Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
by: James Fehrenbacher

Cenas 51 a 60:

Begin Scene 51.

[INT. An unknown building on Kothlis.  Luke is being kept in a small cell by his captors.  The cell is a very dull gray color, and a window at eye level is criss-crossed with metal mesh.  A heavy cot is bolted to the floor, with a thin pad and a blanket.  Luke takes a look around, and after several seconds, the door clicks open, and one of his captors walks in.]

Luke Skywalker. What’s going on?

Skahtul. I am Skahtul.  I make my living as a bounty hunter, as do the others with me.  There is a very large reward being offered for Luke Skywalker, alive and well, no questions asked.  Oddly enough, there is another reward being offered for Luke Skywalker.  This one is for him – you – dead.  Unfortunately, the second reward is not nearly as well paying as the first.  So for now, we’re going to keep you as healthy as possible until we can collect our payment.  Better to have a few credits spread over a large number than to have no credits at all.

Luke Skywalker. How about a third option – you let me go, and I’ll pay more than the other two combined?

[Skahtul laughs.]

Skahtul. We’re always open to suggestion.

Luke Skywalker. How much are we talking about?

[Skahtul names a figure.]

Luke Skywalker. You could buy half the city with that kind of money!

Skahtul. With enough left over to let you and six of your friends to retire on and live happily ever after.  And you have a bank account with that much in it, I assume?

Luke Skywalker. Yeah, I wish.

Skahtul. Well, at least you keep your sense of humor.  But be warned, Skywalker – if you try to escape, you will be met by maximum resistance.  We will not hesitate to shoot.  And we will shoot to kill.  We know how resourceful Jedi Knights are.  You are worth more to us alive than dead; however, it’s better to collect the smaller reward then risk losing everything.  Do you understand?

Luke Skywalker. Yeah, I understand.

Skahtul. Good.  And it’s not personal, you know.  Many of us admire the stand you have made against the Empire.  But business is business.

Luke Skywalker. You’ll excuse me if I take it personally.

[Skahtul smiles, and exits.]

End Scene 51.

Begin Scene 52.

[INT. Luke’s holding cell.  Luke is practicing his hovering abilities a few inches above his cot.  Hearing a noise outside, he allows himself to fall onto the cot.  He then climbs to his feet as Skahtul enters.]

Luke Skywalker. Has my buyer paid up yet?

Skahtul. Not exactly.  We have discovered that you are possibly more valuable then originally thought.  After a discussion with my colleagues, we have decided rather than to wait these buyers out, we can pump up the reward price by playing the two off against each other.

Luke Skywalker. You’re going to start a bidding war over me?

Skahtul. Something like that.

Luke Skywalker. Who are these people?

Skahtul. To be honest, we don’t know.  Our contacts will not give us a direct answer.  Once again, try not to take it personally.  It’s simply business.

Luke Skywalker. Right.

[Skahtul exits.]

End Scene 52.

Begin Scene 53.

[INT. The Emperor’s chambers on Imperial Center.]

Darth Vader. My master, I have received word that Luke Skywalker is on Kothlis.

The Emperor. You must go and collect him, then.

Darth Vader. My master, I have already sent my agents for him.

The Emperor. Lord Vader, agents are not to be trusted.  Skywalker grows stronger in the Force each day.  Only you are potent enough to capture him.

[Vader bows.]

The Emperor. There is another reason you must go.  You are aware that Prince Xizor’s plan to allow the plans of the new Death Star to fall into Alliance hands has been implemented.

Darth Vader. I do, my master.  The plan proceeds over my objections.

The Emperor. Your objections have been noted, Lord Vader.  And as it happens, the plans have been transferred from the hijacked freighter off of Bothawui to Kothlis.  Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?

Darth Vader. [Voiceover] A coincidence?  I doubt it.

The Emperor. Your trip, therefore, serves two purposes.  You must collect Skywalker as well as destroy some of the local scenery, so the Rebels will believe we are concerned over the theft.

[Vader bows again, and exits.]

End Scene 53.

Begin Scene 54.

[INT. The Stinger, Guri’s private ship.  The ship has been granted access to land on Imperial Center.  Chewbacca has left the room to change into his costume.  Guri has taken a costume out of a locker for Leia to wear, from a former bounty hunter named Boushh.]

Guri. Put these on.

[Leia wrinkles her nose.]

Leia. It smells like someone picked them up out of a sewer.

Guri. They belonged to Boushh, a former Ubese bounty hunter, who at times worked for Black Sun.]

Leia. As it happens, I speak a bit of Ubese.

Guri. I know.  The costume is not a coincidence.

[Just then, Chewie enters from the refresher.  He is almost unrecognizable – parts of his fur are dyed black, with a raccoon-like mask circling his eyes.  The fur on his head has been shaved into a crew cut.]

Guri. Meet Snoova, a well-known Wookie bounty hunter.

[Chewie says something in Wookie.]

Leia. Oh stop complaining.  The dye will wash out, and your fur will grow back.  You’ll be back to normal in no time.

[Leia puts on the mask, and tests the voice box.  She then takes the mask off.]

Leia. It seems to work.  I know enough Ubese to get by, as long as I don’t meet any Ubese natives.

Guri. You had better get dressed.  We’ll be landing shortly.

End Scene 54.

Begin Scene 55.

[INT. The Stinger. Leia is all dressed, and Guri is holding onto the ship controls.]

Guri. It would not be wise for you to be seen with me.

[She hands Leia an electronic pad.]

Guri. After you’ve cleared customs, meet me here.

[Leia nods, and she exits with Chewie.  After several minutes of walking, they come to customs.  Leia shows the guard an ID card.]

Guard. Purpose of visit?

Leia. [In Ubese]  Business.

Guard. I see you are licensed to carry that weapon.  But we don’t take too kindly to people who use them on Imperial Center.  I’m going to have to take off that mask, just to make sure you match the ID.

[Chewie then growls something in Wookie.]

Guard. What’s your problem?

[Chewie says something else.]

Guard. I don’t care if you are late for an appointment.

[The guard notices the customs line is beginning to lengthen.  He hands back the ID card to Leia.]

Guard. Move along, bounty hunter.  I have others to process.

[Leia passes through, and waits for Chewie on the other side.  Once he passes through, they begin walking.]

Leia. I have a contact in the Underground that I want to go see, just so we can’t hedge our bets a little bit.

[They continue walking.]

End Scene 55.

Begin Scene 56.

[INT. Luke’s cell on Kothlis.  Luke is in the middle of some Jedi breathing exercises. Focusing on the guard outside his cell door, he pushes a thought into his mind.]

Luke Skywalker. Open the door.

Guard. Huh?  Who’s there?

Luke Skywalker. You must open the door.

Guard. I must open the door.

[The guard turns around, drops his blaster to the floor, and sticks his card into the lock.  The door clicks open.]

Luke Skywalker. You’re very tired.  You need to come in and lie on the cot, and have a nice nap.

[The guard moves into the cell, and walks towards the cot.  Luke takes the card from his hand as he passes, and heads towards the cell door.  Looking back, he sees the guard snoozing on the cot.  He turns back around, and glances into the corridor.  With no one there, he picks up the blaster rifle, and shuts the cell door.  He then starts down the corridor.]

End Scene 56.

Begin Scene 57.

[INT. A corridor on Kothlis.  Luke has found his lightsaber, as well as his comlink.]

Luke Skywalker. Too easy.

[He reaches for the saber, but before he can grab it, a voice calls out.]

Guard. Who’s there?  Move and I shoot!

End of Scene 57.

Begin Scene 58.

[EXT. The Southern Underground on Imperial Center.  Leia and Chewie are in a city square, with a bakery, a weapon shop, a shoe store, a clothes store, and a plant shop.  Leia points at the plant store.]

Leia. There.

[They walk into the store, searching for someone.  The store’s ceiling is four meters above their heads.  Leia looks around, and notices a three meter tall Ho’Din healer named Spero.]

Spero. Good meeting.  How may I assist you?

Leia. We’re here to collect a debt, Master Gardener.

Spero. I cannot recall that I owe anyone a debt.  Especially a stranger.

Leia. Not even Leia Organa?

Spero. Ah, the Princess.  I owe her my life, as well as those of my whole family.

Leia. She would have you aid us.  What can you tell us about Black Sun?  Who runs it?  How might we contact them?

Spero. Black Sun is run by the Falleen, Xizor.  He is called the Dark Prince.  He is also the owner and president of XTS, Xizor Transportation Systems, a more or less legitimate operation worth billions in and of itself.  He rarely leaves Imperial Center, and has a palace that ranks with the Emperor and Darth Vader.  Much of it is above ground, but portions of it extend underground.

Leia. Thank you, Master Gardener.

[She turns to leave.]

Spero. You are welcome, Princess Organa.

[Leia turns back around.]

Leia. Excuse me?

Spero. Ho’Din are not limited to our eyes and ears, Princess.  We never forget our friends.

Leia. Then consider your debt paid.

Spero. My great-great grandchildren could never live long enough to repay you.  But I am happy to have been of some service.

Leia. Thank you again, Master Spero.  [To Chewie]  Let’s go meet Guri.

[They exit.]

End Scene 58.

Begin Scene 59.

[INT. The corridor on Kothlis.  Luke’s hand is still reached for his lightsaber, with a bounty hunter behind him.  Turning around slightly, Luke uses the Force to grab his lightsaber, and holds his thumb on the control lever.]

Luke Skywalker. Sorry, I thought this was the ‘fresher.

[The guard, a Nikto, realizes who Luke is.  He pulls his blaster up and fires.  Luke ignites his saber, and blocks the bolt.  The bolt hits the blade, bounces back, and hits the shooter in the foot.  The hunter drops his blaster, and hops around on his other foot, holding his wound.  Nearby doors open, and more hunters enter the room, blasters firing.  Luke blocks more bolts, then turns and runs.  As he runs, about a foot in front of him, the wall implodes.  Another blaster begins firing, but not at Luke.  Someone then calls him.]

Lando Calrissian. Luke?

Luke Skywalker. Lando?  Over here!

[Lando shoots a few more bolts at the hunters, then runs over to Luke.]

Lando Calrissian. Like shooting snakes in a shoebox.  You called for a cab?

Luke Skywalker. What makes you think I want to leave?  I’m having fun here.

Lando Calrissian. Right.  Come on, I’ve got a transport over here, a…borrowed landspeeder.  What say you we go for a ride?

[They run over and climb into the speeder.]

Lando Calrissian. The Falcon is about five minutes away.  I left 3PO with it.

Luke Skywalker. 3PO?  Where are Leia and Chewie?

Lando Calrissian. Long story.  I’ll tell it when we get back to the ship.

[The speeder zooms off.]

Luke Skywalker. How did you know I was here?

Lando Calrissian. Dash.  He told me the planet, and when I got here, I learned all about the raid on the warehouse.  A couple people here owe me favors, so I was able to find out where you were being held.  Let’s play Twenty Questions later, shall we?

End Scene 59.

Begin Scene 60.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.]

C-3PO. Oh, it’s good to see you again, Master Luke.

Luke Skywalker. Hi, 3PO.

Lando Calrissian. Luke, let’s move.  We’ve got more than those bounty hunters to worry about.  There’s an Imperial convoy heading this way.  They’ve just dropped out of hyperspace, and are heading this way.

Luke Skywalker. Anyone we know?

Lando Calrissian. Well, I didn’t get a chance to read nameplates, but the lead ship is a Star Destroyer.

Luke Skywalker. Victory?

Lando Calrissian. A little bigger.

Luke Skywalker. Imperial?

Lando Calrissian. Try again.

Luke Skywalker. Not a Super.

Lando Calrissian. ‘Fraid so.

Luke Skywalker. Is it the Executor?

Lando Calrissian. Well, as I said, I didn’t get that close.  But the Empire doesn’t crank those out just for laughs, so it’s a safe bet.  Best if we’re gone when they arrive.

Luke Skywalker. Wait.  R2 is in my X-Wing.

Lando Calrissian. Yeah, I saw.  I was going to fly by and pick it up in the tractor beam.  We’re going to hit lightspeed as soon as we can, so you might want to buckle up.

Luke Skywalker. Where are we going?

Lando Calrissian. Back to Tatooine.

Luke Skywalker. Why?

Lando Calrissian. That’s where Leia wants us.

Luke Skywalker. Where is she?

Lando Calrissian. Later, Luke.  Hold on back there, 3PO!  We’re about to disappear!

End Scene 60.

^ topo da página