EXT. JAKKU DESERT - DAY
TIGHT ON FINN'S FACE: His EYES OPEN. He goes from unconscious to terrified, fast. He sits up, looks around. CUT BACK WIDE: he sits in the middle of an EPIC DESERT, DUNES FOREVER. A BLACK CHUTE blows in the wind behind him, scattered debris. Then he sees, over distant dunes, RISING BLACK SMOKE. He gets up -- moves toward it, calling out:
FINN: Poe! Poe!
Finn scrambles over the massive dune to the TIE FIGHTER, SMOKING AND ON FIRE, small debris around it. He thinks he sees POE'S ARM -- he pulls on it, but it's JUST POE'S JACKET. He throws that off and tries to find a way in -- even a way to LOOK INSIDE, but the smoke and heat make it impossible.
FINN (CONT'D): Poe!!! POE!
Suddenly the ship BEGINS TO SINK -- like it's being CONSUMED INTO QUICKSAND -- Finn is slipping in too --
FINN (CONT'D): POE!!! POE!!!
It becomes clear fast: if Finn doesn't get away, he's gonna get sucked in too! So Finn scampers away from the TIE FIGHTER as it SINKS INTO THE SAND! We're in the Sinking Fields. A few moments and IT'S GONE. Finn's out of breath. Horrified. Then A GIANT EXPLOSION ERUPTS FROM below, SENDING SAND AND DEBRIS EVERYWHERE! Finn sees this, disoriented, scared, exhausted and defeated. And all alone.
EXT. DESERT - DAY
ENDLESS DUNES BEHIND HIM, Finn walks, removing pieces of his Stormtrooper gear, using Poe's FLIGHT JACKET for shade.
EXT. DESERT - DAY
Exhausted, Finn continues his trek across the endless, sandy nothingness. EXT. DESERT - DAY Finn, parched and losing hope, he walks to the edge of a massive dune, looks out into the epic valley below. Miles ahead: NIIMA OUTPOST.
INT. STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - DAY
General Hux and Kylo Ren walk the length of the bridge.
GENERAL HUX: Supreme Leader Snoke was explicit. Capture the droid if we can, but destroy it if we must.
KYLO REN: How capable are your soldiers, General?
GENERAL HUX (WITH VITRIOL): I won't have you question my methods.
KYLO REN: They're obviously skilled at committing high treason. Perhaps Leader Snoke should consider using a clone army.
GENERAL HUX: (YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH) My men are exceptionally trained -- programmed from birth--
KYLO REN: Then they should have no problem retrieving the droid. Unharmed.
GENERAL HUX: Careful, Ren. That your "personal interests" not interfere with orders from Leader Snoke.
KYLO REN: I want that map. For your sake, I suggest you get it.
Ren heads off. Hux hates him.
EXT. NIIMA OUTPOST - DAY
Sun-scorched and exhausted, Finn stumbles out of the desert into the Outpost. In a heatstroke daze he moves past enormous old SHIP PARTS, MERCHANTS, SCAVENGERS and TENTED STALLS.
FINN: Water... water... water..
He sees a WATER TROUGH where a filthy, slobbering hippo-like creature (a HAPPABORE) DRINKS. Finn moves to it, uses his hands to desperately DRINK the filthy water. After a couple swallows he SPITS IT OUT, disgusted.
FINN (CONT'D): -- Awgh, GAH!
But he's parched and immediately RETURNS FOR MORE. ACROSS THE MARKETPLACE, REY kneels with an emphatically BEEPING BB-8. Just then, TWO of UNKAR'S THUGS approach and stop her. One clearly tells her that they're taking the droid. BB-8 reacts nervously as Rey resists them -- one pulls a SACK over BB-8 while the other grabs Rey's arm -- in the tussle, Rey KNOCKS OVER METAL URNS for sale -- Finn, still drinking, is PUSHED OVER by the happabore. He falls to the ground, then turns to look when he HEARS CRASHING. He sees, through the tents, REY FIGHTING. He moves UP CLOSER to help this young woman being accosted -- but he STOPS when Rey begins to FIGHT BACK -- scrappy and feral, she KICKS, BITES and HITS. Finn is taken aback as she DEFEATS the attackers, who hit the sand, hard. Finn just watches, stunned. Rey moves to the COVERED BB-8 -- PULLS THE SACK OFF OF HIM. Finn cannot believe his eyes. IT'S POE'S DROID! Rey talks to BB-8, who, nervous now, looks around and... SEES FINN! BB-8 STARTS BEEPING like crazy. Then something insane happens: REY LOOKS AT FINN.
REY (To BB-8): Who? Him?
Finn is confused. Rey stands, staring at Finn, defiant. Finn can feel trouble coming -- and Rey begins CHARGING AT HIM, quarterstaff in hand. Realizing he's the target, Finn begins to RUN -- away from her, through the tent marketplace. Rey goes after him -- he turns a corner -- then another -- then BAM! She's got ahead of him and SLAMS HIM TO THE GROUND WITH HER STAFF! Finn is on his back, out of breath and freaked out. She holds the staff on him threateningly:
REY: What's your hurry, thief?
FINN: What--?! Thief?
BB-8 ROLLS UP FAST, MOVES TO FINN -- a WELDING ARM TELESCOPES FROM HIS BODY AND SHOCKS FINN!
FINN (CONT'D): OW! HEY! What?!
REY: The jacket! This droid says you stole it!
FINN: I've had a pretty messed up day, alright?! So I'd appreciate it you stop accusing me -- OW!!! (BB-8 has ZAPPED him AGAIN) STOP IT!
REY: Where'd you get it? It belongs to his master.
Finn looks at her -- then the agitated droid, Finn's mind racing. He puts it all together. Frustrated, but sighs heavily, needing to respond somehow. So he makes a hard decision: to tell the truth.
FINN: It belonged to Poe Dameron. That was his name, right?
Rey and BB-8 react, surprised and wanting more.
FINN (CONT'D): He was captured... by the First Order! I helped him escape but our ship crashed. (RELIVING IT) Poe didn't make it. (sees BB-8 is sad, ROLLS OFF) Look, I tried to help him. I'm sorry...
BB-8 heads off to the side, depressed. Rey watches BB-8, then considers Finn again. Says, a bit impressed:
REY: So you're with the Resistance?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
Finn's mind races again. He makes an easy decision: to lie.
FINN: Obviously. Yes. I am. I'm with the Resistance, yeah. (WHISPERS) I'm with the Resistance.
Rey lowers her staff, Finn stands. Rey studies him:
REY: I've never met a Resistance fighter before.
FINN: Well, this is what we look like. Some of us. Others look different. Look can we talk about this elsewhere.
REY: Fine, we'll head back to my cabin and discussed there. I'm intrigued to know what you're doing here.
EXT. REY'S CABIN - DAY
Rey, Finn and BB-8 returns to Rey's cabin so they can talk. Rey and Finn are standing next to the shed where the truck is in and looks at BB-8.
REY: So what does he have that's so important. BB-8 says he's on a secret mission, he has to get back to your base.
FINN: Apparently he's carrying a map that leads to Luke Skywalker, and everyone's after it.
She turns to him, concerned, curious. And asks:
REY: Luke Skywalker? I thought he was a myth.
Just then UNKAR appeared behind Finn aiming a blaster.
UNKAR: Don't move boy.
Suddenly one of UNKAR'S MEN appeared behind Rey who caught her off guard and hits her head with a pipe and she fell on the ground on her back and Finn gasped.
FINN: Rey.
Finn was about to help Rey but Unkar stop him by pointing his blaster at him.
UNKAR: Don't move, hello Rey you know what I want the droid.
FINN: Oh come on you can't be serious --
Finn was interrupted when UNKAR fired his blaster at the bottom left side of the trucks door damaging the truck.
UNKAR: I am serious boy.
They suddenly hear groaning pains coming from the truck, when Rey starts getting up who groans in pain after being hit by UNKAR MEN.
REY (GROANS IN PAIN): Ow.
Then Suddenly the Truck starts to transform into a red and blue robot, the robot groans in pain and struggling to try and get up.
FINN (GASP): Whoa?
Finn gasp when the robots left leg almost hit him.
REY (GASP): Whoa?
Rey gasp when the robots right arm almost hit her.
The Robot continued to groan in pain when got up and pulled out his blaster from his back.
REY and FINN are shocked seeing him.
FINN: What is that?
REY: Stay calm.
The Robot leans his back on the shed then angrily points his weapon at them.
THE ROBOT: I'll kill you, stay back.
Rey starts to calm him down.
REY: Whoa whoa whoa, hey don't shoot we're not the bad guys hear.
UNKAR panically run away from Rey's Shed.
The Robot lowers his weapon.
THE ROBOT (GROANS): Easy human.
REY started walking towards the injured Robot.
REY: Hey you okay you look pretty beat up there, my name is Rey.
THE ROBOT: Rey... I... am in your debt, my name is Optimus Prime.
Rey, Finn and BB-8 gasped when Optimus Prime introduced is name to them.
REY: Wait your "the" Optimus Prime.
FINN: The one who fought with the Rebellion 3 decades ago.
OPTIMUS PRIME (GROANS): Indeed... it's me... (Grunts) my Autobots are (Grunts)...
Optimus grunts until he fell down and laid his back on the shed.
Rey starts to getting worried for Optimus and wants to help him.
REY (TO FINN): Finn come on he needs our help... (To Optimus) who did this to you.
OPTIMUS: An ambushed a trap set by the First Order.
Rey looks at Optimus with a sad and worried looked on her face when Optimus told her the First Order attack him.
OPTIMUS: I managed to escape and I took this form to maintain a low profile, My fellow Autobots are in danger wherever they are... (Grunts) I need to find them.
REY: If you go, how far you reckon your gonna get... you can barely stand as it is.
(BB-8 BEEPS)
REY: BB-8 right your in no condition to walk, you need to stay here and rest.
OPTIMUS: Rey if I stay then my Autobots will still be in danger... (Optimus Grunts while sitting up) They can repair me, my medical officer Ratchet he has the tools for it.
REY: And I have it as well, I can fix you.
(BB-8 BEEPS)
REY: Yeah I have the tools, I pick them up a while back from one of those destroyed Star Destroyers.
FINN (WHISPERS NERVOUSLY TO REY): You can fix that... Rey have you even meet a transformer before.
REY (LOOKS AT OPTIMUS): No I haven't but I am certain that I can fix you, I'll get you back on your feet in no time Optimus Prime that I promise.
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