Fast Friends

A confused Han Solo is tossed into a holding cell already occupied by Chewbacca. Chewie attempts to reassure his comrade that Luke Skywalker will soon arrive to execute their rescue strategy; Han remains unconvinced. Boba Fett arrives to taunt Han about his imminent demise. Meanwhile, in the audience chamber, Lando Calrissian reveals his true identity to the captured Leia: he is undercover as a guard for Jabba using the alias Tamtel Skreej. Both Leia and Lando acknowledge their limited options until Luke's arrival.

Soon after, Luke does indeed arrive. He skillfully employs a mind trick to persuade Bib Fortuna to grant him access to the palace, and subsequently, the audience chamber. Jabba scolds Fortuna, calling him a weak-minded fool. He refuses to negotiate with Luke, resists his attempts at mental manipulation, and dismisses his threats with laughter. Jabba then activates a trapdoor, sending Luke and an unfortunate guard into the pit of the ferocious rancor. The guard disregards Luke's offers of assistance and is quickly devoured. Luke skillfully evades the rancor as Leia shouts words of advice and encouragement. She suggests that Luke lure the creature beneath its own gate. Luke throws a bone to trigger the mechanism, crushing the rancor under the immense weight of the door. Enraged, Jabba orders his guards to bring in Han and Chewbacca. With See-Threepio providing translation, Jabba declares that all three will be fed to the mighty Sarlacc as he and his court observe and celebrate aboard his sail barge.

On board the barge, Threepio is reunited with Artoo-Detoo, who is serving refreshments. Artoo assures his counterpart that this is all part of their plan and that he is about to move into position—a statement that Threepio fails to grasp—before Threepio resumes his duties as Jabba's translator. On a sand skiff with the other condemned prisoners, Luke is escorted onto a plank. Lando, still in his guard disguise, removes Luke's binders, signaling the start of their plan. Artoo launches Luke's lightsaber into the air for Luke to catch. He activates the weapon, and he and Lando begin to seize control of the skiff. Han, still suffering from impaired vision, requires Lando to explain the unfolding events.

Fresh dangers emerge from the barge's pivot gun, which opens fire on the skiff, and Boba Fett, who utilizes his jetpack to soar through the air. The gun sends both Fett and Lando tumbling overboard. While Luke leaps onto a second skiff to engage the guards, Han and Chewie attempt to extend a spear to Lando to help him climb back aboard. Fett then reappears on the skiff. Han attacks blindly, striking Fett's jetpack, which sends him hurtling directly into the Sarlacc's pit. Han and Chewbacca resume their efforts to assist Lando; Han is forced to shoot at the Sarlacc's tentacle to rescue him, and Chewbacca pulls them both back onto the skiff. They steer the skiff away from the barge, uncertain about the fate of Luke, Leia, and the others still within.

"Fast Friends" begins with a pair of scenes created specifically for the radio drama: Boba Fett's visit to the cell holding Han and Chewbacca, and Lando's conversation with Leia while he is disguised. Following these additions, the episode mirrors the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi closely. In the radio drama's version of the rancor pit scene, it is Leia, rather than Luke, who conceives the idea of trapping the rancor under the heavy door. This allows the audio drama to utilize Leia's dialogue to clarify the unfolding events.

At the episode's conclusion, Han makes a point of asking Chewbacca and then Lando if they can confirm Boba Fett's death; neither can provide a definitive answer. This connects the episode to the Dark Empire comic book series (released from 1991 to 1992), which reveals that Fett survived his fall into the Sarlacc's gullet.