122.  AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE

 

Starkiller was considerably shaken in the destruction of his laserturret.  He

is slightly dazed as Whitsun straps him into a lifepod with Artwo.

 

WHITSUN (to Artwo)

You watch him.  Make sure this pod gets off all right.

 

Artwo nods, and Whitsun moves to the second lifepod and straps himself in next

to the princess.

 

LEIA

Will he be all right?

 

WHITSUN

I think so.. His feelings for you are dangerous.  You should discourage him.

 

She is surprised that Starkiller has any feeling for her, but keeps her

emotions to herself.

 

123.  BRIDGE - STARSHIP - YAVIN ORBIT

 

The general is strapped into the lifepod with the two micro-packs containing

the young princes.  Han and Threepio are in the second lifepod.

 

HAN

We're in orbit.

 

THREEPIO

We've got to eject now!  Those reactors won't hold much longer.  This ship's

going to end up in a million little pieces,... and I don't want to be one of

them.

 

HAN

All lifepod systems are operative.

 

GENERAL (into intercom)

If you boys are ready back there, we'll get off this bucket.

 

WHITSUN

All systems operative...I have the signal.

 

ARTWO

All systems operative...We have the signal.

 

Han salutes the general, and his lifepod jettisons away from the crippled

starship.  He is quickly followed by the general.

 

124.  AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - YAVIN ORBIT

 

Artwo pushes the jettison switch, but nothing happens.  Starkiller slowly and

with some difficulty, pushes the switch two or three times.  Nothing happens.

He begins to look a little worried.

 

STARKILLER (into intercom)

We've got a problem...Wait a second...

 

Artwo pushes the switch again, and the lifepod blasts off in a cloud of smoke

and debris.  Whitsun also seems to be having a problem.  Half the lights on

his control panel have gone dead.  He struggles to reactivate them.

 

WHITSUN

My power's out!

 

GENERAL (over intercom)

Is it a faulty switch?

 

WHITSUN

No.  The whole bank is out.

 

Whitsun gives the princess a reassuring look, then punches some information

into the computer.  The monitor flashes:  "Income line main power."  He looks

outside the lifepod and sees a damaged cable.

 

WHITSUN

I've found it...

 

GENERAL

You haven't much time...The auxiliary units have already blown....

 

Whitsun scrambles out of the lifepod and rushes over to the severed connector.

 

He works on it for a few moments, then stops with a rather defeated look.  The

princess watches him as he tries to think of a solution.  A great explosion is

heard in the forward part of the ship.

 

125.  LIFEPODS - SPACE - YAVIN ORBIT

 

The two lifepods containing the general, and Han and Threepio drift away from

the disabled starship.

 

GENERAL

Where's Starkiller?

 

HAN

I can't see him either.

 

Starkiller uses the small rockets on his lifepod to maneuver back toward the

burning starship.  He can hear the general over the intercom.

 

GENERAL

Starkiller, where are you?  Report in.

 

Starkiller reaches down and switches off the intercom.

 

126.  AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - YAVIN ORBIT

 

Whitsun appears to have found a solution to his situation and rushes back to

the princess.  He reaches in and locks on the power switch.

 

WHITSUN

There is only one possible solution, and we must use it.  Lock the hitch and

make sure it is sealed.

 

PRINCESS

But what of...

 

Another explosion creates a large bulge in the wall of the aft section.

 

WHITSUN

We've no time!

 

He slams the hatch shut and runs to the power connector.  Smoke begins to fill

the chamber, as Whitsun slams a large metallic dampening tool across the

damaged connector terminals, and the lifepod jettisons away.

 

127.  LIFEPODS - SPACE - YAVIN ORBIT

 

The princess jettisons free, as Starkiller moves toward the crippled ship.

Leia calls the general on the intercom.

 

LEIA

I'm all right, but Clieg is still on board.

 

GENERAL

Starkiller, stay out of there.

 

With a rumble, the starship disappears in a spectacular explosion, sending

debris in all directions.  Starkiller stops his lifepod and it starts to

drift.  He is weeping.  Han and the general helplessly watch the remains of

the explosion drift away.

 

GENERAL

Starkiller, stay near Leia.  Use your beacon.  Coordinate with us.

 

Starkiller's intercom is weak, and there is a great deal of static.  The

lifepods drift toward the awesome blue-green Yavin surface.  The general loses

sight of the other lifepods as the descend through the cloud cover.

 

GENERAL

Captain, I'm losing your beacon.  Send me a new signal.

 

All he gets is static.  The planet surface rushes toward the falling lifepods.

 

Retrorockets automatically kick in and slow the pods.  Two of the small craft

break through the clouds and land in the dense, steaming jungles.

 

128.  VINE JUNGLE - YAVIN

 

The general's lifepod crashes through the foliage until it comes to rest in

the middle of a large vine-covered tree.  He grabs the two micro-packs and

climbs out of the lifepod, and onto a large moss-covered limb.  Han and

Threepio run to the base of the huge tree.

 

HAN

Are you all right?

 

GENERAL

Fine...Any signal from Annikin?

 

HAN

Nothing yet.  I think they landed further south.

 

The general attaches a thin cable from his utility belt to the tree trunk, and

slides to the ground.  Han takes the micro-packs from him.  The general looks

around at the jungle.

 

GENERAL

This is dangerous country...We'd better stay together.

 

THREEPIO

The wildlife in the forbidden system is extremely hostile...Perhaps we should

seek shelter?

 

Han inspects the power units of the micro packs.

 

HAN

Windy's unit is very low.  I can't tell if the unit is still functioning.

 

GENERAL

We have to find a place to revive them.  We'll start moving south.  We should

find protection along that ridge.

 

The general grabs one of the micro-packs and starts off into the murky jungle.

 

Han and Threepio quickly follow.  The jungle is a strange and eerie, fog-laden

purgatory.  Gruesome and unnatural sounds permeate this ghostly wasteland.

Everyone is cautious, and on the alert for an unseen danger.

 

129.  FOREST OF THE GARGANTUANS - YAVIN

 

Starkiller's lifepod is also caught in the limbs of a gargantuan tree.  The

lifepod has been ripped in half by the crash landing.  The unconscious Jedi

hangs half out of the damaged craft.  A two foot high insect-like creature

scoots down a branch and onto the back of the dormant warrior.  The insect

lets out a chilling hissing sound, and a slimy tube emerges from its hairy

mouth, waking Starkiller.  He is immediately aware of the insect.  His eyes

are open, but he doesn't move.  Suddenly, with one quick blow, he knocks the

creature against the side of the spacecraft, and it is squashed lifeless.

 

Starkiller is a little groggy, but he manages to climb out of the wreckage.

He looks around for Artwo.

 

STARKILLER

Artwo!  Artwo Detwo!

 

ARTWO

Help!

 

Starkiller turns and sees the little robot hanging upside down, one of his

three feet caught in a vine.  He lifts Artwo out of his predicament and places

him securely on a wide limb.

 

STARKILLER

Did you see Leia?

 

ARTWO

She landed on the other side of those trees, approximately eight hundred

meters.

 

STARKILLER

Well, come on, old buddy.  Let's get ourselves out of this tree.

 

130.  VINE JUNGLE RIDGE - YAVIN

 

The general, Han and Threepio reach a shallow cave near the top of a steep

ridge.  They quickly pull off the micro-packs and place them on a clear piece

of ground at the mouth of the cave.

 

GENERAL (to Han)

Check out the inside.  Threepio, stand guard.  Keep your eyes on the

countryside.

 

He looks at the power units on the micro-packs and shakes his head with a

worried look.  Han returns from a survey of the inside of the cave.

 

HAN

It doesn't go very far.  There's nothing back there.

 

GENERAL

Help me with this.

 

Han helps the general lift the top from the case containing Windy, the younger

of the two princes.  The small boy appears lifeless as the general pulls him

from his encasement, and rests him on the cave floor.  Han pulls a small

respiration out of the micro-packs and places it over the boy's nose.  The

general attaches two electrodes over his heart.

 

HAN

He doesn't look good.

 

The little prince begins to turn blue.  The general grows tense.  Windy starts

to regain consciousness, but begins coughing and choking, then goes limp

again.  The general quickly props Windy's mouth open with a small plastic rod

and checks the reading on his power pack.

 

GENERAL

We need more power...tap off Biggs' unit...Quickly!

 

He then places Windy's arms behind his back and starts pressing on his chest

with sharp, rhythmic movements.  Han attaches new electrodes to the boy's

heart.  Windy again comes to, choking and coughing.  Finally, he begins to

cry.  The general takes the plastic tube from his mouth and tenderly pats him

on the back.

 

GENERAL

Let's get Biggs out of there.  He shouldn't be a problem.

 

131.  FOREST OF THE GARGANTUANS - YAVIN

 

Starkiller slams closed the hatch of Princess Leia's lifepod.  In the

distance, the subhuman cries of lonesome tree beasts cut through the forest

murmur.

 

ARTWO

Perhaps she went in search of us.

 

Starkiller studies the ground around the capsule.  There are a great many

footprints, and much broken foliage.

 

STARKILLER

Someone's got her.  She put up quite a fight...It's an easy trail to follow.

 

132.  VINE JUNGLE RIDGE - YAVIN

 

Both Biggs and Windy are sleeping restlessly on the floor of the cave.  Han

watches over them as the general scans the valley below with a pair of

electrobinoculars.

 

THREEPIO

It's about fourteen degrees below the horizon... a little to the left.

 

The electrobinoculars sweep the rich green landscape until the come to rest on

a bright reflection, revealing some type of structure.

 

GENERAL

It's too small to be a military base...Could belong to a trapper.

 

THREEPIO

Highly unusual...

 

GENERAL

It's on the way.  Perhaps we should investigate.

 

Little Biggs wakes up with a giant yawn.

 

BIGGS

Hey!  Where are we?

 

133.  FOREST OF THE GARGANTUANS - YAVIN

 

The gargantuan trees are shrouded in mist, and the ominous sounds of unearthly

creatures fill the air.  Starkiller moves quietly and cautiously, followed by

Artwo, who inadvertently makes a loud clicking sound.  The young warrior

stops, and motions to the stubby little robot.

 

STARKILLER

Wait here.  If I don't return by zero two hundred, come looking for me.

 

The mechanical dwarf acknowledges with his computer light.  Starkiller moves

swiftly and silently forward, until he hears laughing and voices.  He climbs

up the bankside of a huge tree, and inches his way out onto one of the huge

overhanging branches.  Below him, he can see a group of scruffy, alien

trappers sitting around a nutron stove joking and telling stories.  Parked on

either side of the group are two large, tank-like "jungle crawlers."  Behind

the crawlers, five Wookees, (huge grey and furry beasts) hang upside down in a

tree.  Occasionally, they thrash about in great anger and frustration.

 

The trappers speak in a strange language, and although they appear slightly

human, they are slimy, deformed, hideous looking creatures.  Two of the

trappers yell at one another in a friendly argument.  One shirtless creature

goes into a "crawler," and the remaining eight laugh hysterically.  Starkiller

moves further out on the limb to get a better view.  A couple of pieces of

bark break loose, and float a hundred feet to the ground.  The trappers fail

to notice.  Moments later, the shirtless trapper emerges from the crawler with

Princess Leia held unconscious and half naked over his head.  Starkiller's

rage knows no bounds.  With a terrifying Jedi war cry, the young captain jumps

from the tree, sails over a hundred feet, and with great agility, lands in the

middle of the startled trappers.  In one continuous rapid motion, he ignites

his lasersword and cuts down three of the vile creatures.  The shirtless

trapper swings the princess over his shoulder, and runs back into the huge

"jungle crawler."  Two other trappers reach for their pistols, but the Jedi

has killed them before their weapons can clear leather.  The three remaining

creatures have their pistols out and start firing.  Explosions erupt all

around Starkiller.  One blast hits the branch holding the Wookees, and they

collapse with a loud screech in a heap.  One of the trappers is caught in the

crossfire and is blown apart.

 

When the smoke clears, Starkiller lies unconscious amid the burning rubble.

The jungle crawler begins to move out of the camp.  The last two trappers run

after it.  One is able to jump on board, but the second trapper runs too close

to the now freed Wookees.  Chewbacca, one of the furry giants, grabs him and

snaps him in two, like a stick of wood.  The jungle crawler disappears in the

forest mist.  The eight foot Chewbacca, who resembles a huge, grey bushbaby

with fierce baboon-like fangs, struggles to free his companions.

 

Starkiller regains semiconsciousness, and attempts to get up, only to groan

and collapse back into unconsciousness.  The Wookees gather around him and

poke him a couple times to see if he is still alive.  They squawk and jabber,

apparently in some kind of argument.  Finally, Dewanna, the largest of the

Wookees, picks up Starkiller and puts him over his shoulder.  The group

disappears into the jungle foliage.

 

134.  TREE HOUSE - FOREST OF THE GARGANTUANS - YAVIN

 

Han and Threepio carry the two little boys on their shoulders.  The general

stops on the edge of a clearing, and motions for the others to be still.

Biggs turns around, and signals his little brother to be quiet.  On the

opposite side of the clearing, a small metal structure is attached to one of

the huge trees.  It is a small, weatherbeaten hut of futuristic design.  It

appears deserted.  The general cautiously approaches the structure.

 

VOICE

Howdy stranger...What can I offer you?

 

The general spins around and sees Owen Lars, an aged and scruffy looking

anthropologist.

 

LARS (con't)

I'm Owen Lars of Bastine.

 

The general takes the old man's extended hand.

 

GENERAL

I'm Luke Skywalker of Aquilae.

 

He signals for the others to join him in the clearing.

 

135.  WOOKEE CAMP - YAVIN

 

The small caravan of Wookees, led by Chewbacca, enters a small clearing

surrounded by many bark and mud hovels.  Young Wookees race ahead of the group

yelling, and running in and out of the grubby little dwellings.  Giant,

bushbaby-like Wookees of all ages and sizes, make their way into the clearing.

 

Many stand dumbfounded, but others let out a joyful scream and rush up to

members of the group, hugging and kissing them.

 

Dewanna dumps the unconscious Starkiller on a raised area in the middle of the

clearing.  Armed Wookees immediately surround the helpless human.  Chewbacca

enters the largest of the lodges.  He is greeted by his father, Auzituck,

Chief of the Kaapauku tribe; an old and feeble Wookee dressed in royal skins

and headdress.

 

136.  INTERIOR - ANTHROPOLOGIST HUT - YAVIN

 

Anthropologist Lars, the general, Han and the children sit around a large

table eating.  Lars yells into the kitchen.

 

LARS

Beru!  Where's the thanta sauce?

 

Beru Lars, Owen's warm, plump wife, enters, carrying a small pitcher.  She

smiles at Owen.

 

BERU

I swan!  I put it right here in front, so you'd see it...(to Han)  Here's some

Bum Bum extract.  It's very mild...

 

LARS (to general)

There are no settlers to the south since the Dau family was wiped out... I'm

afraid I couldn't even get in there to bury them... Those Wookees are the

fiercest critters I've ever run across.  A new tribe moved in down there about

a year ago...and it's been hell ever since.  Only Yourellian trappers venture

in there now, and many of them don't even come back.

 

GENERAL

Where's the nearest city?

 

LARS

No cities at all...only a few scattered settlers and -- one Imperial

outpost... But the troops are of no help.  They kill and plunder rather than

protect...Enough...If your friends landed father south, I'd fear for them.

 

HAN

How far is the outpost from here?

 

LARS

Five leagues...an oppressive blight.

 

GENERAL

What class is it?  How many support craft?

 

LARS

It's very small, a class two....Only ten or twelve starraiders, I think.

 

Beru fusses over the boys, who refuse to eat their vegetables.  She makes up a

game, which tricks them into eating.  The general ponders the situation.  Han

eats, like he hasn't eaten in years.

 

137.  WOOKEE CAMP - AQUILAE [??  Yavin?]

 

Starkiller is surrounded by Wookees.  Young ones push through to get a better

look, as the adults jabber and argue about the human.  Starkiller regains

consciousness with a groan, and a sudden hush sweeps over the gathering.

Starkiller staggers to his feet, and the group of Wookees back away in mass.

The young Jedi surveys the situation for a few moments.  The Wookees appear to

be frightened of this brave warrior.  He reaches for his weapons, but they are

gone.  Three guards with long spears attempt to contain Starkiller.  With a

loud shout, he lunges at them, and they give him a little room.

 

Jommillia, a large, ferocious Wookee, steps forward.  He says something to the

guards, and they quickly move away.  He struts before Starkiller, boasting and

taunting him with his spear and battle ax.  The captain studies the Wookee

warrior as he paces back and forth, his helmet plumes dancing and chest armor

jangling.  Without warning, Starkiller lets out another loud yell, startling

Jommillia into backing off.  Starkiller continues his verbal assault, calling

the uncomprehending Wookee all manner of vile and degrading things.  Jommillia

continues to back into the surrounding crowd, momentarily confused by this odd

behaviour.  Slowly, Jommillia begins to grin.  He takes a defensive stance,

then begins to laugh hysterically.  This stops Starkiller.  The giant Wookee

swings his deadly, double-bladed battle ax over his head and expertly throws

it directly at the young captain's head.  To the amazement of Jommillia and

the other Wookees, Starkiller, with Jedi skill and concentration, catches the

ax in mid-air, then charges his furry opponent.

 

Jommillia is caught off-guard, but manages to block Starkiller's attack with

his spear.  The two warriors engage in a savage and fantastic duel.

Starkiller cuts the Wookee's spear in half, but is hit along the side of the

head by the shaft and is momentarily dazed.  The battle ax is knocked from his

hands.  He grabs the spear shaft and rams the giant creature in the belly.  A

loud command from outside the crowd stops the fight.  The Wookees part,

revealing Chewbacca and his father, who approach the two warriors.  Jommillia

bows before his chief, and is commanded to move away.  Chewbacca speaks to

Starkiller.  He doesn't understand, but welcomes the chance to catch his

breath.  Chewbacca then presents his father, who steps forward and bows before

the mighty Jedi.  Chewbacca bows also, as the crowd of Wookees chatter in

disbelief.  When the chief and his son rise, Starkiller bows down before them.

 

This pleases the Wookees, and they screech and cheer.

 

138.  TREE HOUSE - FOREST OF THE GARGANTUANS - YAVIN

 

Mr. and Mrs. Lars stand on the balcony of their tree house with Threepio and

the two little princes, Biggs, and Windy.  Han and the general emerge with

large survival backpacks and multiplelaser weapons.

 

GENERAL (to Threepio)

We'll call for you when we've found them.

 

THREEPIO

Your orders are quite clear.  The boys will be quite safe.

 

LARS

Don't worry.  The patrols never come out this far.  We'll take good care of

the boys.

 

GENERAL

Lars, your kindness will surely be rewarded.

 

LARS

Just be careful out there...

 

He pats Skywalker on the back as the old Jedi and the ever faithful Han

descend from the tree house.  [something whited out?]  At the base of the huge

tree, the warriors climb aboard two small rocket powered platforms.

 

LARS (yelling down to them)

They're pretty old.  I hope they'll be all right!

 

GENERAL

Out here, they're a wonderment.

 

Threepio and the kids wave as the jelsticks start with a whine.  They idle

about five feet above the ground.

 

LARS

Good hunting.  May the force of others be with you.

 

Han and the general wave as they ride off into the foreboding Yavin sunset.

 

139.  WOOKEE CAMP - YAVIN - NIGHT

 

A beautiful, but frenzied fire festival is underway.  Wookees perform the

Waita Tar dance, and yodel in a barking fashion around a large fire.  The

female Wookees arrive, carrying torches, and move in a circle around the

males.  The giant creatures are too involved to notice that little Artwo makes

his way around the dancers.  The stubby robot stops near one of the mud huts,

and looks around.  He then wobbles off toward the large chief's quarters, and

enters.

 

140.  WOOKEE CAMP - YAVIN - MORNING

 

Artwo exits the chief's hut and looks around.  It is a quiet, grey morning.  A

low mist hangs over the now deserted clearing.  He turns and signals back into

the hut.  Starkiller cautiously emerges from the mud house.  he wears a crude

backpack, and carries a large battle ax.  They start across the clearing.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Chewbacca is standing before them.  He says nothing,

but scratches his head and then circles around Starkiller.

 

STARKILLER

We are leaving...We must go.  Stand away!

 

The huge Wookee kneels and bows down in front of the young Jedi.  Starkiller

looks down and smiles.

 

STARKILLER

Rise my friend.  We will meet again.

 

Starkiller walks toward the jungle and Chewbacca scurries ahead of him and

bows down once more.

 

ARTWO

What does he want?

 

Starkiller shakes his head, and rubs his several days growth of beard.  He

leans down toward Chewbacca.

 

STARKILLER

Stand up so we can talk properly.

 

Chewbacca jabbers in a [something whited out] questioning fashion.

 

STARKILLER

I am grateful to you and your people, but I must go.  I wish you understood

me.  It would make things so much easier.  Go!  Go!

 

Starkiller turns away, and begins to walk toward the jungle again.  Chewbacca

gets to his feet, and runs after the Jedi, following a few paces behind.

Starkiller notices the Wookee following them, and shakes his head.

 

141.  FOREST OF THE GARGANTUANS - TRAPPER SIGHT [sic] - YAVIN

 

The bodies of the killed trappers are covered with rat-sized insects.  A laser

explosion erupts in the middle of the slimy creatures and they scatter into

the underbrush.  Han and the general turn over one of the dead trappers.

 

HAN

They ran into something.

 

GENERAL

It's strange they left their dead.  Something...

 

The constant cacophony of jungle creatures suddenly stops.  The two warriors

scan the jungle for possible danger.  Han draws his laserpistol.  The

cacophony starts again, as the general ignites his lasersword.

 

HAN

Two or three moving this way, from the east.

 

He listens more closely for a few moments.

 

HAN (con't)

It's Artwo!

 

Starkiller and Artwo break out of the dark foliage into the clearing.  He

waves to Han and the general.  Artwo waddles a few paces behind.  Chewbacca

sees the humans and stops at the edge of the jungle.  He watches as Starkiller

and the general carry on an animated conversation.  Han sees the Wookee

lurking in the shadows.

 

HAN

You were followed.

 

STARKILLER

He wouldn't stay.  He's one of the ones I saved...

 

Han calls out to Chewbacca in the Wookee's own language, and the huge,

lumbering creature approaches the group.  Han and the Wookee talk for a few

moments, then embrace as if they were old friends.  Starkiller is surprised.

 

HAN (to Starkiller)

This is Chewbacca, son of Auzituck, Prince of the Sawas, a very powerful

tribe.  It seems they've made you a god.

 

The general smiles.  Starkiller is embarrassed.

 

142.  VINE JUNGLE RIDGE - YAVIN

 

Starkiller joins the general on a ridge overlooking the Imperial outpost of

Mavassi.  All that can be seen of the fortress is a lone guard standing on a

small pedastal, jutting out above the dense jungle.

 

GENERAL

Their trail leads directly to the outpost.  Patrols are probably out looking

for us by now.

 

STARKILLER

Finding her in there isn't going to be easy.

 

GENERAL

Getting in there is going to be impossible.  We could sure use one of those

starships.

 

Starkiller spots something moving in the jungle.  He scans the area with his

electrobinoculars.

 

STARKILLER

Something's going on down there...Han!

 

Han moves up next to Starkiller, followed closely by Chewbacca.

 

STARKILLER

Your eyes are better than mine....What do you make of that?

 

HAN

They look like Wookees...hundreds of them.

 

Han turns and speaks to Chewbacca, gesturing toward the movement far below in

the jungle.

 

HAN

Apparently, it's a siege.  They've been harassing the outpost for almost two

years.

 

GENERAL

Have they ever tried to take the fortress?

 

Han relays this to Chewbacca.

 

HAN

He says they've made several assaults, but they are no match for the weapons.

 

GENERAL

It's only a class three fortress.  Maybe they just need a little help.

 

Starkiller grins, and Han says something to Chewbacca, who becomes excited and

screeches loudly.

 

143.  INTERIOR - TREEHOUSE - YAVIN

 

The incoming signal alarm on the anthropologist's radio system wails through

the calm of the tree house.  Biggs, dragging an eight-legged, furry rodent,

rushes up to the old radio and flips the receiver.

 

BIGGS

I'm reading yah.  Go ahead.

 

GENERAL

Biggs, how are you getting along?

 

BIGGS

Great!  I caught a thumper...a really big one.  Its name is "Amber."

 

He yanks on the leash, and the furry beast lets out a strained yelp.

 

GENERAL

Good, Biggs.  How's your brother?  Are you taking good care of him?

 

BIGGS

Oh, sure.  He's out collecting "Abas" with Owen and Beru.  I'm in charge here.

 

Did you find Leia?

 

GENERAL

Not yet.  We'll be away for a while.  You mind Lars until we return.  May the

force of others be with you.

 

BIGGS

All right.  Take care.

 

Threepio enters the room, carrying a plate of steaming food.  Biggs turns the

radio off, and puts the receiver away.  A crashing sound and voices are heard

in the clearing below.

 

THREEPIO

Come and eat your dinner.

 

BIGGS

They're back!  They're back!  Come Amber!

 

The furry rodent jumps up onto its eight stubby legs and rushes over to the

door, but stops short, and begins to growl.  Biggs stops behind the creature.

 

BIGGS

What is it, Amber?

 

Biggs peeks out the window, and sees a patrol of six Imperial stormtroopers

climbing out of an airtank.  He ducks back, and tugs Amber away from the door.

 

BIGGS

Quiet, Amber.  Come here.  Come on.

 

THREEPIO

What's wrong?

 

BIGGS

Troopers.  We must hide!  Stay quiet.

 

Biggs and the robot scramble for a trap door near a large shelf.  The troops

begin to climb the ladder to the tree house.  The trap door is heavy, and the

robot and the little boy struggle to get it open.  The troops break in the

door, just as Threepio closes the trap door.  The stormtroopers are led by a

rough looking sergeant.  They poke around, tearing everything apart.  Biggs

struggles to keep Amber quiet.  Suddenly he realizes something.

 

BIGGS

The food!

 

The sergeant takes the bowl of food from the table and studies it.  He then

takes a small chrome ball from his pocket, and tosses it into the air.

[something whited out?]  Antennae shoot from its surface as it floats around

the room.  Eventually, it hovers over the trap door.  A sinister grin sweeps

across the sergeant's face as he moves over to the trap door and puts the

chrome ball back into his pocket.

 

Threepio puts his arm around Biggs who is desperately clutching the struggling

thumper.  All the movement above them stops, and Biggs looks to the robot.

 

THREEPIO (quietly)

They're still up there.  Stay still.

 

The silence continues, then suddenly the trap door swings open with a loud

bang.  Amber breaks away from Biggs, and attacks the sergeant.  One of the

other troopers cuts the thumper in half with his lasersword.  The sergeant

pulls Biggs out of his hiding place.  Biggs stares at the dead thumper.

 

SERGEANT

Well, well, here's one of them, anyway.  Send seekers in all directions.  Find

the others!

 

144.  VINE JUNGLE RIDGE - YAVIN

 

The general sits at the head of the large stone table, pushing small markers

around.  Han explains what the general is doing, to ten or fifteen Wookee

chiefs gathered around the table.  Occasionally, Chewbacca puts in a word of

further explanation or answers a question.  Starkiller sits back silently

watching the Wookee warriors and listens to the general's plan.

 

GENERAL

.... then they pull back to here.  That's where the trap will be set.  No-one

must advance.  An assault on the perimeter is useless.  Our only hope is to

use their weapons against them.

 

The general pauses, while Han and Chewbacca translate.

 

GENERAL (to Starkiller)

Once we acquire those tanks, our prime object must be to secure the starship.

No-one must escape.

 

145.  IMPERIAL OUTPOST - VINE JUNGLE - YAVIN

 

Three officers run along a row of giant air tnaks to a perimeter bunker.

There, two stormtroopers are watching the jungle.  When the officers arrive,

the troopers let them look through the powerful, mounted electrobinoculars.

One of the troopers points out several areas in the dense jungle.

 

146.  INTERIOR - CONTROL ROOM - IMPERIAL OUTPOST - YAVIN

 

A trooper sitting at an elaborate control panel, turns to an officer watching

a monitor system.

 

TROOPER

A large concentration of trestuals at point E-2.

 

OFFICER

Alert squads one through six!

 

147.  VINE JUNGLES - OUTPOST PERIMETER - YAVIN

 

The general stands in a small clearing surrounded, by many armed Wookees

carrying large shiny shields.  Han moves back and forth, barking orders to the

assembled creatures.

 

GENERAL (to Han)

We're ready.  Give them the signal.

 

Han motions to a young Wookee, who takes off, running through the jungle.

 

148.  IMPERIAL OUTPOST - VINE JUNGLE - YAVIN

 

Three large air tanks slowly move toward the outpost perimeter.  The tank

pilots sit on the hatch rims of the ponderous weapons, studying the movements

of the Wookees.  The tank personnel talk to one another on an intercom system.

 

TANK PILOT

There is a large concentration....red two by C-3.  Let's break them up.

 

The pilots slip into the tanks and close the hatches.  The tanks open up with

a barrage of laser bolts which create a wall of explosions.  The Wookies

retreat, and the tanks follow.  The tank crews track the feeling creatures

with various electronic scopes, and laugh at the fleeing creatures.

 

149.  VINE JUNGLE - OUTPOST PERIMETER - YAVIN

 

The general stands on a limb of a jungle tree, watching the advancing tanks.

Starkiller is on another branch a few feet away.

 

GENERAL

They've grown sloppy fighting Wookees.  The intra-fazer systems aren't on.

They're in for a little surprise.

 

Starkiller flashes a signal mirror, which is received by a Wookee near the

tanks.  The Wookees are in pairs, and they hold heavy stone wedges attached to

woven vines; which in turn, are fastened high in the trees.  When the tanks

pass directly under the Wookees, they let loose with the heavy stone

pendulums.  The wedges fly through the air, neatly clipping off the antenna

groupings protruding from the tops of the air tanks.

 

150.  INTERIOR - AIR TANK - VINE JUNGLE - YAVIN

 

Several of the lights and monitors go dark on the main control panel.  The