A new Hope

The start of a brand new adventure

Surreal and out of place,
               dreamlike and half hidden in the smoke, he finishes adjusting something on Artoo's computer face, then watches as the little robot joins his companion.

                          THREEPIO
              At last! Where have you been?

*Stormtroopers can be heard battling in the distance.*

                           THREEPIO
         They're heading in this direction.
         What are we going to do? We'll be
          sent to the spice mine of Kessel or
            smashed into who knows what!

    *Artoo scoots past his bronze friend and races down the subhallway. Threepio chases after him.*

                                     THREEPIO
          Wait a minute, where are you going?

         *Artoo responds with electronic beeps.*

INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - CORRIDOR

*The evil Darth Vader stands amid the broken and twisted bodies of his foes. He grabs a wounded Rebel Officer by the neck as
an Imperial Officer rushes up to the Dark Lord.*

                      IMPERIAL OFFICER
          The Death Star plans are not in the
                         main computer.

*Vader squeezes the neck of the Rebel Officer, who struggles in vain.*

                            VADER
         Where are those transmissions you
                         intercepted?

  *Vader lifts the Rebel off his feet by his throat.*

                               VADER
        What have you done with those plans?

                          REBEL OFFICER
               We intercepted no transmissions.
                   Aaah... This is a consular ship.
                   Were on a diplomatic mission.

                               VADER
                 If this is a consular ship... were
                         is the Ambassador?

               *The Rebel refuses to speak but eventually cries out as the
               Dark Lord begins to squeeze the officer's throat, creating a
               gruesome snapping and choking, until the soldier goes limp.
     Vader tosses the dead soldier against the wall and turns to
         his troops.*

                               VADER
Commander, tear this ship apart until
        you've found those plans and bring
        me the Ambassador. I want him alive!

               *The stormtroopers scurry into the subhallways.*

               INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - SUB HALLWAY

               *The charming young boy huddles in a small alcove as the
               stormtroopers search through the ship. He is Princes Kota Organa, a member of the Alderaan Senate. The fear in his eyes slowly gives way to anger as the muted crushing sounds of the approaching stormtroopers grow louder. One of the troopers spots him.*

                              TROOPER
                There he is! Set for stun!

*Kota steps from his hiding place and blasts a trooper with his laser pistol. He starts to run but is felled by a paralyzing ray. The troopers inspect his inert body.*

                             TROOPER
               He'll be all right. Inform Lord
                    Vader we have a prisoner.

               INT. REBEL BLOCKADE RUNNER - SUBHALLWAY

          *Artoo stops before the small hatch of an emergency lifepod.
               He snaps the seal on the main latch and a red warning light
               begins to flash. The stubby astro-robot works his way into
               the cramped four-man pod.*

                          THREEPIO
          Hey, you're not permitted in there.
         It's restricted. You'll be deactivated
                         for sure..

               *Artoo beeps something to him.*

                           THREEPIO
       Don't call me a mindless philosopher,
           you overweight glob of grease!
Now come out before somebody sees you.

               *Artoo whistles something at his reluctant friend regarding
               the mission he is about to perform.*

                            THREEPIO
      Secret mission? What plans? What are
          you talking about? I'm not getting
                         in there!

               *Artoo isn't happy with Threepio's stubbornness, and he beeps and twangs angrily.*

               *A new explosion, this time very close, sends dust and debris
               through the narrow subhallway. Flames lick at Threepio and,
               after a flurry of electronic swearing from Artoo, the lanky
               robot jumps into the lifepod.*

                                     THREEPIO
                         I'm going to regret this.