WIPE TO:
INT. FALLING STAR, MESSDECK - SOMETIME LATER
The entire crew of the Falling Star is assembled, standing
around, leaning on walls and counters.
Obi Wan is in the center of the room, seated with his feet up
on the dining table. Now that we have time to look, we can
see that his clothes, though flamboyant, are worn and dirty.
Captain Kitch paces back and forth in front of him.
KITCH
That was some fancy work with those
two heavy gunners, I'll give you
that...
There is some muttering among the less senior crew - "That
was Kenobi?" "He's a Jedi, don't ya know?"
KITCH (CONT'D)
But a little too little, a little
too late, don't you think?
KENOBI
I thought it was just right.
KITCH
I was a lot more impressed with
Alda's contribution.
Some "hear, hears" and back slaps. Alda nods in
acknowledgment.
KENOBI
Yes, well, he had cannons. Look
here Kitch, I owe you and your crew
an apology...
ALDA
Nearly got us all killed!
One of Heph's droids beeps in agreement.
KENOBI
Indeed. Myself included. And for
that I'm deeply regretful, but...
KITCH
But nothing! I swear Kenobi, I've
had enough of you. When we land,
it's good bye. Forever.
KENOBI
Kitch, old friend...
KITCH
It's always the same with you. "I
just need a ride, Kitch, old
friend. Nothing to worry about --
nothing you can't handle."
KENOBI
Don't forget...
KITCH
"Don't forget about that time on
Seppik." How could I, with you
reminding me all the time! Well,
that's it! This time it's gone too
far. Did you see the size of that
fleet?! And the ships, they were
so... pointy.
KENOBI
What were they doing there?
KITCH
Picking that poor planet's bones,
looked like. And we were next on
the menu.
KENOBI
Yes, but why?
KITCH
I don't know, and I don't care. I'm
a pirate, Kenobi. I steal things
for a living. You're the Jedi. That
sort of business, well it's your
business. And as long as we're
asking questions: why are you
sitting? It's my ship. I should be
the one sitting!
KENOBI
By all means, sit.
KITCH
Don't you tell me what to do.
Kenobi rises abruptly.
KENOBI
Then stand. And listen to me.
You're right. That fleet is my
business, and dark business it is.
I don't know what they were doing
out there on Jatari II, but I heard
disturbing rumors, I had to
investigate, and I needed you to
give me a ride. The truth turned
out to be much worse than I
imagined. Yes, that fleet was
massive. And extremely pointy. And
unless I'm sorely mistaken that was
but one of many. Did you see that
one vessel - the giant with all the
transport traffic? What do you
think it was?
KITCH
Looked like a cargo ship to me. A
repository for all their loot.
KENOBI
The transports were filled with
people.
Some frowns from the crew of The Falling Star - Manx in
particular.
KITCH
(darkly)
A slave ship, then.
KENOBI
Maybe. But I fear it's worse than
that. And I felt a presence on
their flagship - the Dark Side of
the Force.
KITCH
See. Jedi problems. All the more
reason to leave us honest thieves
out of it.
KENOBI
Kitch, you fool, if that fleet was
just part of an armada and they're
in league with fallen members of my
order, there won't be any staying
out of it. It'll be war.
KITCH
And? War's good for business.
KENOBI
You've never seen war like this
Kitch and neither have I. If I'm
right...
KITCH
If...
An alarm sounds.
MANX
Approaching our destination,
Captain.
KITCH
We'll discuss this further after we
land, Kenobi.
Kitch and Manx make for the cockpit, and Kenobi follows.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Kitch and Manx walk briskly, followed by Kenobi.
KENOBI
That's another thing, Kitch. Those
heavy gunners they sent after us...
KITCH
The ones we blew up?
KENOBI
Your two, my two -- that leaves two
more. I think they know where we're
headed.
MANX
No way. They could never guess.
It's a real backwater, and not the
closest. It ain't the most likely
place for us to dock, and not the
least likely either, if you follow
me. Drop of water in the ocean.
KITCH
Grain of sand in the desert more
like.
KENOBI
I don't think they're guessing. I
think we're being tracked.
KITCH
Impossible. Can't track a ship
through hyperspace.
WHOOSH. The lock to the cockpit irises open.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch and Manx take their seats and start prepping for
deceleration from light speed. Kenobi stands behind them.
KENOBI
Kitch. Battle stations and shields
up. That's all I'm suggesting.
KITCH
Noted.
KENOBI
When have I lead you astray?
Kitch gives Kenobi the eyeball of all eyeballs.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
Fine. I'm going back to the aft
viewing deck. Just in case you need
me to save your hind quarters.
Again.
Obi Wan departs, the lock closing behind him.
KITCH
Save our hind quarters. Pain in the
hind quarters.
Kitch eases them out of light speed, the blue streaks in the
viewport contracting into stars, the view in front of them
dominated by the planet of Tatooine -- dead center.
KITCH (CONT'D)
Nicely done, Manx. Right on target.
MANX
Thank you, Capt...
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
INT. FALLING STAR, MESSDECK - CONTINUOUS
The crew staggers, rocked by the explosions, gunners dropping
the bags of ice they were holding to their heads. Everyone
scatters to their posts.
KITCH (O.S.)
Battle stations!
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Kenobi stumbles, then double-times it.
KENOBI
That was quick.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - CONTINUOUS
One of the hawkers pummels the Falling Star as the other
emerges from hyperspace.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch and Manx take evasive action, Tatooine swerving wildly
in the viewport.
KITCH
(through clenched teeth)
Kenobi. When he's wrong it's bad
news, and when he's right, it's
even worse.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
The swivel gunners hustle toward their stations. Gunner One
opens the air lock leading to his turret, and FOOM - a ball
of fire knocks him back into his comrades.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - CONTINUOUS
The remnants of one of the Falling Star's gun turrets burns
while a hawker hits a second with a burst of laser fire.
Hawker Two targets the rear thrusters. And connects.
INT. FALLING STAR, ENGINE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
One of Heph's droids, 4B-T1, is blown apart as a section of
the ship's engine explodes.
HEPH
Forbee!!
The engines are rocked by more explosions, knocking Heph to
the ground. Struggling to his feet, he grabs a nearby droid
under his arm and runs for the air lock.
HEPH (CONT'D)
Give it up, boys. It's no good.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Heph makes it out and stands by the lock, ushering a stream
of droids out past him.
HEPH
That's it. Hurry it up now.
When the last droid makes its exit. Heph rushes back in and
reappears moments later holding the remains of his droid. He
punches a switch, and the lock slams shut. He punches
another.
HEPH (CONT'D)
Cap'n. Too hot in there. We're
sunk. Dead in the ether.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Through the viewport, Tatooine drifts slowly past.
KITCH
I noticed.
He takes a moment to strap in. Manx follows suit.
KITCH (CONT'D)
All hands, brace for impact.
Kitch looks at Manx. She grabs his hand tightly.
INT. FALLING STAR, AFT VIEWING DECK - CONTINUOUS
Kenobi runs in, presses his face against the glass, and scans
around for the hawkers. Nothing. Then, suddenly they buzz
past, and just like that, they're out of sight again.
KENOBI
Damn.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - CONTINUOUS
The hawkers put some distance between themselves and the
Falling Star, then form up for a lethal run on the listing
ship.
They begin their approach.
INT. FALLING STAR, AFT VIEWING DECK - CONTINUOUS
As Obi Wan looks out into space, his hands pressed against
the glass, a third fighter screams past.
KENOBI
Hey!
Kenobi scrambles for a new vantage.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Kenobi finds a small portal in the passageway, and there's
the fighter -- and it looks like it's about to engage the
hawkers!
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
MANX
Cap! On the scanner...
KITCH
I see it.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - CONTINUOUS
The fighter, a real hot rod of a ship, though a little junky,
beelines for the hawkers, taking a position right on their
tails.
The hot rod lets loose with a sustained beam, heating up the
wing on one of the hawkers, blowing out a thruster. The
gunships break off in different directions.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY
Kenobi watches through the portal as the dogfight continues.
KENOBI
The force is strong with that one.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - CONTINUOUS
The hot rod pursues the damaged hawker, following it into a
steep dive. The second hawker joins them, appearing on the
hot rod's six.
The second hawker fires at the hot rod, but the agile
starfighter avoids the incoming fire with assured poise,
maintaining its position behind the first hawker. Then the
hot rod fires it's beam cannon again. The first hawker's tail
glows a deep orange, as the particle beam burns the hull.
INT. HAWKER TWO, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
The pale pilot, a dead ringer for the rest of the dark
fleet's personnel, lines up a shot on the hot rod -- his
targeting display locking on.
HAWKER PILOT
You're finished.
But, suddenly the first hawker explodes, and the hot rod
disappears into the blast. And then the second hawker's
viewing panel is obscured by the same explosion, as it too
passes through, and a moment later when the flames clear --
the lone starfighter is heading straight for him.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - CONTINUOUS
The hawker opens fire, but the fighter craft swings wide and
pivots, nailing the hawker with its beam for a few moments
before the heavier ship can change course.
And then, the fight's over. It's just the hot rod, The
Falling Star, and some black debris.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - MINUTES LATER
Kitch and Manx stride briskly down a corridor. The captain
steals a glance down at his first mate's hand, hitched on her
belt, as she walks. Manx notices, frowns, blushes. Kitch
pretends not to see.
An airlock opens in front of them.
INT. FALLING STAR, HANGAR BAY - CONTINUOUS
The rest of the crew is watching the hot rod dock, cheering
and applauding its arrival. On close inspection the ship
really is a junker -- beautiful in its day, but that was a
long time ago.
Kenobi, at the back of the crowd, turns to face Kitch and
Manx as they approach.
KITCH
Not a word. Remember who got us
into this mess in the first place.
Kenobi nods -- fair enough -- and turns his attention to the
starfighter.
KITCH (CONT'D)
More than a little curious about
our savior though.
KENOBI
That makes two of us.
The cockpit glass is tinted, and the crew strains to make out
the pilot. The canopy begins to open and the cheering
crescendos, and then, doesn't die off exactly, but...
In the pilot's seat is teenaged girl who looks like a
farmer's daughter. And she seems pissed.
The girl pushes herself out of the cockpit and climbs down
awkwardly, revealing behind her, a teenaged boy, Anakin
Skywalker -- an only slightly less likely pilot. She must
have been sitting on his lap.
When the girl, Beru, hits the ground, she stalks right past
the confused crew and out of the hangar bay.
Anakin hits the floor a second later.
ANAKIN
Beru! Hey Beru, don't be like that.
I'm sorry!
Beru appears again, walking in the exact opposite direction,
and pauses in front of Anakin only long enough to deliver a
withering slap, before turning on her heals and leaving
again.
The crew of the Falling Star watch her go and then turn back
to regard Anakin, dumbstruck, in the middle of the hangar
bay. Everyone breaks out into sudden, raucous laughter.
Anakin rubs the back of his head and smiles sheepishly.
INT. FALLING STAR, MESSDECK - SOMETIME LATER
A jovial scene, the crew, minus Manx, drinking and laughing,
mugs in every hand except Anakin's. He's seated at the head
of the table, quite happy to be the center of attention, but
a little overwhelmed.
KITCH
Joyriding!??
ANAKIN
I've been dying to get behind the
controls of that ship ever since I
can remember.
KITCH
And your pretty friend with the
temper?
ANAKIN
I was trying to impress her. Me and
a pal have a bet to see who can
kiss her first.
KITCH
(cackling)
I think he just won.
ANAKIN
(dejected)
I think you might be right.
Kenobi, seated at the other end of the table savoring his
drink in silence, leans forward.
KENOBI
Whatever possessed you to attack
those ships?
ANAKIN
Well, I don't know. I saw the
trouble, and Beru was yelling at me
to turn around, but I could see you
needed help. And...
KENOBI
And...
ANAKIN
And I knew I could take 'em.
Alda shakes his head as he packs his pipe.
ALDA
Unbelievable. Kid's first time up.
Never been in a fight. Never
trained. Girlfriend sitting on his
bleedin' lap.
KENOBI
And never had any doubt.
ANAKIN
Well, I was worried the gun might
not work. I never tried it!
KITCH
(laughing)
That calls for a drink!
Heph slams a frothing mug down in front of Anakin. Anakin
hesitates.
KITCH (CONT'D)
That's good stuff, tadpole. From
the governor of Malorin's private
stock.
ANAKIN
How'd you get it?
KITCH
The governor used to keep quite a
collection aboard his yacht.
ALDA
(smirking)
Used to keep a yacht.
Anakin gulps, sips at his drink, coughs, then takes a good
long swig, wiping the liquid from his lips with the back of
his hand. Heph claps him on the back so hard he almost spills
his drink. More laughs.
Manx enters the messdeck. The room quiets slightly.
MANX
She'll be fine. She's taking a nap.
Gave her quite a scare, kid.
ANAKIN
I'm sorry about that.
MANX
Don't apologize to me. I'm just
sorry for you that she's not as
impressed as I am. Somebody hand me
a cup!
Cheers again, and the clanking of mugs.
HEPH
Not to darken the mood none, but I
should remind you we're still dead
in the water here. Drifting.
I can start repairs, but we're
going to need to dock planetside
for a major overhaul, and I can't
promise it won't be a rough
landing.
ANAKIN
I work at a shipyard -- the best in
Mos Eisley! I'll call my boss, and
she'll give you a tow no problem.
You got dactaries, right?
ALIEN GUNNER THREE
Course we do, we're a bloody pirate
ship!
ANAKIN
P-Pirates?
KITCH
(chuckling)
Fortune smiles on us today. Let me
shake your hand, tadpole.
(extending a hand)
Captain Renzo Kitch of the Falling
Star. Perhaps you've heard of me.
ANAKIN
(taking Kitch's hand)
Can't say I have, mister, but I
don't hear much all the way out
here. Anakin Skywalker, and I'm
pleased to meet you all the same --
this is absolutely the most
exciting thing that's ever happened
to me.
Kitch'll take it.
KENOBI
Skywalker -- that's a fitting name.
Obi Wan looks hard at Anakin, assessing. Anakin squirms a
little under his gaze, but Beru walks in tentatively and the
tension breaks. She looks at the alien gunners with suspicion
as she passes by.
BERU
Anakin?
ANAKIN
Oh hey...
(Anakin stands)
Glad you you're not still sore.
You're not gonna believe it, I'm
having a real drink with a famous
pirate!
Beru faints into the arms of the gunners.