Star Wars - Return of the Jedi Page 4
Lando, and Chewie starts to pull them on board the skiff.
HAN
Chewie, Pull us up! Come on! Okay... up,
Chewie, up!
38 EXT UPPER DECK 38
The deck gunners have Chewie and the desperate dangling human
chain in their gun sights when something up on deck commands
their attention Luke, standing before them like a pirate king,
ignites his lightsaber. The deck gunners have barely reached for
their pistols before the young Jedi has demolished them.
Immediately, Luke turns to see two more gunners (who have been
uncovering a giant gun at the end of the barge) racing for him,
firing their laser pistols.
39 INT SAIL BARGE - OBSERVATION DECK 39
Leia is struggling against her chains in desperation as Artoo
zips through the tumult of confused monsters to the rescue; the
stubby little droid extends a small laser gun and blasts the
chain apart.
LEIA
Come on. We gotta get out of here quick.
Artoo and Leia race for the exit, passing Threepio, who is
kicking and screaming as Salacious Crumb, the reptilian monkey-
monster picks out one of the golden droid's eyes.
THREEPIO
Not my eyes! Artoo, help! Quickly, Artoo. Oh!
Ohhh! You beast!
Artoo zips over and zaps Salacious, sending him skyward with a
scream, crashing into the rafters as Artoo, Leia, and Threepio
(with his eye dangling from a wire) hurry off.
40 EXT UPPER DECK - SAIL BARGE 40
Luke is warding off laser blasts with his lightsaber, surrounded
by guards and fighting like a demon. Leia emerges onto the deck
as Luke turns to face another guard.
LUKE (to Leia)
Get the gun! Point it at the deck!
Leia turns toward the barge cannon, climbs on the platform, and
swivels the gun around.
LUKE
Point it at the deck!
A laser blast hits Luke's mechanical hand and he bends over in
pain, but manages to swing his lightsaber upward and take out the
last of the guards. He looks at the wounded hand, which reveals
the mechanism. He flexes the hand; it still works.
Near the rail of the upper deck, Artoo and Threepio steady
themselves as Threepio gets ready to jump. Artoo beeps wildly.
THREEPIO
Artoo, where are we going? I couldn't
possibly jump.
Artoo butts the golden droid over the edge and steps off himself,
tumbling toward the sand.
Luke runs along the empty deck toward Leia and the barge gun,
which she has brought around to point down at the deck.
LUKE
Come on!
Luke has hold on one of the rigging ropes from the mast. He
gathers Leia in his other arm and kicks the trigger of the deck
gun. The gun explodes into the deck as Luke and Leia swing out
toward the skiff.
41 EXT SKIFF 41
Han leans panting against the rail as Chewie helps Lando onto the
deck. Luke and Leia land on the skiff with flair.
LUKE
Let's go! And don't forget the droids.
LANDO
We're on our way.
The Sail Barge is exploding in stages in the distance. Half of
the huge craft is on fire.
42 EXT SAND DUNE 42
Threepio's legs stick straight up from the dune where he landed.
Next to it, Artoo's periscope is the only thing above the sand.
The skiff floats above them and two large electromagnets dangle
down on a wire. With a loud CLANG, both droids are pulled from
the sand.
43 EXT DUNE SEA 43
The little skiff skips around the burning Sail Barge, which
continues its chain of explosions. As the skiff sails off across
the desert, the barge settles to the sand and disappears in one
final conflagration.
44 EXT DUNE SEA - LANDING AREA 44
A ferocious sandstorm blocks our view. Then, through the ROAR, we
HEAR THE VOICES of our heroes. They emerge slowly from the veil
of sand, pressing on against the wind. First come Artoo and
Threepio, followed by Leia guiding Han, then Luke and Lando come
into view, each supporting one side of the towering Chewbacca,
who hobbles from his wound.
Soon, they can make out some large vague shapes in the blowing
sand. It is the Millennium Falcon and, parked beside it, Luke's
trusty X-wing and a two-seated Y-wing. They must shout to be
heard.
HAN
I don't know. All I can see is a lot of
blowing sand!
LEIA
That's all any of us can see.
HAN (blinking)
Then I guess I'm getting better.
As soon as the group huddles under the bulk of the Falcon, the
wind dies down to something more describable as a severe weather
condition. Threepio hits a switch, and the gang-plank lowers with
a HUM.
HAN (turning to Luke)
I've got to hand it to you, kid, you were
pretty good out there.
LUKE (shrugging it off)
I had a lot of help. Think nothing of it.
HAN
No, I'm thinking a lot about it. That carbon
freeze was the closest thing to dead there
is. And it wasn't just sleepin'. It was a big
wide awake nothing!
Luke nods, as Chewie growls affectionately at the young Jedi
warrior, mussing his hair like a proud uncle. And Leia warmly
hugs him.
LUKE (moving to his ship)
I'll see you back at the fleet.
HAN
Why don't you leave that crate and come with
us?
LUKE
I have a promise I have to keep first... to
an old friend.
Luke and Artoo take off in their spacecraft.
HAN
(looking dubiously at Lando, obviously
remembering his friend's betrayal and
subsequent aide)
Guess I owe you some thanks, too, Lando.
LANDO
Figured if I left you frozen like that you'd
just give me bad luck the rest of my life, so
I might as well get you unfrozen sooner or
later.
LEIA
He means "You're welcome."
LANDO
Come on, let's get off this miserable dust
ball.
44A EXT SPACE ABOVE TATOOINE 44A
The desolate yellow planet fills the screen, Luke's X-wing
appears and peels off to the left. A moment later, the FALCON
appears as a dot and grows huge, to roar directly over the
CAMERA.
45 INT X-WING - COCKPIT 45
Luke is at the controls, with Artoo attached behind him outside
the canopy. Luke speaks into his comlink to the others, in the
MILLENNIUM FALCON.
LUKE
I'll meet you back at the fleet.
LEIA (over comlink)
Hurry. The Alliance should be assembled by
now.
LUKE
I will.
HAN (over comlink)
Hey, Luke, thanks. Thanks for comin' after
me. Now I owe you one.
A message from Artoo appears on the small monitor screen in front
of Luke. He smiles at the monitor and speaks to A
rtoo, as he
pulls a black glove on to cover his wounded mechanical hand.
LUKE
That's right, Artoo. We're going to the Dagobah system. I have a
promise to keep... to an old friend.
46 EXT SPACE - DEATH STAR AND ENDOR 46
A Super Star Destroyer and several ships of the Imperial Fleet
rest in space above the half-completed Death Star and its green
neighbor, Endor. Four squads of TIE fighters escort an Imperial
shuttle toward the Death Star.
47 INT DEATH STAR - CORRIDOR TO DOCKING BAY 47
Lord Vader strides down the hallway, accompanied by a very
nervous Death Star commander.
48 INT DOCKING BAY - DEATH STAR 48
Thousands of Imperial troops in tight formation fill the mammoth
docking bay. Vader and the officer walk to the landing platform,
where the shuttle is coming to rest.
The shuttle's ramp lowers and the Emperor's Royal Guards come out
and create a lethal perimeter. The assembled troops move to rigid
attention with a momentous SNAP.
Then, in the huge SILENCE which follows, the EMPEROR appears. He
is a rather small, shriveled old man. His bent frame slowly makes
its way down the ramp with the aid of a gnarled cane. He wears a
hooded cloak similar to the one Ben wears, except that it is
black. The Emperor's face is shrouded and difficult to see,
except for his piercing yellow eyes. Commander Jerjerrod and
Darth Vader kneel to him. The Supreme Ruler of the galaxy beckons
to the Dark Lord.
EMPEROR (to Vader)
Rise, my friend.
Vader rises and falls in next to the Emperor as he slowly makes
his way along the rows of troops. Jerjerrod and the other
commanders stay kneeling until the Supreme Ruler and Vader,
followed by several Imperial dignitaries, pass by; only then do
they join in the procession.
VADER
The Death Star will be completed on schedule.
EMPEROR
You have done well, Lord Vader. And now I
sense you wish to continue your search for
young Skywalker.
VADER
Yes, my Master.
EMPEROR
Patience, my friend. In time he will seek you
out. And when he does, you must bring him
before me. He has grown strong. Only together
can we turn him to the dark side of the
Force.
VADER
As you wish.
EMPEROR
Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.
He laughs to himself as they pass along the vast line of Imperial
troops.
49 EXT YODA'S HOUSE - DAGOBAH 49
Once again, Artoo finds himself waiting around in the damp
environs of the swamp planet, and he's none too happy about it.
He beeps disconsolately to himself and turns to look at Yoda's
cottage. Warm yellow light escapes the oddly shaped windows to
fight the gloom.
50 INT YODA'S HOUSE 50
The tip of a walking stick taps hesitantly across the earthen
floor of the cottage. Our view travels up the stick to the small
green hand that clutches it, and then to the familiar face of
YODA, THE JEDI MASTER. His manner is frail, and his voice, though
cheerful, seems weaker.
YODA
Hmm. That face you make. Look I so old to
young eyes?
Luke is sitting in a corner of the cramped space and, indeed, his
look has been woeful. Caught, he tries to hide it.
LUKE
No... of course not.
YODA (tickled, chuckles)
I do, yes, I do! Sick have I become. Old and
weak. (Points a crooked finger) When nine
hundred years old you reach, look as good you
will not. Hmm?
Yoda chuckles at this, coughs, and hobbles over toward his bed.
YODA
Soon will I rest. Yes, forever sleep. Earned
it, I have.
Yoda sits himself on his bed, with great effort.
LUKE
Master Yoda, you can't die.
YODA
Strong am I with the Force... but not that
strong! Twilight is upon me and soon night
must fall. That is the way of things ... the
way of the Force.
LUKE
But I need your help. I've come back to
complete the training.
YODA
No more training do you require. Already know
you that which you need.
Yoda sighs, and lies back on his bed.
LUKE
Then I am a Jedi?
YODA (shakes his head)
Ohhh. Not yet. One thing remains Vader. You
must confront Vader. Then, only then, a Jedi
will you be. And confront him you will.
Luke is in agony. He is silent for a long moment, screwing up his
courage. Finally he is able to ask.
LUKE
Master Yoda... is Darth Vader my father?
Yoda's eyes are full of weariness and compassion. An odd, sad
smile creases his face. He turns painfully on his side, away from
Luke.
YODA
Mmm... rest I need. Yes... rest.
Luke watches him, each moment an eternity.
LUKE
Yoda, I must know.
YODA
Your father he is.
Luke reacts as if cut.
YODA
Told you, did he?
LUKE
Yes.
A new look of concern crosses Yoda's face. He closes his eyes.
YODA
Unexpected this is, and unfortunate...
LUKE
Unfortunate that I know the truth?
Yoda opens his eyes again and studies the youth.
YODA (gathering all his strength)
No. Unfortunate that you rushed to face
him... that incomplete was your training. Not
ready for the burden were you.
LUKE
Well, I'm sorry.
YODA
Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the
Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression.
The dark side are they. Once you start down
the dark path, forever will it dominate your
destiny.
He beckons the young Jedi closer to him.
YODA
Luke...Luke...Do not...Do not underestimate
the powers of the Emperor, or suffer your
father's fate, you will. Luke, when gone am I
(cough), the last of the Jedi will you be.
Luke, the Force runs strong in your family.
Pass on what you have learned, Luke... (with
great effort) There is...
another...Sky...Sky...walker.
He catches his breath. A shiver runs through the ancient green
creature, and he dies. Luke stares at his dead master as he
disappears in front of his eyes.
51 EXT DAGOBAH SWAMP - X-WING 51
Luke wanders back to where his ship is sitting. Artoo beeps a
greeting, but is ignored by his depressed master. Luke kneels
down, begins to help Artoo with the ship, then stops and shakes
his head dejectedly.
LUKE
I can't do it, Artoo. I can't go on alone.
BEN (OS)
Yoda will always be with you.
Luke looks up to see the shimmering image of BEN KENOBI.
LUKE
&n
bsp; Obi-Wan! Why didn't you tell me?
The ghost of Ben Kenobi approaches him through the swamp.
LUKE
You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my
father.
BEN
You father was seduced by the dark side of
the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker
and became Darth Vader. When that happened,
the good man who was your father was
destroyed. So what I have told you was
true... from a certain point of view.
LUKE (turning away, derisive)
A certain point of view!
BEN
Luke, you're going to find that many of the
truths we cling to depend greatly on our own
point of view.
Luke is unresponsive. Ben studies him in silence for a moment.
BEN
I don't blame you for being angry. If I was
wrong in what I did, it certainly wouldn't
have been for the first time. You see, what
happened to your father was my fault.
Ben pauses sadly.