122.  AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - SPACE

 

Starkiller was considerably shaken in the destruction of his laserturret.  He

is slightly dazed as Whitsun straps him into a lifepod with Artwo.

 

WHITSUN (to Artwo)

You watch him.  Make sure this pod gets off all right.

 

Artwo nods, and Whitsun moves to the second lifepod and straps himself in next

to the princess.

 

LEIA

Will he be all right?

 

WHITSUN

I think so.. His feelings for you are dangerous.  You should discourage him.

 

She is surprised that Starkiller has any feeling for her, but keeps her

emotions to herself.

 

123.  BRIDGE - STARSHIP - YAVIN ORBIT

 

The general is strapped into the lifepod with the two micro-packs containing

the young princes.  Han and Threepio are in the second lifepod.

 

HAN

We're in orbit.

 

THREEPIO

We've got to eject now!  Those reactors won't hold much longer.  This ship's

going to end up in a million little pieces,... and I don't want to be one of

them.

 

HAN

All lifepod systems are operative.

 

GENERAL (into intercom)

If you boys are ready back there, we'll get off this bucket.

 

WHITSUN

All systems operative...I have the signal.

 

ARTWO

All systems operative...We have the signal.

 

Han salutes the general, and his lifepod jettisons away from the crippled

starship.  He is quickly followed by the general.

 

124.  AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - YAVIN ORBIT

 

Artwo pushes the jettison switch, but nothing happens.  Starkiller slowly and

with some difficulty, pushes the switch two or three times.  Nothing happens.

He begins to look a little worried.

 

STARKILLER (into intercom)

We've got a problem...Wait a second...

 

Artwo pushes the switch again, and the lifepod blasts off in a cloud of smoke

and debris.  Whitsun also seems to be having a problem.  Half the lights on

his control panel have gone dead.  He struggles to reactivate them.

 

WHITSUN

My power's out!

 

GENERAL (over intercom)

Is it a faulty switch?

 

WHITSUN

No.  The whole bank is out.

 

Whitsun gives the princess a reassuring look, then punches some information

into the computer.  The monitor flashes:  "Income line main power."  He looks

outside the lifepod and sees a damaged cable.

 

WHITSUN

I've found it...

 

GENERAL

You haven't much time...The auxiliary units have already blown....

 

Whitsun scrambles out of the lifepod and rushes over to the severed connector.

 

He works on it for a few moments, then stops with a rather defeated look.  The

princess watches him as he tries to think of a solution.  A great explosion is

heard in the forward part of the ship.

 

125.  LIFEPODS - SPACE - YAVIN ORBIT

 

The two lifepods containing the general, and Han and Threepio drift away from

the disabled starship.

 

GENERAL

Where's Starkiller?

 

HAN

I can't see him either.

 

Starkiller uses the small rockets on his lifepod to maneuver back toward the

burning starship.  He can hear the general over the intercom.

 

GENERAL

Starkiller, where are you?  Report in.

 

Starkiller reaches down and switches off the intercom.

 

126.  AFT SECTION - STARSHIP - YAVIN ORBIT

 

Whitsun appears to have found a solution to his situation and rushes back to

the princess.  He reaches in and locks on the power switch.

 

WHITSUN

There is only one possible solution, and we must use it.  Lock the hitch and

make sure it is sealed.

 

PRINCESS

But what of...

 

Another explosion creates a large bulge in the wall of the aft section.

 

WHITSUN

We've no time!

 

He slams the hatch shut and runs to the power connector.  Smoke begins to fill

the chamber, as Whitsun slams a large metallic dampening tool across the

damaged connector terminals, and the lifepod jettisons away.

 

127.  LIFEPODS - SPACE - YAVIN ORBIT

 

The princess jettisons free, as Starkiller moves toward the crippled ship.

Leia calls the general on the intercom.

 

LEIA

I'm all right, but Clieg is still on board.

 

GENERAL

Starkiller, stay out of there.

 

With a rumble, the starship disappears in a spectacular explosion, sending

debris in all directions.  Starkiller stops his lifepod and it starts to