Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
by: James Fehrenbacher

Cenas 61 a 70:

Begin Scene 61.

[EXT. The building on Kothlis from where Luke has just escaped.]

Darth Vader. Bring me the highest-ranking survivor.

[A number of stormtroopers enter the building, and return several minutes later, dragging one of the bounty hunters.  They drop him at Vader’s feet.]

Darth Vader. Do you know who I am?

Bounty Hunter. Of course I do, Lord Vader.

Darth Vader. Good.  Where is Luke Skywalker?

Bounty Hunter. He escaped, Lord Vader.

[Vader clenches his fist, choking the man.]

Darth Vader. I know he escaped, you fool.  How did he do it?

Bounty Hunter. Well, I was asleep at the time.  I was awoken by blaster fire.  I went to check out the disturbance, and Skywalker was there, waving that lightsaber of his, blocking a large number of bolts from other hunters.

Darth Vader. Continue.

Bounty Hunter. Well, one of us called for backup, and more of our men arrived.  We thought we had him cornered, but then a wall blew apart, and when the dust had cleared, Skywalker was gone.

Darth Vader. I understand someone else wanted Skywalker.  Who?

Bounty Hunter. We heard that it was Black Sun, Lord Vader.

Darth Vader. [Voiceover] Black Sun? Of course.  [Spoken] And this…other bidder wanted Skywalker alive?

Bounty Hunter. No, Lord Vader.  He wanted him dead.

[Vader unclenches his first, and the man falls to the ground, gasping for breath.  Vader then gestures to his troops.]

Darth Vader. Back to the shuttle.

Imperial officer. What about this scum?

Darth Vader. Leave them.  They are worthless.

End Scene 61.

Begin Scene 62.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.]

Luke Skywalker. How long until we can make the jump to hyperspace, Lando?

Lando Calrissian. A couple of minutes.  But the good news is, the Imperials aren’t following us.

Luke Skywalker. How’s Dash doing?  He was pretty rattled after we hit that freighter.

Lando Calrissian. He’s been pretty depressed.  He still can’t accept that he failed at something.  He isn’t used to it, but it had to happen sooner or later.  Better sooner than later.  What was in that computer, anyway?

Luke Skywalker. I don’t know.  The Bothan techs had just cracked it open when the hunters hit the safe house.

Lando Calrissian. Did the hunters get the computer?

Luke Skywalker. I don’t think they even knew it was there.  The last I saw, one of the Bothan techs took it and I think he got it out safely.

Lando Calrissian. Well, if he did, the Bothans will get the information to the Alliance; they’re usually pretty dependable.  Stand by for the jump to hyper.

[Lando hits a control, but nothing happens.]

Luke Skywalker. What’s the matter?

Lando Calrissian. It must be one of Han’s modifications!  My people fixed this thing when Han and Leia were on Bespin!

Luke Skywalker. Fine.  What do we do now?

Lando Calrissian. Find a place to hide and repair it, before we bump into the Imperial Navy.

End Scene 62.

Begin Scene 63.

[INT. Xizor’s castle on Imperial Center.  Leia and Chewie have met up with Guri, who is standing with Howzmin, one of Xizor’s guards.]

Guri. Go with Howzmin.  I have other business to attend to.  Do as you are told, and you will see Prince Xizor soon enough.

[She turns and walks away.  Howzmin gestures behind him.]

Howzmin. This way.

[He climbs into a motorized cart, and are followed by Leia and Chewie.  Howzmin starts the cart, and it shuttles off into a dark tunnel.  After ten or twelve kilometers, Howzmin stops the cart, climbs out, and climbs into a bullet car, in which Leia and Chewie follow again.]

Howzmin. Go.

[The car shuttles off.]

End Scene 63.

Begin Scene 64.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Lando is trying to fix the hyperspace controls.]

Luke Skywalker. What’s the problem, Lando?

Lando Calrissian. The “problem” is that Han and Chewie have completely reset, rewired, and screwed up the whole ship!  I’m looking at a nest of wires where there should be a simple pullout circuit board!  I don’t have the schematics for anything *this* complicated!

Luke Skywalker. Well, can you fix it?

Lando Calrissian. I’m *trying* to!  Pass me that jumper bypass, will you?

[Luke picks up a long tool that resembles an elongated letter “Y,” and hands it to Lando.]

Lando Calrissian. Get R2 over here, and maybe he can tell me what this blue wire is supposed to do.

[R2-D2 rolls over, and peeks over the edge.  He whistles something to Luke, while Lando lets out a yell of pain.]

Luke Skywalker. Sounds like that’s not the one you want.

Lando Calrissian. Now you tell me.  What about this yellow one, R2?

[R2 whistles again.]

Luke Skywalker. I think we’re going to be here for a while.

Lando Calrissian. Well, that should give me enough time to figure out the problem.  Pass me those needle head pliers.

[Luke hands him said tool.]

Luke Skywalker. You need me down there to help?

Lando Calrissian. I used to own this ship, Luke.  I’ll figure out a way around what Han and Chewie have done.  Han ought to be ashamed of himself.

Luke Skywalker. I’ll tell him that when we get him out of the carbonite.

End Scene 64.

Begin Scene 65

[INT. Xizor’s castle on Imperial Center.  The bullet car Howzmin is driving slows down, then stops.  Howzmin, Leia, and Chewie climb out, and Howzmin gestures to a nearby passageway.]

Howzmin. This way.  And you can take the helmet off; you won’t be needing it anymore.

[Howzmin leads them through a series of doors.  At a set of four turbolifts, they step into one of them, leaving two guards behind.  The lift rises, and the doors open, revealing two more guards.  Howzmin and the guards lead Leia and Chewie through more corridors, and end at a large, carven door.]

Howzmin. In there.

[Howzmin then turns and walks away.  After several seconds, Leia and Chewie move towards the door, and Leia opens it.  The door swings open to reveal Xizor.]

Xizor. Ah, Princess Leia Organa and Chewbacca.  Welcome to my palace.  I am Prince Xizor.

[Leia almost melts at the sight of him.  Xizor gestures them in, and Leia sits down, with Chewie standing behind her.]

Xizor. You must be tired after your long trip.  You should refresh yourself, change clothes, and relax a bit before we delve into serious matters.

Leia. [Somewhat embarrassed] I didn’t exactly bring my wardrobe with me.

Xizor. [Brushing the comment off.] Such things are easily remedied.  I will have my assistant, Howzmin, show you your quarters.  I think you will find them adequate.  I have pressing business to which I must attend.  Refresh yourself, and rejoin me in a few hours.

[Xizor presses a button, and Howzmin enters the room.]

Xizor. Show Princess Organa and Chewbacca here to their rooms.

Howzmin. At once, Prince Xizor.

[Howzmin gestures to Leia and Chewie, who follow him into the corridor.  The trio walk down a long corridor, and after several minutes, Howzmin stops in front of a door.

Howzmin. This is your room.  The Wookie will be in the suite next door.

[Chewie moans something in Wookie.]

Leia. No, I’ll be fine.  If Xizor had wanted to hurt us, he would have done it before now.

[Chewie moans again, but follows Howzmin to the next door, and Leia steps into her room.  The carpet is so deep, she almost sinks to her knees in it.  Looking around, she sees a white leather couch, a round bed with black sheets, which is held up by six carved, wooden posts.  Next to the bed stands a computer desk, with a black chair tucked neatly under the desk.  Leia walks across the room to the refresher, in which all of the tile is done in black and white.  Leia walks out of the ‘fresher to the main room, and opens the closet, which reveals a number of lavish clothes, all of which are in her size.  After looking through all of the clothes, she goes to take a bath in the ‘fresher.]

End Scene 65.

Begin Scene 66.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Lando has climbed out of a service well.]

Lando Calrissian. I think that’s it.

Luke Skywalker. You “think”?

Lando Calrissian. I won’t know for sure until I engage the drive.

[C-3PO then comes bounding towards Luke and Lando.]

C-3PO. Master Lando!  Sensors report a very large vessel is heading this way!

Lando Calrissian. [Glancing at Luke] I wonder who that could be.

Luke Skywalker. I hope you fixed the drive, Lando.  Otherwise, I think we’re going to find out.

[The pair head off towards the cockpit.  As they enter, they see two large Star Destroyers, as well as the Executor, Vader’s Super Star Destroyer.]

Luke Skywalker. We’ve got TIE fighters coming in, about three dozen of them.  Any time, Lando.  Preferably sooner than later.

Lando Calrissian.  Time for our great escape.  If you believe in luck, wish for the good version.

[Lando engages the drive, and the ship enters hyperspace.  Luke is thrown back into his seat, as Lando lets out a shout of triumph.]

Luke Skywalker. Lando, you cut that awfully close.

Lando Calrissian. Farm boy, if you wanted a boring life, you should have stayed on Tatooine.  And that’s where we should be in a few hours, as long as any other modifications of Han’s don’t land us in the middle of a star.  And as soon as Leia finishes her business with Black Sun, we can work on getting Han back.

Luke Skywalker. Haven’t they finished yet?

Lando Calrissian. They had to take a slight detour.

Luke Skywalker. So where are she and Chewie?

Lando Calrissian. I’ll tell you everything once we’re on Tatooine.

[Luke, tired from his escape, rubs his eyes, and says no more.]

End Scene 66.

Begin Scene 67.

[INT. Leia’s room in Xizor’s palace.  After taking a hot bath, Leia has dried her hair, and has put on a dark bodysuit and a nearly transparent green dress.  She steps out of the ‘fresher, just as Chewie and Howzmin enter the room.  Chewie has washed the dye out of his fur, but the fur on his head remains in a crew cut.  Wanting to talk to Chewie alone, Leia asks Howzmin to leave the room.  As the door closes behind him, Chewie says something in Wookie.]

Leia. All I did was put on some clean clothes.  I want to get the information I want out of Xizor, and this is the best way to distract him.  I don’t tell you how to fly a ship, so don’t tell me how to deal with negotiations.  Now come on, Howzmin is waiting for us.

[They exit.]

End Scene 67.

Begin Scene 68.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Luke is in the galley, trying to throw a meal together.  He peeks out to where R2 and C-3PO are sitting, near the holographic game board.]

Luke Skywalker. What’s up, 3PO?

C-3PO. R2 is saying he’s very worried about the status of Princess Leia.  I told him not to worry, and that she’ll be fine.  She’s a very resourceful human.

[Losing his appetite, Luke walks to the Falcon’s cockpit.]

Luke Skywalker. Lando, give me a straight answer.  Where’s Leia?

Lando Calrissian. I’m sorry, Luke, but I’m not at liberty to say.

Luke Skywalker. Why?

Lando Calrissian. Leia’s orders.  She wants you on Tatooine.  She said if you asked, to tell you that she could take care of herself before you guys met, and she can take care of herself now.  And besides, she’s got Chewie with her.  And no one’s going to try anything with an easily offendable Wookie around.

Luke Skywalker. I just hope nothing happens to her.

Lando Calrissian. She’ll be fine.

Luke Skywalker. Why doesn’t that make me feel any better?

End Scene 68.

Begin Scene 69.

[INT. Xizor’s palace on Imperial Center.  Leia and Chewie have arrived outside Xizor’s sanctum.  They enter the room, and Leia gasps.  Xizor is standing in the room, wearing long, flowing robes colored in various shades of red.]

Xizor. Ah, Princess Leia.  Do come in.

[Chewie says something in Wookie.  While he doesn’t understand all of what has been said, Xizor gets the gist of it.]

Xizor. Perhaps Chewbacca would care to dine in the banquet hall while we conduct our…negotiations.

Leia. Chewie, wait outside.

[Chewie moans in Wookie, obviously voicing his disagreements.]

Leia. Chewie, Han would trust me in here alone, so you should, too.

[Chewie moans again, but reluctantly steps outside the room.  As the door slides shut behind him, Leia turns around to see Xizor moving towards a small bar.]

Xizor. Something to drink, Princess?  Luranian brandy?  Green champagne?

Leia. Tea would be fine, Your Highness.

Xizor. Call me Xizor, please.  We can dispense with the pleasantries now that we’re alone.

[As Xizor pours her tea, Leia sits down on one end of a long couch.  Xizor moves around her, and his hip brushes the back of her head, sending a shock through her body.  He hands her the tea, then sits down on the opposite end of the couch.]

Xizor. I understand the Alliance is interested in doing business with Black Sun.

Leia. [Scrambling to collect her thoughts] Yes.  The Alliance has been considering such an alliance.  [Voiceover] “Alliance considering an Alliance”?

Xizor. Well, there are certain advantages to such a liaison.

Leia. Well, the Alliance feels that while Black Sun’s aims aren’t the same as our own, the Empire is our mutual enemy.

Xizor. Yes, war does make strange bedfellows.

Leia. [Voiceover] Bedfellows?

Xizor. Here, let me warm your tea for you.

Leia. No, it’s fine.

[Xizor takes the cup, anyway.  After a few tense moments, Xizor leans in and kisses Leia, very softly.  After several seconds, Xizor increases the pressure.  Leia finds herself responding, then pushes Xizor away.]

Leia. No, this isn’t why I’m here.  I want to talk about a friend of mine, Luke Skywalker.

Xizor. In due course.  There are more important things to do, first.

[Xizor kisses her again, this time with more passion.  After a few seconds, someone outside begins banging on the door.  Xizor and Leia break apart, and they hear a Wookie moaning from outside in the hall.]

Leia. I’d better go and see what Chewie wants.

Xizor. Stay; I’ll get rid of him.

Leia. No, I’ll do it.

Xizor. As you wish.

[Leia stands up, and walks over to the door.  Pulling it open, she’s almost knocked over by Chewie barging into the room.  Chewie moans something in Wookie.]

Leia. I’m in the middle of a…delicate discussion.  Can’t it wait?

[Chewie moans something else.]

Leia. He seems upset.  I’d better go with him and see what he wants.

Xizor. As you wish.  I’ll be here.  But hurry back; I won’t be here long.

[Leia nods, then follows Chewie into the hall.]

Leia. This better be good, Chewie.

[Chewie gestures to Howzmin, who is crumpled on the floor, either unconscious or dead; Leia is unable to tell.  Chewie moans again, then pulls Leia down the corridor, and shoves her into an alcove a few meters away.

Leia. You are going to be sorry, you overgrown…

[Chewie silences her by pressing a furry hand against her mouth.  He gestures with his other hand to a small, parabolic microphone set into the ceiling.]

Leia. Someone’s listening?

[Chewie nods.]

Leia. Are we being watched, too?

[Chewie nods again.]

Leia. So that’s why you brought me down here.  We’re in a blind spot.

[The desire for Xizor she had felt earlier evaporates, and is replaced by shame flooding into her, realizing what she almost did.]

Leia. Chewie, I think we’d better consider an alternate plan.  I want you to get away and contact Luke, Lando, or Dash.

[Chewie moans his disagreements.]

Leia. Chewie, you can do a better job of protecting me by getting as far away from here as you can.  I’ll be fine until Luke and Lando get here.  Now go.

[Leia pushes her way back into the corridor.]

End Scene 69.

Begin Scene 70.

[INT. The Emperor’s throne room.  Darth Vader is there, bent on one knee.]

Darth Vader. My master, I am merely concerned about Xizor’s treachery.  If he is, in fact, trying to kill Skywalker…

The Emperor. Really, Lord Vader.  I would certainly need some more concrete evidence than a rumor from a bounty hunter to move against such a valuable ally as Prince Xizor.  After all, he did give the Empire the location of the secret Rebel base in the Baji Sector, and he has put his shipping fleet at the Empire’s disposal.

Darth Vader. I have not forgotten these things, my master.  But I have also not forgotten my promise to turn Skywalker to the Dark side.  Skywalker turned would be much more valuable than Xizor.

The Emperor. Indeed he would, Lord Vader.  If you can turn him.

Darth Vader. I can, my master.  But not if he is slain before I can get to him.

The Emperor. This seems very important to you.  I give you leave, for a short while, to search for him.  Is this satisfactory?

Darth Vader. Yes, my master.

[Vader bows, and exits.]

End Scene 70.  

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