Star Wars Page #8

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 Sand People

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 the

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. I'm getting

too old for this sort of thing.

She needs your help.

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 Star Destroyer 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 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.

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