INTERIOR: KENOBI'S DWELLING.
LUKE: No, my father didn't die in the wars. He was a navigator on a
spice freighter.
BEN: That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals or old Obi-Wan's "damned-fool idealistic
crusade."
LUKE: You fought in the Clone Wars?
BEN: Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father.
LUKE: I wish I'd known him.
BEN: He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior.
I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was a
good friend. Which reminds me...
Ben gets up and goes to a chest where he rummages around.
Ben shuffles up and presents Luke with a short handle
with several electronic gadgets attached to it.
BEN: I have something here for you. I wanted you to have
this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it.
THREEPIO: Sir, if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for
awhile.
LUKE: Sure, go ahead.
Ben hands Luke the saber.
LUKE: What is it?
BEN: Your fathers lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not
as clumsy or as random as a blaster.
Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long beam shoots out
about four feet and flickers there. The light plays across the
ceiling.
BEN: An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand
generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice
in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.
Luke hasn't really been listening.
LUKE: (alternate Luke line asking about what happened to the Jedi or Republic)
BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he
turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi
Knights. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.
LUKE: The Force?
BEN: Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy
field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us.
It binds the galaxy together.
Artoo makes beeping sounds.
BEN: Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little
friend. And where you come from.
LUKE: I saw part of the message he was...
Luke is cut short as the recorded image of the beautiful
young Rebel princess is projected from Artoo's face.
BEN: I seem to have found it.
Luke stops his work as the lovely girl's image flickers
before his eyes.
LEIA: General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone
Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire.
I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in
person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission
to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital
to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2
unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid
safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.
There is a little static and the transmission is cut short.
Luke has stars in his eyes.
BEN: You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to
Alderaan.
LUKE: (laughing) Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to go
home. It's late, I'm in for it as it is.
BEN: I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I'm getting too old
for this sort of thing.
LUKE: I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like
the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right
now. It's such a long way from here.
BEN: That's your uncle talking.
LUKE: (sighing) My uncle! How am I ever going to explain
this?
BEN: Learn about the Force, Luke.
LUKE: Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a
transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going.
BEN: You must do what you feel is right, of course.
I had originally intented to keep the original flow of the scene starting with the message, but found it much easier to begin the scene with Luke's altered line which has us assume Ben tells him his father died in the Clone Wars. Also I'm sure with all the Mark Hamill dialogue out there we can find something to plug into the "How did my father die" spot, particularly from the Radio Dramas. I'm going to go through those again pretty soon to see how else they can be utilized for our saga editions.