S T A R W A R S
EPISODE VI
BY
LAWRENCE KASDAN
AND
GEORGE LUCAS
FROM THE NOVEL
BY
GEORGE LUCAS
SECOND DRAFT - DECEMBER 19, 1982
SPACE
The boundless heavens serve as a back-drop
for the MAIN TITLE,
followed by a ROLL-UP, which crawls into
infinity.
Episode VI: REVENGE OF THE JEDI...
Luke Skywalker has returned to his home
planet of Tatooine in an attempt to rescue
his friend Han Solo from the clutches of
the
vile gangster Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Luke know that the GALACTIC
EMPIRE has secretly begun construction on
a
new armored space station even more
powerful
than the first dreaded Death Star.
spell certain doom for the small band of
Rebels struggling to restore freedom to
the
galaxy...
PAN DOWN to
reveal a monstrous half-completed Death Star, its
massive
superstructure curling away from the completed section
like the arms
of a giant octopus. Beyond, in benevolent contrast,
floats the
small, green moon of ENDOR.
An Imperial
Star Destroyer moves overhead toward the massive
armored space
station, followed by two zipping TIE fighters. A
small Imperial
shuttle rockets from the main bay of the ship and
hustles toward
the Death Star.
2 INT IMPERIAL
SHUTTLE - COCKPIT 2
The shuttle
captain makes contact with the Death Star.
SHUTTLE CAPTAIN
Command
station, this is ST 321. Code
Clearance Blue.
We're starting our approach.
Deactivate the
security shield.
DEATH STAR
CONTROLLER
(filtered VO)
The security
deflector shield will be
deactivated
when we have confirmation of your
code
transmission. Stand by... You are clear
to proceed.
SHUTTLE CAPTAIN
We're starting
our approach.
3 INT DEATH
STAR - CONTROL ROOM 3
Operators move
about among the control panels. A SHIELD OPERATOR
hits switches
beside a large screen, on which is a display of the
Death Star, the
moon Endor, and a bright web delineating the
invisible
deflector shield.
A control
officer rushes over to the shield operator.
OFFICER
Inform the
commander that Lord Vader's
shuttle has
arrived.
OPERATOR
Yes, sir.
The control
officer moves to a view port and watches as the
Imperial
shuttle lands in the massive docking bay. A squad of
Imperial
stormtroopers moves into formation before the craft.
4 INT DEATH
STAR - MAIN DOCKING BAY 4
The DEATH STAR
COMMANDER, MOFF JERJERROD, a tall, confident
technocrat,
strides through the assembled troops to the base of
the shuttle
ramp. The troops snap to attention; many are uneasy
about the new
arrival. But the Death Star commander stands
arrogantly
tall.
The exit hatch
of the shuttle opens with a WHOOSH, revealing only
darkness. Then,
heavy FOOTSTEPS AND MECHANICAL BREATHING. From
this black void
appears DARTH VADER, LORD OF THE SITH. Vader
looks over the
assemblage as he walks down the ramp.
JERJERROD
Lord Vader,
this is an unexpected pleasure.
We're honored
by your presence.
VADER
You may
dispense with the pleasantries,
Commander. I'm
here to put you back on
schedule.
The commander
turns ashen and begins to shake.
JERJERROD
I assure you,
Lord Vader, my men are working
as fast as they
can.
VADER
Perhaps I can
find new ways to
motivate them.
JERJERROD
I tell you,
this station will be operational
as planned.
VADER
The Emperor
does not share your
optimistic
appraisal of the situation.
JERJERROD
But he asks the
impossible. I need more men.
VADER
Then perhaps
you can tell him when he
arrives.
JERJERROD
(aghast)
The Emperor's
coming here?
VADER
That is
correct, Commander. And he is most
displeased with
your apparent lack of
progress.
JERJERROD
We shall double
our efforts.
VADER
I hope so,
Commander, for your sake. The
Emperor is not
as forgiving as I am.
5 EXT ROAD TO
JABBA'S PALACE - TATOOINE 5
A lonely,
windswept road meanders through the desolate Tatooine
terrain. We
HEAR a familiar BEEPING and a distinctive reply
before catching
sight of ARTOO-DETOO and SEE-THREEPIO, making
their way along
the road toward the ominous palace of Jabba the
Hutt.
THREEPIO
Of course I'm
worried. And you should be,
too. Lando
Calrissian and poor Chewbacca
never returned
from this awful place.
Artoo whistles
timidly.
THREEPIO
Don't be so
sure. If I told you half the
things I've
heard about this Jabba the Hutt,
You'd probably
short-circuit.
The two droids
fearfully approach the massive gate to the palace.
THREEPIO
Artoo, are you
sure this is the right place?
I better knock,
I suppose.
6 EXT JABBA'S
PALACE - GATE 6
Threepio looks
around for some kind of signaling device, then
timidly knocks
on the iron door.
THREEPIO
(instantly)
There doesn't
seem to be anyone there. Let's
go back and
tell Master Luke.
A small hatch
in the middle of the door opens and a spidery
mechanical arm,
with a large electronic eyeball on the end, pops
out and
inspects the two droids.
STRANGE VOICE
Tee chuta hhat
yudd!
THREEPIO
Goodness
gracious me!
Threepio points
to Artoo, then to himself.
THREEPIO
Artoo Detoowha
bo Seethreepiowha ey toota odd
mischka Jabba
du Hutt.
The eye looks
from one robot to the other, there is a laugh then
the eye zips
back into the door. The hatch slams shut. Artoo
beeps his
concern.
THREEPIO
I don't think
they're going to let us in,
Artoo. We'd
better go.
Artoo beeps his
reluctance as Threepio turns to leave. Suddenly
the massive
door starts to rise with a horrific metallic SCREECH.
The robots turn
back and face an endless black cavity. The droids
look at one
another, afraid to enter.
Artoo starts
forward into the gloom. Threepio rushes after his
stubby
companion. The door lowers noisily behind them.
THREEPIO
Artoo, wait.
Oh, dear! Artoo. Artoo, I really
don't think we
should rush into all this.
Artoo continues
down the corridor, with Threepio following.
THREEPIO
Oh, Artoo!
Artoo, wait for me!
7 INT JABBA'S
PALACE - HALLWAY 7
The door slams
shut with a loud crash that echoes throughout the
dark
passageway. The frightened robots are met by two giant,
green GAMORREAN
GUARDS, who fall in behind them. Threepio glances
quickly back at
the two lumbering brutes, then back to Artoo. One
guard grunts an
order. Artoo beeps nervously.
THREEPIO
Just you
deliver Master Luke's message and
get us out of
here. Oh my! Oh! Oh, no.
Walking toward
them out of the darkness is BIB FORTUNA, a