Luke's Friends

About this scene:

This scene was to come right after Artoo-Detoo and Threepio have ejected from the Blockade Runner in their escape pod, and right before Princess Leia is led captive before Darth Vader. Luke zooms into Anchorhead in his landspeeder to tell his friends about the battle he's seen. He is momentarily distracted when he finds that his best friend Biggs Darklighter has returned from the Academy, but then pulls them all outside to check out the battle. At this point the battle is over, so everyone thinks Luke is making it up.

Because it didn't fit well with the rest of the film, George Lucas decided to cut this scene from the final version of Star Wars. This is the only time we ever actually see the characters of Deak, Windy, Camie and Fixer. This scene establishes Luke's relationship to his peers, and how they they feel towards him. It also gives a picture of what life is like for young people on Tatooine.

For years this scene remained unseen, with only a few still photos and references in the comic book and novel showing that it ever actually existed. Despite people's claims that they had seen the footage in early prints of Star Wars, this scene was never shown to the public. The sound mix had never been completed, and the footage was not included in anything but rough editor's cuts (such as the legendary Lost Cut). In 1997 at the San Diego Comic Con, mega-collector and Lucasfilm employee Steve Sansweet gave fans an incredible treat by showing the Biggs footage publicly for the first time. See here for more info about that presentation. Later in 1998 with the inclusion of this footage on the Behind The Magic CD ROM, fans all over the world finally got to see what this scene looked like on film. The initial sequence where Luke nearly runs down an old woman with his landspeeder, however, was still missing apparently due to it being an effects shot that was never completed.

To download and watch this scene, click here.
You may need the latest codec.
(DivX AVI movie file, 8.7 MB, color and sound- courtesy ofGuruKenn & Garrett)

To watch this scene as shown at the 1997 San Diego Comic Con, click here.
You may need the latest codec.
(DivX AVI file, 7.9 MB, color, poor sound & picture - origin unknown)

 

EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY

Outside Anchorhead. This shot actually was used in the film later to depict Mos Eisley as the landspeeder approached it. Image from Greg Rossiter.

Heat waves radiate from the dozen or so bleached white buildings. Luke pilots his Landspeeder through the dusty empty street of the tiny settlement. An old woman runs to get out of the way of the speeding vehicle, shaking her fist at Luke as he flies past.

An old woman yells at Luke as he nearly runs her down. From the Lost Cut article in Star Wars Insider #41 - this is the only known published picture of this character.

WOMAN
I've told you kids to slow down!

Luke pulls up behind Toshi Station. This is an outtake; note the missing hat. From a Topps Star Wars trading card. Luke getting out of the landspeeder.  Photo from starwars.com.

Luke pulls up behind a low concrete service station that is all but covered by the shifting desert sands.

Luke jumps out of his landspeeder. From the Star Wars Insider #35. Running toward the station. From the Star Wars Insider #35.
Exterior shot of Toshi Station. From the Star Wars Insider #35. Luke heads down the steps to the entrance. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

INT. POWER STATION - DAY

Toshi Station interior shot. From the Star Wars Chronicles. Fixer with Camie on his lap; while Biggs, Deak, and Windy playing an electronic game in the back.  Photo from starwars.com.

Luke bursts into the power station, waking The Fixer, a rugged mechanic and Camie, a sexy, disheveled girl who has been asleep in his lap.

Burstsing in the door of the garage. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

They grumble as he races through the office, yelling wildly.

FIXER
Did I hear a young noise blast through here?

CAMIE
It was just Wormie on another rampage.

Camie and Fixer lounging around. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

Luke bounces into a small room behind the office where Deak and Windy, two tough boys about the same age as Luke, are playing a computer pool-like game with Biggs, a burly, handsome boy a few years older than the rest. His flashy city attire is a sharp contrast to the loose-fitting tunics of the farm boys. A robot repairs some equipment in the background.

LUKE
Shape it up you guys!... Biggs?

Luke's surprise at the appearance of Biggs gives way to great joy and emotion. They give each other a great bear hug.

Luke is pleasantly suprised to see his friend Biggs back from the Academy, and momentarily forgets what he was doing. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

LUKE
I didn't know you were back! When did you get in?

BIGGS
Just now. I wanted to surprise you, hot shot. I thought you'd be here... certainly didn't expect you to be out working.
(laughs)

LUKE
The Academy didn't change you much... but you're back so soon? Hey, what happened, didn't you get your commission?

Biggs has an air of cool that seems slightly phony.

BIGGS
Of course I got it. Signed aboard The Rand Ecliptic last week. First mate Biggs Darklighter at your service...
(he salutes)
... I just came back to say goodbye to all you unfortunate landlocked simpletons.

Everyone laughs. The dazzling spectacle of his dashing friend is almost too much for Luke, but suddenly he snaps out of it.

LUKE
I almost forgot. There's a battle going on! Right here in our system. Come and look!

Luke urges his friends to come outside and see the battle. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

DEAK
Not again! Forget it.

Camie and Fixer reluctantly follow Biggs and Luke. Deak and Windy opt out and continue to play their game. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

EXT. TATOOINE - ANCHORHEAD - SETTLEMENT - POWER STATION - DAY

The group stumbles out into the stifling desert sun.

The group steps outside. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

Camie and The Fixer complain and are forced to shade their eyes. Luke has his binoculars out scanning the heavens.

LUKE
There they are!

Biggs takes the electrobinoculars from Luke as the others strain to see something with the naked eye. Through the electrobinoculars Biggs sees two small silver specks.

Biggs sees the ships just sitting in space. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

BIGGS
That's no battle, hot shot... they're just sitting there! Probably a freighter-tanker refueling.

LUKE
But there was a lot of firing earlier...

Biggs hands the macrobinoculars back to Luke. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

Luke ponders for a moment.  Image courtesy T'bone.

Camie grabs the electrobinoculars away banging them against the building in the process.

Camie grabs the binocs before Luke can look again. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

Luke grabs them.

LUKE
Hey, easy with those...

CAMIE
Don't worry about it, Wormie.

The Fixer gives Luke a hard look and the young farm boy shrugs his shoulders in resignation.

Camie stares up at the sky for a minute while Fixer is otherwise occupied. From the Star Wars Insider #35.

FIXER
I keep telling you, the Rebellion is a long way from here. I doubt if the Empire would even fight to keep this system. Believe me Luke, this planet is a big hunk of nothing...

Luke is none too happy about Camie swiping his electrobinoculars.  Note the Garrick Hagon signature.

Luke agrees, although it's obvious he isn't sure why. The group stumbles back into the power station, grumbling about Luke's ineptitude.

Luke is left alone as his disbelieving friends head back inside. From the Star Wars Insider #35.