As The Empire Strikes Back comes to a close, R2 is still bleeping and Steven Ellis is still translating
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
EXTERIOR: SPACE – CLOUD CITY – DAY
The Millennium Falcon, being followed by the three TIE fighters, races away from Cloud City.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – SLEEPING QUARTERS
Luke rests on a cot, his injured arm wrapped in a protective cuff. Leia gently wipes his face. The ship lurches again.
LEIA: I’ll be back…
ARTOO: Is she the Terminator now? Will we go find Sarah Connor?
She kisses Luke, then leaves the quarters.
ARTOO: Sister kisser! So? What happened? Did you see your Dad? Did you try the hug? Where’s your arm? Jeez… You look awful.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – HOLD
Beeping while he works, Artoo is busy connecting some wires to Threepio who now has one leg attached. Chewie enters through the doorway, grunting to himself.
CHEWIE: Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
THREEPIO: Noisy brute. Why don’t we just go into light-speed?
ARTOO: We can’t. It’s switched off.
THREEPIO: We can’t? How would you know the hyperdrive is deactivated?
ARTOO: It’s switched off! The city computer told me… Ha! I told you earlier remember? You said it wasn’t important. I knew it would be. I’m the bestest!
THREEPIO: The city’s central computer told you? Artoo-Detoo, you know better than to trust a strange computer.
ARTOO: I trusted you back on the city and look what happened to my poor probe…
THREEPIO: Pay attention to what you’re doing!
ARTOO: Oh, be quiet golden shorts!
Chewie is in the engine pit. He is trying to loosen something with an enormous wrench. Frustrated, he uses the wrench like a club and hits the panel...
CHEWIE: Arrrgh! Waaah!
ARTOO: He needs a hug. Maybe he’s just pissed because nobody’s translating him… Should I tell him he just needs to switch the hyperdrive on?
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
Leia and Lando, seated in front of the control panel, are suddenly sprayed by a shower of sparks. Luke enters the cockpit and looks out the window. He is almost unconscious with pain and depression.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – HOLD
ARTOO: I should help Chewie. I know where the on switch is…
Artoo races to a control panel and starts working on a circuit board. Furious, Threepio stands on one leg, yelling.
THREEPIO: Artoo, come back at once! You haven’t finished with me yet! You don’t know how to fix the hyperdrive. Chewbacca can do it. I’m standing here in pieces, and you’re having delusions of grandeur!
ARTOO: On switch!
Artoo moves a button on a control panel. Suddenly, the control panel lights up.
ARTOO: Ta daaaa! See! On switch! Easily turn off and on-able!
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
Leia, Luke and Lando are thrown into their seats as the Millennium Falcon unexpectedly shoots into hyperspace.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – HOLD
The ship tilts up and Artoo topples into the pit on top of Chewie.
THREEPIO: Oh, you did it!
ARTOO: (in the pit) Of course I did it! I’m fantastic! Oh, sorry Chewie… Hey, you’ll never guess who I met. Remember Yoda?
CHEWIE: (in the pit) Arrrr Whhhooooo.
ARTOO: (in the pit) Yeah… The hyperactive teeny green fella…
CHEWIE: (in the pit) Grrrahh?
ARTOO: (in the pit) In a swamp…
CHEWIE: (in the pit) Rahhhh, arrrgh, whhhhharr shnuff shnuff Roooowl!
ARTOO: (in the pit) He did what? Really? And he just stole your escape pod and never brought it back… What a git!
CHEWIE: (in the pit) Raagh!
EXTERIOR: SPACE – REBEL CRUISER
The Millennium Falcon is attached to a huge Rebel cruiser by a docking tube. Rebel fighters move about the giant cruiser.
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
Lando sits in the pilot’s seat as he talks into the comlink. Chewie busily throws a variety of switches in preparation for takeoff.
LANDO: (into comlink) Luke, we’re ready for takeoff.
LUKE: (over comlink) Good luck, Lando
LANDO: (into comlink) When we find Jabba the Hutt and that bounty hunter, we’ll contact you.
INTERIOR: STAR CRUISER -- MEDICAL CENTRE
Luke speaking into the comlink as a medical droid works on his hand. Leia stands near him while Threepio and Artoo look out the window.
LUKE: (into comlink) I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point on Tatooine.
ARTOO: Seriously! Who is this Lando guy?
INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
LANDO: (into comlink) Princess, we’ll find Han. I promise.
INTERIOR: STAR CRUISER – MEDICAL CENTRE
LUKE: (into comlink) Chewie, I’ll be waiting for your signal.
ARTOO: And we’re all Okay with this guy running off with Han’s ship then are we?
CHEWIE: Raaaaaah! Waaarrroooow.
ARTOO: Not even Chewie’s worried? I mean the guy’s a crook and he gave Han to the bad guys in the first place… But we all just trust him now right?
LUKE: (into comlink) Take care, you two. May the Force be with you.
Luke looks down at his hand. A metal bandage has been wrapped around his wrist. The medical droid makes some adjustments in a tiny electronic unit, then pricks each one of Luke’s fingers.
LUKE: Ow!
Luke wriggles his fingers, makes a fist, and relaxes it. His hand is completely functional.
ARTOO: Whoa! Cool robot hand you got there Luke. Your dad’s got one just like it. Bet you can do that Aliens knife trick now just like Lance Henriksen!
Luke gets up and walks over to Leia. There is a new bond between them, a new understanding. Together they stand at the large window of the medical centre looking out on the Rebel Star Cruiser and a dense, luminous galaxy swirling in space. Luke puts his arm around Leia.
ARTOO: Uh oh, he’s flirting with his sister again…
The droids stand next to Luke and Leia. Threepio moves closer to Artoo putting his arm on him.
ARTOO: Oi! Hand’s off the dome goldie! You owe me a new probe!
The group watches as the Millennium Falcon moves into view, makes a turn, and zooms away into space.
ARTOO: And we’re really still Okay with this Lando guy just buggering off with Chewie and the Falcon then…?
Read all the previous What Was R2-D2 Really Saying? articles
