Leia and the others stare at the computer screen.
RED NINE'S VOICE: (over speaker) It's a hit!
RED LEADER: (over speaker) Negative.
INT. RED LEADER'S COCKPIT
Red Leader looks back at the receding Death Star. Tiny explosions are visible in the distance.
RED LEADER: Negative! It didn't go in, it just impacted on the surface.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR - TIE FIGHTER
Darth Vader peels off in pursuit as Red Leader's X-Wing passes the Death Star horizon.
INT. DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT
Vader swings his ship around for the next kill.
INT. RED LEADER'S COCKPIT
LUKE: (over headset) Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point...
Luke tries to spot Red Leader. He looks down at the Death Star surface.
LUKE: ... oh-five; we'll cover for you.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Stay there...
INT. RED LEADER'S COCKPIT
A wary Red Leader looks about nervously.
RED LEADER: ... I just lost my starboard engine.
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Luke looks excitedly toward Red Leader's X-Wing.
RED LEADER: (over headset) Get set up for your attack run.
INT. DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT
Vader's gloved hands make contact with the control sticks, and he presses their firing buttons.
INT. RED LEADER'S COCKPIT
Red Leader fights to gain control of his ship.
Laser bolts are flung from Vader's TIE fighter, connecting with Red Leader's Rebel X-wing fighter. Red Leader screams as his X-Wing, out of control, crashes into the Death Star's surface.
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Luke looks out the window of his X-wing at the explosion far below. For the first time, he feels the helplessness of his situation.
INT. DEATH STAR
Grand Moff Tarkin casts a sinister eye at the computer screen.
DEATH STAR INTERCOM VOICE: Rebel base, one minute and closing.
INT. MILLENIUM FALCON – COCKPIT
Han slowly shakes his head.
HAN: They’re not gonna pull it off.
Chewbacca moans. After a moment, Han takes the controls of the Falcon.
INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM
Dodonna and Princess Leia, with Threepio beside them, listen intently to the talk between the pilots. The room is grim after Red Leader's death. Princess Leia nervously paces the room.
LEIA: Can they go on?
DODONNA: They must.
LEIA: But we’ve lost so many. Without Red or Gold Leader, how will they regroup?
LUKE: (over speaker) Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in, we're going in full throttle.
INT. WEDGE'S COCKPIT
The horizon twists as Wedge begins to pull out.
WEDGE: Right with you, boss.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR
The two X-wings peel off against a background of stars and dive toward the Death Star.
INT. BIGGS' COCKPIT
BIGGS: Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
LUKE: It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR
The three X-Wings move in, unleashing a barrage of laser fire. Laser bolts are returned from the Death Star.
INT. BIGGS' COCKPIT
Luke's lifelong friend struggles with his controls.
BIGGS: We'll stay back far enough to cover you.
INT. LUKE'S COCKPIT
Flak and laser bolts flash outside Luke's cockpit window.
WEDGE: (over headset) My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?
BIGGS: (over headset) It’d better!
The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotates as it shoots laser bolts.
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Luke looks around for the Imperial TIE fighters. He thinks for a moment and then moves his targeting device into position.
LUKE: Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!
INT. WEDGE'S COCKPIT
Wedge looks excitedly about for any sign of the TIE fighters.
WEDGE: What about that tower?
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
LUKE: You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!
EXT. DEATH STAR SURFACE
Luke's X-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers.
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Luke breaks into a nervous sweat as the laser fire is returned, nicking one of his wings close to the engine.
LUKE: (to Artoo) Artoo... that -- that stabilizer's broken loose again! See if you can't lock it down!
EXT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER
Artoo works to repair the damages. The canyon wall rushes by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious.
EXT. DEATH STAR
Two laser cannons are firing on the Rebel fighters...and fall silent.
INT. WEDGE'S COCKPIT
Wedge looks up and sees the TIE ships.
INT. LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Luke's targeting device marks off the distance to the target.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR
Vader and his wingmen zoom closer.
INT. DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT
Vader adjusts his controls.
WINGMAN: (over speakers) They’re going too fast – they’ll never pull out in time.
VADER: Stay on them.
WINGMAN TWO: (over speakers) They’re moving too fast to get a fix!
Vader checks his instruments.
VADER: They’ll still have to slow down before they reach that tower.
Vader fires laser bolts at two X-wings flying down the trench. He scores a direct hit on Wedge.
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