From: ss@realsoon (Scott N Streeter)
Subject: The Script (2/7)
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 18:16:15 GMT





LUKE: H'm? Oh, yeah, well, I guess you're too small to run away on me
if I take this off! Okay.

           Luke takes a wedged bar and pops the restraining bolt off
        Artoo's side.

LUKE: There you go.

           The princess immediately disappears...

LUKE: Well, wait a minute. Where'd she go? Bring her back! Play back
the entire message.

           Artoo beeps an innocent reply as Threepio sits up in
        embarrassment.

THREEPIO: What message? The one you're carrying inside your rusty
innards! 

           A women's voice calls out from another room.

AUNT BERU: Luke? Luke! Come to dinner!

           Luke stands up and shakes his head at the malfunctioning
        robot.

LUKE: All right, I'll be right there, Aunt Beru.

THREEPIO: I'm sorry, sir, but he appears to have picked up a slight
flutter.

           Luke tosses Artoo's restraining bolt on the workbench and
        hurries out of the room.

LUKE: Well, see what you can do with him. I'll be right back.

THREEPIO: (to Artoo) Just you reconsider playing that message for him.

           Artoo beeps in response.

THREEPIO: No, I don't think he likes you at all.

           Artoo beeps.

THREEPIO: No, I don't like you either.

INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- DINING AREA.

         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.
           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.

LUKE: You know, I think that R2 unit we bought might have been stolen.

OWEN: What makes you think that?

LUKE: Well, I stumbled across a recording while I was cleaning him. He
says he belongs to someone called Obi-Wan Kenobi.

           Owen is greatly alarmed at the mention of his name, but
        manages to control himself.

LUKE: I thought he might have meant old Ben. Do you know what he's
talking about? Well, I wonder if he's related to Ben.

           Owen breaks loose with a fit of uncontrolled anger.

OWEN: That old man's just a crazy old wizard. Tomorrow I want you to
take that R2 unit into Anchorhead and have its memory flushed. That'll
be the end of it. It belongs to us now.

LUKE: But what if this Obi-Wan comes looking for him?

OWEN: He won't, I don't think he exists any more. He died about the
same time as your father.

LUKE: He knew my father?

OWEN: I told you to forget it. Your only concern is to prepare the new
droids for tomorrow. In the morning I want them on the south ridge
working out those condensers.

LUKE: Yes, sir. I think those new droids are going to work out fine.
In fact, I, uh, was also thinking about our agreement about my staying
on another season. And if these new droids do work out, I want to
transmit my application to the Academy this year.

           Owen's face becomes a scowl, although he tries to suppress
        it.

OWEN: You mean the next semester before harvest?

LUKE: Sure, there're more than enough droids.

OWEN: Harvest is when I need you the most. Only one more season. This
year we'll make enough on the harvest so I'll be able to hire some
more hands. And then you can go to the Academy next year.

           Luke continues to toy with his food, not looking at his
        uncle.

OWEN: You must understand I need you here, Luke.

LUKE: But it's a whole 'nother year.

OWEN: Look, it's only one more season.

           Luke pushes his half-eaten plate of food aside and stands.

LUKE: Yeah, that's what you said last year when Biggs and Tank left.

AUNT BERU: Where are you going?

LUKE: It looks like I'm going nowhere. I have to finish cleaning those
droids.

           Resigned to his fate, Luke paddles out of the room. Owen
        mechanically finishes his dinner.

AUNT BERU: Owen, he can't stay here forever. Most of his friends have
gone. It means so much to him.

OWEN: I'll make it up to him next year. I promise.

AUNT BERU: Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his
father in him.

OWEN: That's what I'm afraid of.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.

        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.

INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- GARAGE.

           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.

LUKE: What are you doing hiding there?

           Threepio stumbles forward, but Artoo is still nowhere in
        sight. 

THREEPIO: It wasn't my fault, sir. Please don't deactivate me. I told
him not to go, but he's faulty, malfunctioning; kept babbling on about
his mission.

LUKE: Oh, no!

        Luke races out of the garage followed by Threepio.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.

        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.

THREEPIO: That R2 unit has always been a problem. These astro-droids
are getting quite out of hand. Even I can't understand their logic at
times. 

LUKE: How could I be so stupid? He's nowhere in sight. Blast it!

THREEPIO: Pardon me, sir, but couldn't we go after him?

LUKE: It's too dangerous with all the Sandpeople around. We'll have to
wait until morning.

           Owen yells up from the homestead plaza.

OWEN: Luke, I'm shutting the power down for the night.

LUKE: All right, I'll be there in a few minutes. Boy, am I gonna get it.

        He takes one final look across the dim horizon.

LUKE: You know that little droid is going to cause me a lot of
trouble.

THREEPIO: Oh, he excels at that, sir.

INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- PLAZA.

        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.

OWEN: Luke? Luke? Luke? Where could he be loafing now!

INTERIOR: LARS HOMESTEAD -- KITCHEN.

        The interior of the kitchen is a worm glow as Aunt Beru prepares
        the morning breakfast. Owen enters in a huff.

OWEN: Have you seen Luke this morning?

AUNT BERU: He said he had some things to do before he started today,
so he left early.

OWEN: Uh? Did he take those two new droids with him?

AUNT BERU: I think so.

OWEN: Well, he'd better have those units in the south range repaired
be midday or there'll be hell to pay!

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- DESERT WASTELAND -- LUKE'S SPEEDER -- DAY.

        The rock and sand of the desert floor are a blur as Threepio
        pilots the sleek Landspeeder gracefully across the vast
        wasteland. 

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR: LUKE'S SPEEDER -- DESERT WASTELAND -- TRAVELING -- DAY.

        Luke leans over the back of the speeder and adjusts something
        in the motor compartment.

LUKE: (yelling) How's that.

           Threepio signals that is fine and Luke turns back into the
        wind-whipped cockpit and pops the canopy shut.

LUKE: Old Ben Kenobi lives out in this direction somewhere, but I
don't see how that R2 unit could have come this far. We must have
missed him. Uncle Owen isn't going to take this very well.

THREEPIO: Sir, would it help if you told him it was my fault.

LUKE: (brightening) Sure. He needs you. He'd probably only deactivate
you for a day or so...

THREEPIO: Deactivate! Well, on the other hand if you hadn't removed
his restraining bolt...

LUKE: Wait, there's something dead ahead on the scanner. It looks like
our droid...hit the accelerator.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK MESA -- DUNE SEA -- COASTLINE -- DAY.

        From high on a rock mesa, the tiny Landspeeder can be seen
        gliding across the desert floor. Suddenly in the foreground
        two weather-beaten Sandpeople 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.
           The Sandpeople, 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.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK MESA -- CANYON.

        The Tusken Raider 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.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- FLOOR.

        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.

LUKE: Hey, whoa, just where do you think you're going?

           The little droid whistles a feeble reply, as Threepio poses
        menacingly behind the little runaway.

THREEPIO: Master Luke here is your rightful owner. We'll have no more
of this Obi-Wan Kenobi jibberish...and don't talk to me about your
mission, either. You're fortunate he doesn't blast you into a million
pieces right here.

LUKE: Well, come on. It's getting late. I only hope we can get back
before Uncle Owen really blows up.

THREEPIO: If you don't mind my saying so, sir, I think you should
deactivate the little fugitive until you've gotten him back to your
workshop.

LUKE: No, he's not going to try anything.

           Suddenly the little robot jumps to life with a mass of
        frantic whistles and screams.

LUKE: What's wrong with him now?

THREEPIO: Oh my...sir, he says there are several creatures approaching
from the southeast.

           Luke swings his rifle into position and looks to the south.

LUKE: Sandpeople! Or worst! Come on, let's have a look. Come on.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- RIDGE -- DAY.

        Luke carefully makes his way to the top of a rock ridge and
        scans the canyon with his electrobinoculars. He spots the two
        riderless Banthas. Threepio struggles up behind the young
        adventurer.

LUKE: There are two Banthas down there but I don't see any...wait a
second, they're Sandpeople all right. I can see one of them now.

           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.
           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.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- ROCK CANYON -- FLOOR -- DAY.

        Artoo forces himself into the shadows of a small alcove in the
        rocks as the vicious Sandpeople walk past carrying the inert
        Luke Skywalker, who is dropped in a heap before the speeder.
        The Sandpeople 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 Sandpeople
        fleeing in terror.
           Artoo moves even tighter into the shadows as the slight
        swishing sound that frightened off the Sandpeople 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.

BEN: Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don't be afraid.

        Artoo waddles over to were 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.

BEN: Don't worry, he'll be all right.

LUKE: What happened?

BEN: Rest easy, son, you've had a busy day. You're fortunate you're
still in one piece.

LUKE: Ben? Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I glad to see you! 

BEN: The Jundland wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me young
Luke, what brings you out this far?

LUKE: Oh, this little droid! I think he's searching for his former
master...I've never seen such devotion in a droid before...there
seems to be no stopping him. He claims to be the property of an Obi-
Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking 
about?

        Ben ponders this for a moment, scratching his scruffy beard.

BEN: Obi-Wan Kenobi...Obi-Wan? Now thats a name I haven't heard in a 
long time...a long time.

LUKE: I think my uncle knew him. He said he was dead.

BEN: Oh, he's not dead, not...not yet.

LUKE: You know him!

BEN: Well of course, of course I know him. He's me! I haven't gone by
the name Obi-Wan since oh, before you were born.

LUKE: Then the droid does belong to you.

BEN: Don't seem to remember ever owning a droid. Very interesting...

        He suddenly looks up at the overhanging cliffs.

BEN: I think we better get indoors. The Sandpeople are easily startled
but they will soon be back and in greater numbers.

        Luke sits up and rubs his head. Artoo lets out a pathetic
        beep causing Luke to remember something. He looks around.

LUKE: Threepio!

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- SAND PIT -- ROCK MESA -- DAY.

        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.
           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.

THREEPIO: Where am I? I must have taken a bad step...

LUKE: Can you stand? We've got to get out of here before the
Sandpeople return.

THREEPIO: I don't think I can make it. You go on, Master Luke. There's
no sense in you risking yourself on my account. I'm done for.
        
           Artoo makes a beeping sound.

LUKE: No, you're not. What kind of talk is that?

           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.

BEN: Quickly, son...they're on the move.

INTERIOR: KENOBI'S DWELLING.

        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.

LUKE: No, my father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a
spice freighter.

BEN: That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your
father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten
involved.

LUKE: You fought in the Clone Wars?

BEN: Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father.

LUKE: I wish I'd known him.

BEN: He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior.
I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was a
good friend. Which reminds me...

           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.

BEN: I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have
this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He
feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic
crusade like your father did. 

THREEPIO: Sir, if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for
awhile.

LUKE: Sure, go ahead.

           Ben hands Luke the saber.

LUKE: What is it?

BEN: Your fathers lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not
as clumsy or as random as a blaster.
                
           Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long beam shoots out
        about four feet and flickers there. The light plays across the
        ceiling.

BEN: An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand
generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice
in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.

           Luke hasn't really been listening.

LUKE: How did my father die?

BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he
turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi
Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all
but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.

LUKE: The Force?

BEN: Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy
field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us.
It binds the galaxy together.

           Artoo makes beeping sounds.

BEN: Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little
friend. And where you come from.

LUKE: I saw part of the message he was...

           Luke is cut short as the recorded image of the beautiful
        young Rebel princess is projected from Artoo's face.

BEN: I seem to have found it.

           Luke stops his work as the lovely girl's image flickers
        before his eyes.

LEIA: General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone
Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire.
I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in
person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission
to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital
to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2
unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid
safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

        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.

BEN: You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to
Alderaan.

LUKE: (laughing) Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go
home. It's late, I'm in for it as it is.

BEN: I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old
for this sort of thing.

LUKE: I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like
the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right
now. It's such a long way from here.

BEN: That's your uncle talking.

LUKE: (sighing) Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain
this?

BEN: Learn about the Force, Luke.

LUKE: Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a
transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going.

BEN: You must do what you feel is right, of course.

EXTERIOR: SPACE.

        An Imperial Stardestroyer heads toward the evil planet-like
        battle station: the Death Star!

INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- CONFERENCE ROOM.

        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.

TAGGE: Until this battle station is fully operational we are
vulnerable. The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They're more
dangerous than you realize.

           The bitter Admiral Motti twists nervously in his chair.

MOTTI: Dangerous to your starfleet, Commander, not to this battle
station!

TAGGE: The Rebellion will continue to gain a support in the Imperial
Senate as long as....

           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.

TARKIN: The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us.
I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council
permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept
away.

TAGGE: That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control
without the bureaucracy?

TARKIN: The regional governors now have direct control over
territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this
battle station.

TAGGE: And what of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a
complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however
unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it.

VADER: The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.

MOTTI: Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a
useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. This
station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use
it!

VADER: Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've
constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to
the power of the Force.

MOTTI: Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader.
Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure
up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the
Rebel's hidden fort...

           Suddenly Motti chokes and starts to turn blue under Vader's
        spell.

VADER: I find your lack of faith disturbing.

TARKIN: Enough of this! Vader, release him!

VADER: As you wish.

TARKIN: This bickering is pointless. Lord Vader will provide us with
the location of the Rebel fortress by the time this station is
operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

        The speeder stops before what remains of the huge Jawas
        Sandcrawler. Luke and Ben walk among the smoldering rubble
        and scattered bodies.

LUKE: It looks like Sandpeople did this, all right. Look, here are
Gaffi sticks, Bantha tracks. It's just...I never heard of them hitting
anything this big before.

           Ben is crouching in the sand studying the tracks.

BEN: They didn't. But we are meant to think they did. These tracks are
side by side. Sandpeople always ride single file to hide there numbers.

LUKE: These are the same Jawas that sold us Artoo and Threepio.

BEN: And these blast points, too accurate for Sandpeople. Only
Imperial stormtroopers are so precise.

LUKE: Why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?

           Luke looks back at the speeder where Artoo and Threepio are
        inspecting the dead Jawas, and put two and two together.

LUKE: If they traced the robots here, they may have learned who they
sold them to. And that would lead them home!

           Luke reaches a sudden horrible realization, then races for
        the speeder and jumps it.

BEN: Wait, Luke! It's too dangerous.

           Luke races off leaving Ben and the two robots alone with
        the burning Sandcrawler.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

        Luke races across the wasteland in his battered Landspeeder.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.

        The speeder roars up to the burning 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.

LUKE: Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru! Uncle Owen!

           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.

EXTERIOR: SPACE.

        Imperial TIE fighter races toward the Death Star.

INTERIOR: DEATH STAR -- DETENTION CORRIDOR.

        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.

VADER: And, now Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your
hidden Rebel base.

           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.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

        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.

BEN: There's nothing you could have done, Luke, had you been there.
You'd have been killed, too, and the droids would be in the hands of
the Empire.

LUKE: I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing here for me
now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my
father.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

        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, grey, 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.

BEN: Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of
scum and villainy. We must be cautious.

           Ben looks over at Luke, who gives the old Jedi a determined
        smile.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

        The speeder is stopped on a crowded street by several
        combat-hardend stormtroopers who look over the two robots. A
        Trooper questions Luke.

TROOPER: How long have you had these droids?

LUKE: About three or four seasons.

BEN: They're for sale if you want them.

TROOPER: Let me see your identification.

           Luke becomes very nervous as he fumbles to find his ID
        while Ben speaks to the Trooper in a very controlled voice.

BEN: You don't need to see his identification.

TROOPER: We don't need to see his identification.

BEN: These are not the droids your looking for.

TROOPER: These are not the droids we're looking for.

BEN: He can go about his business.

TROOPER: You can go about your business.

BEN: (to Luke) Move along.

TROOPER: Move along. Move along.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

        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.

THREEPIO: I can't abide these Jawas. Disgusting creatures.

           As Luke gets out of the speeder he tries to shoo the Jawa
        away.
      
LUKE: Go on, go on. I can't understand how we got by those troopers. I
thought we were dead.

BEN: The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. You
will find it a powerful ally.

LUKE: Do you really think we're going to find a pilot here that'll
take us to Alderaan?

BEN: Well, most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only
watch your step. This place can be a little rough.

LUKE: I'm ready for anything.

THREEPIO: Come along, Artoo.

INTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

        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.

BARTENDER: We don't serve their kind here!

           Luke still recovering from the shock of seeing so many
        outlandish creatures, doesn't quite catch the bartender's
        drift.

LUKE: What?

BARTENDER: Your droids. They'll have to wait outside. We don't want
them here.

           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.
           Luke pats Threepio on the shoulder.

LUKE: Listen, why don't you wait out by the speeder. We don't want any
trouble.

THREEPIO: I heartily agree with you sir.

        Threepio and his stubby partner go outside and most of the
        creatures at the bar go back to their drinks.
           Ben is standing next to Chewbacca, an eight-foot-tall-
        savage-looking creature resembling a huge grey 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.
           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.
           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. 
           A large, multiple-eyed Creature gives Luke a rough shove.

CREATURE: Negola dewaghi wooldugger?!?

           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.

HUMAN: He doesn't like you.

LUKE: I'm sorry.

HUMAN: I don't like you either

           The big creature is getting agitated and yells out some
        unintelligible gibberish at the now rather nervous, young
        adventurer.

HUMAN: (continued) Don't insult us. You just watch yourself. We're
wanted men. I have the death sentence in twelve systems.

LUKE: I'll be careful than.

HUMAN: You'll be dead.

           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.

BEN: This little one isn't worth the effort. Come let me buy you
something...

           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.

BARTENDER: No blasters! No blaster!

           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.

BEN: This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our
needs.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

        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.

THREEPIO: I don't like the look of this.

INTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

        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.

HAN: Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells
me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.

BEN: Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship.

HAN: Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?

BEN: Should I have?

HAN: It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve
parsecs!

           Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with
        obvious misinformation.

HAN: (continued) I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local
bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships
now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?

BEN: Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions
asked.

HAN: What is it? Some kind of local trouble?

BEN: Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.

HAN: Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you
something extra. Ten thousand in advance.

LUKE: Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!

HAN: But who's going to fly it, kid! You?

LUKE: You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have
to sit here and listen...

BEN: We haven't that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand
now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.

HAN: Seventeen, huh!

           Han ponders this for a few moments.

HAN: Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're
ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.

BEN: Ninety-four.

HAN: Looks like somebody's beginning to take an interest in your
handiwork.

           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.

TROOPER: All right, we'll check it out.

           The stormtroopers look over at the booth but Luke and Ben
        are gone. The bartender shrugs his shoulders in puzzlement.

HAN: Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This
could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready.

EXTERIOR: TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

BEN: You'll have to sell your speeder.

LUKE: That's okay. I'm never coming back to this planet again.

INTERIOR: MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

-- 
                        Scott Streeter
                        ss@wpi.wpi.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars