EXT. FOREST – SCOUT CAMPSITE – DAY
Hours have passed. The sun now hangs low in the sky, painting the firmament gold.
Han, Luke, Chewie, and the two ‘droids are spread out as they move through the campsite. Though traces of the Imperial presence and the battle here can still be found, the Imperials’ equipment – and more disconcertingly, the Imperials themselves – have vanished. Luke finds Leia’s helmet and picks it up, an expression of concern on his face.
HAN: (O.C.) Luke! Luke!
Luke runs with the helmet to where Han has found the charred wreckage of the speeder bikes in the grass.
C-3PO: Oh, Master Luke.
LUKE: I found this.
He tosses the helmet to Han.
C-3PO: I’m afraid that Artoo’s sensors can find no trace of Princess Leia.
HAN: (grave) I hope she’s alright.
Chewbacca growls, sniffing the air, then, with a bark, pushes off through the foliage.
HAN: What, Chewie? What, Chewie‽
The others rush to keep up with the giant Wookiee. As he scoots along, Artoo whistles nervously.
EXT. FOREST – DENSE FOLIAGE – DAY
The group has reached a break in the undergrowth. Chewie walks up to a tall stake planted in the ground. There, hanging from it by the neck, quite dead, is the scout commander.
The rest of the group joins the Wookiee around the stake. Chewie can’t resist. He reaches for the body.
LUKE: (alarmed) Chewie, wa-wait! Don’t!
Too late. The Wookiee has already pulled the Imperial from the stake. SPROOING! The group finds itself hanging upside down in an Ewok net, suspended high above the clearing. Artoo lets out a wild series of beeps and whistles, and Chewie howls his regret. Their bodies are a jumble in the net. Han removes a Wookiee paw from his mouth.
HAN: Nice work. Great, Chewie! Great!
LUKE: Will you take it easy‽ Let’s just figure out a way to get out of this thing! (trying to free arm) Han, can you reach my lightsaber‽
HAN: Yeah! Sure!
Artoo is at the bottommost point in the net. He extends his saw and begins cutting at the net. Han is trying to squeeze an arm past Threepio to get at Luke’s lightsaber. The net continues to spin.
C-3PO: Artoo, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. It’s a very long drooop!
Artoo has cut through and the entire group tumbles out of the net, crashing to the ground.
As the five Rebels regain their senses and sit up, DOZENS OF COMPACT FIGURES hidden high up on the trunks and in the branches of the trees surrounding them drop to the ground. They are members of an EWOK WAR PARTY. These Ewoks – dressed in animal skins, decorated with feathers and jewellery made from teeth and small bones, some protected in pieces of captured scout and stormtrooper armour, all brandishing spears – move in upon their Human, Wookiee, and robot captives.
HAN: Hey! Point that thing someplace else!
Han pushes the spear wielded by TEEBO out of his face and a second Ewok warrior comes up to argue with Teebo. The spear returns to Han’s face.
HAN: Hey!
He grabs the shaft angrily and goes for his blaster.
LUKE: (grabs Han’s wrist) Han, don’t. It’ll be alright.
The Ewoks swarm through them and confiscate their weapons. Luke lets them take his lightsaber. Chewie growls at the furry critters.
LUKE: Chewie, give 'em your crossbow.
Artoo and Threepio are just untangling themselves. Threepio gets free of the net and sits up, rattled.
C-3PO: Oh, my head.
When the Ewoks see Threepio, they let out a gasp and chatter among themselves.
C-3PO: Oh, my goodness!
Threepio speaks to them in their native tongue.
LUKE: Do you understand anything they’re saying?
C-3PO: Oh, yes, Master Luke! Remember that I am fluent in over six-million forms of communication.
HAN: What are you telling them?
C-3PO: Hello, I think. I could be mistaken. They’re using a very primitive dialect.
EXT. FOREST – MONTAGE
A procession of Ewoks winds through the ever-darkening forest. Their prisoners are tied to long poles. Each pole is carried on the shoulders of several Ewoks.
HAN: (to C-3PO; frustrated) Why don’t you use your lingual prowess and get us out of this?
C-3PO: I beg your pardon, Capt. Solo. I have tried, but I do believe they think I am some sort of forest demon.
HAN: Forest demon‽
EXT. FOREST – TREE WALKWAY – EVENING
The procession moves along a shaky, narrow, wooden walkway high in the giant trees. It stops at the end of the walkway, which drops off into nothingness. On the other side of the abyss is a village of mud huts and rickety walkways, attached to the giant trees. The lead Ewok takes hold of a long vine and swings across to the village square; the other Ewoks follow suit.
EXT. EWOK VILLAGE – SQUARE – EVENING
The procession winds its way into the village square. Totems decorated with Human skulls and trooper helmets are set along the perimetre. Skins harvested from hapless Imperials are stretched over wooden racks to tan. The group stops before the largest hut.
Han, Luke, Chewie, and the 'droids are still bound to their poles. Han is placed on a spit above what looks like a barbecue pit and the others are leaned against a tree nearby.
HAN: I have a really bad feeling about this.
Chewie growls his concern.
Suddenly all activity stops as LOGRAY, the tribal medicine man, comes out of the big hut. He examines the captives carefully then goes to join Threepio. A larger Ewok, CHIEF CHIRPA, is examining Luke’s lightsaber with great curiosity.
Logray speaks to Threepio and the assemblage of homely Ewoks, pointing to the prisoners tied to the stakes. The Ewoks begin filling the pit under Han with firewood.
HAN: What did he say?
C-3PO: (mortified) It appears we are to be the main course at a banquet in the princess’ honour.
LUKE: Princess…?
The drums start beating, and all the furry heads turn to the large hut. Leia emerges, wearing an animal-skin dress. She sees what’s happening at the same moment the prisoners see her.
HAN & LUKE: Leia!
As she moves toward them, the Ewoks block her way.
C-3PO: Your Royal Highness.
Leia looks at the assembled Ewoks and sighs.
LEIA: But these are my friends. (beat) Threepio, tell them you must be set free.
Threepio talks to Chirpa and Logray, who listen and shake their heads negatively. The medicine man gestures toward the prisoners and barks some orders. Several Ewoks jump up and pile more wood on the barbecue with vigor.
HAN: (irate) Somehow, I got the feeling that didn’t help us very much.
Leia and Luke exchange glances. The Rebel princess gets an idea.
LEIA: Threepio, tell them if they don’t do as I wish, I’ll become angry and use my magic.
C-3PO: But Your Highness, what magic? I couldn’t possibly –
LEIA: (firm) Just tell them.
Threepio speaks to the Ewoks. The Ewoks are disturbed. Logray steps forward and challenges Threepio.
C-3PO: You see, Mistress Leia; they didn’t believe me, just as I said they wouldn’t.
Luke closes his eyes and begins to concentrate. Leia rises from the ground. The Ewoks fall back in terror from the floating princess. As she raises her arms, several Ewoks are levitated into the air, beginning to spin as though they were on a revolving stool.
Chief Chirpa yells orders to the cowering Ewoks. They rush up and release the bound prisoners. Luke slowly lowers Leia to the ground, then he and Han enfold her in a group embrace. Logray orders the little 'droid cut down. Artoo crashes to the ground. When the Ewoks set him upright, the little 'droid is fighting mad. Artoo beeps a blue streak at the nearest Ewok, and begins pursuing him, finally getting close enough to zap him with an electric charge. The Ewok jumps two feet in the air and runs away, screaming. A small group of Ewoks surround the giant Wookiee, scratching their heads and marvelling at his height.
Luke: Thanks, Leia. (winks)
LEIA: (smiles) I never knew I had it in me.