NOTE: This teleplay is being distributed freely to STAR WARS fans. If it entertains you, please share it freely with a friend. Although characters and situations herein are the property of Lucasfilm, Ltd., the author(s) have retained certain rights. This work has been duly registered with the WGAw. If you enjoy (or hate) this series, please contact either of us at the addresses below. THE UNTOLD TALES OF HAN SOLO "Melting" -------------- Story and Teleplay by William A. Ward (anoptimist@etsc.net) Produced for the Internet by Martin Pettersson (mnp@canit.se) WWW: http://www.canit.se/~mnp/starwars/ - TEASER - __________ FADE IN: EXT. SPACE The Millennium Falcon falls out of hyperspace with a deafening BLAST! INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT HAN and CHEWIE fight the controls as the ship bucks uncontrollably around them. Chewie BARKS. HAN I know! I know! My screens just went dead. Power is fluctuating like I've never seen before. Engine output is at critical levels. Much more of this and they're going to blow. A warning alarm BLARES. Chewie GRUNTS something and Han glances at his console. HAN Looks like our luck just ran out. We need to land. Now. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD A small moon hangs amidst a large asteroid field in the distance. The Falcon ROARS toward it, leaving particle matter in its wake. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The moon draws closer outside the cockpit window. Han points to it. HAN There! That moon. But we'll need to get through those asteroids. Maneuvering thrusters are out. Set a course that'll give us a straight shot. Chewie works the controls. The moon draws nearer. An asteroid bounces off the hull with a loud THUD! HAN We're about to lose our engines. Angle the deflector shield, full power forward. I'm going to give it one last boost and then shut down completely. With any luck at all, we should be able to limp her in on momentum alone. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD The Falcon makes a beeline through the asteroids toward the moon. Small particles and chunks bounce off the deflector shield. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT HAN And... now! Chewie and Han hit the proper switches and the engines shut down. Several of the lights in the cockpit go out. The ship glides smoothly as the moon draws nearer outside the window. HAN Do we have power to the braking thrusters? Chewie barks "yes". HAN Good, we're going to need them. This isn't going to be the softest landing in history. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD A large ice asteroid tumbles into the Falcon's path, drawing the ship off course. The ship begins to tumble and roll with the movement of the asteroid. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The view outside the cockpit is topsy turvy. Chewie BARKS! HAN We're caught in the gravity of that asteroid. It's pulling us in! Can we restart the engines? Chewie throws the switches and they respond with a shower of sparks. A dreadful expression crawls across Han's face. HAN Well, hang on, pal. Looks like we're going for a ride. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD - LARGE ASTEROID The Falcon tumbles toward the asteroid and impacts across its face. Ice particles scatter into space. FADE OUT. END OF TEASER ******************* OPENING CREDITS ****************** COMMERCIAL BREAKS - ACT ONE - ___________ FADE IN: EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID A long trench scars the surface of the huge ice asteroid. At the end of the trench, the Millennium Falcon has come to a painful rest at a severe list. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Chewie digs through the engine compartment as Han, battered and bruised, fights his way up along the normally horizontal deck and into the repair bay. HAN Everything else is all right. I can't find any hull breaches. What's the word on the engines? Chewie GRUNTS something. HAN All right. I'm going to shut down everything but life support and then I'll join you back here. He shakes his head and looks around in despair. HAN Stuck to a chunk of ice like a dimple on a dewback's behind. What else can happen to us today? EXT. SPACE - ASTEROIDS The asteroid rolls out of SCENE, carrying the Millennium Falcon with it. ANGLE TO open space. An IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER emerges from light speed and glides past our view in all its spendor. Then another. And another. EIGHT in all, followed finally by a SUPER STAR DESTROYER, which dwarfs them all. PAN WITH Super Star Destroyer to see this fleet closing in on the asteroid field and the moon. INT. SUPER STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK Prime and prompt ADMIRAL HARE marches smartly past the numerous CONTROLLERS, hard at work in the control pits. He approaches the forward view windows and surveys the fleet. Beyond, the asteroid field and the moon can be seen in all its splendor. The FIRST OFFICER approaches him. FIRST OFFICER Admiral Hare. We have arrived at the designated coordinates. ADMIRAL HARE Very good, lieutenant. Slow to one quarter cruising speed. Bring us to within 800,000 kilometers and hold position there. You have the bridge. FIRST OFFICER Yes, sir. Admiral Hare marches away and exits. Huge sliding doors close behind him. INT. STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S MEDITATION CUBICLE The top lid of the meditation cubicle lifts away, revealing the Dark Lord of the Sith, DARTH VADER in a shower of white light. His raspy breathing ECHOES through the dark room. Admiral Hare stands at attention just beyond the light. VADER Report, Admiral. HARE My lord. We have secured from hyperspace and have acquired the primary target. The fleet stands ready for further orders. VADER Very good, Admiral. We will need to monitor the effects from the source. Deploy probe droids for an entire series of scans. HARE (bows) Yes, Lord Vader. The meditation cubicle drops shut, darkening the room around Hare once again. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROIDS - IMPERIAL FLEET Vader's Super Star Destroyer releases dozens of PROBE DROIDS into space. Six of the droids speed toward the small moon and become swallowed into its atmosphere. The others scatter randomly into the asteroids. EXT. SPACE - ICE ASTEROID The Millennium Falcon sits crippled in the foreground. One of the probe droids speeds into view and impacts with a loud BLAST in the distance. Ice particles scatter in its wake. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Chewie sits up from his work and listens. He mentions it to Han. Han sits up, lifts his protective eye goggles and listens also. HAN Aw, your ears are still ringing from the crash. There isn't anyone within a lightyear of here. Chewie is still suspicious, but goes back to his tasks. INT. STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK Hare and his First Officer watch a monitor screen that is returning data. Soil samples, terrain schematics, atmospheric conditions and the like are being displayed on the screen. Vader enters. Hare approaches him. HARE Lord Vader. We are receiving preliminary data at this time. Everything appears to be a go. VADER Patch through to the fleet captains on a priority secured channel and meet me in the conference chambers. HARE Yes, sir. Vader exits. INT. STAR DESTROYER - CONFERENCE CHAMBERS A dimly lit room. The HOLOGRAPHIC IMAGES of eight CAPTAINS stand at ease in the shadows. Admiral Hare is here as well. The holograms all seem uneasy. 1st CAPTAIN Why does he make us wait like this? 5th CAPTAIN Well, I'm not afraid to tell you, I'm concerned. This mission is too secretive. It wasn't even listed on secure-comm. 3rd CAPTAIN I've seen it before. This is the sort of operation men don't return from. 7th CAPTAIN (to Hare) You know what's going on, Admiral. What is this thing that's been attached to my ship? HARE Patience, Captain. Your questions will all be answered in good time. Vader enters. Hare and the holographic captains come to attention. The dark lord looks at the group. VADER This briefing is of the highest confidence. What happens here is not to be discussed with subordinates, and from this moment on, only essential personnel are to be scheduled for duty. All others will be confined to quarters. Vader paces about in front of the holograms. VADER (continued) What we do here today is a personal project of the Emperor, under direct control of the Grand Moff Tarkin. This experiment has been designated as code name Death Star. Although at attention, the captains glance at each other. This is not easing their fears. VADER (continued) Each of your vessels have been fitted with an expansion amplitude beam emitter. Your navigators are currently being relayed coordinates. You will maneuver to these coordinates exactly. No deviations. Take all other systems off line. The emitters will be powered directly by your main reactors. At a designated time, you will turn total control over to this ship until such time that you receive further instructions. (a beat) I strongly caution you not to divulge this information to any of your crew. Such a matter will be met by the highest penalty. Vader allows that one to sink in and then turns and points at a darkened wall. A large monitor screen ACTIVATES. It displays the image of the moon in the asteroid field. VADER Gentlemen. Our primary target for testing and analysis. The moon designated as EV-413. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Sparks and smoke fill the compartment. Han and Chewie are hard at work. Chewie responds to something Han has said. HAN I know it's barren and there's nothing there, but I'd rather be sitting on EV-413 than this chunk of ice. We would have made it if this thing hadn't floated past. He sits up from his work and points at the compartment. HAN See, I told you. The flow regulator just came out of alignment. It'll take a few hours to get it back in place. He looks around. HAN Oh well. We've already made delivery and there's nothing saying that we have to get off this asteroid right this minute anyway. So let's take our time and make sure we do it right this time. Chewie agrees and they go back to work. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID ANGLE UP from the Millennium Falcon. An IMPERIAL PROBE DROID rises from its crater in the background and the asteroids rotation brings the imperial fleet into view in the distance. FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE ***************** COMMERCIAL BREAK ****************** - ACT TWO - ___________ FADE IN: EXT. MOON (EV-413) - UPPER ATMOSPHERE Misty clouds swirl above a barren terrain far below. An IMPERIAL PROBE DROID ascends into the clouds. In the background, another probe can be seen moving into view. The droids transmit their electronic garble. INT. STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK Hare steps back from a monitor as Vader approaches. The dark lord gazes out the window at the small moon. HARE All the preliminary data has been compiled, my lord. We're ready to proceed. VADER Move the fleet into position. Hare turns and signals to someone O.S. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID The probe droid glides above the icy face of the asteroid. The Millennium Falcon can be seen in the background. Suddenly, a gigantic MYNOCK appears and swoops toward the probe droid. It beats its wings heavily against the machine's hull. A piercing alarm BLARES and the probe blasts it with a deadly laser. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Han and Chewie are both hunched into the floor panel, appearing as though they were playing a round of "twister". HAN That's it! Hold it there. Just like that. Han activates a blow torch and moves in. Chewie ROARS. HAN Aw, you big crybaby! I'm not going to burn you. Have I ever burned you before? Chewie responds. Han thinks for a moment and then brushes it off. HAN Well, that was different. Han touches the torch into the panel and sparks fill the air. EXT. SPACE - THE IMPERIAL FLEET The Star Destroyers swarm around Vader's ship like pilotfish to a whale. They have maneuvered into a circular pattern around the gargantuan vessel. Gigantic beam emitters attached to the front portion of each ship begin to surge with power. INT. ANOTHER STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE The bridge lights and monitors fluctuate from the strain. One of the captains that we met during Vader's briefing steps to the forward viewport and looks nervously on. His FIRST OFFICER joins him. CAPTAIN This is bad. No one in the galaxy should have this much power. FIRST OFFICER Star Destroyer Omnipotent is signalling us to relinquish helm control. The captain swallows hard. His eyes fixed on the moon outside the viewport. He is sweating profusely. FIRST OFFICER Captain...? He breaks from his thoughts and nods to the first officer. INT. STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK HARE All ships have reported in. We have full control. Vader gazes out the front windows. VADER Commence primary ignition. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID The lifeless mynock drifts into space as the probe deactivates its laser and changes course with the rolling asteroid. It scans for a moment and then notices the Millennium Falcon in the distance. It drifts quickly toward the derelict ship. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Han lifts himself from the floor panel. Chewie whimpers. HAN Ah, quit your griping, it's just a flesh wound. Chewie nurses his throbbing thumb. Han surveys their handiwork. HAN Okay, well, that's that. Now we just need to get all these components back into place. He refers to a knee-high pile of wires and plugs. EXT. ICE ASTEROID - MILLENNIUM FALCON The probe scans the ship and BLARES a frantic alarm. INT. STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK ON Vader and Hare. ANGLE DOWN to the control pit. A button is pressed. A panel of lights comes to life. A lever is pulled. And then another bank of lights come to life. The CONTROL WORKERS are glued to their screens. All screens but one, that is. CLOSE ON SCREEN: A flickering, distorted view of the Millennium Falcon with all accompanying data rolling in. VADER (O.S.) Fire. EXT. SPACE - THE IMPERIAL FLEET Green laser beams emanate from the Star Destroyers and converge on a single point, forming a circular cone shape. It is here that WE SEE that this is to simulate the firing process of the future Death Star. EXT. SPACE - ICE ASTEROID The probe's lasers come on-line and pivot into position to fire on the Falcon, which sits several meters away. A small missile locks into place near the bottom of the unit and begins to track with a loud WHINE. In the background, we can see the moon and the fleet moving out of view with the rotation of the asteroid. EXT. SPACE - THE IMPERIAL FLEET - MOON (EV-413) Vader's Star Destroyer produces a giant beam that pierces through the center point of the cone and sends a DEVASTATING RAY toward the moon. The intense heat VAPORIZES asteroids in its path. EXT. MOON (EV-413) - UPPER ATMOSPHERE The two hovering probes are burned to mere vapors as the screen FILLS BLINDING GREEN with the blast. INT. SEVERAL STAR DESTROYERS - BRIDGES MANY QUICK CUTS: Captains and BRIDGE EXTRAS on the various ships turn away and shade their eyes from the blinding EXPLOSION that rocks their ships. The moon can be seen DISINTEGRATING outside their forward viewports. INT. SUPER STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK Vader does not turn away, but rather gazes at the explosion as it dissipates before him. The intense orange and yellow light reflects against his shining armor. VADER (to himself) Most impressive. EXT. SPACE - THE ASTEROID FIELD FLAMING DEBRIS rolls through space as an intensive glowing-hot SHOCK WAVE spreads through the asteroid field, melting and VAPORIZING chunks in its path. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID The droid FIRES the missile just as the burning aftershock STRIKES. Both the droid and the speeding missile are VAPORIZED in the glow. The Falcon, however, is at enough of an angle away to be spared the heat. The shockwave passes around it, melting away the asteroid as it does. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Han and Chewie are thrown about the compartment like rag dolls. Han grabs a wall fixture and steadies himself as the impact dissipates. HAN (shocked) What was that?! Another heavy vibration ROCKS the ship. HAN I don't like the looks of this. C'mon, Chewie. They crawl out of the compartment. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HOLD AREA Han maneuvers to the science panel and works the controls. Another wave of vibrations ROCKS them. He studies the readings and looks at Chewie in astonishment. HAN This chunk of ice is melting like there's no tomorrow and we're losing gravity. More VIBRATIONS! They recover. CLOSE ON Han. HAN (continuing) If this thing melts out from under us at this momentum, we're going to roll out of control into those rocks out there. (a beat) If we don't get those engines back together and get off this asteroid now... we're dead and there's nothing we can do about it. A moment for reaction. EXT. SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - MELTING ASTEROID PULL BACK from the crippled ship. It rolls out of view on the asteroid's back as ice particles fill the screen. The shrinking iceberg drifts toward the remnants of the dense asteroid field in the distance. FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO ******************* COMMERCIAL BREAK ************** - ACT THREE - _____________ FADE IN: EXT. SPACE - THE IMPERIAL FLEET The fleet holds its position at the edge of the scattered asteroid field. Small laser fire picks away at the rolling debris around the Vader's Star Destroyer. EXT. A STAR DESTROYER - OUTER HULL - RAY EMITTER A team of five ZERO GRAVITY STORMTROOPERS are dwarfed by the size of the emitter unit atop the hull of the gigantic ship. Vader's Star Destroyer looms overhead like a waiting dragon. Two IMPERIAL TUGS drift into view above and cast BLUE BEAMS onto the emitter unit. The stormtroopers make final adjustments and the tugs slowly lift the unit from the hull of the Star Destroyer. NEW ANGLE The tugs carry the emitter unit toward Vader's Star Destroyer. Several more tugs are approaching in the background. EXT. STAR DESTROYER - OUTER HULL The zero gravity troops walk along the hull, working the heavy magnets in their boots. A loud BLAST is heard. They turn to see an escape pod launch into space. A laser from Vader's Star Destroyer BLASTS it to oblivion a short distance away. 1st STORMTROOPER Did you see that? 2nd STORMTROOPER Yeah... that was an escape pod... INT. STAR DESTROYER - CONFERENCE CHAMBER The hologram captains again. 1st CAPTAIN It was incredible. Total destruction. The universe is ours. 4th CAPTAIN (shakes his head) It's a doomsday device. It'll be the end of us all. How long will it be until it's turned against our home planets? 2nd CAPTAIN I just want to get away from here. When is maneuvering control going to be turned back over to us? Vader and Hare enter. The holograms come to attention. Hare moves to a control panel and begins to activate switches. VADER Gentlemen. This has been a successful experiment. The emperor will be pleased. Project Death Star will now move into the construction phase; however, our work here is not yet complete. He nods to Hare. Hare presses a series of buttons. EXT. SPACE - THE IMPERIAL FLEET The engines on the smaller Star Destroyers ROAR TO LIFE and they begin to move forward in formation. INT. CONFERENCE CHAMBERS The hologram captains are becoming uneasy. VADER There has been rumor of a rebel alliance forming from within the imperial senate itself. Any breach of security would serve to undermine this project. One of the holograms looks abruptly to his right and then throws up his hands as his image quickly DISTORTS away. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD - A STAR DESTROYER The huge ship COLLIDES with an immense asteroid. The entire bridge area is SHATTERED IN FLAMES! The EXPLOSION begins a CHAIN REACTION that destroys the entire ship. As the debris clears, we see two more Star Destroyers meet similar fates in the distance. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM Two more astonished captains WINK out. Vader continues to address the room in a calm, fatherly tone. VADER (continued) It is the order of your galaxy that you protect. Your emperor that you serve... Four more holograms gradually disappear in terror and torment. Vader stands face to face with one final, confused captain. VADER (continuing) ...your empire that you sacrifice yourself for. Vader waves his arm to Hare. Hare activates another switch. EXT. ASTEROID FIELD The final Star Destroyer has cleared through an area of dense asteroids without harm. Vader's Star Destroyer, in the background, opens FIRE. The final warship erupts into a magnificent BLAZE. INT. CONFERENCE CHAMBERS VADER (continuing) It has been a pleasure to command you. The final hologram captain FADES AWAY in a BURNING LIGHT. Vader stands quietly for a moment, his RASPY BREATHING echoing through the chamber. A nervous Admiral Hare comes to attention in the background. The chamber doors slide open and the Sith Lord marches out. VADER Set course for Coruscant. Full speed. The doors slide closed behind him. Hare exhales. HARE Yes, my lord. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD Vader's ship comes about. Its engines SURGE and it ROARS AWAY into infinity. TRACK INTO the asteroid field. The Millennium Falcon rides the tumbling asteroid into a field of rocky death ahead. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Chewie lifts himself from the floor panel and ROARS into the intercom. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The asteroids draw ever closer outside the cockpit window. Han works the controls. The panel lights flicker. HAN (into intercom) That's not it. Try the green one. The green one! EXT. SPACE - ICE ASTEROID The asteroid is breaking away in bits and pieces, leaving a trail of debris. Collision is imminent. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - REPAIR BAY Chewie makes another adjustment and pounds on the intercom. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The panel lights come alive. Han punches the intercom. HAN (into intercom) Okay, we got juice! Get up here. The ship SHUDDERS and as gigantic portion of ice dislodges from somewhere in front of the ship and sails past, dangerously close to the cockpit windows. Han eyes the asteroids beyond. Chewie rushes in and takes his seat. HAN Strap in, pal. This is going to be a bumpy ride. Another HEAVY VIBRATION rocks them in their seats. EXT. SPACE - ICE ASTEROID The melting asteroid shatters away, leaving the Falcon rolling toward the asteroids. Several small particles bounce off its hull. Another GIANT ASTEROID rolls into view in the distance. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT HAN There went our ride. Gauges indicate power but the ignition sequencer isn't responding. The ship ROCKS from the ASTEROID IMPACTS. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD The ship tumbles toward the giant asteroid. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT The giant asteroid can be seen through the cockpit window. HAN We were lucky the last time, but if that rock catches us at this momentum, we're done for. EXT. SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD The Millennium Falcon SHUDDERS as it is caught by the asteroid's gravity. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT Han and Chewie recover from the heavy vibrations. The ship is increasing speed. The terrain on the asteroid quickly rushes toward them outside the front windows. HAN It's got us, pal. We need those engines now. Chewie GROWLS and pounds a heavy fist against the controls. The lights flicker for a moment and then the engines can be heard firing to life. HAN So that's your trick. Hold on! He pulls hard on the controls. EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE The Falcon drops out of the sky, levels off and swoops mere feet off the surface of the ground. The BACKLASH of the engines BLOWS ice particles into the air. The ship swoops back into the stars in the distance. NEW ANGLE - THE ASTEROID The ship pulls away from the asteroid and soars toward the moon's debris. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT Han and Chewie stare in awe at the debris. Han studies his monitor. HAN No, these are the right coordinates, but where's the moon? Chewie gives his opinion. Han studies his screen. HAN There's a lot of structural debris here. Scattered all over. Whatever it was, it was big. Must have collided with the moon in hyperspace. (sighs) I'm glad we didn't land there now. Chewie agrees. HAN Well, whatever happened here is not our problem. We've got places to go. EXT. SPACE The Millennium Falcon SOARS into a wide turn and ZOOMS away into the distant stars. A large chunk of metallic debris drifts into view. Exposed wires are still SPARKING; a series of small lights still blinking from the remnants of power that once fed it. Then, as if to punctuate this scene, a large chunk of moon debris floats through and smashes the component as the ominous melody of the "Imperial March" plays on, foretelling of things to come... FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE THE END ENDING CREDITS. Screenwriter William Ward can be contacted at: William Ward Post Office Box 1092 Clovis, New Mexico USA 88102-109