Authors: George Lucas
THREEPIO Deactivate! Well, on the other hand if you hadn’t removed his restraining bolt…
LUKE Wait, there’s something dead ahead on the scanner. It looks like our droid…hit the accelerator.
EXTERIOR TATOOINE —ROCK MESA —DUNE SEA —COASTLINE —DAY. From high on a rock mesa, the tiny Landspeeder can be seen gliding across the desert floor. Suddenly in the foreground two weather-beaten Sandpeople shrouded in their grimy desert cloaks peer over the edge of the rock mesa. One of the marginally human creatures raises a long ominous laser rifle and points it at the speeder but the second creature grabs the gun before it can be fired.
The Sandpeople, or Tusken Raiders as they’re sometimes called, speak in a coarse barbaric language as they get into an animated argument. The second Tusken Raider seems to get in the final word and the nomads scurry over the rocky terrain. EXTERIOR TATOOINE —ROCK MESA —CANYON.
The Tusken Raider approaches two large Banthas standing tied to a rock. The monstrous, bear-like creatures are as large as elephants, with huge red eyes, tremendous looped horns, and long, furry, dinosaur-like tails. The Tusken Raiders mount saddles strapped to the huge creatures’ shaggy backs and ride off down the rugged bluff.
EXTERIOR TATOOINE —ROCK CANYON —FLOOR.
The speeder is parked on the floor of a massive canyon. Luke, with his long laser rifle slung over his shoulder, stands before little Artoo.
LUKE Hey, whoa, just where do you think you’re going? The little droid whistles a feeble reply, as Threepio poses menacingly behind the little runaway.
THREEPIO Master Luke here is your rightful owner. We’ll have no more of this Obi-Wan Kenobi jibberish…and don’t talk to me about your mission, either. You’re fortunate he doesn’t blast you into a million pieces right here.
LUKE Well, come on. It’s getting late. I only hope we can get back before Uncle Owen really blows up.
THREEPIO If you don’t mind my saying so, sir, I think you should deactivate the little fugitive until you’ve gotten him back to your workshop.
LUKE No, he’s not going to try anything.
Suddenly the little robot jumps to life with a mass of frantic whistles and screams.
LUKE What’s wrong with him now?
THREEPIO Oh my…sir, he says there are several creatures approaching from the southeast.
Luke swings his rifle into position and looks to the south. LUKE Sandpeople! Or worst! Come on, let’s have a look. Come on. EXTERIOR TATOOINE —ROCK CANYON —RIDGE —DAY.
Luke carefully makes his way to the top of a rock ridge and scans the canyon with his electrobinoculars. He spots the two riderless Banthas. Threepio struggles up behind the young adventurer.
LUKE There are two Banthas down there but I don’t see any…wait a second, they’re Sandpeople all right. I can see one of them now. Luke watches the distant Tusken Raider through his electrobinoculars. Suddenly something huge moves in front of his field of view. Before Luke or Threepio can react, a large, gruesome Tusken Raider looms over them. Threepio is startled and backs away, right off the side if the cliff. He can be heard for several moments as he clangs, bangs and rattles down the side of the mountain.
The towering creature brings down his curved,
double-pointed gaderffii —the dreaded axe blade that has struck terror in the heart of the local settlers. But Luke manages to block the blow with his laser rifle, which is smashed to pieces. The terrified farm boy scrambles backward until he is forced to the edge of a deep crevice. The sinister Raider stands over him with his weapon raised and lets out a horrible shrieking laugh.
EXTERIOR TATOOINE —ROCK CANYON —FLOOR —DAY.
Artoo forces himself into the shadows of a small alcove in the rocks as the vicious Sandpeople walk past carrying the inert Luke Skywalker, who is dropped in a heap before the speeder. The Sandpeople ransack the speeder, throwing parts and supplies in all directions. Suddenly they stop. Then everything is quiet for a few moments. A great howling moan is heard echoing throughout the canyon which sends the Sandpeople fleeing in terror.
Artoo moves even tighter into the shadows as the slight swishing sound that frightened off the Sandpeople grows even closer, until a shabby old desert-rat-of-a-man appears and leans over Luke. His ancient leathery face, cracked and weathered by exotic climates is set off by dark, penetrating eyes and a scraggly white beard. Ben Kenobi squints his eyes as he scrutinizes the unconscious farm boy. Artoo makes a slight sound and Ben turns and looks right at him. BEN Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don’t be afraid. Artoo waddles over to were Luke lies crumpled in a heap and begins to whistle and beep his concern. Ben puts his hand on Luke’s forehead and he begins to come around.
BEN Don’t worry, he’ll be all right.
LUKE What happened?
BEN Rest easy, son, you’ve had a busy day. You’re fortunate you’re still in one piece.
LUKE Ben? Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I glad to see you!
BEN The Jundland wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me young Luke, what brings you out this far?
LUKE Oh, this little droid! I think he’s searching for his former master…I’ve never seen such devotion in a droid before…there seems to be no stopping him. He claims to be the property of an ObiWan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he’s talking about?
Ben ponders this for a moment, scratching his scruffy beard. BEN Obi-Wan Kenobi…Obi-Wan? Now thats a name I haven’t heard in a long time…a long time.
LUKE I think my uncle knew him. He said he was dead. BEN Oh, he’s not dead, not…not yet.
LUKE You know him!
BEN Well of course, of course I know him. He’s me! I haven’t gone by the name Obi-Wan since oh, before you were born. LUKE Then the droid does belong to you.
BEN Don’t seem to remember ever owning a droid. Very interesting… He suddenly looks up at the overhanging cliffs. BEN I think we better get indoors. The Sandpeople are easily startled but they will soon be back and in greater numbers. Luke sits up and rubs his head. Artoo lets out a pathetic beep causing Luke to remember something. He looks around. LUKE Threepio!
EXTERIOR TATOOINE —SAND PIT —ROCK MESA —DAY. Little Artoo stands at the edge of a large sand pit and begins to chatter away in electronic whistles and beeps. Luke and Ben stand over a very dented and tangled Threepio lying half buried in the sand. One of his arms has broken off. Luke tries to revive the inert robot by shaking him and then flips a hidden switch on his back several times until finally the mechanical man’s systems turn on.
THREEPIO Where am I? I must have taken a bad step… LUKE Can you stand? We’ve got to get out of here before the Sandpeople return.
THREEPIO I don’t think I can make it. You go on, Master Luke. There’s no sense in you risking yourself on my account. I’m done for. Artoo makes a beeping sound.
LUKE No, you’re not. What kind of talk is that? Luke and Ben help the battered robot to his feet. Little Artoo watches from the top of the pit. Ben glances around suspiciously. Sensing something, he stands up and sniffs the air.
BEN Quickly, son…they’re on the move.
INTERIOR KENOBI’S DWELLING.
The small, spartan hovel is cluttered with desert junk but still manages to radiate an air of time-worn comfort and security. Luke is in one corner repairing Threepio’s arm, as old Ben sits thinking.
LUKE No, my father didn’t fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a spice freighter.
BEN That’s what your uncle told you. He didn’t hold with your father’s ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved.
LUKE You fought in the Clone Wars?
BEN Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father. LUKE I wish I’d known him.
BEN He was the best starpilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. I understand you’ve become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was a good friend. Which reminds me…
Ben gets up and goes to a chest where he rummages around. As Luke finishes repairing Threepio and starts to fit the restraining bolt back on, Threepio looks at him nervously. Luke thinks about the bolt for a moment then puts it on the table. Ben shuffles up and presents Luke with a short handle with several electronic gadgets attached to it. BEN I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn’t allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did.
THREEPIO Sir, if you’ll not be needing me, I’ll close down for awhile.
LUKE Sure, go ahead.
Ben hands Luke the saber.
LUKE What is it?
BEN Your fathers lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster.
Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long beam shoots out about four feet and flickers there. The light plays across the ceiling.
BEN An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire. Luke hasn’t really been listening.
LUKE How did my father die?
BEN A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force. LUKE The Force?
BEN Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.
Artoo makes beeping sounds.
BEN Now, let’s see if we can’t figure out what you are, my little friend. And where you come from.
LUKE I saw part of the message he was…
Luke is cut short as the recorded image of the beautiful young Rebel princess is projected from Artoo’s face. BEN I seem to have found it.
Luke stops his work as the lovely girl’s image flickers before his eyes.
LEIA General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.
There is a little static and the transmission is cut short. Old Ben leans back and scratches his head. He silently puffs on a tarnished chrome water pipe. Luke has stars in his eyes. BEN You must learn the ways of the Force if you’re to come with me to Alderaan.
LUKE (laughing) Alderaan? I’m not going to Alderaan. I’ve got to go home. It’s late, I’m in for it as it is.
BEN I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I’m getting too old for this sort of thing.
LUKE I can’t get involved! I’ve got work to do! It’s not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. It’s such a long way from here.
BEN That’s your uncle talking.
LUKE (sighing) Oh, God, my uncle. How am I ever going to explain this?
BEN Learn about the Force, Luke.
LUKE Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to M os Eisley or wherever you’re going. BEN You must do what you feel is right, of course. EXTERIOR SPACE.
An Imperial Stardestroyer heads toward the evil planet-like battle station the Death Star!
INTERIOR DEATH STAR —CONFERENCE ROOM.
Eight Imperial senators and generals sit around a black conference table. Imperial stormtroopers stand guard around the room. Commander Tagge, a young, slimy-looking general, is speaking.
TAGGE Until this battle station is fully operational we are vulnerable. The Rebel Alliance is too well equipped. They’re more dangerous than you realize.
The bitter Admiral Motti twists nervously in his chair. MOTTI Dangerous to your starfleet, Commander, not to this battle station!
TAGGE The Rebellion will continue to gain a support in the Imperial Senate as long as….
Suddenly all heads turn as Commander Tagge’s speech is cut short and the Grand Moff Tarkin, governor of the Imperial outland regions, enters. He is followed by his powerful ally, The Sith Lord, Darth Vader. All of the generals stand and bow before the thin, evil-looking governor as he takes his place at the head of the table. The Dark Lord stands behind him. TARKIN The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I’ve just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.
TAGGE That’s impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?
TARKIN The regional governors now have direct control over territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.
TAGGE And what of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it. VADER The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands. MOTTI Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they’ve obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!
VADER Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
MOTTI Don’t try to frighten us with your sorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. 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.