RMFF Line By Line Theatre (Formerly the Posting Fiends Thread)

INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT

Luke sees the cloud race by as he takes his craft closer
to the planet. He must operate his controls carefully since
the cloud cover has completely obscured his vision. An alarm
buzzes in the background, Artoo beeps and whistles
frantically.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't
see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...

The blast of the retrorockets is deafening, drowning out
Artoo's electronic squeals. Suddenly, there is a cracking
sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a
tremendous jolt as the spacecraft stops. Luke pulls a switch
and his canopy pops open.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- DUSK

The mist-shrouded X-wing fighter is almost invisible in the
thick fog. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the
spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The
young warrior surveys the fog, which is barely pierced by the
ship's landing lights. About all he can make out are some
giant, twisted trees nearby. Artoo whistles anxiously.

LUKE: No, Artoo, you stay put. I'll have a look around.

Artoo lets out a short beep. As Luke moves along the nose,
Artoo loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the
boggy lake.

 

LUKE: Artoo?

Luke kneels and leans over the plane looking for Artoo, but
the water is still and reveals no sign of the little droid.

 

LUKE: Artoo! Where are you?

A small periscope breaks the surface of the water and a
gurgly beep is heard. The periscope starts to move to shore.
Relieved, Luke starts running along the nose of the fighter to
its tip.

 

LUKE: Artoo! You be more careful.

The outline of the shore is now more than ten feet away.
Luke jumps off the plane into the water, scrambles up to the
shore, and turns to look for Artoo. The periscope still
steadily moves toward shore.

 

LUKE: Artoo -- that way!

Suddenly, through the thick fog layer, a dark shape
appears, moving toward the little droid. The dark, sinuous bog
beast dives beneath the swampy water, making a loud clunk
against Artoo's metal hull. The droid disappears from sight,
uttering a pathetic electronic scream.
Holding his ignited lightsaber before him, Luke wades a few
feet into the murky pool, looking for any sign of his little
friend.

 

LUKE: Artoo!

The black surface is still as death itself...until a few
bubbles begin to appear. Then, phheewaat!! The runt-size robot
is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc, and comes
crashing down into a patch of soft gray moss.

 

LUKE: Oh, no! Are you all right? Come on. You're lucky you don't taste
very good. Anything broken?

Luke helps Artoo to his feet and begins wiping the mud and
roots from his round metal body. Artoo responds with feeble,
soggy beeps.

 

LUKE: If you're saying coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to
agree with you. Oh, Artoo, what are we doing here? It's like...
something out of a dream, or, I don't know. Maybe I'm just going
crazy.

As Luke glances around at the spooky swamp jungle that
surrounds him, Artoo ejects a stream of muddy water from one
of his cranial ports.

 

EXTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER

Admiral Piett hesitates in the entryway to Vader's private
cubicle. After a moment, he steps into the room and pauses at
the surprising sight before him.
Darth Vader, his back turned, is silhouetted in the gloom
on the far side of the chamber. A black, insectlike droid
attends him. Among the various apparatuses surrounding them, a
respirator tube now retracts from Vader's uncovered head. The
head is bald with a mass of ugly scar tissue covering it. The
black droid then lowers the mask and helmet onto Vader's head.
When it is in place, the Dark Lord turns to face Piett.

VADER: Yes, Admiral?

 

PIETT: Our ships have sighted the Millennium Falcon, lord. But...it
has entered an asteroid field and we cannot risk...

 

VADER: (interrupting) Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want
that ship and not excuses.

 

PIETT: Yes, lord.

 

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid
cave. It is so dark that the cave's exact dimensions are
impossible to determine.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

Han and Chewie busily shut down the engine and all
electronic systems. Threepio and Leia watch worriedly.

HAN: I'm going to shut down everything but the emergency power
systems.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, I'm almost afraid to ask, but...does that include
shutting me down, too?

Chewie barks "yes". But Han thinks otherwise.

 

HAN: No, I need you to talk to the Falcon, find out what's wrong with
the hyperdrive.

Suddenly, the ship lurches, causing all the loose items in
the cockpit to go flying. Chewie howls.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, it's quite possible this asteroid is not entirely
stable.

 

HAN: Not entirely stable? I'm glad you're here to tell us these
things. Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him into the
hyperdrive.

 

THREEPIO: Oh! Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior. After
all, I'm only trying to do my job in the most...

The sliding door closes behind the indignant Threepio as
Chewie and he move back to the hold. Suddenly, the ship
lurches again, throwing Leia across the cabin into Han's arms.
Then, abruptly, the motion stops as suddenly as it started.
With some surprise, Han and Leia realize they are in each
other's arms.

 

LEIA: Let go.

 

HAN: Sshh!

 

LEIA: Let go, please.

Leia flushes, averting her eyes. She's not exactly fighting
to get free. But, of course, Han blows it...

 

HAN: Don't get excited.

The anger rises in Leia.