Daily Dialogue — June 4, 2104

Han Solo: Hey, Your Worship, I’m only trying to help.
Princess Leia: Would you please stop calling me that?
Han Solo: Sure, Leia.
Princess Leia: You make it so difficult sometimes.
Han Solo: I do, I really do. You could be a little nicer, though. Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I’m all right.
Princess Leia: Occasionally, maybe… when you aren’t acting like a scoundrel.
Han Solo: Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that.

Han starts to massage Leia’s hand.

Princess Leia: Stop that.
Han Solo: Stop what?
Princess Leia: [timidly] Stop that. My hands are dirty.
Han Solo: My hands are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?
Princess Leia: Afraid?
Han Solo: You’re trembling.
Princess Leia: I’m not trembling.

Han moves in closer.

Han Solo: You like me because I’m a scoundrel. There aren’t enough scoundrels in your life.
Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I’m nice men.
Princess Leia: No, you’re not. You’re…

They kiss.

— Star Wars: Episode V — Empire Strikes Back (1980), written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Flirting, suggested by Sabina Giado. Today’s suggestion by David Proenza.

Trivia: The scene in the Cloud City apartment where Han Solo enters to tell Princess Leia that the repairs on the Millennium Falcon are almost complete played out differently in the finished film than it did in the original script. There, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is lounging around in the apartment when Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) enters, having changed from the white combat clothes she wore on Hoth to the brown dress and having her hair done up differently. In surprised reaction to how she’s dressed, Solo attempts to flatter her (“You look beautiful. You should wear girls clothes all the time.”) and Leia teases him by mentioning Luke; the scene ended with them sharing a kiss. The film was originally shot this way, but director Irvin Kershner felt it wasn’t coming out right, so he re-shot it to appear as it does in the finished film. Excerpts of how the scene was originally filmed can now be seen on the special edition DVD.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from David: “This is more than just simple flirting. You know their true feelings for each other despite Leia’s futile resistance…”

If you have a suggestion for this theme, please post in comments.

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