So now we're at part 5 of my ongoing exploration of Star Wars in its infancy. In part 4 we met Han Solo and Chewbacca the meeting with Luke that was quite different from that of the one we are use to. In part 5 we are going to visit Alderaan.

PART 5: SAVING PRIVATE DEAK

Scene 58-Scene 79

Last time we got a good look at the earliest look of the Han Solo character. Not only was he a scoundrel but he was also an arrogant scumbag and a thief. When travelling to the planet of Ogana Major we see more of what a scumbag Han is:

Han stands nervously waiting for Chewbacca, who is looking through Luke's things as the young adventurer sleeps.
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He must have SOMETHING of value. Are you sure you looked through everything? His father had better be loaded.

As if it wasn't enough that Luke is paying passenger and has promised more to come. I feel that Lucas is going to a great stretch to show the bad side of Han. Yes, we know he's a bad guy now. You don't to show anymore of it. I preferred it when he shot Greedo. It showed him off as a scoundrel at first but the action is kind of vague and comes into context later. Shooting Greedo isn't as clear as rummaging through your passengers stuff or stealing your captains ship. In my opinion, Han can't really redeem himself from this. He's just to much of a scumbag.

There is no blasting out of Mos Eisley here and there's no pursuing Star Destroyer either so the trip has been a calm one and they reach Ogana Major after a while, yet it isn't there.

What's left of it is contaminated. That's it there...look at those radiation read-outs!...and the blockade is gone. Now what's going on?

Radiation? Nuclear power? We are really never sure what kind of power the Star Wars galaxy runs on, if it's fossil fuel, nuclear or gas. It's really never anything a fan thinks of but here it's made clear that nuclear power is used in this galaxy. Even as weapons. This gives the Star Wars galaxy a kind of Asimov-quality that I've felt has run through this draft. In Isaac Asimovs "The Foundation" trilogy, nuclear power is the prime source of energy in the galaxy and it's used for everything, powering ship, for weapons and for garbage disposal.

Montross also says:

I don't care how large the Imperial fleet has become, it couldn't have done this. Half the planet is torn away. It would have taken a thousand ships with a lot more fire power than I've ever seen...very fascinating.

So half of the planet is gone and what is left is full of radiation? That is a grim scene. A fate worse then Alderaan.

Luke then realizes that his father who resided on Ogana Major must be dead which infuriates Han because that means no more money. It's when Luke is about to be throttled by Han that he cracks the idea of going after Deak. It's when Luke says that Deak is imprisoned by the Empire on Alderaan that the crew of Solos ship seem unwilling to save him. But the drive for earning money is to strong in Han and he agrees to go on a rescue mission. Again, they are aware of what they are throwing themselves into: They are going to infiltrate the Imperial capital and save a Jedi and then get out.

They are not drawn into as it happens in A New Hope with the tractor beam and all that. This for me is a bigger differance between the two version of Star Wars then all the odd names, planets, people and the plot. The heroes of the Starkiller are willing and they always know what they are doing. The heroes of A New Hope are unwilling and usually get found by adventure, not the other way around. I find the latter approach to be more charming since it's easier to connect with the main character that way.

They approach Alderaan who sounds awefully similar to Bespin and I'm pretty sure the concept of Alderaan was applied to Bespin. The ship is even escorted into Alderaan as the Falcon is escorted into Bespin and we've even got the two shots in front of the cockpit in this draft and in The Empire Strikes Back. The ship shows no lifeforms on the TIE-fighters scanners (who have a 4 man crew here) and therefore will be taken into the capital to be inspected.

The ship lands in the bay and is met by hundreds of stormtroopers. Two Sith Knights also approach the ship and most of the stormtroopers draw back showing fear for their superiors. So there goes the image of the cold, ruthless and fearless enforces of the Galactic Empire. A Sith Knight even states that: These MANTHAS troops are getting far too timid. showing the stormtroopers of the Starkiller are just a big bunch of softies.

The troops search through the ship and find Threepio there. The troops ignore him and search through the rest of the ship and find nothing. Han and company come out their hidden compartments just like in A New Hope and then attack 4 stormtroopers in the lounge area of the ship with lightsabers and screaming. A not so subtle approach to getting into the Imperial capital. A guard comes and investigates and discovers them. He gets quickly gunned down and Han takes on the disguise as a Imperial officer.

They put cuffs on Chewie just like in A New Hope. They go straight to a control room so they can find Deaks cell and when they have, Han, Chewie and Luke make their way to the detention cells whilst leaving Threepio and R2 behind.

They reach the detention cells and the guards tell them they need to check up Chewie in the console, this is when they throw their plan in action. Chewie "breaks" free and shots and the officers whilst Luke and Han try to "hit" him whilst really trying to hit the cameras.

You won't find me saying this often about this draft but I think this is actually a good idea instead of just blasting off all over the place as they did in the movie. I also like the line: A Wookiee broke loose up here, but then again nothing can top Fords ad-libed dialogue. But still, it seems better with Chewie "breaking loose". Ah well...

Han and Chewie run down the hallway trying to find Deaks cell. When they do, they are met by this scene:

Suspended inside the cell by invisible rays, a bloody and mutilated Deak Starkiller hangs upside down.

It's pretty obvious that this idea was picked right out of the draft and put into Attack of the Clones, except that Obi-Wan escaped being hung upside down and mutilated.

Chewie and Han manages to get Deak down just in time before the stormtroopers blast open the main door and emerge into the prison level. Han, Luke and Chewie with Chewie on his shoulder met up and run down the cell passageway to escape from the stormtroopers. Is it me or Chewie always carrying someone? If it isn't Deak, then it's a broken Threepio, Yoda or some random Ewoks.