
\nGet on top of it!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nI’m trying!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY – SERVICE PANEL<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(to Artoo)
\nThank goodness, they haven’t found
\nthem! Where could they be?<\/p>\n

Artoo frantically beeps something to See-Threepio.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nUse the comlink? Oh, my! I
\nforgot I turned it off!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – GARBAGE ROOM<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY – SERVICE PANEL<\/p>\n

Muffled sounds of Luke’s voice over the comlink can be heard, but not distinctly.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nAre you there, sir?
\nINT. DEATH STAR – GARBAGE ROOM<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThreepio!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY – SERVICE PANEL<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWe’ve had some problems…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over comlink)
\nShut down all the garbage mashers
\non the detention level, will you?
\nDo you copy?
\nINT. DEATH STAR — GARBAGE ROOM.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nShut down all the garbage mashers
\non the detention level.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY – SERVICE PANEL<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over comlink)
\nShut down all the garbage mashers
\non the detention level.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(to Artoo)
\nNo. Shut them all down! Hurry!<\/p>\n

Threepio holds his head in agony as he hears the incredible screaming and hollering from Luke’s comlink.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nListen to them! They’re dying,
\nArtoo! Curse my metal body! I
\nwasn’t fast enough. It’s all my
\nfault! My poor master!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over comlink)
\nThreepio, we’re all right!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – GARBAGE ROOM<\/p>\n

The screaming and hollering is the sound of joyous relief. The walls have stopped moving. Han, Chewie and Leia embrace in the background.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWe’re all right. You did great.<\/p>\n

Luke moves to the pressure sensitive hatch, looking for a number.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHey… hey, open the pressure
\nmaintenance hatch on unit number
\n… where are we?
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY – SERVICE PANEL<\/p>\n

Threepio looks at the computer panel as Han reads the number.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(over comlink)
\nThree-two-six-eight-two-seven.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – TRACTOR BEAM – POWER GENERATOR TRENCH<\/p>\n

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 a 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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – UNUSED HALLWAY<\/p>\n

The group exits the garbage room into a dusty, unused hallway. Han and Luke remove the trooper suits and strap on the blaster belts.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIf we can just avoid any more
\nfemale advice, we ought to be
\nable to get out of here.<\/p>\n

Luke smiles and scratches his head as he takes a blaster from Solo.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWell, let’s get moving!<\/p>\n

Chewie begins growling and points to the hatch to the garbage room, as he runs away and then stops howling.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Chewie)
\nWhere are you going?<\/p>\n

The dianoga bangs against the hatch and a long, slimy tentacle works its way out of the doorway searching for a victim. Han aims his pistol.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nNo, wait. They’ll hear!<\/p>\n

Han fires at the doorway. The noise of the blast echoes relentlessly throughout the empty passageway. Luke simply shakes his head in disgust.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Chewie)
\nCome here, you big coward!<\/p>\n

Chewie shakes his head “no.”<\/p>\n

HAN
\nChewie! Come here!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nListen. I don’t know who you are,
\nor where you came from, but from
\nnow on, you do as I tell you. Okay?<\/p>\n

Han is stunned at the command of the petite young girl.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nLook, Your Worshipfulness, let’s
\nget one thing straight! I take
\norders from one person! Me!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nIt’s a wonder you’re still alive.
\n(looking at Chewie)
\nWill somebody get this big walking
\ncarpet out of my way?<\/p>\n

Han watches her start away. He looks at Luke.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNo reward is worth this.<\/p>\n

They follow her, moving swiftly down the deserted corridor.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – POWER TRENCH<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nSecure this area until
\nthe alert is canceled.<\/p>\n

FIRST TROOPER
\nGive me regular reports.<\/p>\n

All but two of the stormtroopers leave.<\/p>\n

FIRST TROOPER
\nDo you know what’s going on?<\/p>\n

SECOND TROOPER
\nMaybe it’s another drill.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

SECOND TROOPER
\nWhat was that?<\/p>\n

FIRST TROOPER
\nOh, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(looking at his ship)
\nThere she is.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSee-Threepio, do you copy?<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\n(voice)
\nFor the moment. Uh, we’re in the
\nmain hangar across from the ship.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWe’re right above you. Stand by.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nYou came in that thing? You’re
\nbraver that I thought.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNice! Come on!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

FIRST TROOPER
\nIt’s them! Blast them!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Luke and Leia)
\nGet back to the ship!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhere are you going? Come back!<\/p>\n

Han has already rounded a corner and does not hear.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nHe certainly has courage.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWhat good will it do us if he
\ngets himself killed? Come on!<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – SUBHALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – SUBHALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – SUBHALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CENTRAL CORE SHAFT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(gasping)
\nI think we took a wrong turn.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThere’s no lock!<\/p>\n

Luke blasts the controls with his laser pistol.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThat oughta hold it for a while.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nQuick, we’ve got to get across.
\nFind the control that extends the
\nbridge.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOh, I think I just blasted it.<\/p>\n

Luke looks at the blasted bridge control while the stormtroopers on the opposite side of the door begin making ominous drilling and pounding sounds.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThey’re coming through!<\/p>\n

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 troopers appear on another overhang, also firing. A trooper is hit, and grabs at his chest.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHere, hold this.<\/p>\n

Luke pulls a thin nylon cable from his trooper utility belt. It has a grappler hook on it.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nHere they come!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nFor luck!<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – NARROW PASSAGEWAY<\/p>\n

Ben hides in the shadows of a 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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY<\/p>\n

Threepio looks around at the troops milling about the pirateship entry ramp.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nWhere could they be?<\/p>\n

Artoo, plugged into the computer socket, turns his dome left and right, beeping a response.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CORRIDOR – BLAST SHIELDS DOOR<\/p>\n

Han and Chewbacca run down a long corridor with several troopers hot on their trail.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nClose the blast doors!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

TROOPER
\nOpen the blast doors! Open the blast doors!
\nINT. DEATH STAR – HALLWAY LEADING TO MAIN FORWARD BAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI’ve been waiting for you, Obi-Wan.
\nWe meet again, at last. The circle
\nis now complete.<\/p>\n

Ben Kenobi moves with elegant ease into a classical offensive position. The fearsome Dark Knight takes a defensive stance.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nWhen I left you, I was but the
\nlearner; now I am the master.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nOnly a master of evil, Darth.<\/p>\n

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 head.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nYour powers are weak, old man.<\/p>\n

BEN
\nYou can’t win, Darth. If you
\nstrike me down, I shall become more
\npowerful than you can possibly
\nimagine.<\/p>\n

Their lightsabers continue to meet in combat.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – MAIN FORWARD BAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nDidn’t we just leave this party?<\/p>\n

Chewbacca growls a reply, as Luke and the princess join them.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat kept you?<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWe ran into some old friends.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIs the ship all right?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nSeems okay, if we can get to it.
\nJust hope the old man got the
\ntractor beam out of commission.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nLook!<\/p>\n

Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie look up and see Ben and Vader emerging from the hallways on the far side of the docking bay.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – DOCKING BAY<\/p>\n

Threepio and Artoo-Detoo are in the center of the Death Star’s Imperial docking bay.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nCome on, Artoo, we’re going!<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – HALLWAY<\/p>\n

Solo, Chewie, Luke, and Leia tensely watch the duel. The troops rush toward the battling knights.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNow’s our chance! Go!<\/p>\n

They start for the Millennium Falcon.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Luke sees Ben cut in two and starts for him. Aghast, he yells out.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Luke)
\nCome on!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nCome on! Luke, its too late!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nBlast the door! Kid!<\/p>\n

Luke fires his laser 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 crumples to the floor.<\/p>\n

BEN’S VOICE
\nRun, Luke! Run!<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Han pulls back on the controls and the ship begins to move. The dull thud of laserbolts can be heard bouncing off the outside of the ship as Chewie adjusts his controls.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI hope the old man got that tractor
\nbeam out if commission, or this is
\ngoing to be a real short trip.
\nOkay, hit it!<\/p>\n

Chewbacca growls in agreement.
\nEXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON<\/p>\n

The Millennium Falcon powers away from the Death Star docking bay, makes a spectacular turn and disappears into the vastness of space.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – CENTRAL HOLD AREA<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Solo spots approaching enemy ships.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Chewie)
\nWe’re coming up on the sentry
\nships. Hold ’em off! Angle the
\ndeflector shields while I charge
\nup the main guns!
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – CENTRAL HOLD AREA<\/p>\n

Luke looks downward sadly, shaking his head back and forth, as the princess smiles comfortingly at him.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI can’t believe he’s gone.<\/p>\n

Artoo-Detoo beeps a reply.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThere wasn’t anything you could
\nhave done.<\/p>\n

Han rushes into the hold area where Luke is sitting with the princess.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Luke)
\nCome on, buddy, we’re not out
\nof this yet!
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Solo climbs into his attack position in the topside gunport.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – HOLD AREA<\/p>\n

Luke gets up and moves out toward the gunports as Leia heads for the cockpit.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – SOLO’S GUNPORT<\/p>\n

Han adjusts his headset as he sits before the controls of his laser cannon, then speaks into the attached microphone.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to Luke)
\nYou in, kid? Okay, stay sharp!
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Chewbacca and Princess Leia search the heavens for attacking TIE fighters. The Wookiee pulls back on the speed controls as the ship bounces slightly.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – SOLO’S GUNPORT – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Computer graphic readouts form on Solo’s target screen, as Han reaches for controls.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORT – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke sits in readiness for the attack, his hand on the laser cannon’s control button.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Chewbacca spots the enemy ships and barks.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\n(into intercom)
\nHere they come!
\nINT. COCKPIT – POV SPACE<\/p>\n

The Imperial TIE fighters move towards the Millennium Falcon, one each veering off to the left and right of the pirateship.
\nINT. TIE FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The stars whip past behind the Imperial pilot as he adjusts his maneuvering joy stick.
\nEXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – IN SPACE<\/p>\n

The TIE fighter races past the Falcon, firing laser beams as it passes.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – HOLD AREA<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Two TIE fighters dive down toward the pirateship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

Luke fires at an unseen fighter.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThey’re coming in too fast!
\nEXT. SPACE – MILLENNIUM FALCON, TIE FIGHTERS<\/p>\n

Pan with pirateship as two TIE fighters charge through the background. Laserbolts streak from all the craft.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – CHEWBACCA<\/p>\n

The ship shudders as a laserbolt hits very close to the cockpit. The Wookiee chatters something to Leia.
\nEXT. TIE FIGHTER – SPACE<\/p>\n

Full shot of a TIE fighter as it moves fast through the frame, firing on the pirate starship.
\nEXT. SPACE – TIE FIGHTERS<\/p>\n

The two TIE fighters fire a barrage of laserbeams at the pirateship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – MAIN PASSAGEWAY<\/p>\n

A laserbolt streaks into the side of the pirateship. The ship lurches violently, throwing poor Threepio into a cabinet fill of small computer chips.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOooh!
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

Leia watches the computer readout as Chewbacca manipulates the ship’s controls.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWe’ve lost lateral controls.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nDon’t worry, she’ll hold together.<\/p>\n

An enemy laserbolt hits the pirateship’s control panel, causing it to blow out in a shower of sparks.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(to ship)
\nYou hear me, baby? Hold together!<\/p>\n

Artoo-Detoo advances toward the smoking sparking control panel, dousing the inferno by spraying it with fire retardant beeping all the while.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORT<\/p>\n

Luke swivels in his gun mount, following the TIE fighter with his laser cannon.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORT<\/p>\n

Solo aims his laser cannon at the enemy fighters.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

A TIE fighter streaks in front of the starship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Leia watches the TIE fighter ship fly over.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

A TIE fighter heads right for the pirateship, then zooms overhead.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

Luke follows the TIE fighter across his field of view, firing laser beams from his cannon.
\nEXT. TIE FIGHTER<\/p>\n

A TIE fighter dives past the pirateship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Two TIE fighters move toward and over the Millennium Falcon, unleashing a barrage of laserbolts at the ship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

Another TIE fighter moves in on the pirateship and Luke, smiling, fires the laser cannon at it, scoring a spectacular direct hit.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nGot him! I got him!<\/p>\n

Han turns and gives Luke a victory wave which Luke gleefully returns.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nGreat kid! Don’t get cocky.<\/p>\n

Han turns back to his laser cannon.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Two more TIE fighters cross in front of the pirateship.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

While Chewbacca manipulates the controls, Leia turns, looking over her shoulder out the ports.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThere are still two more of
\nthem out there!
\nEXT. SPACE
\nA TIE fighter moves up over the pirateship, firing laserblasts at it.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The TIE fighter zooms toward the pirateship, firing destructive blasts at it.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORTS<\/p>\n

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 enemy fire.
\nEXT. SPACE – TIE FIGHTER<\/p>\n

The last of the attacking Imperial TIE fighters looms in, firing upon the Falcon.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – GUNPORT<\/p>\n

Solo swivels behind his laser 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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(laughing)
\nThat’s it! We did it!<\/p>\n

The princess jumps up and gives Chewie a congratulatory hug.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWe did it!
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – PASSAGEWAY<\/p>\n

Threepio lies on the floor of the ship, completely tangled in the smoking, sparking wires.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHelp! I think I’m melting!
\n(to Artoo)
\nThis is all your fault.<\/p>\n

Artoo turns his dome from side to side, beeping in response.
\nEXT. SPACE – MILLENNIUM FALCON<\/p>\n

The victorious Millennium Falcon moves off majestically through space.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

Darth Vader strides into the control room, where Tarkin is watching the huge view screen. A sea of stars is before him.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nAre they away?<\/p>\n

VADER
\nThey have just made the jump into
\nhyperspace.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYou’re sure the homing beacon is
\nsecure aboard their ship? I’m
\ntaking an awful risk, Vader. This
\nhad better work.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNot a bad bit of rescuing, huh?
\nYou know, sometimes I even amaze
\nmyself.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThat doesn’t sound too hard.
\nBesides, they let us go. It’s
\nthe only explanation for the ease
\nof our escape.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nEasy… you call that easy?<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nTheir tracking us!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nNot this ship, sister.<\/p>\n

Frustrated, Leia shakes her head.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nAt least the information in Artoo
\nis still intact.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat’s so important? What’s he
\ncarrying?<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nThe technical readouts of that
\nbattle station. I only hope that
\nwhen the data is analyzed, a
\nweakness can be found. It’s not
\nover yet!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nIt is for me, sister! Look, I ain’t
\nin this for your revolution, and
\nI’m not in it for you, Princess. I
\nexpect to be well paid. I’m in it
\nfor the money!<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nYou needn’t worry about your reward.
\nIf money is all that you love, then
\nthat’s what you’ll receive!<\/p>\n

She angrily turns, and as she starts out of the cockpit, passes Luke coming in.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nYour friend is quite a mercenary.
\nI wonder if he really cares about
\nanything… or anyone.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI care!<\/p>\n

Luke, shaking his head, sits in the copilot seat. He and Han stare out at the vast blackness of space.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSo… what do you think of her,
\nHan?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nI’m trying not to, kid!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(under his breath)
\nGood…<\/p>\n

HAN
\nStill, she’s got a lot of spirit.
\nI don’t know, what do you think?
\nDo you think a princess and a
\nguy like me…<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo!<\/p>\n

Luke says it with finality and looks away. Han smiles at young Luke’s jealousy.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND FOURTH MOON OF YAVIN<\/p>\n

The battered pirateship drifts into orbit around the planet Yavin and proceeds to one of its tiny green moons.
\nEXT. FOURTH MOON OF YAVIN<\/p>\n

The pirateship soars over the dense jungle.
\nEXT. MASSASSI OUTPOST<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – JUNGLE TEMPLE<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Luke and the group ride into the massive temple on an armored military speeder.
\nINT. MASSASSI – MAIN HANGAR DECK<\/p>\n

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.
\nWILLARD
\n(holding Leia)
\nYou’re safe! We had feared the
\nworst.<\/p>\n

Willard composes himself, steps back and bows formally.<\/p>\n

WILLARD
\nWhen we heard about Alderaan,
\nwe were afraid that you were…
\nlost along with your father.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWe don’t have time for our sorrows,
\ncommander. The battle station has
\nsurely tracked us here.
\n(looking pointedly
\nat Han)
\nIt’s the only explanation for the
\nease of our escape. You must use
\nthe information in this R2 unit to
\nplan the attack. It is our only
\nhope.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The surface of the Death Star ominously approaches the red planet Yavin.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

Grand Moff Tarkin and Lord Darth Vader are interrupted in their discussion by the buzz of the comlink. Tarkin moves to answer the call.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYes.<\/p>\n

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE
\nWe are approaching the planet
\nYavin. The Rebel base is on a
\nmoon on the far side. We are
\npreparing to orbit the planet.
\nEXT. YAVIN – JUNGLE<\/p>\n

A lone guard stands in a tower high above the Yavin landscape, surveying the countryside. A mist hangs over the jungle of twisted green.
\nINT. MASSASSI – WAR ROOM BRIEFING AREA<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

DODONNA
\nThe battle station is heavily
\nshielded and carries a firepower
\ngreater than half the star fleet.
\nIts defenses are designed around
\na direct large-scale assault. A
\nsmall one-man fighter should be
\nable to penetrate the outer defense.<\/p>\n

Gold Leader, a rough looking man in his early thirties, stands and addresses Dodonna.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nPardon me for asking, sir, but
\nwhat good are snub fighters going
\nto be against that?<\/p>\n

DODONNA
\nWell, the Empire doesn’t consider
\na small one-man fighter to be any
\nthreat, or they’d have a tighter
\ndefense. An analysis of the plans
\nprovided by Princess Leia has
\ndemonstrated a weakness in the
\nbattle station.<\/p>\n

Artoo-Detoo stands next to a similar robot, makes beeping sounds, and turns his head from right to left.<\/p>\n

DODONNA
\nThe approach will not be easy.
\nYou are required to maneuver
\nstraight down this trench and skim
\nthe surface to this point. The
\ntarget area is only two meters
\nwide. It’s a small thermal
\nexhaust port, right below the main
\nport. The shaft leads directly to
\nthe reactor system. A precise hit
\nwill start a chain reaction which
\nshould destroy the station.<\/p>\n

A murmur of disbelief runs through the room.<\/p>\n

DODONNA
\nOnly a precise hit will set up a
\nchain reaction. The shaft is ray-
\nshielded, so you’ll have to use
\nproton torpedoes.<\/p>\n

Luke is sitting next to Wedge Antilles, a hotshot pilot about sixteen years old.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nThat’s impossible, even for a
\ncomputer.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt’s not impossible. I used to
\nbullseye womp rats in my T-sixteen
\nback home. They’re not much bigger
\nthan two meters.<\/p>\n

DODONNA
\nMan your ships! And may the Force
\nbe with you!<\/p>\n

The group rises and begins to leave.
\nEXT. SPACE.<\/p>\n

The Death Star begins to move around the planet toward the tiny green moon.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE
\nOrbiting the planet at maximum
\nvelocity. The moon with the
\nRebel base will be in range in
\nthirty minutes.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nThis will be a day long remembered.
\nIt has seen the end of Kenobi and
\nit will soon see the end of the Rebellion.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – MAIN HANGAR DECK<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

MAN’S VOICE
\n(over loudspeaker)
\nAll flight troops, man your stations.
\nAll flight troops, man your stations.<\/p>\n

Han is deliberately ignoring the activity of the fighter pilots’ preparation. Luke is quite saddened at the sight of his friend’s departure.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nSo… you got your reward and
\nyou’re just leaving then?<\/p>\n

HAN
\nThat’s right, yeah! I got some
\nold debts I’ve got to pay off
\nwith this stuff. Even if I didn’t,
\nyou don’t think I’d be fool enough
\nto stick around here, do you? Why
\ndon’t you come with us? You’re
\npretty good in a fight. I could
\nuse you.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(getting angry)
\nCome on! Why don’t you take a look
\naround? You know what’s about to
\nhappen, what they’re up against.
\nThey could use a good pilot like you.
\nYou’re turning your back on them.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat good’s a reward if you ain’t
\naround to use it? Besides,
\nattacking that battle station ain’t
\nmy idea of courage. It’s more like
\nsuicide.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nAll right. Well, take care of
\nyourself, Han… guess that’s what
\nyou’re best at, isn’t it?<\/p>\n

Luke goes off and Han hesitates, then calls to him.<\/p>\n

HAN
\nHey, Luke… may the Force be with
\nyou!<\/p>\n

Luke turns and sees Han wink at him. Luke lifts his hand in a small wave and then goes off.<\/p>\n

Han turns to Chewie who growls at his captain,<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWhat’re you lookin’ at? I know
\nwhat I’m doing.
\nINT. MAIN HANGAR DECK – LUKE’S SHIP<\/p>\n

Luke, Leia, and Dodonna meet under a huge space fighter.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nWhat’s wrong?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOh, it’s Han! I don’t know, I
\nreally thought he’d change his
\nmind.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nHe’s got to follow his own path.
\nNo one can choose it for him.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI only wish Ben were here.<\/p>\n

Leia gives Luke a little kiss, turns, and goes off.<\/p>\n

As Luke heads for his ship, another pilot rushes up to him and grabs his arm.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nLuke! I don’t believe it! How’d
\nyou get here… are you going out
\nwith us?!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBiggs! Of course, I’ll be up there
\nwith you! Listen, have I got some
\nstories to tell…<\/p>\n

Red Leader, a rugged handsome man in his forties, comes up behind Luke and Biggs. He has the confident smile of a born leader.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nAre you… Luke Skywalker? Have
\nyou been checked out on the Incom
\nT-sixty-five?<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nSir, Luke is the best bushpilot in
\nthe outer rim territories.<\/p>\n

Red Leader pats Luke on the back as they stop in front of his fighter.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nI met your father once when I was
\njust a boy. He was a great pilot.
\nYou’ll do all right. If you’ve
\ngot half of your father’s skill,
\nyou’ll do better than all right.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThank you, sir. I’ll try.<\/p>\n

Red Leader hurries to his own ship.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI’ve got to get aboard. Listen,
\nyou’ll tell me your stories when we
\ncome back. All right?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI told you I’d make it someday, Biggs.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\n(going off)
\nYou did, all right. It’s going
\nto be like old times Luke.
\nWe’re a couple of shooting stars
\nthat’ll never be stopped!<\/p>\n

Luke laughs and shakes his head in agreement. He heads for his ship.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

CHIEF
\nThis R2 unit of your seems a bit
\nbeat up. Do you want a new one?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNot on your life! That little
\ndroid and I have been through a
\nlot together.
\n(to Artoo)
\nYou okay, Artoo?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 emotion-filled moment as Artoo beeps good-bye.<\/p>\n

CHIEF
\nOkay, easy she goes!<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHang on tight, Artoo, you’ve
\ngot to come back.<\/p>\n

Artoo beeps in agreement.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nYou wouldn’t want my life to get
\nboring, would you?<\/p>\n

Artoo whistles his reply.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN’S VOICE
\nLuke, the Force will be with you.<\/p>\n

Luke is confused at the voice and taps his headphones.
\nEXT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – JUNGLE<\/p>\n

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 disappear into the morning cloud cover.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

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 appears around the fourth moon. A din of indistinct chatter fills the war room.<\/p>\n

MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE
\nStand-by alert. Death Star
\napproaching. Estimated time to
\nfiring range, fifteen minutes.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE – ANOTHER ANGLE<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. RED LEADER STARSHIP – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader lowers his visor and adjusts his gun sights, looking to each side at his wing men.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nAll wings report in.
\nINT. ANOTHER COCKPIT<\/p>\n

One of the Rebel fighters checks in through his mike.<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\nRed Ten standing by.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Biggs checks his fighter’s controls, alert and ready for combat.<\/p>\n

RED SEVEN
\n(over Biggs’ headset)
\nRed Seven standing by.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nRed Three standing by.
\nINT. PORKINS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

PORKINS
\nRed Six standing by.<\/p>\n

RED NINE
\n(over headset)
\nRed Nine standing by.
\nINT. WEDGE’S FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nRed Two standing by.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED ELEVEN
\n(over headset)
\nRed Eleven standing by.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nRed Five standing by.
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Artoo-Detoo, in position outside of the fighter, turns his head from side to side and makes beeping sounds.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nLock S-foils in attack position.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The group of X-wing fighters move in formation toward the Death Star, unfolding the wings and locking them into the “X” position.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nWe’re passing through their
\nmagnetic field.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nHold tight!
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke adjusts his controls as he concentrates on the approaching Death Star. The ship begins to be buffeted slightly.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nSwitch your deflectors on.
\nINT. ANOTHER COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nDouble front!
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Wedge is amazed and slightly frightened at the awesome spectacle.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nLook at the size of that thing!<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nCut the chatter, Red Two.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nAccelerate to attack speed. This
\nis it, boys!
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nRed Leader, this is Gold Leader.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nI copy, Gold Leader.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nWe’re starting for the target
\nshaft now.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nWe’re in position. I’m going to
\ncut across the axis and try and
\ndraw their fire.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Two squads of Rebel fighters peel off. The X-wings dive towards the Death Star surface. A thousand lights glow across the dark gray expanse of the huge station.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Alarm sirens scream as soldiers scramble to large turbo- powered laser gun emplacements. Electronic drivers rotate the huge guns into position as the crew adjust their targeting devices.<\/p>\n

EXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Princess Leia listens to the battle over the intercom. Threepio is at her side.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over war room speaker system)
\nHeavy fire, boss! Twenty-three
\ndegrees.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nI see it. Stay low.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

An X-wing zooms across the surface of the Death Star.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Technical crews scurry here and there loading last-minute armaments and unlocking power cables.
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Wedge maneuvers his fighter toward the menacing Death Star.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

X-wings continue in their attack course on the Death Star.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke nosedives radically, starting his attack on the monstrous fortress. The Death Star surface streaks past the cockpit window.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThis is Red Five! I’m going in!
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Luke’s X-wing races toward the Death Star. Laserbolts streak from Luke’s weapons, creating a huge fireball explosion on the dim surface.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Terror crosses Luke’s face as he realizes he won’t be able to pull out in time to avoid the fireball.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\n(over headset)
\nLuke, pull up!
\nEXT. SURFACE OF DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship emerges from the fireball, with the leading edges of his wings slightly scorched.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nAre you all right?
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke adjusts his controls and breathes a sigh of relief. Flak bursts outside the cockpit window.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI got a little cooked, but I’m
\nokay.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Rebel fighters continue to strafe the Death Star’s surface with laserbolts.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

ASTRO-OFFICER
\nWe count thirty Rebel ships, Lord
\nVader. But they’re so small
\nthey’re evading our turbo-lasers!<\/p>\n

VADER
\nWe’ll have to destroy them ship
\nto ship. Get the crews to their
\nfighters.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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 trooper bangs his helmet with his hand in an attempt to stop the ringing.
\nINT. READ LEADER’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

Red Leader flies through a heavy hail of flak.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nLuke, let me know when you’re
\ngoing in.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

The Red Leader’s X-wing flies past Luke as he puts his nose down and starts his attack dive.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m on my way in now…<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nWatch yourself! There’s a lot of
\nfire coming from the right side of
\nthat deflection tower.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m on it.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke flings his X-wing into a twisting dive across the horizon and down onto the dim gray surface.
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING TRAVELING<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

The blurry Death Star surface races past the cockpit windows as a big smile sweeps across Luke’s face at the success of his run. Flak thunders on all sides of him.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Imperial star pilots dash in unison to a line of small auxiliary hatches that lead to Imperial TIE fighters.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

CONTROL OFFICER
\nSquad leaders, we’ve picked up a
\nnew group of signals. Enemy
\nfighters coming your way.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

Luke looks around to see if he can spot the approaching Imperial fighters.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nMy scope’s negative. I don’t see
\nanything.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S X-WING – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

The Death Star’s surface sweeps past as Red Leader searches the sky for the Imperial fighter. Flak pounds at his ship.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nKeep up your visual scanning.
\nWith all this jamming, they’ll
\nbe on top of you before your
\nscope can pick them up.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nBiggs! You’ve picked one up…
\nwatch it!<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nI can’t see it! Where is he?!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

Biggs see the TIE ship behind him and swings around, trying to avoid him.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nHe’s on me tight, I can’t shake
\nhim… I can’t shake him.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

Luke is flying upside down. He rotates his ship around to normal attitude as he comes out of his dive.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHang on, Biggs, I’m coming in.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SURFACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

In the foreground, the Imperial fighter races across the Death Star’s surface, closely followed by Luke in the background.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

There is a shot from Luke’s X-wing of the TIE ship exploding in a mass of flames.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nGot him!
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Darth Vader strides purposefully down a Death Star corridor, flanked by Imperial stormtroopers.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nSeveral fighters have broken
\noff from the main group. Come
\nwith me!
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\n(over speaker)
\nPull in! Luke… pull in!<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over speaker)
\nWatch your back, Luke!
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over headset)
\nWatch your back! Fighter’s above
\nyou, coming in!
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship soars away from the Death Star’s surface as he spots the tailing TIE fighter.
\nINT. TIE FIGHTER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The TIE pilot takes aim at Luke’s X-wing.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The Imperial TIE fighter pilot scores a hit on Luke’s ship. Fire breaks out on the right side of the X-wing.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks out of his cockpit at the flames on his ship.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’m hit, but not bad.
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Smoke pours out from behind Artoo-Detoo.<\/p>\n

LUKE’S VOICE
\nArtoo, see what you can do with
\nit. Hang on back there.<\/p>\n

Green laserfire moves past the beeping little robot as his head turns.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke nervously works his controls.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nRed Six…
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

In the war room, Leia stands frozen as she listens and worries about Luke.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nCan you see Red Five?<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\n(over speaker)
\nThere’s a heavy fire zone on this
\nside. Red Five, where are you?
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke spots the TIE fighter behind him and soars away from the Death Star surface.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI can’t shake him!
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship soars closer to the surface of the Death Star, an Imperial TIE fighter closing in on him in hot pursuit.
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The Death Star whips below Wedge.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nI’m on him, Luke!
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over headset)
\nHold on!
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Wedge dives across the horizon toward Luke and the TIE fighter.
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Wedge moves his X-wing in rapidly.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke reacts frantically.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nBlast it! Wedge where are you?
\nINT. TIE FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The TIE fighter explodes, filling the screen with white light. Luke’s ship can be seen far in the distance.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks about in relief.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nThanks, Wedge.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia, Threepio, Dodonna and other Rebel officers are listening to the Rebel Fighter’s radio transmissions over the war room intercom.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\n(over speaker)
\nGood shooting, Wedge!<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nRed Leader…
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Leader peels off and starts toward the long trenches at the Death Star surface pole.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\n… This is Gold Leader. We’re
\nstarting out attack run.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Three Y-wing fighters of the Gold group dive out of the stars toward the Death Star surface.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others are grouped around the screen, as technicians move about attending to their duties.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nI copy, Gold Leader. Move into
\nposition.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Three Imperial TIE ships in precise formation dive toward the Death Star surface.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Darth Vader calmly adjusts his control stick as the stars whip past in the window above his head.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nStay in attack formation!
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Technicians are seated at the computer readout table.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nThe exhaust post is…
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\n… marked and locked in!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. GOLD FIVE’S Y-WING – COCKPIT – TRAVELING<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nSwitch power to front deflection
\nscreens.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Three Y-wing skim the Death Star surface deep in the trench, as laserbolts streak past on all sides.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR SURFACE – GUN EMPLACEMENTS<\/p>\n

An exterior surface gun blazes away at the oncoming Rebel fighters.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nHow many guns do you think, Gold
\nFive?
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\n(over speaker)
\nI’d say about twenty guns. Some
\non the surface, some on the towers.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE
\n(over speaker)
\nDeath Star will be in range in
\nfive minutes.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The three Y-wing fighters race toward camera and zoom overhead through a hail of laserfire.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Leader pulls his computer targeting device down in front of his eye. Laserbolts continue to batter the Rebel craft.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nSwitch to targeting computer.
\nINT. GOLD TWO’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GOLD TWO
\nComputer’s locked. Getting a
\nsignal.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

GOLD TWO
\nThe guns… they’ve stopped!
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Two Y-wings zoom down the Death Star trench.
\nEXT. GOLD FIVE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Five looks behind him.<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\nStabilize your rear deflectors.
\nWatch for enemy fighters.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nThey’ve coming in! Three marks at
\ntwo ten.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Three Imperial TIE ships, Darth Vader in the center flanked by two wingmen, dive in precise formation almost vertically toward the Death Star surface.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Darth Vader calmly adjusts his control stick as the stars zoom by.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI’ll take them myself! Cover me!<\/p>\n

WINGMAN’S VOICE
\n(over speaker)
\nYes, sir.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR SURFACE<\/p>\n

Three TIE fighters zoom across the surface of the Death Star.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader lines up Gold Two in his targeting computer. Vader’s hands grip the control stick as he presses the button.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The cockpit explodes around Gold Two. His head falls forward.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

As Gold Two’s ship explodes, debris is flung out into space.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Leader looks over his shoulder at the scene.
\nINT. DEATH STAR TRENCH<\/p>\n

The three TIE fighters race along in the trench in a tight formation.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Leader panics.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\n(into mike)
\nI can’t maneuver!
\nINT. GOLD FIVE’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Five, the old veteran, tries to calm Gold Leader.<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\nStay on target.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The Death Star races by outside the cockpit window as he adjusts his targeting device.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nWe’re too close.
\nINT. GOLD FIVE’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The older pilot remains calm.<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\nStay on target!
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Now he’s really panicked.<\/p>\n

GOLD LEADER
\nLoosen up!
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader calmly adjusts his targeting computer and pushes the fire button.
\nINT. GOLD LEADER’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Leader’s ship is hit by Vader’s lasers.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Gold Leader explodes in a ball of flames, throwing debris in all directions.
\nINT. GOLD FIVE’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Gold Five moves in on the exhaust port.<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\nGold Five to Red Leader…
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks over his shoulder at the action outside of his cockpit.<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\n(over headset)
\nLost Tiree, lost Dutch.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nI copy, Gold Five.
\nINT. GOLD FIVE’S Y-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

GOLD FIVE
\nThey came from behind….
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks nervously about him at the explosive battle.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

Grant Moff Tarkin and a Chief Officer stand in the Death Star’s control room.<\/p>\n

OFFICER
\nWe’ve analyzed their attack, sir,
\nand there is a danger. Should I
\nhave your ship standing by?<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nEvacuate? In out moment of
\ntriumph? I think you overestimate
\ntheir chances!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

VOICE
\n(over speaker)
\nRebel base, three minutes and
\nclosing.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader looks over at his wingmen.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nRed Group, this is Red Leader.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Dodonna moves to the intercom as he fiddles with the computer keys.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nRendezvous at mark six point one.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over speaker)
\nThis is Red Two. Flying towards you.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\n(over speaker)
\nRed Three, standing by.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

DODONNA
\n(over headset)
\nRed Leader, this is Base One.
\nKeep half your group out of range
\nfor the next run.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER’S VOICE
\n(over headset)
\nCopy, Base One. Luke, take Red
\nTwo and Three. Hold up here and
\nwait for my signal… to start
\nyour run.<\/p>\n

Luke nods his head.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The X-wing fighters of Luke, Biggs, and Wedge fly in formation high above the Death Star’s surface.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke peers out from his cockpit.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader looks around to watch for the TIE fighters. He begins to perspire.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nThis is it!
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Red Leader roams down the trench of the Death Star as lasers streak across the black heavens.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR SURFACE – GUN EMPLACEMENTS<\/p>\n

A huge remote-control laser cannon fires at the approaching Rebel fighters.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR TRENCH<\/p>\n

The Rebel fighters evade the Imperial laser blasts.
\nINT. RED TEN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Ten looks around for the Imperial fighters.<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\nWe should be able to see it by
\nnow.<\/p>\n

EXT. DEATH STAR TRENCH<\/p>\n

From the cockpits of the Rebel pilots, the surface of the Death Star streaks by, with Imperial laserfire shooting toward them.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nKeep your eyes open for those
\nfighters!
\nINT. RED TEN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\nThere’s too much interference!
\nEXT. SPACE – DEATH STAR TRENCH<\/p>\n

Three X-wing fighters move in formation down the Death Star trench.<\/p>\n

RED TEN’S VOICE
\nRed Five, can you see them from
\nwhere you are?
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks down at the Death Star surface below.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nNo sign of any… wait!
\nINT. RED TEN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Ten looks up and sees the Imperial fighters.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over headset)
\nComing in point three five.<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\nI see them.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader pulls his targeting device in front of his eyes and makes several adjustments.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nI’m in range.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Red Leader’s X-wing moves up the Death Star trench.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nTarget’s coming up!<\/p>\n

Red Leader looks at his computer target readout screen. He then looks into his targeting device.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nJust hold them off for a few
\nseconds.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader adjusts his control lever and dives on the X-wing fighters.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nClose up formation.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR TRENCH<\/p>\n

The three TIE fighters move in formation across the Death Star surface.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nAlmost there!<\/p>\n

Red Leader lines up his target on the targeting device cross hairs.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Vader and his wingmen zoom down the trench.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

Red Twelve’s X-wing fighter is hit by Vader’s laserfire, and it explodes into flames against the trench.
\nINT. RED TEN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Ten works at his controls furiously, trying to avoid Vader’s fighter behind him.<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\nYou’d better let her loose.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader is concentrating on his targeting device.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nAlmost there!
\nINT. RED TEN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Ten panics.<\/p>\n

RED TEN
\nI can’t hold them!
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Vader and his wingmen whip through the trench in pursuit of the Rebel fighters.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader coolly pushes the fire button on his control stick.
\nINT. RED TEN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Darth Vader’s well-aimed laserfire proves to be unavoidable, and strikes Red Ten’s ship. Red Ten screams in anguish and pain.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Red Ten’s ship explodes and bursts into flames.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Grimly, Red Leader takes careful aim and watches his computer targeting device, which shows the target lined up in the cross hairs, and fires.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nIt’s away!
\nEXT. DEATH STAR SURFACE<\/p>\n

Red Leader’s X-wing pulls up just before a huge explosion billows out of the trench.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others stare at the computer screen.<\/p>\n

RED NINE’S VOICE
\n(over speaker)
\nIt’s a hit!<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over speaker)
\nNegative.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader looks back at the receding Death Star. Tiny explosions are visible in the distance.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\nNegative! It didn’t go in, it
\njust impacted on the surface.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR – TIE FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Darth Vader peels off in pursuit as Red Leader’s X-wing passes the Death Star horizon.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader swings his ship around for the next kill.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over headset)
\nRed Leader, we’re right above
\nyou. Turn to point…
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke tries to spot Red Leader. He looks down at the Death Star surface.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n… oh-five; we’ll cover for you.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nStay there…
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

A wary Red Leader looks about nervously.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n… I just lost my starboard engine.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks excitedly toward Red Leader’s X-wing.<\/p>\n

RED LEADER
\n(over headset)
\nGet set up for your attack run.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader’s gloved hands make contact with the control sticks, and he presses their firing buttons.
\nINT. RED LEADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Red Leader fights to gain control of his ship.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Grand Moff Tarkin casts a sinister eye at the computer screen.<\/p>\n

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE
\nRebel base, one minute and
\nclosing.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over speaker)
\nBiggs, Wedge, let’s close it up.
\nWe’re going in. We’re going in
\nfull throttle.
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The horizon twists as Wedge begins to pull out.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nRight with you, boss.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The two X-wings peel off against a background of stars and dive toward the Death Star.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nLuke, at that speed will you be
\nable to pull out in time?
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nIt’ll be just like Beggar’s Canyon
\nback home.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The three X-wings move in, unleashing a barrage of laserfire. Laserbolts are returned from the Death Star.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke’s lifelong friend struggles with his controls.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nWe’ll stay back far enough to
\ncover you.
\nINT. LUKE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Flak and laserbolts flash outside Luke’s cockpit window.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over headset)
\nMy scope shows the tower, but I
\ncan’t see the exhaust port! Are
\nyou sure the computer can hit it?
\nEXT. DEATH STAR – GUN EMPLACEMENT<\/p>\n

The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotates as it shoots laserbolts.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks around for the Imperial TIE fighters. He thinks for a moment and then moves his targeting device into position.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nWatch yourself! Increase speed
\nfull throttle!
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Wedge looks excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nWhat about that tower?
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou worry about those fighters!
\nI’ll worry about the tower!
\nEXT. DEATH STAR SURFACE<\/p>\n

Luke’s X-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke breaks into a nervous sweat as the laserfire is returned, nicking one of his wings close to the engine.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(to Artoo)
\nArtoo… that, that stabilizer’s
\nbroken loose again! See if you
\ncan’t lock it down!
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Artoo works to repair the damages. The canyon wall rushes by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious.
\nEXT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Two laser cannons are firing on the Rebel fighters.
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Wedge looks up and sees the TIE ships.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke’s targeting device marks off the distance to the target.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Vader and his wingmen zoom closer.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader adjusts his controls and fires laserbolts at two X-wings flying down the trench. He scores a direct hit on Wedge.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others are grouped around the computer board.<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\n(over speaker)
\nI’m hit! I can’t stay with you.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over speaker)
\nGet clear, Wedge.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nYou can’t do any more good back
\nthere!
\nINT. WEDGE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

WEDGE
\nSorry!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Wedge pulls his crippled X-wing back away from the battle.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader watches the escape but issues a command to his wingmen.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nLet him go! Stay on the leader!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s X-wing speeds down the trench; the three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tail close behind.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Biggs looks around at the TIE fighters. He is worried.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nHurry, Luke, they’re coming in
\nmuch faster this time. I can’t
\nhold them!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The three TIE fighters move ever closer, closing in on Luke and Biggs.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks back anxiously at little Artoo.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nArtoo, try and increase the power!
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, a beeping Artoo-Detoo struggles to increase the power, his dome turning from side to side.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Stealthily, the TIE formation creeps closer.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader adjusts his control stick.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Biggs looks around at the TIE fighters.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Luke looks into his targeting device. He moves it away for a moment and ponders its use. He looks back into the computer targeter.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\n(over headset)
\nHurry up, Luke!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Vader and his wingmen race through the Death Star trench. Biggs moves in to cover for Luke, but Vader gains on him.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Biggs sees the TIE fighter aiming at him.<\/p>\n

BIGGS
\nWait!
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader squeezes the fire button on his controls.
\nINT. BIGGS’ COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Biggs’ cockpit explodes around him, lighting him in red.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Biggs’ ship bursts into a million flaming bits and scatters across the surface.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others stare at the computer board.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke is stunned by Biggs’ death. His eyes are watering, but his anger is also growing.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

Grand Moff Tarkin watches the projected target screen with satisfaction.<\/p>\n

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE
\nRebel base, thirty seconds and
\nclosing.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader takes aim on Luke and talks to the wingmen.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI’m on the leader.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR – LUKE’S SHIP<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship streaks through the trench of the Death Star.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Princess Leia returns her general’s worried and doubtful glances with solid, grim determination. Threepio seems nervous.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nHang on, Artoo!
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke concentrates on his targeting device.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Three TIE fighters charge away down the trench toward Luke.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader’s finger’s curls around the control stick.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke adjusts the lens of his targeting device.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship charges down the trench.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

BEN’S VOICE
\nUse the Force, Luke.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The Death Star trench zooms by.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks up, then starts to look back into the targeting device. He has second thoughts.<\/p>\n

BEN’S VOICE
\nLet go, Luke.<\/p>\n

A grim determination sweeps across Luke’s face as he closes his eyes and starts to mumble Ben’s training to himself.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s fighter streaks through the trench.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

VADER
\nThe Force is strong with this one!
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Vader follows Luke’s X-wing down the trench.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks to the targeting device, then away as he hears Ben’s voice.<\/p>\n

BEN’S VOICE
\nLuke, trust me.<\/p>\n

Luke’s hand reaches for the control panel and presses the button. The targeting device moves away.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others stand watching the projected screen.<\/p>\n

BASE VOICE
\n(over speaker)
\nHis computer’s off. Luke, you
\nswitched off your targeting
\ncomputer. What’s wrong?<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(over speaker)
\nNothing. I’m all right.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship streaks ever close to the exhaust port.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks at the Death Star surface streaking by.
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Artoo-Detoo turns his head from side to side, beeping in anticipation.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The three TIE fighters, manned by Vader and his two wingmen, follow Luke’s X-wing down the trench.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks frantically back over his shoulder at Artoo.
\nEXT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Smoke billows out around little Artoo and sparks begin to fly.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nI’ve lost Artoo!<\/p>\n

Artoo’s beeping sounds die out.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others stare intently at the projected screen, while Threepio watches the Princess. Lights representing the Death Star and targets glow brightly.<\/p>\n

MASSASSI INTERCOM VOICE
\nThe Death Star has cleared the
\nplanet. The Death Star has
\ncleared the planet.
\nINT. DEATH STAR – CONTROL ROOM<\/p>\n

Tarkin glares at the projected target screen.<\/p>\n

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE
\nRebel base, in range.<\/p>\n

TARKIN
\nYou may fire when ready.<\/p>\n

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE
\nCommence primary ignition.<\/p>\n

An officer reaches up and pushes buttons on the control panel, as green lighted buttons turn to red.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The three TIE fighters zoom down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Luke, never breaking formation.
\nINT. LUKE’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks anxiously at the exhaust port.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader adjusts his control sticks, checking his projected targeting screen.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Luke’s ship barrels down the trench.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader’s targeting computer swings around into position. Vader takes careful aim on Luke’s X-wing fighter.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nI have you now.<\/p>\n

He pushes the fire buttons.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks about, wondering whose laserfire destroyed Vader’s wingman.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader is taken by surprise, and looks out from his cockpit.<\/p>\n

VADER
\nWhat?
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S WINGMAN – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader’s wingman searches around him trying to locate the unknown attacker.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Han and Chewbacca grin from ear to ear.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(yelling)
\nYahoo!
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

The Millennium Falcon heads right at the two TIE fighters. It’s a collision course.
\nINT. WINGMAN’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

The wingman spots the pirateship coming at him and warns the Dark Lord.<\/p>\n

WINGMAN
\nLook out!
\nEXT. DEATH STAR TRENCH<\/p>\n

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.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Vader’s ship spins out of control with a bent solar fin, heading for deep space.
\nINT. DARTH VADER’S COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Vader turns round and round in circles as his ship spins into space.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Solo’s ship moves in toward the Death Star trench.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Solo, smiling, speaks to Luke over his headset mike.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(into mike)
\nYou’re all clear, kid.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – WAR ROOM<\/p>\n

Leia and the others listen to Solo’s transmission.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(over speaker)
\nNow let’s blow this thing and
\ngo home!
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke looks up and smiles. He concentrates on the exhaust port, then fires his laser torpedoes.
\nEXT. SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke throws his head back in relief.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

An Imperial soldier runs to the control panel board and pulls the attack lever as the board behind him lights up.<\/p>\n

INTERCOM VOICE
\nStand by to fire at Rebel base.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Two X-wings, a Y-wing, and the pirateship race toward Yavin in the distance.
\nINT. DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

Several Imperial soldiers, flanking a pensive Grand Moff Tarkin, busily push control levers and buttons.<\/p>\n

INTERCOM VOICE
\nStanding by.<\/p>\n

The rumble of a distant explosion begins.
\nEXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR<\/p>\n

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.
\nINT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

HAN
\nGreat shot, kid. That was one
\nin a million.
\nINT. LUKE’S X-WING FIGHTER – COCKPIT<\/p>\n

Luke is at ease, and his eyes are closed.<\/p>\n

BEN’S VOICE
\nRemember, the Force will be with
\nyou… always.<\/p>\n

The ship rocks back and forth.
\nEXT. DARTH VADER’S TIE FIGHTER<\/p>\n

Vader’s ship spins off into space.
\nEXT. SPACE<\/p>\n

The Rebel ships race toward the fourth moon of Yavin.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – MAIN HANGAR<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Princess Leia rushes toward him.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\nLuke! Luke! Luke!<\/p>\n

She throws her arms around Luke and hugs him as they dance around a circle. Solo runs in toward Luke and they embrace one another, slapping each other on the back.<\/p>\n

HAN
\n(laughing)
\nHey! Hey!<\/p>\n

LUKE
\n(laughing)
\nI knew you’d come back! I just
\nknew it!<\/p>\n

HAN
\nWell, I wasn’t gonna let you get
\nall the credit and take all the
\nreward.<\/p>\n

Luke and Han look at one another, as Solo playfully shoves at Luke’s face. Leia moves in between them.<\/p>\n

LEIA
\n(laughing)
\nHey, I knew there was more to
\nyou than money.<\/p>\n

Luke looks toward the ship.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nOh, no!<\/p>\n

The fried little Artoo-Detoo is lifted off the back of the fighter and carried off under the worried eyes of Threepio.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nOh, my! Artoo! Can you hear me?
\nSay something!
\n(to mechanic)
\nYou can repair him, can’t you?<\/p>\n

TECHNICIAN
\nWe’ll get to work on him right
\naway.<\/p>\n

THREEPIO
\nYou must repair him! Sir, if any
\nof my circuits or gears will help,
\nI’ll gladly donate them.<\/p>\n

LUKE
\nHe’ll be all right.
\nINT. MASSASSI OUTPOST – MAIN THRONE ROOM<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

FADE OUT.<\/p>\n

END CREDITS OVER STARS.<\/p>\n


\nTHE END<\/strong><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Download: Star Wars (Public Version of Fourth Draft)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Download: Star Wars (Public Version of Fourth Draft) Published Script:\u00a0 Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope,\u00a0 from the Journal of the Whills. As published in The Art of Star Wars, Ballantine 1979 Labeled:\u00a0 “Revised Fourth Draft, January 15, 1976.”… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001002,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[9,60,7,10],"class_list":["post-36","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-star-wars-star-wars-scripts","tag-draft","tag-public","tag-script","tag-star-wars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001002"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449,"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36\/revisions\/449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starwarz.com\/starkiller\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}