star wars react: a new hope

IV

1161 words

EXT. TATOOINE - DEfERT

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

C-3PO "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."

R2-D2 answers with beeping sounds.

C-3PO "I've got to rest before I fall apart. My joints are almost frozen."

R2-D2 continues to respond with beeping sounds.

C-3PO "What a desolate place this is."

Suddenly R2-D2 whistles, makes a sharp right turn and starts off in thedirection of the rocky desert mesas. Threepio stops and yells at him.

C-3PO "Where are you going?"

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

C-3PO "Well, I'm not going that way. It's much too rocky. This way is much easier."

R2-D2 counters with a long whistle.

C-3PO "What makes you think there are settlements over there?"

R2-D2 continues to make beeping sounds.

C-3PO "Don't get technical with me."

R2-D2 continues to make beeping sounds.

C-3PO "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!"

C-3PO gives the little robot a kick and starts off in the direction of thevast dune sea.

C-3PO "And don't let me catch you following me begging for help, because you won't get it."

R2-D2 reply is a rather rude sound. He turns and trudgesoff in the direction of the towering mesas.

C-3PO "No more adventures. I'm not going that way."

R2-D2 beeps to himself as he makes his way toward the distant mountains.

EXT. TATOOINE - DUNE SEA

C-3PO, hot and tired, struggles up over the ridge of a dune: only to findmore dunes, which seem to go on for endless miles. He looks back in thedirection of the now distant rock mesas.

C-3PO "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 distancereveals an object moving towards him.

C-3PO "Wait, what's that? A transport! I'm saved!"

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

C-3PO "Over here! Help! Please, help!"

EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY

Luke and Biggs are walking and drinking a malt brew. Fixer and the others canbe heard working inside.

LUKE "So I cut off my power, shut down the afterburners and came in low on Deak's trail. I was so close I thought I was going to fry my instruments. As it was I busted up the Skyhopper pretty bad. Uncle Owen was pretty upset. He grounded me for the rest of the season. You should have been there... it was fantastic.

BIGGS "You ought to take it a little easy Luke. You may be the hottest bushpilot this side of Mos Eisley, but those little Skyhoppers are dangerous. Keep it up, and one day, whammo, you're going to be nothing more than a dark spot on the down side of a canyon wall."

LUKE "Look who's talking. Now that you've been around those giant starships you're beginning to sound like my uncle. You've gotten soft in the city"

BIGGS "I've missed you star"

LUKE "Well, things haven't been the same since you left, Biggs. It's been so quiet."

Biggs looks around then leans close to Luke close enough that she can feel his breath on her neck giving her goosebumps"

BIGGS "Luke, I didn't come back just to say goodbye. I shouldn't tell you this, but you're the only one I can trust, and if I don't come back, I want somebody to know."

Luke's eyes are wide with Biggs' seriousness and loyalty.

LUKE "What are you talking about?"

BIGGS "I made some friends at the Academy. when our frigate goes to one of the central systems, we're going to jump ship and join the Alliance"

Luke, amazed and stunned, is almost speechless.

LUKE "Join the Rebellion?! Are you kidding! How?" she says a little bit to loudly making biggs cover her mouth with his hand

BIGGS "Quiet down will ya! You got a mouth bigger than a meteor crater!"

LUKE "I'm sorry. I'm quiet. Listen how quiet I am. You can barely hear me"

Biggs shakes his head angrily and then continues.

BIGGS "My friend has a friend on Bestine who might help us make contact."

LUKE "You're crazy! You could wander around forever trying to find them."

BIGGS "I know it's a long shot, but if I don't find them I'll do what I can on my own. It's what we always talked about. Luke, I'm not going to wait for the Empire to draft me into service. The Rebellion is spreading and I want to be on the right side - the side I believe in."

LUKE "And I'm stuck here"

BIGGS "I thought you were going to the Academy next term. You'll get your chance to get off this rock."

LUKE "Not likely! I had to cancel my application. There has been a lot of unrest among the Sand People since you left,they've even raided the outskirts of Anchorhead."

BIGGS "Your uncle could hold off a whole colony of Sand People with one blaster."

LUKE "I know, but he's got enough vaporators going to make the place pay off. He needs me for just one more season. I can't leave him now."

BIGGS "I feel for you, Luke, you're going to have to learn what seems to be important or what really is important. What good is all your uncle's work if it's taken over by the Empire?. You know they're starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems, it won't be long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater glory of the Empire."

LUKE "It couldn't happen here. You said it yourself. The Empire won't bother with this rock."

BIGGS "Things always change."

LUKE "I wish I was going. Are you going to be around long?"

BIGGS "No, I'm leaving in the morning."

LUKE "Then I guess I won't see you."

BIGGS "Maybe someday. I'll keep a lookout."

LUKE "Well, I'll be at the Academy next season, after that who knows. I won't be drafted into the Imperial Starfleet that's for sure. Take care of yourself, you'll always be the best friend I've got."

BIGGS "So long, Luke."

Biggs kisses Luke on the head as a sort of goodbye then turns away from his old "friend"and heads back towards the power station.