STAR WARS Episode IV A NEW HOPE From the JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS by George Lucas Revised Fourth Draft January 15, 1976 LUCASFILM LTD. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away... A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the main title. War drums echo through the heavens as a rollup slowly crawls into infinity. It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy... The awesome yellow planet of Tatooine emerges from a total eclipse, her two moons glowing against the darkness. A tiny silver spacecraft, a Rebel Blockade Runner firing lasers from the back of the ship, races through space. It is pursed by a giant Imperial Stardestroyer. Hundreds of deadly laserbolts streak from the Imperial Stardestroyer, causing the main solar fin of the Rebel craft to disintegrate. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - MAIN PASSAGEWAY An explosion rocks the ship as two robots, Artoo-Detoo (R2- D2) and See-Threepio (C-3PO) struggle to make their way through the shaking, bouncing passageway. Both robots are old and battered. Artoo is a short, claw-armed tripod. His face is a mass of computer lights surrounding a radar eye. Threepio, on the other hand, is a tall, slender robot of human proportions. He has a gleaming bronze-like metallic surface of an Art Deco design. Another blast shakes them as they struggle along their way. THREEPIO Did you hear that? They've shut down the main reactor. We'll be destroyed for sure. This is madness! Rebel troopers rush past the robots and take up positions in the main passageway. They aim their weapons toward the door. THREEPIO We're doomed! The little R2 unit makes a series of electronic sounds that only another robot could understand. THREEPIO There'll be no escape for the Princess this time. Artoo continues making beeping sounds. Tension mounts as loud metallic latches clank and the scream of heavy equipment are heard moving around the outside hull of the ship. THREEPIO What's that? EXT. SPACECRAFT IN SPACE The Imperial craft has easily overtaken the Rebel Blockade Runner. The smaller Rebel ship is being drawn into the underside dock of the giant Imperial starship. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER The nervous Rebel troopers aim their weapons. Suddenly a tremendous blast opens up a hole in the main passageway and a score of fearsome armored spacesuited stormtroopers make their way into the smoke-filled corridor. In a few minutes the entire passageway is ablaze with laserfire. The deadly bolts ricochet in wild random patterns creating huge explosions. Stormtroopers scatter and duck behind storage lockers. Laserbolts hit several Rebel soldiers who scream and stagger through the smoke, holding shattered arms and faces. An explosion hits near the robots. THREEPIO I should have known better than to trust the logic of a half-sized thermocapsulary dehousing assister... Artoo counters with an angry rebuttal as the battle rages around the two hapless robots. EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT WASTELAND - DAY A death-white wasteland stretches from horizon to horizon. The tremendous heat of two huge twin suns settle on a lone figure, Luke Skywalker, a farm boy with heroic aspirations who looks much younger than his eighteen years. His shaggy hair and baggy tunic give him the air of a simple but lovable lad with a prize-winning smile. A light wind whips at him as he adjusts several valves on a large battered moisture vaporator which sticks out of the desert floor much like an oil pipe with valves. He is aided by a beatup tread-robot with six claw arms. The little robot appears to be barely functioning and moves with jerky motions. A bright sparkle in the morning sky catches Luke's eye and he instinctively grabs a pair of electrobinoculars from his utility belt. He stands transfixed for a few moments studying the heavens, then dashed toward his dented, crudely repaired Landspeeder (an auto-like transport that travels a few feet above the ground on a magnetic-field). He motions for the tiny robot to follow him. LUKE Hurry up! Come with me! What are you waiting for?! Get in gear! The robot scoots around in a tight circle, stops short, and smoke begins to pour out of every joint. Luke throws his arms up in disgust. Exasperated, the young farm boy jumps into his Landspeeder leaving the smoldering robot to hum madly. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - MAIN HALLWAY The awesome, seven-foot-tall Dark Lord of the Sith makes his way into the blinding light of the main passageway. This is Darth Vader, right hand of the Emperor. His face is obscured by his flowing black robes and grotesque breath mask, which stands out next to the fascist white armored suits of the Imperial stormtroopers. Everyone instinctively backs away from the imposing warrior and a deathly quiet sweeps through the Rebel troops. Several of the Rebel troops break and run in a frenzied panic. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER A woman's hand puts a card into an opening in Artoo's dome. Artoo makes beeping sounds. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER Threepio stands in a hallway, somewhat bewildered. Artoo is nowhere in sight. The pitiful screams of the doomed Rebel soldiers can be heard in the distance. THREEPIO Artoo! Artoo-Detoo, where are you? A familiar clanking sound attacks Threepio's attention and he spots little Artoo at the end of the hallway in a smoke- filled alcove. A beautiful young girl (about sixteen years old) stands in front of Artoo. Surreal and out of place, dreamlike and half hidden in the smoke, she finishes adjusting something on Artoo's computer face, then watches as the little robot joins his companion. THREEPIO At last! Where have you been? Stormtroopers can be heard battling in the distance. THREEPIO They're heading in this direction. What are we going to do? We'll be sent to the spice mine of Kessel or smashed into who knows what! Artoo scoots past his bronze friend and races down the subhallway. Threepio chases after him. THREEPIO Wait a minute, where are you going? Artoo responds with electronic beeps. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - CORRIDOR The evil Darth Vader stands amid the broken and twisted bodies of his foes. He grabs a wounded Rebel Officer by the neck as an Imperial Officer rushes up to the Dark Lord. IMPERIAL OFFICER The Death Star plans are not in the main computer. Vader squeezes the neck of the Rebel Officer, who struggles in vain. VADER Where are those transmissions you intercepted? Vader lifts the Rebel off his feet by his throat. VADER What have you done with those plans? REBEL OFFICER We intercepted no transmissions. Aaah... This is a consular ship. Were on a diplomatic mission. VADER If this is a consular ship... were is the Ambassador? The Rebel refuses to speak but eventually cries out as the Dark Lord begins to squeeze the officer's throat, creating a gruesome snapping and choking, until the soldier goes limp. Vader tosses the dead soldier against the wall and turns to his troops. VADER Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans and bring me the Ambassador. I want her alive! The stormtroopers scurry into the subhallways. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - SUBHALLWAY The lovely young girl huddles in a small alcove as the stormtroopers search through the ship. She is Princess Leia Organa, a member of the Alderaan Senate. The fear in her eyes slowly gives way to anger as the muted crushing sounds of the approaching stormtroopers grow louder. One of the troopers spots her. TROOPER There she is! Set for stun! Leia steps from her hiding place and blasts a trooper with her laser pistol. She starts to run but is felled by a paralyzing ray. The troopers inspect her inert body. TROOPER She'll be all right. Inform Lord Vader we have a prisoner. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - SUBHALLWAY Artoo stops before the small hatch of an emergency lifepod. He snaps the seal on the main latch and a red warning light begins to flash. The stubby astro-robot works his way into the cramped four-man pod. THREEPIO Hey, you're not permitted in there. It's restricted. You'll be deactivated for sure.. Artoo beeps something to him. THREEPIO Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease! Now come out before somebody sees you. Artoo whistles something at his reluctant friend regarding the mission he is about to perform. THREEPIO Secret mission? What plans? What are you talking about? I'm not getting in there! Artoo isn't happy with Threepio's stubbornness, and he beeps and twangs angrily. A new explosion, this time very close, sends dust and debris through the narrow subhallway. Flames lick at Threepio and, after a flurry of electronic swearing from Artoo, the lanky robot jumps into the lifepod. THREEPIO I'm going to regret this. INT. IMPERIAL STARDESTROYER On the main viewscreen, the lifepod carrying the two terrified robots speeds away from the stricken Rebel spacecraft. CHIEF PILOT There goes another one. CAPTAIN Hold your fire. There are no life forms. It must have been short- circuited. INT. LIFEPOD Artoo and Threepio look out at the receding Imperial starship. Stars circle as the pod rotates through the galaxy. THREEPIO That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here. Artoo beeps an assuring response. THREEPIO Are you sure this things safe? EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY Heat waves radiate from the dozen or so bleached white buildings. Luke pilots his Landspeeder through the dusty empty street of the tiny settlement. An old woman runs to get out of the way of the speeding vehicle, shaking her fist at Luke as he flies past. WOMAN I've told you kids to slow down! INT. POWER STATION - DAY Luke bursts into the power station, waking The Fixer, a rugged mechanic and Camie, a sexy, disheveled girl who has been asleep in his lap. They grumbled as he races through the office, yelling wildly. FIXER Did I hear a young noise blast through here? CAMIE It was just wormie on another rampage. Luke bounces into a small room behind the office where Deak and Windy, two tough boys about the same age as Luke, are playing a computer pool-like game with Biggs, a burly, handsome boy a few years older than the rest. His flashy city attire is a sharp contrast to the loose-fitting tunics of the farm boys. A robot repairs some equipment in the background. LUKE Shape it up you guys!... Biggs? Luke's surprise at the appearance of Biggs gives way to great joy and emotion. They give each other a great bear hug. LUKE I didn't know you were back! When did you get in? BIGGS Just now. I wanted to surprise you, hot shot. I thought you'd be here... certainly didn't expect you to be out working. (he laughs) LUKE The Academy didn't change you much...but you're back so soon? Hey, what happened, didn't you get your commission? Biggs has an air of cool that seems slightly phony. BIGGS Of course I got it. Signed aboard The Rand Ecliptic last week. First mate Biggs Darklighter at your service... (he salutes) ...I just came to say good-bye to all you unfortunate landlocked simpletons. Everyone laughs. The dazzling spectacle of his dashing friend is almost too much for Luke, but suddenly he snaps out of it. LUKE I almost forgot. There's a battle going on! Right here in our system. Come and look! DEAK Not again! Forget it. EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD - SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY The group stumbles out into the stifling desert sun. Camie and The Fixer complain and are forced to shade their eyes. Luke has his binoculars out scanning the heavens. LUKE There they are! Biggs takes the binoculars from Luke as the others strain to see something with the naked eye. Through the binoculars Biggs sees two small silver specks. BIGGS That's no battle, hot shot... they're just sitting there! Probably a freighter-tanker refueling. LUKE But there was a lot of firing earlier... Camie grabs the binoculars away banging them against the building in the process. Luke grabs them. LUKE Hey, easy with those... CAMIE Don't worry about it, Wormie. The Fixer gives Luke a hard look and the young farm boy shrugs his shoulders in resignation. FIXER I keep telling you, the Rebellion is a long way from here. I doubt if the Empire would even fight to keep this system. Believe me Luke, this planet is a big hunk of nothing... Luke agrees, although it's obvious he isn't sure why. The group stumbles back into the power station, grumbling about Luke's ineptitude. INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - HALLWAY Princess Leia is led down a low-ceilinged hallway by a squad of armored stormtroopers. Her hands are bound and she is brutally shoved when she is unable to keep up with the briskly marching troops. They stop in a smoky hallway as Darth Vader emerges from the shadows. The sinister Dark Lord stares hard at the frail young senator, but she doesn't move. LEIA Lord Vader, I should have known. Only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not sit for this, when they hear you've attacked a diplomatic... VADER Don't play games with me, Your Highness. You weren't on any mercy mission this time. You passed directly through a restricted system. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you. LEIA I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan... VADER You're a part of the Rebel Alliance... and a traitor. Take her away! 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. COMMANDER Holding her is dangerous. If word of this gets out, it could generate sympathy for the Rebellion in the senate. VADER I have traced the Rebel spies to her. Now she is my only link to find their secret base! COMMANDER She'll die before she tells you anything. VADER Leave that to me. Send a distress signal and then inform the senate that all aboard were killed! Another Imperial Officer approaches Vader and the Commander. They stop and snap to attention. SECOND OFFICER Lord Vader, the battle station plans are not aboard this ship! And no transmissions were made. An escape pod was jettisoned during the fighting, but no life forms were aboard. Vader turns to the Commander. VADER She must have hidden the plans in the escape pod. Send a detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally, Commander. There'll be no one to stop us this time. COMMANDER Yes, sir. EXT. SPACE The Imperial Stardestroyer comes over the surface of the planet Tatooine. EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT Jundland, or "No Man's Land", where the rugged desert mesas meet the foreboding dune sea. The two helpless astro-droids 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. THREEPIO How did I get into this mess? I really don't know how. We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life. Artoo answers with beeping sounds. THREEPIO I've got to rest before I fall apart. My joints are almost frozen. Artoo continues to respond with beeping sounds. THREEPIO What a desolate place this is. 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. THREEPIO Where are you going? A stream of electronic noises pours forth from the small robot. THREEPIO Well, I'm not going that way. It's much too rocky. This way is much easier. Artoo counters with a long whistle. THREEPIO What makes you think there are settlements over there? Artoo continues to make beeping sounds. THREEPIO Don't get technical with me. Artoo continues to make beeping sounds. THREEPIO What mission? What are you talking about? I've had just about enough of you! Go that way! You'll be malfunctioning within a day, you nearsighted scrap pile! Threepio gives the little robot a kick and starts off in the direction of the vast dune sea. THREEPIO And don't let me catch you following me begging for help, because you won't get it. Artoo's reply is a rather rude sound. He turns and trudges off in the direction of the towering mesas. THREEPIO No more adventures. I'm not going that way. Artoo beeps to himself as he makes his way toward the distant mountains. EXT. TATOOINE - DUNE SEA 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. THREEPIO That malfunctioning little twerp. This is all his fault! He tricked me into going this way, but he'll do no better. 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. THREEPIO Wait, what's that? A transport! I'm saved! The bronze android waves frantically and yells at the approaching transport. THREEPIO Over here! Help! Please, help! EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY Luke and Biggs are walking and drinking a malt brew. Fixer and the others can be heard working inside. LUKE (Very animated) ...so I cut off my power, shut down the afterburners and came in low on Deak's trail. I was so close I thought I was going to fry my instruments. As it was I busted up the Skyhopper pretty bad. Uncle Owen was pretty upset. He grounded me for the rest of the season. You should have been there... it was fantastic. BIGGS You ought to take it easy Luke. You may be the hottest bushpilot this side of Mos Eisley, but those little Skyhoppers are dangerous. Keep it up, and one day, whammo, you're going to be nothing more than a dark spot on the down side of a canyon wall. LUKE Look who's talking. Now that you've been around those giant starships you're beginning to sound like my uncle. You've gotten soft in the city... BIGGS I've missed you kid. LUKE Well, things haven't been the same since you left, Biggs. It's been so... quiet. Biggs looks around then leans close to Luke. BIGGS Luke, I didn't come back just to say good-bye... I shouldn't tell you this, but you're the only one I can trust... and if I don't come back, I want somebody to know. Luke's eyes are wide with Biggs' seriousness and loyalty. LUKE What are you talking about? BIGGS I made some friends at the Academy. (he whispers) ...when our frigate goes to one of the central systems, we're going to jump ship and join the Alliance... Luke, amazed and stunned, is almost speechless. LUKE Join the Rebellion?! Are you kidding! How? BIGGS Quiet down will ya! You got a mouth bigger than a meteor crater! LUKE I'm sorry. I'm quiet. (he whispers) Listen how quiet I am. You can barely hear me... Biggs shakes his head angrily and then continues. BIGGS My friend has a friend on Bestine who might help us make contact. LUKE You're crazy! You could wander around forever trying to find them. BIGGS I know it's a long shot, but if I don't find them I'll do what I can on my own... It's what we always talked about. Luke, I'm not going to wait for the Empire to draft me into service. The Rebellion is spreading and I want to be on the right side -- the side I believe in. LUKE And I'm stuck here... BIGGS I thought you were going to the Academy next term. You'll get your chance to get off this rock. LUKE Not likely! I had to cancel my application. There has been a lot of unrest among the Sandpeople since you left... they've even raided the outskirts of Anchorhead. BIGGS Your uncle could hold off a whole colony of Sandpeople with one blaster. LUKE I know, but he's got enough vaporators going to make the place pay off. He needs me for just one more season. I can't leave him now. BIGGS I feel for you, Luke, you're going to have to learn what seems to be important or what really is important. What good is all your uncle's work if it's taken over by the Empire?... You know they're starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems... it won't be long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater glory of the Empire. LUKE It couldn't happen here. You said it yourself. The Empire won't bother with this rock. BIGGS Things always change. LUKE I wish I was going... Are you going to be around long? BIGGS No, I'm leaving in the morning... LUKE Then I guess I won't see you. BIGGS Maybe someday... I'll keep a lookout. LUKE Well, I'll be at the Academy next season... after that who knows. I won't be drafted into the Imperial Starfleet that's for sure... Take care of yourself, you'll always be the best friend I've got. BIGGS So long, Luke. Biggs turns away from his old friend and heads towards the power station. EXT. TATOOINE - ROCK CANYON - SUNSET The gargantuan rock formations are shrouded in a strange foreboding mist and the onimous 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. 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. 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. 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 only their glowing 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. EXT. TATOOINE - ROCK CANYON - SANDCRAWLER - SUNSET 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. The filthy little Jawas scurry like rats up small ladders and enter the main cabin of the behemoth transport. INT. SANDCRAWLER - HOLD AREA 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. INT. SANDCRAWLER - PRISON AREA 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. THREEPIO Artoo-Detoo! It's you! It's you! A battered Threepio scrambles up to Artoo and embraces him. EXT. TATOOINE - ROCK CANYON - SANDCRAWLER - SUNSET The enormous Sandcrawler lumbers off toward the magnificent twin suns, which are slowly setting over a distant mountain ridge. EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - DAY 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. FIRST TROOPER Someone was in the pod. The tracks go off in this direction. A second trooper picks a small bit of metal out of the sand and gives it to the first trooper. SECOND TROOPER Look, sir -- droids. EXT. TATOOINE - DUNES The Sandcrawler moves slowly down a great sand dune. INT. SANDCRAWLER Threepio and Artoo noisily bounce along inside the cramped prison chamber. Artoo appears to be shut off. THREEPIO Wake up! Wake up! 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. THREEPIO We're doomed. A Jawa starts moving toward them. THREEPIO Do you think they'll melt us down? Artoo responds, making beeping sounds. THREEPIO Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Will this never end? EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - LARS HOMESTEAD - AFTERNOON 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. 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. 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 robot, 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. 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. BERU Luke, tell Owen that if he gets a translator to be sure it speaks Bocce. LUKE It looks like we don't have much of a choice but I'll remind him. Luke returns to his uncle as they look over the equipment for sale with the Jawa leader. OWEN I have no need for a protocol droid. THREEPIO (quickly) Sir -- not in an environment such as this -- that's why I've also been programmed for over thirty secondary functions that... OWEN What I really need is a droid that understands the binary language of moisture vaporators. THREEPIO Vaporators! Sir -- My first job was programming binary load lifter... very similar to your vaporators. You could say... OWEN Do you speak Bocce? THREEPIO Of course I can, sir. It's like a second language for me... I'm as fluent in Bocce... OWEN All right shut up! (turning to Jawa) I'll take this one. THREEPIO Shutting up, sir. OWEN Luke, take these two over to the garage, will you? I want you to have both of them cleaned up before dinner. LUKE But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters... OWEN You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done. Now come on, get to it! LUKE All right, come on! And the red one, come on. Well, come on, Red, let's go. 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. Owen is negotiating with the head Jawa. Luke and the two robots start off for the garage when a plate pops off the head of the red astro-droid's head plate and it sparks wildly. LUKE Uncle Owen... OWEN Yeah? LUKE This R2 unit has a bad motivator. Look! OWEN (to the head Jawa) Hey, what're you trying to push on us? 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. THREEPIO (pointing to Artoo) Excuse me, sir, but that R2 unit is in prime condition. A real bargain. LUKE Uncle Owen... OWEN Yeah? LUKE What about that one? OWEN (to Jawa) What about that blue one? We'll take that one. With a little reluctance the scruffy dwarf trades the damaged astro-droid for Artoo. LUKE Yeah, take it away. THREEPIO Uh, I'm quite sure you'll be very pleased with that one, sir. He really is in first-class condition. I've worked with him before. Here he comes. Owen pays off the whining Jawa as Luke and the two robots trudge off toward a grimy homestead entry. LUKE Okay, let's go. THREEPIO (to Artoo) Now, don't you forget this! Why I should stick my neck out for you is quite beyond my capacity! INT. LARS HOMESTEAD - GARAGE AREA - LATE AFTERNOON The garage is cluttered and worn, but a friendly peaceful atmosphere permeates the low grey 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. THREEPIO Thank the maker! This oil bath is going to feel so good. I've got such a bad case of dust contamination, I can barely move! 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. LUKE It just isn't fair. Oh, Biggs is right. I'm never gonna get out of here! THREEPIO Is there anything I might do to help? Luke glances at the battered robot. A bit of his anger drains and a tiny smile creeps across his face. LUKE Well, not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest, or teleport me off this rock! THREEPIO I don't think so, sir. I'm only a droid and not very knowledgeable about such things. Not on this planet, anyways. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure which planet I'm on. LUKE Well, if there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from. THREEPIO I see, sir. LUKE Uh, you can call me Luke. THREEPIO I see, sir Luke. LUKE (laughing) Just Luke. THREEPIO And I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg relations, and this is my counterpart, Artoo-Detoo. LUKE Hello. 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. LUKE You got a lot of carbon scoring here. It looks like you boys have seen a lot of action. THREEPIO With all we've been through, sometimes I'm amazed we're in as good condition as we are, what with the Rebellion and all. LUKE You know of the Rebellion against the Empire? THREEPIO That's how we came to be in your service, if you take my meaning, sir. LUKE Have you been in many battles? THREEPIO Several, I think. Actually, there's not much to tell. I'm not much more than an interpreter, and not very good at telling stories. Well, not at making them interesting, anyways. Luke struggles to remove a small metal fragment from Artoo's neck joint. He uses a larger pick. LUKE Well, my little friend, you've got something jammed in here real good. Were you on a cruiser or... 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. LEIA Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. LUKE What's this? Artoo looks around and sheepishly beeps an answer for Threepio to translate. Leia continues to repeat the sentence fragment over and over. THREEPIO What is what?!? He asked you a question... (pointing to Leia) What is that? 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. LEIA Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. THREEPIO Oh, he says it's nothing, sir. Merely a malfunction. Old data. Pay it no mind. Luke becomes intrigued by the beautiful girl. LUKE Who is she? She's beautiful. THREEPIO I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir. LEIA Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi... THREEPIO I think she was a passenger on our last voyage. A person of some importance, sir -- I believe. Our captain was attached to... LUKE Is there more to this recording? Luke reaches out for Artoo but he lets out several frantic squeaks and a whistle. THREEPIO Behave yourself, Artoo. You're going to get us in trouble. It's all right, you can trust him. He's our new master. Artoo whistles and beeps a long message to Threepio. THREEPIO He says he's the property of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a resident of these parts. And it's a private message for him. Quite frankly, sir I don't know what he's talking about. Our last master was Captain Antilles, but with what we've been through, this little R2 unit has become a bit eccentric. LUKE Obi-Wan Kenobi? I wonder if he means old Ben Kenobi? THREEPIO I beg your pardon, sir, but do you know what he's talking about? LUKE Well, I don't know anyone named Obi- Wan, but old Ben lives out beyond the dune sea. He's kind of a strange old hermit. Luke's gazes at the beautiful young princess for a few moments. LUKE I wonder who she is. It sounds like she's in trouble. I'd better play back the whole thing. Artoo beeps something to Threepio. THREEPIO He says the restraining bolt has short circuited his recording system. He suggests that if you remove the bolt, he might be able to play back the entire recording. Luke looks longingly at the lovely, little princess and hasn't really heard what Threepio has been saying. 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. INT. 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. EXT. 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. INT. 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. EXT. 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. INT. 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! INT. 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! EXT. 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. INT./EXT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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! EXT. 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. INT. 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. EXT. SPACE. An Imperial Stardestroyer heads toward the evil planet-like battle station: the Death Star! INT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. TATOOINE - WASTELAND Luke races across the wasteland in his battered Landspeeder. EXT. 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. EXT. SPACE Imperial TIE fighter races toward the Death Star. INT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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. EXT. 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. INT. 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 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. EXT. 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. INT. 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 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. EXT. 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. INT. MOS EISLEY - CANTINA 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. GREEDO Going somewhere, Solo? HAN Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money. Han sits down and the alien sits across from him holding the gun on him. GREEDO It's too late. You should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba's put a price on your head, so large that every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you first. HAN Yeah, but this time I got the money. GREEDO If you give it to me, I might forget I found you. HAN I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba... GREEDO Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser. HAN Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice? Han Solo slowly reaches for his gun under the table. GREEDO You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship. HAN Over my dead body. GREEDO That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for a long time. HAN Yes, I'll bet you have. Suddenly the slimy alien disappears in a blinding flash of light. Han pulls his smoking gun from beneath the table as the other patron look on in bemused amazement. Han gets up and starts out of the cantina, flipping the bartender some coins as he leaves. HAN Sorry about the mess. EXT. SPACE Several TIE fighters approach the Death Star. INT. DEATH STAR - CONTROL ROOM VADER Her resistance to the mind probe is considerable. It will be some time before we can extract any information from her. An Imperial Officer interrupts the meeting. IMPERIAL OFFICER The final check-out is complete. All systems are operational. What course shall we set? TARKIN Perhaps she would respond to an alternative form of persuasion. VADER What do you mean? TARKIN I think it is time we demonstrate the full power of this station. (to soldier) Set your course for Princess Leia's home planet of Alderaan. TROOPER With pleasure. EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREET Four heavily-armed stormtroopers move menacingly along a narrow slum alleyway crowed with darkly clad creatures hawking exotic goods in the dingy little stalls. Men, monsters, and robots crouch in the waste-filled doorways, whispering and hiding from the hot winds. THREEPIO Lock the door, Artoo. One of the troopers checks a tightly locked door and moves on down the alleyway. The door slides open a crack and Threepio peeks out. Artoo is barely visible in the background. TROOPER All right, check that side of the street. It's secure. Move on to the next door. The door opens, Threepio moves into the doorway. THREEPIO I would much rather have gone with Master Luke than stay here with you. I don't know what all the trouble is about, but I'm sure it must be your fault. Artoo makes beeping sounds. THREEPIO You watch your language! EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREET - ALLEYWAY - USED SPEEDER LOT Ben and Luke are standing in a sleazy used speeder lot, talking with a tall, grotesque, insect-like used speeder dealer. Strange exotic bodies and spindly-legged beasts pass by as the insect concludes the sale by giving Luke some coins. LUKE He says it's the best he can do. Since the XP-38 came out, they're just not in demand. BEN It will be enough. Ben and Luke leave the speeder lot and walk down the dusty alleyway past a small robot herding a bunch of anteater-like creatures. Luke turns and gives one last forlorn look at his faithful speeder as he rounds a corner. A darkly clad creature moves out of the shadows as they pass and watches them as they disappear down another alley. BEN If the ship's as fast as he's boasting, we ought to do well. INT. DOCKING BAY 94 - DAY Jabba the Hut and a half-dozen grisly alien pirates and purple creatures stand in the middle of the docking bay. Jabba is the grossest of the slavering hulks and his scarred face is a grim testimonial to his prowess as a vicious killer. He is a fat, slug-like creature with eyes on extended feelers and a huge ugly mouth. JABBA Come on out, Solo! A voice from directly behind the pirates startles them and they turn around to see Han Solo and the giant Wookiee, Chewbacca, standing behind them with no weapons in sight. HAN I've been waiting for you, Jabba. JABBA I expected you would be. HAN I'm not the type to run. JABBA (fatherly-smooth) Han, my boy, there are times when you disappoint me... why haven't you paid me? And why did you have to fry poor Greedo like that... after all we've been through together. HAN You sent Greedo to blast me. JABBA (mock surprise) Han, why you're the best smuggler in the business. You're too valuable to fry. He was only relaying my concern at your delays. He wasn't going to blast you. HAN I think he thought he was. Next time don't send one of those twerps. If you've got something to say to me, come see me yourself. JABBA Han, Han! If only you hadn't had to dump that shipment of spice... you understand I just can't make an exception. Where would I be if every pilot who smuggled for me dumped their shipment at the first sign of an Imperial starship? It's not good business. HAN You know, even I get boarded sometimes, Jabba. I had no choice, but I've got a charter now and I can pay you back, plus a little extra. I just need some more time. JABBA (to his men) Put your blasters away. Han, my boy, I'm only doing this because you're the best and I need you. So, for an extra, say twenty percent I'll give you a little more time... but this is it. If you disappoint me again, I'll put a price on your head so large you won't be able to go near a civilized system for the rest of your short life. HAN Jabba, I'll pay you because it's my pleasure. EXT. DOCKING PORT ENTRY - ALLEYWAY Chewbacca waits restlessly at the entrance to Docking Bay 94. Ben, Luke, and the robots make their way up the street. Chewbacca jabbers excitedly and signals for them to hurry. The darkly clad creature has followed them from the speeder lot. He stops in a nearby doorway and speaks into a small transmitter. INT. MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT - DOCKING BAY 94 Chewbacca leads the group into a giant dirt pit that is Docking Bay 94. Resting in the middle of the huge hole is a large, round, beat-up, pieced-together hunk of junk that could only loosely be called a starship. LUKE What a piece of junk. The tall figure of Han Solo comes down the boarding ramp. HAN She'll make point five beyond the speed of light. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've added some special modifications myself. Luke scratches his head. It's obvious he isn't sure about all this. Chewbacca rushes up the ramp and urges the others to follow. HAN We're a little rushed, so if you'll hurry aboard we'll get out of here. The group rushes up the gang plank, passing a grinning Han Solo. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON Chewbacca settles into the pilot's chair and starts the mighty engines of the starship. INT. MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT - DOCKING BAY 94 Luke, Ben, Threepio, and Artoo move toward the Millennium Falcon passing Solo. THREEPIO Hello, sir. EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREET Eight Imperial stormtroopers rush up to the darkly clad creature. TROOPER Which way? The darkly clad creature points to the door of the docking bay. TROOPER All right, men. Load your weapons! INT. MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT - DOCKING BAY 94] The troops hold their guns at the ready and charge down the docking bay entrance. TROOPER Stop that ship! Han Solo looks up and sees the Imperial stormtroopers rushing into the docking bay. Several of the troopers fire at Han as he ducks into the spaceship. TROOPER Blast 'em! Han draws his laser pistol and pops off a couple of shots which force the stormtroopers to dive for safety. The pirateship engines whine as Han hits the release button that slams the overhead entry shut. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON HAN Chewie, get us out of here! The group straps in for take off. THREEPIO Oh, my. I'd forgotten how much I hate space travel. EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREETS The half-dozen stormtroopers at a check point hear the general alarm and look to the sky as the huge starship rises above the dingy slum dwellings and quickly disappears into the morning sky. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT Han climbs into the pilot's chair next to Chewbacca, who chatters away as he points to something on the radar scope. EXT. SPACE - PLANET TATOOINE The Corellian pirateship zooms from Tatooine into space. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT Han frantically types information into the ship's computer. Little Artoo appears momentarily at the cockpit doorway, makes a few beeping remarks, then scurries away. HAN It looks like an Imperial cruiser. Our passengers must be hotter than I thought. Try and hold them off. Angle the deflector shield while I make the calculations for the jump to light speed. EXT. SPACE - PLANET TATOOINE The Millennium Falcon pirateship races away from the yellow planet, Tatooine. It is followed by two huge Imperial stardestroyers. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT Over the shoulders of Chewbacca and Han, we can see the galaxy spread before them. Luke and Ben make their way into the cramped cockpit where Han continues his calculation. HAN Stay sharp! There are two more coming in; they're going to try to cut us off. LUKE Why don't you outrun them? I thought you said this thing was fast. HAN Watch your mouth, kid, or you're going to find yourself floating home. We'll be safe enough once we make the jump to hyperspace. Besides, I know a few maneuvers. We'll lose them! EXT. SPACE - PLANET TATOOINE Imperial cruisers fire at the pirateship. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The ship shudders as an explosion flashes outside the window. HAN Here's where the fun begins! BEN How long before you can make the jump to light speed? HAN It'll take a few moments to get the coordinates from the navi-computer. The ship begins to rock violently as lasers hit it. LUKE Are you kidding? At the rate they're gaining... HAN Traveling through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it? The ship is now constantly battered with laserfire as a red warning light begins to flash. LUKE What's that flashing? HAN We're losing our deflector shield. Go strap yourself in, I'm going to make the jump to light speed. The galaxy brightens and they move faster, almost as if crashing a barrier. Stars become streaks as the pirateship makes the jump to hyperspace. EXT. SPACE The Millennium Falcon zooms into infinity in less than a second. EXT. DEATH STAR Alderaan looms behind the Death Star battlestation. INT. DEATH STAR - CONTROL ROOM Admiral Motti enters the quiet control room and bows before Governor Tarkin, who stands before the huge wall screen displaying a small green planet. MOTTI We've entered the Alderaan system. Vader and two stormtroopers enter with Princess Leia. Her hands are bound. LEIA Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board. TARKIN Charming to the last. You don't know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life! LEIA I surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself! TARKIN Princess Leia, before your execution I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now. LEIA The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers. TARKIN Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined the choice of the planet that'll be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us with the location of the Rebel base, I have chosen to test this station's destructive power... on your home planet of Alderaan. LEIA No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can't possibly... TARKIN You would prefer another target? A military target? Then name the system! Tarkin waves menacingly toward Leia. TARKIN I grow tired of asking this. So it'll be the last time. Where is the Rebel base? Leia overhears an intercom voice announcing the approach to Alderaan. LEIA (softly) Dantooine. Leia lowers her head. LEIA They're on Dantooine. TARKIN There. You see Lord Vader, she can be reasonable. (addressing Motti) Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready. LEIA What? TARKIN You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration. But don't worry. We will deal with your Rebel friends soon enough. LEIA No! INT. DEATH STAR - BLAST CHAMBER VADER Commence primary ignition. A button is pressed which switches on a panel of lights. A hooded Imperial soldier reaches overhead and pulls a lever. Another lever is pulled. Vader reaches for still another lever and a bank of lights on a panel and wall light up. A huge beam of light emanates from within a cone-shaped area and converges into a single laser beam out toward Alderaan. The small green planet of Alderaan is blown into space dust. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - CENTRAL HOLD AREA Ben watches Luke practice the lightsaber with a small "seeker" robot. Ben suddenly turns away and sits down. He falters, seems almost faint. LUKE Are you all right? What's wrong? BEN I felt a great disturbance in the Force... as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened. Ben rubs his forehead. He seems to drift into a trance. Then he fixes his gaze on Luke. BEN You'd better get on with your exercises. Han Solo enters the room. HAN Well, you can forget your troubles with those Imperial slugs. I told you I'd outrun 'em. Luke is once again practicing with the lightsaber. HAN Don't everyone thank me at once. Threepio watches Chewbacca and Artoo who are engrossed in a game in which three-dimensional holographic figures move along a chess-type board. HAN Anyway, we should be at Alderaan about oh-two-hundred hours. Chewbacca and the two robots sit around the lighted table covered with small holographic monsters. Each side of the table has a small computer monitor embedded in it. Chewbacca seems very pleased with himself as he rests his lanky fur- covered arms over his head. THREEPIO Now be careful, Artoo. Artoo immediately reaches up and taps the computer with his stubby claw hand, causing one of the holographic creatures to walk to the new square. A sudden frown crosses Chewbacca's face and he begins yelling gibberish at the tiny robot. Threepio intercedes on behalf of his small companion and begins to argue with the huge Wookiee. THREEPIO He made a fair move. Screaming about it won't help you. HAN (interrupting) Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee. THREEPIO But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid. HAN That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their socket when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that. THREEPIO I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, Artoo. Let the Wookiee win. Luke stands in the middle of the small hold area; he seems frozen in place. A humming lightsaber is held high over his head. Ben watches him from the corner, studying his movements. Han watches with a bit of smugness. BEN Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him. LUKE You mean it controls your actions? BEN Partially. But it also obeys your commands. Suspended at eye level, about ten feet in front of Luke, a "seeker", a chrome baseball-like robot covered with antennae, hovers slowly in a wide arc. The ball floats to one side of the youth then the other. Suddenly it makes a lightning-swift lunge and stops within a few feet of Luke's face. Luke doesn't move and the ball backs off. It slowly moves behind the boy, then makes another quick lunge, this time emitting a blood red laser beam as it attacks. It hits Luke in the leg causing him to tumble over. Han lets loose with a burst of laughter. HAN Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid. LUKE You don't believe in the Force, do you? HAN Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. Ben smiles quietly. HAN It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense. BEN I suggest you try it again, Luke. Ben places a large helmet on Luke's head which covers his eyes. BEN This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct. LUKE (laughing) With the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight? BEN Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them. 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. BEN Stretch out with your feelings. 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. BEN You see, you can do it. HAN I call it luck. BEN In my experience, there's no such thing as luck. HAN Look, going good against remotes is one thing. Going good against the living? That's something else. Solo notices a small light flashing on the far side of the control panel. HAN Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan. Han and Chewbacca head back to the cockpit. LUKE You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the remote. BEN That's good. You have taken your first step into a larger world. INT. DEATH STAR - CONFERENCE ROOM Imperial Officer Cass stands before Governor Tarkin and the evil Dark Lord Darth Vader. TARKIN Yes. OFFICER CASS Our scout ships have reached Dantooine. They found the remains of a Rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted for some time. They are now conducting an extensive search of the surrounding systems. TARKIN She lied! She lied to us! VADER I told you she would never consciously betray the Rebellion. TARKIN Terminate her... immediately! EXT. HYPERSPACE The pirateship is just coming out of hyperspace; a strange surreal light show surrounds the ship. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT HAN Stand by, Chewie, here we go. Cut in the sublight engines. 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. HAN What the...? Aw, we've come out of hyperspace into a meteor shower. Some kind of asteroid collision. It's not on any of the charts. The Wookiee flips off several controls and seems very cool in the emergency. Luke makes his way into the bouncing cockpit. LUKE What's going on? HAN Our position is correct, except... no, Alderaan! LUKE What do you mean? Where is it? HAN Thats what I'm trying to tell you, kid. It ain't there. It's been totally blown away. LUKE What? How? Ben moves into the cockpit behind Luke as the ship begins to settle down. BEN Destroyed... by the Empire! HAN The entire starfleet couldn't destroy the whole planet. It'd take a thousand ships with more fire power than I've... A signal starts flashing on the control panel and a muffled alarm starts humming. HAN There's another ship coming in. LUKE Maybe they know what happened. BEN It's an Imperial fighter. 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. LUKE It followed us! BEN No. It's a short range fighter. HAN There aren't any bases around here. Where did it come from? EXT. SPACE The fighter races past the Corellian pirateship. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT LUKE It sure is leaving in a big hurry. If they identify us, we're in big trouble. HAN Not if I can help it. Chewie...jam it's transmissions. BEN It'd be as well to let it go. It's too far out of range. HAN Not for long... EXT. SPACE The pirateship zooms over the camera and away into the vastness of space after the Imperial TIE fighter. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT 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. BEN A fighter that size couldn't get this deep into space on its own. LUKE It must have gotten lost, been part of a convoy or something. HAN Well, he ain't going to be around long enough to tell anyone about us. EXT. SPACE The TIE fighter is losing ground to the larger pirateship as they race toward camera and disappear over head. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The distant star can be distinguished as a small moon or planet. LUKE Look at him. He's headed for that small moon. HAN I think I can get him before he gets there... he's almost in range. The small moon begins to take on the appearance of a monstrous spherical battle station. BEN That's no moon! It's a space station. HAN It's too big to be a space station. LUKE I have a very bad feeling about this. HAN Yeah, I think your right. Full reverse! Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power. The pirateship shudders and the TIE fighter accelerates away toward the gargantuan battle station. LUKE Why are we still moving towards it? HAN We're caught in a tractor beam! It's pulling us in! LUKE But there's gotta be something you can do! HAN There's nothin' I can do about it, kid. I'm in full power. I'm going to have to shut down. But they're not going to get me without a fight! Ben Kenobi puts a hand on his shoulder. BEN You can't win. But there are alternatives to fighting. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - DEATH STAR 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. EXT. DEATH STAR - HUGE PORT DOORS The helpless Millennium Falcon is pulled past a docking port control room and huge laser turret cannons. VOICE OVER DEATH STAR INTERCOM Clear Bay twenty-three-seven. We are opening the magnetic field. INT. DEATH STAR - DOCKING BAY 2037 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. OFFICER To you stations! (to another officer) Come with me. INT. DEATH STAR - HALLWAY Stormtroopers run to their posts. INT. DEATH STAR - HANGAR 2037 A line of stormtroopers march toward the pirateship in readiness to board it, while other troopers stand with weapons ready to fire. OFFICER Close all outboard shields! Close all outboard shields! INT. DEATH STAR - CONFERENCE ROOM Tarkin pushes a button and responds to the intercom buzz. TARKIN Yes. VOICE (over intercom) We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system. It's markings match those of a ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley. VADER They must be trying to return the stolen plans to the princess. She may yet be of some use to us. INT. DEATH STAR - DOCKING BAY 2037 Vader and a commander approach the troops as an Officer and several heavily armed troops exit the spacecraft. VOICE (over intercom) Unlock one-five-seven and nine. Release charges. OFFICER (to Vader) There's no one on board, sir. According to the log, the crew abandoned ship right after takeoff. It must be a decoy, sir. Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned. VADER Did you find any droids? OFFICER No, sir. If there were any on board, they must also have jettisoned. VADER Send a scanning crew on board. I want every part of this ship checked. OFFICER Yes, sir. VADER I sense something... a presence I haven't felt since... Vader turns quickly and exits the hangar. OFFICER Get me a scanning crew in here on the double. I want every part of this ship checked! INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - HALLWAY 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. LUKE Boy, it's lucky you had these compartments. HAN I use them for smuggling. I never thought I'd be smuggling myself in them. This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off, I'd never get past the tractor beam. BEN Leave that to me! HAN Damn fool. I knew that you were going to say that! BEN Who's the more foolish... the fool or the fool who follows him? Han shakes his head, muttering to himself. Chewbacca agrees. INT. DEATH STAR - MAIN FORWARD BAY The crewmen carry a heavy box on board the ship, past the two stormtroopers guarding either side of the ramp. TROOPER The ship's all yours. If the scanners pick up anything, report it immediately. All right, let's go. The crewmen enter the pirateship and a loud crashing sound is followed by a voice calling to the guard below. HAN'S VOICE Hey down there, could you give us a hand with this? The stormtroopers enter the ship and a quick round of gunfire is heard. INT. DEATH STAR - FORWARD BAY - COMMAND OFFICE 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. GANTRY OFFICER TX-four-one-two. Why aren't you at your post? TX-four-one-two, do you copy? 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. GANTRY OFFICER Take over. We've got a bad transmitter. I'll see what I can do. 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. Ben and the robots enter the room quickly followed by Luke, also dressed as a stormtrooper. Luke quickly removes his helmet. LUKE You know, between his howling and your blasting everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole station doesn't know we're here. HAN Bring them on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around. THREEPIO We found the computer outlet, sir. 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. BEN Plug in. He should be able to interpret the entire Imperial computer network. 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. THREEPIO He says he's found the main computer to power the tractor beam that's holding the ship here. He'll try to make the precise location appear on the monitor. The computer monitor flashes readouts. THREEPIO The tractor beam is coupled to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave. Ben studies the data on the monitor readout. BEN I don't think you boys can help. I must go alone. HAN Whatever you say. I've done more that I bargained for on this trip already. LUKE I want to go with you. BEN Be patient, Luke. Stay and watch over the droids. LUKE But he can... BEN They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path than mine. The Force will be with you... always! Ben adjusts the lightsaber on his belt and silently steps out of the command office, then disappears down a long grey hallway. Chewbacca barks a comment and Han shakes his head in agreement. HAN Boy you said it, Chewie. Han looks at Luke. HAN Where did you dig up that old fossil? LUKE Ben is a great man. HAN Yeah, great at getting us into trouble. LUKE I didn't hear you give any ideas... HAN Well, anything would be better than just hanging around waiting for him to pick us up... LUKE Who do you think... Suddenly Artoo begins to whistle and beep a blue streak. Luke goes over to him. LUKE What is it? THREEPIO I'm afraid I'm not quite sure, sir. He says "I found her", and keeps repeating, "She's here." LUKE Well, who... who has he found? Artoo whistles a frantic reply. THREEPIO Princess Leia. LUKE The princess? She's here? HAN Princess? What's going on? THREEPIO Level five. Detention block A A-twenty- three. I'm afraid she's scheduled to be terminated. LUKE Oh, no! We've got to do something. HAN What are you talking about? LUKE The droid belongs to her. She's the one in the message... We've got to help her. HAN Now, look, don't get any funny ideas. The old man wants us to wait right here. LUKE But he didn't know she was here. Look, will you just find a way back into the detention block? HAN I'm not going anywhere. LUKE They're going to execute her. Look, a few minutes ago you said you didn't want to just wait here to be captured. Now all you want to do is stay. HAN Marching into the detention area is not what I had in mind. LUKE But they're going to kill her! HAN Better her than me... LUKE She's rich. Chewbacca growls. HAN Rich? LUKE Yes. Rich, powerful! Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be... HAN What? LUKE Well more wealth that you can imagine. HAN I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit! LUKE You'll get it! HAN I better! LUKE You will... HAN All right, kid. But you'd better be right about this. Han looks at Chewie, who grunts a short grunt. LUKE All right. HAN What's your plan? LUKE Uh... Threepio, hand me those binders there will you? Luke moves toward Chewbacca with electronic cuffs. LUKE Okay. Now, I'm going to put these on you. Chewie lets out a hideous growl. LUKE Okay. Han, you put these on. Luke sheepishly hands the binders to Han. HAN Don't worry, Chewie. I think I know what he has in mind. The Wookiee has a worried and frightened look on his face as Han binds him with the electronic cuffs. THREEPIO Master Luke, sir! Pardon me for asking... but, ah... what should Artoo and I do if we're discovered here? LUKE Lock the door! HAN And hope they don't have blasters. THREEPIO That isn't very reassuring. Luke and Han put on their armored stormtrooper helmets and start off into the giant Imperial Death Star. INT. DEATH STAR - DETENTION AREA - ELEVATOR TUBE 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. Finally a small elevator arrives and the trio enters. LUKE I can't see a thing in this helmet. 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. INT. DEATH STAR - MAIN HALLWAY 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. INT. DEATH STAR - INTERIOR ELEVATOR - DETENTION SECURITY AREA 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 grey security station. Guards and laser gates are everywhere. Han whispers to Luke under his breath. HAN This is not going to work. LUKE Why didn't you say so before? HAN I did say so before! INT. DETENTION AREA Elevator doors open. A tall, grim looking Officer approaches the trio. OFFICER Where are you taking this... thing? Chewie growls a bit at the remark but Han nudges him to shut up. LUKE Prisoner transfer from Block one-one- three-eight. OFFICER I wasn't notified. I'll have to clear it. 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. Sud