Online Read Free Novel
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    Star Wars - A New Hope

    Page 5
    Prev Next


      Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure

      up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the

      Rebel's hidden fort...

      Suddenly Motti chokes and starts to turn blue under Vader's

      spell.

      VADER I find your lack of faith disturbing.

      TARKIN Enough of this! Vader, release him!

      VADER As you wish.

      TARKIN This bickering is pointless. Lord Vader will provide us with

      the location of the Rebel fortress by the time this station is

      operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

      The speeder stops before what remains of the huge Jawas

      Sandcrawler. Luke and Ben walk among the smoldering rubble

      and scattered bodies.

      LUKE It looks like Sandpeople did this, all right. Look, here are

      Gaffi sticks, Bantha tracks. It's just...I never heard of them hitting

      anything this big before.

      Ben is crouching in the sand studying the tracks.

      BEN They didn't. But we are meant to think they did. These tracks are

      side by side. Sandpeople always ride single file to hide there numbers.

      LUKE These are the same Jawas that sold us Artoo and Threepio.

      BEN And these blast points, too accurate for Sandpeople. Only

      Imperial stormtroopers are so precise.

      LUKE Why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?

      Luke looks back at the speeder where Artoo and Threepio are

      inspecting the dead Jawas, and put two and two together.

      LUKE If they traced the robots here, they may have learned who they

      sold them to. And that would lead them home!

      Luke reaches a sudden horrible realization, then races for

      the speeder and jumps it.

      BEN Wait, Luke! It's too dangerous.

      Luke races off leaving Ben and the two robots alone with

      the burning Sandcrawler.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

      Luke races across the wasteland in his battered Landspeeder.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- LARS HOMESTEAD.

      The speeder roars up to the burning homestead. Luke jumps out

      and runs to the smoking holes that were once his home. Debris

      is scattered everywhere and it looks as if a great battle has

      taken place.

      LUKE Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru! Uncle Owen!

      Luke stumbles around in a daze looking for his aunt and

      uncle. Suddenly he comes upon their smoldering remains. He is

      stunned, and cannot speak. Hate replaces fear and a new

      resolve comes over him.

      EXTERIOR SPACE.

      Imperial TIE fighter races toward the Death Star.

      INTERIOR DEATH STAR -- DETENTION CORRIDOR.

      Two stormtroopers open an electronic cell door and allow

      several Imperial guards to enter. Princess Leia's face is

      filled with defiance, which slowly gives way to fear as a

      giant black torture robot enters, followed by Darth Vader.

      VADER And, now Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your

      hidden Rebel base.

      The torture robot gives off a steady beeping sound as it

      approaches Princess Leia and extends one of its mechanical

      arms bearing a large hypodermic needle. The door slides shut

      and the long cell block hallway appears peaceful. The muffled

      screams of the Rebel princess are barely heard.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

      There is a large bonfire of Jawa bodies blazing in front of

      the Sandcrawler as Ben and the robots finish burning the dead.

      Luke drives up in the speeder and Ben walks over to him.

      BEN There's nothing you could have done, Luke, had you been there.

      You'd have been killed, too, and the droids would be in the hands of

      the Empire.

      LUKE I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing here for me

      now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my

      father.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- WASTELAND.

      The Landspeeder with Luke, Artoo, Threepio, and Ben in it

      zooms across the desert. The speeder stops on a bluff

      overlooking the spaceport at Mos Eisley. It is a haphazard

      array of low, grey, concrete structures and semi-domes. A

      harsh gale blows across the stark canyon floor. Luke adjusts

      his goggles and walks to the edge of the craggy bluff where

      Ben is standing.

      BEN Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of

      scum and villainy. We must be cautious.

      Ben looks over at Luke, who gives the old Jedi a determined

      smile.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

      The speeder is stopped on a crowded street by several

      combat-hardend stormtroopers who look over the two robots. A

      Trooper questions Luke.

      TROOPER How long have you had these droids?

      LUKE About three or four seasons.

      BEN They're for sale if you want them.

      TROOPER Let me see your identification.

      Luke becomes very nervous as he fumbles to find his ID

      while Ben speaks to the Trooper in a very controlled voice.

      BEN You don't need to see his identification.

      TROOPER We don't need to see his identification.

      BEN These are not the droids your looking for.

      TROOPER These are not the droids we're looking for.

      BEN He can go about his business.

      TROOPER You can go about your business.

      BEN (to Luke) Move along.

      TROOPER Move along. Move along.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

      The speeder pulls up in front of a rundown blockhouse cantina

      on the outskirts of the spaceport. Various strange forms of

      transport, including several unusual beasts of burden, are

      parked outside the bar. A Jawa runs up and begins to fondle

      the speeder.

      THREEPIO I can't abide these Jawas. Disgusting creatures.

      As Luke gets out of the speeder he tries to shoo the Jawa

      away.

      LUKE Go on, go on. I can't understand how we got by those troopers. I

      thought we were dead.

      BEN The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. You

      will find it a powerful ally.

      LUKE Do you really think we're going to find a pilot here that'll

      take us to Alderaan?

      BEN Well, most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only

      watch your step. This place can be a little rough.

      LUKE I'm ready for anything.

      THREEPIO Come along, Artoo.

      INTERIOR TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

      The young adventurer and his two mechanical servants follow

      Ben Kenobi into the smoke-filled cantina. The murky, moldy den

      is filled with a startling array of weird and exotic alien

      creatures and monsters at the long metallic bar. At first the

      sight is horrifying. One-eyed, thousand-eyed, slimy, furry,

      scaly, tentacled, and clawed creatures huddle over drinks. Ben

      moves to an empty spot at the bar near a group of repulsive

      but human scum. A huge, rough-looking Bartender stops Luke and

      the robots.

      BARTENDER We don't serve their kind here!

      Luke still recovering from the shock of seeing so many

      outlandish creatures, doesn't quite catch the bartender's

      drift.

      LUKE What?


      BARTENDER Your droids. They'll have to wait outside. We don't want

      them here.

      Luke looks at old Ben, who is busy talking to one of the

      Galactic pira tes. He notices several of the gruesome creatures

      along the bar are giving him a very unfriendly glare.

      Luke pats Threepio on the shoulder.

      LUKE Listen, why don't you wait out by the speeder. We don't want any

      trouble.

      THREEPIO I heartily agree with you sir.

      Threepio and his stubby partner go outside and most of the

      creatures at the bar go back to their drinks.

      Ben is standing next to Chewbacca, an eight-foot-tall-

      savage-looking creature resembling a huge grey bushbaby monkey

      with fierce baboon-like fangs. His large blue eyes dominate a

      fur-covered face and soften his otherwise awesome appearance.

      Over his matted, furry body he wears two chrome bandoliers,

      and little else. He is a two-hundred-year-old Wookiee and a

      sight to behold.

      Ben speaks to the Wookiee, pointing to Luke several times

      during his conversation and the huge creature suddenly lets

      out a horrifying laugh. Luke is more than a little bit

      disconcerted and pretends not to hear the conversation between

      Ben and the giant Wookiee.

      Luke is terrified but tries not to show it. He quietly sips

      his drink, looking over the crowd for a more sympathetic ear

      or whatever.

      A large, multiple-eyed Creature gives Luke a rough shove.

      CREATURE Negola dewaghi wooldugger?!?

      The hideous freak is obviously drunk. Luke tries to ignore

      the creature and turns back on his drink. A short, grubby

      Human and an even smaller rodent-like beast join the

      belligerent monstrosity.

      HUMAN He doesn't like you.

      LUKE I'm sorry.

      HUMAN I don't like you either

      The big creature is getting agitated and yells out some

      unintelligible gibberish at the now rather nervous, young

      adventurer.

      HUMAN (continued) Don't insult us. You just watch yourself. We're

      wanted men. I have the death sentence in twelve systems.

      LUKE I'll be careful than.

      HUMAN You'll be dead.

      The rodent lets out a loud grunt and everything at the bar

      moves away. Luke tries to remain cool but it isn't easy. His

      three adversaries ready their weapons. Old Ben moves in behind

      Luke.

      BEN This little one isn't worth the effort. Come let me buy you

      something...

      A powerful blow from the unpleasant creature sends the

      young would-be Jedi sailing across the room, crashing through

      tables and breaking a large jug filled with a foul-looking

      liquid. With a blood curdling shriek, the monster draws a

      wicked chrome laser pistol from his belt and levels it at old

      Ben. The bartender panics.

      BARTENDER No blasters! No blaster!

      With astounding agility old Ben's laser sword sparks to

      life and in a flash an arm lies on the floor. The rodent is

      cut in two and the giant multiple-eyed creature lies doubled,

      cut from chin to groin. Ben carefully and precisely turns off

      his laser sword and replaces it on his utility belt. Luke,

      shaking and totally amazed at the old man's abilities, attempts

      to stand. The entire fight has lasted only a matter of seconds.

      The cantina goes back to normal, although Ben is given a

      respectable amount of room at the bar. Luke, rubbing his

      bruised head, approaches the old man with new awe. Ben points

      the the Wookiee.

      BEN This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our

      needs.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

      Threepio paces in front of the cantina as Artoo carries on an

      electronic conversation with another little red astro-droid. A

      creature comes out of the cantina and approaches two

      stormtroopers in the street.

      THREEPIO I don't like the look of this.

      INTERIOR TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

      Strange creatures play exotic big band music on odd-looking

      instruments as Luke, still giddy, downs a fresh drink and

      follows Ben and Chewbacca to a booth where Han Solo is

      sitting. Han is a tough, roguish starpilot about thirty years

      old. A mercenary on a starship, he is simple, sentimental, and

      cocksure.

      HAN Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells

      me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan system.

      BEN Yes, indeed. If it's a fast ship.

      HAN Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?

      BEN Should I have?

      HAN It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve

      parsecs!

      Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with

      obvious misinformation.

      HAN (continued) I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local

      bulk-cruisers, mind you. I'm talking about the big Corellian ships

      now. She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?

      BEN Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions

      asked.

      HAN What is it? Some kind of local trouble?

      BEN Let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.

      HAN Well, that's the trick, isn't it? And it's going to cost you

      something extra. Ten thousand in advance.

      LUKE Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!

      HAN But who's going to fly it, kid! You?

      LUKE You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have

      to sit here and listen...

      BEN We haven't that much with us. But we could pay you two thousand

      now, plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.

      HAN Seventeen, huh!

      Han ponders this for a few moments.

      HAN Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're

      ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.

      BEN Ninety-four.

      HAN Looks like somebody's beginning to take an interest in your

      handiwork.

      Ben and Luke turn around to see four Imperial stormtroopers

      looking at the dead bodies and asking the bartenders some

      questions. The bartender points to the booth.

      TROOPER All right, we'll check it out.

      The stormtroopers look over at the booth but Luke and Ben

      are gone. The bartender shrugs his shoulders in puzzlement.

      HAN Seventeen thousand! Those guys must really be desperate. This

      could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready.

      EXTERIOR TATOOINE -- MOS EISLEY -- STREET.

      BEN You'll have to sell your speeder.

      LUKE That's okay. I'm never coming back to this planet again.

      INTERIOR MOS EISLEY -- CANTINA.

      As Han is about to leave, Greedo, a slimy green-faced alien

      with a short trunk-nose, pokes a gun in his side. The creature

      speaks in a foreign tongue translated into English subtitles.

      GREEDO Going somewhere, Solo?

      HAN Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your

      boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money.

      Han sits down and the alien sits across from him holding

      the gun on him.

      GREEDO It's too late. You should have paid him when you had the

      chance. Jabba's put a pric
    e on your head, so large that every bounty

      hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you

      first.

      HAN Yeah, but this time I got the money.

      GREEDO If you give it to me, I might forget I found you.

      HAN I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba...

      GREEDO Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who

      drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.

      HAN Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?

      Han Solo slowly reaches for his gun under the table.

      GREEDO You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship.

      HAN Over my dead body.

      GREEDO That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for

     


    Prev Next
Online Read Free Novel Copyright 2016 - 2026