A new Hope

Eri meets the droids

EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - LARS HOMESTEAD - AFTERNOON
The Jawas mutter gibberish as they busily line up their battered captives,
including Artoo and Threepio, in front of the enormous Sandcrawler, which is
parked beside a small homestead consisting of three large holes in the ground
surrounded by several tall moisture vaporators and one small adobe block house.
The Jawas scurry around fussing over the robots, straightening them up or
brushing some dust from a dented metallic elbow. The shrouded little creatures
smell horribly, attracting small insects to the dark areas when their mouths and
nostrils should be.
Out of the shadows of a dingy side-building limps Owen Lars, a large burly man
in his mid-fifties. His reddish eyes are sunken in a dust-covered face. As the
farmer carefully inspects each of the robots, he is closely followed by his
slump-shouldered nephew, Eri Skywalker. One of the vile little Jawas walks
ahead of the farmer spouting an animated sales pitch in a queer, unintelligible
language.
A voice calls out from one of the huge holes that form the homestead. Eri goes
over to the edge and sees his Aunt Beru standing in the main courtyard.

Tokage
Eri, tell Tetsutetsu that if he gets
a translator to be sure it speaks Bocce.

ERI
It looks like we don't have much of a choice but I'll remind him.
Eri returns to her uncle as they look over the equipment for sale with the Jawa
leader.

Tetsutetsu
I have no need for a protocol droid.

THREEPIO
(quickly)
Sir - not in an environment such
as this - that's why I've also
been programmed for over thirty
secondary functions that...

Tetsutetsu
What I really need is a droid that understands the binary languages of moisture vaporators.

THREEPIO
Vaporators! Sir - My first job was programming binary load lifters
... very similar to your vaporators.
You could say...

Tetsutetsu
Do you speak Bocce?

THREEPIO
Of course I can, sir. It's like
a second language for me... I'm
as fluent in Bocce...

Tetsutetsu
All right; shut up!
(turning to Jawa)
I'll take this one.

THREEPIO
Shutting up, sir.

OWEN
Eri, take these two over to the garage, will you? I want you to have both of them cleaned
up before dinner.

Eri
But I was going into Toshi Station
to pick up some power converters...

Tetsutetsu
You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done. Now, come on, get to it!

ERI
All right, come on! And the red one, come on. Well, come on,Red, let's go.

As the Jawas start to lead the three remaining robots back into the Sandcrawler,
Artoo lets out a pathetic little beep and starts after his old friend Threepio.
He is restrained by a slimy Jawa, who zaps him with a control box.
Tetsutetsu is negotiating with the head Jawa. Eri and the two robots start for the
garage when a plate pops off the head of the red astro-droid, throwing parts all
over the ground. She adjusts the astro-droid's head plate and it sparks wildly.

ERI
Uncle Tetsutetsu ...

Tetsutetsu
Yeah?

ERI
This R2 unit has a bad motivator. Look!

Tetsutetsu
(to the head Jawa)
Hey, what're you trying to push on us?

The Jawa goes into a loud spiel. Meanwhile, Artoo has sneaked out of line and
is moving up and down trying to attract attention. He lets out with a low
whistle. Threepio taps Eri on the shoulder.

THREEPIO
(pointing to Artoo)
Excuse me, ma'am but that R2 unit
is in prime condition. A real
bargain.

Eri
Uncle Tetsutetsu ...

Tetsutetsu
Yeah?
ERI
What about that one?

Tetsutetsu
(to Jawa)
What about that blue one? We'll
take that one.

With a little reluctance the scruffy dwarf trades the damaged astro-droid for
Artoo.
ERI
Yeah, take it away.

THREEPIO
Uh, I'm quite sure you'll be very
pleased with that one, ma'am. He
really is in first-class condition.
I've worked with him before. Here
he comes.
Tetsutetsu pays off the whining Jawa and the two robots trudge off toward a grimy
homestead entry.

ERI
Okay, let's go.

THREEPIO
(to Artoo)
Now, don't forget this! Why I
should stick my neck out for you
is quite beyond my capacity!