Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Page #36

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GOLD LEADER:

Pardon me for asking, sir, but what

good are snub fighters going to be

against that?

DODONNA:

Well, the Empire doesn't consider a

small one-man fighter to be any

threat, or they'd have a tighter

defense. An analysis of the plans

provided by Princess Leia has

demonstrated a weakness in the battle

station.

Artoo-Detoo stands next to a similar robot, makes beeping

sounds, and turns his head from right to left.

DODONNA:

The approach will not be easy. You

are required to maneuver straight

down this trench and skim the surface

to this point. The target area is

only two meters wide. It's a small

thermal exhaust port, right below

the main port. The shaft leads

directly to the reactor system. A

precise hit will start a chain

reaction which should destroy the

station.

A murmer of disbelief runs through the room.

DODONNA:

Only a precise hit will set up a

chain reaction. The shaft is ray-

shielded, so you'll have to use proton

torpedoes.

Luke is sitting next to Wedge Antilles, a hotshot pilot about

sixteen years old.

WEDGE:

That's impossible, even for a

computer.

LUKE:

It's not impossible. I used to bull's-

eye womp rats in my T-sixteen back

home. They're not much bigger than

two meters.

DODONNA:

Man your ships! And may the Force be

with you!

The group rises and begins to leave.

EXT. SPACE

The Death Star begins to move around the planet toward the

tiny green moon.

INT. DEATH STAR

Tarkin and Vader watch the computer projected screen with

interest, as a circle of lights intertwines around one another

on the screen showing it's position in relation to Yavin and

the forth moon.

DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE

Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity. The moon with the

Rebel base will be in range in thirty minutes.

VADER:

This will be a day long remembered.

It has seen the end of Kenobi and it

will soon see the end of the

Rebellion.

INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - MAIN HANGAR DECK

Luke, Threepio and little Artoo enter the huge spaceship

hangar and hurry along a long line of gleaming spacefighters.

Flight crews rush around loading last-minute armaments and

unlocking power couplings. In an area isolated from this

activity Luke finds Han and Chewbacca loading small boxes

onto an armored speeder.

MAN'S VOICE

(over loudspeaker)

All flight trooper, man your stations.

All flight troops, man your stations.

Han is deliberately ignoring the activity of the fighter

pilots' preparation. Luke is quite saddened at the sight of

his friend's departure.

LUKE:

So... you got your reward and you're

just leaving then?

HAN:

That's right, yeah! I got some old

debts I've got to pay off with this

stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't

think I'd be fool enough to stick

around here, do you? Why don't you

come with us? You're pretty good in

a fight. I could use you.

LUKE:

(getting angry)

Come on! Why don't you take a look

around? You know what's about to

happen, what they're up against.

They could use a good pilot like

you. You're turning your back on

them.

HAN:

What good's a reward if you ain't

around to use it? Besides, attacking

that battle station ain't my idea of

courage. It's more like suicide.

LUKE:

All right. Well, take care of

yourself, Han. I guess that's what

you're best at, isn't it?

Luke goes off and Han hesitates, then calls to him.

HAN:

Hey, Luke... may the Force be with

you!

Luke turns and sees Han wink at him. Luke lifts his hand in

a small wave and then goes off.

Han turns to Chewie who growls at his captain,

HAN:

What're you lookin' at? I know what

I'm doing.

INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - LUKE'S SHIP

Luke, Leia, and Dodonna meet under a huge space fighter.

LEIA:

What's wrong?

LUKE:

Oh, it's Han! I don't know, I really

thought he'd change his mind.

LEIA:

He's got to follow his own path. No

one can choose it for him.

LUKE:

I only wish Ben were here.

Leia gives Luke a little kiss, turns, and goes off. As Luke

heads for his ship, another pilot rushes up to him and grabs

his arm.

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