The inaugural episode of the Return of the Jedi radio drama, titled "Tatooine Haunts," was brought to life by HighBridge Audio. It was initially broadcasted on National Public Radio on November 5, 1996. This episode unfolds on the desert planet of Tatooine, adapting the storyline of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Notably, it incorporates supplementary scenes that allude to events established within the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
Luke Skywalker, inside Ben Kenobi's hut, is painstakingly attempting to align the crystals that will serve as the core of his new lightsaber, with Artoo-Detoo providing assistance. He experiences frustration due to repeated failures in the weapon's construction. However, recalling the wisdom of Master Yoda and acknowledging that he has thoroughly studied the instructions in the old book, Luke sets aside the book and allows the Force to guide his assembly of the components. The lightsaber activates, confirming Luke's readiness to become a Jedi Knight.
In a distant location, Emperor Palpatine engages in a discussion with Darth Vader regarding Luke's increasing power. Vader expresses his desire to resume his previous objective: converting Luke to their side. The Emperor, however, prohibits this, deeming the attempt a failure. He now directs Vader to proceed to the Moon of Endor and expedite the engineers' progress, resorting to "making examples" if necessary.
Returning to Tatooine, See-Threepio and Artoo traverse the desert landscape toward Jabba's Palace. Threepio exhibits nervousness and uncertainty concerning the specifics of the plan to liberate Han Solo from the clutches of the notorious crime lord. He requests that Artoo display the message recorded by Luke for Jabba, but Artoo responds that it is "classified." Upon reaching the palace entrance, Threepio briefly articulates their purpose, prompting the doors to open, revealing a dark, cavernous interior, before closing behind the two droids, effectively trapping them. Bib Fortuna extends a greeting and guides them into Jabba's audience chamber.
Threepio politely addresses Jabba as "your Magnitude" and instructs Artoo to play the message. Much to Threepio's dismay, Luke's recording presents the droids to Jabba as a gift and an invitation to negotiate for Han Solo. Jabba retorts that he will not relinquish his prized wall decoration, at which point Threepio realizes that Solo is present, still encased in carbonite. Gamorrean guards escort the droids deeper into the palace, where they encounter the supervisor droid Ninedenine. She is in the midst of tormenting a power droid. She orders that Threepio and Artoo be fitted with restraining bolts and separated: Artoo will serve aboard Jabba's sail barge, while Threepio will function as an interpreter in the audience chamber.
A worried Threepio arrives at his designated post. He spots Boba Fett among the assembled crowd and engages in conversation with Jabba's latest dancing girl, Arica. She attempts to inquire about Skywalker but is interrupted by an altercation between Jabba and another dancer, Oola. Oola resists Jabba's advances, resulting in her execution. The palace is immediately thrown into disarray by a single blaster shot. The threat originates from a bounty hunter, Boushh, who arrives with Chewbacca in chains, demanding payment. Threepio translates as Boushh threatens to detonate a thermal detonator within the palace, prompting Jabba to concede to his demands.
Later that night, Threepio is instructed to conceal himself behind a curtain with Jabba, Fortuna, Boba Fett, and other associates of the crime lord. They observe Boushh stealthily enter the audience chamber and thaw Han Solo's carbonite block, setting him free. The bounty hunter reveals herself to be none other than Princess Leia. She professes her love for Han and pledges to assist him in escaping. Jabba responds with laughter and unveils the curtain. He orders Han's removal, then draws Leia close and makes inappropriate remarks. The concluding narration reveals that "a solitary, unarmed knight" is now approaching the palace.
Similar to "A Wind to Shake the Stars" and "Freedom's Winter," the debut episodes of the Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back radio dramas, respectively, "Tatooine Haunts" commences with novel scenes absent from the film. The initial scene, depicting Luke Skywalker's construction of his lightsaber in Ben Kenobi's hut, directly corresponds to the depiction of the same event in the Shadows of the Empire novel. The novel was published in April 1996, preceding the episode's broadcast by several months. Luke's lightsaber construction was also featured in a deleted scene from the film, although the radio scene's specifics diverge from the film. The deleted scene unfolded in a cave, not Ben's hut, and included both C-3PO and the voice of Darth Vader heard through the Force, elements absent from the radio episode.
The second novel scene, a dialogue between Vader and the Emperor, serves to introduce the drama's antagonists. Their arrival on the Death Star, which served as their introduction in the film, would not be depicted until the third radio episode, "Prophecies and Destinies."
Threepio's exchange with Arica also connects directly to recently published fiction: Arica was introduced as an alias of the Emperor's agent Mara Jade in the short story "Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade" by Timothy Zahn. The story was included in Tales from Jabba's Palace, released in December 1995. In the episode, Arica's inquiries about Luke Skywalker allude to her mission from the Emperor, as portrayed in the story.
"Tatooine Haunts," produced in 1996, incorporates the song "Lapti Nek," the musical piece played in Jabba's palace during the film's original theatrical release. It was superseded in 1997 by "Jedi Rocks" for the film's Special Edition.