A new Hope

The best of friends

EXT. SPACE

The Imperial Stardestroyer comes over the surface of the planet Tatooine.

               EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT

Jundland, or "No Man's Land", where the rugged desert mesas meet the foreboding dune sea. The two helpless astro-droids kick up clouds of sand as they leave the lifepod and clumsily work their way across the desert wasteland. The lifepod in the distance rests half buried in the sand.

                            THREEPIO
       How did I get into this mess? I really
          don't know how. We seem to be made
                   to suffer. It's our lot in life.

            Artoo answers with beeping sounds.

                                     THREEPIO
                         I've got to rest before I fall apart.
                         My joints are almost frozen.

Artoo continues to respond with beeping sounds.

                                     THREEPIO
                         What a desolate place this is.

               Suddenly Artoo whistles, makes a sharp right turn and starts off in the direction of the rocky desert mesas. Threepio stops and yells at him.

                              THREEPIO
                         Where are you going?

               A stream of electronic noises pours forth from the small
               robot.

                                THREEPIO
                   Well, I'm not going that way. It's
               much too rocky. This way is much
                         easier.

               Artoo counters with a long whistle.

                                     THREEPIO
                         What makes you think there are
                         settlements over there?

      Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.

                                     THREEPIO
                         Don't get technical with me.

        Artoo continues to make beeping sounds.

                                     THREEPIO
           What mission? What are you talking
           about? I've had just about enough of
                         you! Go that way! You'll be
                         malfunctioning within a day, you
                         nearsighted scrap pile!

      Threepio gives the little robot a kick and starts off in the direction of the vast dune sea.

                                     THREEPIO
              And don't let me catch you following
                         me begging for help, because you
                         won't get it.

               Artoo's reply is a rather rude sound. He turns and trudges
               off in the direction of the towering mesas.

                                     THREEPIO
            No more adventures. I'm not going
                         that way.

               Artoo beeps to himself as he makes his way toward the distant
               mountains.

               EXT. TATOOINE - DUNE SEA

               Threepio, hot and tired, struggles up over the ridge of a
               dune; only to find more dunes, which seem to go on for endless
               miles.  He looks back in the direction of the now distant
               rock mesas.

                                     THREEPIO
                         That malfunctioning little twerp.
                         This is all his fault! He tricked me
                 into going this way, but he'll do no
                         better.

               In a huff of anger and frustration, Threepio knocks the sand
               from his joints. His plight seems hopeless, when a glint of
               reflected light in the distance reveals an object moving
               towards him.

                                     THREEPIO
        Wait, what's that? A transport! I'm
                         saved!

      The bronze android waves frantically and yells at the approaching transport.

                                     THREEPIO
                         Over here! Help! Please, help!