Tantive IV Pursued!

I'd no idea where the name 'Devastator' came from when I began this site. Well, it's from the novel: I read it last December and there it was. 'Suppose it's better than Pinafore.

It's gas, the rebel captain implores the Imperials to cease fire and says "I repeat!" As if that's a sentence that makes some sort of sense. To me, in 1981 it obviously didn't mean anything. It was simply something that people said in these things: a cliche.

"Yes?" (The Devastator might answer)

"Yes, what?" (The Tantive 4)

"You said 'I repeat'." (Devastator)

"So?" (Tantive 4)

"Well, I repeat what?" (Devastator)

"You mean, what was it I was going to repeat?" (Tantive)

"YES!" (Devastator)

"Ooh. You know it's really funny, but I can't remember now" (T)

"Ha ha ha. I bet it'll just come back to you out of the blue" (D)

"I know - ha ha - when I least expect it." (T)

"You know, when this is over we should do coffee mornings" (D)

c.1981?