STAR WARS
Boba Fett and Aurra Sing:
Hunters and Hunted
an original screenplay
by
Tom Schmidt
©2003 e-mail:
PAN DOWN to see a yellow planet and two suns. A ship approaches in the distance and heads toward the planet.
INT. SLAVE I- COCKPIT
Bounty hunter AURRA SING and ten-year old BOBA FETT sit at the ship’s controls, viewing at the planet that lies directly ahead. Boba looks very sullen while Aurra Sing looks like she’s intent on killing her prey.
AURRA SING
We’re approaching Tatooine.
Boba Fett nods, his mind elsewhere.
AURRA SING
I want you to stay with me.
She sees his depressed state.
AURRA SING
What’s troubling you now? Is it your
father?
BOBA FETT
(nods) Yep.
AURRA SING
That’s the first word you’ve spoken.
BOBA FETT
Why are we going to this place?
AURRA SING
(sighs)To train you, of course.
BOBA FETT
How? Nobody was as good as my father. You’re not as good as him.
She slams her fist on a console, gives him a cold stare. Boba looks scared.
AURRA SING
(very angry) Listen, Lord Tyranus is paying me good money to train you, you ungrateful-
She stops herself, allows herself time to settle down. She shakes her head.
AURRA SING
Let me warn you, my pet: when we get to Jabba the Hutt’s, you’d better watch your hide VERY carefully!
EXT. SPACE- TATOOINE
Slave I descends into the atmosphere of Tatooine. We see winds sweeping sands across vast desert wastes.
EXT. TATOOINE- OUTSIDE JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE
Aurra Sing and Boba Fett exit the ship, facing the large palace. Two GAMMOREAN GUARDS and BIB FORTUNA, Jabba’s number one, approach them from the palace. Boba Fett looks around nervously.
BIB FORTUNA
(in Huttese) Ah, Aurra Sing. My master awaits you.
AURRA SING
Good. (to Boba Fett) Let’s go, Boba.
He stands still, unhearing, gazing at several distant BANTHA herds.
AURRA SING
(pulls him away) BOBA!
INT. JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE
Bib Fortuna and the Gammorean guards lead them through a darkened corridor. Sounds of laughter, shouts, and uproar as they approach the Throne Room. Boba Fett takes it all in, startled by sharp noises.
INT. JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE- THRONE ROOM
As Boba Fett and Aurra Sing arrive, the room is in commotion. JABBA THE HUTT and his bloodthirsty cronies watch a fight between a NIKTO felon and a helpless GRAN. They roar with approval as they wrestle on the filthy floor.
The Nikto gains the upper hand, pulls out a jagged dagger and stabs his opponent in the chest. The Gran lets out a blood-chilling scream, and falls still. The room explodes with laughter. Boba Fett glances at Aurra Sing, who gives him a defiant look back.
The Nikto takes out his blaster, but a grizzled man stops him.
RANCOR KEEPER
No. We have a better way of dealing with this.
Two Gammorean guards press several buttons on a wall panel, and an opening appears in the floor. They pick up the Gran corpse and toss him to the RANCOR. The grunting of a large beast is heard throughout the room. A giant belch signals the beast has finished his dinner.
Bib Fortuna slowly makes his way to Jabba the Hutt, whispers something. Jabba recomposes himself, looks in Aurra Sing’s direction.
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) Well, the lovely Aurra Sing. Your trip here was pleasant?
AURRA SING
Yes, Your Excellency.
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) Who is this boy beside you?
AURRA SING
He is Boba Fett, son of the late bounty hunter Jango Fett.
Jabba and other cronies fall silent for a few moments. Out of the corner of her eye, Aurra notices an unshaven man with a long scar on his face staring at her.
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese, addresses the crowd) Mmm. The Clone Wars has already damaged business. Revenues have fallen as the major trade routes have been disrupted.
Several cronies chattier among themselves nervously.
BIB FORTUNA
(in Huttese) Silence!
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) There are always other ways to gain back our money, heh, heh, heh. We must eliminate Ambor Tin and take over his monopoly on the spice trade!
His cronies roar with approval, some stomping their feet. They become as noisy as when the Gran was killed. Jabba and Bib Fortuna smile with approval. Jabba pulls out a creature out of his tank and eats it.
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) To the demise of Ambor Tin!
More roars of approval. Aurra Sing sees the scarred man scowling at her again.
AURRA SING
(to Boba) Go to our room and stay there until I come back.
He nods sullenly. Aurra disappears into the crowd, trying to find the mysterious man. Finally, she sees him from a distance and approaches him cautiously. He talks to two Rodians when she bumps into him.
AURRA SING
Have we met before, scum?
The man stares at her defiantly. She matches his stare. Finally, he walks off, a disgusted look on his face.
INT. JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE- CORRIDOR
Boba Fett heads toward his room. Suddenly he runs into a Gammorean guard.
GAMMOREAN
(in native tongue) Watch where you’re going, boy, or you’ll be Bantha fodder!
Boba peers at him timidly, shakes his head and walks off. He hears snickering. He turns and finds a young Rodian laughing at him.
BOBA FETT
What are you laughing at?!
RODIAN
(in Huttese) You. You don’t look like you could survive one night here, heh heh heh….
BOBA FETT
Do you know who I am?
RODIAN
(in Huttese) Yeah, Greedo knows everything. You’re a pathetic outworlder about to be killed.
BOBA FETT
You’re lucky my dad isn’t here, slime ball, or he’d blast your tongue out!
Boba stomps away. GREEDO watches him leave, then snickers again.
INT. JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE- THRONE ROOM
Sounds of laughter, music, and shouts. On stage, a band plays with a KITONAK wailing away a solo on his horn. All the criminals are getting drunk, except Aurra Sing, who scouts for potential threats. She feels a sensation from her sensor implant in the back of her head, warning her of danger. She feels a sensation in her right arm and notices a drunken CORELLIAN SMUGGLER touching her skin in wonder. She draws her nails.
AURRA SING
Take your filthy hands off me!
The man erupts in guffaws.
CORELLIAN
Is that skin…really…white?
AURRA SING
Too much to drink, Corellian?
CORELLIAN
How’d…you know where I’m from?
AURRA SING
(jabs a finger into his chest) It’s written all over your shirt, scum.
Another round of wild guffaws. She glares at him coldly.
CORELLIAN
What’s a girl like you doing here?
AURRA SING
I was going to ask the same question.
The man erupts in drunken laughter.
CORELLIAN
I got somethin’ special to do.
AURRA SING
(sarcastically) I wouldn’t be surprised.
CORELLIAN
No, it’s really special. I’m gonna kill…Jabba the Hutt. Heh, heh, heh.
AURRA SING
I doubt you are capable, fool.
CORELLIAN
(pulls out a detonator) You’re gonna see the biggest supernova…
Aurra Sing whips out her blasters instantly! She blasts the Corellian several times. He falls to the floor, dead, smoke pouring out of gaping holes in his body. The music and laughter stops as she quickly retrieves the small detonator, checks to see if it’s activated. Two Gammorean guards and Bib Fortuna approaches the scene.
BIB FORTUNA
(in Huttese) What happened here?
AURRA SING
(pointing at the body) This jerk tried to assassinate your boss.
Bib Fortuna examines the body, her.
BIB FORTUNA
(in Huttese) What have you done?! This man was a valuable guest of my master!
AURRA SING
Guest? He almost blew this place to bits!
BIB FORTUNA
(in Huttese) This man is very important. His death will not go away easily.
AURRA SING
What are you talking about?! Is this the gratitude you show to someone who saved your master’s life?
BIB FORTUNA
(in Huttese) I will tell Jabba about this. You must stay here until he reaches a decision.
Bib Fortuna walks away. Aurra Sing watches him with disgust. The Gammorean guards push aside stragglers to get to the body.
INT. JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE- BOBA FETT’S QUARTERS
Boba Fett examines a model starfighter when he sees Aurra Sing enter the room. He notices her unpleasant expression.
BOBA FETT
Are we going to leave this place soon? I really don’t like it here.
AURRA SING
You’ve got to take a little rough and tumble.
He glances at her troubled.
INT. JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE- THRONE ROOM- DAY
Aurra Sing takes Boba Fett to Jabba’s throne room. Most of the party sleeps off their drunkenness on the floor. Bib Fortuna whispers something to Jabba.
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) Very trigger happy are you, my dear?
AURRA SING
Your Excellency, a creep tried to assassinate you and destroy us all last night with this. (holds the thermal detonator)
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) The man you fried worked for Gardulla the Hutt. He will be most upset when he hears the news.
AURRA SING
But Your Excellency…
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) His death is not cheap. Gardulla will kill his murderer gladly.
AURRA SING
But Your Excellency, you know my reputation. Why are you throwing me away to…
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) Business is business, Aurra. But…
Bib Fortuna whispers something to him. Jabba’s expression changes.
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) Because you are so special, Aurra, there is a bargain for you. You have 3 days to find who this Devan Jhara worked for.
AURRA SING
And if I don’t?
JABBA THE HUTT
(in Huttese) Then I have no choice but to feed you to the Sarlaac Pit.
Boba Fett stares at her ominously. She shakes it off.
AURRA SING
(to Boba Fett) Let’s go.
Out of the corner of her eye, Aurra sees the scarred man again, this time with a smile.
EXT. OUTSIDE JABBA THE HUTT’S PALACE- DAY
Boba Fett helps Aurra Sing load their gear onto Slave I. After they finish, Boba sits down in the cargo hold.
BOBA FETT
So they’re going to kill you?
AURRA SING
Not if I can stop them.
BOBA FETT
I’ve been orphaned once. I don’t want to be orphaned again, especially here.
AURRA SING
(sharply) Boba, someday you’re going to have to survive on your own. Did you get the body of our friend?
BOBA FETT
Yep.
AURRA SING
Good boy. We’re going to find out where this scum really came from. I know someone in Mos Eisley who can help us. Let’s go.
INT. TATOOINE- MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT- DAY
Mos Eisley Spaceport bustles with space traffic as freighters come and go in the sky. Slave I slowly descends toward a landing platform. Aurra Sing and Boba Fett exit the ship; Aurra gives some coins to an ATTENDANT. A group
of JAWAS gather around the ship, but the attendant chases them off.
AURRA SING
I’m going to visit an old acquaintance in the business. You’ll have to be careful, this place swarms with wretched scum. I want you to watch everything I do. Got it?
Boba Fett nods, reluctantly.
AURRA SING
Why do I get the impression your mind is elsewhere?
BOBA FETT
(shrugs) I don’t know. I just wanna be left alone.
He starts to walk off. She grabs him by the shoulder.
AURRA SING
Listen, life isn’t like Kamino, where you lived a sheltered existence. Besides, where would you go? Do you think you’ll be safe by yourself back with Jabba the Hutt and his company? You don’t have any payment to hop a freighter out of here either. Now come on.
Reluctantly, he follows her.
INT. MOS EISLEY- MOS EISLEY CANTINA
A band is playing to an audience of mixed races. WUHER, the bartender, moves around the counter as the new party enters.
WUHER
(pointing at Boba Fett) We don’t serve kids here!
AURRA SING (V.O.)
Surely, you can make an exception for an old friend.
WUHER
You’re asking for trouble if you ask…Aurra? Is that Aurra Sing?
AURRA SING
Always stubborn, Wuher?
WUHER
I knew it! How’re you doing, pirate!
He moves from the counter and embraces her. He holds her a little too long, and she pulls away.
AURRA SING
(pointing at Boba Fett) Can you get something for him?
WUHER
Sure, I’ll do anything for you. Can I get you something?
AURRA SING
No drink. We need to talk about something.
WUHER
Sure. Can we talk in the back?
She nods, looking at Boba Fett. As they leave, Boba gazes at the various aliens in the bar with awe. They pick a table in a secluded part of the room.
WUHER
So what brings you back to this rock?
AURRA SING
Business.
WUHER
What’s the problem now?
AURRA SING
Last night we stayed at Jabba’s palace and I shot a creep threatening to assassinate him. The problem is, this smuggler has a big name with Gardulla the Hutt. Jabba says he wasn’t dangerous.
WUHER
What was his name?
AURRA SING
Devan Jhara. Know anything about him?
Wuher nods at her. After a brief moment, she pulls out a small bundle of credits. He smiles.
WUHER
Yeah, I heard of the fellow. He was always around here, sticking his nose into other people’s problems. Said he was several thousand credits in debt from betting on all those pod races.
AURRA SING
Anything else?
WUHER
No…well, yeah, I guess so. He said he was working some deal with a big figure to help him get out of trouble.
AURRA SING
Moreover, who was that?
WUHER
Hey, Aurra, I’m just a barkeep. I just listen to all the conversations of the outworlders who pass through here.
AURRA SING
You know the answer.
WUHER
(smiling) It’s gonna cost you big.
Aurra lays down a large stash of credits on the table. Wuher still grins. She pulls out her blaster and presses it against his face.
AURRA SING
Tell me, or I’ll blow you and this wretched joint to pieces!
WUHER
(chuckling) You know I’m just messin’ with you, Aurra. (clears throat) All right, he was telling this Sullustan fellow that a Twi’lek crime lord named Ambor Tin said he’d clear all his debts if he did him a little favor.
AURRA SING
And what was that?
WUHER
You won’t believe this, but he said he was gonna take out Jabba the Hutt.
AURRA SING
So I was right! Jabba mentioned something about taking over the spice trade from Ambor Tin. The problem is, nobody knows where he lives.
WUHER
Oh yes they do.
AURRA SING
I’ve had enough of your games. (lays down all her credits) Don’t ask for anymore.
WUHER
It’ll take a couple days for my contacts to find out.
AURRA SING
Impossible! Jabba gave me 3 days to find Devan Jharra’s employer or he’ll feed me to the Sarlaac Pit. Gardulla the Hutt won’t let him get away with this case unpunished.
WUHER
Hmm. That is a problem. All right, come back two days from now and I’ll see what I’ve got.
She nods, gets out of her seat.
WUHER
Say, Aurra, who’s that kid? I didn’t know you had a son.
AURRA SING
(sighs) He’s not my son. He’s…the property of a client.
INT. MOS EISLEY- STREETS- AFTERNOON
Aurra Sing and Boba Fett walk along Mos Eisley’s busy streets. Ships fly overhead. They pass a pair of DEWBACKS tethered to a post.
AURRA SING
We’ll stay here for 2 nights. My contact promised he’d have our information by then.
BOBA FETT
You gave all our credits away? How stupid.
AURRA SING
Listen, smart boy, we had no choice! He’s a man we can trust. If you want to be a bounty hunter, you need to network to track down your prey. You have a better idea?
Boba stares at her skeptically. She shakes her head angrily. They walk toward the landing platform where Slave I is parked.
EXT. SPACE- NAR SHADDAA
Pan across space to Nar Shaddaa, known as the Smugglers’ Moon.
INT. NAR SHADAA- SLUMS-NIGHT
A decrepit, run-down neighborhood of crumbling tenement quarters. A lone, tall palace-like building stands in contrast. Airspeeders circle throughout the night sky. On the ground, armed WEEQUAYS patrol on foot.
INT. AMBOR TIN LAIR- MAIN SUITE
The sound of booming laughter echoing in the halls. Female giggling in the background.