Star Wars - Return of the Jedi
Page 7
As they move into the foliage, Wicket takes the lead. He shrieks
and tugs at Leia to follow him.
68 INT DEATH STAR - CORRIDOR TO EMPEROR'S TOWER 68
Darth Vader walks down the corridor to the Emperor's Tower and
private elevator. The Emperor's private guard steps in Vader's
path.
GUARD
Halt! The Emperor does not wish to be
disturbed at the moment.
VADER
(raising his gloved hand to the two guards
and choking them with the Force)
The Emperor will see me, now!
GUARD
(repeating Vader's command)
The Emperor will see you, now.
69 INT EMPEROR'S TOWER - THRONE ROOM 69
Two red Imperial Guards stand watch at the elevator as the door
opens to reveal Vader. Vader enters the eerie, foreboding throne
room. It appears to be empty. His footsteps echo as he approaches
the throne. He waits, absolutely still. The Emperor sits with his
back to the Dark Lord.
EMPEROR
I told you to remain on the command ship.
VADER
A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield
and landed on Endor.
EMPEROR (no surprise)
Yes, I know.
VADER (after a beat)
My son is with them.
EMPEROR (very cool)
Are you sure?
VADER
I have felt him, my Master.
EMPEROR
Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your
feelings on this matter are clear, Lord
Vader.
Vader knows what is being asked.
VADER
They are clear, my Master.
EMPEROR
Then you must go to the Sanctuary Moon and
wait for them.
VADER (skeptical)
He will come to me?
EMPEROR
I have foreseen it. His compassion for you
will be his undoing. He will come to you and
then you will bring him before me.
VADER (bows)
As you wish.
The Dark Lord strides out of the throne room.
70 EXT FOREST CLEARING - LEIA'S CRASH SITE 70
Han, Luke, Chewie, and the two droids are spread out as they move
through the heavy foliage near the clearing where we last saw
Leia. Luke finds Leia's helmet, picks it up with an expression of
concern.
HAN (OS)
Luke! Luke!
Luke runs with the helmet to where Han has found the charred
wreckage of a speeder bike in the grass.
THREEPIO
Oh, Master Luke.
LUKE
There's two more wrecked speeders back there.
And I found this.
He tosses the helmet to Han.
THREEPIO
I'm afraid that Artoo's sensors can find no
trace of Princess Leia.
HAN (gravely)
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.
71 EXT FOREST - DENSE FOLIAGE 71
The group has reached a break in the undergrowth. Chewie walks up
to a tall stake planted in the ground. There is a dead animal
hanging from it.
HAN
Hey, I don't get it.
The rest of the group joins the Wookiee around the stake.
HAN (cont)
Nah, it's just a dead animal, Chewie.
Chewie can't resist. He reaches toward the meat.
LUKE
Chewie, wa-wait! Don't!
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.
HAN
Nice work. Great, Chewie! Great! Always
thinking with your stomach.
LUKE
Will you take it easy? Let's just figure out
a way to get out of this thing. (trying to
free an arm) Han, can you reach my
lightsaber?
HAN
Yeah, sure.
Artoo is at the bottommost point in the net. He extends his
cutting appendage and begins slicing at the net. Han is trying to
squeeze an arm past Threepio to get at Luke's lightsaber. The net
continues to spin.
THREEPIO
Artoo, I'm not sure that's such a good idea.
It's a very long dro-o-op!!
Artoo has cut through and the entire group tumbles out of the
net, crashing to the ground. As they regain their senses and
sit up, they realize they are surrounded by dozens of Ewoks,
each brandishing a long spear.
HAN
Wha--? 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. He grabs it angrily and starts to go for
his laser pistol.
HAN
Hey!
LUKE
Han, don't. It'll be all right.
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.
THREEPIO
Oh, my head. Oh, my goodness!
When the Ewoks see Threepio, they let out a gasp and chatter
among themselves. Threepio speaks to them in their native tongue.
The Ewok nearest him drops his spear and prostrates himself
before the droid. In a moment, all the Ewoks have followed suit.
Chewie lets out a puzzled bark. Han and Luke regard the bowed
creatures in wonder. The Ewoks begin to chant at Threepio.
LUKE
Do you understand anything they're saying?
THREEPIO
Oh, yes, Master Luke! Remember that I am
fluent in over six million forms of
communication.
HAN
What are you telling them?
THREEPIO
Hello, I think... I could be mistaken.
They're using a very primitive dialect. But
I do believe they think I am some sort of god.
Chewbacca and Artoo think that's very funny. Han and Luke
exchange "what next?" looks.
HAN
Well, why don't you use your divine influence
and get us out of this?
THREEPIO
I beg your pardon, General Solo, but that
just wouldn't be proper.
HAN
Proper?!
THREEPIO
It's against my programming to impersonate a
deity.
Han moves toward Threepio threateningly.
HAN
Why, you--
Several Ewoks' spears are thrust in Han's face at the affront to
their god. The Ewoks move in to protect their god and Han is
> surrounded by a menacing circle of spears, all aimed at him. He
holds up his hands placatingly.
HAN
My mistake. He's an old friend of mine.
72 EXT FOREST - SERIES OF SHOTS 72
A procession of Ewoks winds through the ever-darkening forest.
Their prisoners - Han, Luke, Chewie, and Artoo - are tied to long
poles and wrapped in vines, cocoonlike.
Each pole is carried on the shoulders of several Ewoks. Behind
the captives, Threepio is carried on a litter, like a king, by
the remaining creatures.
73 EXT FOREST WALKWAY - MOON FOREST 73
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.
74 EXT EWOK VILLAGE SQUARE 74
The procession winds its way into the village square. Mother
Ewoks gather their babies up and scurry into their huts at the
sight of the newcomers. The group stops before the largest hut.
Han, Luke, Chewie, and Artoo 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. Threepio's litter/throne
is gently placed near the pit. He watches with rapt fascination.
Han, Luke, and Chewie are less than fascinated.
HAN
I have a really bad feeling about this.
Chewie growls his con cern.
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.
Logray speaks to Threepio and the assemblage of fuzzy Ewoks,
pointing to the prisoners tied to the stakes. The Ewoks begin
filling the pit under Han with firewood.
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.
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 and LUKE
Leia!
As she moves toward them, the Ewoks block her way with raised
spears.
LEIA
Oh!
THREEPIO
Your Royal Highness.
Artoo and Chewie chime in with their welcome. Leia looks at the
assembled Ewoks and sighs.
LEIA
But these are my friends. Threepio, tell them
they 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. Leia trades frantic looks with Luke
and Han.
HAN
Somehow, I got the feeling that didn't help
us very much.
LUKE
Threepio, tell them if they don't do as you
wish, you'll become angry and use your magic.
THREEPIO
But Master Luke, what magic? couldn't
possibly --
LUKE
Just tell them.
Threepio speaks to the Ewoks. The Ewoks are disturbed. Logray
steps forward and challenges Threepio. Luke closes his eyes and
begins to concentrate.
THREEPIO
You see, Master Luke; they didn't believe me.
Just...
Now the litter/throne, with Threepio sitting upon it, rises from
the ground. At first Threepio doesn't notice and keeps talking.
THREEPIO
... as I said they wouldn't. Wha-wha-what's
happening! Oh! Oh, dear! Oh!
The Ewoks fall back in terror from the floating throne. Now
Threepio begins to spin as though he were on a revolving stool,
with Threepio calling out in total panic at his situation.
THREEPIO
Put me down! He-e-elp! Master Luke! Artoo!
Somebody, somebody, help! Master Luke, Artoo!
Artoo, quickly! Do something, somebody! Oh!
Ohhh!
Chief Chirpa yells orders to the cowering Ewoks. They rush up and
release the bound prisoners. Luke and Han enfold Leia in a group
embrace. Luke notices the spinning Threepio, with Artoo beeping
up at him, and slowly lowers the golden droid and the throne to
the ground. 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 marveling at his
height.
THREEPIO
Oh, oh, oh, oh! Thank goodness.
LUKE
Thanks, Threepio.
THREEPIO (still shaken)
I...I never knew I had it in me.
75 INT CHIEF'S HUT - COUNCIL OF ELDERS 75
A glowing fire dances in the center of the spartan, low-ceilinged
room, creating a kaleidoscope of shadows on the walls. Along one
side, a group of ten Ewok elders flank Chief Chirpa, who sits on
his throne. The Rebels sit along the walls of the hut, with
Threepio between the two groups and Wicket and Teebo off to one
side.
Threepio is in the midst of a long, animated speech in the Ewok's
squeaky native tongue. The Ewoks listen carefully and
occasionally murmur comments to each other. Threepio points
several times at the Rebel group and pantomimes a short history
of the Galactic Civil War, mimicking the explosion and rocket
sounds, imitating Imperial walkers. Throughout the long account,
certain familiar names are distinguishable in English Princess
Leia, Artoo, Darth Vader, Death Star, Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Artoo
begins beeping excitedly at Threepio.
THREEPIO
Yes, Artoo. I was just coming to that.
Threepio continues with Millennium Falcon, Cloud City, Vader,
Han Solo, carbonite, Sarlacc, bringing the history up to the
present time.
At the end of it, the Chief, Logray, and the elders confer, then
nod in agreement. The Chief stands and makes a pronouncement.
The drums begin to sound, and all the Ewoks stand with a great
cheer and screeches.
HAN
What's going on?
LEIA
I don't know.
Luke has been sharing the joy with smiling visage, but now
something passes like a dark cloud through his consciousness. The
others do not notice.
THREEPIO
Wonderful! We are now a part of the tribe.
HAN
Just what I always wanted.
Chewbacca is being enthusiastically embraced by an Ewok, while
Wicket clings to Han's leg.
HAN (chuckles)
Well, short help is better than no help at
all, Chewie. (to Wicket) Thank you. Okay.
THREEPIO
He says the scouts are going to show us the
quickest way to the shield generator.
Chewie barks. Luke has drifted to the back of the hut. Now he
wanders outside into the moonlight. Leia notices and follows.
HAN
Good. How far is it? Ask him. We need some
fresh supplies, too. And try and get our
weapons back.
Han pulls Threepio back as he keeps trying to translate.
HAN (cont)
And hurry up, will ya? I haven't got all day.
76 EXT EWOK VILLAGE - NIGHT 76
The walkway is deserted now. The windows of the little huts glow
and flicker from the fires inside. The sounds of the forest fill
the soft night air. Luke has wandered away from the Chief's hut