EPISODE VI
RETURN OF THE JEDI
A final, climactic confrontation in GALACTIC CIVIL WAR looms near. The Empire, desperate to extinguish the ever-spreading flame of rebellion, has hastened its dual construction on the second DEATH STAR.
Recognizing if completed this ultimate weapon would spell certain doom for the Alliance, the Rebellion has organized a preemptive strike against the armored battle station, preparing to go into battle with or without several of their key leaders, who on Tatooine have masterminded the rescue of Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster, Jabba the Hutt.
Having returned to the Dagobah System, Luke Skywalker is facing his final trials to become a Jedi Knight. Luke is eager to complete his training and join his friends in the effort, but has unanswered questions for his dying Jedi Master that could shatter his reality and alter the course of galactic history…
-First scene of Vader arriving on Death Star II as is.
-Wipe to Dagobah. Edit Luke and Yoda's dialogue. Scene as is until:
Luke: But...the training?
Yoda: No more training do you require. Already know you that what you need.
Luke: Then I am a Jedi?
Yoda: Luke, when gone am I, the last of the Jedi you will be. The force runs strong in your family, pass on what you have learned. Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor, or suffer your father's fate you will.
Luke: Master Yoda... is Darth Vader my father?
Yoda: Rest I need, yes, rest.
Luke: Yoda, I must know.
Yoda: Your father he is. Told you did he?
Luke: Yes.
Yoda: Unexpected this is. And unfortunate.
Luke: Unfortunate that I know the truth?
Yoda: No! Unfortunate that you rushed to face him, that incomplete was your training. That not ready for the burden were you.
Luke: I'm sorry.
Yoda: Luke...there is another...Sky...walk...er.
-Luke/Obi-Wan scene as is (for now anyway). Btw, I am aware Luke has his black glove on during these scenes, but the way I see it hardly noticable clothing continuity is a small price to pay for the greater good of the story. It could also be assumed it was for his hand, like Anakin in RotS, and he removed it on Tatooine, only to have it damaged and require a covering yet again.
-Wipe to Emperor arriving on Death Star II. (This transition works really well with Obi-Wan's last line, "...but they could be made to serve the Emperor."
-Wipe to Tatooine with droids approaching Jabba's palace. Story flow as is (there will of course be many asthetic changes to this sequence). Luke's late arrival and the confused plan can be interpreted as him having to finish his training the the Rebels not being able to wait any longer, so they spring a plan to rescue Han and get back to the fleet and plan the attack on the Death Star II.
-It would be really nice to have the deleted sandstorm scene, as it presents at least SOME kind of resolution to the Han/Lando situation that was desperately needed in the film. The radio drama addresses this in a great scene with the two on the Falcon, which of course is impossible to duplicate. And that's another point; not once in RotJ do we see Han flying the Falcon. Shame. Maybe we can do something about that, a rear cockpit view of jumping into hyperspace perhaps?
-Luke would of course just meet the crew "Back at the fleet," already having dealt with his business on Dagobah in between movies and in the opening of this one.
-Wipe to first Throne Room scene on Death Star II. (This transition works really well with Vader's mention of "...a Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?", we then get to see that fleet.)
-Wipe to Rebel Alliance meeting, film continues as is (with appropriate asthetic alterations throughout).
Shuffling the basic story structure of the beginning of RotJ would not only greatly strenghten the film, but also account for the numerous nitpicks presented by its original form. Most importantly in my mind, is Luke actually completing his training on Dagobah with Yoda, and finding out about Anakin. Yes, it is a stretch to believe Luke went for almost a year without mentioning it to Yoda, but it is much more believable than him not even going back in a year, not just to complete his training but to get some answers. I think my new opening crawl does a lot for the story as well. It has been pointed out that the other 5 episodes' crawls all open with important galactic happenings. RotJ? "Luke Skywalker has returned to his home planet of Tatooine to..." yeah, not so much. If you look at things with an open mind, this version of events deals with most of the issues that were botched or confusing in the original:
-A second Death Star? So fast?
-The rushed plan to get Han, Luke's late arrival. (sort of)
-Desperate to rescue Han before having to get back to the Rebel fleet.
-Luke completing his training and discovering the truth about his father.
-Making the film flow together much better instead of feeling like Episode 6A and Episode 6B.
Here is my altered RotJ script incorporating dialogue from the Radio Drama. The new dialogue being in bold:
Too late. The Wookiee has already pulled the animal 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.
THREEPIO
One would suppose a 220 year old Wookie to have learned a measure of self-restraint. HAN
What are you telling them?
THREEPIO
Hello, I think... I could be mistaken.
These creatures seem to call themselves Ewoks. And I do believe they think I am some sort of god. Suddenly all activity stops as LOGRAY, the tribal Medicine Man,
comes out of the big hut. He examines the captives carefully,
goes to join Threepio, whose throne has been placed on an
elevated platform. A larger, gray-haired Ewok, CHIEF CHIRPA, is
examining Luke's lightsaber with great curiosity.
THREEPIO
As I understand it Master Luke, the forest has been invaded by Stormtroopers. The Ewoks presume you to be enemies.
HAN
What did he say?
THREEPIO
I'm rather embarrassed, General Solo, but it
appears you are to be the main course at a
banquet in my honor.
Shot of ARTOO.
THREEPIO
And you Artoo are to be reclaimed for useable scrap.
Another Shot of Artoo-he is displeased. At the end of it, the Chief, Logray, and the elders confer, then
nod in agreement. The Chief stands and makes a pronouncement.
LUKE (OS)
What are they saying Threepio?
THREEPIO
The Ewoks want to know where they fit into the story Sir. Myth and life are strongly intertwined with Ewoks. If I make them part of the tale, it will in their minds make them part of the Rebellion”
LUKE (OS)
Do it Threepio.
Threepio says more Ewokese, including them in the story. That strengthens the Ewoks characterwise I think, giving them reasons for their actions. Also I thought it would be nice to throw that reference to Chewbacca's age in there just for the fun of it.