Return of the Jedi

LUKE

I can't do it, Ben.

BEN

You cannot escape your destiny.

LUKE

I tried to stop him once. I couldn't do it.

BEN

Vader humbled you when first you met him, Luke...but that experience was part of your training. It taught you, among other things, the value of patience. Had you not been so impatient to defeat Vader then, you could have finished your training here with Yoda. You would have been prepared.

LUKE

But I had to help my friends.

BEN

(grinning at Luke's indignation)

And did you help them? It was they who had to save you. You achieved little by rushing back prematurely, I fear.

LUKE

(with sadness)

I found out Darth Vader was my father.

BEN

To be a Jedi, Luke, you must confront and then go beyond the dark side – the side your father couldn't get past. Impatience is the easiest door – for you, like your father. Only, your father was seduced by what he found on the other side of the door, and you have held firm. You're no longer so reckless now, Luke. You are strong and patient. And now, you must face Darth Vader again!

LUKE

I can't kill my own father.

BEN

Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope.

LUKE

Yoda spoke of another.

BEN

The other he spoke of is your twin sister.

LUKE

But I have no sister.

BEN

Hmm. To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden from your father when you were born. The Emperor knew, as I did, if Anakin were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason why your sister remains safely anonymous.

LUKE

Leia! Leia's my sister.

BEN

Your insight serves you well. Bury your feelings deep down, Luke. They do you credit. But they could be made to serve the Emperor.

Luke looks into the distance, trying to comprehend all this.

BEN

(continuing his narrative)

When your father left, he didn't know your mother was pregnant. Your mother and I knew he would find out eventually, but we wanted to keep you both as safe as possible, for as long as possible. So I took you to live with my brother Owen on Tatooine... and your mother took Leia to live as the daughter of Senator Organa, on Alderaan.

Luke turns, and settles near Ben to hear the tale.

BEN

(attempting to give solace with his words)

The Organa household was high-born and politically quite powerful in that system. Leia became a princess by virtue of lineage... no one knew she'd been adopted, of course. But it was a title without real power, since Alderaan had long been a democracy. Even so, the family continued to be politically powerful, and Leia, following in her foster father's path, became a senator as well. That's not all she became, of course... she became the leader of her cell in the Alliance against the corrupt Empire. And because she had diplomatic immunity, she was a vital link for getting information to the Rebel cause. That's what she was doing when her path crossed yours... for her foster parents had always told her to contact me on Tatooine, if her troubles became desperate.

Luke is overwhelmed by the truth, and is suddenly protective of his sister.

LUKE

But you can't let her get involved now, Ben. Vader will destroy her.

BEN

She hasn't been trained in the ways of the Jedi the way you have, Luke... but the Force is strong with her, as it is with all of your family. There is no avoiding the battle. You must face and destroy Vader!

EXT. SPACE – REBEL FLEET

The vast Rebel Fleet stretches as far as the eye can see. Overhead a dozen small Corellian battleships fly in formation. Fighters and battlecruisers surround the largest of the Rebel Star Cruisers, the HEADQUARTERS FRIGATE.

INT. HEADQUARTERS FRIGATE – MAIN BRIEFING ROOM

Hundreds of Rebel commanders of all races and forms are assembled in the WAR ROOM. WEDGE is among them. In the center of the room is a holographic model depicting the half-completed Imperial Death Star, the nearby Moon of Endor, and the protecting deflector shield.

MON MOTHMA, the leader of the Alliance, enters the room. She is a stern but beautiful woman in her fifties. Conferring with her are several military leaders, including GENERAL MADINE and ADMIRAL ACKBAR (a salmon-colored Mon Calamari). Lando moves through the crowd until he finds Han and Chewie, standing next. to Leia and the two droids.

Han peers at Lando's new insignia on his chest, and is amused.

HAN

Well, look at you, a general, huh?

LANDO

Oh, well, someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab.

HAN

(sarcastic)

Well, don't look at me, pal. I just said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they were lookin' for somebody to lead this crazy attack.

LANDO

(smiling)

I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it.

HAN

Well, who says they didn't. But I ain't crazy. You're the respectable one, remember?

Mon Mothma signals for attention, and the room falls silent.

MON MOTHMA

The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come.

This causes a stir. Mon Mothma turns to a holographic model of the Death Star, the Endor moon and the protecting deflector shield in the center of the room.

MON MOTHMA

The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star.

A volley of spirited chatter erupts from the crowd. Han turns to Leia as Chewie barks his amazement.

MON MOTHMA

(continuing)

Many Bothans died to bring us this information. Admiral Ackbar, please.

Admiral Ackbar steps forward and points to the Death Star's force field and the Moon of Endor.

ACKBAR

You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest Moon of Endor. Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the Death Star does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby forest Moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor.

There's a concerned murmur.

ACKBAR

(continuing)

General Calrissian has volunteered to lead the fighter attack

Han turns to Lando with a look of respect.

HAN

Good luck.

Lando nods his thanks.

HAN

You're gonna need it.

ACKBAR

General Madine.

Madine moves center stage.

GENERAL MADINE

We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator.

The assembly begins to mumble among themselves.

THREEPIO

Sounds dangerous.

LEIA

(to Han)

I wonder who they found to pull that off.

GENERAL MADINE

General Solo, is your strike team assembled?

Leia, startled, looks up at Han, surprise changing to admiration.

HAN

Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle.

Chewbacca raises his hairy paw and volunteers. Han looks up at him.

HAN

Well, it's gonna be rough, pal. I didn't want to speak for you.

Chewie waves that off with a huge GROWL.

HAN

(smiles)

That's one.

LEIA

Uh, General... count me in.

VOICE (O.S.)

I'm with you, too!

They turn in that direction and peer into the crowd as there are more cheers. The commanders part, and there at the back stands Luke. Han and Leia are surprised and delighted.

Leia moves to Luke and embraces him warmly. She senses a change in him and looks into his eyes questioningly.

LEIA

What is it?

LUKE

(hesitant)

Ask me again sometime.

Han, Chewie, and Lando crowd around Luke as the assembly breaks up.

HAN

Luke.

LUKE

Hi, Han... Chewie.

Artoo beeps a singsong observation to a worried Threepio.

THREEPIO

"Exciting" is hardly the word I would use.

INT. HEADQUARTERS FRIGATE – MAIN DOCKING BAY

The Millennium Falcon rests beyond the stolen IMPERIAL SHUTTLE, which looks anomalous among all the Rebel ships in the vast docking bay. Chewie barks a final farewell to Lando and leads Artoo and Threepio up the shuttle, crowded now with the Rebel strike team loading weapons and supplies. Lando turns to face Han. Luke and Leia have said their good-byes and start up the ramp.

HAN

Look. I want you to take her. I mean it. Take her. You need all the help you can get. She's the fastest ship in the fleet.

LANDO

All right, old buddy. You know, I know what she means to you. I'll take good care of her. She-she won't get a scratch. All right?

HAN

(looks at him warmly)

Right. I got your promise now. Not a scratch.

LANDO

Look, would you get going, you pirate.

Han and Lando pause, then exchange salutes.

LANDO

Good luck.

HAN

You, too.

Han goes up the ramp. Lando watches him go and then slowly turns away.

INT. IMPERIAL SHUTTLE – COCKPIT

Luke is working on a back control panel as Han comes in and takes the pilot's seat. Chewie, in the seat next. to him, is trying to figure out all the Imperial controls.

HAN

You got her warmed?

LUKE