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.
EXTERIOR SPACE.
The Death Star begins to move around the planet toward the tiny green moon.
INTERIOR 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. INTERIOR 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. INTERIOR 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.
BIGGS Luke! I don’t believe it! How’d you get here…are you going out with us?!
LUKE Biggs! Of course, I’ll be up there with you! Listen, have I got some stories to tell…
Red Leader, a rugged handsome man in his forties, comes up behind Luke and Biggs. He has the confident smile of a born leader.
RED LEADER Are you…Luke Skywalker? Have you been checked out on the Incom T-sixty-five?
BIGGS Sir, Luke is the best bushpilot in the outer rim territories. Red Leader pats Luke on the back as they stop in front of his fighter.
RED LEADER I met your father once when I was just a boy, he was a great pilot. You’ll do all right. If you’ve got half of your father’s skill, you’ll do better than all right.
LUKE Thank you, sir. I’ll try.
Red Leader hurries to his own ship.
BIGGS I’ve got to get aboard. Listen, you’ll tell me your stories when we come back.
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.
EXTERIOR SPACE.
The Death Star begins to move around the planet toward the tiny green moon.
INTERIOR 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. INTERIOR 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. INTERIOR 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.
BIGGS Luke! I don’t believe it! How’d you get here…are you going out with us?!
LUKE Biggs! Of course, I’ll be up there with you! Listen, have I got some stories to tell…
Red Leader, a rugged handsome man in his forties, comes up behind Luke and Biggs. He has the confident smile of a born leader.
RED LEADER Are you…Luke Skywalker? Have you been checked out on the Incom T-sixty-five?
BIGGS Sir, Luke is the best bushpilot in the outer rim territories. Red Leader pats Luke on the back as they stop in front of his fighter.
RED LEADER I met your father once when I was just a boy, he was a great pilot. You’ll do all right. If you’ve got half of your father’s skill, you’ll do better than all right.
LUKE Thank you, sir. I’ll try.
Red Leader hurries to his own ship.
BIGGS I’ve got to get aboard. Listen, you’ll tell me your stories when we come back.
Similar Books
