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S T A R W
A R S EPISODE
VI REVENGE OF THE JEDI
BY LAWRENCE KASDAN AND GEORGE LUCAS FROM THE NOVEL BY GEORGE LUCAS SECOND DRAFT - DECEMBER 19, 1982 SPACE The boundless heavens serve as a
back-drop for the MAIN TITLE, followed by a ROLL-UP, which crawls into
infinity. Episode VI: REVENGE OF THE
JEDI... Luke Skywalker has returned to
his home planet of Tatooine in an attempt
to rescue his friend Han Solo from the
clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt. Little does Luke know that the
GALACTIC EMPIRE has secretly begun
construction on a new armored
space station even more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star. When completed, this
ultimate weapon will
spell certain doom for the small
band of Rebels struggling to restore
freedom to the galaxy... PAN DOWN
to reveal a monstrous half-completed Death Star, its massive
superstructure curling away from the completed section like the arms of a giant octopus. Beyond, in benevolent
contrast, floats the small, green moon of ENDOR. An
Imperial Star Destroyer moves overhead toward the massive armored space station, followed by two
zipping TIE fighters. A small
Imperial shuttle rockets from the main bay of the ship and hustles toward the Death Star. 2 INT
IMPERIAL SHUTTLE - COCKPIT 2 The
shuttle captain makes contact with the Death Star. SHUTTLE
CAPTAIN Command
station, this is ST 321. Code Clearance
Blue. We're starting our approach. Deactivate
the security shield. DEATH
STAR CONTROLLER (filtered
VO) The
security deflector shield will be deactivated
when we have confirmation of your code transmission. Stand by... You are clear to proceed. SHUTTLE
CAPTAIN We're
starting our approach. 3 INT
DEATH STAR - CONTROL ROOM 3 Operators
move about among the control panels. A SHIELD OPERATOR hits
switches beside a large screen, on which is a display of the Death
Star, the moon Endor, and a bright web delineating the invisible deflector shield. A
control officer rushes over to the shield operator. OFFICER Inform
the commander that Lord Vader's shuttle has arrived. OPERATOR Yes,
sir. The
control officer moves to a view port and watches as the Imperial
shuttle lands in the massive docking bay. A squad of Imperial
stormtroopers moves into formation before the craft. 4 INT
DEATH STAR - MAIN DOCKING BAY 4 The
DEATH STAR COMMANDER, MOFF JERJERROD, a tall, confident technocrat,
strides through the assembled troops to the base of the shuttle ramp. The troops snap to attention; many are
uneasy about the new arrival. But the Death Star commander stands arrogantly tall. The exit
hatch of the shuttle opens with a WHOOSH, revealing only darkness. Then, heavy FOOTSTEPS AND MECHANICAL BREATHING. From this black void appears DARTH VADER, LORD OF THE SITH. Vader looks over the assemblage as he walks down the ramp. JERJERROD Lord
Vader, this is an unexpected pleasure. We're honored by your presence. VADER You may
dispense with the pleasantries, Commander.
I'm here to put you back on schedule. The
commander turns ashen and begins to shake. JERJERROD I assure
you, Lord Vader, my men are working as fast as they can. VADER Perhaps
I can find new ways to motivate them. JERJERROD I tell
you, this station will be operational as planned. VADER The
Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation. JERJERROD But he
asks the impossible. I need more men. VADER Then
perhaps you can tell him when he arrives. JERJERROD
(aghast) The
Emperor's coming here? VADER That is
correct, Commander. And he is most displeased
with your apparent lack of progress. JERJERROD We shall
double our efforts. VADER I hope
so, Commander, for your sake. The Emperor
is not as forgiving as I am. 5 EXT
ROAD TO JABBA'S PALACE - TATOOINE 5 A
lonely, windswept road meanders through the desolate Tatooine terrain. We HEAR a familiar BEEPING and a distinctive reply before catching
sight of ARTOO-DETOO and SEE-THREEPIO, making their
way along the road toward the ominous palace of Jabba the Hutt. THREEPIO Of
course I'm worried. And you should be, too. Lando Calrissian and poor Chewbacca never returned from this awful place. Artoo
whistles timidly. THREEPIO Don't be
so sure. If I told you half the things
I've heard about this Jabba the Hutt, You'd
probably short-circuit. The two
droids fearfully approach the massive gate to the palace. THREEPIO Artoo,
are you sure this is the right place? I better
knock, I suppose. 6 EXT
JABBA'S PALACE - GATE 6 Threepio
looks around for some kind of signaling device,
then timidly knocks on the iron door. THREEPIO
(instantly) There
doesn't seem to be anyone there. Let's go back and tell Master Luke. A small
hatch in the middle of the door opens and a spidery mechanical
arm, with a large electronic eyeball on the end, pops out and inspects the two droids. STRANGE
VOICE Tee chuta hhat yudd! THREEPIO Goodness
gracious me! Threepio
points to Artoo, then to himself. THREEPIO Artoo Detoowha bo Seethreepiowha
ey toota odd mischka Jabba du
Hutt. The eye
looks from one robot to the other, there is a laugh then the eye zips back into the door. The hatch slams shut. Artoo beeps his concern. THREEPIO I don't
think they're going to let us in, Artoo.
We'd better go. Artoo
beeps his reluctance as Threepio turns to leave. Suddenly the massive door starts to rise with a horrific metallic
SCREECH. The
robots turn back and face an endless black cavity. The droids look at one another, afraid to enter. Artoo
starts forward into the gloom. Threepio rushes after his stubby companion. The door lowers noisily behind them. THREEPIO Artoo,
wait. Oh, dear! Artoo. Artoo, I really don't think we should rush into all this. Artoo continues
down the corridor, with Threepio following. THREEPIO Oh,
Artoo! Artoo, wait for me! 7 INT
JABBA'S PALACE - HALLWAY 7 The door
slams shut with a loud crash that echoes throughout the dark passageway. The frightened robots are met by two giant, green GAMORREAN GUARDS, who fall in behind them. Threepio
glances quickly back at the two lumbering brutes, then back to Artoo.
One guard grunts an order. Artoo beeps nervously. THREEPIO Just you
deliver Master Luke's message and get us out of here. Oh my! Oh! Oh, no. Walking
toward them out of the darkness is BIB FORTUNA, a humanlike alien with long tentacles protruding from his skull. BIB Die
Wanna Wanga! THREEPIO Oh, my!
Die Wanna Wauaga. We -- we bring a message to your master, Jabba the Hutt. Artoo
lets out a series of quick beeps. THREEPIO
(cont) ... and a gift. (thinks
a moment, then to Artoo) Gift,
what gift? Bib
shakes his head negatively. BIB Nee
Jabba no badda. Me chaade
su goodie. Bib
holds out his hand toward Artoo and the tiny droid backs up a bit, letting out a protesting array of squeaks. Threepio
turns to the strange-looking alien. THREEPIO He says
that our instructions are to give it only to Jabba himself. Bib
thinks about this for a moment. THREEPIO I'm
terribly sorry. I'm afraid he's ever so stubborn about these sort of things. Bib
gestures for the droids to follow. BIB Nudd Chaa. The
droids follow the tall, tentacled alien into the
darkness, trailed by the two guards. THREEPIO Artoo, I
have a bad feeling about this. 8 INT
JABBA'S THRONE ROOM 8 The
throne room is filled with the vilest, most grotesque CREATURES
ever conceived in the universe. Artoo and Threepio seem very small as they pause in the doorway to the dimly lit
chamber. Light
shafts partially illuminate the drunken courtiers as Bib Fortuna
crosses the room to the platform upon which rests the leader of this nauseating crowd: JABBA THE HUTT. The monarch of the
galactic underworld is a repulsive blob of bloated fat with a maniacal grin. Chained to the horrible creature is the beautiful alien female dancer named OOLA. At the foot of the dais sits
an obnoxious birdlike creature, SALACIOUS CRUMB. Bib whispers something in the slobbering degenerate's ear. Jabba laughs horribly, at the two terrified droids before him. Threepio bows politely. THREEPIO Good
morning. JABBA Bo Shuda! The
robots jump forward to stand before the repulsive, loose- skinned villain. THREEPIO The
message, Artoo, the message. Artoo
whistles, and a beam of light projects from his domed head, creating a HOLOGRAM of LUKE on the floor. The image grows to over ten feet
tall, and the young Jedi towers over the space gangsters. LUKE Greetings,
Exalted One. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. I know that you are powerful,
mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful. I seek an audience
with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo's
life. (Jabba's crowd laughs) With your wisdom,
I'm sure that we can work out an arrangement
which will be mutually beneficial and
enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift: these two droids. Threepio
is startled by this announcement. THREEPIO What did
he say? LUKE
(cont) ... Both
are hardworking and will serve you well. THREEPIO This
can't be! Artoo, you're playing the wrong message. Luke's
hologram disappears. Jabba
laughs while Bib speaks to him in Huttese. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) There
will be no bargain. THREEPIO We're
doomed. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) I will
not give up my favorite decoration. I like Captain Solo where he is. Jabba
laughs hideously and looks toward an alcove beside the throne. Hanging high, flat against the wall, exactly as we saw him last, is a carbonized HAN SOLO. THREEPIO Artoo,
look! Captain Solo. And he's still frozen in carbonite. 9 INT
DUNGEON CORRIDOR 9 One of
Jabba's Gamorrean guards marches Artoo and Threepio down a dank, shadowy passageway lined with holding cells. The cries
of unspeakable creatures bounce off the cold stone walls. Occasionally
a repulsive arm or tentacle grabs through the bars at the hapless droids. Artoo beeps pitifully. THREEPIO What
could possibly have come over Master Luke. Is
it something I did? He never expressed any unhappiness with my work. Oh! Oh! Hold
it! Ohh! A large
tentacle wraps around Threepio's neck. He manages
to break
free, and they move on to a door at the end of the corridor. 10 INT
BOILER ROOM 10 The door
slides open, revealing a room filled with steam and noisy machinery. The guard motions them into the boiler room, where
they are met by a tall, thin humanlike robot named EV-9D9 (EVE-NINEDENINE).
Behind the robot can be seen a torture rack pulling the legs off a screaming baby work droid. A second power droid is upside down. As smoking branding irons are pressed
into his feet, the stubby robot lets out an agonized electronic scream. Artoo and Threepio cringe as the guard grunts to EV-9D9. NINEDENINE Ah,
good. New acquisitions. You are a protocol droid, are you not? THREEPIO I am
See-Threepio, human-cy... NINEDENINE Yes or
no will do. THREEPIO Oh.
Well, yes. NINEDENINE How many
languages do you speak? THREEPIO I am
fluent in over six million forms of communication, and can readily... NINEDENINE Splendid!
We have been without an interpreter since
our master got angry with our last protocol droid and disintegrated him. THREEPIO Disintegrated? NINEDENINE
(to a Gamorrean guard) Guard!
This protocol droid might be useful. Fit him
with a restraining bolt and take him back to
His Excellency's main audience chamber. The
guard shoves Threepio toward the door. THREEPIO
(disappearing) Artoo,
don't leave me! Ohhh! Artoo
lets out a plaintive cry as the door closes. Then he beeps angrily. NINEDENINE You're a
feisty little one, but you'll soon learn some respect. I have need for you on the master's Sail Barge. And I think you'll fit in nicely. The poor
work droid in the background lets out another tortured electronic scream. 11 INT
JABBA'S THRONE ROOM 11 The
court of Jabba the Hutt is in the midst of a drunken, raucous party. Sloppy, smelly monsters cheer and make rude noises as
Oola and a fat female dancer perform in front of Jabba's throne. Jabba
leers at the dancers and with a lustful gleam in his eye beckons Oola to come and sit with him. She stops dancing and backs away, shaking her head. Jabba gets angry and points to a spot next to him. JABBA Da Eitha! The
lovely alien shakes her head again and screams. OOLA Na Chuba negatorie Na! Na! Natoota... Jabba is
furious and pulls her toward him, tugging on the chain. JABBA Boscka! He
pushes a button and, before the dancer can flee, a trap door in the floor springs open and swallows her up. As the door snaps shut, a muffled growl is followed by a hideous scream. Jabba
and his
monstrous friends laugh hysterically and several revelers hurry over to watch her fate through a grate. Threepio
cringes and glances wistfully at the carbonite form of Han
Solo, but is immediately distracted by a gunshot offscreen. An
unnatural quiet sweeps the boisterous gathering. On the far side of
the room, the crush of debauchers moves aside to allow the
approach of two guards followed by BOUSHH, an oddly cloaked bounty
hunter, leading his captive, Han Solo's copilot,
CHEWBACCA THE
WOOKIEE. Bib
takes his place next to his disgusting master, and whispers into his ear, pointing at Chewbacca and the bounty hunter.
Jabba listens
intently, then the bounty hunter bows before the gangster and
speaks a greeting in a strange, electronically processed tongue (Ubese). BOUSHH
(in Ubese subtitled) I have
come for the bounty on this Wookiee. THREEPIO Oh, no!
Chewbacca! JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) At last
we have the mighty Chewbacca. Jabba
lets out a loud, long, blood-curdling laugh and turns to Threepio,
waving him closer. The reluctant droid obeys. THREEPIO Oh, uh, yes,
uh, I am here, Your Worshipfulness.
Uh... yes! Jabba
continues speaking, as Threepio nervously translates. Boushh listens, studying the dangerous creatures around the
room. He
notices BOBA FETT standing near the door. THREEPIO Oh. The
illustrious Jabba bids you welcome and will
gladly pay you the reward of twenty- five thousand. BOUSHH
(in Ubese subtitled) I want
fifty thousand. No less. Jabba
immediately flies into a rage, knocking the golden droid off the raised throne into a clattering heap on the floor. Boushh adjusts
his weapon as Jabba raves in Huttese and Threepio struggles back onto the throne. The disheveled
droid tries to compose himself. THREEPIO Uh,
oh... but what, what did I say? (to Boushh) Uh, the
mighty Jabba asks why he must pay fifty thousand. The
bounty hunter holds up a small silver ball in his hand. Threepio
looks at it, then looks at Jabba, then back to the bounty hunter. The droid is very nervous and Jabba is getting very impatient. THREEPIO Because
he's holding a thermal detonator. The
guards instantly back away, as do most of the other monsters in the room. Jabba stares at the silver ball, which begins to glow in the bounty hunter's hand. The room has fallen into a tense hush. Jabba stares at the bounty hunter malevolently
until a sly grin creeps across his vast mouth and he begins to laugh. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) This
bounty hunter is my kind of scum. Fearless
and inventive. Jabba
continues. THREEPIO Jabba
offers the sum of thirty-five. And I suggest you take it. Bib and
the other monsters study the bounty hunter and wait for his reaction. Boushh releases a
switch on the thermal detonator and it goes dead. BOUSHH Zeebuss. THREEPIO He
agrees! The
raucous crowd of monsters erupts in a symphony of cheers and applause as the party returns to its full noisy pitch. Chewbacca growls. As he is led away we spot LANDO CALRISSIAN, disguised
as a skiff guard in a partial face mask. The band starts up and dancing
girls take the center of the floor, to the hoots of
the loudly appreciative creatures. Boushh leans against a column with gunfighter cool and surveys the
scene, his gaze stopping only when it connects with a glare from across the room. Boba Fett is watching him. Boushh shifts slightly, cradling his weapon lovingly. Boba Fett shifts with equally ominous arrogance. 12 INT
DUNGEON CORRIDOR AND CELL 12 Gamorrean
guards lead Chewie down the same hallway we saw before. When a
tentacle reaches out at the Wookiee, Chewie's ferocious ROAR
echoes against the walls and the tentacle snaps back into its cell in terror. It takes all the guards to hurl Chewie roughly into a cell, slamming the door behind him. Chewie lets out a pathetic howl and bangs on the iron door. 13 EXT
JABBA'S PALACE 13 The
palace is sitting in the light of the double sunset. On the road in
front, a large toadlike creature flicks its tongue
out for a desert rodent and burps in satisfaction. 14 INT
JABBA'S THRONE ROOM - NIGHT 14 Silence.
The room is deserted, only the awful debris of the alien celebration giving mute witness to the activity here before. Several
drunk creatures lie unconscious around the room, snoring loudly. A
shadowy figure moves stealthily among the columns at the perimeter
of the room and is revealed to be Boushh, the
bounty hunter. He picks his way carefully through the snoring, drunken monsters. Han
Solo, the frozen space pirate, hangs spotlighted on the wall, his coffin-like case suspended by a force field. The bounty hunter
deactivates the force field by flipping a control switch to one side of the coffin. The heavy case slowly lowers to the floor of the alcove. Boushh steps up to the case, studying Han, then turns to the controls on the side of the coffin. He activates a series of switches
and, after one last, hesitant look at Han, slides the decarbonization lever. The case begins to emit a
sound as the hard
shell covering the contours of Han's face begins to melt away. The bounty hunter watches as Han's body is freed of its metallic
coat and his forearms and hands, previously raised in reflexive protest, drop slackly to his side. His face muscles relax from their mask of horror. He appears quite dead. Boushh's ugly helmet leans close to Han's face listening for the breath of life. Nothing. He waits. Han's eyes pop open with a start and he begins coughing. The bounty hunter steadies the staggering newborn. BOUSHH Just
relax for a moment. You're free of the carbonite. Han
touches his face with his hand and moans. BOUSHH Shhh. You have hibernation sickness. HAN I can't
see. BOUSHH You
eyesight will return in time. HAN Where am
I? BOUSHH Jabba's
palace. HAN Who are
you? The
bounty hunter reaches up and lifts the helmet from his head, revealing the beautiful face of PRINCESS LEIA. LEIA Someone
who loves you. HAN Leia! LEIA I gotta
get you out of here. As Leia
helps her weakened lover to stand up, the relative quiet is
pierced by an obscene HUTTESE CACKLE from the other side of the alcove. HAN What's
that? I know that laugh. The
curtain on the far side of the alcove opens, revealing Jabba the Hutt, surrounded by Bib and other aliens. He laughs
again, and his gross cronies join in a cacophony of alien glee. HAN Hey,
Jabba. Look, Jabba, I was just on my way to pay
you back, but I got a little sidetracked. It's not my fault. Jabba
laughs. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) It's too
late for that, Solo. You may have been a
good smuggler, but now you're Bantha fodder. HAN Look... JABBA
(cont Huttese subtitled) Take him
away! The
guards grab Han and start to lead him away. HAN Jabba...
I'll pay you triple! You're throwing away a fortune here. Don't be a fool! Han is
dragged off, as Lando quickly moves forward and attempts to lead Leia away. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) Bring
her to me. Jabba
chuckles as Lando and a second guard drag the beautiful young princess toward him. Threepio peeks from behind a
monster and quickly turns away in disgust. LEIA We have
powerful friends. You're gonna regret this... JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) I'm
sure. Inexorably
her lovely face moves to within a few inches of Jabba's
ugly blob of a head, and Leia turns away in disgust. LEIA Ugh! THREEPIO Ohhh, I can't bear to watch. 15 INT
DUNGEON CELL 15 The
heavy metal door of the dungeon whines and slowly creaks open. A guard throws the blinded star captain into the dark
cell and the
door slams shut behind him, leaving only a thin sliver of light from a crack in the door. Han is trying to collect
himself when suddenly a growl is heard from the far side of the cell.
He jumps back against the cell door and listens. HAN Chewie?
Chewie, is that you? The
shadowy figure lets out a crazy yell and races toward Han, lifting
him off the ground with a big hug that carries them into the light, revealing Chewie. HAN Ah!
Chew--Chewie! The
giant Wookiee barks with glee. HAN Wait. I
can't see, pal. What's goin' on? Chewie
barks an excited blue streak. HAN Luke?
Luke's crazy. He can't even take care of himself, much less rescue anybody. Chewie
barks a reply. HAN A...Jedi
Knight? I--I'm out of it for a little
while, everybody gets delusions of grandeur. Chewie
growls insistently. He holds Han to his chest and pets his head. HAN I'm all
right, pal. I'm all right. 16 INT
MAIN GATE AND HALL - JABBA'S PALACE 16 Noisily,
the main gate lifts to flood the blackness with blinding LIGHT
and reveal the silhouetted figure of LUKE SKYWALKER. He is clad in
a robe similar to Ben's and wears neither pistol nor laser sword. Luke strides purposefully into the hallway. Two giant guards move to block Luke's path. Luke halts. Luke
raises his hand and points at the puzzled guards, who immediately lower their spears and fall back. The young Jedi lowers his hand and moves on down the hallway. Bib
Fortuna appears out of the gloom. He speaks to Luke as they approach
each other, but Luke doesn't stop and Bib must reverse his
direction and hurry alongside the young Jedi in order to carry on the conversation. Several other guards fall in behind them in the darkness. LUKE I must
speak with Jabba. Bib
answers in Huttese, shaking his head in denial. Luke stops and stares at Bib; he raises his hand slightly. LUKE You will
take me to Jabba now! Bib
turns in hypnotic response to Luke's command, and Luke follows him into the gloom. LUKE You
serve your master well. Bib
responds. LUKE And you
will be rewarded. 17 INT
JABBA'S THRONE ROOM 17 Jabba is
asleep on his throne, with Leia lying in front of him. Salacious
sits by Jabba's tail, watching it wriggle. Leia is now dressed
in the skimpy costume of a dancing girl; a chain runs from a
manacle/necklace at her throat to her new master, Jabba the Hutt. Threepio stands behind Jabba as Bib comes up to
the gangster slug. THREEPIO At last!
Master Luke's come to rescue me. BIB Master. Jabba
awakens with a start and Bib continues, in Huttese. BIB ...Luke
Skywalker, Jedi Knight. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) I told
you not to admit him. LUKE I must
be allowed to speak. BIB (in
Huttese subtitled) He must
be allowed to speak. Jabba,
furious, clobbers Bib and shoves him away. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) You
weak-minded fool! He's using an old Jedi mind trick. Luke
stares hard at Jabba. LUKE You will
bring Captain Solo and the Wookiee to me. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) Your
mind powers will not work on me, boy. LUKE Nevertheless,
I'm taking Captain Solo and his friends. You can either profit by this... or be destroyed! It's your choice. But I warn you not to underestimate my powers. Jabba's
laugh is mean and loud. Threepio attempts to warn Luke about the pit. THREEPIO Master
Luke, you're standing on... JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) There
will be no bargain, young Jedi. I shall enjoy watching you die. Luke
reaches out, and a pistol jumps out of a guard's holster and flies into Luke's hand. The bewildered guard grabs for it as Jabba
raises his hand. JABBA Bascka! The
floor suddenly drops away, sending Luke and the hapless guard into the pit. The pistol goes off, blasting a hole in the ceiling. Jabba laughs and his courtiers join in. Leia starts forward
but is restrained by a human guard-- Lando, recognizable behind his mask. She looks at him and he shakes his head
"no." 18 INT
RANCOR PIT 18 Luke and
the guard have dropped twenty-five feet from a chute into the dungeonlike cage. Luke
gets to his feet as the guard yells hysterically for help. A crowd gathers up around the
edge of the
pit as the door in the side of the pit starts to RUMBLE open. The guard screams in panic. Luke looks calmly around
for a means of escape. THREEPIO Oh, no!
The Rancor! At the
side of the pit, an iron door rumbles upward and a giant, fanged RANCOR emerges. The guard runs to the side of the pit
and tries futilely to scramble to the top. The hideous beast
closes in on him. The
Rancor moves past Luke, and as the guard continues to scramble,
the Rancor picks him up and pops him into its slavering jaws. A few screams, and the guard is swallowed with a gulp.
The audience cheers and laughs at the guard's fate. The
monster turns and starts for Luke. The young Jedi dashes away just
ahead of the monster's swipe at him, and picks up the long arm bone of an earlier victim. The monster grabs Luke and
brings him up to his salivating mouth. At the last moment, Luke
wedges the bone in the monster's mouth and is dropped to the floor.
The monster
bellows in rage and flails about, hitting the side of the pit, causing an avalanche. The
monster crushes the bone in its jaws and sees Luke, who squeezes into a crevice in the pit wall. Luke looks past the monster to the holding cave beyond. On the far side of the holding cave is a utility door--if only he can get to it. The Rancor
spots Luke and reaches into the crevice for him. Luke grabs a
large rock and raises it, smashing it down on the Rancor's finger. 19
HOLDING TUNNEL - RANCOR PIT 19 The
Rancor lets out a loud howl as Luke makes a run for the holding cave. He reaches the door and pushes a button to open
it. When he
succeeds, he sees a heavy barred gate between him and safety. Beyond the gate two guards look up from their dinner. Luke
turns to see the monster heading for him, and pulls with all his might on the gate. The guards move to the gate and start poking at the young Jedi with spears, laughing. Luke
crouches (against the wall) as the monster starts to reach for him. Suddenly he notices a main door control panel
halfway up the wall. As the Rancor moves in for the kill, Luke picks up
a skull from the cave floor and hurls it at the panel. The giant overhead
door comes crashing down on the beast's head, squashing it like a sledgehammer on an egg. A
startled gasp is heard from the stunned court. There's consternation at this turn of events. Heads look to Jabba, who is actually turning red with anger. Leia cannot suppress her joy. Jabba
utters harsh commands to his guards and they hurry off. JABBA
(in Huttese subtitled) Bring me
Solo and the Wookiee. They will all suffer for this outrage. 21 INT
RANCOR PIT 21 The
Rancor KEEPERS have come into the cage and are examining their dead beast. One of them breaks down and weeps. The other glares menacingly at Luke, who is unworried. Several guards
rush into the holding tunnel and take Luke away. 22 INT
THRONE ROOM 22 The
crowd of creepy courtiers parts as Han and Chewie are brought into the throne room, and other guards drag Luke up the
steps. LUKE Han! HAN Luke! LUKE Are you
all right? HAN Fine.
Together again, huh? LUKE Wouldn't
miss it. HAN How are
we doing? LUKE The same
as always. HAN That
bad, huh? Where's Leia? Luke
looks to Leia. LEIA I'm
here. Threepio
is standing behind the grotesque gangster as he strokes Leia
like a pet cat. Several of the guards, including Lando, bring Luke from the other side of the room. Boba is standing behind Jabba. Threepio
steps forward and translates for the captives. THREEPIO Oh,
dear. His High Exaltedness, the great Jabba
the Hutt, has decreed that you are to be terminated immediately. HAN Good, I
hate long waits. THREEPIO You will
therefore be taken to the Dune Sea and cast
into the pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the all-powerful Sarlacc. HAN (to
Luke) Doesn't
sound so bad. THREEPIO In his
belly, you will find a new definition of pain
and suffering, as you are slowly digested over a thousand years. HAN On
second thought, let's pass on that, huh? Chewie
barks his agreement. LUKE You
should have bargained, Jabba. That's the last mistake you'll ever make. Jabba
cackles evilly at this. As the
guards drag the prisoners from the throne room, a loud cheer rises from the crowd. Leia and Chewie exchange concerned |