Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Page #18

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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.

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