^…^ said:
Sandstorm scene is in need of big audio restore; I’m not an audio expert, so I don’t know if it’s possible to recover somehow the voices which are burden under tons of noise… someone thought to take dialogs from other films: good idea, difficult to put in act. I wonder if the radio drama contains this scene; if so, it will be great and easy to fix.
I’m not familiar with the NPR version of Return, but I’m trying to find the script. It was published the same way the NPR Star Wars script was published. There are a couple of scenes in the published Star Wars that didn’t make it into the broadcast. Perhaps that’s the case with Return also. I’ll let you know what I find.
Until then, the early draft of the shooting script for Return has this dialog from the sandstorm scene. It’s been a while since I watched the deleted scene you’re referencing. This may not even fit what they later filmed.
- EXT. HANGAR – HUTT SPACEPORT – SANDSTORM – DAY
Lando leads Luke, Han, Chewie and the robots through a raging sandstorm toward the entrance to an underground starship hangar.
LANDO
It’s not much further.
HAN
I just hope you parked her out of this storm.
Chewie barks to his old friend that he picked the spot.
HAN
Good work Chewie.
They make it to the shelter of the hangar entrance. Lando and Chewie trundle down the flight of stairs, as Han stops Luke just inside the doorway.
HAN
Luke….
LUKE
I’d better wait for the droids.
HAN
Listen Luke. I’m not much good at these things, but I just want to say thanks. We’re even…. I’m sorry I doubted you….You have learned a lot….
Luke laughs, and pats his old friend on the back.
LUKE
Just a few tricks….
HAN
Luke….Ah about Leia….I
LUKE
I know everything. She loves you Han. My feelings for her are different than yours. I’m not going to get in your way.
Han gives Luke a big hug as Threepio stumbles up to the entryway. He looks a little worse for wear.
THREEPIO
Master Luke, Master Luke! They’ve taken Artoo….
LUKE
What? Where?
THREEPIO
(pointing) Back there…. two men, grabbed him. They’ll strip him for parts.
Han and Luke dash out of the entryway and into the full blast of the sandstorm.
- EXT. ALLEYWAY HUTT SPACEPORT – SANDSTORM.
They run down an alleyway looking for Artoo. The sand blows furiously around them.
LUKE
This way.
HAN
I can’t see a thing…wait over there.
Han points at two cloaked figures disappearing down a narrow passageway and starts after them. Luke follows. As Han rounds the corner, he is struck over the head by a powerful blow from behind. He hits the ground with a thud revealing little Artoo, helplessly dangling from a strap tied halfway up the wall. One of the figures puts a hand over the little droid’s mouth.
1’ST FIGURE
Get ready, here he comes.
Luke rounds the corner, sees Han, Artoo, and is instantly surrounded by a cage that suddenly appears around him.
OFFICER
Get his weapon.
Luke looks around and sees that he is trapped. He touches the bars of his cage, they’re electrified. His blaster is drawn out of his holster, and crashes against the magnetic bars.
OFFICER
Hurry, get him aboard the ship.
- EXT. HANGAR – HUTT SPACEPORT SANDSTORM
Chewie and Lando join Threepio at the entrance to the Hangar.
LANDO
What’s going on?
THREEPIO
They went to rescue Artoo. He was…
Chewie barks and points at Artoo and Han struggling through the sandstorm. Chewie and Lando go out to help Han.
HAN
They’ve taken Luke…
The loud roar of a starship taking off can be heard overhead. They all look up as it passes and fades in the distance.
HAN
Quick, we’ve got to go after them.
- HUTT SPACEPORT – DAY
The Millenium Falcon roars off its’ landing pad and quickly disappears into the sandstorm.
- INT. COCKPIT – FALCON
Han and Chewie are at the controls and Lando and the robots sit in the back. Chewie barks and flips a switch.
HAN
Yeah, that’s them all right. We can outrun them easy.
LANDO
Unless…
Out the cockpit window, the Imperial shuttle is very close when suddenly it rockets away at a terrific rate of speed, and disappears.
LANDO
(continued)
… they go to lightspeed.
Chewie pushes forward on the throttle and the Falcon slows. Han bangs his fist on the controls in anger.
HAN
Blast it!
LANDO
Chewie, set your coordinates for the fleet…
The Falcon rockets away into the stars.