STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 4th Draft Script Adaptation by Leigh Brackett* From a story by George Lucas [* NB: This may, or may not, be the '4th' draft - if you know please mail us! We suspect it isn't though for a few reasons. Firstly, Leigh Brackett died after turning in the first draft, Lucas wrote the second and third drafts, and Lawrence Kasdan wrote drafts four and five (the revised 5th draft pretty much being the shooting script). Leigh Brackett definitely did not write the 4th draft then, though the dialogue here feels too removed from Kasdan's final script to be his 4th draft. So we're taking a random guess at this being either the 2nd or 3rd draft by George Lucas himself. Of course, there is always the possibility that there should be a new line before the word 'Adaptation' above, indicating a 4th draft script (from Kasdan) based on an adaptation (by Brackett) of a story by Lucas. This seems unlikely though. By the by, Leigh Brackett was credited in the film because, despite not 'liking' her 1st draft screenplay, George Lucas very much liked Leigh herself and felt she had nevertheless contributed a lot to the project. -Ben & Rich] 1. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - HELICOPTER SHOT - DAY. A white snowscape races toward camera ... the MAIN TITLE quickly recedes, followed by a roll-up. Episode V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ... After the destruction of its most feared battle station, the Empire has declared martial law throughout the galaxy. A million worlds have felt the oppressive hand of the Emperor as he attempts to crush the growing rebellion. As the Imperial grip of tyranny tightens, Princess Leia and the small band of freedom fighters search for a more secure base of operations... The roll-up disappears into the black horizon. 2. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - HELICOPTER SHOT - DAY. The camera tilts down bringing into view a small figure galloping across the windswept ice slope. 3. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - DAY. A closer panning shot reveals a bundled rider on a large gray snow lizard, called a Tauntaun. Curving plumes of snow rise from beneath the speeding paws of the two-legged beast. 4. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY. The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a stop. 5. EXT. PLAINS OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY. He pulls off his protective goggles. It is Luke Skywalker. He notices something in the sky and takes a pair of electro-binoculars from his utility belt. 6. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - LUKE'S POV - DAY. From Luke's POV, we follow a bright object as it falls to the ground. On the distant horizon, an explosion marks the point of impact. 7. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY. The wind whips at Luke's fur-lined cap as he activates a com-link transmitter. His lizard is nervous. LUKE (to the Tauntaun) Easy girl, it's just another meteorite. (into com-link) Han ... Han ol' buddy, do you read me? After a little static a familiar voice is heard. HAN (OS) (filtered) Loud and clear, kid. What's up? LUKE I've finished my circle and I haven't picked up any life readings. HAN (OS) (filtered) There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. My sentry markers are placed. I'm heading back to the base. LUKE I'll see you shortly. A meteorite just hit the ground near here and I want to check it out...Won't be long. 8. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY. Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his lizard, which seems frightened. Luke pats the beast on the head to calm it. LUKE Weeho, girl! What's the matter ... you smell something? There's nothing out there. I'll check again... Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to adjust it when suddenly a large shadow falls over him from behind, followed by a monstrous howl. Luke turns and looks up at an eleven foot high shape towering over him. LUKE Son of a jumping...!!! He grabs for his pistol, but is hit flat in the face by a huge, white claw, knocking him into the snow, bloody and unconscious. 9. CLOSE-UP LUKE. Luke falls unconscious into the snow. The terrified screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by the horrible snap of a neck being broken. 10. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY. The Wampa Ice Monster grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away. 11. EXT. METEORITE CRATER - SNOW PLAIN - DAY. A weird mechanical sound is heard over the whining of the wind. A strange Probe Robot, with several extended sensors, emerges from the smoke-shrouded crater. The ominous robot floats across the snow plain, and disappears into the distance. 12. EXT. ICE CAVES - REBEL BASE ENTRANCE - DAY. A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance of an enormous ice cave. 13. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE. Rebel troopers are rushing about unloading supplies and otherwise securing their new base. The rider swings rakishly off his lizard and pulls away his goggles: Han Solo. He walks briskly into the main hangar deck toward the Millennium Falcon, which is parked among several fighters. Mechanics, R-2 units and various other droids hurry about. Han stops at the Millennium Falcon. His Wookiee co-pilot is welding on the back of a central lifter. Now he stops work and lifts his face shield; Chewie growls a greeting to his boss. HAN Cold isn't the word for it, Chewie. I'll take a good fight any day over all this hidin' and freezin'!...How you coming with those lifters? The Wookiee grumbles a reply. HAN All right. I'll go report in, then I'll give you a hand with them. Soon as those lifters are fixed, we're out of here. Chewbacca lets out with a joyful chuckle and returns to his work as Han leaves. 14. INT. COMMAND CENTER - ICE CAVE. A makeshift command center has been set up in a blaster area of thick ice. The low-ceilinged room is a beehive of activity. Controllers, troopers, and droids move about setting up electronic equipment and monitoring radar signals. General Rieekan straightens up from a console as Han approaches. RIEEKAN Captain Solo. What's the situation? HAN There isn't a hint of life in the area. But all the perimeter markers are set, so you'll know if anyone comes calling. RIEEKAN Good, and Commander Skywalker? HAN He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him. He'll be in soon. RIEEKAN (indicates radar screen) With all the meteor activity in this system, it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships. HAN The Empire won't look for you out here. I'd say you're all set...which means it's time for me to get going. LEIA (OS) You're leaving? The two men turn to see Princess Leia, dressed in a short white combat jacket and pants. She is upset by Han's news. Her hair is braided and tied across her head in a "30's" Nordic fashion... HAN That's right. RIEEKAN You're an extraordinary fighter. I hate to lose you. HAN Thank you, General. But there's a price on my head. If I don't pay off Jabba the Hutt, I'm a walking dead man. RIEEKAN I understand. A death mark is not an easy thing to live with...Until our paths cross again, may the force be with you. Rieekan touches Han and moves away. Han turns to Leia. HAN (with feeling) I guess this is it, Your Highness. Leia is angry. Han sees she has no warmth to offer him. He shakes his head and adopts a cooler tone. HAN Well, don't get all mushy on me. So long, Princess. Han walks away. Leia stews a moment, then follows him. 15. INT. ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Han strides down a corridor carved from the ice. Leia follows quickly, agitated. Behind them, unnoticed, an appendage of a Wampa Ice Monster suddenly detaches from a seemingly solid section of ice wall. LEIA Han! Han stops in the quiet corridor and turns to face Leia. HAN Yes, Your Highness? LEIA You said you were going to stay. What happened? HAN That bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind. LEIA Does Luke know? HAN He'll know when he gets back...Don't give me that look. Every day more bounty hunters are searching for me. If I don't pay off Jabba soon, there'll be too many to stop ... Remotes, Gank killers, and who knows what else. I've got to get that price off my head while I still have a head. LEIA Han, we need you here. HAN We? LEIA Yes. HAN Not you? LEIA (mystified) Me? I don't know what you mean. HAN (shakes his head, fed-up) You probably don't. How could you? You're so terrified of your own emotions... LEIA And what are they, pray tell? HAN You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me. LEIA I respect you. You're a bold fighter, maybe not the brightest, but... Han understands, then laughs. LEIA You're imagining things. Han has had it with this broad. He steps closer. Leia is almost against the wall. Han puts a hand against the wall to cut off any retreat. HAN Am I? I say you came running after me because you were afraid I was leaving you without even a kiss. LEIA I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee. HAN There's no accounting for taste. Believe me, you could use a good kiss. (warming to the subject) You've spent so much time doing your duty and giving orders you've never learned how to be a woman. It's a shame, because you've got all the makings for one. I could have helped you plenty in that department... if you'd have let go for a minute. But it's too late now, sweetheart. Your big opportunity is flying out of here. LEIA We are fighting for a cause much... HAN Spare me please! Don't tell me about the Rebellion again. I've had it with your noble mission. All you let yourself think about is the Rebellion. The result is you're as cold as this planet. LEIA And you think you're the one to apply some heat? HAN Sure...If I were interested. But I don't think it'd be much fun. He steps away from her, takes a last cool appraisal. HAN (Contd.) We'll meet again. Maybe you'll have grown up a little by then. LEIA You have all the breeding of a Bantha, but not as much class...Enjoy your trip, hot shot! Leia walks away. 16. EXT. ICE PLAIN OF HOTH - DAY. Track with the sinister, probe robot as it moves across the vast frozen wilderness. One of its extended sensors detects something and the robot stops, turns and heads off in another direction, at high speed. 17. EXT. MOUND OF SNOW - ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAY. The robot stops before a large mound of snow about twenty feet long and six feet high. It circles the mound, then shoots a thin laser bolt at the snow drift 18. CLOSE-UP MOUND OF SNOW. The mound shakes a little bit and two large eyes appear at one end, staring directly at the robot. A primeval bellow issues forth from the mound. 19. EXT. MOUND OF SNOW - ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAY. The robot backs off a few feet, then blasts the mound with a heavy laser bolt that disintegrates the snow-covered creature in a cloud of smoke and flame. 20. EXT. ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAY. The evil robot moves off toward the horizon. 21. EXT. ICE GORGE - HOTH - DUSK. The jagged face of a huge ice wall sits gloomily in the dim twilight of a Hoth day. Luke hangs spread-eagle upside down, ankles tied by hide thongs to ice stalactites, his extended arms within a meter of the snow floor. His face is covered in dried frozen blood on one side. He opens his eyes as a chilling moan of the hideous ice creature echoes off the gorge walls. 22. EXT. ICE GORGE - MED SHOT LUKE - DUSK. Luke pulls himself up, grabs hold of his ankles, and futilely tries to unfasten the thongs. Exhausted, he drops back into the hanging position. LUKE (to himself) Relax. Relax. Luke spies his laser sword lying near a pile of his discarded gear about three feet out of reach. Reverberating through the gorge, the growling and crunching sounds of the approaching ice monster can be heard. Luke desperately strains for his sword. Quietly, almost a whisper, Luke hears old Ben's calm voice. BEN (VO) Luke, think the saber in your hand. Luke focuses on the saber as the huge monster's feet crunch closer. Luke's hand strains toward the weapon, his eyes squeeze tight in concentration. LUKE Gotta relax, relax.... BEN (VO) Let The Force flow, Luke. Just as the ice monster looms over Luke, the light saber suddenly jumps three feet into Luke's hand. The young warrior instantly ignites the sword, swings up and cuts both of his bindings. He drops to the snow in a heap. The startled ice monster moves back, his giant yellow eyes blinking. The most that can be discerned of the creature is a shape, and those two perplexed eyes. Luke scrambles to his feet. He swings his light saber and the monster screams in pain. 23. EXT. ENTRANCE TO ICE GORGE - HOTH - DUSK. Luke staggers out of the gorge and stumbles down a snow bank. 24. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - MILLENNIUM FALCON - DUSK. The hangar is full of activity. We hear a familiar stream of beeps and whistles a moment before catching sight of Artoo and Threepio, who appear from a corridor and move along an ice wall toward the Millennium Falcon. Behind them, in the ice, two large yellow eyes blink open. THREEPIO It is not my fault, you malfunctioning twerp. I merely commented that it was freezing in her chamber. But it's supposed to be freezing. I did not ask you to turn on the thermal heater. I don't know how we'll get all her things dried out...Ah. Here we are. The two robots stop at Han Solo's space freighter. Han and Chewie are still struggling with their central lifters. THREEPIO Captain Solo, sir. Might I have a word with you? HAN What is it? THREEPIO Mistress Leia has been trying to reach you on the communicator, but either you have it turned off, or it is malfunctioning...if it's damaged, Artoo could fix it, if you like. HAN I shut it off. What's her royal holiness want? THREEPIO She is looking for Master Luke, and assumed he would be here with you. No one seems to know... Han glances at the fading light at the entrance of the ice cave as night slowly begins to fall on the planet. HAN (concerned) Luke's not back yet? It's almost night out there! Han jumps down off the lift. HAN Bolt it down, Chewie... (yelling) Deck Sergeant! (into com-link) Control, has Commander Skywalker reported in yet? He gets a negative reply as the deck sergeant and an aide rush up to Han. DECK SERGEANT Yes sir! HAN Sergeant, is Commander Skywalker back yet? DECK SERGEANT I haven't seen him. He probably came in through the south entrance. HAN Probably isn't good enough, Sergeant. Check on it! The Deck Sergeant and his aide turn and rush off. Artoo lets out a confused whistle. THREEPIO I don't know, Artoo. (to Han) Sir, might I inquire what's going on? HAN Go tell your precious Princess...Luke is dead unless he shows up soon. Artoo lets out with a hysterical whistle. THREEPIO Oh no! 25. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - TAUNTAUN CORRAL - NEAR ENTRANCE - DUSK. The Deck Sergeant and several Troopers inspect the mangled remains of three dead Tauntauns. Some of the hardware nearby has also been brutally pulled out of shape. Several surviving Tauntauns shuffle nervously nearby. Outside the light is slowly fading. TROOPER (to Deck Sergeant) ...I can't imagine, sir. Their necks are broken. The Deck Sergeant nods, then notices Han running up and steps out of the group to meet him. DECK SERGEANT Commander Skywalker hasn't come through the south entrance, sir. Maybe he slipped by without checking in. HAN Not likely! Where are the speeders? DECK SERGEANT We haven't got them adapted to this cold yet... HAN We'll have to go out on Tauntauns. DECK SERGEANT The temperature is dropping too fast. HAN You bet it is...and Luke's out in it. Han pushes through the troops and mounts a snow lizard. Huge monster feet move into the shadows of one of the X wing bays. DECK SERGEANT The night storms will start before you can reach the first marker. HAN Then I'll see you in Hell. 26 EXT. SNOW CAVE ENTRANCE - REBEL BASE - DUSK. The small, lone figure riding a snow lizard races off into the hostile vastness of snow and cold. The slightest hint of wind blows up the snow behind the Tauntaun. 27 EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - DUSK. The dark, evil probe robot moves across the frozen floor of the Hoth plain. The wind is beginning to pick up, and snow starts to cake on the front of the robot. It stops, hovers, then drops to the ground. Several probes emerge from its metal hull and a dome shaped force field around the robot begins to glow. Eventually, the force field becomes a solid shape and is quickly covered with the blowing snow. 28. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - DUSK. Han rides across the plain on his Tauntaun. 29. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - CLOSE-UP HAN - DUSK. He reigns his mount to a stop, looks around and listens. It's almost as if he hears something. He turns and looks in one direction, then spurs his lizard in that direction 30. EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - DUSK. Han rides off across the plain on his Tauntaun. 31. EXT. SNOW DRIFT - HOTH - DUSK. The wind is blowing quite strong now. Luke struggles to stay upright, but a blast of freezing snow knocks him over. He struggles to get up, but can't. The young warrior from Tatooine drags himself a couple of feet and then collapses. LUKE I can't... BEN You must. Luke, look at me! Luke looks up and sees old Ben Kenobi standing not ten feet away. Luke strains to lift himself up. He is speechless. BEN You must survive, Luke. LUKE I'm cold...so cold... BEN You must go to the Dagobah System...There you will learn from one who taught me: Yoda, the Jedi Master. LUKE Ben...Ben... BEN Luke...you are the only hope. The image of Ben fades, revealing a lone rider on a Tauntaun in the windswept horizon. LUKE Ben!? Luke drops into unconsciousness. 32. EXT. SNOW DRIFT - HOTH - DUSK. Han pulls up, leaps off his lizard. He goes to his snow-covered friend and cradles him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun lets out a low, pitiful bellow. There is real fear in Han's face as he shakes Luke. HAN Come on, buddy, you aren't dead yet. Give me a sign here. Luke doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing Luke's wounded face. Soon he is slapping him. HAN Don't do this, Luke, it's not your time... Luke responds to a slap. Han is joyous. HAN All right! I knew you wouldn't leave me out here all alone! Han glances over toward his Tauntaun with concern as he starts to lift Luke. HAN (to Luke) We've got to get you out of here before our transportation freezes. 33. EXT. SNOW DRIFT BY TAUNTAUN - HOTH - DUSK. Han has carried Luke almost to the lizard when the Tauntaun dies with a moan. Han checks the lizard. HAN Blast! Deader than a Triton moon. We haven't got much time. Han ignites Luke's light saber and cuts the beast from head to toe. He quickly shovels the steaming innards of the beast into the snow. Then he lifts Luke's inert form and stuffs him inside the carcass. HAN I know this doesn't smell so good, Luke, but it'll keep you from freezing. I'm sure this Tauntaun wouldn't hesitate if it were the other way around. Han gets an awful whiff of the insides. HAN (Contd.) Whew! It's just as well you're out, pal. Han starts pulling things out of a pack on the dead lizard's back. HAN (into com-link) Base one, do you copy?...This com-link is useless. The wind has picked up considerably and Han is beginning to find it difficult to move. He struggles with the shelter container, opens it and starts constructing it. HAN If I don't get this shelter up fast, Jabba the Hutt won't need those bounty hunters. 34. SNOW DRIFT - HOTH - DUSK. A veil of icy snow flows across the snow drift obscuring the doomed warriors. 35. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - ENTRANCE - NIGHT. Princess Leia and her two robots stand before the dark entrance to the rebel base, waiting for a sign of the two rebel heroes. Leia shivers as the cold wind blows in on her. Artoo beeps a mournful tone. Chewie is sitting nearby with his head in his hands. THREEPIO Artoo can pick up no signals, although he feels his range is probably too limited to give up hope. Leia nods an acknowledgement, but she is lost in thought that is only broken when General Rieekan approaches. RIEEKAN Nothing more can be done tonight. The shield doors must be closed. I can't wait any longer. I'm sorry. LEIA (resigned) I understand. Chewie lets out a long, mournful howl, somewhat like a coyote. RIEEKAN The speeders should be ready in the morning. They'll make the search easier. LEIA Is there any chance of them surviving out there? RIEEKAN Slim, but yes, there's a chance. They have a shelter. It's not much, but... Artoo lets out with a complex series of efficient beeps. THREEPIO Begging your pardon, ma'am, but Artoo says the chances of survival are one thousand, seven hundred twenty-seven to one. (to Artoo) Actually, I don't think we needed to know that. Leia stands praying to herself as the huge metal doors slam across the entrance of the ice cave. The loud booms echo through the huge cavern. Chewie lets out another howl. 36. EXT. ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAWN. The huge dim sun of Hoth crawls lazily over the horizon in the North as a spurt of snow shoots skyward revealing the dark probe robot. The sinister object pulls in several of its extended arms, hovers for a few moments, then starts off across the bleak Hoth plain. 37. EXT. SNOWDRIFT - HOTH - DAY. A small, snub-nosed, armored landspeeder races across the white landscape. 38. INT. ARMORED SNOWSPEEDER - HOTH SNOWDRIFTS - DAY. There is only one pilot, Zev, in the enclosed two-man craft. He concentrates on the scopes which ring his cockpit. A low beep can be heard. ZEV (excited) I've got something! Not much but it could be a life form FTC 2321 by TRX 1173. I'm closing in... 39. EXT. ARMORED SNOWSPEEDER - HOTH SNOWDRIFTS - DAY. The small craft banks and makes a slow arc racing off in a new direction. 40. INT. ARMORED SNOWSPEEDER - HOTH SNOWDRIFTS - DAY. The pilot switches over to a new transmitter. ZEV This is S-122 calling Captain Solo, Commander Skywalker. Do you copy? This is S-122... There is a sharp crackle of static then a faint voice. HAN (OS) (filtered) Nice of you guys to drop by. Hope we didn't get you up too early. ZEV (switching transmitters) Base One, I found them, Repeat, I found them.... 41. EXT. SNOWDRIFT - HOTH - DAY. The small shelter is covered with snow on the windward side. Han has made a makeshift antenna which rests gingerly on top of the snowdrift. The small armored speeder can be seen approaching in the distance as Han waves frantically in the foreground. 42. INT. MEDICAL CENTER - REBEL BASE. Strange robot surgeons adjust a mass of electronic equipment. A switch is thrown and a sudden blinding flash obscures Luke in a chamber filled with a thick, gelatinous red slime. Luke begins to thrash about, raving in his delirium. 43. INT. MEDICAL CENTER OBSERVATION ROOM - REBEL BASE. Leia, Threepio, and Chewbacca are watching from a glassed-off room next door, where Han is resting on a cushioned medical table. They can hear the mechanical surgeons working and Luke's ravings on a speaker in the room. LUKE Watch out...snow creatures...dangerous...Yoda...go to Yoda...only hope...must survive... Han raises himself on the table, listening to Luke. Chewbacca makes him lie back down, then barks a comment in reference to Luke. HAN He doesn't make sense to me either, Chewie. THREEPIO I do hope he's all there...if you take my meaning. I would hate to see Master Luke develop a short circuit... HAN The kid ran into something mean, and it wasn't the cold. LEIA Those creatures he keeps talking about...we'd better double the security...Han, I don't know how... HAN Forget it. TOO-ONEBEE (2-1B), a surgeon droid, enters the room. TOO-ONEBEE He had gone into dormo-shock, almost hibernation. But he's responding to the Bacta. We'll bring him through. Leia breathes a sigh of relief. Chewie lets out a long grunt of approval. LEIA Now all we've got to worry about is what attacked him. HAN No kidding. If this snowball's got nasty natives, they could be anywhere. Chewie whines, looks around. HAN That's right, Chewie, inside the base. 44. INT. CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE. The drip, drip, drip of melting ice echoes throughout the long eerie corridor. A trooper walks by, followed at a short distance by Artoo, who rolls along whistling to himself. Behind him, a Wampa Ice Monster suddenly appears from out of the wall and begins following the little droid. Up ahead Artoo sees several troopers begin to act rather strangely, pointing at him and yelling. This puzzles Artoo, and he stops for a moment to figure it out. Far in the distance, alarms begin to go off. Artoo comes to a conclusion, spins his head around and sees the Ice Monster staring down at him. The droid lets out a screech and races down the hall at full tilt ahead of the advancing monster. A small troop of soldiers has gathered at the end of the hallway with weapons. Artoo races through the armed gathering as the creature screams and charges the troopers, laser bolts exploding around him. Artoo peeks from around a corner in time to see several troopers hurled against the walls like rag dolls. Two soldiers fire a laser bazooka at the monster and it is obscured by an enormous explosion. The smoke clears. The silence is spooky. The Ice Monster stands seemingly dumbstruck. Artoo gives a short, worried beep. The creature topples over in a dead heap. A cheer goes up from Artoo and the troopers as they converge to inspect the fallen creature. A young corporal pulls his com-link off his belt and speaks into it. CORPORAL We got it, sir, but there may be more. 45. INT. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE. Alarms buzz softly in the background. The entire command center is on full alert. General Rieekan is conferring with the head controller as Han and Leia enter the room. Threepio and Chewie follow. LEIA Have they analyzed the one that was killed? RIEEKAN Not yet. They're working on it now. Another alarm goes off at a console behind them and the sensor controller at that spot calls across the room. SENSOR CONTROLLER General! Rieekan leaves the group as they continue... HEAD CONTROLLER It won't be long before our sensors will be able to track them. THREEPIO It figures Artoo would be in the middle of this. HAN It's going to be a little tricky around here until we know where they're coming form. 46. INT. COMMAND CENTER BY CONSOLE - REBEL BASE. Rieekan looks up grimly from the console in the background. He calls over to Leia and Han. RIEEKAN We have a visitor. The group hurries over to Rieekan. RIEEKAN We've picked up something outside the base in zone one, moving East. LEIA What is it? SENSOR CONTROLLER Can't tell yet...Metal. HAN Then it's not one of those creatures. LEIA Could it be one of ours? A speeder? SENSOR CONTROLLER I'm getting no signal. Wait, something very weak. Threepio steps up to the control panel and listens to the strange signal intensely. THREEPIO I must say, sir, I'm fluent in over six million forms of communication, but this is something new...must be in code or... A new voice comes over the com-link. TROOPER VOICE This is station five and we have your object on our scopes...It's just over the ridge, we should have visual contact in about...What the?...Oh no! The transmission ends in static. HAN Whatever it is, it isn't friendly. I'm going to have a look. Come on, Chewie. RIEEKAN Wait. I'll send a patrol with you. HAN (over his shoulder) Fine. But they'll have to take care of themselves. 47. EXT. SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY. The dark probe robot moves past the smoldering ruins of the station fire and down a ridge toward the rebel base. 48. EXT. SNOW PLAIN - SPEEDER - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY. The robot stops when it sees in the distance a tiny speeder racing toward it followed by several other speeders. A large antenna projects skyward from the robot's top and it begins to send out a piercing signal. 49. EXT. SNOW DUNE - SPEEDER - HOTH - DAY. The speeder disappears behind a snow dune. 50. EXT. SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY. The sinister robot continues to send out its high pitched signal while frantically searching the landscape for the rebel speeders. 51. EXT. SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY. Shortly, Chewbacca pops his head over a snow bank not thirty feet away. The robot swings around, its deadly ray ready to fire. But before it can get a shot off, it is hit from behind by a laser bolt, and explodes in a million pieces. 52. EXT. SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY. Han Solo rises from the direction of the deadly bolt and walks over to the spot where the robot was a moment before, taking out his com-link. 53. INT. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE. Princess Leia and Rieekan listen to Han on the com-link. HAN (OS) (filtered) ...I'm afraid there's not much left. LEIA What was it? HAN (OS) (filtered) Droid of some kind. I didn't hit it that hard. It must have had a self-destruct... LEIA An Imperial probe droid. HAN (OS) (filtered) Now don't panic. We don't know that. RIEEKAN But, we don't know it wasn't. 54. SPACE - IMPERIAL FLEET. Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and stranger than the five Imperial Star Destroyers that surround it, sits in the vastness of space. The six huge ships are surrounded by a convoy of smaller spacecraft. Tie fighters dart to and fro. 55. INT. BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK - VADER'S STAR DESTROYER. Controllers working the vast complex of electronic controls hear ominous, approaching footsteps and look up from their controls. The squat, evil-looking Admiral Ozzel and the young, powerfully-built General Veers, who have been conferring near the front, also feel the approaching presence and turn that way. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind. As he moves across the wide bridge, Captain Piett hurries up to Ozzel. PIETT I think we've found them, Admiral. OZZEL Are you sure, Captain? PIETT Well, the report we have is only a fragment, from a probe droid in the Hoth System, but it's the best lead we've had in... OZZEL (angry) We have millions of probe droids searching the galaxy...I want proof, not leads. I don't intend to continue to chase around from one side... VADER (looming over the group) The Hoth System? PIETT Yes, Sir...we have visuals...the System is supposed to be devoid of human forms... On a large screen, an image of the rebel snow base appears surrounded by complicated computer readouts. The rebel speeders can be seen approaching in the distance. Vader studies the image. VADER That's it. That's the one. OZZEL My Lord, how do you know it's them? There are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers... VADER I know. And I know young Skywalker is with them. Bring in the patrol ships, Admiral, and set your course for the Hoth System. General Veers prepare your men... 56. INT. ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Artoo and Threepio are moving by a steel door on which an X had been painted. From behind it come intermittent thumps and roars. THREEPIO ...It seems the snow creatures are attracted to a high-pitched whistle. That's how they're being drawn to this trap. Artoo whistles his understanding as he stands before the door. Immediately the thumping on the door picks up. Artoo beeps a question. THREEPIO See, your whistles upset them. No, I told you they can't get out! Now will you hurry up? I don't know why I bother... Threepio moves around a corner. Artoo stares at the door another moment, then proceeds to tell the Ice Monsters off in a burst of beeps and whistles. The thumping picks up as Artoo moves casually away. 57. INT. MEDICAL CENTER - REBEL BASE. Luke is out of the chamber, lying on the bed previously occupied by Han. Leia is at his side. She brushes the hair out of his eyes and runs her fingers along the scar on his face. LEIA The Bacta are growing well. The scars should be gone in a day or so. Does it still hurt? LUKE I'm fine. Really. Leia...when I was out there and it looked pretty bad...well, it made me think about things. LEIA Me too. I was afraid. Their eyes meet. Luke touches her cheek with his hand. LUKE I don't really know how to say this...I never have before...Leia, you know how I feel about you... She does and it's confusing. Their lips are very close. About to kiss. The door opens noisily and Threepio enters with Artoo. Leia pulls back, startled. Luke realizes the moment has been lost. His mind races for a way to regain it as Leia takes on her more formal manner. The droids are a bothersome distraction; Luke's concentration is on Leia. Artoo beeps a cheerful greeting. THREEPIO Master Luke, it's so good to see you functional again. LUKE Thanks, Threepio. Leia... Artoo beeps and whistles. THREEPIO Artoo expresses his relief also. LUKE Good. Thanks, Artoo. LEIA (about to leave) You rest now. THREEPIO So much has happened during the period of your indisposition, sir. LEIA I'll be back later. LUKE (anxious to keep her) Leia...What would you think if I went away for a while? LEIA What did you say?! Leia's reaction is so much bigger and more vociferous than Luke expected, it starts what is to become a growing snowball of confusion for him. LEIA Where are you going? LUKE I have this...feeling. I'm not sure, really... LEIA That's just great. Why doesn't everyone just take off? LUKE What are you talking about? LEIA First Han, now you. When am I going to learn not to count on anyone but myself?... LUKE Han's leaving? LEIA ...I was getting along just fine before I met you two moon jockeys. LUKE Calm down, will ya? Tell me about Han. LEIA He wants to pay off that criminal he's in hock to. LUKE Jabba the Hutt? LEIA (back to her tirade) I could get more loyalty if I went down the hall and recruited some of those snow creatures. LUKE Snow creatures...they're here?! THREEPIO Yes, sir. But they're being trapped quite cleverly. Artoo beeps and whistles proudly. THREEPIO (to Artoo) What do you mean, you took care of that? I would hardly call your part in that matter great... Luke's head is spinning as Han and Chewie make a vigorous entrance. The Wookiee growls a greeting. HAN Hi kid, you look strong enough to wrestle a Gundark. LUKE Thanks to you. HAN That's two you owe me, junior. Han turns to Leia with a big, devilish grin. HAN Well, your worship, it looks like you arranged to keep me close by for a while longer. LEIA I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we know where that probe came from. LUKE Probe? What probe? HAN That makes a good story. But I think you just can't bear to let me out of your sight. LEIA I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brains. Chewie is amused; he laughs in his manner. Han is enjoying this. He regards Chewie good-humoredly. HAN Laugh it up, fuzz ball. You didn't see her alone with me in the south passage. Luke sparks to this; he looks at Leia. LEIA (to Luke) I don't know what he's talking about. HAN Ooops! I guess you haven't told Luke about that yet. LUKE About what? HAN Now don't get the wrong idea, pal. She was just trying to express her true feelings for me. LEIA (to Han) You must have gone completely out of your feeble mind. HAN Come on, your highness, are you telling me you haven't been thinking about that kiss? Leia is flushed, eyes darting between Luke And Han. LEIA Why you low-down, stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder. HAN Who's scruffy-looking? (a big grin) I tell ya' sweetheart, I must've hit pretty close to the mark to get you hoppin' like this. Doesn't it look that way to you, Luke? LUKE (staring at Leia) Yeah...it does...kind of. Leia looks vulnerable for a moment, then the mask again, focusing on Luke. LEIA Oh it does, does it? Well, I guess you don't understand everything about women yet...do you, sonny? With that Leia leans over and kisses Luke on the lips. Then she stands and walks out. Everyone is dumbstruck. The door closes behind Leia and they all look at each other in silence. In the distance, the muffled sound of an alarm is heard. 58.. SPACE - IMPERIAL FLEET. Six huge star destroyers rest in the Hoth System. 59. INT. STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER. A dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light from above. The brooding Dark Lord sits on a raised meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches Vader. Vader doesn't move. Veers, although seemingly very sure of himself, is still not bold enough to interrupt the meditating Lord. The young general stands quietly at attention until the evil presence speaks. VADER What is it, Veers? VEERS My Lord, the fleet has moved out of light speed. Com-Scan has detected an energy field protecting an area on the sixth planet in the Hoth System. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment. VADER (angry) The rebel scum is alerted to our presence. I told Admiral Ozzel not to go out of light speed so close to the system. VEERS He felt surprise was a wiser... VADER He's as clumsy as he is stupid. A clean bombardment is impossible with that energy shield up. Prepare your troops for a surface attack. Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large view-screen showing the bridge of the mighty space cruiser. Admiral Ozzel appears, with Captain Piett in the background. OZZEL Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light... VADER Captain Piett! The Captain steps forward, as the Admiral moves away slightly confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict. PIETT Yes, My Lord. VADER Make ready to land General Veers' assault troops on the surface. Then deploy the fleet so that nothing can get off that system. You're in command now, Admiral Piett. Piett is as pleased as he is surprised. Admiral Ozzel has been struggling to breathe in the background and now with a final choke, he dies. 60. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE. Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews and droids rush to their alert stations. Armored landspeeders are lined up in attack formation near the main entrance. Leia is briefing a group of pilots gathered in the center of the hangar. Beyond them Han can be seen doing some frantic welding on the lifters of the Millennium Falcon. LEIA ...the large transport ships will leave as soon as they've loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only be opened for a split second at a time, so you'll have to stay very close to the transports. PILOT What about those Imperial ships out there? LEIA The ion cannon will fire two blasts which will destroy any enemy ships in your flight path. Then proceed to the rendezvous point. Good luck. The pilots hurry away. 61. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - MILLENNIUM FALCON - REBEL BASE. Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He pulls out his com-link, all the time eyeing the lifters. HAN (into com-link) All right, Chewie, give it a try. Leia passes, giving Han a dirty look. A mechanism on the pirate's ship makes a noise and the lifters begin to rise. Suddenly there is a malfunction and the right lifter breaks partially loose, swinging down with a crash. Han winces. Leia, across the hangar, turns at the sound and shoots Han a "What a screw-up!" look, then goes out. HAN (into com-link) Hold it, Chewie. 62. INT. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE - HOTH. The command center is quiet but tense, a marked contrast to the rushing about on the hangar deck. Only the buzz of complicated electronic equipment overrides the silence. General Rieekan watches over the shoulder of a radarman as hundreds of small dots dance across a scope readout. Leia joins him. RADARMAN Imperial assault craft have landed on the far side. RIEEKAN If they reach the power generators, that will be the end of our energy shield. LEIA We must hold them off until all our ships are safely away. CONTROLLER The first transport is ready...Stand by to fire the ion cannon. 63. EXT. IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - SPACE. FULL SHOT - A huge Imperial Star Destroyer rests against a sea of stars with the white surface of the planet Hoth far below in the left part of the frame. 64. INT. IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER NO. 1 BRIDGE. FULL SHOT - Interior Imperial Star Destroyer. Out window stars and the white planet on the left side of the frame. CONTROLLER Sir...rebel ship coming into our sector. CAPTAIN Good, our first catch of the day. Close in... 65. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE. The long line of rebel controllers are tense, as are Princess Leia and General Rieekan, although they try not to show it. R-2 scoots by in the background followed by Threepio; they leave the room. CONTROLLER Our transport is approaching the shield. RADARMAN Open the shield and fire. 66. EXT. ION CANNON - REBEL BASE ICE COVE. FULL SHOT - Giant ball-shaped ion cannon as it rotates into position and blasts two red energy beams skyward. 67. SPACE - HOTH REBEL TRANSPORT. FULL SHOT - SPACE - The planet Hoth covers two-thirds of the frame, left and lower. A medium rebel transport races away from the planet, followed by the two red energy beams. All race over camera. 68. SPACE - IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - REBEL TRANSPORT. FULL SHOT TRACKING as the rebel transport races over the camera toward the waiting Imperial Star Destroyer, followed, then overtaken by the two red energy bolts. The Imperial Star Destroyer is hit in the conning tower by the bolts, causing great explosions 69. SPACE - IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - REBEL TRANSPORT. FULL SHOT - Imperial Star Destroyer as a series of explosions rock the ship causing it to veer, then spin wildly out of control. SIDE VIEW of Star Destroyer right to left as it careens into deep space, and the rebel transport moves across the screen left to right. PAN with the rebel ship as it races away to safety. 70. MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Pilots, gunners and R-2 units hurry about. Luke, pulling on his heavy weather gear, is headed toward a row of armored speeders. He stops at the back of the Millennium Falcon, where Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter with even more haste than before. Luke speaks up to them. LUKE Looks like this'll be it for a while. Chewie, take care of yourself...and watch over this guy, will ya. Chewie barks a farewell and returns to his work. Han and Luke exchange warm looks. LUKE I hope you make your peace with Jabba. HAN Don't worry. You haven't seen the last of us. Han swings down by one arm like a monkey and clasps Luke's hand. They hold for a long moment, then break. Luke nods and moves away. Han watches him go. HAN Give 'em hell, kid. He goes back to work. Everyone cheers at the announcement which echoes through the hangar. ANNOUNCER (OVER PA) First transport is clear and away. Luke hurries up to his landspeeder. His gunner, Dack, a fresh-faced, eager kid, is glad to see him. They climb in. DACK Are you feeling all right, sir? LUKE Like new, Dack. How 'bout you? Ready to try some real fighting? DACK Yes, sir! Right now I feel like I could take on the whole Empire myself. You know what I mean, Commander? LUKE (quietly, strapping in) Yeah, I know...I know. Leia's voice comes over the PA system. LEIA (OVER PA) Speeder pilots...Your fighters are being towed to the south slope. They should be safe there. You'll get a signal when the evacuation is complete. 71. ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Threepio and Artoo stand in the middle of the corridor as troops and aides rush past them. THREEPIO Why is it when things seem to get settled, everything falls apart. Well, I guess it's goodbye then...Take good care of Master Luke...and take good care of yourself, too. Until we meet again... Artoo replies with a whistle and a toot, turns and speeds down the hallway. Threepio waves, then turns and moves off in the opposite direction. 72. EXT. ICE CAVE (MATTE). With gun tower in the foreground, men rush about getting ready for the battle. The giant gun swings around pointing to camera slightly left to right. 73. EXT. ICE PLAIN - SNOW TRENCH - HOTH. MED SHOT - Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons into position along a snow trench. Men rush about as officers yell orders and brace themselves against the rhythmic gusts of wind. 74. EXT. ICE PLAIN - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - Rebel troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing its guns into position. 75. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - Rebel troops move a dish-like ray gun into position. The huge power generator can be seen in background against the ice cliffs. 76. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT of generator, as men scurry about in the foreground carrying equipment. The loud buzz and popping of the generator is deafening. Long fingers of energy fly off the huge cores every so often. One trooper moves into the foreground as he hears something but can't quite make out what it is. 77. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED CLOSE-UP - An officer in the trench hears the sound also. He turns toward the ice plain horizon. All work stops as the men listen to the distant, thump, thump, thump sound. The officer squints to see something. 78. EXT. ICE PLAIN - HOTH - POV. WIDE SHOT - A thin horizon line cuts across the bleak landscape. Small dot-sized objects begin to appear on the horizon: the wind begins to pick up. 79. EXT. ICE PLAIN - HOTH. EXTREME CLOSE-UP - The giant foot of an Imperial snow walker crashes thru frame, kicking up snow and ice. It rises out of frame. 80. EXT. ICE PLAIN POWER GENERATOR - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - The rebel officer lifts a pair of electrobinoculars to his eyes. 81. EXT. ICE PLAIN - HOTH - POV. ELECTRO-BINOCULAR POV of very close view on a giant walker, the view zooms back to reveal a full shot of three approaching walkers. Small flashes appear around the guns of the lumbering monsters. 82. EXT. ICE PLAINS - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - The officer drops his binoculars as the regular rhythmic pounding begins to vibrate the ground. It grows louder, with a high-pitched, metallic rattling. He speaks into a com-link. LIEUTENANT Incoming! Open up...they're point 03, Commander Skywalker. LUKE We're on our way. The ice and snow explode around the officer and his men. 83. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SIDE ANGLE - The rebel troops aim their weapons at the horizon as explosions erupt all around them. They are nervous, and tighten their weapons from the cold or fear. Behind the troops a dozen speeders race screen left to right. 84. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED FULL SHOT - Four speeders race over camera at full throttle. Slight left to right angle. 85. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. HIGH ANGLE - Trucking with speeders as they accelerate away from camera toward the distant walkers. 86. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED CLOSE-UP - Walker head fires at speeders. Second walker in background. Moving right to left. 87. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED FULL SHOT - Two speeders going left to right across ice plain. The one in the foreground explodes in a ball of flames. Camera trucking with ships. 88. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. INT. SPEEDER OVER-SHOULDER - Pilot (Luke) works his controls as he fires at the approaching walkers. The monstrous machines fire back, shaking the speeder in a hail of flack. 89. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED SHOT - Side view looking forward along head of walker as two speeders race toward it, split and fly past. One speeder on the far side of the head, the other to camera. 90. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT - Two speeders going away, race over camera past walker and bank to the right. Camera trucks in at slower speed toward flank of walker during shot. 91. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. INT. PILOT POV - Speeder cockpit. Speeder turns, approaching walker number one, and flies through the legs of the monstrous machine. The horizon twists as the speeder banks through the legs. Second walker in background. LUKE Rogue Leader to Rogue Three. WEDGE Copy, Rogue Leader. 92. INT. LUKE'S SNOW SPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP LUKE - Looking back to the speeder cockpit. The horizon twists and shakes behind Luke's head as he swings the tiny craft around for another run. LUKE Wedge, split your squad into pairs... 93. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT - Pan through foreground legs of walker as speeder banks and turns away. Two other speeders pass the first speeder going in the opposite direction. 94. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED FULL SHOT - Three walkers marching right to left firing all cannons. 95. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP LUKE - Luke speeds towards approaching snow walkers. 96. INT. WALKER NO. 3 COCKPIT. Two pilots watch the distant gun emplacements as they maneuver their war machine forward. PILOT On the right! Luke's speeder banks in from the side and heads straight for the viewport, blasting away. A huge explosion hits the window and dissipates. The speeder roars over the window. 97. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT - Moving across the top of the walker as Luke's speeder skims across it. Trucking with the speeder then it flies overhead. 98. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP LUKE looking back as the walker grows small in the distance. LUKE That armor is too strong for blasters. 99. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. OVERHEAD TWISTING FULL SHOT WALKER - Luke's speeder banks up toward camera and turns. 100. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. SIDE VIEW CLOSE-UP LUKE - On the horizon a walker moves up past the cockpit window twisting as Luke banks and starts another run. LUKE Rogue Group use your harpoons and tow cables. Go for the legs. It's our only hope of stopping them. Hobbie, are you still with me? 101. INT. HOBBIE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE FOUR. CLOSE-UP FRONT HOBBIE as the horizon twists then rights itself in the background. Hobbie, a tanned-skin vet of many battles, expertly works his controls. HOBBIE Yes, sir. LUKE (VO) Well stick close now. 102. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL OVERHEAD TRACKING - Luke's speeder races into the frame from the left in full bank, then straightens out. Hobbie's ship comes in from the left and moves in next to Luke's ship in a tight formation. They bank in unison and drop closer to the ice surface. 103. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. SIDE CLOSE-UP DACK - Struggles with his harpoon gun as he bounces around in the tumbling ship. DACK Whoea! Luke, I can't seem to find my restraints... Explosions flash outside the window. As the ship moves left to right they pass a walker in the distance. 104. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. INT. PILOT'S POV - Over the shoulder of Luke as he swings the speeder around and aims it at the oncoming walker. Laser bolts and flack create a deadly wall the speeder must pass through. LUKE Just hang on Dack, and get ready to fire that tow cable... A huge explosion engulfs Luke's speeder, the battered craft wobbles a bit. 105. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. FRONT CLOSE-UP LUKE - As the speeder shudders under the impact of the explosion, but he manages to regain control of the craft. The horizon twists in the back- ground. LUKE Stand by, Dack, we're almost there. Are you okay, Dack? 106. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL LOW ANGLE - The speeders fly in a tight formation toward the camera as explosions burst all around the craft. The speeders fly right over the camera. 107. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. SIDE CLOSE-UP LUKE - Interior speeder as Luke struggles to turn around to see if Dack is alright. In the background the giant legs of the walker pass by as Luke banks under the monstrous machine. LUKE Dack! 108. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP DACK FROM LUKE'S POV - Dack is lost, blood streams down his forehead which rests on his smoldering controls. Out the back window the receding walker can be seen in the distance. 109. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire their strange weapons at the oncoming walker. Explosions burst all around them. A gun turret explodes in the foreground. 110. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire at camera with the generator visible in the distance. Explosions erupt in the foreground. 111. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - The rebel officer we had seen earlier is hit by laser fire. Troops rush to his aid. 112. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire the dish-like ray gun. The generator is seen in the background. 113. EXT. ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT - Two walkers (one near, one far) lumber on toward camera as a speeder between them explodes in a ball of flames going left to right. 114. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - HOTH. Muffled explosions create ear-shattering cracks in the ice roof of the hangar. Han and Chewie look up from their frantic welding to see the gap in the ceiling grow wider. Han makes a final weld. HAN First chance we get, we're giving this crate a complete overhaul...That's tight enough. Let's get out of here before we become permanent residents. 115. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Large chunks of snow tumble into the command center. Leia seeks shelter. LEIA Two transports at a time is awfully risky. RIEEKAN We have no choice. Send them up...and start clearing everyone out. 116. INT. IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1. COCKPIT - Over the shoulder of the pilots to the power generator in the distance. Explosions all around. Two speeders race by right to left. The pilots fire at the gnat-like attackers. General Veers moves in between the pilots. VEERS What's the range to the power generators? PILOT Six twenty one...still too far out of range, but it won't be long. 117. INT. IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 COCKPIT. CLOSE-UP VEERS - As he bounces along, he pulls down an electro-telescope and studies the rebel positions. VEERS We have that line of gun emplacements to get through... PILOT No problem...Suddenly, the huge vehicle rocks violently. The pilots scramble over their controls to level the crafts. VEERS What's that? 118. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. HIGH SHOT - Side view of a speeder going left to right as it banks sharply and dives away from camera toward the fast rushing surface. 119. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. CLOSE-UP FRONT - Wedge lets out a rebel yell, the horizon twisting behind him. 120. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT TRACKING - Panning with the speeder as it turns around and races under camera. Starts going left to right, turns to go overhead. 121. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. OVER THE SHOULDER POV of Wedge as he heads toward Walker No. 3, going almost to where it passes between the legs. 122. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. CLOSE-UP SIDE SHOT of the gunner as he passes the legs. He reaches for the firing switch. WEDGE Activate harpoon. 123. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED FULL SHOT of the speeder racing to camera through the legs of Walker No. 3. 124. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. CLOSE-UP HAND pushes button that fires harpoon. 125. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. BACK POV from gunner as the harpoon flashes and fires at the receding legs. ROGUE THREE GUNNER Cable out! Let her go... 126. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED SHOT of the harpoon going right to left and embedding itself in one of the legs of Walker No. 3. 127. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. CLOSE-UP SIDE WEDGE as he checks his controls, and banks around the walker's front. Left to right. 128. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT SPEEDER as it races left to right around one of the giant walker feet, trailing the cable behind it. The speeder continues around the back foot going right to left. Truck with the Walker No. 3. 129. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. HIGH OVERHEAD MOVING SHOT of speeder as it circles the walker moving around the tail end. A second speeder passes in the foreground with the cable in tow. 130. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL PANNING SHOT of speeder moving left to right in front of the giant legs of the walker towing the cable. 131. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. CLOSE-UP OF WEDGE as he swings the speeder between the legs of the giant walker. 132. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. PILOT'S POV of walkers legs as the speeder races along the side close to the lumbering machine. ROGUE THREE GUNNER Cable out! 133. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT panning with the speeder as it zooms behind the legs moving right to left. 134. INT. WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE. CLOSE-UP HAND pushes button on cable release inside speeder cockpit. 135. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. CLOSE-UP CABLE RELEASE on back of the speeder as it snaps loose and the cable drops away. 136. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT OF THE SPEEDER zooming over camera and away into the distance moving slightly right to left. Low angle, no horizon. 137. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED SHOT of the tangled legs and feet of Walker No. 3 coming to camera. The monster begins to stumble. 138. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. EXTREME LONG SHOT OF WALKER NO. 3 through the legs of a foreground walker. The giant Imperial assault machine stumbles and starts to fall to the ground. Side angle moving right to left. 139. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 139. FULL SHOT of Walker No. 3 coming to camera crashing into the snow which flies in all directions. 140. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP LUKE FRONT with twisting horizon background. WEDGE (VO) Rogue Leader...One down, Luke. LUKE I see it Wedge...good work. 141. EXT. ICE PLAIN - SNOW TRENCH - GUN TOWERS. MED SHOT OF TROOPS in the trenches cheering at the fallen walker. A damaged gun turret smolders in the background. An officer gives a signal in the fore- ground and the rebel troops charge the fallen walker moving left to right. 142. EXT. ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS. FULL SHOT of the troops jumping out of the trenches running to camera. The main power generator can be seen in the distance. 143. EXT. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SIDE TRACKING SHOT of rebel troops running left to right as two speeders race overhead going in the same direction. 144. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT of downed Walker No. 3 as Imperial Snow Stormtroopers climb out of the smoldering walker and start firing at the coming rebels. The rebel troops run over the camera toward the Imperial forces, followed by two rebel speeders flying low overhead. 145. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. CLOSER ANGLE - Troops rush and fire at the fallen walker as a speeder banks low overhead, blasting away, causing great explosions around the walker. 146. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT of Luke and Rogue Two's speeder flying in formation, banking from right to left and flying over- head. Low angle, no horizon. Flak bursts all around them. 147. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP OF LUKE from the front. He looks over to Rogue Two on his left. The horizon levels out behind him. The ship shudders as flack bursts all around his speeder. LUKE Steady, Rogue Two, I'll cover for you. 148. INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE TWO. SIDE CLOSE-UP ANGLE on Rogue Two. Luke's speeder can be seen in the background. The speeders are moving left to right. Rogue Two is wounded in the face. ROGUE TWO (ZEV) It's no good, I can't see. LUKE (VO) Steady, just keep it steady. The ship bounces under the constant impact of flack. 149. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. LUKE'S POV OUT THE SPEEDER window at the distant oncoming walker as flack bursts on all sides. Laser bolts streak past. LUKE I'll lead you in. 150. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. CLOSE-UP FRONT Luke works his controls, as the ship shudders under the impact. He keeps looking screen left to Rogue Two. LUKE Is your gunner alright? ROGUE TWO GUNNER (VO) I'm O.K., sir. LUKE Just keep it steady. Don't try to... Luke's speeder is rocked by a huge explosion, and a loud metal scream drowns out Luke's sentence. He struggles with the controls as a look of terror crosses his face. Smoke pours out the back and the horizon twists. 151. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT of oncoming walkers in distance as Luke's speeder races over camera moving left to right trailing smoke and flames. The speeder crashes into the snow a few yards in front of the walker. 152. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. INT. CLOSE-UP inside Luke's cockpit as he struggles to get out. He gets desperate as he looks out the cockpit window. 153. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. LUKE'S POV out cockpit window of giant walker feet crunching even closer. The ship shudders under the impact of the huge metal feet pounding the ice plain. 154. INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE TWO. CLOSE-UP FRONT Rogue Two, blood streaming down his face, struggles with his controls. The flack is murder. ROGUE TWO (ZEV) Luke...What happened, I can't... The cockpit explodes in a ball of flames. 155. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SIDE SHOT of Rogue Two's speeder in a ball of flames going left to right. 156. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER. SIDE ANGLE CLOSE-UP from inside the cockpit as Luke manages to get the hatch open and pulls himself out. The ship shakes from the approaching walker. 157. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. EXTREME CLOSE-UP of giant walking foot as it comes crashing to the ground, sending snow in all directions. 158. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED FULL SHOT (looking back at Luke, away from walker) as Luke climbs out of the speeder and starts to run forward. The ominous shadow of the huge Walker No. 2 falls over him as he looks up at the approaching monster. The ground shakes under the impact of the pounding feet. Luke gets an idea and runs back to the speeder, reaching inside the cockpit for something. 159. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. EXTREME CLOSE-UP of the giant walker's foot as it comes crashing to the ground, sending snow in all directions. 160. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED CLOSE-UP as Luke rummages through the smoldering speeder and comes up with a climbing gun. Luke looks up, and ducks as the front foot of the walker comes crashing down right behind him, shaking the speeder violently. He reaches back in the cockpit for something else, glancing up with a worried look. 161. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. LUKE'S POV of the moving underbelly of the huge Walker No. 2 as it passes over his head. 162. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. CLOSE-UP of Luke outside the speeder as he searches the cockpit, straining to reach inside. 163. INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - INSERT. CLOSE-UP Luke's arm inside the speeder. He grabs a hold of a large landmine-type bomb and pulls it out of the speeder cockpit. 164. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED FULL SIDE VIEW as Luke pulls the landmine out of the cockpit and leaps away just as the huge black foot of Walker No. 2 comes crashing down on the tiny speeder. The rebel vehicle is crushed flat by the powerful walker. 165. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED CLOSE-UP of Luke as he stumbles up out of the snow and runs toward camera slightly left to right chasing after the lumbering walker. He hooks the landmine around his neck. 166. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. CLOSE-UP LUKE as walker foot raises in background. 167. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED PAN PAST the back legs of Walker No. 2 following Luke as he runs under the monstrous machine and fires the gun at the underbelly of the walker, directly above him. A thin cable follows the projectile from the gun. Another walker can be seen in the background moving left to right. 168. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. CLOSE-UP OF MAGNETIC head and cable attaching itself on the underbelly of Walker No. 2. The cable is pulled tight as Luke tests it. 169. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED SHOT of Luke running and climbing up the cable. The second walker can be seen left to right in the background. 170. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. EXTREME LONG SHOT of Luke dangling from the underbelly of Walker No. 2, moving right to left. The giant legs of a second walker move through the foreground. 171. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED CLOSE-UP of Luke climbing the cable to the under- belly of Walker No. 2 going right to left. The two rebel speeders pass in the background. Flack burst in the distance. 172. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. HIGH ANGLE LOOKING down at Luke as he climbs the cable into a close shot. The walker's giant feet are seen pounding across the moving snow. Stray laser bolts pass him as he swings. 173. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED SIDE SHOT of Luke as he reaches the hull of Walker No. 2, next to a small hatch. Luke, hanging precariously, cuts the solid metal hatch with his laser- sword. 174. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. CLOSE SIDE ANGLE of Luke taking the landmine from around his neck and placing it inside the Imperial machine. He closes the hatch and starts sown the cable, fast. 175. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. LOW ANGLE looking up at Walker No. 2 as Luke slides down the cable, then drops past camera. 176. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. MED SHOT of Luke falling, then drops out of the frame. 177. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. 3/4 REAR LOW ANGLE SHOT of the giant Walker No. 2. It stops in mid-step. A muffled explosion is heard, then the insides of the giant walker come blasting out every conceivable opening. It sits dead in its tracks, smoking like a locomotive. 178. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE. The command center is a shambles. The continual explosions outside have caused a massive cave-in. A lone controller works at the remaining computer board, while Leia, Threepio and another controller attempt to move a cake of ice off of General Rieekan. Finally, the ice tumbles to one side and Leia goes to the General, but it's too late. Threepio inspects the General's pulse. THREEPIO I'm afraid he's no longer functioning. Leia is truly sorrowful. She holds the General's hand a moment and regards him reflectively. CONTROLLER (urgent) The last transport is waiting. Another explosion rocks the area. THREEPIO Beg your pardon, ma'am, but our possible avenues of exit are being rapidly reduced. Leia nods, stands, and speaks to the controller with renewed authority. LEIA Tell the ship we're on our way, and signal the troops in the field to retreat to their fighters. 179. INT. ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, the corridor is strangely quiet and empty. Running footsteps echo through the freezing hallway, then Han appears. He hurries toward the Control Center just as Leia, Threepio and the two controllers exit the room. Leia is surprised to see him. Han is greatly relieved to see her. HAN ...I heard on the com-link the command station was destroyed. You all right? Leia nods, still a little confused. LEIA General Rieekan's dead. Han grimaces at the news, then looks them over. HAN This all that's left of your unit? You'd better hurry, the transport's waiting for you. 180. INT. ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. With 3PO trailing behind, they race down the corridor to where it ends in a T and round the corner only to find it blocked with ice and snow. They start back the other way when Han stops at a door with a big cross on it. HAN That way is going to take too long. Let's go through these storage rooms. He starts for the door and hears a faint banging. HAN Hey! Someone's still in here. LEIA Wait, don't open it...that's one of the traps for the ice creatures. The pounding increases. THREEPIO Oh my, there must be a hundred of them in there. They race down the corridor. 181. INT. COCKPIT - REBEL TRANSPORT. The pilots are getting nervous, the captain leans over one. CAPTAIN I don't know if there's anyone left alive in there. Give it one more try. PILOT Control unit 33, this is transport XJ...we can't wait any longer... 182. INT. ICE CORRIDOR. Han pulls his com-link out and talks as he runs. HAN Hello, XJ! They're coming now... Suddenly there is an explosion, a loud crack. Han turns, grabs the Princess and pulls her to the wall as a giant cave-in smothers the two controllers. Han grabs his com-link as Leia helps Threepio dig himself out of the snow. HAN Transport XJ. get out of here. Go! THREEPIO The energy shield is down. We'll be stuck here forever. 183. EXT. REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH. The icy wind picks up as the battle rages. Rebel and Imperial troops are firing at each other at point blank range. 184. EXT. SNOW BY REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH. A walker steps on several rebel troops as they attempt to flee. 185. EXT. REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT. A rebel officer puts his hand to his helmet earphone in an attempt to hear his com-link. COM-LINK Disengage - Disengage - Ships away. Begin retreat action. The officer flips a switch on his com-link and a loud whistle is heard. He signals his men to retreat. 186. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. LOW ANGLE MEDIUM SHOT of Walker No. 1 as it advances at camera, going slightly right to left. The smoldering walker that Luke just blasted stands dead in its tracks in the background. 187. INT. IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT. CLOSE over the shoulder of walker pilot. POV of rebel troops and power generators. Veers steps into the frame. 188. INT. IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT. REVERSE CLOSE-UP of Veers as he studies various readouts. PILOT All resistance is fading. VEERS Good, we have them now. Prepare to target the main generator. 189. EST REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH. MED SHOT - Rebel troops retreat under the onslaught. 190. EXT. REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH. ANOTHER ANGLE - Rebel troops retreat as a walker looms in the background. Pan down to troops as an explosion hits. 191. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH . HIGH ANGLE of troops fleeing and firing back toward camera. 192. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH . LOW ANGLE FULL SHOT of three of the giant walkers advancing to camera, firing lasers, with troops in foreground running toward and over camera as the snow erupts all around them. A lone rebel speeder is in the background. 193. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH . BACK CLOSE-UP of guns on walker-head, firing. 194. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH . MED BEHIND TROOPS fleeing over camera, the ground explodes around them. 195. INT. WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT. CLOSE-UP VEERS inside Walker No. 1 cockpit. He speaks over the com-link as he studies various readouts. VEERS ...yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generators and I'm destroying them now. The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing... PILOT Look out! Veers looks out the cockpit window. 196. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT of Hobbie's speeder, Rogue Four, as it races over camera right at the head of the oncoming walker. 197. INT. WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT. OVER THE SHOULDER of Veers and his pilots as the speeder crashes into the front window. PILOT He's going to... Impact, huge explosion. 198. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT of Walker No. 1 with head exploding and frying into a million pieces. 199. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. FULL SHOT Walker No. 1. After a few moments the headless walker topples over on its side in a cloud of snow. 200. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - HOTH. The clamor of battle is heard in the distance. Stray laser bolts whiz past. Debris and rubble are scattered everywhere. Nearby stands the burned-out hulk of No. 2 Walker Luke destroyed, hatches and metal parts clanking in the chilly Hoth wind. 201. EXT. BATTLEFIELD - SNOWDRIFT - HOTH. Luke pops his head out of a hole in the snow. Still a little shaken, he tries to stand up, but can't. His com-link whistles. COM-LINK ...ships away. Begin retreat action. All troops begin retreat action. Luke musters all his strength and starts off through the snow toward a distant ice formation. 202. INT. MAIN HANGAR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. A distant, huge explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes come crashing down on the Millennium Falcon. Chewie is pacing under the safety of the ship's landing gear. The giant Wookiee pats the underbelly of his beloved ship and barks a few reassuring words. Chewie searches in vain for his captain. Something catches the Wookiee's eye and he lets out a loud shriek. It is Han and Leia running toward the ship. Chewie runs out into the falling ice, lets out another shriek, then runs up the ship's ramp. Han and Leia run up the ramp after Chewie. Threepio is not far behind. 203. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON COCKPIT - INT. ICE CAVE. Ice batters the cockpit windows as Chewie works at the controls. Han rushes in and sits in the pilot's seat. Chewie barks a blue streak at his friend. HAN I couldn't get back any faster. It's pretty shaky out there. Chewie starts chattering a mile a minute about something and points to one of the gauges. Han looks worried. HAN I know...I know. It's not good. But cheer up...one way or another it will be over soon [204. SCENE MOVED.] 204X INT. ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Imperial troops appear pushing through an ice blockage. Vader is revealed. 204Y INT. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Imperial troops come rushing through. Vader surveys the place. A huge ice chunk falls, almost hitting him. He continues around it. 205. INT. MAIN HOLD MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. Han standing before a control panel, is busy flipping switches as Chewie watches the troublesome gauge. Leia worriedly watches their efforts. HAN How's that, Chewie? The Wookiee barks a negative reply. LEIA Would it help if I got out and pushed? HAN Don't worry, your holiness, I'll get her started. Threepio clanks into the hold. THREEPIO Sir, I was wondering if I might... Han gives the gold robot a devastating look. THREEPIO (Contd.) It can wait. Threepio turns and makes a hasty retreat. LEIA This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade. HAN This baby's got a few surprises left in her. LEIA I'll be surprised if we ever start moving. Chewie lets out a loud whelp as laser bolts begin to hit the cockpit window. 206. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. SIDE VIEW - Han and Chewie look out the window and see a squad of stormtroopers rushing into the hangar deck, firing. Han makes a final panel adjustment. HAN Well, I've tried everything, Chewie...You'll just have to switch over, and hope for the best. Chewie pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia as he swings past her into the pilot's seat. Leia straps herself into one of the navigator's chairs. LEIA Someday you're going to be wrong, and I just hope I'm there to see it. Han sets himself, looks at Chewie. HAN Punch it! The roar of the Falcon's main engines blast out everything as the ice cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window, moving right to left. HAN (shouts) Chewie! Han straps himself into the seat. Leia gets into the navigator's chair. 206W. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - HOTH. Stormtroopers are setting up a large Bazooka-like weapon. Behind them the giant hangar doors are opening. 206X. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. A laser gun appears and swings around. 206Y. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. Long shot main hangar. Angle behind Stormtroopers with Millennium Falcon in background. The Stormtroopers are preparing to fire their Bazooka cannon when they are hit by the gun on the Millennium Falcon. They are thrown about in all directions. 206Z. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. Chewie comes dashing into the cockpit. HAN We'll just have to switch over, and hope for the best. A laser hits the window near Chewie as he is settling into his chair. He lets out a loud whelp. Chewie pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia. LEIA Someday you're going to be wrong, and I just hope I'm there to see it. Han looks at Chewie. HAN Punch it! The roar of the Falcon's main engines blast out everything as the ice cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window, moving right to left. [207. OMIT] 207X. INT. MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. Stormtroopers run into hangar. Vader comes out of an ice corridor. The roar of the Millennium Falcon engines is very loud. He stops. 207Y. POV VADER - INT. MAIN HANGAR - HOTH. Shooting toward the main hangar doors as the Millennium Falcon (which is now through the door) lifts up and disappears. 208. EXT. ICE SLOPE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - HOTH. FULL SHOT of Luke and two other pilots looking up in the snowstorm as the Millennium Falcon races from the distance and over the camera. The ship is flying very close to the ground. 209. EXT. SKY OVER ICE SLOPE - HOTH. Luke's POV Millennium Falcon racing skyward. 210. EXT. ICE SLOPE - X WING - HOTH. Luke, Wedge, and the pilot trudge onward toward the outline of an X wing fighter. LUKE There goes the Falcon. At least Han got away. Wedge, that looks like yours over there. WEDGE Right. Good luck, Luke. The pilots split up. Luke waves as the others disappear in the windblown snow. He walks on, and hears a familiar whistle coming from the vague silhouette of a fighter. LUKE Artoo, is that you?! Artoo chirps an excited acknowledgement as Luke climbs aboard the snow-covered spacecraft. Artoo beeps his relief. The roar of the departing X wings can be heard in the distance. LUKE Don't worry, we'll be airborne in a second. Open the cockpit and activate the power. 211. INT. MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE - HOTH. Darth Vader strides through the remains of the rebel fortress. Two stormtroopers struggle to keep up with the giant presence. Admiral Piett catches up with the Dark Lord. PIETT Seventeen ships destroyed, we don't know how many got away. VADER Anything on the Millennium Falcon? PIETT It won't get through the blockade. VADER I want that ship. 212. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTER - STAR DESTROYER - SPACE. SPACE FULL SHOT with the white planet of Hoth in the lower part of the frame. The Millennium Falcon speeds away from the planet and over camera, closely followed by one huge Star Destroyer and six tiny Tie fighters which also race past camera. The slow moving Star Destroyer fills the frame as it plows ever forward. 213. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - STAR DESTROYER - SPACE. SPACE FULL SHOT. The Falcon races low over camera toward two very bright star-sized objects. The six Tie fighters zoom overhead in pursuit followed by a huge Imperial Star Destroyer. 214. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. OVERSHOULDER HAN AND CHEWIE. Inside the cockpit Chewie lets out a loud howl. Han checks the deflectors as the ship begins to get buffeted by exploding flak. He appears to be doing six things at once. HAN (harried) I know, I know, I see them... LEIA See what? HAN Two more Star Destroyers heading right at us. LEIA I'm glad you said there was going to be no problem, or I'd be worried. Threepio bumps and bangs his way into the cockpit. THREEPIO Sir, I was wondering... HAN Sit down, and shut up! THREEPIO It can wait. 215. INT. COCKPIT MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. FULL SHOT INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON. POV out window at two approaching Star Destroyers as they grow larger. Small flashes of light on the oncoming Star Destroyers turn into large flak bursts which rock the Falcon. The Star Destroyers grow larger as they get ever closer. HAN Chewie, how's the deflector shield holding up? Chewie barks a reply as he readjusts an overhead switch. HAN Good...at sub-light, they may be faster, but we can still out-maneuver them. Hold on! 216. INT. COCKPIT MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. CLOSE POV - out the Falcon cockpit window as the stars and looming Star Destroyers suddenly shift radically, rising through the top of the cockpit window as the Millennium Falcon starts into a steep dive. Everyone's stomach is in their throat as Han makes a ninety degree dive straight down. 217. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - STAR DESTROYERS - SPACE. FULL SHOT underneath one of the huge oncoming Star Destroyers as the Millennium Falcon races toward it. Suddenly the Falcon starts into a steep dive straight down toward camera. The Falcon races over camera followed by four Tie fighters. The bottom side of the Star Destroyer continues on a collision course. 218. EXT. STAR DESTROYERS - SPACE. A huge Star Destroyer in the foreground heads right at two oncoming Star Destroyers and slowly starts to veer to the left. 219. INT. STAR DESTROYER NO. 2 BRIDGE - SPACE. INT. IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - Out the front window the two oncoming Star Destroyers can be seen veering to the left. Alarms, panic. Pilots are abandoning their posts as the Imperial Star Destroyers on the view-scanner get closer. The Captain tries to keep control of the situation. CAPTAIN NEEDA Turn it! Turn it! 220. EXT. SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS. FULL SHOT, SPACE - The Millennium Falcon races to camera followed by four Tie fighters with laser bolts. 221. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. Things have calmed down a bit, but the race isn't over yet. Chewie barks at Han. Leia is still trying to find her stomach. The ship is buffeted by laser blasts. HAN That slowed them down a bit. Chewie stand by to make the jump to light speed. The buffeting of the lasers becomes louder and stronger. LEIA They're getting awfully close... HAN (With a gleam in his eye.) Oh yeah...Watch this. 222. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT. REVERSE POV over shoulder out cockpit window as stars DO NOT go into hyperspace, but just sit there. 223. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT. Han and Chewie look at each other and are thrown into an acute state of concern. LEIA Watch what? Han tries again...nothing. HAN I think we're in trouble. THREEPIO If I may say so, Sir, I noticed earlier that the entire main paralight system seems to be damaged. HAN We're in trouble! The explosions become heavier. 224. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - STAR DESTROYER. SPACE FULL SHOT - The Falcon races over camera into the starry vastness followed by six Imperial Tie Fighters and an Imperial Star Destroyer. 225. EXT. SPACE LUKE'S X WING - HOTH. FULL SHOT, HOTH - Luke's fighter speeds away from the tiny planet, wings closed. 226. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. FULL SHOT - Luke's fighter over camera, wings closed disappears into stars. 227. INT. COCKPIT - LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. CLOSE SHOT Luke's interior fighter, very small planet in background. He makes a decision and flips several switches. 228. INT. COCKPIT - LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. LUKE'S POV - Stars shift right to left as Luke banks his fighter into a steep turn. 229. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. FULL SHOT - Fighter comes to camera, banks sharply to left. PAN with ship flying away in a new direction. 230. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. OVER ARTOO looking forward as the stars continue to move right to left, then stop as the fighter pulls out of its bank. 231. INT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. INT. CLOSE-UP LUKE, stars in background slowly moving from the bottom of the frame to the top. The monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out R-2's question. LUKE There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a new course... (Artoo beeps) No, we're not going to regroup with the others. 232. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. SIDE VIEW of Artoo as he begins his protest. Artoo whistles an unbelieving: "What?" 233. INT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel. LUKE We're going to the Dagobah System. (Artoo beeps) We have enough power. (Artoo sing-songs a bit of chatter) They don't need us there. (Artoo beeps) I'm countermanding the order...I'm a commander, remember. Luke checks his readouts and makes a few adjustments. He rides along with only the soft hum of the instruments to break the silence. Finally, Artoo chirps up. LUKE Yes, Artoo. Artoo answers with a soft carefully-put phrase of whistles. LUKE Yes, Artoo, I know the Dagobah System doesn't appear on any of our navigational charts. But, don't worry, it's there. (Artoo beeps a worried beep) I'm very sure...trust me. Artoo lets out a limp little sigh. The little droid is silent for a moment, as though thinking. Then another beep. LUKE Yes, Artoo? (a carefully-put sentence of whistles) No...no headache, I feel fine...Why? (Artoo chirps an innocent phrase) No dizziness, no drowsiness, the scars are even gone... (Artoo whistles a question) No, that's all right. Artoo, I'd rather keep it on manual control for a while. Artoo lets out a defeated whimper. Luke just smiles at his worried little friend. LUKE Trust me, Artoo. I know where I'm going and I'll get us there safely...it's not far. 234. EXT. IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - TIE SHIPS - MILLENNIUM FALCON. The Falcon races to camera followed by four Tie fighters. The Falcon flies under camera, the Tie fighters fly over camera followed by Star Destroyer No. 2 in the distance. 235. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. SIDE VIEW INT. COCKPIT right to left. Stars race by left to right as flak bursts outside the window. 236. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. Han works furiously at his controls while giving various orders to Chewie. HAN Horizontal booster... (Chewie barks) Alluvial damper... (Chewie barks) I don't know how we're going to get out of this one. He gives Leia a glance, then a double take. LEIA I didn't say anything... Suddenly, a loud thump hits the side of the Falcon, causing it to lurch radically. Chewie barks louder. HAN That was no laser blast...something hit us... LEIA Or you ran into something ... 237. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON. POV out front cockpit window as asteroids race by right to left. 238. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT. Han continues to work his ship controls as a chunk of rock crosses in front of the ship. HAN Asteroids! Chewie, bank left, let's find out where they're coming from... LEIA Probably an asteroid field... HAN Let's hope so...it's just the chance we need. LEIA To get killed...you're not seriously going into an asteroid field? HAN Aren't I? Hang on, sweetheart. We're gonna do some flyin'. Another asteroid thumps against the ship. Leia winces. LEIA You don't have to do this to impress me. THREEPIO If I might remind you, sir, the probability of successfully navigating through an asteroid field is approximately 365,000 to one...a graceful surrender might not be... Chewie turns and barks at Threepio, who immediately shuts up. 239. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT. OVER SHOULDER POV as stars move right to left as the Falcon turns into the asteroid storm. Once the stars stop moving right to left and the ship completes its turn, asteroids start coming toward the cockpit window from the distance. 240. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT. CLOSE-UP of asteroid as it tumbles away from the camera at fast speed. When about 40 per cent of the screen is filled with the asteroid, several smaller asteroids crash into it from the side, creating small explosions on the surface. Other asteroids in many sizes pass by in all directions, some colliding and creating explosions. When the big asteroid is 20 per cent of the screen, the tiny Millennium Falcon appears from behind it, veers around the right side and races past camera on the left side through the rain of rocks, followed by the four Tie fighters, bobbing and weaving around the asteroids. 241. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT. FULL SIDE VIEW, TRACKING with the Falcon as it dodges an asteroid. Several smaller asteroids explode as they collide with the hamburger-shaped ship. PAN with the ship as it banks away from the camera. Four Tie fighters follow, one of which connects with an asteroid and explodes. The other Tie Fighters are pelted with smaller explosions. 242. EXT.. SPACE - IMPERIAL STAR FLEET. FULL SHOT - Vader's Star Destroyer and two others flanked by several smaller Imperial warships move out of Hoth's orbit and over camera. 243. OMIT OMIT. 244. INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER. Admiral Piett hesitates in the entryway to Vader's private cubicle. ADMIRAL PIETT My lord. VADER (OS) Come in, Admiral. Admiral Piett steps into the room and pauses at the sight of...Darth Vader, his back turned, is silhouetted in the gloom on the far side of the chamber. A black, insect-looking droid attends him. Among the various apparatus surrounding them, a respirator tube now retracts from Vader's uncovered head. The head is bald with a mass of ugly scar tissue covering it. The black droid then lowers Vader's mask and helmet onto his head. When it is in place, he turns. ADMIRAL PIETT Our pursuit ships have sighted the Millennium Falcon, My Lord. It has entered an asteroid field. VADER Asteroids don't concern me, Admiral. I want that ship, not excuses. How long until you can have Skywalker and the others in the Millennium Falcon before me? ADMIRAL PIETT (worried) Soon, Lord Vader. VADER (ominous) Yes, Admiral...soon. 245. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT. FULL SHOT of two huge asteroids tumbling toward camera as the Millennium Falcon banks around both of them and over camera as a third asteroid barely misses the ship as the three Tie fighters follow in hot pursuit. One Tie fighter scrapes an asteroid and tumbles over camera out of control. 246. EXT. STAR DESTROYER NO. 2 - ASTEROID BELT. FULL SHOT Star Destroyer coming to camera blasting oncoming asteroids as it goes. Smaller asteroids explode across its massive surface. 247. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT. FULL TWISTING SHOT of the Falcon on its side as it races under camera and around an oncoming asteroid tumbling over camera, revealing the Falcon still twisting and ending right side up. Two Ties follow in the distance, coming from either side. 248. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID FIELD. Asteroids race by the cockpit window as Han pilots his trusty craft through the dangerous field. 249. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT. INT. POV out cockpit window as a big asteroid drops past the window, narrowly missing the Falcon. 250. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT. Chewie barks in terror as a small asteroid comes especially close...too close...and bounces off the Falcon with a loud crunch. Threepio's hands cover his eyes. He manages a short peek at the cockpit window. Princess Leia sits stone-faced, staring at the action. Han gives her a quick look. HAN Well, you said you wanted to be there when I was wrong. LEIA I take it back. HAN That Star Destroyer is slowing down. LEIA Good. 251. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID. SIDE VIEW INT. FULL SHOT of group as asteroids race by outside the window. HAN But we're going to get pulverized if we stay out here much longer. LEIA I'm against that. HAN We've got to get out of this shower. LEIA Now you're making sense. HAN Right. I'm going to get in closer to one of these big ones... THREEPIO Closer?! LEIA Closer?! Chewbacca barks the same word, only louder. 252. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT. INT. OVER THE SHOULDER POV of the dense asteroid field as a giant asteroid comes right at the Falcon and it banks sharply around it. 253. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT. FULL MOVING SHOT as the Millennium Falcon dives away from camera toward the surface of one of the moon-sized asteroids. There is a continued display of explosions across the surface as smaller asteroids collide with the larger chunks of rock. Two Ties follow the Falcon to the surface. 254. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - GIANT ASTEROID. FULL OVERHEAD VIEW as the Falcon moving right to left skims the surface of the giant asteroid. Small asteroids explode on the surface of the ship. 255. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - GIANT ASTEROID. LOW TRACKING across surface as the Falcon and Ties race to camera and zoom overhead under a hail of asteroids. 256. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - GIANT ASTEROID. REVERSE LOW TRACKING as the Falcon and the two Tie fighters race over camera and into the distance. 257. INT. COCKPIT - TIE FIGHTER - GIANT ASTEROID. Stars whip by in the background. Pilot looks up screen left. PILOT Look out. 258. INT. COCKPIT - TIE FIGHTER - GIANT ASTEROID. POV of giant asteroid racing to camera from out of the starry sky, slightly left to right. 259. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - GIANT ASTEROID. LOW TRACKING SHOT of the Falcon as it races toward camera and past. The Tie fighters approach in the distance, but as the Falcon passes, a giant asteroid intersects the frame in front of the Tie fighters creating a silhouetted explosion. As the asteroid continues on its way, it leaves the remains of two explosions. 260. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE. Han notices something on his main scope and nudges his faithful Wookiee, pointing. HAN There, there. Chewie get a reading on that. Looks pretty good. LEIA What is it? HAN That should do nicely. 261. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - GIANT ASTEROID. POV OVER THE SHOULDER out cockpit window, skimming the surface of the asteroid as a large crater approaches. 262. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - GIANT ASTEROID. FULL SHOT of the Millennium Falcon as it dives into the huge crater and disappears. 263. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID SURFACE AND CRATER. FULL SHOT of Falcon racing over camera and down into crater. The walls are barely visible as the camera tracks with the Falcon, but at a slower speed. A small cave appears on one side of the crater in the distance. The Falcon turns, slows and scoots into the smaller cave. 264. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE. FULL SHOT X WING over camera and away toward the cloud cover of Dagobah. Half the planet is seen. 265. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - ARTOO - SPACE. CLOSE SIDE VIEW of R-2 as he rides on the back of the X wing. 266. INT. COCKPIT - LUKE'S X WING - SPACE - DAGOBAH. CLOSE-UP LUKE FRONT with stars moving right to left in background. Luke watches Artoo's words translated on the computer scope. LUKE Yes, that's Dagobah, Artoo...looks a little grim doesn't it... (Artoo beeps) ...No, I don't want to change my mind about this...I'm not picking up any cities or technology... (a little nervous) ...Massive life form readings though. There's something alive down there... (Artoo beeps a worried query) ...Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe for droids. Will you take it easy?...I guess I imagined that landing beacon. We'll just have to go in and see what happens. (Artoo whimpers) Don't worry! 267. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE - PLANET DAGOBAH. X-Wing to camera flying through twilight between space and planet. 268. EXT. LUKE'S X WING - SPACE - PLANET DAGOBAH. CLOSER VIEW as the X wing races over camera and dives into the cloud cover and disappears. 269. INT. COCKPIT LUKE'S X WING - CLOUDS. SIDE VIEW LUKE as the clouds race by in the background, bottom to top. 270. INT. COCKPIT LUKE'S X WING - CLOUDS. Luke works desperately at his controls. The cloud cover had completely obscured his vision. An alarm buzzes in the background. Artoo beeps and whistles frantically. LUKE I know, I know! All the scopes are dead! I can't see a thing...Hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...Let's just hope there's something underneath us... The blast of the retro rockets is deafening. Artoo's squeals are barely heard. Suddenly, there is a cracking sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a tremendous splashing jolt as the spacecraft hits the surface. Luke is considerably shaken, but all right. Artoo lets out a rattled little beep which shows up on the view screen. LUKE Yeah, I'm all right...You still in one piece? (CLOSE-UP Artoo beeps affirmative) Good. Come on, I think we're sinking. Luke pulls a switch and his canopy pops open. 271. EXT. BOG - SWAMP - DUSK - DAGOBAH. The mist-shrouded X wing fighter is barely visible, half buried in the murky swamp. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubby-hole on the back. The young warrior surveys his hostile new environment. Huge, twisted trees covered with vines and moss outline the misty landscape. LUKE Artoo, I wonder if that water is safe? Artoo lets out a short beep, then steps forward, loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the water. LUKE Artoo! 272. EXT. SWAMP - DUSK. Luke dives in near the spot where Artoo fell. He surfaces and scans the water frantically until he sees a small periscope pop up. The periscope turns until it gets a fix on Luke, then lets out a bubbling beep, and starts through the water toward the muddy beach. Luke follows. 273. EXT. SWAMP - DUSK. We see the POV of an underwater swimming "thing" as it watches R-2 and his young master struggling toward shore. R-2 is powered by two bubbling jets. 274. EXT. SWAMP - DUSK. A dark, ominously finned back breaks the surface. Luke stops swimming for a second and sees the disturbing shape swimming toward him. Luke swims for his life, racing past Artoo and finally scrambling up on shore. LUKE Hurry, Artoo! 275. EXT. SWAMP - DUSK. The thing swims up behind the little droid and dives, creating a loud clunk. Artoo's periscope disappears as he lets out a pathetic electronic scream. Luke wades a few feet into the murky pool looking for any sign of his little friend. The black surface is as still as death itself...a few bubbles begin to appear, then PHHEEWAATT! The runt-sized robot is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc and comes crashing down in a patch of moss. LUKE Artoo, are you okay? Artoo responds with a series of feeble whistles and tones. LUKE If you said you thought coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to agree with you. 276. EXT. SWAMP - BEACH - DUSK. Luke is shivering cold as the fog begins to close in. He helps little Artoo upright and starts to clean him off. All is quiet except for an eerie and inhuman cry every once in awhile in the distance. Both the robot and the boy glance around at the spooky swamp-jungle that surrounds them. Sinister shadows move among the trees, as Luke notices a tiny, but vicious pair of eyes wink out and disappear in a scutter of feet. LUKE I'm sorry Artoo, I can't explain the urge that made me come here. It was part of a dream...or...maybe I'm just going crazy. 277. EXT. SWAMP - POV - DUSK. Luke looks back at the slowly sinking spacecraft. 278. EXT. SWAMP - BEACH - DUSK. Artoo bubbles electronic profanity and ejects a stream of muddy water from one of the ports in his head. LUKE How are we going to get that thing flying again? What am I doing here? Artoo beeps a short, "Got me boss." 279. EXT. IMPERIAL FLEET - SPACE - ASTEROID FIELD. FULL SHOT - Fleet around Vader's ship in the asteroid storm. Asteroids big and small begin to pelt the huge surface of the ships. One of the smaller Imperial vessels in the foreground gets hit by a huge asteroid and explodes. 280. INT. BRIDGE - VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - MAIN CONTROL DECK. INT. FULL SHOT - Asteroids collide, creating a fireworks display out the bridge window. Darth Vader stands in the hologram cage above the control deck. Before him are the hologram images of twenty Battleship Commanders. One of these images, the Commander of the ship just exploded, is fading quickly away at this moment. Another image, in the center and a little apart from the others, is faded and continually disrupted by static. It is the Captain Needa of the Star Destroyer which was most hotly on the tail of the Millennium Falcon. Admiral Piett and an aide stand behind the Dark Lord. CAPTAIN NEEDA (IN HOLOGRAM) ...which was the last time they appeared in any of our scopes. Considering the amount of damage we've sustained, they must have been destroyed... VADER They're alive, Captain. I know it and I want every ship available to sweep the asteroid field until they're found. The Imperial Star Captains fade off one by one as Vader turns to Admiral Piett. VADER Now what's so important it couldn't wait, Admiral? Speak up! The Admiral is scared white as a sheet. He's shaking. ADMIRAL It was...the Emperor... VADER The Emperor? ADMIRAL Yes, he commands you make contact with him... VADER Move this ship out of the asteroid field and into a position where we can send a clear transmission. ADMIRAL Yes, My Lord. VADER And code the signal to my private chamber. 281. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID CAVE. The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid cave. It is so dark, the exact dimensions are impossible to determine. 282. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CAVE. Han and Chewie are busy shutting down the engine and the electronic systems. Threepio and Leia watch worriedly as all the service lights go out. Han glances from the dimming lights to Leia with a quick grin. HAN Getting kinda romantic in here. Chewie suggests with a growl that Han pay attention to the business at hand. Han returns to work. HAN (to Chewie) What are you so grouchy about? THREEPIO Sir, I'm almost afraid to ask, but does shutting down all but emergency power systems include me? Chewie barks yes, but Han think otherwise. HAN No, we're going to need you to talk to the ship and find out what happened to our hyperdrive...How good are you with a macrofuser, Your Holiness? Suddenly the ship lurches, causing all the loose items in the cockpit to go flying. Chewie howls. LEIA A tremor! THREEPIO (to Han) Sir, it's very possible this asteroid is not stable. HAN I'm glad you're here to tell us these things... The ship begins a violent motion. Chewie howls. HAN Hang on! Watch out. The jolting movement throws Leia across the cabin into Han's arms. The motion stops as suddenly as it started. Han and Leia realize they are in each others arms. The pirate grins down at the girl. Chewie watches the embrace with inscrutable interest. HAN Why, Princess, this is so sudden. LEIA Very funny. You can let go now...I'm getting angry. HAN You don't look angry. LEIA How do I look? HAN (with feeling) Beautiful. Leia flushes, averts her eyes. She's not exactly fighting to get free. But, of course, Han blows it... HAN And excited. The anger rises in Leia. LEIA Sorry, Captain, being held by you isn't enough to get me excited. HAN Well, I hope you don't expect more. LEIA I don't expect anything, except to be left alone. HAN Fine with me. But I'm afraid you'll have to let go. Han has lifted his arms lightly away, which makes it very clear that Leia has, in fact, been returning his embrace. Leia realizes this and steps back, embarrassed and angry. Her words are measured. LEIA Don't you think it's time we got to work on your ship... She turns and leaves the cockpit. Han turns to his faithful Wookiee, who's been watching all this with Threepio. HAN Come on, Chewie, let's tear into this flying short circuit before we get hit with another tremor. Chewie barks and starts out of the cockpit with Han. HAN You, too, golden rod. THREEPIO I must admit there are times I don't understand human behavior. 283. EXT. BOG CLEARING - DUSK. The mist has disappeared a bit, but it is still a gloomy looking swamp. The X-Wing fighter has stopped sinking and is now only about one third above water. A transfer cable has been rigged between the starfighter and the shore. Artoo is on the back of the fighter sending a power case to Luke on the edge of the swamp. LUKE I think that will do it, Artoo. Come on back. Luke hears a loud snapping crash in the dense jungle right behind him. It is too dark to see anything, but Luke already has his light saber in his hand, waiting to be ignited. Nothing emerges from the obscure foliage so Luke clips his weapon back to his utility belt and continues to unpack the gear. Meanwhile, Artoo has hooked a pulley from his midsection to the transport cable and is whizzing toward his master. The stubby little droid lands with a beep. LUKE You ready for some power? Luke has ignited a little fusion furnace which throws off a warm glow. He warms his hands, then plugs a power cable into Artoo's nose. The droid whistles his appreciation. Luke opens a container of processed food and sits before the thermal heater. LUKE Now all I have to do is find this Yoda...if he even exists. Artoo beeps and Luke nervously looks around at the foreboding jungle. He grimaces as he forces down the ill-tasting food. LUKE This seems like a strange place to find a Jedi master...Gives me the creeps. (Artoo beeps "I'm with you") ...There's something familiar about this place...I feel like... STRANGE VOICE You feel like what? Luke jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The young warrior grabs for his light saber as he spins around, looking for the speaker. Mysteriously, standing right in front of Luke is a strange, blue creature, not more than two feet tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions toward Luke's sword. LUKE (looking at creature) ...Like we're being watched. CREATURE Away put your weapon. I mean you no harm. After some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest. CREATURE (Contd.) I'm wondering...why are you here? LUKE I'm looking for someone. CREATURE Looking? Looking? You've found someone I'd say. Heh? Yes! LUKE (trying to keep from smiling) Yeah... CREATURE Help you I can...yes...yes. LUKE I'm looking for a great warrior. CREATURE A great warrior? (shakes his head) Not many of those. Wars don't make one great. Yoda jumps and lands on one of the cases of supplies. He begins to rummage around. LUKE Get away from there. Artoo moves to the edge of the case (almost eye level to the creature who is carelessly handling the supplies) and squeaks his disapproval. The creature picks up the container of food Luke was eating from and takes a bite. LUKE Hey, that's my dinner! The creature spits out the bite he has taken. He makes a face. CREATURE Peewh! Awful, awful. Thank you, no. How get you so big eating food of this kind? He flips the container in Luke's direction and reaches into one of Luke's supply cases. LUKE Listen, friend, we didn't mean to land here, and if I could get my fighter out of this puddle I would, but I can't. So... CREATURE Can't get your ship out? Have you tried? Have you tried? The creature spots something of interest in Luke's case; Luke loses patience and grabs the case away. The creature retains his prize...a tiny power lamp. The creature examines it with delight. LUKE Give me that! CREATURE (retreating with it) Mine! Mine! Or I'll help you not. Clutching the lamp, the creature backs away from Luke right into Artoo, who the creature barely recognizes as animate. But as the following exchange takes place, one of Artoo's little arms slowly moves out toward the power lamp, completely unnoticed by the creature. LUKE I don't want your help. I want my lamp back. I'll need it in this slimy mudhole. CREATURE Mudhole? Slimy? My home this is. Artoo grabs hold of the lamp and the two little figures are immediately engaged in a tug-of-war over it. Artoo beeps a few "gimme that"s. CREATURE Mine, mine. Give it back. The creature lets go with one hand and pokes Artoo lightly with one finger. Artoo reacts big with a squeal, and lets go. CREATURE Mine, mine. LUKE (fed up) Okay, Artoo, let him have it. Now get out of here, little fellow, we've got things to do. CREATURE No, no! I'll stay and help you find your friend. LUKE I'm not looking for a friend. I'm looking for a Jedi Master. CREATURE Oh, a Jedi Master. Different altogether. Yoda you seek, Yoda. LUKE (surprised and skeptical) You know the Jedi Master? CREATURE Of course, yes. But now eat we must. Good food, I have good food. Come, come. With that, the creature scurries out of the clearing and down a path which is suddenly more apparent than before. Luke looks after him, thinking, then starts that way. Artoo (quite upset) whistles a blue streak. LUKE (to Artoo) You'd better stay here and watch over the camp. Artoo beeps even more frantically. Luke is almost out of sight. He yells back. LUKE Artoo, now settle down...I can take care of myself...I'll be safe...okay? The little droid grows quiet as Luke disappears from view. 284. EXT. BOG TRAIL - DUSK - DAGOBAH. Down the misty trail, the creature moves along alone. CREATURE Heh...safe...heh...quite safe (laughs) ...yes, of course. 285. EXT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - SPACE. FULL SHOT - Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer floats against a vast sea of stars. 286. INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER. Darth Vader stands before a shimmering holographic image which slowly comes into focus. The image is that of Sate Pestage, Grand Vizier to His Eminence, Emperor. VADER Sate Pestage, I would see the Emperor. He commands it. PESTAGE I must warn you, Lord Vader, The Emperor is in a foul mood. He bids you wait. Have you any progress to report? VADER The rebel base on Hoth has been destroyed. I am tracking down the survivors. PESTAGE The Emperor will be with you in time. VADER I wait at his convenience. 287. EXT. IMPERIAL CRUISER - ASTEROID BELT - SPACE. FULL SHOT - Looking down on two medium-sized Imperial cruisers moving across the surface, dropping bombs which create powerful shock waves centered around blue explosions. 288. EXT. IMPERIAL CRUISERS - CRATER - GIANT ASTEROID - SPACE. The ships move over the crater in which the Millennium Falcon is hiding. A faint ball of light emerges from the crater as a bomb hits bottom. 289. INT. MAIN HOLD AREA - MILLENNIUM FALCON. The ship rattles and vibrates. Threepio is sitting at the main control panel. The flooring and part of the ceiling have been removed revealing a section of the complex powertrain. Chewie's head pops upside-down out of a bundle of wires in the ceiling. He barks. Han looks up from where he's working in one of the floor compartments. Princess Leia, who is welding something nearby, also stops working and looks up at Chewie. HAN That was no earthquake. LEIA Felt like a hydro concussion...an Imperial Cruiser. THREEPIO Oh my, they've found us. Everyone is quiet for a moment, waiting for a second blast. A very slight vibration is felt. LEIA They're moving away. HAN They're just trying to see if they can stir something up...we're safe. LEIA Where have I heard that before? Han ignores her sarcasm and moves past her, rubbing against her in the tight quarters, to continue his work. She watches him for a moment, then goes back to her welding. Threepio whistles and beeps into the control panel in front of him and the control panel whistles back. THREEPIO Where is Artoo when I need him? I don't know where your ship learned to communicate, but its dialect leaves something to be desired. It says the power coupling on the negative axis has been polarized. You'll have to replace it, I'm afraid. Chewie barks his understanding and returns to his wires. Leia finishes welding the valve she's been working on. She attempts to re-engage the system by pulling on a lever attached to the valve. It doesn't budge. Han notices her struggle, and moves to help her. She rebuffs him. HAN Easy, your worship. Only trying to help. LEIA (still struggling) Would you please stop calling me that? Han hears a new tone in her voice. He watches her pull on the lever. HAN Sure. I guess I make it difficult sometimes. LEIA Yes, you do. HAN You could be a touch warmer, though. (he watches her reaction) Admit it, against your better judgment you think I'm all right. She lets go of the lever and rubs her sore hand. LEIA (a little smile, haltingly) Sometimes, maybe...occasionally, when you aren't acting like a scoundrel. HAN (laughs) That's quite a compliment. With that, Han takes her hand, turns it over and presses his lips into her palm. LEIA Stop that. HAN Why? Leia is flushed, confused. LEIA My hands are dirty. Han kisses her hand again. Leia yanks it away and steps back. She can only move a few feet in the cramped space, but Han does not follow her. HAN What are you afraid of? LEIA Afraid of? Certainly not you Captain Solo...or any other man in this galaxy. Han looks at her with a piercing look. He's never looked handsomer, more dashing, more confident. He reaches out slowly and takes Leia's hand again from where it is resting on a console. He draws it toward him. HAN Then why are you trembling? Then, with an irresistible combination of physical strength and emotional power, the space pirate begins to draw Leia toward him...very slowly. HAN You know what I think? I think you like me because I'm a scoundrel. I think you haven't run into enough scoundrels in your life. Leia is now very close and the following exchange takes place as their faces draw even nearer. Leia's voice is an excited whisper, in complete opposition to what she's saying. LEIA Don't count on it. I happen to like nice men. HAN Sure, they're safer. You always know what they're going to do. Trouble is, it gets a little dull. LEIA There's nothing dull about a man I can depend on to be civilized. HAN You mean a man you can control. LEIA I do not! HAN Try and control this... He kisses her now, with slow hot lips. He takes his time, as though he had forever, bending her body backward. She has never been kissed like this before, and it almost makes her faint. When he stops, she regains her breath and tries to work up some indignation, but finds it hard to talk. LEIA You're wrong...This isn't what... (he begins to kiss her again) ...not what I...want... His mouth stops her. A swimming giddiness spins her around until, before she knows it, she is kissing him back. Finally, Han breaks the kiss and looks at her. They stand there for a moment looking at each other. Leia is totally, frantically confused by her feelings. First with her eyes, then with her body, she withdraws, detaches from Han. She slips from his arms and hurries from the cabin. Han stares after her thoughtfully, then turns his attention to the stuck lever. He gives it a confident, mighty pull. It doesn't budge. HAN Chewie! Gimme a hand with this. 290. EXT. BOG - EDGE OF SWAMP CAMP - DUSK. A slight breeze moves the fog around in swirls. Artoo is all alone. The swamp had become even more foreboding. A light slapping sound can be heard across the water. The tiny droid's head zips around looking for danger in every direction. He feels very alone, and attempts to warm several of his utility arms in front of the thermal heater. He whimpers a nervous little whistle. 291. EXT. BOG MEADOW - CREATURE'S HOUSE - DUSK. The gnarled trees thin out around a small moss-covered knoll where a strange, baroque mud house is built. The small, gnomish structure radiates a warm glow from its thick-glassed windows. 292. INT. CREATURE'S HOUSE. The inside of the house is very plain, but cozy. Everything is in the same scale as the creature. The only thing out of place in the miniature room is Luke, who is cramped by the four foot ceiling. He sits crossed-legged on the floor of the living room. The creature is in an adjoining area, which serves as the kitchen, cooking up some incredible meal. The stove is a steaming hodgepodge of pots and pans. The wizened little creature scurries about chopping this, shredding that and showering everything with exotic herbs and spices. He rushes back and forth putting platters on the table in front of Luke, who watches the creature impatiently. LUKE ... I told you, I'm not hungry. CREATURE Patience. It's time to eat. LUKE Look, it smells good. I'm sure it's delicious But I don't know why we can't see Yoda now. CREATURE It's the Jedi's time to eat, too. LUKE Will it take long to get there? How far away is he? CREATURE Not far, not far. Be patient. Soon you will see him. Why wish you become a Jedi? LUKE Because of my father, I guess. CREATURE (placing food on the table) Oh, your father...a powerful Jedi was he, powerful Jedi. LUKE (a little angry) How could you know my father? You don't even know who I am. (fed-up) Can't we get on with this already? The creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third party. CREATURE (irritated) No good is this. This will not do. I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience! Luke's head spins in that direction. He is startled to see the shimmering image of Ben Kenobi. LUKE Ben! Ben is focused on the creature. They ignore Luke for the moment. The boy is bewildered, but over the next few exchanges it dawns on him that the little creature is Yoda, the Jedi Master. BEN He will learn patience. YODA Much anger in him, like in his father. BEN We've discussed this before. LUKE I can be a Jedi. I'm ready. Yoda sits across the table from Luke. YODA Ready are you? What know you of ready? I have trained Jedi for 800 years. My own counsel I'll keep on who is to be trained. LUKE Why not me? YODA To become a Jedi takes the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. BEN He can do it. YODA (to Ben, indicating Luke) This one I have watched a long time. All his life has he looked away...to the horizon, to the sky, to the future. Never his mind on where he was, on what he was doing. Adventure, excitement... (turning to Luke) A Jedi craves not these things! Luke looks down, knows it's true. LUKE I have followed my feelings. YODA You are reckless! BEN He'll learn. YODA He's too old. Yes. Too old to start the training. Luke thinks he hears a tiny softening. LUKE But it hasn't been wasted time. I've learned much already. Yoda turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi Master's huge eyes could somehow determine how much the boy has learned. After a long moment, the little creature turns toward Ben, who meets his look evenly and seems almost to nod. YODA Will he finish what he begins? BEN We've come this far...He is our only hope. Yoda concedes with a resigned look and Ben's image fades away. Yoda continues to stare at the spot for a long time. LUKE I will not fail you. I'm not afraid. YODA (turns slowly toward him) You will be, my young one. Heh. You will be. 293. EXT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - SPACE. FULL SHOT - Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer floats against a vast sea of stars. 294. INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER. The Dark Lord, Darth Vader, is alone in his chamber. A strange sound is heard and light begins to play across Vader's black figure. He looks up and bows quickly. A twelve foot hologram of the Galactic Emperor materializes before Vader. The Emperor's face cannot be seen, for it is shrouded in dark robes with a monk's hood, reminiscent of the cloak worn by old Ben Kenobi. His voice is even deeper and more frightening than Vader's. EMPEROR You may rise, my servant. Vader rises, but he is afraid of his master and continually looks at his feet. VADER What is thy bidding, My Master? EMPEROR There is a grave disturbance in The Force. VADER I have felt it. EMPEROR Our situation is most precarious. We have a new enemy who could bring about our destruction. VADER Our destruction? Who? EMPEROR The son of Skywalker. You must destroy him...or he will be our undoing. VADER He's not a Jedi, he's just a boy. Obi-wan could not have taught him so much that... EMPEROR You are weak! I have seen it. The Force is strong with him. He must be destroyed. VADER But, if he could be turned, he would be a powerful ally. EMPEROR (a long pause) Yes...yes. That would be a great asset. VADER He will join us or die, My Master. Vader kneels. The supreme Emperor passes a hand over the crouched Lord of the Sith and fades away. 295. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID CAVE. The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid cave. It is so dark, the exact dimensions are impossible to determine. 296. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON. The cockpit is quiet and lit only by the indicator lights on the control panel. Princess Leia is sitting alone in the pilot's seat. She runs her hand across the control panel as she thinks of Han, and the confusion he's created within her. Something catches her eye outside the cockpit window. With the reflection of the dash lights, it's hard to make out what it is. She moves closer to the glass and peers into the gloom. Suddenly, there are two large yellow eyes staring back at her. Leia is startled and jumps back into her seat, her heart pounding. There is a scurry of feet and a loud screech, the eyes are gone. The young Princess catches her breath, jumps out of her chair and races from the cockpit. 297. INT. MAIN HOLD AREA. The lights go bright for a second, then go out again. Threepio turns to Chewbacca who is looking over his shoulder at the control panel. Han finishes with some wires. THREEPIO Everything checks out here. If I might say so, I believe that should do it. The Wookiee barks and turns as Leia rushes into the cabin. Han drops the final floor panel into place. LEIA There's something out there! HAN Where? LEIA Outside, in the cave. There's a sharp banging on the hull. Chewie looks up and barks. THREEPIO It sounds like it's trying to get in. HAN I'm going to see what it is. LEIA Are you crazy! HAN Look, we just got this bucket going again. I'm not about to let some varmint tear it apart... He grabs a breath mask off a rack and the Wookiee does likewise. Leia follows. LEIA If there's more than one, you're going to need help. Threepio looks around and sees that he's been deserted. THREEPIO But that leaves me here all alone! 298. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID CAVE. It is very dark and dank inside the huge asteroid cave. Too dark to see what is tearing apart the ship. Chewie barks through his face mask, and points over the jutting cockpit. A five foot shape can be seen moving across the top of the Falcon. The leathery creature lets out a screech as Han blasts it with a laser bolt. The black shape stumbles, then tumbles off the spaceship and lands at the feet of the Princess. She leans over and studies the thing. LEIA Looks like some kind of Mynock. HAN (looking around) There will be more of them. They always travel in groups. And there's nothing they like better than to attach themselves to ships. Just what we need right now. Leia stamps her foot on the floor of the cave. LEIA This asteroid has the strangest consistency...Look at the ground, it's not like rock at all. Han kneels and studies the ground, then attempts to study the outline of the cave. There is a Mynock screech in the distance. HAN There's an awful lot of moisture in here. Han unholsters his blaster and fires at the far side of the huge cave. Moments later the cavern begins to shake and the ground begins to buckle. HAN I was afraid of that. Chewie barks and starts for the ship. Leia and Han follow quickly. 299. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON ENTRY - HOLD AREA. As soon as Han and Leia are on board, Chewie closes the main hatch. The ship continues to shake and heave. HAN Chewie, fire her up! We're getting out of here. Threepio and the Wookiee head for the cockpit as Han rushes to the control panel in the hold area and checks the scopes. Leia follows. LEIA It's just another tremor the Empire is still out there. I don't think it's safe to... Han rushes past her and heads for the cockpit. HAN There's no time to discuss this in committee. And with that he's gone. The main engines of the Falcon begin to whine. She races after him, bouncing around in the shaking ship. LEIA (angry) I am not a committee! 300. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CAVE. Han is already in the pilot's seat pulling back on the throttle. The earthquake begins to stop. Leia enters. LEIA Those Star Destroyers will spot us long before you can get into light speed. You can't make the jump in this asteroid field. HAN Strap yourself in, sweetheart, we're taking off! LEIA But the tremors have stopped. The ship begins to move forward, the sides of the cave move away. Chewie barks as he notices something out the window ahead. 301. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CAVE - POV. INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON COCKPIT, POV out window of row of jagged white stalagmites and stalactites surrounding the entrance. The entrance of the cave is growing smaller. 302. INT. COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CAVE. Han pulls hard on the throttle as the ship surges forward. HAN I see it Chewie, hang on. LEIA The entrance is collapsing! THREEPIO We're doomed. Goodbye, Mistress Leia. Goodbye, Captain... HAN Not collapsing, honey. It's closing! This is no cave... LEIA What?? THREEPIO Oh my, no! Leia's mouth drops open as the rocks of the cave entrance are revealed to be giant teeth quickly closing around the tiny ship. Chewie howls. HAN Bank, Chewie! 303. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - INT. MONSTER MOUTH. FULL SHOT inside monster's mouth as the Millennium Falcon rolls on its side and barely makes it between two of the monster's teeth before the huge jaw slams closed. 304. EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE - ASTEROID CRATER. FULL SHOT - The monstrous slug-type creature moves its head out of the cave as the Falcon flies out of its mouth into relative safety. The monster tilts its head as it watches the starship fly away. 305. EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - GIANT ASTEROID. FULL SHOT - The Falcon races out of the asteroid crater into the deadly rain of the asteroid storm. From monster's POV. 306. EXT. YODA'S BOG (MONTAGE) - DAY. - DAGOBAH. Yoda is sitting on a branch high in one of the bog's weird trees. His legs straddle the branch and clasped in his webbed feet is Luke's laser sword. On the ground below, Luke sets himself up and jumps toward Yoda. He jumps incredibly well for a human, but it doesn't bring him close to his object. [Formerly 310] 306X. EXT. BOG CLEARING - SWAMP - DUSK - DAGOBAH. Luke runs through the dense jungle on the last leg of what must have been quite a marathon. Yoda rides in a pouch on Luke's back. The young apprentice is sweaty and exhausted. He stumbles into the clearing where Artoo has been patiently waiting. As Luke is about to collapse, Yoda throws a small metal bar in front of him. Luke ignites his laser sword and swings at it. He missed and the bar falls to the ground. Luke does too. LUKE (breathless) I can't...Too tired. YODA It would be in seven pieces, were you a Jedi. LUKE (gasping) I thought I was in good shape. YODA Yes, but by what standard, ask I? Forget your old measures. Unlearn, heh, unlearn. [Formerly 308] 307X. EXT. YODA'S BOG (MONTAGE) - DAY. - DAGOBAH. At the edge of a wide pond, Yoda sits on a log. In his mouth is a Gimer Stick, a short twig with three little branches at the far end. Luke is nowhere in sight, but now we begin to hear the sound of someone crashing through the foliage. Suddenly Luke appears on the far side of the pond at a run and leaps out toward Yoda. It's an extraordinary leap, but he falls short by six feet, creating a huge splash, which drenches Yoda and his Gimer Stick. [Formerly 307] 308X. EXT. YODA'S BOG (MONTAGE) - DAY. - DAGOBAH. In the bog clearing, Yoda and Luke sit facing two bowling ball-size rocks. Artoo observes from the side. Luke stares at the rocks, Yoda stares at Luke. Slowly, one of the rocks lifts from the ground and floats