7:30 p.m. May 18, 2005. DJ DesTroy's Parking Lot Monte Carlo SS Cantina is NOW OPEN!!!

As we arrived at the theater, the line was rather large. Radio Guy had basically become the line police, and was a little bitter as we joined up with Keith near the front of the line. He felt that anyone who hadn't actually stayed there all day should take their place in the back of the line. In fact, a quorum of fans had shuffled #1-In-Line-Been-There-Since-Sunday Luke about 20 people back. But, since Radio Guy thought we were "cool" (since we actually camped out for tix, I guess), he let us slide. I offered him a refreshing beverage, but he declined due to being On-Air.

Tommy and Innocent Passerby Guy frequented my Cantina several times, and I delivered some beverages to Keith, Chad, and Jason.

More and more costumed fans were showing up, and lightsaber duels were a constant fun distraction. There were plenty of Darth Vaders, a Stormtrooper, and some ANH Princess Leias.

There was a young kid, Wyatt, who was packing 2 lightsabers and dressed as a padawan. This kid was GREAT... The front of the line ended up adopting him because he was just so cool. When you dueled him, he would play fair; if tagged in the arm, he quit using that arm. If you got a body shot in on him, he would dramatically fall down and die. He was quick, and he whooped me many times. I told him to never smoke. Ever. It's detrimental to lighsaber dueling. Tommy and Wyatt pretty much chased eachother around the line all evening and it was great.

The excitement, the anticipation... the MAGIC was happening. This was it. The LAST Star Wars... and I KNOW that the 600 people in line could feel it. There was no place we'd rather be, than right there, hanging with fans, and anyone who had the silghtest bit of love for the story.

As the night wore on, the whoops and yells from the crowd when Radio Guy was on-air got louder and louder. As 10 0'clock approached, Luke was on the lookout for the TV crews... He's a little bit of a media whore, I think. And he's earned it, but I wish he wouldn't have monopolized them like he did.

At about 10:30, the line started to tighten. Lawn chairs and coolers were put away. Costumes were adjusted for the final time. The theater was allowing us to use the restrooms, so final pit stops were made.

Giddiness overtook our group, right about the time the news crews showed up. Our group sort of allowed Luke and Darth Josh to the front . Tommy and Wyatt dueled and battled for the cameras. Luke molested the beautiful anchorlady, while Jason and I jockeyed for better views of her. After hearing the stories Luke perennially tells the media, Chad, Jason and I wondered if the lines get him any chix.

I know that when I use the "I trained under Jake Lloyd's agent" line, I don't get any women... but that's probably because Luke has already been there.

The theater locked the doors after the evening's shows had let out. People kept trying to get in, and Chad would say... "Just pull on it 2 more times, it'll work!" After the futile attempt at entry... I busted out a giddy voice... "Awww... ya tried tried it 2 more times and you're STILL A DOOOOSHBAGG!!!" It's a lot funnier when you hear me say it aloud. Plus, it's kind of a time-sensitive location joke.

Radio Guy's final on-air break was at 11:20. I warned him that I was going to make the line get loud as hell... and when he went on, the promise was kept. He had to step out into the parking lot just to make it through the broadcast. I feel sorry for the sound guy editing the news footage, because we did the same thing to them!

The theater started seating us at 11:45 p.m.
Trailers began playing at 12:01 a.m., May 19, 2005.

And then... well. You know.