Star Wars Ep VII: A Rising Shadow

STAR WARS
EPISODE VII: A RISING SHADOW

by
Michael Strauss
michael@selectivecontinuity.com
BLACK SCREEN
SUPER:
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE
The MAIN TITLE is superimposed over a black star field before
fading into the familiar opening crawl.
Since the defeat of the Sith Lords, Palpatine and Darth Vader,
the Rebel Alliance has struggled to grow into a reborn
REPUBLIC. Remnants of the Galactic Empire still clutch
dwindling power.
The long years of conflict, invasion and reconstruction have
made the galaxy a fertile ground for gangsters and criminals.
Despite Luke Skywalker's efforts, there are still too few
Jedi Knights.
Meanwhile, Senator Leia Solo leads a diplomatic mission to
negotiate the peaceful transfer of another Imperial star
system to Republic control, unaware of the danger that
awaits...
TILT DOWN to the verdant planet of TAANAB, a lush world
orbited by two populated moons and multiple space stations.
A REPUBLIC CRUISER approaches the planet from out of frame.
Flying in escort formation are two X-WING FIGHTERS.
A pair of TIE INTERCEPTORS swoop down alongside the cruiser
and form up behind the X-wings.
INT. WEDGE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
WEDGE ANTILLES, veteran of innumerable campaigns, calmly
activates his comlink.
WEDGE
Rogue Two, this is Rogue Leader. It
looks like the locals have shown up.
INT. ROGUE TWO'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
ROGUE TWO
No matter how many times we do this,
having those things on my six makes
my palms sweat.
WEDGE
Just stay in formation. We don't
want any surprises.
2.
ROGUE TWO
(via comlink)
Copy that, boss.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The cruiser and its mismatched escorts approach orbit.
INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - HALLWAY -- DAY
SEE-THREEPIO and ARTOO-DETOO, polished and gleaming, are
making their way along the spaceship's passage.
THREEPIO
I absolutely will not ask her.
Artoo beeps, annoyed.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
The senator does not need a foul-
mouthed tool kit getting under foot
and disrupting the negotiations.
Artoo lets fly a series of beeps and whistles.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
Well of course I'll be there. My
skills are an essential part of the
process. I am fluent in over six
million forms of communication.
Even yours.
Artoo's whistle is a groan.
The droids stop at a door and Threepio punches in the lock
code on a keypad.
INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - LEIA'S CABIN -- DAY
The cabin is well lived-in, serving as both apartment and
office. Seated at her desk is SENATOR LEIA SOLO, fifty and
both poised and regal. A senator of the Republic.
Leia sips from a mug as she speaks to a hologram of an
attractive YOUNG WOMAN.
LEIA
And how is the Falcon holding
together?
YOUNG WOMAN
Chewie got her up to point five past
light speed yesterday. He's been
showing off but doesn't think I can
tell.
3.
LEIA
I wish you weren't detouring through
the Outer Rim on your way back to
Coruscant.
INT. PUBLIC SPACEPORT HANGAR - HOLOGRAM BOOTH -- CONTINUOUS
The spaceport's main hangar is bustling with activity.
People, ships, and aliens of all sorts are going about their
business, visible through the transparent walls of a hologram
booth.
Speaking to a quarter-sized projection of Leia is the young
woman, KIKU SOLO. She's twenty, with her mother's hair and
father's smile, wearing a casual jacket and undershirt, with
the top half of her flight suit tied around her waist. A
blaster is strapped to her hip and hanging from her utility
belt is a LIGHTSABER.
KIKU
Come on, mom. I'm flying around in
the fastest ship in the galaxy, with
an ornery, two-hundred and thirty
year-old Wookiee pilot. Plus, I
have this...
Kiku taps her lightsaber and flashes the Solo grin.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Hey, the Force is my ally.
INTERCUT LEIA'S OFFICE/HOLOGRAM BOOTH
LEIA
Be careful, Kiku. Your uncle would
be quick to tell you that the Force
is a powerful tool but it's not your
ally yet. Your still have a long
way to go in your training.
Kiku brushes it off.
KIKU
What's Taanab like, Mom? Have you
seen the forests yet?
LEIA
We're still in orbit, waiting for
clearance to land from Moff Sandage's
people. But I don't think there
will be time for much sightseeing
while we're here. Sandage has been
cagey since he reached out to the
Republic. I just hope we can avoid
too many complications during this
negotiation.
4.
KIKU
It's just another star system. What
could they want?
LEIA
You'll find, my dear, that that often
turns out to be a long and ever-
changing list. How many drones does
Luke have you sparring against now?
KIKU
Two, but he keeps threatening a third.
Kiku winces at the thought.
LEIA
The way these can go, sometimes it's
like sparring against all the training
drones at once. But Taanab has a
shared culture between the planet
and it's two inhabited moons, which
should help.
KIKU
And a skilled negotiator.
Leia smiles.
LEIA
And a skilled negotiator. Who also
happens to be worried about the time
off her daughter's been taking from
her studies.
KIKU
I have two more days before Uncle
Luke expects me back. Plenty of
time for a detour to Nal Hutta...
LEIA
Kiku Solo! You will not...
KIKU
Mom. Do you think Chewie would let
me out of his sight for that long?
Don't worry.
LEIA
You know I can't help it. The war
may be long over but freedom from
the Empire's oppression came with a
price. Many parts of the galaxy are
practically lawless. Especially out
where you are now.
Kiku nods. She's heard this before.
5.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Your connection to the Force gives
you protection, but it's also making
you impatient. A mother can sense
that, even from half a galaxy away.
KIKU
I'll be careful, Mom.
LEIA
I know you will. I trust you. But
not all problems can be solved with
a blaster, or a lightsaber. You
need to be smart as well as good.
Kiku recites a lesson that's been drilled into her many times.
KIKU
The Force is about compassion as
much as it is protection. Without
compassion one opens herself to the
Dark Side.
LEIA
It sounds like Luke's been teaching
you memorization too. That's okay
because I also trust Chewbacca.
Kiku looks back over her shoulder where, out on the hangar
deck, CHEWBACCA is making full use of his imposing height
while barking at a SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
KIKU
Oh yeah. He's keeping me in line.
She turns back to the projection of her mother.
KIKU (CONT'D)
We'll be fine, mom. Just a couple
more days. You'll be able to tell
me all about the negotiations back
on Coruscant.
LEIA
Tell me now. How was your father?
KIKU
You know Dad, Mom. He's Dad.
It hangs in the air.
KIKU (CONT'D)
But you should talk to him. He
wouldn't say it, but he misses you.
LEIA
Your father's always been...
6.
Leia chooses the word.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Stubborn. He understands why I still
have work to do.
The door to Leia's quarters slides open, admitting See-
Threepio and Artoo-Detoo.
THREEPIO
(to Artoo)
No, I will not ask her.
LEIA
Ahem.
Threepio looks up at Leia and the hologram.
THREEPIO
Oh my! I apologize, Your Highness.
My annoying counterpart...
Threepio knocks Artoo on the dome.
ARTOO whistles low.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
And I wanted to inform you that I am
ready to join the conference on the
planet's surface. Once you're ready
to go, that is.
KIKU
Hi, Threepio.
LEIA
(to Kiku)
Well, it looks as though I'm being
summoned. Contact me again at your
next stop, okay?
KIKU
Sure thing, mom.
Kiku notices that the discussion between Chewbacca and the
technician is becoming more heated.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I need to go and make sure we can
still get out of here with everyone's
arms still in their sockets, but
good luck.
LEIA
Thanks.
7.
In the hologram booth, Kiku clicks off the projector and
Leia's image flickers out.
INT. LEIA'S CABIN -- CONTINUOUS
Leia snaps off her hologram projector and turns to the droids.
LEIA
Threepio. Artoo.
An AIDE enters behind the droids.
AIDE
Excuse me, Senator.
LEIA
Yes?
AIDE
We've received clearance to land
from the local authorities. They
have also announced a welcoming
reception.
Leia's done this before.
LEIA
Then I'd best prepare. I'll be right
there.
AIDE
Yes, ma'am.
The aide exits.
Leia GESTURES and a holster with a small blaster FLOATS across
the room into her hand. She pulls up one sleeve and buckles
it onto her arm.
LEIA
"Not all problems can be solved with
a blaster."
Her sleeve conceals the blaster completely.
LEIA (CONT'D)
(to Threepio)
I'm ready.
THREEPIO
Artoo has volunteered to stay here
with the ship.
Artoo, perpetually ignored, whistles in disagreement.
8.
INT. PUBLIC SPACEPORT HANGAR -- MOMENTS LATER
Kiku strides across the hangar towards the MILLENNIUM FALCON,
the battered freighter showing ever year of its age. Beneath
its shadow, Chewbacca's disagreement with the technician is
beginning to attract rubberneckers. A pair of LOCAL SECURITY
have not-so-casually backed up the technician.
KIKU
Chewie!
The technician notices Kiku.
TECHNICIAN
Hey, girlie. You need to get your
Wookiee to back down.
Chewbacca barks at the technician again. Kiku gets between
them.
KIKU
Chewbacca! What's wrong?
Chewbacca chuffs a response.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Departure inspection?
(to the technician)
What departure inspection?
TECHNICIAN
The Dock Master has this freighter
flagged. We need to inspect it for
contraband before you can get flight
clearance.
Chewbacca growls in protest.
KIKU
Yeah. My captain here is right. No
one's getting aboard this ship. We
docked here to refuel. That's it.
Neither of us have left the main
hangar and we haven't taken on any
cargo.
Chewbacca grumbles.
KIKU (CONT'D)
My captain wants to know how much
it'll cost him to bypass the
inspection.
TECHNICIAN
One thousand.
9.
KIKU
One thousand?
TECHNICIAN
Maybe you can remind your captain
that there's no Empire out here. No
Republic either. If he doesn't like
it he can take it up with the Dock
Master.
(re: her lightsaber)
And don't go thinking you can convince
me otherwise.
Chewie doesn't like it. Kiku notes the security, who're
watching the two of them with steeled eyes.
KIKU
Here.
She goes into a pouch on her belt and pays the bribe. The
technician gives it a quick count before waving off the
security.
TECHNICIAN
I'll signal the booth to give you
clearance. Safe travels.
KIKU
Sure.
She turns
KIKU (CONT'D)
Come on, Chewie. Let's get out of
here before we have to pass any more
inspections.
Chewbacca BELLOWS at two service droids who are fussing around
the Falcon's landing gear. They squeals off and Chewie stomps
up the Falcon's boarding ramp, growling complaints the whole
way.
Kiku looks over her shoulder around the busy hangar but no
one is paying them any more attention. She follows the big
Wookiee up the ramp, which closes after her.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON COCKPIT
Chewie is in the pilot's seat, running though a pre-flight
checklist. Kiku comes through the open hatch and settles
into the co-pilot's chair. She thumbs on the comlink.
KIKU
Dock Side Control, this is the
freighter.. Ah...
10.
Chewie TAPS a transponder on the control panel, drawing her
attention.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Spoiled Princess requesting departure
clearance.
The comlink CLICKS and BUZZES. Kiku covers the microphone
with her hand and gives Chewbacca a quizzical look.
KIKU (CONT'D)
(mouths)
Spoiled Princess?
Chewbacca laughs.
CONTROL
(via comlink)
Affirmative, Princess. You have
clearance for the primary port side
bay.
KIKU
Thanks, Control.
INT. PUBLIC SPACEPORT HANGAR
The Millennium Falcon LIFTS UP, its landing gear retracting.
The freighter smoothly rotates toward a large open bay door,
through which the blackness of space is held back by invisible
shields. The Falcon expertly drifts across the hangar toward
the bay door.
Below, the technician spares the spaceship a glance before
checking off a notation on a handheld computer screen.
EXT. SPACE - PUBLIC SPACEPORT
The Falcon emerges from underneath the enormous spaceport,
adjusts course, and ACCELERATES into the blackness.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT
Chewbacca pushes forward on the hyperspace controls. Stars
blur into streaks as the ship jumps into light speed.
EXT. KAMINO -- DAY
An enclosed single-seat SPEEDER rockets along the planet's
ocean surface, low enough to leave a long, violent wake of
seawater behind it. The speeder is making a B-line toward
the abandoned ruins of a floating city - TIPOCA CITY. The
city is an interconnected network of enclosed high-tech domes
in various states of disrepair.
Through the speeder's windshield, the pilot, DARTH IKARI,
thirty and athletic, is just visible.
11.
He's clad in all black tactical gear: combat boots, gloves,
and a hooded, high-buttoned military jacket. His features
are obscured by a black space helmet with a reflective black
face shield.
INT. SPEEDER -- CONTINUOUS
Inside the speeder's cockpit, the pilot adjusts some controls.
EXT. TIPOCA CITY LANDING PAD
The speeder gracefully circles the landing pad before settling
in to a landing. From up close, the cracks and damage to
the city are even more apparent. Some sections have already
fallen beneath the waves.
The speeder's boarding ramp opens with a HISS and cloud of
escaping gas. Ikari descends the ramp and walks over to the
landing pad's door to the inner city.
Hanging from his utility belt is a LIGHTSABER.
He punches a code into the door's keypad but there's no
response. A second try, no luck.
Darth Ikari SIGHS and removes his helmet. He has the chalk
white skin, black hair, and shadowed eyes of the alien
RATTATAKI people.
He drops the helmet and covers his head with the jacket's
oversized hood. Then Ikari reaches out with the Force,
PUSHING at the door.
The metal door groans in protest before giving way. Inside
is darkness.
Ikari reaches down and, from his utility belt, grabs not the
lightsaber but the tiny flashlight next to it. He clicks
the flashlight on and follows its beam through the doorway
into the dark.
INT. OPERATIONS CENTER
Darth Ikari is surrounded by banks of dead computer terminals
and workstations. Decades of dust cover everything.
He speaks into a wrist-mounted comlink.
IKARI
All systems are off-line. No one's
been here since before the Rebellion.
It's remote enough, but the work
crew required to keep the city afloat
would be prohibitive.
Ikari pans his gaze around the room again.
12.
IKARI (CONT'D)
I'm going to pursue the next
objective...
(beat)
My master.
Kiku slouches in the co-pilot's chair with her feet propped
up across the pilot's seat, idly watching the swirling blue
nothing of hyperspace outside the ship. She taps on the
comlink.
KIKU
Chewbacca, are you sure there's
nothing I can do to help? I grew up
crawling around the Falcon. You
were there, you big fur ball.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - HOLD
The Wookiee has pulled apart an access panel and is tinkering
with one of the Falcon's systems. Parts and tools lie in
disarray around him.
KIKU
(via comlink)
You know I know her inside and out.
Chewbacca barks his answer.
Kiku cut off his response.
KIKU
It's time for your Jedi meditation
my skinny Corellian...
A flashing distress call lights up on the comm board.
KIKU (CONT'D)
What?
She pulls up the incoming transmission. The voice that
crackles through is stressed to breaking.
VOICE
(via comlink)
Warning call to all ships within
range of this transmission. We are
under siege with no hope for rescue.
Repeat. To all ships: stay clear of
the Tatooine system. Mercenaries
have cordoned off the system and...
13.
Kiku listens intently, before making a decision. She flips
the comlink over to internal.
Chewbacca holds a pair of goggles to his face, as he arc-
welds the upgrade into place.
KIKU
(via comlink)
Chewie, get up here.
Chewie barks a complaint and finishes his work. He sets
down the welder, inspects the job and, satisfied, lumbers
off toward the cockpit.
Kiku is reading off the navigation computers as Chewie lowers
himself into the pilot's chair. She turns the transmission
playback on.
KIKU
This came through while you were
meditating.
VOICE
Clear of the Tatooine system.
Mercenaries have cordoned off the
system and are shooting down any
ships who try to enter or leave.
This is a warning call to all ships...
She clicks it off.
KIKU
Tatooine. It's on our flight path.
Chewbacca cuts her off with a lengthy series of barks and
growls.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I know. I know. But what I am going
to tell Uncle Luke? That we got a
distress call and ignored it?
Chewbacca barks the affirmative.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I'm training to be a Jedi, Chewie.
We stop. We help.
Chewbacca barks a complaint.
KIKU (CONT'D)
You know that's not true.
(MORE)
14.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Dad doubled back to help people plenty
of times. And you were there.
Kiku reaches over and pulls down on the controls.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Look, it's my decision. Okay?
Outside, the stars slow back into dots of light against the
black. Visibly close is the mottled tan of TATOOINE.
A sickening CRUNCH of metal on metal ROCKS the Falcon.
Through the cockpit viewports, the blocky shape of a PIRATE
STARFIGHTER ricochets away from the Falcon in an uncontrolled
spin.
KIKU (CONT'D)
What was that?
Chewbacca barks once, snapping into action at the controls.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I see something hit us. I didn't
know something was going to hit us.
Okay?
The ship rocks again with the sounds of laser blasts hitting
the Falcon's shields.
KIKU (CONT'D)
(to the outside)
Accidental!
EXT. SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON
The Falcon dips and dives through a series of evasive
maneuvers. A squad of the pirate starfighters are in pursuit,
firing laser blasts at the dodging freighter. The
starfighters are uniformly square, blocky collections of
engines and weapons with a forward cockpit, room for a single
pilot.
Chewbacca is putting the Falcon through her paces. He barks
a command.
KIKU
I'll take the dorsal quad.
She leaps out of her seat, exiting the cockpit.
Kiku races through the hold to the gunports.
15.
INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT - GUNPORT
Kiku climbs up the ladder and drops into place at the controls
of one of the Falcon's main laser cannons, a rotating turret.
She flips on the targeting computer and puts on the comlink
headset.
KIKU
Incom? Kuat? They're not Corellian.
Chewbacca barks the answer into his headset.
Kiku spins the turret tracking one of the attacking ships.
She squeezes off a blast, missing.
KIKU
Rendili interdictors.
She fires off another volley. This time it's a hit. The
ship explodes into a ball of fire.
KIKU (CONT'D)
That's one!
EXT. SPACE
The Falcon barrel rolls, returning fire with the pursuing
pirates.
Kiku tracks the turret around, scanning for another target.
KIKU
I think we're losing them!
EXT. SPACE
Six more starfighters swoop into frame, joining the chase.
Their laser cannons firing at will.
Chewbacca steers the ship though another maneuver.
Kiku returns fire. Her viewport swarming with attacking
craft.
KIKU
Maybe not.
16.
Her shots score a direct hit on another of the square craft,
exploding it.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Yes!
(into headset)
Where are they coming from?
Chewbacca pulls the Falcon out of its loop, which brings
into view a large PIRATE CRUISER bearing straight down on
them.
The Wookiee snorts a curse.
EXT. SPACE - TATOOINE
The looming pirate cruiser is between the Falcon and deep
space. Below is the planet Tatooine. Behind, the pursuing
fighters.
The Falcon's topside gun unleashes another volley of return
fire, blasting one of the fighters into shrapnel.
Chewie is assessing the situation as the cruiser closes in
on them. Kiku takes her seat in the cockpit, winded.
KIKU
Are they breaking off pursuit?
She sees the cruiser.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Oh. Chewie? We're going at them
awfully fast. How soon until we're
in range of their guns?
Chewbacca ignores her. His furry paws working the ship's
controls.
The Falcon breaks toward the planet's surface into a full
speed dive.
Kiku buckles herself into the copilot's seat. Tatooine looms
larger through the viewport.
KIKU
Of course. Those blocks can't handle
the atmosphere. Smart.
17.
Chewbacca barks an explanation.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Which is right where they wanted us
to go. Interdictors. They herded
us in. Great.
Chewbacca growls unhappily.
Through the viewport, space brightens into sky.
EXT. TATOOINE - DAY
The Millennium Falcon breaks atmosphere and streaks across
the cloudless sky, alone.
Below is an endless expanse of scorched desert: canyons,
mesas, and sand dunes.
EXT. JUNGLE PLANET -- NIGHT
A trio of glowing moons hang heavy in the night sky above an
IMPERIAL GARRISON that has been carved into a seam on the
jungle floor. The garrison bustles with activity; lights
and patrol craft crisscross the sky.
EXT. IMPERIAL GARRISON - SIDE ENTRANCE
Two IMPERIAL STORMTROOPERS stand guard while two more SCOUT
TROOPERS are prepping their speeder bikes to go out on patrol.
COMMANDER
(via comlink)
TK-eight-three-seven, check in.
STORMTROOPER
Roger, Command. All clear.
The second trooper notices some movement in the underbrush.
STORMTROOPER #2
Sir! At the tree line.
One of the scout troopers jumps on his speeder bike. The
others ready their blasters.
Emerging from the jungle foliage, the hooded Darth Ikari
walks briskly toward the stormtroopers' position. The mounted
scout trooper maneuvers his speeder bike to flank Ikari.
STORMTROOPER
Hands up!
Ikari keeps walking.
18.
IKARI
At ease, trooper. Run clearance
code one-one-three-eight-four-E-B.
STORMTROOPER
Stay there. Hold on.
The trooper taps his helmet comlink, calling it in. Ikari
is standing with them now. Ikari takes a SCANNER from his
utility belt and passes it in front of one of the
stormtroopers. The scanner BEEPS a negative. Ikari frowns
at the readout.
STORMTROOPER (CONT'D)
That code's defunct. You're going
to have to...
Faster than any of the stormtroopers can react, Ikari IGNITES
his red-bladed lightsaber and cuts down stormtrooper #2 and
the unmounted scout trooper with a spinning blow. The lead
trooper gets off two blaster shots. Ikari deftly deflects
both with the blade of his lightsaber.
STORMTROOPER (CONT'D)
Call it in! Call it in!
The mounted scout trooper kicks his speeder bike into gear
but only makes it a few feet before Ikari THROWS his
lightsaber. The spinning blade decapitates the scout trooper
before arcing back into Ikari's outstretched hand. The
speeder bike spins out of control and explodes on impact
with the jungle floor.
Darth Ikari GESTURES, pinning the last stormtrooper to the
garrison door with the Force. The stormtrooper's blaster is
TORN out of his grip and floats into Ikari's free hand.
INT. IMPERIAL GARRISON - HALLWAY
A dozen stormtroopers take up defensive positions in the
hallway, blaster rifles aimed at the inside of the garrison
door. There's a moment of quiet. Is it a false alarm? A
drill?
The door EXPLODES inward and Darth Ikari rushes through, his
lightsaber held up in a two-handed grip.
The stormtroopers open fire. Ikari is a blur, DEFLECTING
all of their shots until he's unstoppably cutting them down.
The corridor is filled with smoke and fire, and the screams
of dead and dying stormtroopers.
Then there's just one stormtrooper left. He turns to run
but Ikari CALLS an abandoned blaster to his hand with the
Force and shoots the fleeing stormtrooper in the back.
19.
Ikari drops the blaster and, with the red glow from his
lightsaber splashing off the walls, stomps forward.
Merciless.
INT. IMPERIAL GARRISON - MAIN HANGAR
Everything is burning. Wrecked. Dead. The signs of a short,
violent battle are everywhere, with none left standing except
for Darth Ikari, who's huffing and puffing, catching his
breath. He extinguishes his lightsaber and clips it to his
belt.
Ikari kneels before a dead stormtrooper, takes the scanner,
and passes it over the body. Another negative beep.
He stands, disappointed, and, walking out of the room, KICKS
an empty stormtrooper helmet, which spins away across the
deck.
EXT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE -- DAY
The spires of the Jedi Temple, rebuilt since the time of the
Empire, rise up from the Coruscant city skyline. Transports
and shuttle craft speed along traffic lanes in the background.
The metropolis planet is still the bustling capital of the
galaxy that it was during the time of the Empire and the
Republic before it.
INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS -- DAY
LUKE SKYWALKER, fifty, with a neatly trimmed beard and a
Jedi Master's robes, sits alone in one of a circle of twelve
chairs, meditating. The weight of the galaxy, of the Jedi
Order, rests on his shoulders. Behind him, tall windows
show the city-scape stretching to the horizon.
LUKE
Leia... Kiku... Ben?
OBI-WAN (V.O.)
Yes, Luke.
Luke's eyes open. Before him is the shimmering image of OBI-
WAN KENOBI.
LUKE
Ben. The future eludes me. Leia
and my niece, I can no longer feel
them through the Force.
OBI-WAN
When all possibilities become clouded
you must trust your instincts. Your
teachings. This was the lesson Qui-
Gon Jinn learned when he rescued
your father from slavery.
20.
LUKE
The Jedi who trained you before Master
Yoda.
OBI-WAN
Yes, as I in turn trained you. There
is a shadow moving over the Force.
It conceals those you love. I too
am unable to see them clearly.
Luke's brow furrows.
LUKE
When I was a boy I would have rushed
off to rescue them.
OBI-WAN
And now?
Luke smiles at the ghostly image of his mentor.
LUKE
Well, I no longer have to do all of
the rushing alone. Do I?
Obi-Wan looks amused.
OBI-WAN
No. You have accomplished more than
Yoda or I could have hoped. The
Jedi Order once again brings peace
to the galaxy, a peace that Anakin
Skywalker shares.
LUKE
I've tried to learn from all of your
lessons. And pass them on.
Luke regards the empty council chairs.
LUKE (CONT'D)
There is still much to do.
OBI-WAN
And your family?
LUKE
I'll help them however I can. But
this shadow. The future. Ben, could
it be the Sith?
OBI-WAN
Vader and the Emperor are both long
gone. But the living Force presents
us with mysteries as well as guidance.
(MORE)
21.
OBI-WAN (CONT'D)
Wisdom has tempered your feelings,
Luke, just as it will temper your
actions. You will find the cause of
this disturbance, of that I have no
doubt.
Luke stands, straightening his robes. DARTH VADER'S
LIGHTSABER hangs from Luke's belt beside his own, a reminder.
LUKE
Well, Ben. I...
DEAK (O.S.)
Master Skywalker?
Luke looks up. Obi-Wan is gone. Standing there is DEAK
COLL, a twenty-five year old black man wearing the uniform
of a Jedi Knight. He has a smiling, intelligent face.
DEAK (CONT'D)
I sensed something troubling you.
LUKE
Yes. It's my niece. She may be
getting close to a danger greater
than she can handle alone.
DEAK
Isn't that normal for Kiku?
Luke is accustomed to Deak's sarcasm.
LUKE
I'd like you to track the Millennium
Falcon and offer your assistance,
should she it need.
DEAK
Of course, Master. And you?
LUKE
I'm going to Taanab. Leia may need
some assistance of her own.
Luke places a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
LUKE (CONT'D)
Be on your guard, Deak. And may the
Force be with you.
DEAK
And with you, Master.
22.
INT. REPUBLIC CRUISER - COMMAND DECK
The cruiser's flight crew are watching the planet Taanab
loom larger in the main viewscreen. Standing at parade rest
on the deck is CAPTAIN LACERT, thirty-five. Leia steps off
an elevator onto the deck with Threepio, Artoo, and her
retinue of aides and advisors in tow.
LEIA
Captain Lacert.
He turns to greet her.
LACERT
Senator. We're locked in orbit and
your shuttle has been prepped for
takeoff. The all-clear has come
through from the surface as well.
LEIA
Excellent. And Rogue Squadron?
WEDGE
(via comlink)
We're with you, Leia. Locals all
seem friendly enough.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The Republic cruiser slowly orbits the planet with a squadron
of X-wing fighters and a half dozen TIE Interceptors in close
formation.
LEIA
Thank you, Wedge.
(to Lacert)
Shall we then?
Leia gestures toward the elevator. Lacert checks his sidearm,
re-holsters it.
LACERT
Yes, Ma'am.
Leia leads her entourage back aboard the waiting elevator.
Artoo stays behind.
THREEPIO
(to Artoo)
Try to stay out of trouble while
we're gone.
Artoo whistles and spins in a circle.
23.
LEIA
Well hurry up, Artoo, if you're
coming.
Artoo squeezes onto the elevator, bumping Threepio to make
room.
LACERT
One more thing, Senator.
LEIA
What is it?
LACERT
We've received word that Governor
Sandage is waiting to greet your
shuttle personally.
Leia's brow furrows at the news. The elevator doors close.
EXT. TAANAB - CAPITAL CITY -- DAY
A metropolis of glass and steel towers reaches toward the
sky, surrounded by lush green forests on three sides and a
vast lake stretching to the horizon. A REPUBLIC SHUTTLECRAFT
weaves its way between the towers, making for a landing
platform atop the CAPITAL BUILDING.
EXT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - LANDING PAD
Tall banners flap in the breeze, proudly displaying Imperial
insignia. Two squadrons of Imperial Stormtroopers flank the
landing pad, standing at attention. A GROUP OF IMPERIAL
OFFICERS AND BUREAUCRATS wait at one end of the platform.
GRAND MOFF SANDAGE, Governor of Taanab, watches the
shuttlecraft descend with narrowed eyes. He's a tall man,
seventy, with a straight back and dour, flinty features.
The shuttlecraft lands and its boarding ramp lowers. Senator
Leia Solo descends the ramp with Captain Lacert, Artoo,
Threepio, and the REPUBLIC DELEGATION.
SANDAGE
Welcome, Senator. I trust your
journey from the Core was uneventful.
Leia approaches, but Threepio cuts her off.
THREEPIO
Greetings, Grand Moff Sandage.
Senator Solo is pleased to make your
acquaintance and is most impressed
by the display of Imperial heraldry.
A great honor.
LEIA
Thank you, Threepio.
24.
She steps between Sandage and the droid.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Governor, it's not often these days
I have so many stormtroopers turn
out to greet me.
SANDAGE
Consider them a reminder of more
interesting times. And for one so
esteemed as yourself, my troops were
determined to make a good first
impression.
LEIA
You'll be sure to let them know how
impressed I am.
SANDAGE
Of course.
(re: Lacert's blaster)
Your security detail will not be
needed inside.
He offers Leia his elbow.
LEIA
Thank you, Governor. But I'm afraid
Captain Lacert will just not let me
out of his sight.
Leia takes Sandage's elbow and he leads her toward the door.
LEIA (CONT'D)
I'm sure you understand.
SANDAGE
Of course.
Republic and Imperial official alike follow the pair into
the building in a mixed, though cautious, group past the
unmoving rows of stormtroopers.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Elevator doors open, admitting both delegations to the ornate,
high-ceilinged chamber where Taanab's legislature would
normally deliberate their business. A space on the floor
has been cleared to make way for a large oval conference
table. Sandage leads Leia by the elbow to a place at the
foot of the table.
SANDAGE
Your Highness.
He then goes to the head of the table, where he is flanked
by several IMPERIAL OFFICERS.
25.
The delegations break apart to their respective sides.
LEIA
Please. Senator. I haven't been
that princess for a long time.
SANDAGE
Senator, then. Very well.
Leia sits, with Threepio taking position at her side. Lacert
and Artoo hang back against the wall, out of the way but
with a clear view. Leia's aide hands her a computer tablet.
LEIA
Thank you.
She checks the tablet screen and looks up.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Governor, are we all here? I see a
few empty seats at your end of the
table.
SANDAGE
I'm afraid that Moffs Canopus and
Galley will be unable to join us in
person.
Sandage taps a control embedded in the conference table and
two HOLOGRAMS flicker into being, occupying the empty seats
immediately to Sandage's left and right. The images are of
MOFF CANOPUS, a portly red-faced man stuffed into his Imperial
uniform, and MOFF GALLEY, a weather-beaten stump of a man.
THREEPIO
Greetings, gentlemen. I am See-
Threepio, human-cyborg relations,
representing Senator Leia Solo of
the Galactic Republic, whom you see
before you. We are pleased to begin
negotiating your admission to the
Republic. All appropriate documents,
codices, and materials are being
transmitted to you...
Threepio's eyes flicker as he transmits the data.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
Now.
Threepio executes a perfect, for a droid, bow and steps back
from the table.
LEIA
Governor. Gentlemen.
(MORE)
26.
LEIA (CONT'D)
I'd like to say on behalf of the
Republic, that Taanab is more
beautiful than I'd heard. It reminds
me very much of the home where I
grew up. We're also grateful for
your petition to join us.
GALLEY
Yes, yes. We know which way the
wind is blowing, Solo. Republic
systems outnumber the Empire four to
one.
CANOPUS
And you've been expanding into
Imperial space faster every year,
practically to our doorstep.
LEIA
The tide of history. We're re-
establishing the borders of the Old
Republic and, with it, the freedoms
that all our people once enjoyed.
And, with hard work, will again.
SANDAGE
My colleagues have expressed certain
concerns, Senator.
LEIA
Rest assured, we want this transition
to be as smooth and peaceful as
possible. The Republic serves at
the will of the people. Duly elected
officials will represent Taanab in
the senate.
GALLEY
And what of us?
SANDAGE
Taanab is in a unique position,
Senator. While I represent the planet
Taanab itself, my colleagues have
not unsubstantial interests on our
twin moons, over which they have
full control.
LEIA
Well, any independent forces would
need to be unified in order for us
to bring in the system as a whole.
Local power structures can remain,
for the most part, unchanged.
(MORE)
27.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Although, the Republic must insist
that any standing military forces be
transitioned over to our...
CANOPUS
That won't do. I'm not going to
leave myself open to...
With a tap, Sandage mutes the holograms.
SANDAGE
I'm afraid, Senator, that you
misunderstand the power structure
here.
LEIA
Governor?
SANDAGE
I'm willing to serve up Taanab to
your Republic, with myself as
governor, but in return I have a few
conditions.
Canopus and Galley react angrily. They can hear Sandage but
are still muted, their protests unheard.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Taanab and her moons are too equal.
Too balanced. Call it a truce of
inertia. You're here to break that
truce.
Sandage switches off the holographic projections.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Use the might of the Republic to
eliminate my competition and I'll
happily give you Taanab.
Leia stands, aghast.
LEIA
Governor, you misunderstand the
Republic if you think there's any
way...
Sandage signals with his hand and two dozen stormtroopers
burst into the chamber, blocking all exits.
Lacert pulls his blaster, an impressive quick draw, but two
stormtroopers have the drop on him. Lacert surrenders his
weapon and the stormtroopers also take his comlink.
Artoo whistles long and low.
28.
THREEPIO
Oh, my.
Leia sits back down slowly. Stormtroopers descend on the
Republic delegation.
SANDAGE
It's simple, Senator. Order your
men to kill those two oafs, seize
the moons, and turn control over to
me. Once Taanab is mine, it will
then belong to the Republic, and
you'll be free to go. And Senator?
Stormtroopers level their blasters at Leia.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Quickly.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
An IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER orbits high above one of Taanab's
moons. TIE Interceptors pour out of the docking bay on the
ship's belly.
INT. ROGUE SIX'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Rogue Six's X-wing is pointed right at the distant Star
Destroyer.
ROGUE SIX
Rogue Leader, are you seeing what
I'm seeing?
Wedge turns his head, checking behind him on both sides.
WEDGE
I see it, Six. And it looks like
we've got more company incoming.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Another angle of the system shows two more Star Destroyers
coming around the planet, circling into position.
WEDGE
Something's happening dirt side.
Wedge activates his comlink.
WEDGE (CONT'D)
Command, are you seeing what we're
seeing out here?
29.
The comlink cuts out, the signal squelched with STATIC.
INTERCUT THROUGH THE COCKPITS OF ROGUE SQUADRON.
Wedge's pilots all react to the interference static.
Wedge soaks in the situation.
WEDGE (CONT'D)
I've got a bad feeling about this.
INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - HANGAR BAY
Luke and Deak walk across the hangar deck toward a waiting
line of freshly painted A-WING STARFIGHTERS.
Luke puts a hand on his apprentice's shoulder.
LUKE
Deak. Here.
Luke hands Deak a small data chip.
LUKE (CONT'D)
Han has a hidden tracer on the Falcon.
You should be able to locate her
with this.
DEAK
The old man's a bit paranoid.
LUKE
Maybe not as reckless as he once
was, but he's always been protective
of that ship.
Deak pockets the data chip.
DEAK
I'll find them, Master.
Both Jedi turn and walk on. With a nod, they climb aboard
their ships.
INT. DEAK'S COCKPIT
Deak settles into the cockpit before watching Luke's ship
take off.
DEAK
I can't wait to hear this one, Kiku.
Deak's ship lifts off...
30.
EXT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE
And flies out of the Jedi Temple.
EXT. TATOOINE - ARROYO -- DAY
A blowing SANDSTORM buffets the Millennium Falcon, which
sits at the bottom of an ancient creek bed.
Two crates of survival gear have been pulled out of storage
and are sitting open on the deck. Chewbacca is finishing up
a previous repair job. Kiku sits, listening to the distress
call again.
VOICE
...to all ships within range. We
are under siege...
She clicks off the recording.
KIKU
How was I supposed to know we'd drop
out of light speed right on top of
them?
Chewbacca snorts derisively. She ignores him, reading from
an instrument panel.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Mos Eisley? It's not far from here.
Chewbacca barks a lengthy complaint.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Well, I'm going anyway. Unless you
think you can sit on me until this
storm subsides.
Chewbacca likes this idea.
Kiku retrieves a PONCHO, GOGGLES, and SURVIVAL PACK from the
crates.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Good luck trying, fur ball.
She tosses a pair of goggles to the Wookiee with a grin.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Come on. The Force is our ally.
What could go wrong?
Chewbacca barks his way through a list of all the negative
possibilities, picking up his crossbow and following Kiku to
the Falcon's boarding ramp.
31.
EXT. TATOOINE - ARROYO
Kiku and Chewbacca, in goggles and gear, trudge through the
sandstorm away from the ship. She pulls the poncho's hood
over her face to keep out the sand.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY -- AFTERNOON
Tatooine's twin suns shine down on the city of Mos Eisley, a
sprawling network of sandstone towers and domes built outward
from the central spaceport. But what would normally be a
bustling center of trade and commerce is deserted. The
streets are empty, with no signs of people or traffic.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREET
Kiku and Chewbacca walk from street to street until they
come to a familiar CANTINA, which has been sandblasted by
time.
Chewbacca barks.
KIKU
I have no idea. Underground maybe?
They couldn't have abandoned the
whole city.
Chewbacca bangs on the door but it's locked up tight.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - MARKETPLACE
The pair pass through the city's bazaar, which has been
abandoned. Storefronts, shops, tents, and booths all stand
empty. What should be bustling with activity is instead
covered with layer of sand, freshly deposited by the storm.
KIKU
This is eerie.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - BACK ALLEY
Kiku and Chewbacca round a corner into a narrow, twisting
alley lined with shadowed doorways. A female CLOAKED FIGURE
peers down at them from an upper deck.
CLOAKED FIGURE
You there, with the Wookiee! Are
you trying to get yourselves killed?
KIKU
We followed the distress call. Where
is everyone?
CLOAKED FIGURE
Distress call? Oh, for all the
Makers...
32.
The cloaked figure ponders them for a moment, deciding if
they're dangerous or simply fools, before thumbing a remote.
CLOAKED FIGURE (CONT'D)
Quickly. I've unlocked the back
door. Get inside before someone
sees us.
The cloaked figure disappears from the edge of the deck.
Kiku draws her blaster and cautiously goes through the
unlocked door, with Chewbacca behind her.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - FIXER'S GARAGE
The garage is cluttered with droid parts and disassembled
speeder bikes. An ancient landspeeder sits in a repair bay.
But the place is swept clean and free of neglect. A door
leads to the front of the shop and a stairwell to the upper
floors. The alien FIXER, a leathery, four armed BESALISK,
eyes Kiku and Chewbacca with suspicion.
FIXER
Hey now! Who are you?
(re: Chewie)
And what is that?
Coming down the stairwell from outside is ZAVOS, a statuesque
TWI'LEK with purple skin. An old scar marks where one of
her head tails is missing. Under the cloak she wears an
armored spacesuit and has two blasters slung low on her hips.
ZAVOS
Have you never seen a Wookiee, Fixer?
FIXER
Only in stories. There used to be
so many. Before the Empire.
Zavos drops her cloak over a workbench. Kiku holsters her
blaster.
ZAVOS
I'm Zavos and this is Fixer. The
way you two were wandering around
out there with your noses open, it
must be safe to assume you aren't
with them.
Fixer creeps up on Chewbacca, fascinated, as the big Wookiee
shakes the sand out of his fur.
FIXER
The bandits. Mercenaries.
Chewbacca growls and Fixer backs off.
33.
KIKU
We heard the distress call and came
to offer our help but when our ship
dropped out of hyperspace we were
run to ground. They have interdictors
in orbit.
ZAVOS
Then the news just keeps getting
better, doesn't it? At least you
landed in one piece. I got shot
down trying to leave this dust ball
and brought my partner to Fixer's
shop here for repairs.
KIKU
Partner?
The exploded remains of a COMBAT DROID are spread out on one
of the workbenches.
FIXER
Yeah. She's a bounty hunter, this
one. Good to have around in a pinch,
'specially these days.
(to Zavos)
When she's not getting shot down.
Zavos ignores the jibe.
ZAVOS
Fixer's letting me hole up here until
I figure out a way off planet. This
whole place is circling the drain
and you can bet Mos Eisley is next.
With the storm over, anyone who shows
their head above sand is getting it
shot off.
FIXER
Heard they've started going house-to-
house in some of the other
settlements. Mos Shuuta's been burned
to a cinder.
ZAVOS
But tell me, girl-with-a-Wookiee, do
you make a habit of chasing distress
calls?
KIKU
I'm Kiku Solo, Jedi Knight. And
this is Chewbacca. We're here to
rescue you.
Fixer and Zavos can't conceal their laughter.
34.
ZAVOS
(chuckling)
That's great. That's just... perfect.
FIXER
What a relief. We're saved!
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Imperial Star Destroyers hold position orbiting the planet
and it's moons. TIE Interceptors are everywhere, flitting
back and forth, practically daring someone to shoot first.
Luke's A-wing starfighter darts through the system.
INT. LUKE'S COCKPIT
Luke takes in the situation.
LUKE
This doesn't look like a normal
negotiation. Leia, where are you?
Wedge's X-wing flies into Luke's field of view.
LUKE (CONT'D)
Wedge?
The X-wing flashes its landing lights and waggles its s-foils
before peeling off.
LUKE (CONT'D)
I got you, buddy.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Luke's ship circles around and follows the X-wing to where
the Republic cruiser orbits the planet, unmolested by the
Imperial ships.
Both starfighters dock with the larger cruiser.
Luke, the cruiser's COMMAND CREW, and a dozen PILOTS are
being debriefed by Wedge.
WEDGE
So, the Imps dirt side say they're
going to hold Senator Solo until we
call in enough Republic ships to
upend the balance. As it stands, if
one side opens fire the other two
will gang up on 'em.
35.
LUKE
And we're caught in the middle with
Leia as leverage?
ROGUE TWO
My fun meter is pegged, Leader.
WEDGE
Stow that, Two.
(to Luke)
We're glad to see you, Luke. But I
don't see how one cruiser and a single
squadron of fighters can make a
difference here.
LUKE
The Republic's not going to wade
into an internal Imperial fight.
We're inviting these systems to join
us, not conquering them.
Luke scratches his beard, puzzling it over.
LUKE (CONT'D)
What about Leia?
WEDGE
All local communications within the
system are being jammed. We can't
call down to the surface and those
Star Destroyers and squints won't
let us leave.
LUKE
Wedge, I want you to keep your pilots
out of danger. I'm going to go down
to the surface and see about rescuing
them from my sister.
EXT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - LANDING PAD -- DAY
Luke's starfighter has landed next to Leia's shuttle. The
Jedi climbs out and approaches two stormtroopers who're
guarding the entrance to the capital building. The guards
raise their blaster rifles.
STORMTROOPER
Halt!
Luke's voice is even and soothing.
LUKE
You won't need those.
STORMTROOPER
We won't need these.
36.
The guards lower their blasters.
LUKE
Why don't you take me to Senator
Solo?
STORMTROOPER
We'll take you to Senator Solo.
One of the stormtroopers holds the door open for Luke and
they follow him into the building.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - ELEVATOR
The two stormtroopers stand behind Luke, as the elevator
descends.
Luke yawns. The stormtroopers yawn and stretch, then collapse
to the floor, asleep.
Luke patiently watches the floor numbers count down.
The Republic delegation, including Lacert and the droids,
has been relegated to the legislative back benches, where
they're circled by a squad of stormtroopers. Additional
stormtroopers block all of the exits.
Leia sits fuming in her seat at the conference table.
The only person in the room not on edge is Moff Sandage, who
is casually reviewing a computerized report that's been handed
to him by a waiting IMPERIAL OFFICER.
SANDAGE
Excellent. Canopus won't tell his
ships to fire unless fired upon.
Galley's nerve might crack, but not
yet.
He hands the report back to the officer.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Let me know the moment any of their
Destroyers break formation.
OFFICER
Yes, Sir.
The officer delivers a crisp salute and leaves.
SANDAGE
Which is where you come in, Senator.
37.
LEIA
You can't expect us to cooperate,
Governor.
SANDAGE
But you will. My forces are not
enough to break both Galley and
Canopus should they unite, but neither
will they fire on me, for now. Rest
assured though, my navy is keeping
close tabs on your ships in orbit.
We'll keep them perfectly safe. For
now.
LEIA
Hostages? You must surely realize
that the Republic...
Sandage pounds his fist onto the table.
SANDAGE
Your Republic will not risk losing
out on such a key system. Control
of Taanab will give the Republic
control over the rest of this sector.
Neither will they risk losing one of
the famed heroes of the Rebellion.
No, Senator. They will send ships
here. They will help me dispose of
those two fools. And then, after
your Republic has given me everything
I want, I'll consider returning you
to your ship and allowing your people
to leave the system.
LEIA
You're deluded, Governor. The days
of open war between the Republic and
the Empire are in the past. The
Senate will never vote to interfere
with your internal disputes.
SANDAGE
But they will. You will see to it.
LEIA
No, Governor. But what they will do
is send a rescue mission to liberate
anyone being held here against their
will. And it's unlikely that Moffs
Galley and Canopus will allow you to
remain in office after the Republic
leaves with her people.
SANDAGE
Senator. You don't understand.
38.
Sandage slides a long range COMMUNICATOR across the table to
Leia.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Call in your people. I want you to.
We shall see what happens when more
Republic ships enter the system.
And to motivate you...
Sandage signals and a stormtrooper drags a REPUBLIC DELEGATE
to the floor and takes aim.
LEIA
No!
Lacert steps forward but is stopped by the point of a blaster
in his chest.
Artoo whistles low.
SANDAGE
Then call in your reinforcements.
Or I will make sure that you, Senator,
will be the last one left of your
delegation.
Leia picks up the communicator and activates it. As she's
about to speak...
The elevator DINGS and its doors slide open.
Luke steps off the elevator, leaving the two unconscious
stormtroopers behind.
LEIA
Luke?
THREEPIO
Master Luke! We're saved!
Artoo beeps and whistles.
LUKE
Hello, Leia. Have I missed the
negotiations?
SANDAGE
Ah, Skywalker. The Jedi. You're
not unexpected.
(to stormtroopers)
Guards, please relieve Master
Skywalker of his weapon.
Luke pulls his lightsaber. The green blade snaps into life.
LEIA
Luke, no.
39.
Luke takes in the situation. There are two dozen
stormtroopers scattered around the room, plus another squad
holding the hostages at gunpoint. He's too outnumbered to
take them all on, not without civilian casualties.
Leia gives Luke a look; they communicate silently.
And Luke shuts down his lightsaber and hands it over to one
of the stormtroopers.
SANDAGE
Please, Skywalker. Join us. Oh,
and the other one too.
Luke reluctantly hands over Vader's lightsaber as well and
walks down to the conference table.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Thank you. We were just discussing
my eagerness to help the Republic
annex Taanab.
(to Leia)
Senator, I believe you were about to
make that call?
Leia glares daggers at the Governor but she picks up the
communicator.
EXT. TATOOINE - ARROYO -- DAY
Deak's starfighter lands near the Millennium Falcon.
The young Jedi climbs out. The cockpit hatch closes after
him.
EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT
Deak is trudging along, with the glare of the suns in his
eyes. He stops and looks around at the wide open, hot nothing
of sand and rocks.
DEAK
So this is where Master Skywalker
grew up. It's no wonder he's so
dry.
Chewbacca is tinkering with a piece of the blasted up combat
droid but it's clearly beyond repair. Fixer hands Kiku and
Zavos each a mug. Zavos sips from hers.
ZAVOS
There are fewer Jedi around than
there are Wookiees.
40.
KIKU
Everyone I know seems to be one or
the other.
ZAVOS
Maybe. And maybe you are a Jedi
Knight. If so, I can think of a few
of the locals who'll be interested
to meet you.
Kiku is barely listening to the bounty hunter. She's
concentrating intently on...
FIXER
Zavos!
Zavos turns around. Behind her, the landspeeder is FLOATING
several feet above the repair bay floor, held in the grip of
the Force. It slowly ROTATES, upside down then rightside
up, before Kiku lowers it back down.
Zavos and Fixer marvel at the young Jedi. Kiku, pleased
with herself, sips from her mug.
KIKU
Small stuff takes fine control. Big
things are actually easier. Boulders.
Cargo crates. Speeders.
Chewbacca laughs, a Wookiee chuckle.
FIXER
(believing it now)
Jedi.
ZAVOS
Oh, they're definitely going to want
to meet you. And we should get going.
That sandstorm might have grounded
the pirates for a while, but I don't
want to be here when they start taking
this city apart.
Zavos sets down her mug. Chewie gathers his crossbow.
KIKU
We're ready.
The three of them head for the back door. Fixer stays put.
FIXER
Good luck!
Chewie and Kiku follow the bounty hunter through the alley.
They're being cautious, but moving quickly.
41.
The three are crossing towards the city center. The WHINE
of speeder bike engines can be heard getting louder and
louder.
Chewbacca growls.
ZAVOS
Speeder bikes. A lot of them and
they're getting closer.
KIKU
(re: Chewie)
That's what he said.
ZAVOS
It's a safe bet that we won't want
to be wherever they're going.
They come around a corner, running now. At the end of the
street, the control towers of the spaceport are visible over
the tops of the buildings.
A couple blocks down, Deak cuts across the street, chased by
a half dozen BIKERS, heavily armed and wearing scavenged,
mismatched uniforms, on customized SPEEDER BIKES.
ZAVOS
This way!
Zavos pulls Kiku by the arm into an alley.
KIKU
Deak?
They cut through the alley to a wide open bazaar. Store
fronts and merchant tents are being opened for business, as
the citizenry gamely tries to go about their business. Nomads
and alien creatures trudge about, work to be done. But
there's an oppressive air. It's a city under siege. A pair
of squabbling JAWAS push past the trio.
KIKU
Don't they realize the danger they're
all in?
ZAVOS
Oh, I'm sure they do. It's sad how
greed will trump self-preservation.
Seems to be a universal truth.
Zavos scans the bazaar, looking...
42.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
But then I'd have to find another
line of work if it didn't. Do you
see any sign of them?
At which point Deak COLLIDES full speed with Zavos, knocking
them both to the ground.
KIKU
Deak? Deak Coll?
Zavos curses in Huttese.
ZAVOS
E chu ta! You know this hotshuh
bukee?
Deak dusts himself off. Zavos notices the robes.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
Another Jedi?
KIKU
Did Uncle Luke send you after me?
DEAK
Maybe we can talk later?
KIKU
I don't need...
A LASER BLAST narrowly misses them.
The biker gang roars into the bazaar, laser cannons firing.
People SCATTER, running for their lives and ducking for cover.
Lasers destroy a droid and kill one of the Jawas.
Kiku and Deak ignite their lightsabers and deflect the shots.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Friends of yours?
Chewie and Zavos return fire.
The speeder bikes fly past.
ZAVOS
They're coming around for another
pass! We have to move!
Chewbacca howls in disagreement, kicks over some crates, and
takes a defensive position.
DEAK
I already tried outrunning them!
43.
KIKU
We need to stop them!
ZAVOS
You Jedi are a pain. You know that?
Zavos takes cover next to Chewie.
The mercenaries have circled around and are bearing down on
them, shooting wildly.
Kiku snaps off a couple return shots with her blaster,
holsters it, and grips her lightsaber with both hands.
Chewie SHOOTS one of the speeder bikes, which CAREENS into a
wall and explodes.
The bikers are CLOSING IN.
Deak and Kiku deflect more laser fire.
Zavos and Chewie shoot down another of the bikes.
Deak uses the Force to PULL the tarp off of a merchant booth
and FLING it over one of the oncoming bikers. The bike and
rider careen into the dirt, CRASHING through several booths
and into a storefront.
As the bikers swoop past them, Deak LEAPS UP into the air
and LANDS on the back of a helmetless biker's speeder.
HELMETLESS BIKER
Hey!
Deak and the helmetless biker struggle for control as the
bike FLIES AWAY wildly.
The other three bikers swing around for another pass.
They swoop by, lasers firing at the trio. Zavos turns and
fires as they pass. Her shots connect and a bike EXPLODES
into a shower of smoking wreckage.
ZAVOS
Karking schutta!
AT THE FAR END OF THE BAZAAR, Deak KICKS the biker off of
his bike.
The biker SAILS into a wall with a CRUNCH.
DEAK
Wear a helmet next time!
He struggles to gain control of the speeding machine, narrowly
missing a building.
44.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - MARKETPLACE -- CONTINUOUS
Kiku steps out into the center of the bazaar.
The last two bikers are bearing down on her at full speed,
their laser cannons firing.
Kiku deflects the blasts.
The bikes are closing in. Firing.
Kiku deflects the shots, concentrating.
Closer still.
Kiku raises her hand and CLOSES IT INTO A FIST.
And the bikes SLAM into each other in mid-air. The tangled
speeder bikes SPIN out of control and crash into a building.
Kiku looks at Zavos.
KIKU
Boulders. Cargo crates.
Chewbacca howls impatiently as Deak pulls up in the stolen
speeder bike.
ZAVOS
Great. We should get moving before
reinforcements show.
DEAK
Can I come with you? These tour
guides are terrible.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - BASEMENT MEETING HALL
The two Jedi and the Wookiee follow Zavos down into a
cavernous sandstone basement. The vaulted space is crowded
with a galactic variety of aliens, robots, and humans, both
familiar and strange. Grubby, dirt poor creatures are side
by side with the city elite in their finery. All the people
of Mos Eisley are represented.
A corpulent human, the MAYOR, holds court in the middle of
the underground room.
MAYOR
I assure you all, we are aware of
the situation and are doing everything
to ensure your safety. We're in no
danger here. This is a temporary
state of emergency. These bandits
will assuredly move on once they
find there's nothing for them here.
45.
The mayor is drowned out by the CATCALLS and BOOS.
MAYOR (CONT'D)
The reports from Mos Espa and Mos
Schutta have been greatly exaggerated.
ZAVOS
Which sounds like someone's already
made a deal.
At the bottom of the steps, Kiku stops Zavos.
KIKU
You realize that you're the most
helpful bounty hunter ever?
Zavos brushes it off, playing tough.
ZAVOS
A job is a job. I get that. But
you saw them out there. Take a look
around you.
The people in the basement are refugees in their own city.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
Terrorizing these people isn't honest
work. Plus, I'm stuck here. That
scum owe me a ship and they owe me
for my partner. This way.
She leads the others around the edge of the room. Deak and
Kiku suddenly stop, simultaneously.
DEAK
Solo, do you sense...
KIKU
Another Jedi.
Hands grab Deak from behind. The two Jedi turn around, and
are taken aback by the sight of BOWMAN THO, the sixteen year
old boy who grabbed Deak. The boy is dressed in an urchin's
rags but has a SCAVENGED LIGHTSABER hanging from his belt.
BOWMAN
Oh wow! Oh wow! Jedi Knights!
Wait'll I tell Shiro Te!
Kiku and Deak take in the boy's appearance before what he
said clicks.
KIKU
Master Shiro Te is here?
46.
DEAK
Is that possible? No one's seen or
heard from him in years.
The boy beckons them to follow.
BOWMAN
This way. Come on.
Kiku looks for Chewbacca and Zavos, who are talking to some
of the locals. Chewie sees Kiku and gives her a go-ahead
nod. She turns to catch up to Deak and the boy.
Bowman leads the Jedi through the crowded room to an alcove
on the far side of the basement hall.
Quietly observing the room is SHIRO TE, a lean, rough-skinned
alien in farmer's robes and wide brimmed hat. He could be
thirty or a hundred.
DEAK
Master Shiro Te?
The alien takes in the two Jedi and the boy with a sad,
resigned look.
SHIRO TE
So, it's Solo and Coll who've come.
And I see you've met young Bowman.
BOWMAN
I caught them on their way in. Real
Jedi Knights here on Tatooine.
KIKU
(re: Bowman)
Master, this couldn't be...?
SHIRO TE
(to Bowman)
Relax, boy.
(to the Jedi)
No. You know I left the Order
after...
The unspoken loss briefly hangs over the alien before he
continues.
SHIRO TE (CONT'D)
No. Bowman is a fine lad but he is
not a learner, just as I am no longer
a Master. That is in the past.
Shiro Te forces a smile.
47.
SHIRO TE (CONT'D)
I wandered here some time ago, to
learn more about the Jedi's
connections to this planet, but I
take it you two have been drawn here
by the conflict. Do you seek to
help these people?
The alien takes in Deak's Jedi uniform.
SHIRO TE (CONT'D)
I see you are a Knight now.
Congratulations. And you, Solo.
The Force flows through you both.
DEAK
Solo threw herself into this conflict.
Master Skywalker sent me to keep her
from making things worse.
But Kiku isn't listening. She notices Chewbacca trying to
get her attention on the far side of the crowd.
KIKU
Chewie wants us.
SHIRO TE
Go, there will be time later.
Kiku leaves to see what Chewbacca wants but Deak stops Bowman
from following them.
DEAK
Hold on, kid. I don't sense the
Force in you at all. Why don't you
tell me where you got that lightsaber?
BOWMAN
I scavenged it. Parts here, parts
there. Most of it was in a junk
shop. But there's no power cell. I
promised Shiro Te.
DEAK
A groupie. Perfect.
Kiku pushes through the crowd toward Zavos and Chewbacca.
Watching her is a MAG REIDA, sixty, well muscled, with a
square jaw and plenty of old scars. A retired soldier, he
looks like he could be related to Jango Fett.
Kiku spots him watching her. He acknowledges the young Jedi
with a nod.
Whoever he is can wait, as Kiku catches up to Chewie and the
bounty hunter.
48.
Chewbacca grumbles though a piece of lengthy exposition before
Zavos interrupts.
ZAVOS
(re: Shiro Te & Bowman)
Friends of yours?
KIKU
One is, or was, a Jedi trained by my
uncle, but he left the Order some
years ago. Luke said Master Shiro
Te went into seclusion. I guess now
we know where.
ZAVOS
Great. We can use all the help we
can get. Those bikers will have
friends here soon. A lot of friends.
There's an encampment forming on the
ridge outside of town. A big one.
Deak joins the others in time to hear the news.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
We're about to be rolled over.
Kiku absorbs this as she takes in the frightened people around
them.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
So, if you have a fast enough ship,
now might be a good time to make a
break for it.
KIKU
We have to help them.
ZAVOS
Now might be a good time to make a
break for it.
EXT. TATOOINE - WASTELAND
A large MERCENARY ENCAMPMENT has formed atop a bluff
overlooking Mos Eisley. Speeder bikes, Landspeeders, and
larger ATTACK CRAFT circle a haphazard collection of TENTS
and TEMPORARY SHELTERS. In the middle is a large CENTRAL
TENT. The encampment buzzes with activity. HARDENED
CRIMINALS and HIRED GUNS are gathering for an assault on the
town.
Imperial stormtroopers are standing guard over the Republic
delegation, while Leia and Luke face down Governor Sandage.
Leia still holds the long range communicator.
49.
LEIA
We should bring in the others for a
full negotiation. Surely, Moffs
Galley and Canopus cannot want
bloodshed any more than you do.
SANDAGE
We're long past that Senator. I've
tolerated sharing power with those
bureaucrats, those simpletons, for
too long. The people of Taanab long
to be unified under strong, unwavering
leadership.
LUKE
And you've chosen yourself to be the
one who leads them? You're leading
them into war.
Leia toys with the communicator, listening to them.
SANDAGE
Conflict creates strength, Jedi.
The Empire is weak. It is dying.
You saw to that long ago. I mean to
preserve what I can, even if it must
be under your umbrella.
LUKE
You're mistaken. Rule through
oppression and fear is destined to
fail. Even if you were to keep us
here forever, the Republic will never
recognize your legitimacy. And the
people of Taanab will not fight each
other to keep you in power.
Sandage scoffs at Luke.
SANDAGE
The people of Taanab have been loyal
subjects of the Empire for fifty
years. They yearn to be controlled,
and they will do as they're told.
Once I've consolidated power, none
will dare challenge me.
She comes to a decision.
LEIA
Drop the jamming, Governor. I'll
call the Republic.
A thin smile spreads across his face.
SANDAGE
That's all I ask, Senator.
50.
Sandage deactivates a control on the panel embedded in the
table. Leia begins keying a message into the communicator.
Across the room, Artoo subtly lights up. Message received.
LEIA
(into comm)
Wedge, this is Leia.
WEDGE
(via comlink)
Solo? How did you break through the
signal jamming?
LEIA
Later. I need you to set up a long-
range relay and transmit this to the
Senate.
She begins to dictate a message into the communicator.
LEIA (CONT'D)
This is Senator Leia Solo speaking
on behalf of the Republic delegation
to Taanab. We are being held hostage
as part of an internal power play...
Over where the hostages are sitting, Artoo bumps into
Threepio.
THREEPIO
Watch it, you blundering tin can!
Artoo whistles at Threepio excitedly.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
I most certainly will not! Keep it
down before you get us into more
trouble.
A stormtrooper takes notice.
STORMTROOPER
You there. Quiet.
Artoo beeps up and down the scale at Threepio and then turns
and bumps into Captain Lacert.
THREEPIO
Be quiet!
(to Stormtroopers)
I'm so sorry. My counterpart must
be shortcircuiting. The older
astromechs are impossible.
Artoo bumps into Lacert again, who gets to his feet.
51.
LACERT
(to Stormtrooper)
I think he's late for an appointment.
Down by the conference table, Sandage notices the commotion.
SANDAGE
Sergeant, is there a problem?
STORMTROOPER SERGEANT
No, Sir.
One of the guards puts his hand on Lacert's shoulder.
STORMTROOPER GUARD
Get back down.
Artoo whistles and bumps into Lacert again, who's getting
annoyed.
LACERT
(to Artoo)
Would you...
Lacert turns and punches out the guard.
LACERT (CONT'D)
(to guard)
Back off?
Lacert turns around, looking for another guard to take a
swing at. Artoo is behind him, whistling and beeping
encouragement.
THREEPIO
Oh no! Captain, please sit back
down!
Before Lacert can do anything else the butt of a blaster
rifle knocks him down from behind. Two stormtroopers grab
his arms and haul him to his feet.
Sandage raises an eyebrow in Leia's direction. She's deadpan.
SANDAGE
I cannot allow another disruption,
you understand. This is a peaceful
negotiation.
(to stormtrooper)
Sergeant, throw them off the roof.
Four stormtroopers drag Lacert and the droids away.
THREEPIO
We're doomed!
52.
Luke is about to jump in but Leia stops him with a look that
says she has the situation under control.
LUKE
I hope you know what you're doing.
Sandage is exasperated.
SANDAGE
I tire of these games, Senator.
EXT. SPACE
An unmarked, matte black SPACESHIP, with the taloned, angular
profile of a folded-up predator, streaks through space.
INT. IKARI'S SPACESHIP
Lights and readouts from the control panels are reflected in
Darth Ikari's helmet faceplate as he pilots the ship toward
its destination.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - BASEMENT MEETING HALL
The meeting is breaking up. The citizens of Mos Eisley
shuffle out of the basement, clear that nothing's been
resolved. The room is thick with despair.
Over in Shiro Te's alcove, the Jedi and their companions
discuss their options. Bowman Tho lingers close by,
eavesdropping.
ZAVOS
I'm telling you, we should get scarce.
There's no way we can protect everyone
here, not for long and not without
risking our own skins.
Chewbacca grumbles.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
See? The big guy agrees with me.
Chewbacca barks again.
KIKU
No, he doesn't. Deak, how did you
get past the interdictors?
DEAK
They didn't seem interested in me at
all. But then, I didn't hit any of
them when I jumped into the system.
Kiku gives him a dirty look.
53.
KIKU
That wasn't my fault.
DEAK
They were oriented toward keeping
any ships from leaving, at least
that's how it looked.
ZAVOS
(agreeing)
Which scans. So?
Shiro Te watches them debate.
SHIRO TE
So, how are you going to protect an
entire city?
DEAK
We're too outnumbered. If we stay
and fight, I can feel it. Not
everyone will survive.
Zavos nods in agreement.
KIKU
Then we have to get these people to
safety.
DEAK
Do you want to tell them all or should
I?
KIKU
Let's wait until we have a better
plan than hauling them all out on
the Falcon a dozen at a time.
BOWMAN
I know where there's a ship.
They all look at him.
BOWMAN (CONT'D)
The spaceport. There's a passenger
transport that's been impounded there
for some time. She might still fly.
Kiku and Deak trade looks.
DEAK
It's worth a shot.
ZAVOS
You're crazy to try.
(MORE)
54.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
I've been dodging port authorities
and outrunning the law for a long
time and they shot me down without
breaking a sweat.
KIKU
What other choice do we have?
ZAVOS
We run. Us.
The others ignore Zavos.
BOWMAN
I'll show you the way but you have
to let me come with you.
DEAK
You show us, but you stay back if
there's trouble.
BOWMAN
Sure thing. Got it.
Kiku turns to Shiro Te.
KIKU
Master, will you come with us? We
could use you.
Shiro Te hesitates.
SHIRO TE
I... I cannot.
ZAVOS
Well if I can't talk you out of it,
I might as well see some action.
Beats standing around. But if we're
going we should go. It'll be dark
soon.
Chewbacca barks agreeably.
Kiku and Deak spare a moment for Shiro Te but he's far away,
lost in thought.
They exit, leaving the former Jedi behind.
The group exits the underground meeting hall onto the street.
Watching them from the shadows is Mag Reida.
BOWMAN
The spaceport's this way.
55.
ZAVOS
We can see the control towers from
here, kid. Just show us where this
ship is, okay?
KIKU
(to Deak)
What do you think happened to Master
Shiro Te?
DEAK
He's still holding himself responsible
for the death of his apprentice.
Could you feel how closed off he was
to the Force?
KIKU
Yes.
Mag steps out of the shadows.
MAG
Jedi.
As one, Kiku and Deak ignite their lightsabers and Zavos
draws her blaster as they all turn toward the voice.
MAG (CONT'D)
I thought so.
Mag walks toward them calmly, his hands raised.
KIKU
You were inside. Who are you?
MAG
Reida, Mag Reida. If you're here to
do something about the raiders, I'd
like to help.
ZAVOS
He stinks of the Empire.
DEAK
That right?
Mag hesitates.
MAG
I used to serve the Empire with the
five hundred and first. But I'm
just a retired soldier now.
Deak closes his eyes, concentrating, as Kiku scrutinizes the
stranger. After a beat they both shut down their lightsabers.
56.
ZAVOS
What? You believe him?
DEAK
There's no deceit here.
Kiku takes a comlink from her belt.
KIKU
Here. We have an errand to run.
After, we'll contact you on this.
She tosses it to Mag.
MAG
Thanks.
DEAK
Thank us after we deal with the
hundreds of marauding bandits.
Mag watches them go before pocketing the comlink and heading
off in the opposite direction.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - SPACEPORT
The city's spaceport consists of two large control towers
and a half dozen service buildings in the center of a
honeycomb of docking bays, all open to the sky.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - DOCKING BAY
Bowman leads the others to one of the docking bays. He tries
the door.
BOWMAN
This is it, but it's locked.
Deak sizes up the height of the docking bay walls.
DEAK
(to Kiku)
Jump?
KIKU
That's too high for you.
DEAK
Ah, you're probably right.
Deak ignites his lightsaber and stabs it into the door. The
metal sizzles as he quickly cuts away the door lock.
BOWMAN
That is so...
57.
ZAVOS
Useful.
Deak's finished.
DEAK
Chewie?
The Wookiee pushes open the oversized door.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - DOCKING BAY
Parked in the docking bay is a old PASSENGER LINER that's
been baking in the sun for a very long time. Opposite Kiku
and the others is a second entrance with a matching
overhanging archway.
The passenger liner's boarding ramp is down and LOOTERS,
humans, aliens, and a bipedal ASSASSIN DROID, are busy
sabotaging the spaceship. Mercenaries.
DEAK
I'm always the last to arrive.
They're noticed. A looter drops his armload of stolen goods.
Kiku ignites her lightsaber.
LOOTER #1
Jedi? Jedi!
ASSASSIN DROID
Targeting!
They OPEN FIRE.
Chewie and Zavos take cover in the doorway and return fire.
Bowman wisely stays behind them. But the Jedi charge in,
deflecting lasers with their lightsabers.
A looter swings a long pike at Deak, who easily slices it
into pieces before delivering a kick to the chest, knocking
the gang member to the dirt.
Kiku closes on Looter #1 and deftly slices off his gun hand
with her lightsaber. He collapses, screaming.
ASSASSIN DROID (CONT'D)
Targeting!
The droid fires again, a shot that impacts just wide of Zavos'
head.
Three more mercenaries exit the ship and join the fray.
LOOTER #2
Rush 'em!
58.
Chewbacca shoots one with his crossbow as the firefight
devolves into a brawl.
One of the gang dives at Zavos, who shoots him dead. But
his momentum knocks Zavos over, the body landing on top of
her.
Deak strikes down a mercenary who's about to shoot Bowman.
DEAK
Keep your head down!
The kid nods enthusiastically and takes cover back the way
they came, outside the docking bay.
The assassin droid spins, searching for a target.
ASSASSIN DROID
Targeting!
Looter #1 struggles to his knees, clutching the stump of his
arm.
The assassin droid takes aim at Kiku. She deflects the shot.
Chewbacca HOWLS, grabs the droid, and PULLS OFF ITS ARMS.
ASSASSIN DROID (CONT'D)
Target...
With an ELECTRONIC SQUEAL, the droid drops over. Motionless.
Chewbacca clubs Looter #2 with the droid's arm.
Looter #1 awkwardly pulls a THERMAL DETONATOR from a pouch,
triggers it, and throws is at Kiku's back.
But his aim is off and the detonator hits the dirt between
Kiku and the rest of the melee. It beeps. She sees it.
KIKU
Grenade!
She DIVES clear.
It EXPLODES.
The blast KNOCKS the combatants off their feet with a MASSIVE
FIREBALL.
Chaos. There's smoke and fire everywhere.
Deak staggers to his feet. There's a WALL OF FIRE where
Kiku was standing.
DEAK
Solo!
59.
Zavos rolls the dead body off of her, gets to her feet, and
shoots two stunned mercenaries dead.
On the far side of the docking bay, Kiku struggles to get to
her feet. She can't see anything through the smoke.
KIKU
Deak?
The blue flash of a STUN BEAM hits Kiku in the back and she
drops, unconscious.
Two THUGS creep out from under the archway of the second
entrance.
THUG #1
This'll make the boss happy.
THUG #2
If it's her. Grab her feet.
They pick up her lightsaber and drag her away, unseen.
Back by the front entrance of the docking bay, Zavos frowns
at the passenger liner.
ZAVOS
The ship's a loss!
Deak and Zavos look up at a MERCENARY TRANSPORT that's
hovering above the melee. Its loud engines push around the
smoke and clouds of dust.
Chewbacca howls, frantically searching for Kiku.
DEAK
I don't see her!
A hatch on the side of the transport opens and GUNNERS ready
an anti-personnel laser cannon.
ZAVOS
We have to go!
Chewbacca HOWLS in anguish. Deak kicks a mercenary.
DEAK
Chewie! Chewbacca!
The anti-personnel laser spins up, preparing to fire on them.
Chewbacca sees the laser cannon and reluctantly follows the
others. The group escapes out to the street just before
laser fire destroys the doorway.
The mercenary transport ship then tracks around and its lasers
DESTROY the passenger liner, which erupts in another fireball.
60.
Deak, Zavos, and Chewbacca catch up to Bowman. The group
runs, disappearing into an alley.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - ATRIUM WALKWAY
Four stormtroopers escort the handcuffed Captain Lacert and
the two droids out of an elevator and lead them across a
long walkway above a large observation deck atrium. The
skyline of the capital and, beyond, the vast lake can be
seen through the atrium windows.
Artoo SCREECHES. The little droid spins in a circle, with
all of his appendages, ports, and access panels popping open
wildly. All the lights on his dome flash on and
simultaneously go dark. Artoo freezes like that, motionless.
THREEPIO
Artoo-Detoo! This is no time for
your games.
Threepio kick the smaller droid.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
Artoo?
One of the stormtroopers nudges the astromech with his
blaster.
STORMTROOPER GUARD
Let's go.
Nothing. Artoo is completely dark and non-responsive.
STORMTROOPER GUARD #2
Leave him.
LACERT
You guys have your orders. We all
need to go off the roof.
(re: Artoo)
Him too.
STORMTROOPER GUARD #2
Can you move it?
Two of the guards try but Artoo's wheels are stuck. All
eyes are on the droid.
STORMTROOPER GUARD
Stupid droid's not budging.
Lacert takes the opportunity and SHOULDERS the stormtrooper
closest to him off the walkway. He plummets with a SCREAM.
Threepio panics.
61.
THREEPIO
What are you doing? Oh, no!
Lacert KICKS Stormtrooper Guard #2 over the side of the rail.
Another scream.
Artoo comes back to life and ZAPS one of the guards with his
probe arm, electrocuting him.
The last stormtrooper is shooting at Lacert, who charges
him, using Threepio as a shield.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
Stop! Stop!
Laser blasts takes off Threepio's arm and scorch his chest
plate.
Lacert SLAMS the golden droid into the stormtrooper and they
go down in a heap. Artoo SHOCKS the stormtrooper for good
measure.
LACERT
Nice job, Artoo.
THREEPIO
That was your plan? Look at me! I
could've been killed!
Artoo whistles a blue streak at Threepio while cutting loose
Lacert's handcuffs.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
That's it. If we survive this, I'm
going to make sure the Senator has
your mind wiped.
Lacert picks up a blaster rifle.
LACERT
(to Artoo)
Alright, this is your plan. Lead
on.
Artoo takes off down the walkway with Lacert after him.
Threepio, holding his severed arm, struggles to catch up.
THREEPIO
You'll be reset to factory defaults!
EXT. TATOOINE - MERCENARY ENCAMPMENT -- AFTERNOON
The camp is a flurry of activity. CRIMINALS and MERCENARIES
and busy preparing for the impending invasion of Mos Eisley.
62.
INT. TATOOINE - CENTRAL TENT
Inside the large central tent what should be a command post
instead has a party atmosphere. PIRATE CAPTAINS and GANG
LEADERS lounge about, eating and drinking. Pig-like GAMMOREAN
SENTRIES stand guard.
Darth Ikari walks through the flap of heavy fabric keeping
out the light and heat of the desert.
PIRATE CAPTAIN
Lord Ikari! Finally! Pull up a
pew.
IKARI
Spare me, Captain.
The pirate captain stiffens.
PIRATE CAPTAIN
Business first. Sure thing.
Ikari surveys the tent, disapprovingly.
IKARI
I best not have been summoned on a
fool's errand.
PIRATE CAPTAIN
Of course not, Ikari. We've scoured
this dust ball within an inch of
it's life and, the word is, what
you're after is down the ridge, holed
up in that armpit of a town. Best
chance at what you're after, least
ways.
IKARI
The word?
PIRATE CAPTAIN
There's always someone willing to
trade the right information for a
price. Or to save their own skin.
IKARI
For what we've been paying you, your
information had best be accurate,
Captain. We will brook no further
delays. And I would hate to have to
continue my search elsewhere.
The threat works its way around the tent.
GANG LEADER
My men will be ready.
63.
PIRATE CAPTAIN
I have a raiding party scouting the
spaceport for any surprises.
Shouldn't be long before they report
in. We'll get you your prize, Sith.
GANG LEADER #2
Say the word.
The Sith apprentice looks them over.
IKARI
Dawn.
EXT. TATOOINE - MERCENARY ENCAMPMENT -- EVENING
Tatooine's suns slowly set over the horizon.
Deak, Zavos, and Bowman are catching their breath, as Fixer
looks on. Chewbacca HOWLS and OVERTURNS a workbench, sending
tools and junk parts flying.
FIXER
My tools!
DEAK
Chewbacca! We'll find her. We'll
get her back.
The Wookiee howls in Deak's face. The young Jedi doesn't
entirely believe his own words.
DEAK (CONT'D)
We'll get her back.
Shiro Te enters the shop.
SHIRO TE
And what of the people of Mos Eisley,
Wookiee? Will you leave them
undefended?
They all turn to him.
DEAK
Master Shiro Te? Kiku's gone, and
the ship's destroyed.
Chewbacca growls in dissent.
SHIRO TE
I can feel young Solo. She is alive
and unharmed.
64.
ZAVOS
How do you know? And how did you
find us?
Shiro Te places a hand on Deak's shoulder.
SHIRO TE
(to Deak)
You resonate in the Force. With
practice, you'll be able to sense
her too.
Shiro Te gives Bowman a reassuring nod.
SHIRO TE (CONT'D)
I owe Master Skywalker for awakening
me to the Force and cannot sit by
and watch while his current
apprentices are in such danger now.
I will help you, Deak, as I can.
DEAK
Thank you, Master.
Deak turns to Chewbacca.
DEAK (CONT'D)
I promise you, we will find her as
soon as we can. But we have to
protect these people.
Chewie doesn't like it one bit.
Fixer hustles about his shop, trying to undo the Wookiee's
damage. Zavos stoops to pick up the parts of her combat
droid.
SHIRO TE
And you, bounty hunter? This is not
your home. You owe these people
nothing. What of you?
ZAVOS
Well, I'm not going out there alone.
So it looks like I'm stuck with you
Jedi for now, crazy as that seems.
EXT. TATOOINE - ROAD TO JABBA'S PALACE -- NIGHT
The sandstone towers of JABBA THE HUTT'S FORTRESS menace the
rocky wasteland, unchanged by time.
A landspeeder skims along the road towards the imposing
structure.
65.
INT. TATOOINE - JABBA'S PALACE - HALLWAY
The two thugs from the spaceport docking bay drag a bound
and semi-conscious Kiku Solo past a SECURITY CHECKPOINT.
INT. TATOOINE - JABBA'S PALACE - THRONE ROOM
The throne room is a crowded menagerie of aliens, criminals
and gangsters. Serving droids work the room, dispensing
drinks. Gaming tables fill much of the space. A large video
wall displays betting odds. The Hutt is dead and gone, but
business is booming.
The thugs bring Kiku into the throne room and toss her to
the floor before the dais.
THUG #1
Like we promised, boss.
Kiku shakes off the last of the effects of the stun beam,
coming to her senses. She looks at the dais and is shocked
speechless.
Sitting in a lavish throne atop the dais is the crime lord
LANDO CALRISSIAN, sixty-five and loving life. He give Kiku
a WINNING SMILE.
LANDO
(to thugs)
Get those binders off my niece.
KIKU
Lando?
Her handcuffs are removed and Kiku gets to her feet.
KIKU (CONT'D)
And my lightsaber?
Lando nods assent. The thugs give her back the utility belt
and weapons.
KIKU (CONT'D)
So you're into kidnapping now as
well? The gambling not paying off
like it used to?
LANDO
When you're the house it always pays,
kiddo.
A serving droid refills Lando's glass.
LANDO (CONT'D)
You know, your father would kill me
if anything were to happen to you in
my backyard.
66.
KIKU
So you've rescued me? And what about
my friends? The people of Tatooine?
Chewbacca?
The last one stings.
LANDO
Chewie's been taking care of himself
for a long time. I know you want to
save the galaxy and all, but sometimes
that's not the smart play. It's the
sabacc player's maxim; fold the hand,
wait for the next deal, and keep
your chips close, kid. These
mercenaries are organized and more
dangerous than you think.
KIKU
More dangerous than the Calrissian
Cartel?
Lando's henchmen don't like her attitude but he waves them
back.
LANDO
Look, I'm trying to keep you safe as
a favor to your father. I can get
you off planet.
KIKU
And just leave my friends behind? I
guess I'm just not the gambler you
are.
LANDO
I'm doing the right thing here. You
need to see that.
KIKU
You want to do the right thing?
Help us.
LANDO
It's not that simple. I have...
(re: the room)
Interests that need to be looked
after.
She's heard enough.
KIKU
Can I go? My friends need me.
Lando gives. The kid just won't listen to reason.
67.
LANDO
You've got an out here, if you change
your mind.
KIKU
(sarcasm)
Thanks. I'll think it over.
She heads for the exit, giving one of the thugs a shove.
LANDO
Let her go.
Kiku stops and turns back for a parting shot.
KIKU
Hey. Thanks for not having me freeze-
dried, Uncle Lando.
And she exits.
Show over, the room returns to normal. Lando sits back in
his throne watching the exit, lost in thought. He comes to
a decision and waves over a henchman.
LANDO
Get my ship ready.
The henchman nods and takes off on the errand.
INT. TATOOINE - JABBA'S PALACE - HALLWAY
Kiku Solo walks briskly along the empty passageway, her fist
clenched. She stops and looks back in the direction of Lando
and his offer, then to the palace exit.
With no one around, her face cracks under the strain. She
may be a Jedi but she's still a young girl too.
A group of CASINO PATRONS come around the corner.
Kiku quickly pulls it together. One of the patrons gives
her an odd look as they pass.
EXT. TATOOINE - WASTELAND -- NIGHT
Kiku Solo rides across the desert wasteland on a speeder
bike.
Past rock canyons.
And sand dunes.
She passes the burned out remains of a SETTLEMENT.
Grimly, Kiku GUNS THE THROTTLE.
68.
Her speeder bike kicks up to full speed as she races over
the sands.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - HALLWAY
Lacert and Artoo peer around the corner and spot two
stormtroopers down the hall standing guard over a door. The
guards don't notice them.
LACERT
Is that it?
Artoo whistles softly, an affirmative.
Threepio catches up to them, still carrying his arm.
THREEPIO
Captain Lacert, I must protest.
Lacert covers Threepio's mouth, cutting him off.
LACERT
Later.
(to Artoo)
We should be making for the ship and
getting reinforcements. I hope you're
right about this.
Lacert clicks over his blaster rifle to stun, steps around
the corner, and SHOOTS the guards. The stormtroopers drop
to the floor.
Artoo beeps triumphantly and rolls for the door. Lacert and
Threepio follow.
Fixer is cleaning up the damage from Chewbacca's rampage
while Zavos checks the charge on her blasters. The Wookiee
sulks mournfully. Bowman approaches Deak.
BOWMAN
Hey.
DEAK
What is it, kid?
BOWMAN
I'm sorry about your friend. She
seemed... seems nice.
DEAK
Not now okay.
Deak brushes him off.
69.
BOWMAN
Look, I'm not some dumb kid. All
right? I know I don't have your
powers and I never will. But this
is my home. These streets. This
city. So whatever sense of duty or
honor you have driving you to help
us out, that's great. But this is
all I have.
The kid's shamed him.
DEAK
I'm sorry.
BOWMAN
Yeah. Great.
Bowman gives Deak the brush off now and walks away. Zavos
takes this in.
ZAVOS
Hey, kid. You ever fired a blaster
before? Come here.
She takes Bowman aside and shows him one of her blasters.
Shiro Te puts a hand on Deak's shoulder.
SHIRO TE
I found the boy in the streets.
Orphaned. Although I suppose he
also found me.
DEAK
Master, it seems I still have a lot
to learn.
SHIRO TE
Oh, I'd say so. I helped find Bowman
a place to live and he was my guide
when I first arrived here. You know
why I let him keep that lightsaber
once he found it?
DEAK
I was wondering about that.
SHIRO TE
Stories. Tales of the Jedi. The
boy's most treasured possession, of
the little he had, was a collection
of stories about the Jedi from before
the Empire.
(MORE)
70.
SHIRO TE (CONT'D)
Even after the Empire practically
wiped us out, the Jedi still managed
to inspire an orphan boy left to
fend for himself. When he found
that lightsaber in a junk shop it
didn't seem right to take it from
him.
DEAK
I had no idea.
SHIRO TE
There are lessons everywhere, my
friend.
They are interrupted by a knock on the back door. Zavos
takes the blaster pistol back from Bowman and aims it at the
door.
ZAVOS
Who?
SHIRO TE
Relax, bounty hunter. I believe
it's a friend.
Shiro Te opens the door to Mag Reida, who's carrying a duffel
bag of equipment, weapons and armor.
MAG
I hope I'm still welcome.
Chewbacca growls.
DEAK
How'd you find us?
Kiku walks in behind the old soldier.
KIKU
I called him.
DEAK
Solo!
Chewbacca pushes past everyone and lift her up in a giant
bear hug.
KIKU
Chewie, it's okay! I'm okay. Put
me down.
Reluctantly, the Wookiee puts her down. Just as her feet
touch the floor, Deak hugs her.
71.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Not you too.
She pulls out of his embrace. There's a moment between the
two. What was that? Deak breaks the tension.
DEAK
Stay away from thermal detonators
from now on, okay?
ZAVOS
Glad you're alright, Solo. I was
worried about you.
KIKU
Thanks.
(to Mag)
Are you with us?
MAG
I believed in the Empire that kept
the peace and order throughout the
galaxy for a generation. What's
happening out there is what I fought
against. I'd like to do so again.
KIKU
That's good enough for me. I need
you all.
FIXER
Seven against an army? Good luck.
DEAK
We can hold them off for a while,
but we're out gunned and out numbered.
SHIRO TE
There's a Republic base on Beldura.
I drifted though there... after.
Chewbacca barks.
KIKU
Yeah, that is close.
ZAVOS
It's two, maybe three parsecs
depending on drift.
KIKU
So that's the plan then. We send
them a tight beam transmission and
hope they're not asleep at the comms.
72.
DEAK
Until then, we dig in and hold as
long as we can.
Mag hefts the bag on his shoulder.
MAG
I'll need to get ready.
FIXER
This way, big guy.
Mag follows the alien to the front of the shop. Kiku notices
Deak smiling warmly at her.
KIKU
What?
DEAK
Nothing.
KIKU
Then stop that.
EXT. DERRA IV -- DAY
The morning sun burns the blanket of fog away from
picturesque, emerald-green mountain highlands. On a gentle
slope sits a large, inviting COTTAGE, made of stone and wooden
beams. There are several out-buildings around it, including
a maintenance hanger and landing platform. There are also
gardens behind the house and a speeder parked out front.
Below the house, a brook runs down into a nearby lake.
An elegant SPACESHIP coasts to a landing near the cottage.
INT. HAN'S COTTAGE
The main room of the cottage has a large fireplace with a
stone hearth and cozy furniture. Sunlight filters through
the windows. Beyond is an open kitchen and a wooden staircase
leads upstairs. The place is comfortable and relaxing.
Lando Calrissian walks through the front door.
LANDO
Hello?
The business end of a blaster is pressed to the back of his
head. Lando freezes.
LANDO (CONT'D)
Whoa! Before you do anything I'll
regret, think about all the beautiful
ladies you'll be inconveniencing.
Or all the debts I'll never get to
collect.
73.
Holding the blaster to the back of Lando's head is HAN SOLO,
sixty and gray, with a suspicious glower in his eyes and a
hitch in his step.
HAN
You always were faster with your
mouth than you were on the draw.
Han mulls it over for a moment before holstering his blaster.
Lando visibly relaxes and turns to take in his old friend.
LANDO
I got the drop on plenty of people
with both. Han, you crazy
swashbuckler, you look...
Han looks tired.
LANDO (CONT'D)
Great. And I love this hideout you've
built. It's not quite the palace,
but it has it's charms.
HAN
Jabba's palace?
LANDO
Right.
(remembering)
Right. Still, you'd love what I've
done with the place. Biggest resort
casino in the Outer Rim, and it was
already the perfect base for moving
in on the Hutt's operation and making
it my own.
Han walks through the cottage toward the kitchen. Lando
follows with him.
HAN
And here I thought government would've
been perfect for you after the war.
LANDO
It was, for a while. But the risks
weren't worth the rewards. I have a
better go of it now, with fewer
middlemen. I got started as a gambler
and now I get to be the house, with
some lucrative side action.
HAN
I bet. Keeping Black Sun and the
Hutt's people in line must pay real
well. What brings you all the way
out here, Lando?
(MORE)
74.
HAN (CONT'D)
This can't just be a social call.
Not when you have a criminal empire
to run.
They walk through the kitchen and out the back door.
EXT. HAN'S COTTAGE - GARDENS
The lush gardens behind the house soak up the afternoon
sunshine. A table and chairs sit in the shade.
LANDO
It is all the way out here, isn't
it? Beautiful though.
Lando smells one of the flowers.
LANDO (CONT'D)
Alderaanian?
Han unbuckles his holster and hangs it from the back of a
chair.
HAN
Mostly. Cost almost everything the
Rebellion paid me. I wanted them
someplace they'd survive.
Lando marvels at the retired smuggler.
LANDO
Han Solo, space pirate, scourge of
the Empire, and the galaxy's most
notorious smuggler.
HAN
And still faster than you. Look,
old buddy, whatever scheme you're
cooking up, I'm not interested.
Outracing bounty hunters and fighting
empires is for kids. I don't want
to draw down on anyone else trying
to get famous off my name. Not
anymore.
Lando wanders around, inspecting the garden while Han talks.
LANDO
Derra Four is a great choice. Off
the major routes. Stayed out of the
war. Nice and quiet. I might just
retire here one day.
He gazes down at the lake below the cabin.
75.
LANDO (CONT'D)
And what a great view.
HAN
With almost no uninvited quests.
LANDO
Whom you've still not offered a drink.
Han can't help it any longer and breaks into a grin.
HAN
Ah, hell.
INT. HAN'S COTTAGE
Han is pouring them each a drink. They clink glasses and
Lando slugs his back.
HAN
So what is it? You know Chewie is
off right now with the Falcon.
LANDO
I know. Your daughter, by the way,
shares your winning touch. She's
about to make a lot of new friends.
Han drinks from his glass.
HAN
Luke's training her to take care of
herself.
Lando raises an eyebrow. Han sees he's serious.
HAN (CONT'D)
Where is she?
LANDO
Although I'm not sure if she inherited
her temper from Leia or Chewbacca.
HAN
Lando, tell me where she is.
LANDO
All right, all right. That's why
I'm here. Don't worry. She's not
in danger yet, or shouldn't be.
We've got some time. You might want
that blaster though.
After hours and hours, the Republic delegation is visibly
exhausted.
76.
The hostages sit on the floor, nerves frayed and half awake.
The stormtrooper guards are fresh and alert, unwavering.
Luke watches everything calmly. Sandage paces around the
conference table, crossing behind Leia. She stands to face
him, unintimidated by his height.
SANDAGE
You're running out of time and I'm
running out of patience, Senator.
LEIA
I gave in to your demands, Governor.
It'll take time for the Republic to
take action. Even you must realize
that.
LUKE
Meanwhile, why don't you allow these
people some rest. I'm sure your
guards could show them to some rooms.
Sandage fades a little.
SANDAGE
Some rest. Show them to their rooms.
He shakes off the effects of the Jedi mind trick, to Luke's
surprise.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
No. A nice try, Jedi. But you'll
find I'm not so easily swayed as
others.
Luke glances over at the stormtrooper holding his lightsabers
and then to Leia. She makes a subtle gesture for him to be
patient.
LEIA
You're right, governor. This has
gone on long enough.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - SECURITY OFFICE
Captain Lacert securely binds two stunned stormtroopers to
each other as C-3PO watches R2-D2 jack into a computer
terminal in the tiny security office.
THREEPIO
I don't know what's gotten into your
head, but they're sure to catch us
here.
Artoo beeps and whistles, annoyed, as he accesses the computer
systems.
77.
THREEPIO (CONT'D)
I will not pipe down. Look what
you've done to me!
Threepio uses his severed arm to hit Artoo on the dome.
LACERT
Relax, Threepio. The little guy's
gotten us this far. Let's see what
he's got planned. Here, let me see
that.
Lacert inspects the golden droid's arm.
LACERT (CONT'D)
Sorry, but I don't think I can
reattach this. You'll need a
mechanic.
THREEPIO
Of course I'll need a mechanic.
Artoo whistles a jaunty tune as he works away.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The Star Destroyers between Taanab and its moons are still
pointed at each other. Shuttles and TIE Interceptors dart
around everywhere. In the middle of it all is the lone
Republic cruiser, with its X-wing fighter escort.
A TIE Interceptor whizzes past Wedge, just barely missing
him.
WEDGE
That was too close. Stay alert,
Rogue Squadron.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The dozen X-wings fall into formation around the cruiser;
above, fore, and aft, in groups of four fighters each.
Kiku is alone on the balcony above Fixer's garage, staring
up at the night sky pensively. She pulls her poncho tight
around her shoulders, a shield against the cold night air
but also for her fears. She closes her eyes, concentrating.
KIKU
Mother.
(MORE)
78.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I've been doing everything I thought
you or Uncle Luke would expect of me
but now I just don't know. Should I
have taken Lando's offer? Should we
try to run? How can we save all
these people?
She listens but there's no reply.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I'm afraid we might not make it.
That I might not.
Deak comes out onto the balcony. He hasn't overheard her
but he stops for a moment, watching.
DEAK
Hey, Solo.
She turns.
KIKU
Sneaking around?
DEAK
No. I just came to check on you.
It's getting late.
(correcting himself)
Early. The others think we should
get going.
KIKU
Yeah. Just give me a moment to get
it together, okay?
He wants to reach over and touch her, but doesn't.
DEAK
Yeah, sure. Take your time.
The young Jedi look at each other. With no one else around,
all the fear and anxiety creep in, along with something else.
There's a connection between them they both feel. And then
the moment is gone.
DEAK (CONT'D)
I'll tell everyone to get ready.
KIKU
Yeah, okay.
Deak starts back downstairs.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Deak?
79.
He stops.
DEAK
Yeah?
KIKU
Thanks for coming after me.
DEAK
Didn't you see what the old Wookiee
did to that assassin droid?
Completely worth it.
He goes inside, downstairs. She smiles.
The group is preparing for battle, each in their own way, as
Deak comes down from the outside. Mag is wearing a battle-
scarred suit of blue and white ARC TROOPER ARMOR, helmet in
hand, and has a blaster rifle slung across his back.
DEAK
How old is that?
MAG
This was state-of-the-art standard
issue, Jedi. Kept my father alive
all through the Clone Wars. I wasn't
so lucky as to keep my armor when I
mustered out.
Mag dons the helmet and adjusts the fit, preening just a
little. Deak shakes his head.
DEAK
Old stormtroopers. Master Luke won't
believe this.
Chewbacca laughs.
Zavos is toying with the head of her combat droid. She uses
a small tool to open an access panel on the back and carefully
extract the droid's brain. The bounty hunter tucks the droid
brain into a pouch on her belt and hands the combat droid's
empty head to Fixer.
ZAVOS
Here. Maybe you can scrap it.
Fixer tosses the head into a box of spare parts. Kiku walks
down the stairs.
FIXER
We'll be lucky if Jawas aren't
scrapping what's left of us.
80.
KIKU
We'll be okay, Fix. Trust me.
SHIRO TE
Trust in the Force.
KIKU
We do.
Chewbacca howls in agreement.
ZAVOS
Are we ready?
MAG
Check.
Deak looks to Kiku. She gives him a grin.
DEAK
Yeah, we're ready.
The group, minus Fixer, begins to file out the shop's back
entrance.
ZAVOS
Hang on.
She takes a blaster from the holster on Mag's hip and hands
it to Bowman.
MAG
Hey!
ZAVOS
Here, kid. Keep this close and
remember what I said.
(to Mag)
Relax. You've got plenty.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY -- MORNING
Predawn light fills the early morning sky. The seven
companions stand together atop a building on the edge of
town, looking up at the distant mercenary encampment on the
ridge. Three Jedi. A Wookiee. A bounty hunter. A
stormtrooper. And a young boy. Seven against an army.
One of Tatooine's suns breaks over the horizon.
SHIRO TE
That's first dawn.
KIKU
We're ready.
81.
ZAVOS
My mother was right.
DEAK
About what?
ZAVOS
I'm coming to a bad end.
EXT. TATOOINE - MERCENARY ENCAMPMENT
Atop the ridge, landspeeders, floating skiffs, and flying
attack craft RUMBLE to life. There are several MILITARY
LANDSPEEDERS, heavily armed, with open cockpits and bulky
lower sections.
The MERCENARY BAND approaches Mos Eisley.
Artoo-Detoo, still plugged into the computer terminal,
whistles and chirps excitedly.
THREEPIO
Shut who up?
LACERT
What's he saying?
THREEPIO
He says "That'll shut you up", and
keeps repeating, well, something I
won't repeat. If you get my meaning,
sir.
Artoo whistles an exclamation.
INT. TAANAB - RESTAURANT
In a crowded restaurant, everyone is watching a holographic
recording of Moff Sandage from the capital building.
SANDAGE
The people of Taanab have been loyal
subjects of the Empire for fifty
years. They yearn to be controlled,
and they will do as they're told.
Once I've consolidated power, none
will dare challenge me.
INTERCUT SANDAGE HOLOGRAM
The recording loops and starts playing over again in a public
square. Pedestrians watch. Everyone watches.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
They yearn to be controlled,
82.
A government office.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
And they will do as they're told.
A family around the dinner table.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Will do as they're told.
A tavern.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Subjects of the Empire...
The capital building security office, where Captain Lacert
is laughing uncontrollably.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Do as they're told...
INT. CANOPUS' STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE
Moff Canopus watches the hologram play, his fists clenched
in anger.
SANDAGE
None will dare challenge me.
CANOPUS
We'll see about that. Commander!
A nearby officer snaps to attention.
COMMANDER
Yes, sir?
CANOPUS
Prepare to open fire on Governor
Sandage's fleet on my command. And
open a channel to Moff Galley. It's
time we talked.
COMMANDER
Yes, sir.
All eyes are watching the hologram projected onto the
conference table. Governor Sandage is simmering with rage.
Leia gives him a satisfied grin. An officer runs into the
room
OFFICER
Moff Sandage, there's a situation...
83.
The officer sees the hologram, then Sandage's glower, and
pulls up in his tracks.
SANDAGE
(hologram)
None will dare challenge me.
Moff Sandage angrily turns off the projection.
LEIA
You were saying, Governor?
SANDAGE
Very clever, Senator. But you'll
find I can be clever too.
He presses a control on the table, opening a commlink channel.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
Captain Orrell?
INT. SANDAGE'S COMMAND STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE
CAPTAIN ORRELL addresses Governor Sandage on a viewscreen.
ORRELL
Yes, Governor?
Governor Sandage glares at Leia.
SANDAGE
Target the Republic cruiser and fire
at will.
Luke and Leia react with horror.
Captain Orrell turns to the bridge gunnery crew.
ORRELL
Target that ship and fire.
BRIDGE GUNNER
Yes, sir.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Brilliant flashes of green laser fire hit the Republic cruiser
and it EXPLODES in a massive fireball.
Wedge shields his eyes from the glare and dives his fighter
into an evasive maneuver.
84.
WEDGE
Rogue Two, Rogue Three, stay on me!
The rest of you break into flight
groups and watch yourselves!
(to himself)
I hope you're still down there, Luke.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Space around the dodging X-wings erupts into chaos, with
Imperial ships opening fire on each other.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY
Mercenary vehicles storm the city, OPENING FIRE as soon as
they're within range. Sandstone buildings explode into
rubble.
A small spaceship attempts to take off from a docking bay at
the spaceport. Mercenary attack craft shoot it down. The
burning spaceship CRASHES into a building and both go up in
flames.
Kiku's group runs down the street, towards the fighting.
Fleeing citizens run in the opposite direction. Kiku stops
at an intersection.
KIKU
We need to get to that control tower.
SHIRO TE
You go. We will help get as many as
we can to safety.
MAG
(re: Chewbacca)
The big guy and I will hold them off
you.
Chewbacca barks an affirmative.
ZAVOS
(in Huttese)
Boska shado.
KIKU
Okay.
As they're splitting up, Deak stops Bowman.
DEAK
Hey, kid. Stick to getting people
indoors. No heroics. Got it?
Bowman give him a brave smile, but the kid's scared.
85.
BOWMAN
You either.
Deak nods and they go.
Four of the mercenaries' military landspeeders enter the
marketplace, firing laser blasts which destroy booths and
tents, setting the market ablaze.
The bulky lower sections of each landspeeder UNFOLD, raising
the upper sections above street level on three mechanical
legs per machine. These TRIPED WALKERS are mobile gun
platforms, perfect for urban combat.
One Triped Walker continues to unleash laser fire on the
marketplace, destroying everything.
The other three machines walk off, spreading devastation.
A skiff bearing a laughing pirate captain flies overhead.
The spaceport control tower rises above docking bays. The
sounds of the battle fill the air. Four bandits spot Kiku
and Deak. They open fire.
The Jedi deflect the shots with their lightsabers back at
the bandits as they run toward them. Two are hit and fall.
Kiku and Deak make short work of the other two. Deak points
out the tower entrance.
DEAK
There!
Kiku spares a glance at the fallen bandits then to the tower
entrance.
KIKU
Good. Let's see if we can get this
over with.
They run into the tower.
Darth Ikari strides purposefully through the city. He's a
guided missile.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - ROOFTOP
Chewbacca and Mag climb a fire escape to the roof of a
building.
86.
They run to the far side of the roof, setting up sniper
positions, and open fire at the mercenaries on the street
below.
At the bottom of the same fire escape, three mercenaries
scale up after them.
Then Zavos is there. She opens fire with both blasters,
shooting them all from behind. One mercenary falls to the
street.
ZAVOS
Not today, boys.
Mercenaries are looting through the wreckage, looking for
anything of value. A Triped Walker is visible just over the
tops of the buildings, the next street over.
Shiro Te runs into the bazaar, with two civilians in tow.
He motions for them to keep running.
SHIRO TE
Go! Go!
They flee. But the alien Jedi is spotted.
The mercenaries open fire on him. As they do, Shiro Te
GESTURES and debris flies up into the air, deflecting or
absorbing the shots like so many shields. With a second
wave of his hands, the debris becomes Force directed missiles,
flying at the mercenaries. They fall under the hurricane of
shrapnel.
Shiro Te has only a moment to catch his breath before a Triped
Walker comes around the corner, bearing down on him.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - SPACEPORT TOWER - STAIRWELL
Kiku follows Deak up the windowed stairwell, two steps at a
time. She stops though when something outside catches her
eye.
A group of TERRIFIED CHILDREN are huddled in an alley. Bowman
is there too. He sees the children.
BOWMAN
Hey, it's okay. Hi there.
The kids see him but they're too scared to come out. He
approaches slowly.
87.
BOWMAN (CONT'D)
Hey, it's okay. I'm going to take
you somewhere safe, all right?
Through the window, Kiku watches Bowman go into the alley
for the children. But then she notices movement on the
street.
The black shape of Darth Ikari.
Kiku Solo goes pale.
KIKU
What is that?
BELOW, Ikari spies Bowman and the children.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Oh no. Oh no.
Deak comes back down the stairwell for her. From where Deak
is, he can't see what she's looking at down below.
DEAK
Kiku, do you feel that? Like a
sickness?
Kiku realizes that the figure in black is a Sith. And that
they're too far away, too far up the stairwell to get there
in time.
KIKU
Oh no. Bowman, run!
In the alley, Darth Ikari's shadow spreads across the wall
behind Bowman. The children see the Sith Apprentice and
flee in terror. But there's nowhere to go. The alley is a
dead end. They cower there. Bowman turns around.
Ikari smiles, calm and cold.
IKARI
You're not who I'm after.
Bowman raises his blaster and fires, but the shot goes wide.
BOWMAN
Stay away from them.
Ikari ignites his lightsaber. The blade glows red. Bowman's
eyes go wide with fascination and terror. Ikari waves his
hand and the blaster is RIPPED from Bowman's grip.
88.
IKARI
(amused)
I can feel the longing within you.
Do you want to know what it's like,
child, to touch the Force?
Shaking his head, Bowman takes the scavenged lightsaber from
his belt, spares a quick glance back at the children, and
grimly sets his feet.
BOWMAN
I said, leave them alone.
Bowman thumbs his lightsaber to life. The ancient weapon
works.
Ikari chuckles.
IKARI
Feel the caress of the Dark Side.
Ikari closes his free hand into a fist. Bowman tries to
move but he's frozen in an invisible grip. Slowly, Bowman
is lifted up off the ground by the Force. The scavenged
lightsaber drops from his hand and its blade vanishes. The
boy struggles in vain.
Darth Ikari brings down his lightsaber in a flashing red arc
of death.
Side by side, the two young Jedi bear witness helplessly.
KIKU
No!
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
A three sided space battle rages, with twelve tiny X-wings
caught in the middle of the swarming Imperial ships.
Two TIE Interceptors swoop down behind Rogue Six. Their
lasers flash and score a direct hit.
INT. ROGUE SIX'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
ROGUE SIX
Wedge, watch out for that Star
Destroyer!
WEDGE
(via comlink)
Behind you, Six!
Rogue Six's cockpit explodes around him.
89.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The TIE Interceptors fly through the expanding fireball that
was Rogue Six.
Luke, Leia and the hostages are horrified at the destruction
of the Republic cruiser. Sandage smirks with grim
satisfaction.
SANDAGE
That is the price for your treachery,
Senator.
Sandage turns to address one of his officers.
SANDAGE (CONT'D)
I need to go deal with Canopus and
Galley directly now. I have no
further use for them.
(re: the hostages)
Execute them all.
LEIA
No!
The hidden blaster up Leia's sleeve pops out into her hand
and she fires off two quick shots, dropping the stormtroopers
closest to the governor. Sandage pulls once of his officers
to him as a shield.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Luke!
Luke reaches out with the Force. His lightsabers tear from
the grip of the stormtrooper holding them and fly across the
room.
Luke catches his and snaps the green energy weapon to life.
Leia catches Darth Vader's lightsaber and ignites its familiar
red blade.
LUKE
Your rule did not have to end this
way, Governor.
SANDAGE
Kill them!
Stormtroopers open fire on Luke and Leia, who deflect the
blasts back at them.
Luke spots a squad of stormtroopers drawing down on the
panicking hostages.
90.
With a wave of his hand, the Force RIPS the conference table
out of the floor and it's sent spinning across the room.
Laser fire kills two of the delegates before the upended
table can shield the rest of them.
Sandage, flanked by a stormtrooper escort is making for the
elevators.
LEIA
He's getting away!
With a spinning maneuver, Luke cuts down three stormtroopers.
Then he sees Leia take off after Sandage.
LUKE
Leia!
Luke PUSHES one stormtrooper into some others, knocking them
down, as he runs toward his sister. Leia deflects more blasts
back at the shooters.
Sandage, shielded by his guards, steps onto the waiting
elevator. He spies Leia with hatred.
SANDAGE
Here.
Sandage takes the blaster rifle from one of his guards and
fires a shot at Leia's head.
Simultaneously, Luke and Leia block the shot. Their red and
green blades crossing.
Sandage grimaces, stepping backwards onto the waiting
elevator.
Luke and Leia are stuck fending off stormtroopers, defending
the Republic delegation, as the elevator doors close.
LUKE
He's getting away.
LEIA
Not for long!
Leia deflects a laser blast back into the faceplate of a
stormtrooper.
The Triped Walker crushes a merchant booth under a mechanical
foot as it bears down on the unarmed Shiro Te. The alien
Jedi focuses as the walker's guns rotate toward him. In the
gun platform atop the walker, mercenaries grin gleefully at
their prey.
91.
Shiro Te closes his eyes briefly. The walker's guns hum,
about to fire. The Jedi's eyes open.
He uses the Force to RIP the forward leg off the machine at
the joint, just as the guns fire. The crippled walker topples
over, missing it's target, and it explodes on impact.
Shiro Te dusts off his hands and goes looking for more
trouble.
Kiku and Deak are in shock.
KIKU
The Sith.
DEAK
It couldn't be. Master Skywalker
defeated the Sith.
KIKU
Then who just killed Bowman?
Deak darkens.
DEAK
I don't know, but I can feel its
evil too. I promise you we'll find
out. First, we have a job to do.
KIKU
I'm going down there.
Deak stops her.
DEAK
Kiku! We need to get that signal to
the Republic.
She hates this.
DEAK (CONT'D)
We do this and then we go after him.
Kiku nods.
KIKU
Fast.
They take off up the stairs as fast as they're able.
Darth Ikari looks up at the spaceport tower, then to the
entrance. He crosses over purposefully and enters the tower.
92.
Chewbacca and Zavos dodge laser blasts as they're chased by
a trio of mercenaries. Zavos fires wildly behind her as
they run.
From above, Mag Reida leans over the edge of a rooftop and
shoots their pursuers with three well timed shots.
Chewie and Zavos pull up. Zavos gives Mag a grateful salute.
Mag delivers a return salute with Imperial crispness, before
he disappears from the edge, off to hunt fresh targets.
Zavos and Chewie take cover with their backs to a wall.
A pirate skiff flies past them overhead.
Chewbacca barks at length, gesticulating with his paws.
ZAVOS
I have no idea what you're saying.
Chewbacca, frustrated, repeats himself. She still doesn't
get it.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
The Jedi? Are you hungry? I don't
speak Wookiee.
Shaking his head, Chewbacca gives up and runs off. Zavos
watches him go.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
Crazy Wookiee.
She's about to follow him but then spies two aliens, UGLY
and UGLIER, kicking in a door. She goes after them instead.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - KITCHEN
The two aliens are ransacking the kitchen, while an OLD WOMAN
and CHILD huddle on the floor.
OLD WOMAN
Please, we have nothing!
Ugly lunges for the old woman, but a blaster shot takes him
down. Uglier turns around, surprised. Zavos is standing in
the doorway, pistols drawn.
ZAVOS
You know, if there weren't so many
of you...
She recognizes Uglier.
93.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
Wait a minute. Do I know you?
Uglier raises his hands, protesting in Huttese.
UGLIER
Nobata! Hagwa keepuna!
Zavos puts a name to the face.
ZAVOS
Sadoora! How are you?
Uglier doubles his protestations.
UGLIER
No! No!
Zavos shoots him dead. The woman clutches the child tighter.
Zavos leans in and picks up a piece of fruit from the floor.
ZAVOS
My payment.
She takes a bite of the fruit and leaves the woman and child
to deal with the bodies of Ugly and Uglier.
The city is a chaotic mess. Columns of smoke rise up in the
air and those who can are fleeing for the desert. Mercenary
vehicles patrol the air.
Luke and Leia clear the room of the last of Sandage's
troopers.
Luke closes down his lightsaber with a look around.
LUKE
That's the last of them.
LEIA
Not quite.
She picks up the discarded communicator and activates it.
LEIA (CONT'D)
Artoo?
Artoo's whistled reply crackles though.
LEIA (CONT'D)
How long before we should expect
some help?
94.
Another whistle.
LEIA (CONT'D)
I hope that means soon.
She drops the communicator and turns her attention to the
Republic delegation. Only a few have been wounded or worse,
but still too many. Luke consoles her.
LUKE
We were only two against many.
She shakes it off.
LEIA
I know. Help me get them to the
shuttle, then I want Sandage.
LUKE
Of course.
Leia hands her blaster over to a delegate. The siblings
then tend to the wounded as best they can.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Tiny TIE Interceptors explode like fireworks around two large
Star Destroyers, which are firing away at each other from
close range.
The energy shields of one of the Star Destroyers give out,
opening it to a volley of laser blasts. Multiple explosions
wrack the ship's hull as it begins to drift off course.
Another volley and the ship explodes.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - SPACEPORT TOWER - OBSERVATION
DECK
The tower's windowed main platform houses banks of elevators,
offices, and service bays with a few parked speeders. One
end of the platform is a balcony that's open to the desert
sky.
Deak and Kiku enter from the stairwell and look around.
KIKU
Where is?
Deak spots their destination, an elevator that leads up
further, to the control room.
DEAK
There!
Kiku goes for it but stops when she realizes Deak isn't going
with her.
95.
KIKU
What are you doing?
DEAK
Buying you time.
KIKU
Now you're serious? That wasn't
just another space pirate back there.
I can feel the anger. The hatred.
Let's do this together, please.
Deak takes her by the hand and pulls her close, maybe to
kiss her. Their foreheads touch instead.
DEAK
Don't argue with me, Solo. Send the
transmission. The faster the Republic
gets here, the fewer people have to
die.
She knows he's right.
KIKU
No.
DEAK
Every time you skipped out to go
flying around the galaxy, you do
know I was busy training with Master
Skywalker, right? Go send the
transmission. I'll be waiting for
you right here.
She hesitates for a second. What is there to say? Then she
runs for the elevator.
Deak watches her go, then turns around to face the stairwell
door. He cracks his knuckles and waits.
EXT. TATOOINE - ARROYO
Chewbacca runs through the sand, past Deak's A-wing, toward
the waiting Millennium Falcon.
The Wookiee enter the cockpit, settles into the pilot's chair,
and begins firing up the engines.
DECK
Deak Coll stands alone, watching the stairwell door.
It opens and Darth Ikari calmly enters.
96.
IKARI
Surprised, Jedi? Did you think you
had the galaxy to yourselves? That
we had left it bereft of our light?
Deak steels himself.
DEAK
The Dark Side is a shadow. And all
I see is a killer.
IKARI
You Jedi are more perceptive than I
imagined. Come, let me show you how
right you are.
Ikari ignites his lightsaber. Deak raises his glowing blade
in a defensive stance. There's a beat. Ikari smiles.
They charge each other.
INT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - SPACEPORT TOWER - CONTROL ROOM
Kiku operates the communications array at a bank of computer
terminals.
KIKU
Attention Beldura Station, this is
Jedi Knight Kiku Solo. Come in.
Beldura Station, respond.
There's a moment of comm static. Nothing. Desperate, she
tries again.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Beldura Station, respond.
Kiku drops, defeated. Then...
REPUBLIC OFFICER
(via comm)
Hello, Jedi Solo. This is a secure
channel. Please confirm your
clearance level.
Kiku beams with relief.
KIKU
Listen. I'm Kiku Solo, daughter of
Senator Leia Solo. How else would I
have this channel? I need a frigate
or a carrier or a flight of X-wings,
anything, to assist with a planetary
civilian rescue.
97.
REPUBLIC OFFICER
(via comm)
I repeat...
KIKU
Then send them to arrest me!
Kiku turns the signal and noise all the way up on the
transmission and locks it on, drowning out the voice on the
other end with an electronic scream.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Come get us.
The Millennium Falcon flies out of the twin suns' glare,
swooping down on the city.
The freighter's cannons strafe three mercenary ships,
destroying them.
The Falcon then loops around for another pass.
Chewbacca howls with satisfaction.
DECK
Deak and Ikari are locked together in battle. Their
lightsabers spark and flash violently. Ikari presses the
attack, but Deak deftly parries every blow.
IKARI
I've trained for this, Jedi.
Prepared. You are no match for me.
DEAK
I'm not impressed.
Deak counterattacks. His blade gets inside Ikari's defenses.
The Sith has to duck, narrowing avoiding a blow aimed to
take his head off. Their swords clash. Ikari pushes off
Deak and backflips away, buying some breathing room.
DEAK (CONT'D)
Not at all.
The young Jedi pressed forward. They exchange blows. Ikari's
sword flashes quickly. It's everything Deak can do to counter
him. Ikari forces him to back pedal.
98.
IKARI
You're closed off from the true power
of the Force. But I can feel all of
it. This is no contest.
A piece of machinery flies from one of the service bays,
aimed for Deak's back. He turns and cuts it apart at the
last moment, barely avoiding a collision.
Ikari sees an opening and lunges viciously. Deak spins and
deflects the blow. Ikari growls and lunges again.
They duel back and forth across the platform. Deak narrowly
misses taking off Ikari's sword arm. Ikari counters with a
swipe at the Jedi's legs.
Deak vaults out of the way, delivering a kick to his black
clad opponent that knocks Ikari down, separating the duelists.
Deak breathes hard, the duel's intensity is getting to him.
Wind whips at his back. Behind him is blue sky.
He edges toward his downed opponent.
DEAK
You underestimate me.
IKARI
I've been taking your measure, Jedi,
and found you lacking.
Ikari stands.
IKARI (CONT'D)
You think the Force flows through
you, but I bend it to my will. I
make it answer my commands.
Deak feel invisible pressure PUSHING him backwards. He digs
in his heels, resisting.
Ikari lunges a final time and they trade blows furiously.
Deak parries the attacks but he is inexorably pushed back
toward the edge of the balcony. His boots mark the floor.
Deak spares a glance behind him, over the edge. He's losing
now, barely keeping pace with Ikari's flashing lightsaber.
With a twisting move, Ikari knocks Deak's weapon aside, almost
out of his grip, leaving him wide open.
Ikari kicks the momentarily defenseless Jedi off the balcony.
Deak tumbles backward into the air.
Kiku exits the elevator just in time to watch Deak plummet
out of view.
99.
KIKU
No!
Ikari turns on her with a smile.
Shiro Te is in the middle of a three-on-one brawl. He fights
his disarmed opponents with a spinning martial arts style,
almost gracefully.
One of the mercenaries bends over to pick up his blaster,
but Shiro Te PUSHES it far down the street with the Force.
The Jedi is a flurry of arms and legs, blocking their punches.
It's no contest and he's guickly the only one left standing.
Shiro Te surveys his handiwork and then spots Mag, several
blocks down.
AT THE END OF THE STREET, the old soldier fires his blaster
rifle at a pair of fleeing bandits. He hits one but the
other gets away around a corner.
Mag chases the bandit around the corner and practically runs
into two waiting Triped Walkers.
He pulls up as the walkers train their guns on him.
TRIPED DRIVER
Drop it!
Mag sets down his rifle. He looks behind him, thinking maybe
he can make a break for it, but any escape is cut off by a
hovering skiff, bearing a half dozen armed mercenaries. The
Pirate Captain is among them.
PIRATE CAPTAIN
You're about to make us all very
rich. Grab him.
They roughly handcuff Mag and manhandle him aboard the skiff.
The captain removes Mag's helmet and eyes him with
satisfaction.
PIRATE CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
All this for one old man.
Mag's rebuttal is cut off by a blow to the back of his head,
knocking him unconscious.
FAR AWAY, too far to help, Shiro Te watches the skiff drift
away, flanked by the walkers, with their prisoner.
100.
DECK
Darth Ikari and Kiku Solo face each other on opposite sides
of the observation deck.
IKARI
You Jedi. You egotistical,
reprehensible, Jedi. The Sith are
here - the Sith will always be here -
to put you in your place. We are
the ones who bring balance to the
Force. We are the ones who finally,
after eons of conflict, succeeded in
stomping out your pestilence and
brought order to the galaxy.
Kiku is furious.
KIKU
Order? All you bring is death and
suffering.
IKARI
Necessary tools.
He stalks toward her. The lightsaber hums in his hand.
IKARI (CONT'D)
Lord Sidious and Lord Vader fulfilled
the prophecy. Always two there are;
always two there shall be. The Sith
and the Jedi. Master and apprentice.
And yet you insist on your flowering,
delicate, precious Jedi Order. Well,
no longer.
Kiku ignites her lightsaber and raises it.
IKARI (CONT'D)
My master is going to upend the galaxy
once and for all. Our power will be
a tidal wave. But I'm sure he'll
understand if I get started with
you.
Kiku sets her feet, anticipating his attack. She's
overmatched, but determined to stand her ground.
KIKU
You're wrong.
(grimly)
The Force is my ally.
IKARI
(growls)
Jedi.
101.
He LEAPS at her.
And a LASER BLAST hits him from behind.
Kiku sidesteps as Darth Ikari is knocked out the air and
ROLLS, limp, across the floor with a SMOKING HOLE in his
back.
Stunned, Kiku spares Ikari a glance. He's not moving. She
WHEELS toward the source of the blaster shot, her lightsaber
at the ready, and sees...
Han Solo, with his blaster in hand. He grins.
HAN
Always shoot first, kid.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Two TIE interceptors chase down a third and destroy it. The
battle rages everywhere, Imperial ship against Imperial ship.
Above one of the moons, two Star Destroyers bombard the
surface, laying waste to it. Two more of the giant ships
turn on one of the bombadiers, pummeling it with concussive
laser blasts. The Star Destroyer slowly turns, trying to
angle its guns on the attackers but they break through its
shields and destroy it. The internal skeleton of the wedge-
shaped ship is lit up by a series of explosions before it
explodes in a fireball.
Juking and dodging for their lives, are the nine remaining X-
wings of Rogue Squadron. Eight, as one of the Republic
starfighters fails to elude the ships on its tail.
Wedge frantically guides his fighter through a series of
evasive maneuvers.
WEDGE
We're getting chewed up the longer
we stay here. Break for space,
Rogues. We can't do anything for
our people on the surface.
Rogue Two aims his X-wing for a gap between two of the large
Imperial ships.
ROGUE TWO
Roger that, Lead.
102.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
At the edge of the pitched battle, a REPUBLIC FLEET drops
out of hyperspace. Cruisers, dreadnoughts, frigates,
squadrons of starfighters, and a large command carrier all
bear down on the Imperial ships.
Rogue Two turns toward the friendly ships.
ROGUE TWO
Yahoo! It's about time!
A squadron of Republic A-wings speed past Rogue Two's cockpit,
diving into the fight.
INT. CANOPUS' STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE
Moff Canopus' face is a tight grimace as he watches the
Republic fleet enter the fray. He scoffs.
CANOPUS
Rebels. Probably here to finish the
job Sandage started.
A uniformed lieutenant hurries over.
LIEUTENANT
Excuse me, sir. The Rebels...
Canopus gazes hard at the battle outside his ship.
CANOPUS
I think we can all see them out there.
LIEUTENANT
Yes, sir. But they're hailing us.
Canopus, bewildered, turns to look at the junior officer.
INT. REPUBLIC COMMAND SHIP - BRIDGE
The REPUBLIC ADMIRAL, gray and stern, with a close trimmed
beard, temples his fingers together as he watches the battle
unfold from his command chair.
ADMIRAL
Moff Galley. Moff Canopus. This is
the Republic carrier Independence.
We understand that you're experiencing
some internal difficulties, and would
like to offer our assistance.
A junior officer gives the Admiral an "all-clear" sign.
103.
ADMIRAL (CONT'D)
Please have any ships which need
assistance begin broadcasting the
transponder code we've just sent
you, and switch your comms to this
frequency.
The admiral watches a large threat board with satisfaction
as almost half of the Imperial ships slowly change color on
the display to match the Republic fleet.
ADMIRAL (CONT'D)
Welcome to the Republic, gentlemen.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The Republic ships close in on Sandage's Imperial forces,
weeding them out and ignoring the now-friendly Imperial ships.
What was a losing three-sided battle begins to turn rapidly
as new alliances form.
Wedge watches as Republic cruisers come to the aid of a
damaged Star Destroyer, buying the wounded ship time to exit
the battle. TIE interceptors, X-wings, A-wings, and B-wings
all fly in combat together, united against Sandage's
outmatched forces.
WEDGE
Arfive, are you recording this? I
think now I've finally seen it all.
EXT. WEDGE'S X-WING FIGHTER
Behind the pilot, his astromech droid chips and whistles the
affirmative.
Artoo-Detoo unplugs from the computer terminal and whistles
sharply at Threepio and Captain Lacert.
THREEPIO
Oh, so now we're leaving? Where to
this time?
LACERT
Come on.
Lacert and Artoo leave the security office. The mangled
golden protocol droid hustles after them, carrying his arm.
THREEPIO
This is the last time. Do you hear
me, you obstinate garbage can!
104.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - ELEVATOR
Luke and Leia catch their breath as the elevator carries
them upward.
LUKE
So that was your plan?
LEIA
No matter how smart they are, they're
always blinded by the power. Sandage
is no different - a lot more dangerous -
but no different than any number of
a hundred politicians. Too greedy
to think those beneath him matter.
Luke shakes his head, thinking.
LUKE
Artoo.
LEIA
I know. But if I knew even half of
the things Artoo did, or knew what
he's been up to or gotten into over
the years, do you think I'd ever let
him anywhere near me? That's the
most dangerous little droid in the
galaxy.
LUKE
Good point.
Leia looks down at Vader's lightsaber in her hand. Luke
sees.
LUKE (CONT'D)
It's just a weapon. A tool.
LEIA
I know that. And it was a very long
time ago. I want to forgive him,
but my own father tortured me on
that Death Star. He tortured Han.
LUKE
That was Darth Vader, not Anakin
Skywalker. He was our father.
LEIA
I know what you said about the Dark
Side, but it's still hard sometimes.
Luke sees the old pain in her eyes.
LUKE
I know. Here.
105.
He takes Vader's saber from her and offers her his own.
LEIA
Thanks, Luke. Thanks for coming
after me, and for teaching Kiku.
For understanding.
The siblings embrace. Luke gently kisses her forehead.
LUKE
Are you ready?
Leia exhales. She's fresh. Recharged.
LEIA
Absolutely.
They ignite their lightsabers as the elevator comes to a
stop. There's just enough time to exchange a quick nod before
the elevator doors open.
DECK
Kiku Solo rushes into her father's arms.
KIKU
Dad!
They embrace warmly. Han spins his daughter around.
KIKU (CONT'D)
How did you get here? How did you
know?
Han places his hands on her shoulders.
HAN
Lando.
KIKU
Really?
Han is focused on Ikari, who's motionless across the room.
He moves past his daughter.
HAN
Sure. He's more than just some an
old pirate.
Han draws and fires another shot into Ikari's back. Kiku
winces.
HAN (CONT'D)
Evil Jedi. I've had enough of evil
Jedi.
106.
Behind them, the Millennium Falcon drops into view. The old
freighter hovers at the edge of the balcony. From inside
the cockpit, Chewbacca howls and waves at them.
Han offers Kiku his hand as the ship's boarding ramp lowers.
HAN (CONT'D)
Come on, kid. Let's get out of here.
They start for the ship, when Kiku remembers.
KIKU
Deak! Oh, Dad. He went over the
side. We have to find him.
Han pulls his daughter up the ramp.
HAN
You bet.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - SPACEPORT TOWER
Hanging from a guy wire, Deak looks up at the Falcon. He
winces in pain. Below him, the ground is a long way down.
DEAK
Too far to jump.
Above, the Falcon flies away from the spaceport tower. He
laughs, but the pain is too much.
DEAK (CONT'D)
Kiku, can you hear me? Kiku. Shiro
Te.
Deak's grip is slipping. Below him, off to the side a bit,
are several awnings and below them, a hay cart.
The wounded Jedi swings his body in a desperate effort and
lets go of the cable. He hits the first awning and tears
through it, and a few more, before landing in the hay cart
below.
Zavos watches Deak's fall from the tower. When he hits the
cart, she runs over to check on him.
ZAVOS
Don't be dead.
She gets to the cart and begins digging through it, looking
for him. Deak groans as she uncovers him.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
You look terrible. Here, let me
help.
107.
She helps him out of the cart. He winces, favoring a badly
injured leg.
DEAK
Careful. I think it's broken.
She looks at his leg.
ZAVOS
Oh, it's definitely broken. Come
on. Let's get you out of here.
Zavos supports Deak's weight as they watch attackers abandon
the city.
ZAVOS (CONT'D)
The Wookiee ran off and got his ship.
He's been up there giving them hell.
Deak coughs.
DEAK
Did we win? This doesn't feel like
winning.
INT. TAANAB - CAPITAL BUILDING - ATRIUM WALKWAY
A squad of stormtroopers covers the elevator as Sandage makes
his escape flanked by his officers and a few more troopers.
The elevator DINGS. Sandage spares a glance behind him.
Luke and Leia emerge from the elevator.
SANDAGE
Kill them!
The stormtroopers open fire on the Jedi, but they deflect
everything, pressing in on the trooper's position.
Sandage goes to run. As he does, the stormtrooper on his
left takes a blaster shot in the chest. Blocking the other
end of the walkway is Captain Lacert and the droids.
Luke and Leia make short work of the rear guard troopers.
The last one standing lowers his blaster rifle and raises
his hands in surrender. With a grin at the trooper, Luke
uses the Force to throw all of the blasters over the side.
Leia brushes past them both, glowing sword in hand, in pursuit
of Sandage.
LEIA
Governor, we need to conclude the
negotiation.
Sandage raise a blaster and fires two shots at Leia. She
harmlessly deflects them both.
108.
Captain Lacert shoots the last of the governor's white armored
guards. The rest of the officers drop their weapons and
surrender.
LUKE
It's over, Governor. Put it down.
LEIA
Let him make that decision.
Sandage looks behind him again where Lacert and the droids
block his exit, then over the side of the walkway. There's
no escape. Stone faced, Sandage pulls himself up to his
full height and tosses the blaster pistol over the side.
SANDAGE
You may have outplayed me, Senator,
but the people of Taanab need to be
ruled and I am that ruler.
LEIA
In the Republic, we let the people
decide.
Behind Sandage, Artoo silently rolls toward the governor
with his shock probe extended.
LUKE
Hello, Artoo.
The droid pulls up and retracts the probe with a chastened
whistle.
LACERT
Senator, it's good to see you in one
piece.
LEIA
Thank you, Captain. You too.
THREEPIO
Master Luke! Look what they've done
to me!
Chewbacca slides over to the co-pilot's chair, giving Han
the pilot's seat. Kiku settles in behind them. Visible
through the cockpit is the battle-torn skyline of Mos Eisley.
Chewbacca barks at Han.
HAN
Where've I been? I thought you were
going to look after her. Here I
show up and you're in the middle of
a pirate raid.
109.
Chewbacca argues with him.
HAN (CONT'D)
That time was an entirely different
situation and you know it.
Chewbacca disagrees, but Han is ignoring him. He points out
activity in the city below.
HAN (CONT'D)
Whatever they were after, it looks
like they have it.
Through the cockpit viewport, they watch the mercenaries
abandon the attack on the city.
KIKU
Dad, I need to go back down there.
We have to find Deak and the others.
We can't leave them. Anyone.
HAN
You said you saw him fall. We don't
know if he's still alive down there.
Chewbacca barks at her, on Han's side. Kiku stands firm.
KIKU
I know.
Han sees that she's serious.
HAN
Okay. I should know better by now.
Chewie, look for a good spot to set
her down.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The battle rages, with Republic and Imperial ships alike
pounding away on Sandage's remaining ships.
Republic fighters outnumber the Imperial ones now, darting
everywhere, ignoring friendlies, and picking off targets of
opportunity.
WEDGE
You've got one on your tail, Five.
INT. ROGUE FIVE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Rogue Five jukes her control stick, looking over her shoulder.
ROGUE FIVE
I don't see him!
110.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Wedge's X-wing swoops in behind the TIE interceptor pursuing
Rogue Five and fires. The Imperial ship explodes.
WEDGE
Got him!
INT. ROGUE FIVE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
ROGUE FIVE
Thanks, Lead.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Two of Sandage's Star Destroyers break off and turn toward
deep space, abandoning the system. The faster Republic
dreadnoughts catch the trailing Star Destroyer and hammer it
under their guns, as the other Destroyer jumps to hyperspace.
The battle is won, with united Republic and Imperial forces
routing Sandage's remaining forces.
Shiro Te catches up to Zavos and helps her support Deak, who
puts his arms around their shoulders. They make their way
carefully down the street.
ZAVOS
What happened to you?
SHIRO TE
A lot of fighting. Mag has been
captured. They took him off in a
skiff. I was too far away.
ZAVOS
They're turning tail. Did you get
the signal off?
DEAK
Yeah. I think so. Republic should
be on their way.
ZAVOS
Our friends must've intercepted the
call and figured they'd beat it while
they could.
SHIRO TE
Where's Bowman?
He gets his answer from the look in Deak's eyes.
111.
SHIRO TE (CONT'D)
The poor boy.
DEAK
It's worse than that, Master. I
fear the Sith have returned.
SHIRO TE
How is this possible?
DEAK
I don't know. I fought one who was
strong in the Dark Side.
Deak coughs again. It's hard for him to speak.
ZAVOS
We need to get you back to Fixer's
shop and find some med supplies.
DEAK
No.
Deak grabs on to Shiro Te.
DEAK (CONT'D)
Master. The hatred, can you feel
it? We have to find Kiku.
DECK
Darth Ikari groans in pain. Slowly, he rolls over and gets
to his knees. His face is a mask of pain and anger. He
rips off his burned jacket with a grimace. Underneath he's
wearing badly damaged BODY ARMOR. Ikari strips off the armor,
picks up his jacket, and staggers to his feet. As he slowly
moves toward the stairwell, his lightsaber leaps off the
floor and into his hand.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
The combined Republic and Imperial forces loom over the green
planet. Sandage's ships fight on but are losing at every
turn.
INT. REPUBLIC COMMAND SHIP - BRIDGE
The Republic Admiral surveys the battle, standing beside his
command chair.
ADMIRAL
Lieutenant, open a channel. Let's
see if they're ready to listen to
reason.
A YOUNG LIEUTENANT looks up from his station.
112.
YOUNG LIEUTENANT
Yes, Admiral.
He opens a comm channel from his station.
ADMIRAL
Taanab Planetary Defense, the Republic
is declaring this a no-fly system.
All hostile ships are hearby ordered
to stand down or be destroyed.
Captain Orrell watches from his viewscreen. He knows the
battle is lost. He turns to one of his bridge officers.
ORRELL
Any word from Moff Sandage on the
surface?
OFFICER
None, sir. Not since that
transmission was broadcast.
ORRELL
I see. Open a channel.
COMM OFFICER
Channel open, sir.
Orrell straightens his uniform.
ORRELL
Attention, Independence. This is
Captain Orrell of the Star Destroyer
Vigilant. Please accept our
surrender. We are standing down.
Resigned, the captain addresses his bridge crew.
ORRELL (CONT'D)
We will live to fight another day.
Send the word to all ships. Cease
fire and stand down.
Wedge watches as the remaining TIE interceptors loyal to
Sandage turn tail and break for home.
WEDGE
Let them go, Rogues. Those pilots
will be just as grateful to hit their
bunks tonight as us.
113.
ROGUE TWO
(via comlink)
Roger that, Lead.
Kiku leans over the back of her father's seat.
KIKU
I can sense him nearby but there's
so much pain everywhere. It's too
chaotic, and he's moving. Let me
down on that rooftop.
Chewbacca growls a series of complaints.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Chewie. Dad. He'd never leave me
behind.
Han sizes up his daughter, sees the confidence in her.
HAN
I could never win with your mother
either. You heard her, Chewie.
Let's make sure everyone goes home.
Chewbacca barks.
KIKU
Thanks, Chewie. But I need you to
find Zavos and the others. Tell
Shiro Te about the Sith. Uncle Luke
needs to know. Get everyone to
Fixer's and I'll meet you there.
She sees Han's look of concern. Kiku kisses him on the head.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I'll be careful, Dad. I'm going to
find Deak and then we're coming
straight to you. Promise.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - ROOFTOPS
The Millennium Falcon hovers ten feet above the tops of
bleached sandstone buildings. Pillars of smoke mark where
the city is burning. The boarding ramp opens.
Kiku Solo jumps out of the freighter. Her boots crunch on
the gravel rooftop. She stands.
Han waves to her from the cockpit. She returns it as she
watches the Falcon lift away.
Kiku spots the spaceport tower.
114.
KIKU
You're not there. Where are you?
She drops to one knee and concentrates, reaching out with
the Force.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Deak.
Nothing. She gets to her feet and, with a running start,
LEAPS to the next roof over. Her landing carries her several
paces.
Kiku uses her vantage point to survey the streets below.
They're abandoned, battle-torn.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Why break off the attack? It makes
no sense.
She reaches out with her mind again.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Deak.
Deak is laid out on a work bench. Shiro Te tends to his leg
as Fixer and Zavos look on.
DEAK
Kiku!
She spasms in pain as Shiro Te sets the leg.
ZAVOS
Take it easy.
EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - ROOFTOPS
Kiku finishes her jump, landing on another rooftop with a
parkour-style shoulder roll.
She stands, looking around, and stretches out with her
feelings. She is shaken, sensing Deak's pain.
KIKU
Are you back at Fixer's?
She turns, runs toward the next building and LEAPS.
In mid-air, her momentum suddenly changes direction, taking
her by surprise, and she is SLAMMED into a high wall.
Kiku falls to the rooftop below, landing hard. The collision
knocks the wind out of her. She struggles to her feet.
115.
Coming toward her from the far end of the roof is Darth Ikari.
His lightsaber snaps to life.
The gravel and sand on the roof begins to kick up and swirl
around Kiku.
Ikari breaks into a run, straight for her.
The tornado of grit tightens around the Jedi. She coughs
and squints. The sand and stones bite into her skin.
Kiku quickly dons her goggles and raises her own lightsaber,
just in time to block a blow from Ikari's sword aimed at her
head. Their blades crackle and hiss.
IKARI
No friends. No allies. No one to
save you, little Jedi.
Kiku blocks a two-handed swing. The impact almost takes her
off her feet.
KIKU
No interruptions, either.
She draws on a reserve of strength and counter's his blows
with her own. As she presses the attack, Ikari's
concentration falters and the tornado dissipates. She
parries, he blocks. Lunge and riposte.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Why do this? Why cause all of this
pain and suffering?
Their lightsabers flash in the morning light.
IKARI
This planet is nothing! An opening
salvo! The coming war will make the
galaxy tremble.
He rains furious blows down from every direction. It takes
all of her skill to hold him off.
IKARI (CONT'D)
Now that we have our prize, I will
become legion. It is my destiny.
Kiku ducks under his strike and rolls; Ikari's blade cuts
through a steam pipe. She comes up behind him and swings.
The Sith blocks her move but the venting steam burns his
already wounded back. He groans in pain.
KIKU
So. Destiny's not impervious, then?
The Sith grins wickedly.
116.
IKARI
I relish it. Let me show you.
He attacks. Kiku parries two, three, four strikes,
backpedaling. Ikari drives her across the roof. Behind
them, the city smolders.
Ikari closes in, pressing her back. Her heels scrape on the
edge of the roof. It's a long way down. Sparks flash off
of their blades, the swords locked together.
IKARI (CONT'D)
Your friend was more of a challenge,
until I tossed him off that tower.
Kiku's eyes flash with anger. She shoves Ikari and swings
blow after blow. Her saber flashes, a blur. It's everything
he can do to keep her from connecting. She strikes again
and again, holding the offensive.
The Sith apprentice leaps onto a raised portion of the roof.
IKARI (CONT'D)
You held back my hirelings, stopped
them from razing this city. You
saved uncounted lives today.
Impressive. Why not take that
victory? Close your eyes and savor
it.
He weaves his blade back and forth, snake-like, taunting
her.
Kiku resists the mind trick, takes two steps, and jumps up
after him.
KIKU
You're no pirate. What were you
after?
IKARI
Soon the galaxy will know.
Ikari lunges at her.
IKARI (CONT'D)
But you will not live to see it!
They lock swords as the duel rages on.
KIKU
The Jedi will always stand against
your kind.
IKARI
The Jedi know nothing of the Force!
117.
The pair battle across the rooftop, spinning and diving.
Their swords flash.
The fight continues, until Kiku gets a strike past his
defenses, the tip of her saber swiping at his eyes. Ikari
arches back, barely avoiding a blinding strike.
But Kiku turns her blade on the follow though, going for his
sword hand. Ikari spins away but his lightsaber is caught
by the blow. It EXPLODES in a shower of sparks.
Kiku smiles.
Ikari backs off, defenseless.
KIKU
No boasting? No more tricks? Come
on!
IKARI
Just one.
Ikari PUSHES Kiku away with the Force, her feet scrambling
for purchase in the loose stones.
He backflips away from her, landing at the edge of the roof.
Ikari glances down behind him; it's a long drop to the empty
street.
KIKU
There's no escape, Sith. You are
beaten.
IKARI
Darth Ikari. Remember, with your
last breath.
And with a smile he steps backward off the roof and drops
out of view.
Kiku rushes over but just as she reaches the edge, a pirate
skiff RISES UP from below. The Jedi is buffeted by the
backwash from the engines.
Safely aboard the skiff, Ikari stands with the pirate captain
and their prisoner, Mag Reida. Ikari flashes her a salute,
yelling over the roar of the engines.
IKARI (CONT'D)
Savor the win, Jedi! You will not
be so fortunate next time!
The skiff pulls away and flies off.
KIKU
No!
118.
She cocks her sword back to throw it but the skiff is too
far away. Exhausted, Kiku drops to her knees, tearing off
her goggles, and watches the craft disappear into the
distance.
EXT. TATOOINE - SKIFF
Aboard the escaping craft, Darth Ikari brings his face in
close to the bound prisoner.
IKARI
Very soon, clone, my master will
crack you open and pour out all your
secrets.
The ravaged spaceport town burns, scarred and wounded, but
it will survive.
The barren desert world hangs in its orbit around the nearby
twin stars.
EXT. SPACE - CORUSCANT
In contrast, the galactic capital is covered in a metropolis
of metal and light, bustling with activity.
Luke and Leia walk into the hangar, followed by Artoo-Detoo
and a gleaming See-Threepio.
LEIA
I believe Canopus has had enough
conflict for a while. With Moff
Galley's command ship destroyed, the
Republic expects a full cessation of
hostilities.
LUKE
Yet still too many paid greatly.
Wedge lost half his pilots.
LEIA
I've learned that there are always
sacrifices on both sides. Governor
Sandage will have plenty of time to
contemplate his crimes, and the
Independence will remain there to
ensure a smooth transition. After
proper elections, we will listen to
Taanab's petition again.
119.
LUKE
More negotiations?
She takes his hand with a smile as they walk.
LEIA
Not for me.
Luke, Leia, and the droids watch the Falcon settle in for a
landing. The boarding ramp opens and Kiku descends ahead of
her companions. Deak limps, his leg in a mechanical brace.
KIKU
Mom!
She runs into her mother's arms. Leia smiles at her warmly.
LEIA
What did I tell you about coming
straight home?
But Kiku cannot protest or make excuses, as Leia hugs her
tight.
Luke turns to Shiro Te.
LUKE
Welcome back. I sense that we have
much to discuss. Can we speak later?
SHIRO TE
Of course, Master.
LUKE
Excellent.
(to Deak and Kiku)
But right now I need to hear
everything about this new threat.
DEAK
He was an agent of the Dark Side.
I'm sorry, Master. I was
overconfident.
Luke places a sympathetic hand on the Jedi's shoulder.
KIKU
He called himself Darth Ikari, and
when we fought he mentioned he has a
master.
Luke and Leia exchange concerned looks.
KIKU (CONT'D)
I don't think this is finished either.
They captured a local, a soldier who
was helping us and...
120.
She hesitates.
KIKU (CONT'D)
Whatever the attacks were for, I
think they got what they wanted.
LUKE
We'll move quickly to track down
this Ikari once you've both healed.
KIKU
Uncle. I also have something for
you to place in the archives as well.
She hands him Bowman's lightsaber. Luke inspects the weapon,
raising an eyebrow toward Shiro Te and the two young Jedi
Knights.
LUKE
I thought I knew everyone. Who did
this belong to?
DEAK
(solemn)
A Jedi.
Luke has more questions, but he understands.
From under the Falcon, Chewbacca howls a greeting. Leia
sees Han come down the ramp behind the Wookiee. Their eyes
meet. He hesitates. Then Leia smiles. Han gives her the
old grin and she rushes into his arms. They kiss
passionately.
Artoo whistles.
THREEPIO
I agree.
Luke beams at the reunion, then turns to Deak and Kiku.
LUKE
So, where is this bounty hunter?
INT. CORUSCANT - DROID SHOP
The place is a sleazy shop in a bad part of town, but it's
stocked with every type of droid in the galaxy, from showroom
new to second-hand salvage and spare parts. Zavos negotiates
with a shifty looking Salesman.
ZAVOS
What I need is a Kaydee-ninety-nine,
with the memory uploaded from this.
She slides the droid brain across the counter.
121.
SALESMAN
No, no. Those're combat models.
Highly illegal. Very expensive.
ZAVOS
I can pay.
He sizes her up.
SALESMAN
Wait here.
He takes the droid brain and goes in the back.
MOMENTS LATER, a shiny and lethal looking COMBAT DROID comes
out of the back. It's a match for her destroyed partner.
ZAVOS
I hope you're ready to work, Kaydee.
We've been hired for a job.
The droid acknowledges her, its face lighting up.
INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Luke sits alone in the council chamber as Shiro Te enters.
SHIRO TE
You wanted to see me, Master?
LUKE
Yes, Master Shiro Te.
Luke indicates the empty chair closest to him.
LUKE (CONT'D)
Won't you join me?
EXT. DERRA IV - HAN'S COTTAGE
The Millennium Falcon is parked on the landing pad next to
the house. Han and Leia stand in the garden, arm-in-arm,
along with Kiku, Chewbacca, and the droids.
KIKU
Are you sure, Dad?
Chewbacca howls reassuringly.
Han looks past them to the battered old freighter with
longing. He chokes up. Leia turns his face to hers and
looks into his eyes.
LEIA
Consider it a trade.
Han looks to Kiku.
122.
HAN
I'm sure. You'll need her, but keep
her safe, okay? Don't forget the
coils are a bit jumpy. And she'll
be needing new proximity alarms. I
should replace those.
LEIA
Come here, you scoundrel.
She kisses him.
Kiku and Chewbacca enter the cockpit, where Deak is waiting.
She takes the pilot's seat of her ship, testing out the fit.
Chewbacca sits next to her.
DEAK
Are we ready?
Kiku settles in.
KIKU
We're ready. Chewie, fire up the
converters.
The Wookiee activates the ship's engines.
KIKU (CONT'D)
It's a big galaxy out there. Let's
go hunting.
EXT. DERRA IV - HAN'S COTTAGE
Han and Leia embrace as they watch the Falcon lift off and
fly away.
EXT. SPACE - DERRA IV
The Falcon rockets away from the tiny blue and green planet
toward deep space.
INT. REPUBLIC DETENTION CENTER - HALLWAY
The bodies of dead GUARDS line the floor.
INT. REPUBLIC DETENTION CENTER - CELLS
Governor Sandage glumly awaits judgment in his cell.
A BLACK ROBED FIGURE approaches, walking with a cane. His
face is hidden. Darth Ikari follows at a respectful distance.
BLACK ROBED FIGURE
I think we will make great use of
your ambition, Governor.
123.
SANDAGE
Who?
Sandage sees his visitors and freezes. His eyes go wide
with recognition.
EMPEROR PALPATINE, withered and ancient, stoops over his
cane. Palpatine's yellow eyes narrow.
PALPATINE
Yes, most useful. But first, we
will build a new army. An unstoppable
army.
Darth Ikari grins, smugly.
PALPATINE (CONT'D)
And then we will retake what is
rightfully ours. Tell me, Governor.
Have you ever considered becoming
emperor?
Ikari opens the stunned governor's cell.
SANDAGE
My lord, but how?
PALPATINE
Come. I will share with you the
tale of Darth Plagueis and what it
really means to have power over life
and death.
Palpatine beckons. Sandage follows the Sith Lords out of
the detention cells.
EXT. SPACE - TAANAB
Space above the green planet is strewn with wrecked space
stations and derelict ships.
IRIS OUT
END CREDITS ROLL OVER THE BACKDROP OF SPACE
THE END

Star Wars Ep VII: A Rising Shadow

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STAR WARS

EPISODE VII: A RISING SHADOW

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