STAR BORES Episode 6: Re-run of the Gookie Written by Sylvester Fox Based on 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi' written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan from the novel by George Lucas (C) 1983 Lucasfilms Ltd. This work (C) 1997 Sylvester Fox ----------------- Some time or other, somewhere ... SLAPPY: Hey, we're on a roll here. OK, last movie. Skip Lukewalker's run back ta his home planet ta rescue Han Yakko from the grip 'a the Godpigeon. Too bad he don't know the Empire's back in the Eight Ball business again. Yep, they're buildin' another one 'a them things. Hey, what'd ya expect? We're doin' the same thing. [The scene shifts downward, revealing a half-completed Eight Ball station. Around it are orange cones, cranes, barrels, heavy equipment, et cetera. A moon floats in the background. A destroyer sails toward the station, and is diverted by the workers to a temporary parking lot. A shuttle flies from it and is let through the barricades.] [The captain of the shuttle turns on his transmitter.] CAPTAIN: Eight Ball control, this is Imperial Shuttle 1. We are requesting clearance. Over. EIGHT BALL CONTROLLER: [over radio] This is Eight Ball control, please send clearance code. Over. CAPTAIN: Little pig, little pig, let me in. Over. EIGHT BALL CONTROLLER: [over radio] Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. Roger, Shuttle 1, you are cleared for main landing bay, over. [The captain switches his radio off.] [The shuttle lands on the deck, greeted by several stormtroopers standing in front of its exit. The commander of the Eight Ball, Grand Mop Walterrod, strides past the formation and to the door, opening it and standing at attention. From the open door steps Pinky Vader.] PINKY: At ease! Narf. [The troops stand down from attention and disperse. Pinky and Walterrod walk toward the entrance.] WALTERROD: Lord Pinky, this was truly an unexpected pleasure and we are honoured by your visit to us. PINKY: Thanks, but I'm here on some other business. Poit. WALTERROD: [nervously] Really? PINKY: Yeah ... I think you're a bit behind in building this thing, right? WALTERROD: [very nervously] I assure you, we're working as fast as we can on this thing ... PINKY: Ooh, but Emperor Palpabrain doesn't think so. WALTERROD: Why doesn't he come over here and help, then? PINKY: [gasp] That was supposed to be a surprise! [Walterrod's jaw drops to the ground. He gathers it up before speaking.] WALTERROD: The Emperor's coming *here*?!? PINKY: Yes he is! And he's gonna want to talk to *you*. Zort. [They march off the deck, Walterrod praying under his breath.] [Scratch-3PO and Ralph2-D2 walk along the road toward the gates outside the Godpigeon's estates. Ralph2 beeps a question to Scratchy.] SCRATCHY: Of course I'm vorried! Ve're being sent into ze nest of ze Godpigeon! Pesto never returned from here! [Ralph2 beeps again.] SCRATCHY: Och, if you only knew vhat I knew about ze Godpigeon ... [They reach the gate. Scratchy looks for the doorbell, then shrugs and knocks on the doors. A door opens, revealing Squit.] SQUIT: Who is it? SCRATCHY: Two droids who seek audience vith ze great Godpigeon ... SQUIT: Well, I really shouldn't ... aw, what the heck. C'mon in. [Squit disappears and the doors open. Ralph2 scurries through.] SCRATCHY: Vait for me! [Scratchy rushes after Ralph2.] [The droids enter the throne room of the Godpigeon. The room is filled with lots of pigeons. On a raised perch sits the Godpigeon himself. Squit flaps over to the side of the Godpigeon and whispers in his ear. The Godpigeon laughs wheezily at the two droids before him.] GODPIGEON: Mehuztma muhumma muppita. SQUIT: The Godpigeon says, 'State your business.' SCRATCHY: How can you understand vhat he's saying? You never could before ... SQUIT: I can't. I'm just reading the script. SCRATCHY: Oh. [to Godpigeon] Ve bring you an important message, ja? [to Ralph2] Play ze message ... [Ralph2 blinks, then reaches into a storage drawer. He pulls out a life-size stand-out of Skip Lukewalker and sets it in front of the Godpigeon, then plays a recorded tape.] SKIP: [recorded, over player] Greetings, Godpigeon. I am Skip Lukewalker, Gookie Knight and friend of Han Yakko. I know you're pretty mad at Han, so I'll be brief. I'd like to meet with you to bargain for his life. [The pigeons laugh.] SKIP: [continuing] I'm sure we can reach a mutually profitable agreement between us. As a gesture of my goodwill, I offer you these two droids. [Scratchy's jaw drops audibly.] SKIP: [continuing] They are hard working and will serve you well. Bye! [The tape clicks off. The Godpigeon lets out another hoarse laugh, then speaks.] GODPIGEON: Myamutamama musheya mummulama! SQUIT: The Godpigeon says, 'There will be no bargain!' GODPIGEON: [chuckling] Yriamaya shummuma mupta. SQUIT: The Godpigeon says, 'I like Han Yakko as he is.' [Scratchy and Ralph2 turn to where the Godpigeon points. Under a Christmas tree lies the box Han Yakko has been packed in.] SCRATCHY: Oh, zere he is ... GODPIGEON: [relaxing] Pshayma putma. SQUIT: The Godpigeon says, 'Take them away.' [The droids are taken away.] [The droids are led to a vile pit boss.] BOSS: OK, you. [points to Scratchy] Psych droid, right? SCRATCHY: I am Scratch-3PO, -- BOSS: Yes or no. SCRATCHY: Um, ja. BOSS: Languages? SCRATCHY: I am fluent in over six million forms of -- BOSS: Splendid. [to guard] Take him up. This one can replace the last psych droid we've been using. SCRATCHY: Vhat happened to him? [The boss points to a pile of 3PO-style parts. Scratchy cringes and whimpers as the guard takes him away. Ralph2 beeps a few times in protest.] BOSS: Oh, a feisty one? Well, you'll learn to take orders soon enough. [Loud music blares as the gathered seedy pigeons revel. The Godpigeon watches over the party, chuckling to himself occasionally. After a while, a pounding on the door is heard, followed by the entrance of a network censor.] CENSOR: Stop this scene immediately! [The pigeons stop in surprise, then turn to the Godpigeon, who speaks.] GODPIGEON: Ysayama pupara. CENSOR: This scene shows behaviour distinctly prohibited by the network code! GODPIGEON: [dismissively] Mupti. [The Godpigeon touches a button beside him. The censor looks down, then notices he was standing on a trap door. He falls, screaming, and lands with a loud *whud*. The pigeons crowd over a nearby grate in the floor, looking down. Loud stomps are heard, followed by the censor's screams, then laughing pigeons as the screams die down and the stomps fade away, an evil chuckling heard over all. Scratchy is led in during this scene, and watches the censor fall into the pit. He turns away, and looks once more at the attractively-packaged Han Yakko, now on a table. His thoughts are interrupted as a shot rings from off-screen. All turn to the door to see a bounty hunter enter, wearing a full-face helmet and a racing jumpsuit with 'BOSCH' embroidered on the left side. 'Bosch' leads in a captive ChewWakko and stands in front of the Godpigeon's perch, then speaks. His voice is garbled by the helmet.] BOSCH: [barely intelligible] I have come for the bounty on this Wakkie. [Scratchy moans mournfully.] SCRATCHY: Oh, no, not ChewVakko ... [The Godpigeon laughs wheezily, then looks over to Scratchy and nods. Scratchy smiles nervously and approaches the Godpigeon, who extends his foot. Scratchy leans to kiss it, then turns to face Bosch, looking occasionally on the Godpigeon as he speaks.] GODPIGEON: Myesatama mumura mesapazarmumsi. SCRATCHY: Ze Godpigeon says he is villing to pay you ze bounty on ze Vakkie ... twenty-five thousand dollars. BOSCH: Fifty thousand. [The pigeons around the room grumble angrily, closing on the bounty hunter.] GODPIGEON: [angrily] Psheyamuffama pupotmauma! SCRATCHY: [nervously] Ze Godpigeon asks vhy he should pay you fifty thousand dollars ... [Bosch reaches into his coat and pulls out a small scroll.] BOSCH: Because that's what you printed. [Pesto takes the scroll and reads it, then nods to the Godpigeon, who once again wheezes as he laughs.] GODPIGEON: [chuckling] Iyorizio mumblitamubilamta. SCRATCHY: [relieved] Ze Godpigeon says he admires your courage und respect, und he vill be pleased to give you fifty thousand dollars. [Bosch nods, and the pigeons begin to party again. Two large pigeons take ChewWakko away, still whining. Bosch takes a drink and sips it through his mask, then notices a pigeon staring at him: Bobby Fett. They stare at each other, then turn away.]