Daily Dialogue — December 11, 2019

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 — The Empire Strikes Back (1980), screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Kiss. Today’s suggestion by Rese Hood.

Trivia: Veteran screenwriter and frequent Howard Hawks collaborator Leigh Brackett succumbed to cancer shortly after completing her first draft of the script. On the strength of two unsold scripts, The Bodyguard (1992) and Continental Divide (1981), Steven Spielberg got novice author Lawrence Kasdan a twenty minute meeting with George Lucas, who engaged the young screenwriter to complete the script.

Dialogue On Dialogue: I always likened this kissing scene to one in Gone With the Wind which is about kissing, but none takes place… yet.

Princess Leia = Scarlett O’Hara and Han Solo = Rhett Butler.