Daily Dialogue — December 21, 2014
Han Solo: Han Solo. I’m captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you’re lookin’ for passage to the Alderaan system?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Yes indeed, if it’s a fast ship.
Han Solo: Fast ship? You’ve never heard of the Millennium Falcon?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Should I have?
Han Solo: It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. I’ve outrun Imperial starships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you, I’m talking about the big Corellian ships now. She’s fast enough for you old man. What’s the cargo?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids… and no questions asked.
Han Solo: [chuckles] What is it? Some kind of local trouble?
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Let’s just say we’d like to avoid any Imperial entanglements.
Han Solo: Well, that’s the real trick isn’t it? And it’s going to cost you something extra. (pauses) Ten thousand, all in advance.
Luke Skywalker: Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that.
Han Solo: But who’s going to fly it kid? You?
Luke Skywalker: You bet I could, I’m not such a bad pilot myself. (starts to get up) We don’t have to sit here and listen…
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: We can pay you two thousand now plus fifteen when we reach Alderaan.
Han Solo: Seventeen huh? Ok you guys got yourself a ship. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready. Docking bay ninety-four
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ninety-four.
Han Solo: Looks like somebody’s beginning to take an interest in your handiwork.
Stormtrooper (talking to bartender): Alright, we’ll check it out.
Han Solo: Seventeen thousand, those guys must really be desperate. This could really save my neck. Get back to the ship and get her ready.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: You’ll have to sell your speeder.
Luke Skywalker: That’s OK, I’m never coming back to this planet again.
Greedo: [In Huttese; subtitled] Going somewhere, Solo?
Han Solo: Yes, Greedo. I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba I’ve got his money.
Greedo: It’s too late. You should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba’s put a price on your head so large, every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I’m lucky I found you first.
Han Solo: Yeah, but this time I’ve got the money.
Greedo: If you give it to me, I might forget I found you.
Han Solo: [stealthily going for his blaster] I don’t have it with me. Tell Jabba…
Greedo: Jabba’s through with you! He has no use for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser.
Han Solo: Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice?
Greedo: You can tell that to Jabba. At best, he may only take your ship.
Han Solo: Over my dead body!
Greedo: That’s the idea… I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.
Han Solo: Yeah, I’ll bet you have.
[Han blasts Greedo, then heads out, tossing the bartender a coin]
Han Solo: Sorry about the mess.
— Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977), written by George Lucas
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Negotiation. Today’s suggestion by James Schramm.
Trivia: When the blasters are cocked they have a clicking/clunking sound. This is a recording of a parking meter handle being turned.
Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by James: These are 2 great back to back negotiation scenes. It introduces us to Han Solo, one of the great movie characters, and tell us everything we need to know about him through his negotiating tactics.