A New Hope by George Lucas Read Free Book Online Page B

the XP-38 came out, they’re just not in demand.
    BEN It will be enough.
    Ben and Luke leave the speeder lot and walk down the dusty alleyway past a small robot herding a bunch of anteater-like creatures. Luke turns and gives one last forlorn look at his faithful speeder as he rounds a corner. A darkly clad creature moves out of the shadows as they pass and watches them as they disappear down another alley.
    BEN If the ship’s as fast as he’s boasting, we ought to do well. INTERIOR DOCKING BAY 94 —DAY.
    Jabba the Hut and a half-dozen grisly alien pirates and purple creatures stand in the middle of the docking bay. Jabba is the grossest of the slavering hulks and his scarred face is a grim testimonial to his prowess as a vicious killer. He is a fat, slug-like creature with eyes on extended feelers and a huge ugly mouth.
    JABBA Come on out, Solo!
    A voice from directly behind the pirates startles them and they turn around to see Han Solo and the giant Wookiee, Chewbacca, standing behind them with no weapons in sight. HAN I’ve been waiting for you, Jabba.
    JABBA I expected you would be.
    HAN I’m not the type to run.
    JABBA (fatherly-smooth) Han, my boy, there are times when you disappoint me…why haven’t you paid me? And why did you have to fry poor Greedo like that…after all we’ve been through together. HAN You sent Greedo to blast me.
    JABBA (mock surprise) Han, why you’re the best smuggler in the business. You’re too valuable to fry. He was only relaying my concern at your delays. He wasn’t going to blast you.
    HAN I think he thought he was. Next time don’t send one of those twerps. If you’ve got something to say to me, come see me yourself. JABBA Han, Han! If only you hadn’t had to dump that shipment of spice…you understand I just can’t make an exception. Where would I be if every pilot who smuggled for me dumped their shipment at the first sign of an Imperial starship? It’s not good business. HAN You know, even I get boarded sometimes, Jabba. I had no choice, but I’ve got a charter now and I can pay you back, plus a little extra. I just need some more time.
    JABBA (to his men) Put your blasters away. Han, my boy, I’m only doing this because you’re the best and I need you. So, for an extra, say twenty percent I’ll give you a little more time…but this is it. If you disappoint me again, I’ll put a price on your head so large you won’t be able to go near a civilized system for the rest of your short life.
    HAN Jabba, I’ll pay you because it’s my pleasure. EXTERIOR DOCKING PORT ENTRY —ALLEYWAY.
    Chewbacca waits restlessly at the entrance to Docking Bay 94. Ben, Luke, and the robots make their way up the street. Chewbacca jabbers excitedly and signals for them to hurry. The darkly clad creature has followed them from the speeder lot. He stops in a nearby doorway and speaks into a small transmitter.
    INTERIOR MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT —DOCKING BAY 94
    Chewbacca leads the group into a giant dirt pit that is Docking Bay 94. Resting in the middle of the huge hole is a large, round, beat-up, pieced-together hunk of junk that could only loosely be called a starship.
    LUKE What a piece of junk.
    The tall figure of Han Solo comes down the boarding ramp. HAN She’ll make point five beyond the speed of light. She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid. I’ve added some special modifications myself.
    Luke scratches his head. It’s obvious he isn’t sure about all this. Chewbacca rushes up the ramp and urges the others to follow.
    HAN We’re a little rushed, so if you’ll hurry aboard we’ll get out of here.
    The group rushes up the gang plank, passing a grinning Han Solo.
    INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON.
    Chewbacca settles into the pilot’s chair and starts the mighty engines of the starship.
    INTERIOR MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT —DOCKING BAY 94. Luke, Ben, Threepio, and Artoo move toward the Millennium Falcon passing Solo.
    THREEPIO Hello, sir.
    EXTERIOR TATOOINE