Empire Strikes Back: Luke...I am your father! <META NAME=GENERATOR CONTENT="Claris Home Page 3.0 30 Day Trial">
STAR WARS

Episode V

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

 

Script adaptation by

Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett

from a story by

George Lucas

 

LUCASFILM LTD.

 

 

----------------------

 

 

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away...

 

 

It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has

been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from

their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.

Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters

led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote

ice world of Hoth.

The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker,

has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of

space...

 

 

EXTERIOR: GALAXY -- PLANET HOTH

 

A Star Destroyer moves through space, releasing Imperial probe

robots from its underside.

One of these probes zooms toward the planet Hoth and lands

on its ice-covered surface. An explosion marks the point of

impact.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- METEORITE CRATER -- SNOW PLAIN -- DAY

 

A weird mechanical sound rises above the whining of the

wind. A strange probe robot, with several extended sensors,

emerges from the smoke-shrouded crater. The ominous mechanical

probe floats across the snow plain and disappears into the

distance.

 

EXTERIOR: PLAIN OF HOTH -- DAY

 

A small figure gallops across the windswept ice slope. The

bundled rider is mounted on a large gray snow lizard, a

Tauntaun. Curving plumes of snow rise from beneath the

speeding paws of the two-legged beast.

The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a

stop. Pulling off his protective goggles, Luke Skywalker

notices something in the sky. He takes a pair of

electrobinoculars from his utility belt and through them sees

smoke rising from where the probe robot has crashed.

The wind whips at Luke's fur-lined cap and he activates a

comlink transmitter. His Tauntaun shifts and moans nervously

beneath him.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you

read me?

After a little static a familiar voice is heard.

 

HAN: (over comlink) Loud and clear, kid. What's up?

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any

life readings.

 

HAN: (over comlink) There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a

space cruiser. The sensors are placed. I'm going back.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Right. I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite

that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out. It won't take

long.

 

Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his

nervous lizard. He pats the beast on the head to calm it.

 

LUKE: Hey, steady girl. What's the matter? You smell something?

 

Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to

adjust it when suddenly a large shadow falls over him from

behind. He hears a monstrous howl and turns to see an eleven-

foot-tall shape towering over him. It is a Wampa Ice Creature,

lunging at him ferociously.

 

LUKE: Aaargh!

 

Luke grabs for his pistol, but is hit flat in the face by a

huge white claw. He falls unconscious into the snow and in a

moment the terrified screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by

the horrible snap of a neck being broken.

The Wampa Ice Creature grabs Luke by one ankle and drags

him away across the frozen plain.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE ENTRANCE -- DAY

 

A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance

of an enormous ice cave.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

Rebel troopers rush about unloading supplies and otherwise

securing their new base. The rider, Han Solo, swings off his

lizard and pulls off his goggles.

He walks into the main hangar deck toward the Millennium

Falcon, which is parked among several fighters. Mechanics, R2

units, and various other droids hurry about. Han stops at the

Millennium Falcon where his Wookiee copilot, Chewbacca, is

welding on a central lifter. Chewie stops his work and lifts

his face shield, growling an irritated greeting to his boss.

 

HAN: Chewie!

 

The Wookiee grumbles a reply.

 

HAN: All right, don't lose your temper. I'll come right back and give

you a hand.

 

Chewbacca puts his mask back on and returns to his welding

as Han leaves.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

A makeshift command center has been set up in a blasted area

of thick ice. The low-ceilinged room is a beehive of activity.

Controllers, troops, and droids move about setting up

electronic equipment and monitoring radar signals.

General Rieekan straightens up from a console at Han's

approach.

 

RIEEKAN: Solo?

 

HAN: No sign of life out there, General. The sensors are in place.

You'll know if anything comes around.

 

RIEEKAN: Commander Skywalker reported in yet?

 

HAN: No. He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him.

 

RIEEKAN: (indicates radar screen) With all the meteor activity in this

system, it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships.

 

Taking a deep breath, Han blurts out what is on his mind.

 

HAN: General, I've got to leave. I can't stay anymore.

 

Princess Leia, standing at a console nearby, is dressed in a

short white combat jacket and pants. Her hair is braided across

her head in a Nordic fashion. She overhears their

conversation and seems somewhat distressed.

 

RIEEKAN: I'm sorry to hear that.

 

HAN: Well, there's a price on my head. If I don't pay off Jabba the

Hut, I'm a dead man.

 

RIEEKAN: A death mark's not an easy thing to live with. You're a good

fighter, Solo. I hate to lose you.

 

HAN: Thank you, General.

 

He turns to Leia as Rieekan moves away.

 

HAN: (with feeling) Well, Your Highness, I guess this is it.

 

LEIA: That's right.

 

Leia is angry. Han sees she has no warmth to offer him. He

shakes his head and adopts a sarcastic tone.

 

HAN: (cooly) Well, don't get all mushy on me. So long, Princess.

 

Han walks away into the quiet corridor adjoining the

command center. Leia stews a moment, then hurries after him.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDOR

 

LEIA: Han!

 

Han stops in the corridor and turns to face Leia.

 

HAN: Yes, Your Highnessness?

 

LEIA: I thought you decided to stay.

 

HAN: Well, the bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my

mind.

 

LEIA: Han, we need you!

 

HAN: We?

 

LEIA: Yes.

 

HAN: Oh, what about you need?

 

LEIA: (mystified) I need? I don't know what you're talking about.

 

HAN: (shakes his head, fed up) You probably don't.

 

LEIA: And what precisely am I supposed to know?

 

HAN: Come on! You want me to stay because of the way you feel about

me.

 

LEIA: Yes. You're a great help to us. You're a natural leader...

 

HAN: No! That's not it. Come on. Aahhh -- uh huh! Come on.

 

Leia stares at him, understanding, then laughs.

 

LEIA: You're imagining things.

 

HAN: Am I? Then why are you following me? Afraid I was going to leave

without giving you a goodbye kiss?

 

LEIA: I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee.

 

HAN: I can arrange that. You could use a good kiss!

 

Angrily, Han strides down the corridor as Leia stares after

him.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ANOTHER ICE CORRIDOR

 

A familiar stream of beeps and whistles herald the approach

of Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio, who appear around a corner

and move along an ice wall toward the main hangar.

 

THREEPIO: Don't try to blame me. I didn't ask you to turn on the

thermal heater. I merely commented that it was freezing in the

princess's chamber. But it's supposed to be freezing. How are we going

to dry out all her clothes? I really don't know.

 

Artoo beeps a stream of protesting whistles.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, switch off.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

The two robots stop at Han Solo's space freighter. Han and

Chewie are struggling with their central lifters.

 

HAN: (to Chewie) Why do you take this apart now? I'm trying to get us

out of here and you pull both of these.

 

Chewie grumbles in irritation.

 

THREEPIO: Excuse me, sir.

 

HAN: (to Chewie) Put them back together right now.

 

THREEPIO: Might I have a word with you, please?

 

HAN: What do you want?

 

THREEPIO: Well, it's Princess Leia, sir. She's been trying to get you

on the communicator.

 

HAN: I turned it off. I don't want to talk to her.

 

THREEPIO: Oh. Well, Princess Leia is wondering about Master Luke. He

hasn't come back yet. She doesn't know where he is.

 

HAN: I don't know where he is.

 

THREEPIO: Nobody knows where he is.

 

HAN: What do you mean, "nobody knows"?

 

Han glances at the fading light at the entrance of the ice

cave as night slowly begins to fall on the planet.

 

THREEPIO: Well, uh, you see...

 

Han jumps down off the lift, as Threepio follows him.

 

HAN: Deck Officer. Deck Officer!

 

THREEPIO: Excuse me, sir. Might I inqu-...

 

Han abruptly puts his hand over Threepio's mouth as the

deck officer approaches.

 

DECK OFFICER: Yes, sir?

 

HAN: Do you know where Commander Skywalker is?

 

DECK OFFICER: I haven't seen him. It's possible he came in through the

south entrance.

 

HAN: It's possible? Why don't you go find out? It's getting dark out

there.

 

DECK OFFICER: Yes, sir.

 

The deck officer leaves hurriedly, as Han takes his hand

off Threepio's mouth.

 

THREEPIO: Excuse me, sir. Might I inquire what's going on?

 

HAN: Why not?

 

THREEPIO: Impossible man. Come along, Artoo, lets find Princess Leia.

Between ourselves, I think Master Luke is in considerable danger.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN ICE TUNNEL

 

The deck officer and his assistant hurry toward Han as he

enters the tunnel.

 

DECK OFFICER: Sir, Commander Skywalker hasn't come in through the

south entrance. He might have forgotten to check in.

 

HAN: Not likely. Are the speeders ready?

 

DECK OFFICER: Not yet. We're having some trouble adapting them to the

cold.

 

HAN: Then we'll have to go out on Tauntauns.

 

DECK OFFICER: Sir, the temperature's dropping too rapidly.

 

HAN: That's right. And my friends out in it.

 

ASSISTANT OFFICER: I'll cover sector twelve. Have com-control set

screen alpha.

 

Han pushes through the troops and mounts a Tauntaun.

 

DECK OFFICER: Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first

marker.

 

HAN: Then I'll see you in hell!

 

Han maneuvers his mount out of the cave and races into the

dark bitter night.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE GORGE -- DUSK

 

The jagged face of a huge ice wall sits gloomily in the dim

twilight of a Hoth day. Luke hangs upside down, ankles frozen

into icy stalactites, his extended arms within a foot of the

snow floor. One side of his face is covered in a dried mask of

frozen blood. He opens his eyes as a chilling moan of the

hideous ice creature echoes off the gorge walls. Luke pulls

himself up, grabs hold of his ankles, and futilely tries to

unfasten the throngs.

Exhausted, he drops back into his hanging position. As he

hangs there, he spies his lightsaber lying near a pile of his

discarded gear, about three feet out of reach.

He focuses on the saber and, as his hand strains toward the

weapon, he squeezes his eyes tight in concentration.

Just as the ice creature looms over Luke, the lightsaber

jumps into Luke's hand.

The young warrior instantly ignites his sword, swinging up,

and cuts himself loose from the ice. He flops to the snow in a

heap. The startled creature moves back, his giant yellow eyes

blinking. Luke scrambles to his feet. He swings his lightsaber

and the beast screams in pain.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ENTRANCE TO ICE GORGE -- DUSK

 

Luke staggers out of the gorge into the dark and snowy

twilight. Weak and exhausted, he stumbles down a snow bank.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOW PLAIN -- DUSK

 

A small, lone figure riding a Tauntaun races through the

hostile vastness of snow and cold. As it runs, the Tauntaun's

legs kick up large clouds of snow and ice into the snowy air.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- OUTSIDE ICE HANGAR -- DUSK

 

Artoo stands in the falling snow, beeping worriedly.

Threepio moves stiffly over to him.

 

THREEPIO: You must come along now, Artoo. There's really nothing more

we can do. And my joints are freezing up.

 

Artoo beeps, long and low.

 

THREEPIO: Don't say thing like that! Of course we'll see Master Luke

again. He'll be quite all right, you'll see. (to himself) Stupid

little short-circuit. He'll be quite all right.

 

Threepio turns to go back inside the main hangar as Artoo

mournfully keeps his vigil.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOW DRIFT -- 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 he can't. The young warrior from

Tatooine drags himself a couple of feet and then collapses.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK -- ENTRANCE -- NIGHT

 

Princess Leia stands inside the dark entrance to the Rebel

base, waiting for a sign of the two Rebel heroes. She shivers

in the cold wind as, nearby, Chewie sits with his head in his

hands. In the background, Artoo and Threepio move through the

doors.

A Rebel lieutenant moves to Major Derlin, an officer

keeping watch with the princess.

 

LIEUTENANT: Sir, all the patrols are in. There's still no contact from

Skywalker or Solo.

 

THREEPIO: Mistress Leia, Artoo says he's been quite unable to pick up

any signals, although he does admit that his own range is far too

weak to abandon all hope.

 

Leia nods an acknowledgment, but she is lost in thought.

 

DERLIN: Your Highness, there's nothing more we can do tonight. The

shield doors must be closed.

 

He turns to the lieutenant.

 

DERLIN: Close the doors.

 

LIEUTENANT: Yes, sir.

 

The lieutenant walks away. Chewie lets out a long, mournful

howl, somewhat like a coyote. At the same moment, Artoo begins

a complex series of efficient beeps.

 

THREEPIO: Artoo says the chances of survival are seven hundred

seventy-five...to one.

 

Leia stands praying to herself as the huge metal doors slam

across the entrance of the ice cave. The loud booms echo

throughout the huge cavern. Chewie lets out another suffering

howl.

 

THREEPIO: Actually, Artoo has been known to make mistakes...from time

to time. Oh, dear, oh, dear. Don't worry about Master Luke. I'm sure

he'll be all right. He's quite clever, you know...for a human being.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOW DRIFT -- DUSK

 

Luke lies face down in the snow, nearly unconscious. Slowly

he looks up and sees Ben Kenobi, barely visible through the

blowing snow. It is hard to tell if Kenobi is real or a

hallucination.

 

BEN: Luke...Luke.

 

LUKE: (weakly) Ben?

 

BEN: You will go to the Dagobah system.

 

LUKE: Dagobah system?

 

BEN: There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed

me.

 

The image of Ben fades, revealing a lone Tauntaun rider

approaching from the windswept horizon.

 

LUKE: (groaning faintly) Ben...Ben.

 

Luke drops into unconsciousness.

Han pulls up and leaps off his mount. He hurries to his

snow-covered friend, cradling him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun

lets out a low, pitiful bellow. But Han's concern is with

Luke, and he shakes him urgently.

 

HAN: Luke! Luke! Don't do this, Luke. Come on, give me a sign here.

 

Luke doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing and

slapping Luke's unconscious face. As he starts to lift the

youth, Han hears a rasping sound behind him. He turns, just in

time to see his Tauntaun stagger and then fall over into the

snow.

Han carries Luke to the moaning beast. Then, with a final

groan, the Tauntaun expires.

 

HAN: Not much time.

 

He pushes Luke's inert form against the belly of the dead

beast.

 

LUKE: (moaning) Ben...Ben...

 

HAN: Hang on, kid.

 

LUKE: Dagobah system...

 

Han ignites Luke's saber and cuts the beast from head to

toe. He quickly tosses it's steaming innards into the snow,

then lifts Luke's inert form and stuffs him inside the

carcass.

 

HAN: (reeling from the odor) Whew...

 

LUKE: Dagobah...

 

HAN: This may smell bad, kid...

 

LUKE: (moaning) Yoda...

 

HAN: ...but it will keep you warm...til I get the shelter built.

(struggling to get Luke in the carcass) Ooh...I thought they smelled

bad on the outside!

 

The wind has picked up considerably, making it difficult to

move. Han removes a pack from the dead creature's back, taking

out a shelter container. He begins to set up what can only be

a pitiful protection against a bitter Hoth night.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOWDRIFT -- DAWN

 

Four snub-nosed armored snowspeeders race across the white

landscape.

 

INTERIOR: SNOWSPEEDER COCKPIT

 

There is only one pilot, Zev, in the enclosed two-man

craft. He concentrates on the scopes which ring his cockpit.

He hears a low beep from one of his monitors.

 

ZEV: (into transmitter) Echo Base...I've got something! Not much, but

it could be a life form.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOWDRIFT

 

The small craft banks and makes a slow arc, then races off

in a new direction.

 

INTERIOR: SNOWSPEEDER -- COCKPIT

 

The pilot switches over to a new transmitter.

 

ZEV: (into transmitter) This is Rouge Two. this is Rouge Two. Captain

Solo, so you copy? Commander Skywalker, do you copy? This is Rouge

Two.

 

There is a sharp crackle of static, then a faint voice.

 

HAN: (filtered over Zev's receiver) Good morning. Nice of you guys to

drop by.

 

ZEV: (switching transmitters) Echo Base...this is Rouge Two. I found

them. Repeat, I found them.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOWDRIFT -- DAY

 

The small shelter Han set up is covered with snow on the

windward side. A makeshift antenna rests gingerly on top the

snowdrift. Han spots Zev's snowspeeder approaching in the

distance, and begins waving his arms frantically at the tiny

craft.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MEDICAL CENTER

 

Strange robot surgeons adjust a mass of electronic

equipment. A switch is thrown and a sudden blinding flash

obscures Luke in a bacta tank filled with a thick, gelatinous

slime. He begins to thrash about, raving in delirium.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MEDICAL CENTER -- RECOVERY ROOM

 

Luke sits up in a recovery-room bed, weak but smiling. His

face shows terrible wounds from the Wampa's attack. Threepio

and Artoo enter the room.

 

THREEPIO: Master Luke, sir, it's good to see you fully functional

again.

 

Artoo beeps his good wishes.

 

THREEPIO: Artoo expresses his relief, also.

 

Han and Chewie make their entrance. The Wookiee growls a

greeting.

 

HAN: How are you feeling, kid? You don't look so bad to me. In fact,

you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark.

 

LUKE: Thanks to you.

 

HAN: That's two you owe me, junior.

 

Han turns as Leia enters the room. He looks at her with a

big, devilish grin.

 

HAN: Well your Worship, looks like you managed to keep me around for a

little while longer.

 

LEIA: (haughtily) I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks

it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated

the energy shield.

 

HAN: That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a

gorgeous guy like me out of your sight.

 

LEIA: I don't know where you get you delusions, laser brain.

 

Chewie is amused; he laughs in his manner. Han, enjoying

himself, regards Chewie good-humoredly.

 

HAN: Laugh it up, fuzz ball. But you didn't see us alone in the south

passage.

 

Luke sparks to this; he looks at Leia.

 

HAN: She expressed her true feelings for me.

 

Leia is flushed, eyes darting between Luke and Han.

 

LEIA: My...! Why, you stuck up,...half-witted,...scruffy-looking...

nerf-herder!

 

HAN: Who's scruffy-looking? (to Luke) I must have hit her pretty close

to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?

 

Leia looks vulnerable for a moment, then the mask falls

again, and she focuses on Luke.

 

LEIA: Why, I guess you don't know everything about women yet?

 

With that she leans over and kisses Luke on the lips. Then

she turns on her heel and walks out, leaving everyone in the

room slightly dumbstruck. With some smugness, Luke puts his

hands behind his head and grins.

Suddenly, in the distance, the muffled sound of an alarm is

heard.

 

ANNOUNCER: (over loudspeaker) Headquarters personnel, report to command

center.

 

The voice repeats the order and Han, Chewie, Artoo, and

Threepio hurry out of the room, bidding farewell to Luke.

 

HAN: Take it easy.

 

THREEPIO: Excuse us, please.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

Rieekan looks up grimly from a console screen. He calls

over to Leia and Han.

 

RIEEKAN: Princess...we have a visitor.

 

The group hurries over to Rieekan.

 

RIEEKAN: We've picked up something outside the base in zone twelve,

moving east.

 

SENIOR CONTROLLER: It's metal.

 

LEIA: Then it couldn't be one of those creatures that attacked Luke.

 

HAN: It could be a speeder, one of ours.

 

SENIOR CONTROLLER: No. Wait -- there's something very weak coming

through.

 

Threepio steps up to the control panel and listens intently

to the strange signal.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, I am fluent in six million forms of communication. This

signal is not used by the Alliance. It could be an Imperial code.

 

The transmission ends in static.

 

HAN: It isn't friendly, whatever it is. Come on, Chewie, let's check

it out.

 

RIEEKAN: Send Rouges Ten and Eleven to station three-eight.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOW PLAIN -- DAY

 

The dark probe robot moves past the smoldering ruins of

station three-eight and down a ridge toward the Rebel base. It

raises a large antenna from the top of its head and begins to

send out a piercing signal.

The probe droid has spotted Chewbacca who, not thirty feet

away, has popped his head over a snow bank. Instantly, the

probe 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.

Han Solo replaces his blaster in its holster and peers

intently at the smoldering remains of the Imperial probe.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

Leia and Rieekan listen to Han on the comlink.

 

HAN: (over comlink) Afraid there's not much left.

 

LEIA: (into comlink) What was it?

 

HAN: (over comlink) Droid of some kind. I didn't hit it that hard. It

must have had a self-destruct.

 

LEIA: (into comlink) An Imperial probe droid.

 

HAN: (over comlink) It's a good bet the Empire knows we're here.

 

RIEEKAN: We'd better start the evacuation.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- IMPERIAL FLEET

 

Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and more awesome 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.

 

INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE -- MAIN CONTROL DECK

 

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 toward

it. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind.

As Vader moves across the wide bridge, Captain Piett hurries

up to Ozzel.

 

PIETT: Admiral.

 

OZZEL: Yes, Captain

 

PIETT: I think we've got something, sir. The report is only a fragment

from a probe droid in the Hoth system, but it's the best lead we've

had.

 

OZZEL: (irritated) We have thousands of probe droids searching the

galaxy. I want proof, not leads!

 

PIETT: The visuals indicate life readings.

 

OZZEL: It could mean anything. If we followed every lead...

 

PIETT: But, sir, the Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of human

forms.

 

Vader moves to a large screen showing an image of the Rebel

snow base. Rebel speeders can be seen approaching the base in

the distance.

 

VADER: You found something?

 

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

 

VADER: (studying the image on the console screen) That's it. The

Rebels are there.

 

OZZEL: My lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be

smugglers, it could be...

 

VADER: That is the system. And I'm sure Skywalker is with them. Set

your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare you men.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- TRANSPORT BAY

 

A captain issues instructions to two of his men at the

entrance to the main transport bay. Several Rebel transports

behind them are being loaded by men carrying heavy boxes and

moving quickly, but not in panic.

 

REBEL CAPTAIN: Groups seven and ten will stay behind to fly the

speeders. As soon as each transport is loaded, evacuation control will

give clearance for immediate launch.

 

REBEL FIGHTER: Right, sir.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews, and droids rush to

their alert stations. Armored snowspeeders are lined up in

attack formation near the main entrance.

In the midst of all this activity, Han does some frantic

welding on the lifters of the Millennium Falcon.

Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He

pulls out his comlink, all the while eyeing problematic

lifters.

 

HAN: (into comlink, to Chewie) Okay, that's it. Try it...Off! Turn it

off! Turn it off! Off!

 

Smoke rises from a minor explosion on the lifter.

Exasperated, Han surveys the new damage.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MEDICAL CENTER

 

Luke dresses in readiness for the evacuation as his

attending medical droid stands by.

 

MEDICAL DROID: Sir, it will take quite awhile to evacuate the T-forty-

sevens.

 

LUKE: Well, forget the heavy equipment. There's plenty of time to get

the smaller modules on the transports.

 

MEDICAL DROID: Take care, sir.

 

LUKE: Thanks.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

Pilots, gunners, and R2 units scurry about. Luke, pulling

on his heavy-weather jacket, is headed toward a row of armored

speeders. He stops at the rear of the Millennium Falcon, where

Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter with even

more haste than before.

 

LUKE: Chewie, take care of yourself, okay?

 

As Luke pats Chewie on the arm, Chewie puts his arms around

Luke and gives him a tight hug. Han is discussing the lifter

with a repair droid when he sees Luke.

 

HAN: Hi, kid. (to droid) There's got to be a reason for it. Check it

at the other end. Wait a second. (to Luke) You all right?

 

LUKE: Yeah.

 

HAN: Be careful.

 

LUKE: You, too.

 

Luke smiles, then waves at his friend and walks on. After a

few steps, he stops and looks back. Han glances up and the two

exchange a silent communication, each wishing the other

safety, happiness -- many things, all difficult to verbalize.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- CONTROL ROOM.

 

Alarms sound throughout the hidden Rebel base. In the

control room, a controller urgently gestures for General

Rieekan to check a computer scan.

 

CONTROLLER: General, there's a fleet of Star Destroyers coming out of

hyperspace in sector four.

 

RIEEKAN: Reroute all power to the energy shield. We've got to hold

them till all transports are away. Prepare for ground assault.

 

Rieekan exits hurriedly.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER -- MEDITATION CUBICLE

 

The dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light

which falls on the brooding Dark Lord as he sits on a raised

meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches

the silent, unmoving Vader. Although seemingly very sure of

himself, Veers is still not bold enough to interrupt the

meditating lord. The younger general stands quietly at

attention until the evil presence speaks.

 

VADER: What is it, General?

 

VEERS: My lord, the fleet has moves out of light-speed. Com-Scan has

detected an energy field protecting an area around the sixth planet of

the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any

bombardment.

 

VADER: (angrily) The Rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel

came out of light-speed too close to the system.

 

VEERS: He felt surprise was wiser...

 

VADER: He is as clumsy as he is stupid. General, prepare your troops

for a surface attack.

 

VEERS: Yes, my lord.

 

Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large

viewscreen showing the bridge of his mighty ship. Admiral

Ozzel appears on the viewscreen, standing slightly in front of

Captain Piett.

 

OZZEL: Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light-speed, and we're

preparing to...Aaagh!

 

VADER: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral. Captain Piett.

 

Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly

confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict

painfully.

 

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

 

VADER: Make ready to land out troops beyond the energy shield and

deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off that system. You are in

command now, Admiral Piett.

 

PIETT: Thank you, Lord Vader.

 

Piett's pleasure about his unexpected promotion is not an

unmixed emotion. He glances warily at the struggling Admiral

Ozzel who, with a final choke, stumbles and falls in a

lifeless heap before him.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

With a sense of urgency, Leia quickly briefs a group of

pilots gathered in the center of the hangar.

 

LEIA: All troop carriers will assemble at the north entrance. The

heavy transport ships will leave as soon as they're loaded. Only two

fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only be opened for a

short time, so you'll have to stay very close to your transports.

 

HOBBIE: Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?

 

LEIA: The ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure that any

enemy ships will be out of your flight path. When you've gotten past

the energy shield, proceed directly to the rendezvous point.

Understood?

 

PILOTS: (in unison) Right. Okay.

 

LEIA: Good luck.

 

DERLIN: Okay. Everyone to your stations. Let's go!

 

The pilots hurry away.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH -- DAY

 

Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons and position

them along the snow trench. Men hurriedly respond to their

officers' yelled orders and brace themselves against the

rhythmic gusts of bitter-cold wind.

Other troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing

its guns into position.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- POWER GENERATORS

 

Near the base power generators, troops rush to set up their

heavy battle equipment. Buzzing loudly, the generators send

along, sparking fingers of energy into the bitter Hoth wind.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

The long line of Rebel controllers is tense, as are

Princess Leia and General Rieekan, who are trying very hard

not to show any fear.

 

RIEEKAN: Their primary target will be the power generators. Prepare to

open the shield.

 

EXTERIOR: ICE PLAIN

 

The Rebel transport and two escort fighters begin their

departure from the ice planet.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER

 

A huge Imperial Star Destroyer rest against a sea of stars,

far above the white surface of the planet Hoth.

 

INTERIOR: IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

An Imperial controller approaches his commander.

 

CONTROLLER: Sir, Rebel ships are coming into our sector.

 

CAPTAIN: Good. Our first catch of the day.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

WOMAN CONTROLLER: Stand by, ion control....Fire!

 

EXTERIOR: REBEL BASE ICE CAVE -- ION CANNON

 

The giant ball-shaped ion cannon rotates into position and

blasts two red energy beams skyward.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- HOTH -- REBEL TRANSPORT

 

The Rebel transport and its escort race away from the white

planet, closely followed by the two red energy beams.

As the Rebel transport races toward the waiting Imperial

Star Destroyer, it is overtaken by the two scarlet energy

bolts. The Imperial Star Destroyer is hit in the conning tower

by the powerful bolts, which set up fiery explosions on its

metal hull.

The big Star Destroyer veers, then spins wildly out of

control. As the Imperial ship careers into deep space, the

Rebel transport races away to safety.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

Pilots, gunners, and troopers hurry to their stations and

their vehicles.

 

ANNOUNCER: (over loudspeaker) The first transport is away.

 

Everyone cheers at the announcement, which echoes through

the hangar. Luke turns and walks on, heading toward his

snowspeeder. His gunner, Dack, a fresh-faced, eager kid, is

glad to see him. They climb in.

 

DACK: Feeling all right, sir?

 

LUKE: Just like new, Dack. How about you?

 

DACK: Right now I feel I could take on the whole Empire myself.

 

LUKE: (quietly, strapping in) I know what you mean.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN

 

A thin horizon line cuts across the bleak landscape. Small

dot-size objects begin to appear on the horizon, moving in the

direction of the Rebel base.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH

 

A Rebel officer lifts a pair of electrobinoculars to his

eyes. Through the lens he sees a very close view of a giant

Imperial snow walker. He adjusts the view which then zooms

back to reveal three more of the ominous battle machines.

Small flashes of yellow fire billow from the guns of the

lumbering snow walkers.

The officer lowers his binoculars as the regular rhythmic

pounding begins to make the ground vibrate. The pounding grows

louder and is accompanied by a high-pitched, metallic

rattling. The officer speaks into his comlink.

 

TRENCH OFFICER: Echo Station Three-T-Eight.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- CORRIDOR

 

Pilots and gunners race to their waiting snowspeeders. Ice

and snow begin falling from the walls of the corridor, shaken

by the pounding Imperial snow walker as they draw ever nearer.

 

TRENCH OFFICER: (over comlink) We have spotted Imperial walkers!

 

CONTROLLER: Imperial walkers on the north ridge.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH

 

The Rebel troops aim their weapons at the horizon as

explosions erupt all around them. They are nervous and their

grip on their weapons tightens from the cold and from fear.

Behind the troops a dozen snowspeeders race through the

sky.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Echo station Five-Seven. We're on our way.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The fleet of snowspeeders races above the ice field at full

throttle. They accelerate away from the base and head toward

the distant walkers.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) All right, boys, keep tight now.

 

DACK: Luke, I have no approach vector. I'm not set.

 

LUKE: Steady, Dack. Attack pattern delta. Go now!

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The cannons mounted on the walker head fire at the

speeders. Other walkers loom in the background. Two speeders

race away past two of the enormous walkers and bank to the

right.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: All right, I'm coming in.

 

He turns his speeder and heads directly at one of the

walkers, flying toward its towering legs. The horizon twists

as the speeder banks between the legs.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Hobbie, you still with me?

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Two speeders race directly at the head of a walker, then

split and fly past it.

Three other walkers march onward, firing all cannons.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOWTRENCH

 

Rebel troops fire on the approaching walkers, as the snow

and ice explode all around them.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

 

A speeder banks through and away from the legs of a walker.

Two other speeders pass the first speeder from the opposite

direction. Other Rebel craft race just above the icy plain.

A giant walker head swivels and fires, striking a

snowspeeder and sending it crashing in a ball of flames.

 

INTERIOR: IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER -- COCKPIT

 

General Veers and two walker pilots keep a careful eye on

the racing Rebel snowspeeders as they maneuver their lumbering

war machine forward.

Luke's speeder banks in from the side of Veers's walker and

heads straight for its viewport, blasting away. An explosion

hits the walker window, but dissipates, doing no harm. The

speeder roars up and over the impregnable war machine.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

Luke looks back at the walker as it grows smaller in the

distance.

 

LUKE: That armor's too strong for blasters.

 

On the horizon, another walker moves up past Luke's cockpit

window, twisting out of sight as Luke banks and starts another

run.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Rouge Group, use your harpoons and tow cables. Go

for the legs. It might be our only chance of stopping them. (to Dack)

All right, stand by, Dack.

 

Dack is at the gunner's controls.

 

DACK: Luke, we've got a malfunction in fire control. I'll have to cut

in the auxiliary.

 

LUKE: Just hang on. Hang on, Dack. Get ready to fire that tow cable.

 

Barely keeping his seat in the tumbling ship, Dack struggles

to set up his harpoon gun.

Luke swings his speeder around and heads toward an oncoming

walker. Laser bolts and flak fill the air, creating a deadly

obstacle course for the tiny craft.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Rouge Leader and another snowspeeder fly in tight formation

toward the walker as explosions burst all around them.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

After sustaining a heavy volley of fire, Luke turns around

to see if Dack is all right.

 

LUKE: Dack? Dack!

 

Dack is lost. Blood streams down his forehead, which

rests on his smoldering controls. Out the back window, an

Imperial walker recedes in the distance.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH AREA

 

Rebel troops fire the dishlike ray gun while explosions

erupt around them.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Two walkers lumber toward the Rebel base as a speeder

between them explodes in a ball of flames.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH

 

The dislike ray gun is hit by a laser bolt and instantly

explodes.

 

INTERIOR: IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER -- COCKPIT

 

Through the cockpit window, Veers and his pilot can see the

Rebel power generators in the distance.

A hologram of Darth Vader appears on a control panel

screen.

 

VEERS: Yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generator. The

shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Rouge Three.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

WEDGE: (into comlink) Copy, Rouge Leader

 

LUKE: (over comlink) Wedge, I've lost my gunner. You'll have to make

this shot. I'll cover for you. Set your harpoon. Follow me on the next

pass.

 

WEDGE: (into comlink) Coming around, Rouge Leader.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Steady, Rouge Two

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Wedge's speeder races through the legs of one of the

monstrous walkers.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

WEDGE: (to gunner) Activate harpoon.

 

Wedge's gunner reaches for a firing switch to activate the

harpoon. The harpoon flashes out, and speeds toward the

receding legs of the walker.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The harpoon hurtles toward the walker, In an instant it is

embedded in one of the walker's legs.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

WEDGE: (to gunner) Good shot, Janson.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The speeder Rouge Three races around one of the giant

walker's feet, trailing the cable behind it. Continuing around

the back foot, Rouge Three then circles the walker around the

tail end.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

Wedge checks his controls and banks around the front of the

walker.

 

WEDGE: One more pass.

 

JANSON: Coming around. Once more.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The speeder sweeps left to right in front of the giant

legs, towing the cable behind it.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

JANSON: One more.

 

Wedge swings the speeder between the legs of the giant

walker.

 

JANSON: Cable out! Let her go!

 

WEDGE: Detach cable.

 

EXTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE

 

The cable release on the back of the speeder snaps loose

and the cable drops away.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

JANSON: Cable detached.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The speeder zooms away into the distance. The tangled legs

of the enormous war machine attempt a step, but as they do the

giant Imperial walker begins to topple. It teeters for a

moment, and then crashes onto the icy ground, sending snow and

metal pieces flying.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH

 

The troops in the trenches cheer at the sight of the

crashing walker.

An officer gives a signal to his men and Rebel troops

charge the fallen war machine.

 

TRENCH OFFICER: Come on!

 

The troops run toward the downed walker, followed by two

Rebel speeders flying overhead. Just as they reach the walker,

it explodes, the impact throwing some of the men onto the

frozen ground.

 

INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT

 

Wedge lets out a triumphant yell, banking his speeder away

from the fallen walker.

 

WEDGE: (into comlink) Whooha!! That got him!

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) I see it, Wedge. Good work.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

Large chunks of ice tumble into the command center as Leia

and General Rieekan monitor computer screens.

 

RIEEKAN: I don't think we can protect two transports at a time.

 

LEIA: It's risky, but we can't hold out much longer. We have no

choice.

 

RIEEKAN: (into comlink) Launch patrols.

 

LEIA: (to an aide) Evacuate remaining ground staff.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

 

Muffled distant explosions create widening cracks in the

ice roof of the hangar. Trying to ignore the noise and falling

bits of snow, Han works on one of the Falcon's lifters while

Chewie works on one of the wings. Noticing Chewie attach a

wrong part, Han grows impatient.

 

HAN: No, no! No! This one goes there, that one goes there. right?

 

In another area of the hangar, Threepio watches as Artoo is

raised up into Luke's X-wing fighter.

 

THREEPIO: Artoo, you take good care of Master Luke now, understand?

And...do take care of yourself. Oh, dear, oh, dear.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth rages on.

The Imperial walkers continue their slow, steady assault on

the Rebel base, firing lasers as they lumber ever onward. In

the snow trench, Rebel troops fire large bazookalike guns and

dishlike ray guns as explosions erupt around them. A gun tower

is hit by a laser bolt and instantly explodes. Another blast

destroys a ray gun.

 

INTERIOR: IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER -- COCKPIT

 

General Veers studies various readouts on his control

panel.

 

VEERS: All troops will debark for ground assault. Prepare to target

the main generator.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Luke's speeder and Rouge Two fly in formation, banking from

right to left and flying above the erupting battlefield. Flak

bursts all around them.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

Luke, glancing over, sees Rouge Two on his left. His ship

shudders as flak bursts nearby.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Rouge Two, are you all right?

 

INTERIOR: ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO -- COCKPIT

 

ZEV: (into comlink) Yeah. I'm with you, Rouge Leader.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) We'll set harpoon. I'll cover for you.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The two speeders race across the horizon toward the giant

walkers.

 

INTERIOR: ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO -- COCKPIT

 

ZEV: (into comlink) Coming around.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Watch that cross fire, boys.

 

INTERIOR: ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO -- COCKPIT

 

ZEV: (into comlink) Set for position three. (to gunner) Steady.

 

LUKE: (over comlink) Stay tight and low.

 

EXTERIOR: ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO

 

Luke's speeder moves in formation with Rouge Two, when

suddenly Zev's speeder is hit by a laser bolt. His ship bucks

violently under the impact and the cockpit explodes in a ball

of flame.

Spewing smoke, the speeder hurtles toward a looming walker.

Before they collide. Rouge Two explodes in a million flaming

pieces.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT

 

Desperately, Luke works the controls of his flak-buffeted

ship. Suddenly, the speeder is rocked by a huge explosion.

Luke struggles with the controls with a look of terror on his

face. The speeder fills with smoke, and electrical sparks jump

about the cockpit.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Hobbie, I've been hit!

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

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. Cracks have

appeared in some of the walls and some pipes have broken,

sending hot steam billowing into the underground hallways. Han

hurries into the command center. It is a shambles, but some

people are still at their posts. As he enters, a gigantic

cave-in almost obliterates the room. He finds Leia and

Threepio near one of the control boards.

 

HAN: You all right?

 

Leia nods. She is surprised to see him.

 

LEIA: Why are you still here?

 

HAN: I heard the command center had been hit.

 

LEIA: You got your clearance to leave.

 

HAN: Don't worry. I'll leave. First I'm going to get you to your ship.

 

THREEPIO: Your Highness, we must take this last transport. It's our

only hope.

 

LEIA: (to controller) Send all troops in sector twelve to the south

slope to protect the fighters.

 

A blast rocks the command center, throwing Threepio

backward into Han's arms.

 

ANNOUNCER: (over loudspeaker) Imperial troops have entered the base.

 

HAN: Come on...that's it.

 

LEIA: (to head controller) Give the evacuation code signal. And get to

your transports!

 

Leia looks exhausted. Han grabs her and starts to lead her

out.

As Han, Leia, and Threepio run out of the command center,

the code signal can be heard echoing off the corridor walls.

 

HEAD CONTROLLER: K-one-zero...all troops disengage.

 

THREEPIO: (to Han and Leia) Oh! Wait for me!

 

EXTERIOR: BATTLEFIELD -- SNOW TRENCH

 

Rebel troops retreat under the awesome Imperial onslaught.

 

OFFICER: Begin retreat!

 

SECOND OFFICER: Fall back!

 

Troops flee from the battle, the ground exploding around

them.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Three of the giant walkers, firing lasers, advance toward

the Rebel headquarters.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOW TRENCH

 

Continuing their retreat, the Rebels see the walkers

looming ever nearer.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD -- ICE PLAIN

 

On the battlefield, Luke watches as a walker foot rises and

moves over him. He looks up at the underbelly of the huge

walker, passing overhead.

Running beneath the monstrous machine, Luke fires his

harpoon gun at the walker's underside. A thin cable follows

the projectile from the gun. The magnetic head and cable

attach firmly to the metal hull.

Still running under the walker, Luke attaches the cable

drum to his belt buckle. Soon he is pulled up the cable and

hangs dangling underneath the walker.

The walker's giant feet continue to pound onward across the

frozen snow. Stray laser bolts whistle by Luke as he climbs up

the cable to the walker's hull, reaching a small hatch.

Hanging precariously, Luke cuts the solid metal hatch with his

laser sword.

He takes a landmine from around his neck and throws it

inside the Imperial machine. Quickly, Luke starts down the

cable and crashes onto the icy ground far below. He lies

unconscious as a giant rear leg passes by -- and just misses

him.

The giant walker stops in mid-step. A muffled explosion

comes from within -- and then the walker's mechanical insides

are spewed out every conceivable opening. The machine sits

dead in its tracks, smoking like a locomotive on stilts.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

Veers's walker continues to advance toward the Rebel base.

The smoldering walker that Luke exploded stands smoking just

to the right of Veers's path.

 

INTERIOR: IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER - COCKPIT

 

Inside his walker, General Veers prepares to fire on the

Rebel power generators.

 

VEERS: Distance to power generators?

 

PILOT: One-seven, decimal two-eight.

 

Veers reaches for the electrorangefinder and lines up the

main generator.

 

VEERS: Target. Maximum fire power.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

 

The Rebel troops continue their desperate retreat, pushed

back by the relentless Imperial assault.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDORS

 

With Threepio lagging behind, Han and Leia race through the

crumbling ice corridors. Suddenly, there is an explosion. Han

turns, grabs the princess, and pulls her to the wall as a

tremendous cave-in blacks their path.

He takes the comlink from his pocket.

 

HAN: (into comlink) Transport, this is Solo. Better take off -- I

can't get to you. I'll get the princess out on the Falcon.

 

Han and Leia turn and race down the corridor.

 

THREEPIO: But...but...but...where are you going? Uh...come back!!

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

 

Imperial troops have reached the base. As they push through

the blocked passageway, Darth Vader strides behind them.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDOR

 

Han and Leia run toward the entrance of the main hangar

where the Millennium Falcon is docked. Threepio still lags

behind.

 

THREEPIO: Wait! Wait for me! Wait! Stop!

 

The door to the hangar closes in his face.

 

THREEPIO: (exasperated) How typical.

 

Quickly, the door reopens as Han reaches out and pulls the

golden droid through.

 

HAN: Come on.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

 

Chewie paces under the shelter of the Millennium Falcon's

landing gear. The giant Wookiee pats the underbelly of his

beloved ship and barks a few reassuring words. As he searches

worriedly for his captain, something at last catches his eye.

Chewie lets out a relieved shriek at seeing Han and Leia

running toward the ship. The Wookiee runs out into the

falling ice, lets out a howl, then runs up the ship's ramp.

Han and Leia run up the ramp after him, closely followed by

Threepio.

 

HAN: Hurry up, goldenrod, or you're going to be a permanent resident!

 

THREEPIO: Wait! Wait!

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDOR

 

Imperial troops run through the base corridors. Vader

surveys the place. A huge chunk falls, almost hitting him, but

he calmly, purposefully, continues around it.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGER -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

A distant, huge, explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes

come crashing down on the Millennium Falcon.

 

INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- MAIN HOLD

 

Han, standing before a control panel, is busy flipping

switches as Chewie watches a troublesome gauge. A worried Leia

observes their efforts.

 

HAN: (to Chewie) How's this?

 

The Wookiee barks a negative reply.

 

LEIA: Would it helped if I got out and pushed?

 

HAN: It might.

 

Threepio clanks into the hold.

 

THREEPIO: Captain Solo, Captain Solo...sir, might I suggest that

you...

 

Han gives the gold robot a devastating look.

 

THREEPIO: It can wait.

 

INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

They move to the cockpit where Han flips some more

switches. Leia watches him, impatient, disbelieving.

 

LEIA: The bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade.

 

HAN: This baby's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart.

 

Han and Leia look out the cockpit window and see a squad of

stormtroopers rushing into the far side of the hangar.

Quickly, Han straps himself into the pilot's seat and Leia

into the navigator's chair.

 

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

 

Stormtroopers hurriedly set up a large bazookalike weapon.

Behind them the giant hangar doors open slowly.

 

EXTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

A laser gun appears on the Falcon and swings around to aim

at the Imperial troops.

The stormtroopers, preparing to fire their bazooka cannon,

are hit by the Falcon's fire and are thrown about in all

directions.

 

INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Chewie rushes into the cockpit.

 

HAN: Come on! Come on! Switch over. Let's hope we don't have a

burnout.

 

A laser hits the window near Chewie as he is settling into

his chair. Letting out a loud whelp, Chewie quickly pulls back

on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be

heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia.

 

HAN: See?

 

LEIA: Someday you're going to be wrong, and I hope I'm there to see it.

 

Han looks at Chewie.

 

HAN: Punch it!

 

The roar of the Falcon's main engines blasts out everything

as the ice-cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window.

 

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

 

More stormtroopers run into the hangar, closely followed by

Vader. Hearing the loud roar of the Millennium Falcon's

engines, Vader looks toward the main hangar doors just in time

to see the Falcon lift up and disappear outside the cave.

 

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE SLOPE -- DAY

 

Luke and two other pilots look up as the Millennium Falcon

races above them, flying very close to the ground.

The three pilots turn then, and trudge onward toward their

X-wing fighters, each going to his own ship. Luke waves

farewell, then heads toward his own fighter.

Artoo, seated on his cubbyhole, chirps an excited greeting

as Luke climbs aboard the spacecraft.

 

LUKE: Artoo! Get her ready for takeoff.

 

From his ship, Luke sees Wedge in his own X-wing, preparing

for takeoff.

 

WEDGE: Good luck, Luke. See you at the rendezvous.

 

Luke smiles and nods at Wedge, then lowers himself into the

cockpit of his X-wing while Artoo waits in the cubbyhole,

beeping impatiently.

 

LUKE: Don't worry, Artoo. We're going, we're going.

 

The canopy over the X-wing lowers and snaps shut.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- LUKE'S X-WING

 

Luke's fighter, its wings closed, speeds away from the icy

planet. Soon it disappears into the stars.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT

 

Luke, looking thoughtful, suddenly makes a decision. He

flips several switches. The stars shift as he takes his

fighter into a steep turn. The X-wing banks sharply and flies

away in a new direction.

The monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out a

question from the concerned Artoo.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a

new course.

 

Artoo beeps once again.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) We're not going to regroup with the others.

 

Artoo begins a protest, whistling an unbelieving, "What?!"

Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) We're going to the Dagobah system.

 

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: (into comlink) Yes, Artoo?

 

Artoo utters a soft, carefully phrased steam of whistles.

 

LUKE: (into comlink, chuckling) That's all right. I'd like to keep it

on manual control for a while.

 

The little droid lets out a defeated whimper. Luke smiles,

and continues on his course.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

The Millennium Falcon speeds away from Hoth, closely

followed by one huge Star Destroyer and four tiny TIE

fighters.

As it is pursued, the Falcon races toward two very bright

star-sized objects.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Inside the cockpit, Chewie lets out a loud howl. Han checks

as the ship is buffeted by exploding flak. He appears to be

doing six things at once.

 

HAN: (harried) I saw them! I saw them!

 

LEIA: Saw what?

 

HAN: Star Destroyers, two of them, coming right at us.

 

Threepio bumps and bangs his way into the cockpit.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, sir! Might I suggest...

 

HAN: (to Leia) Shut him up or shut him down! (to Chewie) Check the

deflector shield!

 

Chewie barks a reply as he readjusts an overhead switch.

 

HAN: Oh, great. Well, we can still outmaneuver them.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- STAR DESTROYERS

 

The Millennium Falcon races toward one of the huge oncoming

Star Destroyers. Suddenly, the Falcon starts into a deep dive

straight down, closely followed by four TIE fighters. The

underside of the Star Destroyer continues on a collision

course with two oncoming Star Destroyers. Slowly, it starts

to veer to the left.

 

INTERIOR: STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

Out the front window, the two approaching Star Destroyers

can be seen veering to the left.

 

IMPERIAL OFFICER: Take evasive action!

 

Alarms sound all over the huge ship. The two other Star

Destroyers get closer, one of them moving over the bridge so

close that it makes brushing contact with it.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- TIE FIGHTERS

 

The Millennium Falcon races away from the colliding Star

Destroyers, still followed by four TIE fighters. Laser bolts

spark the pitch-black skies.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Things have calmed down a bit, but the race isn't over yet.

Chewie barks at Han. Leia is still trying to recover from the

steep dive. The ship is buffeted by laser blasts.

 

HAN: Prepare to make the jump to light-speed.

 

THREEPIO: But, sir!

 

The buffeting of lasers becomes louder and stronger.

 

LEIA: They're getting closer!

 

HAN: (with a gleam in his eye) Oh yeah? Watch this.

 

Expectantly, they look out the cockpit window as stars do

not go into hyperspace, but just sit there.

Han and Chewie look at each other and are thrown into an

acute state of concern.

 

LEIA: Watch what?

 

Han tries again. Still nothing.

 

HAN: I think we're in trouble.

 

THREEPIO: If I may say so, sir, I noticed earlier the hyperdrive

motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to light-speed!

 

HAN: We're in trouble!

 

The explosions become heavier.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- TIE FIGHTERS -- STAR DESTROYER

 

The Falcon races into the starry vastness, followed by the

four Imperial TIE fighters and an Imperial Star Destroyer.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Stars race by as flak bursts outside the Falcon's window.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD

 

Han works furiously at some control panels while giving

various orders to Chewie.

 

HAN: Horizontal boosters...!

 

(Chewie barks)

 

HAN: Alluvial dampers...! Well that's not it.

 

(Chewie barks)

 

HAN: Bring me the hydrospanners!

 

Chewie hurries over to the pit and places the tools on the

edge.

 

HAN: I don't know how we're going to get out of this one.

 

Suddenly, a loud thump hits the side of the Falcon,

causing it to lurch radically. Chewie barks. The tools fall

into the pit on top of Han.

 

HAN: Oww! Chewie!

 

More turbulence rocks the ship.

 

HAN: That was no laser blast! Something hit us.

 

LEIA: (over comlink) Han, get up here!

 

HAN: Come on, Chewie!

 

Han climbs out of the hold like a shot. Both he and Chewie

run out of the hold and toward the cockpit.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Out the front cockpit window, they see hundreds of

asteroids racing by.

 

LEIA: Asteroids!

 

Han changes places with Leia who has been at the controls,

and Chewie gets into his chair. Han works his controls as a

chunk of rock crosses in front of the ship.

 

HAN: Oh, no! Chewie, set two-seven-one.

 

LEIA: What are you doing? You're not actually going into an asteroid

field?

 

HAN: They'd be crazy to follow us, wouldn't they?

 

Another asteroid thumps against the ship and Leia winces at

the jolt.

 

LEIA: You don't have to do this to impress me.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid

field is approximately three thousand, seven hundred and twenty to one.

 

HAN: Never tell me the odds!

 

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID BELT -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

The Falcon turns into the asteroid storm and as the ship

completes its turn, asteroids start coming straight at the

cockpit windows.

A large asteroid tumbles away from the Falcon's path at top

speed. Several smaller asteroids crash into the big one,

creating small explosions on its surface. Other asteroids of

all sizes pass by in every direction, some colliding and

exploding. The tiny Millennium Falcon veers around the big

asteroid and races past it through the rain of rocks, followed

by four TIE fighters, which bob and weave around the

asteroids.

One of the pursuing TIE fighters connects with an asteroid

and explodes. The other fighters are pelted with a steady

stream of smaller explosions.

Two huge asteroids tumble toward the Millennium Falcon,

which quickly banks around both of them. The three TIE

fighters follow in hot pursuit until one of the fighters

scrapes an asteroid and tumbles out of control into deep

space.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- STAR DESTROYER -- ASTEROID BELT

 

The massive Star Destroyer blasts oncoming asteroids as it

follows the Falcon. Smaller asteroids explode across its vast

surface.

 

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- TIE FIGHTERS -- ASTEROID BELT

 

The Falcon twists on its side as it races around an

oncoming asteroid. Two TIE fighters follow in the distance,

coming from either side.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Asteroids race by the cockpit window as Han pilots his

trusty craft through the dangerous field.

Looking out the cockpit window, the Falcon crew sees a big

asteroid drop past the window, narrowly missing their ship.

Chewie barks in terror as a slightly smaller asteroid comes

especially close -- to 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: You said you wanted to be around when I made a mistake; well,

this could be it, sweetheart.

 

LEIA: I take it back. We're going to get pulverized if we stay out

here much longer.

 

The group watches as more asteroids race by outside the

window.

 

HAN: I'm not going to argue with that.

 

THREEPIO: Pulverized?

 

HAN: I'm going in closer to one of the big ones.

 

LEIA: Closer?

 

THREEPIO: Closer?!

 

Chewbacca barks the same word, only louder.

 

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- ASTEROID BELT

 

The Millennium Falcon dives toward the surface of one of

the moon-sized asteroids. There is a continued display of

explosions against the starry void as smaller asteroids

collide with larger chunks of rock. The two remaining TIE

fighters follow the Falcon to the large asteroid. The Falcon

skims the surface of the giant asteroid as, all the while,

small asteroids explode on the surface of the ship.

The TIE fighters approach the Falcon, but a giant asteroid

hurtles directly into their path. As the asteroid continues on

its way, it leaves remains of the two exploded TIE fighters to

tumble into deep space.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Rattled by the violent rocking of the starship, Threepio is

nearly in hysterics.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, this is suicide!

 

Han notices something on his main scope and nudges his

faithful Wookiee, pointing.

 

HAN: There. That looks pretty good.

 

LEIA: What looks pretty good?

 

HAN: Yeah. That'll do nicely.

 

THREEPIO: (to Leia) Excuse me, ma'am, but where are we going?

 

Out the cockpit window, they see that they are skimming the

surface of the enormous asteroid and nearing a large crater.

 

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GIANT ASTEROID CRATER

 

The Millennium Falcon dives into the huge crater and

disappears.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

LEIA: I hope you know what you're doing.

 

HAN: Yeah, me too.

 

INTERIOR: GIANT ASTEROID CRATER

 

The Falcon races down into the crater. The walls are barely

visible as the ship speed through the tunnellike opening. A

small cave appears on one side of the crater, and the Falcon

turns, slows, and scoots into it.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- LUKE'S X-WING

 

The tiny X-wing speeds toward the cloud cover of Dagobah.

Artoo, riding on the back of the fighter, turns his head back

and forth with some anxiety.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT

 

Luke watches Artoo's words as they are translated and

screened on the computer scope.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Yes, that's it. Dagobah.

 

Artoo beeps a hopeful inquiry.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) No, I'm not going to change my mind about this.

(getting a little nervous) I'm not picking up any cities or

technology. Massive life-form readings, though. There's something

alive down there...

 

Artoo beeps, this time a slightly worried question.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe for droids.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- DAGOBAH -- LUKE'S X-WING

 

The X-wing continues its flight through the twilight above

the cloud-covered planet.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT

 

Luke sees the cloud race by as he takes his craft closer

to the planet. He must operate his controls carefully since

the cloud cover has completely obscured his vision. An alarm

buzzes in the background, Artoo beeps and whistles

frantically.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't

see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...

 

The blast of the retrorockets is deafening, drowning out

Artoo's electronic squeals. Suddenly, there is a cracking

sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a

tremendous jolt as the spacecraft stops. Luke pulls a switch

and his canopy pops open.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- DUSK

 

The mist-shrouded X-wing fighter is almost invisible in the

thick fog. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the

spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The

young warrior surveys the fog, which is barely pierced by the

ship's landing lights. About all he can make out are some

giant, twisted trees nearby. Artoo whistles anxiously.

 

LUKE: No, Artoo, you stay put. I'll have a look around.

 

Artoo lets out a short beep. As Luke moves along the nose,

Artoo loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the

boggy lake.

 

LUKE: Artoo?

 

Luke kneels and leans over the plane looking for Artoo, but

the water is still and reveals no sign of the little droid.

 

LUKE: Artoo! Where are you?

 

A small periscope breaks the surface of the water and a

gurgly beep is heard. The periscope starts to move to shore.

Relieved, Luke starts running along the nose of the fighter to

its tip.

 

LUKE: Artoo! You be more careful.

 

The outline of the shore is now more than ten feet away.

Luke jumps off the plane into the water, scrambles up to the

shore, and turns to look for Artoo. The periscope still

steadily moves toward shore.

 

LUKE: Artoo -- that way!

 

Suddenly, through the thick fog layer, a dark shape

appears, moving toward the little droid. The dark, sinuous bog

beast dives beneath the swampy water, making a loud clunk

against Artoo's metal hull. The droid disappears from sight,

uttering a pathetic electronic scream.

Holding his ignited lightsaber before him, Luke wades a few

feet into the murky pool, looking for any sign of his little

friend.

 

LUKE: Artoo!

 

The black surface is still as death itself...until a few

bubbles begin to appear. Then, phheewaat!! The runt-size robot

is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc, and comes

crashing down into a patch of soft gray moss.

 

LUKE: Oh, no! Are you all right? Come on. You're lucky you don't taste

very good. Anything broken?

 

Luke helps Artoo to his feet and begins wiping the mud and

roots from his round metal body. Artoo responds with feeble,

soggy beeps.

 

LUKE: If you're saying coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to

agree with you. Oh, Artoo, what are we doing here? It's like...

something out of a dream, or, I don't know. Maybe I'm just going

crazy.

 

As Luke glances around at the spooky swamp jungle that

surrounds him, Artoo ejects a stream of muddy water from one

of his cranial ports.

 

EXTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER

 

Admiral Piett hesitates in the entryway to Vader's private

cubicle. After a moment, he steps into the room and pauses at

the surprising sight before him.

Darth Vader, his back turned, is silhouetted in the gloom

on the far side of the chamber. A black, insectlike droid

attends him. Among the various apparatuses 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 the mask and helmet onto Vader's head.

When it is in place, the Dark Lord turns to face Piett.

 

VADER: Yes, Admiral?

 

PIETT: Our ships have sighted the Millennium Falcon, lord. But...it

has entered an asteroid field and we cannot risk...

 

VADER: (interrupting) Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want

that ship and not excuses.

 

PIETT: Yes, lord.

 

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid

cave. It is so dark that the cave's exact dimensions are

impossible to determine.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Han and Chewie busily shut down the engine and all

electronic systems. Threepio and Leia watch worriedly.

 

HAN: I'm going to shut down everything but the emergency power

systems.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, I'm almost afraid to ask, but...does that include

shutting me down, too?

 

Chewie barks "yes". But Han thinks otherwise.

 

HAN: No, I need you to talk to the Falcon, find out what's wrong with

the hyperdrive.

 

Suddenly, the ship lurches, causing all the loose items in

the cockpit to go flying. Chewie howls.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, it's quite possible this asteroid is not entirely

stable.

 

HAN: Not entirely stable? I'm glad you're here to tell us these

things. Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him into the

hyperdrive.

 

THREEPIO: Oh! Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior. After

all, I'm only trying to do my job in the most...

 

The sliding door closes behind the indignant Threepio as

Chewie and he move back to the hold. Suddenly, the ship

lurches again, throwing Leia across the cabin into Han's arms.

Then, abruptly, the motion stops as suddenly as it started.

With some surprise, Han and Leia realize they are in each

other's arms.

 

LEIA: Let go.

 

HAN: Sshh!

 

LEIA: Let go, please.

 

Leia flushes, averting her eyes. She's not exactly fighting

to get free. But, of course, Han blows it...

 

HAN: Don't get excited.

 

The anger rises in Leia.

 

LEIA: Captain, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited.

 

HAN: Sorry, sweetheart. We haven't got time for anything else.

 

Han grins quickly wickedly at Leia as he turns and exits

through the door. Leia's confused emotions show clearly on her

lovely face.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- BOG CLEARING -- DUSK

 

The mist has dispersed a bit, but it is still a very

gloomy-looking swamp.

Luke pulls an equipment box from the shore to the clearing.

He ignites a little fusion furnace and warms his hands before

it. Taking a power cable, he plugs it into Artoo's noselike

socket.

 

LUKE: Ready for some power? Okay. Let's see now. Put that in there.

There you go.

 

The droid whistles his appreciation. Luke then opens a

container of processed food and sits before the thermal

heater.

 

LUKE: (sighs) Now all I have to do is find this Yoda...if he even

exists.

 

Nervously, he looks around at the foreboding jungle.

 

LUKE: Still...there's something familiar about this place. I feel

like...I don't know...

 

STRANGE VOICE: Feel like what?

 

Luke jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The

young warrior grabs for his lightsaber as he spins around,

looking for the speaker. Mysteriously standing right in front

of Luke is a strange, bluish creature, not more than two feet

tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions

toward Luke's sword.

 

LUKE: (looking at the creature) Like we're being watched!

 

CREATURE: Away with 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: I am wondering, why are you here?

 

LUKE: I'm looking for someone.

 

CREATURE: Looking? Found someone, you have, I would say, hmmm?

 

The little creature laughs.

 

LUKE: (Trying to keep from smiling) Right.

 

CREATURE: Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.

 

LUKE: I don't think so. I'm looking for a great warrior.

 

CREATURE: Ahhh! A great warrior. (laughs and shakes his head) Wars not

make one great.

 

With the aid of a walking stick, the tiny stranger moves

over to one of the cases of supplies. He begins to rummage

around.

Artoo moves to the edge of the case -- standing almost eye

level to the creature who is carelessly handling the supplies

-- and squeaks his disapproval.

Their tiny visitor pick up the container of food Luke was

eating from and takes a bite.

 

LUKE: Put that down. Hey! That's my dinner.

 

The creature spits out the bite he has taken. He makes a

face.

 

CREATURE: How you get 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 in that puddle, and if we

could get our ship out, we would, but we can't, so why don't you

just...

 

CREATURE: (teasing) Aww, cannot get your ship out?

 

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 -- and examines it with

delight.

 

LUKE: Hey, you could have broken this. Don't do that. Ohhh...you're

making a mess. Hey, give me that!

 

CREATURE: (retreating with the lamp) Mine! Or I will help you not.

 

Clutching its treasure, the creature backs away from Luke,

drawing closer to Artoo. As Luke and the creature argue, 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 to get

out of 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 angry, "Give me thats."

 

CREATURE: Ah, ah, ah!

 

LUKE: Oh, Artoo, let him have it.

 

CREATURE: Mine! Mine!

 

LUKE: Artoo!

 

CREATURE: Mine!

 

The creature lets go with one hand and pokes Artoo lightly

with one finger. Artoo reacts with a startled squeal, and lets

go.

 

CREATURE: Mine!

 

LUKE: (fed up) Now will you move along, little fella? We're got a lot

of work to do.

 

CREATURE: No! No, no! Stay and help you, I will. (laughs) Find your

friend, hmm?

 

LUKE: I'm not looking for a friend, I'm looking for a Jedi Master.

 

CREATURE: Oohhh. Jedi Master. Yoda. You seek Yoda.

 

LUKE: You know him?

 

CREATURE: Mmm. Take you to him, I will. (laughs) Yes, yes. But now, we

must eat. Come. Good food. Come.

 

With that, the creature scurries out of the clearing,

laughing merrily. Luke stares after him. All he sees is the

faint light from the small power lamp moving through the fog.

Luke makes his decision and starts after the creature.

 

CREATURE: (in the distance) Come, come.

 

Artoo, very upset, whistles a blue streak of protest.

 

LUKE: Stay here and watch after the camp, Artoo.

 

Artoo beeps even more frantically. But as Luke disappears

from view, the worried little droid grows quieter, and utters

a soft electronic sigh.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- MAIN HOLD AREA

 

Threepio whistles and beeps a strange dialect into the

control panel in front of him. The control panel whistles back

a few mystifying beeps.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, where is Artoo when I need him?

 

Han enters the hold area and kneels on the floor near the

control box.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, I don't know where your ship learned to communicate,

but it has the most peculiar dialect. I believe, sir, it says that the

power coupling on the negative axis has been polarized. I'm afraid

you'll have to replace it.

 

HAN: Well, of course I'll have to replace it.

 

He hands a wire coil up to Chewie who is working near the

ceiling.

HAN: Here! And Chewie...

 

Chewie brings his head back through the trap door in the

ceiling and whines. Han glances back at Threepio, then speaks

quietly to Chewie so only he can hear.

 

HAN: (continued)...I think we'd better replace the negative power

coupling.

 

Leia finishes welding the valves she has been working on

and attempts to reengage the system by pulling a lever

attached to the valve. It doesn't budge. Han notices her

struggle, and moves to help her. She rebuffs him.

 

HAN: Hey, Your Worship, I'm 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, Leia.

 

LEIA: Oh, you make it so difficult sometimes.

 

HAN: I do, I really do. You could be a little nicer, though. (he

watches her reaction) Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I'm all

right.

 

She lets go of the lever and rubs her sore hand.

 

LEIA: Occasionally (a little smile, haltingly) maybe...when you aren't

acting like a scoundrel.

 

HAN: (laughs) Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that.

 

With that, Han takes her hand and starts to massage it.

 

LEIA: Stop that.

 

HAN: Stop what?

 

Leia is flushes, confused.

 

LEIA: Stop that! My hands are dirty.

 

HAN: My hands are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?

 

LEIA: (looking right into his eyes) Afraid?

 

Han looks at her with a piercing look. He's never looked

more handsome, 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: You're trembling.

 

LEIA: I'm not 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 like me because I'm a scoundrel. There aren't enough

scoundrels in your life.

 

Leia is now very close to Han and as she speaks, her voice

becomes an excited whisper, a tone completely in opposition to

her words.

 

LEIA: I happen to like nice men.

 

HAN: I'm a nice man.

 

LEIA: No, you're not. You're...

 

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.

Suddenly, Threepio appears in the doorway, speaking

excitedly.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, sir! I've isolated the reverse power flux coupling.

 

Han turns slowly, icily, from their embrace.

 

HAN: Thank you. Thank you very much.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, you're perfectly welcome, sir.

 

The moment spoiled, Han marches out after Threepio.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- ASTEROID FIELD

 

The Imperial fleet moves through the asteroid-filled void,

intently seeking its prey.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

Asteroids collide, creating a fireworks display outside the

bridge window. Darth Vader stands, staring out the window

above the control deck. Then slowly turns toward the bridge.

Before him are the hologram images of twenty battleship

commanders. One of these images, the commander of a ship that

has just exploded, is fading away quickly. Another image, in

the center and a little apart from the others, is faded and

continually disrupted by static. It is the image of Captain

Needa, commander of the Star Destroyer most hotly on the tail

of the Millennium Falcon. Admiral Piett and an aide stand

behind the Dark Lord.

 

NEEDA: (in hologram)...and that, Lord Vader, 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: No, Captain, they're alive. I want every ship available to

sweep the asteroid field until they are found.

 

The Imperial star captains fade out one by one as Vader

turns to Admiral Piett.

 

PIETT: Lord Vader.

 

VADER: Yes, Admiral, what is it?

 

The admiral is scared, his face white as a sheet.

 

PIETT: The Emperor commands you make contact with him.

 

VADER: Move the ship out of the asteroid field so that we can send a

clear transmission.

 

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

 

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID FIELD -- VADER'S STAR DESTROYER

 

Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer moves against the vast sea

of stars away from the rest of the fleet.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER

 

The Dark Lord, Darth Vader, is alone in his chamber. A

strange sound enters the room and a 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 dark robes and monk's hood are

reminiscent of the cloak worn by Ben Kenobi. His voice is even

deeper and more frightening than Vader's.

 

VADER: What is thy bidding, my master?

 

EMPEROR: There is a great disturbance in the Force.

 

VADER: I have felt it.

 

EMPEROR: We have a new enemy -- Luke Skywalker.

 

VADER: Yes, my master.

 

EMPEROR: He could destroy us.

 

VADER: He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him.

 

EMPEROR: The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not

become a Jedi.

 

VADER: If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally.

 

EMPEROR: Yes. Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?

 

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.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- CREATURE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

 

A heavy downpour of rain pounds through the gnarled trees.

A strange baroque mud house sits on a moss-covered knoll on

the edge of a small lagoon. The small, gnomish structure

radiates a warm glow from its thick glass windows. As rain

tap-dances a merry tune on Artoo's head, the stubby little

droid rises up on his tip-toes to peek into one of the glowing

portals.

 

INTERIOR: CREATURE'S HOUSE

 

Artoo, peeking in the window, sees the inside of the house

-- a very plain, but cozy dwelling. Everything is in the same

small scale as the creature. The only thing out of place in

the miniature room is Luke, whose height makes the four-foot

ceiling seem even lower. He sits cross-legged on the floor of

the living room.

The creature is in an adjoining area -- his little kitchen

-- cooking up an incredible meal. The stove is a steaming

hodgepodge of pots and pans. The wizened little host 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: Look, I'm sure it's delicious. I just don't understand why we

can't see Yoda now.

 

CREATURE: Patience! For the Jedi it is time to eat as well. Eat, eat.

Hot. Good food, hm? Good, hmm?

 

Moving with some difficulty in the cramped quarters, Luke

sits down near the fire and serves himself from the pot.

Tasting the unfamiliar concoction, he is pleasantly surprised.

 

LUKE: How far away is Yoda? Will it take us long to get there?

 

CREATURE: Not far. Yoda not far. Patience. Soon you will be with him.

(tasting food from the pot) Rootleaf, I cook. Why wish you become

Jedi? Hm?

 

LUKE: Mostly because of my father, I guess.

 

CREATURE: Ah, your father. Powerful Jedi was he, powerful Jedi, mmm.

 

LUKE: (a little angry) Oh, come on. How could you know my father? You

don't even know who I am. (fed up) Oh, I don't even know what I'm

doing here. We're wasting our time.

 

The creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third

party.

 

CREATURE: (irritated) I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience.

 

Luke's head spins in the direction the creature faces. But

there is no one there. The boy is bewildered, but it gradually

dawns on him that the little creature is Yoda, the Jedi

Master, and that he is speaking with Ben.

 

BEN'S VOICE: He will learn patience.

 

YODA: Hmmm. Much anger in him, like his father.

 

BEN'S VOICE: Was I any different when you taught me?

 

YODA: Hah. He is not ready.

 

LUKE: Yoda! I am ready. I...Ben! I can be a Jedi. Ben, tell him I'm

ready.

 

Trying to see Ben, Luke starts to get up but hits his head

on the low ceiling.

 

YODA: Ready, are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years

have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be

trained! A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious

mind. (to the invisible Ben, indicating Luke) This one a long time

have I watched. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was

doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these

things. (turning to Luke) You are reckless!

 

Luke looks down. He knows it is true.

 

BEN'S VOICE: So was I, if you'll remember.

 

YODA: He is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training.

 

Luke thinks he detects a subtle softening in Yoda's voice.

 

LUKE: But I've learned so much.

 

Yoda turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi

Master's huge eyes could somehow determine how much the boy

had learned. After a long moment, the little Jedi turns toward

where he alone sees Ben.

 

YODA: (sighs) Will he finished what he begins?

 

LUKE: I won't fail you -- I'm not afraid.

 

YODA: (turns slowly toward him) Oh, you will be. You will be.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- STAR DESTROYERS -- ASTEROID FIELD

 

The Imperial fleet around Vader's ship is surrounded by the

asteroid storm. Asteroids big and small pelt the vast

exteriors of the menacing ships. One of the smaller Imperial

vessels is hit by a huge asteroid and explodes in a brilliant

flash of light.

 

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

The cockpit is quiet and lit only by the indicator lights

on the control panel. Princess Leia sits in the pilot's seat.

She runs her hand across the control panel as she thinks of

Han and the confusion he has created within her. Suddenly,

something outside the cockpit window catches her eye. The

reflection of the panel lights obscures her vision until a

soft suctionlike cup attaches itself to the windscreen. Leia

moves closer to see what it might be. Large, yellow eyes flash

open and stare back at her. Startled, she jumps back into her

seat, her heart pounding. There is a scurry of feet and a loud

screech, and in an instant the eyes are gone. The young

princess catches her breath, jumps out of her chair, and races

from the cockpit.

 

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD AREA

 

The lights go bright for a second then out again. Threepio

and Chewbacca watch as Han finishes with some wires.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, if I may venture an opinion...

 

HAN: I'm not really interested in your opinion, Threepio.

 

Leia rushes into the cabin just as Han drops the final

floor panel into place.

 

LEIA: (out of breath) There's something out there.

 

HAN: Where?

 

LEIA: Outside, in the cave.

 

As she speaks, there comes a sharp banging on the hull.

Chewie looks up and barks anxiously.

 

THREEPIO: There it is. Listen! Listen!

 

HAN: I'm going out there.

 

LEIA: Are you crazy?!

 

HAN: I just got this bucket back together. I'm not going to let

something tear it apart.

 

He and Chewie grab their breath masks off a rack and hurry

out. Leia follows.

 

LEIA: Then I'm going with you.

 

THREEPIO: I think it might be better if I stay here and guard the

ship. (hears another mysterious noise) Oh, no.

 

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

It is very dark inside the huge asteroid cave, too dark to

see what is attacking the ship.

Leia stamps her foot on the floor of the cave.

 

LEIA: This ground sure feels strange. It doesn't feel like rock at

all.

 

Han kneels and studies the ground, then attempts to study

the outline of the cave.

 

HAN: There's an awful lot of moisture in here.

 

LEIA: I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this.

 

HAN: Yeah.

 

Chewie barks through his face mask, and points toward the

ship's cockpit. A five-foot-long 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.

 

HAN: (to Leia) Watch out!

 

The black shape tumbles off the spaceship and onto the

ground in front of the princess. Han bends down to investigate

the dead creature.

 

HAN: Yeah, that's what I thought. Mynock. Chewie, check the rest of

the ship, make sure there aren't any more attached. They're chewing on

the power cables.

 

LEIA: Mynocks?

 

HAN: Go on inside. We'll clean them off if there are any more.

 

Just then, a swarm of the ugly creatures swoops through the

air. Leia puts her arms over her head to protect herself as

she runs toward the ship. Chewie shoos another Mynock away

with his blaster. Several of the batlike creatures flap their

wings loudly against the cockpit window of the Falcon. Inside,

Threepio shudders at their presence.

 

THREEPIO: Ohhh! Go away! Go away! Beastly thing. Shoo! Shoo!

 

Han looks around the strange, dripping cave.

 

HAN: Wait a minute...

 

He unholsters his blaster and fires at the far side of the

huge cave. The cavern begins to shake and the ground starts to

buckle.

Chewie barks and moves for the ship, followed closely by

Leia and Han. The large wings of the Mynocks flap past them as

they protect their faces and run up the platform.

 

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- ENTRY AREA

 

As soon as Han and Leia are on board, Chewie closes the

main hatch. The ship continues to shake and heave.

 

HAN: All right, Chewie, let's get out of here!

 

The Wookiee heads for the cockpit as Han, followed by

Threepio, rushes to the hold area and checks the scopes on the

control panel. Leia hurries after.

 

LEIA: The Empire is still out there. I don't think it's wise to...

 

Han rushes past her and heads for the cockpit.

 

HAN: (interrupting) No time to discuss this as a committee.

 

And with that he is gone. The main engines of the Falcon

begin to whine. Leia races after him, bouncing around in the

shaking ship.

 

LEIA: (angry) I am not a committee!

 

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Han is already in the pilot's seat pulling back on the

throttle. The cave-quake has greatly diminished.

 

LEIA: You can't make the jump to light-speed in this asteroid field...

 

HAN: Sit down, sweetheart. We're taking off!

 

As the ship begins to move forward, Chewie barks. He

notices something out the window ahead. Threepio sees it too.

 

THREEPIO: Look!

 

HAN: I see it, I see it.

 

Suddenly, a row of jagged white stalagmites and stalactites

can be seen surrounding the entrance. And as the Falcon moves

forward, the entrance to the cave grows ever smaller. Han

pulls hard on the throttle, sending his ship surging forward.

 

THREEPIO: We're doomed!

 

LEIA: The cave is collapsing.

 

HAN: This is no cave.

 

LEIA: What?

 

Leia's mouth drops open . She sees that the rocks of the

cave entrance are not rocks at all, but giant teeth, quickly

closing around the tiny ship. Chewie howls.

 

INTERIOR: SPACE SLUG MOUTH

 

The Millennium Falcon, zooming through the monster's mouth,

rolls on its side and barely makes it between two of the

gigantic white teeth before the huge jaws slams closed.

 

EXTERIOR: CAVE ENTRANCE -- GIANT ASTEROID

 

The enormous space slug moves its head out of the cave as

the Falcon flies out of its mouth. The monster tilts its head,

watching the starship fly away.

 

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GIANT ASTEROID

 

The Falcon races out of the asteroid crater and into the

deadly rain of the asteroid storm.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- DAY

 

With Yoda strapped to his back, Luke climbs up one of the

many thick vines that grow in the swamp. Panting heavily, he

continues his course -- climbing, flipping through the air,

jumping over roots, and racing in and out of the heavy ground

fog.

 

YODA: Run! Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of

the dark side. Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force

are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you

start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny,

consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

 

LUKE: Vader. Is the dark side stronger?

 

YODA: No...no...no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.

 

LUKE: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?

 

YODA: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses

the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

 

LUKE: But tell me why I can't...

 

YODA: (interrupting) No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I

teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmm.

 

Artoo beeps in the distance as Luke lets Yoda down to the

ground. Breathing heavily, he takes his shirt from a nearby

tree branch and pulls it on.

He turns to see a huge, dead, black tree, its base

surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots form a

dark and sinister cave on one side. Luke stares at the tree,

trembling.

 

LUKE: There's something not right here.

 

Yoda sits on a large root, poking his Gimer Stick into the

dirt.

 

LUKE: I feel cold, death.

 

YODA: That place...is strong with the dark side of the Force. A domain

of evil it is. In you must go.

 

LUKE: What's in there?

 

YODA: Only what you take with you.

 

Luke looks warily between the tree and Yoda. He starts to

strap on his weapon belt.

 

YODA: Your weapons...you will not need them.

 

Luke gives the tree a long look, than shakes his head "no."

Yoda shrugs. Luke reaches up to brush aside some hanging vines

and enters the tree.

 

INTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- TREE CAVE

 

Luke moves into the almost total darkness of the wet and

slimy cave. The youth can barely make out the edge of the

passage. Holding his lit saber before him, he sees a lizard

crawling up the side of the cave and a snake wrapped around

the branches of a tree. Luke draws a deep breath, then pushes

deeper into the cave.

The space widens around him, but he feels that rather than

sees it. His sword casts the only light as he peers into the

darkness. It is very quiet here.

Then, a loud hiss! Darth Vader appears across the

blackness, illuminated by his own just-ignited laser sword.

Immediately, he charges Luke, saber held high. He is upon the

youth in seconds, but Luke sidesteps perfectly and slashes at

Vader with his sword.

Vader is decapitated. His helmet-encased head flies from

his shoulders as his body disappears into the darkness. The

metallic banging of the helmet fills the cave as Vader's head

spins and bounces, smashes on the floor, and finally stops.

For an instant it rests on the floor, then it cracks

vertically. The black helmet and breath mask fall away to

reveal...Luke's head.

Across the space, the standing Luke gasps at the sight,

wide-eyed in terror.

The decapitated head fades away, as in a vision.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- CAVE -- DUSK

 

Meanwhile, Yoda sits on the root, calmly leaning on his

Gimer Stick.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- VADER'S STAR DESTROYER

 

Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer moves through space,

guarded by its convoy of TIE fighters.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE -- CONTROL DECK

 

Vader stands in the back control area of his ship's bridge

with a motley group of men and creatures. Admiral Piett and

two controllers stand at the front of the bridge and watch the

group with scorn.

 

PIETT: Bounty hunters. We don't need that scum.

 

FIRST CONTROLLER: Yes, sir.

 

PIETT: Those Rebels won't escape us.

 

A second controller interrupts.

 

SECOND CONTROLLER: Sir, we have a priority signal from the Star

Destroyer Avenger.

 

PIETT: Right.

 

The group standing before Vader is a bizarre array of

galactic fortune hunters: There is Bossk, a slimy, tentacled

monster with two huge, bloodshot eyes in a soft baggy face;

Zuckuss and Dengar, two battle-scarred, mangy human types;

IG-88, a battered, tarnished chrome war droid; and Boba Fett,

a man in a weapon-covered armored space suit.

 

VADER: ...there will be a substantial reward for the one who finds

the Millennium Falcon. You are free to use any methods necessary, but

I want them alive. No disintegrations.

 

BOBA FETT: As you wish.

 

At that moment, Admiral Piett approaches Vader in a rush of

excitement.

 

PIETT: Lord Vader! My lord, we have them.

EXTERIOR: IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER, AVENGER -- ASTEROID BELT

 

The Millennium Falcon speeds through deep space, closely

followed by a firing Imperial Star Destroyer. A large asteroid

about the same size as the Falcon tumbles rapidly toward the

starship. The tiny Falcon banks to avoid the giant asteroid as

smaller rocks pelt its surface. Then the small craft roars

under the asteroid which explodes harmlessly on the hull of

the vast Star Destroyer.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

The ship shudders as flak explodes near the cockpit window.

Threepio checks a tracking scope an the side control panel

while Leia watches tensely out the window.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, thank goodness we're coming out of the asteroid field.

 

Chewie barks excitedly as the rain of asteroids begins to

subside. A bolt from the Star Destroyer sets up a fiery

explosion on the back side of the Falcon, causing it to lurch

to one side.

 

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- STAR DESTROYER, AVENGER -- ASTEROID FIELD

 

The Falcon is hit hard by another bolt from the Star

Destroyer which creates a huge explosion near the cockpit of

the smaller ship. The Falcon tilts steeply, then rights

itself.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Han corrects the angle of his ship.

 

HAN: Let's get out of here. Ready for light-speed? One...two...three!

 

Han pulls back on the hyperspace throttle and -- nothing

happens. Flak bursts continue to rock the ship.

 

HAN: (frantic) It's not fair!

 

Chewie is very angry and starts to growl and bark at his

friend and captain. Again, Han desperately pulls back on the

throttle.

 

HAN: The transfer circuits are working. It's not my fault!

 

Chewie puts his head in his hands, whining.

 

LEIA: (almost expecting it) No light-speed?

 

HAN: It's not my fault.

 

THREEPIO: Sir, we just lost the main rear deflector shield. One more

direct hit on the back quarter and we're done for.

 

Han pauses for a moment, makes a decision, and pulls back

on a lever.

 

HAN: Turn her around.

 

Chewie barks in puzzlement.

 

HAN: I said turn her around! I'm going to put all power in the front

shield.

 

LEIA: You're going to attack them?!

 

THREEPIO: Sir, the odds of surviving a direct assault on an Imperial

Star Destroyer...

 

LEIA: Shut up!

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- ASTEROID FIELD

 

The Falcon banks, makes a steep, twisting turn. In the

next moment it is racing toward the Star Destroyer, looking

very small against the massive surface of the Imperial ship.

As it moves across the surface of the Star Destroyer, the

Falcon bobs and weaves to avoid the numerous flak bursts.

 

INTERIOR: STAR DESTROYER, AVENGER -- BRIDGE

 

The tiny Falcon heads directly for the Avenger's bridge.

The Imperials stationed there are stunned to see the small

spaceship racing low across the hull, headed directly at the

huge windows of the bridge area. Alarms go off everywhere. The

Destroyer's commander, Captain Needa, can scarcely believe his

eyes.

 

NEEDA: They're moving to attack position. Shields up!

 

Needa and his men duck as the Falcon nears the bridge

window. At the last minute, the Falcon veers off and out of

sight. All is quiet.

 

NEEDA: Track them,. They may come around for another pass.

 

TRACKING OFFICER: Captain Needa, the ship no longer appears on our

scopes.

 

NEEDA: They can't have disappeared. No ship that small has a cloaking

device.

 

TRACKING OFFICER: Well, there's no trace of them, sir.

 

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Captain, Lord Vader demands an update on the

pursuit.

 

NEEDA: (drawing a breath) Get a shuttle ready. I shall assume full

responsibility for losing them, and apologize to Lord Vader.

Meanwhile, continue to scan the area.

 

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Yes, Captain Needa.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- BOG -- DAY

 

Luke's face is upside-down and showing enormous strain. He

stands on his hands, with Yoda perched on his feet. Opposite

Luke and Yoda are two rocks the size of bowling balls. Luke

stares at the rocks and concentrates. One of the rocks lifts

from the ground and floats up to rest on the other.

 

YODA: Use the Force. Yes...

 

Yoda taps Luke's leg. Quickly, Luke lifts one hand from the

ground. His body wavers, but he maintains his balance. Artoo,

standing nearby, is whistling and beeping frantically.

 

YODA: Now...the stone. Feel it.

 

Luke concentrates on trying to lift the top rock. It rises

a few feet, shaking under the strain. But, distracted by

Artoo's frantic beeping, Luke loses his balance and finally

collapses. Yoda jumps clear.

 

YODA: Concentrate!

 

Annoyed at the disturbance, Luke looks over at Artoo, who

is rocking urgently back and forth in front of him.

Artoo waddles closer to Luke, chirping wildly, then scoots

over the edge of the swamp. Catching on, Luke rushes to the

water's edge. The X-wing fighter has sunk, and only the tip of

its nose shows above the lake's surface.

 

LUKE: Oh, no. We'll never get it out now.

 

Yoda stamps his foot in irritation.

 

YODA: So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you

nothing that I say?

 

Luke looks uncertainly out at the ship.

 

LUKE: Master, moving stones around is one thing. This is totally

different.

 

YODA: No! No different! Only different in your mind. You must unlearn

what you have learned.

 

LUKE: (focusing, quietly) All right, I'll give it a try.

 

YODA: No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

 

Luke closes his eyes and concentrates on thinking the ship

out.

Slowly, the X-wing's nose begins to rise above the water.

It hovers for a moment and then slides back, disappearing once

again.

 

LUKE: (panting heavily) I can't. It's too big.

 

YODA: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hm?

Mmmm.

 

Luke shakes his head.

 

YODA: And well you should not. For my ally in the Force. And a

powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. It's energy

surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we...(Yoda pinches

Luke's shoulder)...not this crude matter. (a sweeping gesture) You must

feel the Force around you. (gesturing) Here, between you...me...the

tree...the rock...everywhere! Yes, even between this land and that

ship!

 

LUKE: (discouraged) You want the impossible.

 

Quietly Yoda turns toward the X-wing fighter. With his eyes

closed and his head bowed, he raises his arm and points at the

ship.

Soon, the fighter rises above the water and moves forward

as Artoo beeps in terror and scoots away.

The entire X-wing moves majestically, surely, toward the

shore. Yoda stands on a tree root and guides the fighter

carefully down toward the beach.

Luke stares in astonishment as the fighter settles down

onto the shore. He walks toward Yoda.

 

LUKE: I don't...I don't believe it.

 

YODA: That is why you fail.

 

Luke shakes his head, bewildered.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- IMPERIAL FLEET

 

The fleet around Vader's Star Destroyer now includes

Needa's Star Destroyer, the Avenger.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

VADER: Apology accepted, Captain Needa.

 

Clutching desperately at his throat, Captain Needa slumps

down, then falls over on his back, at the feet of Darth Vader.

Two stormtroopers pick up the lifeless body and carry it

quickly away as Admiral Piett and two of his captains hurry up

to the Dark Lord.

 

PIETT: Lord Vader, our ships have completed their scan of the area and

found nothing. If the Millennium Falcon went into light-speed, it'll

be on the other side of the galaxy by now.

 

VADER: Alert all commands. Calculate every possible destination along

their last know trajectory.

 

PIETT: Yes, my lord. We'll find them.

 

VADER: Don't fail me again, Admiral.

 

Vader exits as the admiral turns to an aide, a little more

uneasy than when he arrived.

 

PIETT: Alert all commands. Deploy the fleet.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- IMPERIAL FLEET

 

Vader's ship moves away, flanked by its fleet of smaller

ships. the Avenger glides off into space in the opposite

direction. No one on that ship or on Vader's is aware that,

clinging to the side of the Avenger, is the pirateship, the

Millennium Falcon.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

THREEPIO: Captain Solo, this time you have gone too far. (Chewie

growls) No, I will not be quiet, Chewbacca. Why doesn't anyone listen

to me?

 

HAN: (to Chewie) The fleet is beginning to break up. Go back and stand

by the manual release for the landing claw.

 

Chewie barks, struggles from his seat, and climbs out of

the cabin.

 

THREEPIO: I really don't see how thats going to help. Surrender is a

perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances. The Empire

may be gracious enough...

 

Leia reaches over and shuts off Threepio, mid-sentence.

 

HAN: Thank you.

 

LEIA: What did you have in mind for your next move?

 

HAN: Well, if they follow standard Imperial procedure, they'll dump

their garbage before they go to light-speed, then we just float away.

 

LEIA: With the rest of the garbage. Then what?

 

HAN: Then we've got to find a safe port somewhere around here. Got any

ideas?

 

LEIA: No. Where are we?

 

HAN: The Anoat system.

 

LEIA: Anoat system. There's not much there.

 

HAN: No. Well, wait. This is interesting. Lando.

 

He points to a computer mapscreen on the control panel.

Leia slips out of her chair and moves next to the handsome

pilot. Small light points representing several systems flash

by on the computer screen.

 

LEIA: Lando system?

 

HAN: Lando's not a system, he's a man. Lando Calrissian. He's a card

player, gambler, scoundrel. You'd like him.

 

LEIA: Thanks.

 

HAN: Bespin. It's pretty far, but I think we can make it.

 

LEIA: (reading from the computer) A mining colony?

 

HAN: Yeah, a Tibanna gas mine. Lando conned somebody out of it. We go

back a long way, Lando and me.

 

LEIA: Can you trust him?

 

HAN: No. But he has no love for the Empire, I can tell you that.

 

Chewie barks over the intercom. Han quickly changes his

readouts and stretches to look out the cockpit window.

 

HAN: (into intercom) Here we go, Chewie. Stand by. Detach!

 

Han leans back in his chair and gives Leia an invisible

smile. She thinks for a moment, shakes her head; a grin creeps

across her face and she gives him a quick kiss.

 

LEIA: You do have your moments. Not many, but you have them.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER

 

As the Avenger Star Destroyer moves slowly into space, the

hatch on its underbelly opens, sending a trail of junk behind

it. Hidden among the refuse, the Falcon tumbles away. In the

next moment, the Avenger roars off into hyperspace. The

Falcon's engines are ignited, and it races off into the

distance. Amidst the slowly drifting junk, Boba Fett's ship

appears and moves after the Falcon.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- BOG -- CLEARING -- DAY

 

In the clearing behind Yoda's house, Luke again stands

upside-down, but his face shows less strain and more

concentration than before. Yoda sits on the ground below the

young warrior. On the other side of the clearing, two

equipment cases slowly rise into the air. Nearby Artoo

watches, humming to himself, when suddenly he, too, rises into

the air. His little legs kick desperately and his head turns

frantically, looking for help.

 

YODA: Concentrate...feel the Force flow. Yes. Good. Calm, yes. Through

the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future...the past.

Old friends long gone.

 

Luke suddenly becomes distressed.

 

LUKE: Han! Leia!

 

The two packing boxes and Artoo fall to the ground with a

crash, then Luke himself tumbles over.

 

YODA: (shaking his head) Hmm. Control, control. You must learn control.

 

LUKE: I saw...I saw a city in the clouds.

 

YODA: Mmm. Friends you have there.

 

LUKE: They were in pain.

 

YODA: It is the future you see.

 

LUKE: Future? Will they die?

 

Yoda closes his eyes and lowers his head.

 

YODA: Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

 

LUKE: I've got to go to them.

 

YODA: Decide you must how to serve them best. If you leave now, help

them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought

and suffered.

 

Luke is stopped cold by Yoda's words. Gloom shrouds him as

he nods his head sadly.

 

EXTERIOR: BESPIN SYSTEM -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- DAWN

 

The powerful pirate starship blasts through space as it

heads toward the soft pink planet of Bespin.

 

EXTERIOR: BESPIN SURFACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

It is down on the gaseous planet. Huge billowing clouds

form a canyon as the ship banks around them, heading toward

the system's Cloud City.

Suddenly, two twin-pod cloud cars appear and move toward

the Falcon. The cloud cars draw up alongside the starship.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

One of the cloud cars opens fire on the Falcon, its flak

rocking the ship. Chewie barks his concern.

 

HAN: (into transmitter) No, I don't have a landing permit. I'm trying

to reach Lando Calrissian.

 

More flak bursts outside the cockpit window and rattles the

ship's interior. Leia looks worried.

 

HAN: (into transmitter) Whoa! Wait a minute! Let me explain.

 

INTERCOM VOICE: You will not deviate from your present course.

 

THREEPIO: Rather touchy, aren't they?

 

LEIA: I thought you knew this person.

 

Chewie barks and growls at his boss.

 

HAN: (to Chewie) Well, that was a long time ago. I'm sure he's

forgotten about that.

 

INTERCOM VOICE: Permission granted to land on Platform

Three-two-seven.

 

HAN: (into transmitter) Thank you.

 

Angry, Han snaps off the intercom. Chewie looks at him and

grunts. Han turns to the worried princess and her droid.

 

HAN: There's nothing to worry about. We go way back, Lando and me.

 

Leia doesn't look convinced.

 

LEIA: Who's worried?

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- CLOUD CARS

 

The clouds part to reveal a full view of the city as it

bobs in and out of the cloud surface. The cloud cars and the

Falcon head for the gleaming white metropolis.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LANDING PLATFORM -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

With the cloud cars still guarding it, the Falcon lands on

one of the Cloud City's platforms.

 

EXTERIOR: LANDING PLATFORM -- DOOR OF MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

Han and Leia stand at the open door, armed. Behind them,

Chewie, also armed, surveys the scene warily.

 

THREEPIO: Oh. No one to meet us.

 

LEIA: I don't like this.

 

HAN: Well, what would you like?

 

THREEPIO: Well, they did let us land.

 

HAN: Look, don't worry. Everything's going to be fine. Trust me.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR -- DAY

 

Lando Calrissian, a suave, dashing black man in his

thirties, leads a group of aides and some Cloud City guard

rapidly toward the landing platform. The group, like the other

citizens of the city, is a motley collection of aliens,

droids, and humans of all descriptions. Lando has a grim

expression on his face as he moves onto the landing platform.

 

EXTERIOR: LANDING PLATFORM -- DOOR OF MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

HAN: See? My friend. (to Chewie) Keep your eyes open, okay?

 

Chewie growls as Han walks down the ramp. Lando and his men

head across the bridge to meet the space pirate.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LANDING PLATFORM

 

Lando stops ten feet from Han. The two men eye each other

carefully. Lando shakes his head.

 

LANDO: Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler! You've got a

lot of guts coming here, after what you pulled.

 

Han points to himself innocently, mouthing, "Me?"

Lando moves threateningly toward Han. Suddenly, he throws

his arms around his startled, long-lost friend and embraces

him.

 

LANDO: (laughs) How you doing, you old pirate? So good to see you! I

never thought I'd catch up with you again. Where you been?

 

The two old friends embrace, laughing and chuckling.

 

EXTERIOR: LANDING PLATFORM -- DOOR OF MILLENNIUM FALCON.

 

THREEPIO: Well, he seems very friendly.

 

LEIA: (wary) Yes...very friendly.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LANDING PLATFORM

 

LANDO: What are you doing here?

 

HAN: (gestures toward the Falcon) Ahh...repairs. I thought you could

help me out.

 

LANDO: (in mock panic) What have you done to my ship?

 

HAN: Your ship? Hey, remember, you lost her to me fair and square.

 

Chewie growls a reserved greeting. Lando suddenly notices

the princess and smiles.

 

LANDO: Hello. What have we here? Welcome. I'm Lando Calrissian. I'm

the administrator of this facility. and who might you be?

 

LEIA: Leia.

 

LANDO: Welcome, Leia.

 

Lando bows before Leia and kisses her hand.

 

HAN: All right, all right, you old smoothie.

 

Han takes Leia by the hand and steers her away from Lando.

 

THREEPIO: Hello, sir. I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg relations. My

facilities are at your...

 

Before Threepio can finish his self-introduction, Lando has

turned to follow Han and Leia, who are walking toward the

city.

 

THREEPIO: Well, really!

 

Lando, his aide, Lobot, and Han lead the way across the

bridge, followed by Threepio, Chewie and Leia.

 

LANDO: What's wrong with the Falcon?

 

HAN: Hyperdrive.

 

LANDO: I'll get my people to work on it.

 

HAN: Good.

 

Lando turns to Leia.

 

LANDO: You know, that ship saved my life quite a few times. She's the

fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR

 

The group has crossed the narrow bridge and entered the

city. They walk down the lovely Art Deco passageway, rounding

several corners and passing many small plazas as they go.

Threepio lags a bit behind.

 

HAN: How's the gas mine? Is it paying off for you?

 

LANDO: Oh, not as well as I'd like. We're a small outpost and not very

self-sufficient. And I've had supply problems of every kind. I've had

labor difficulties...(catches Han grinning at him) What's so funny?

 

HAN: You. Listen to you -- you sound like a businessman, a responsible

leader. Who'd have thought that, huh?

 

Lando is reflective. He looks at Han a moment.

 

LANDO: You know, seeing you sure brings back a few things.

 

HAN: Yeah.

 

LANDO: (shakes his head) Yeah, I'm responsible these days. It's the

price you pay for being successful.

 

Han and Lando laugh together, and the group moves on

through the corridor.

The lagging Threepio passes a Threepio-type silver droid

who is coming out of a door.

 

THREEPIO: Oh! Nice to see a familiar face.

 

SECOND THREEPIO: (mumbles) E chu ta!

 

THREEPIO: How rude!

 

Threepio stops, watching the silver droid move away. Then

he hears the muffled beeping and whistling of an R2 unit

coming from within the room.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- ANTEROOM

 

Curious, Threepio enters the room.

 

THREEPIO: That sounds like an R2 unit in there. I wonder if...

 

Threepio walks through the doorway to the main room. He

looks in.

 

THREEPIO: Hello? How interesting. Oh, my.

 

MAN'S VOICE: (from within) Who are you?

 

THREEPIO: Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I...I didn't mean to intrude. No,

no, please don't get up. No!

 

A laser bolt to Threepio's chest sends him flying in twenty

directions. Smoldering mechanical arms and legs bounce off the

walls as the door whooshes closed behind him.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR

 

Lando, Han, and Leia continue down the corridor unaware of

Threepio's dreadful accident. Chewbacca glances around, sniffs

the air, but shrugs his shoulders and follows the group.

 

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- BOG -- DUSK

 

In the bright lights of the fighter, Luke loads a heavy

case into the belly of the ship. Artoo sits on top of the

X-wing, settling down into his cubbyhole. Yoda stands nearby

on a log.

 

YODA: Luke! You must complete the training.

 

LUKE: I can't keep the vision out of my head. They're my friends. I've

got to help them.

 

YODA: You must not go!

 

LUKE: But Han and Leia will die if I don't.

 

BEN'S VOICE: You don't know that.

 

Luke looks toward the voice in amazement. Ben has

materialized as a real, slightly shimmering image near Yoda.

The power of his presence stops Luke.

 

BEN: Even Yoda cannot see their fate.

 

LUKE: But I can help them! I feel the Force!

 

BEN: But you cannot control it. This is a dangerous time for you, when

you will be tempted by the dark side of the Force.

 

YODA: Yes, yes. To Obi-Wan you listen. The cave. Remember your failure

at the cave!

 

LUKE: But I've learned so much since then. Master Yoda, I promise to

return and finish what I've begun. You have my word.

 

BEN: It is you and your abilities the Emperor wants. that is why your

friends are made to suffer.

 

LUKE: And that is why I have to go.

 

BEN: Luke, I don't want to lose you to the Emperor the way I lost

Vader.

 

LUKE: You won't.

 

YODA: Stopped they must be. On this depends. Only a fully trained Jedi

Knight with the Force as his ally will conquer Vader and his Emperor.

If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path,

as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.

 

BEN: Patience.

 

LUKE: And sacrifice Han and Leia?

 

YODA: If you honor what they fight for...yes!

 

Luke is in great anguish. He struggles with the dilemma, a

battle raging in his mind.

 

BEN: If you choose to face Vader, you will do it alone. I cannot

interfere.

 

LUKE: I understand. (he moves to his X-wing) Artoo, fire up the

converters.

 

Artoo whistles a happy reply.

 

BEN: Luke, don't give in to hate -- that leads to the dark side.

 

Luke nods and climbs into his ship.

 

YODA: Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.

 

LUKE: I will. And I'll return. I promise.

 

Artoo closes the cockpit. Ben and Yoda stand watching as

the roar of the engines and the wind engulf them.

 

YODA: (sighs) Told you, I did. Reckless is he. Now matters are worse.

 

BEN: That boy is our last hope.

 

YODA: (looks up) No. There is another.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- PLANET DAGOBAH

 

Luke's tiny X-wing rockets away from the green planet of

Dagobah and off into space.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LIVING QUARTERS -- DAY

 

Within the quarters assigned her on Cloud City, Leia paces

in agitation. She has changed from her cold-weather pants and

jacket to a lovely dress. Her hair is down, tied back with

ribbons. She moves from a large, open window and turns to see

Han entering through the doorway.

 

HAN: The ship is almost finished. Two or Three more things and we're

in great shape.

 

LEIA: The sooner the better. Something's wrong here. No one has seen

or knows anything about Threepio. He's been gone too long to have

gotten lost.

 

Han takes Leia by the shoulders and gently kisses her

forehead.

 

HAN: Relax. I'll talk to Lando and see what I can find out.

 

LEIA: I don't trust Lando.

 

HAN: Well, I don't trust him, either. But he is my friend. Besides,

we'll soon be gone.

 

LEIA: And then you're as good as gone, aren't you?

 

Not speaking, Han considers her words and gazes at her

troubled face.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- JUNK ROOM

 

The room is piled high with broken and discarded machine

parts. Four Ugnaughts, small hoglike creatures, separate the

junk and throw some pieces onto a conveyer belt which moves

briskly toward a pit of molten metal. Pieces of Threepio's

golden body move down the belt. Chewie enters the room and

spots an Ugnaught picking up and inspecting Threepio's head.

The Wookiee barks a command, startling the Ugnaught, then

reaches to grab the head. But the Ugnaught tosses it away from

him to another Ugnaught. This game of keep-away goes on until

Threepio's head falls from their grip and bounces with a clang

onto the ground.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LIVING QUARTERS -- DAY

 

The door zaps open. Chewbacca walks in, carrying a packing

case of Threepio, arms and legs hanging over the edge.

 

LEIA: What happened?

 

Chewie sets the case on a table, grunting and groaning an

explanation.

 

HAN: Where? Found him in a junk pile?

 

LEIA: Oh, what a mess. Chewie, do you think you can repair him?

 

The giant Wookiee studies the array of robot parts. He

looks at the princess and shrugs sadly.

 

HAN: Lando's got people who can fix him.

 

LEIA: No, thanks.

 

There is a buzz and the door slides open, revealing Lando.

 

LANDO: I'm sorry. Am I interrupting anything?

 

LEIA: Not really.

 

LANDO: You look absolutely beautiful. You truly belong here with us

among the clouds.

 

LEIA: (coolly) Thank you.

 

LANDO: Will you join me for a little refreshment?

 

Han looks at Lando suspiciously, but Chewie barks at the

mention of food and licks his lips.

 

LANDO: Everyone's invited, of course.

 

Leia takes Lando's proffered arm, and the group turns to

go. Lando spots Threepio's remains.

 

LANDO: Having trouble with you droid?

 

Han and Leia exchange a quick glance.

 

HAN: No. No problem. Why?

 

Han and Leia move arm-in-arm through the door, followed by

Lando and Chewie. The door slides closed behind them.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR -- DAY

 

Leia walks between Han and Lando as Chewie follows a short

distance behind. Long shafts of light pour across the corridor

between tall, pure-white columns.

 

LANDO: So you see, since we're a small operation, we don't fall into

the...uh...jurisdiction of the Empire.

 

LEIA: So you're part of the mining guild then?

 

LANDO: No, not actually. Our operation is small enough not to be

noticed...which is advantageous for everybody since our customers are

anxious to avoid attracting attention to themselves.

 

The group walks into another corridor and heads for a huge

doorway at the far end.

 

HAN: Aren't you afraid the Empire's going to find out about this

little operation and shut you down?

 

LANDO: That's always been a danger looming like a shadow over

everything we've built here. But things have developed that will

insure security. I've just made a deal that will keep the Empire out

of here forever.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- DINING ROOM

 

The mighty doors to the dining room slide open and the

group enters the dining room. At the far end of a huge banquet

table sits Darth Vader. Standing at his side and slightly

behind him is Boba Fett, the bounty hunter.

Faster than the wink of an eye, Han draws his blaster and

pops off a couple of shots directly at Vader. The Dark Lord

quickly raises his hand, deflecting the bolts into one of the

side walls, where they explode harmlessly. Just as quickly,

Han's weapon zips into Vader's hand. The evil presence calmly

places the gun on the table in front of him.

 

VADER: We would be honored if you would join us.

 

Han gives Lando a mean look.

 

LANDO: I had no choice. They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry.

 

HAN: I'm sorry, too.

 

EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- BESPIN SYSTEM

 

Luke's X-wing races through thick clouds toward Cloud City.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT

 

Luke is grim-faced as he pilots his course toward Bespin's

shining city. Artoo's beeps and whistles are transmitted onto

the scope.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) No, Threepio's with them.

 

Artoo whistles another worried inquiry.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Just hang on. We're almost there.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LARGE CELL

 

Chewbacca is in a Cloud City prison cell. The stark room is

flooded with hot light. To add to Chewie's misery, a

high-pitched whistle screeches loudly. Chewie is going mad. He

hits the wall with giant fists as he paces back and forth

across the cell floor. The upper lights go off abruptly. The

prisoner rubs his eyes and moves to a wall, where he listens

for a moment. Then, moaning to himself, he moves to a platform

where the disassembled pieces of Threepio lie. He picks up the

golden droid's head and meditates on it for a moment, barking

a few philosophical remarks. Chewie sticks the robot's head on

its torso and starts adjusting wires and circuits. Suddenly,

the lights in Threepio's eyes spark to life as Chewie touches

two connectors together. Threepio immediately begins to speak,

but his voice is so slow and so low as to be nearly

unintelligible.

 

THREEPIO: Mmmm. Oh, my. Uh, I, uh -- Take this off! I, uh, don't mean

to intrude here. I, don't, no, no, no...Please don't get up. No!

 

Chewie looks at Threepio in bewilderment, then scratches

his furry head. He gets an idea and adjusts some connections,

whereupon Threepio immediately begins speaking normally.

 

THREEPIO: Stormtroopers? Here? We're in danger. I must tell the

others. Oh, no! I've been shot!

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- PRISON ENTRY AREA

 

Darth Vader strides through the room as two stormtroopers

prepare an elaborate torture mechanism. Han is strapped to a

rack which tilts forward onto the torture device. Vader

activates the mechanism, creating two bursts of sparks, one of

which strikes Han's face.

The door opens, and Darth Vader moves to the holding

chamber, where Lando and Boba Fett await him.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- HOLDING CHAMBER

 

LANDO: Lord Vader.

 

VADER: (to Fett) You may take Captain Solo to Jabba the Hut after I

have Skywalker.

 

Han's screams filter through the torture room door.

 

BOBA FETT: He's no good to me dead.

 

VADER: He will not be permanently damaged.

 

LANDO: Lord Vader, what about Leia and the Wookiee?

 

VADER: They must never again leave this city.

 

LANDO: That was never a condition of our agreement, nor was giving Han

to this bounty hunter!

 

VADER: Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly.

 

LANDO: No.

 

VADER: Good. It would be unfortunate if I had to leave a garrison

here.

 

Vader turns and sweeps into the elevator with Boba Fett.

Lando walks swiftly down another corridor, muttering to

himself.

 

LANDO: This deal's getting worse all the time.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LARGE CELL

 

Chewie now has a little more of Threepio back together. One

arm is connected, but the legs are yet to be attached. There

is one small problem, however. It seems the Wookiee has

managed to put the droid's head on backwards.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, yes, that's very good. I like that. Oh! Something's not

right because now I can't see. Wait. Wait! Oh, my! what have you done?

I'm backwards, you stupid furball. Only an overgrown mophead like you

would be stupid enough...

 

Threepio is cut off in mid-sentence as Chewie angrily

deactivates a circuit and the droid shuts down. The Wookiee

smells something and sits up. The door to the chamber slides

open and a ragged Han Solo is shoved into the room by two

stormtroopers. Barking his concern, the huge Wookiee gives Han

a big hug. Han is very pale, with dark circles under his eyes.

 

HAN: I feel terrible.

 

Chewie helps Han to a platform and then turns as the door

slides open revealing Leia. She, too, looks a little worse for

wear. The troopers push her into the cell, and the door slides

closed. She moves to Han, who is lying on the platform, and

kneels next to him, gently stroking his head.

 

LEIA: Why are they doing this?

 

HAN: They never even asked me any questions.

 

The cell door slides open. Lando and two of his guards

enter.

 

LEIA: Lando.

 

HAN: Get out of here, Lando!

 

LANDO: Shut up and listen! Vader has agreed to turn Leia and Chewie

over to me.

 

HAN: Over to you?

 

LANDO: They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe.

 

LEIA: What about Han?

 

LANDO Vader's giving him to the bounty hunter.

 

LEIA: Vader wants us all dead.

 

LANDO: He doesn't want you at all. He's after somebody called

Skywalker.

 

HAN: Luke?

 

LANDO: Lord Vader has set a trap for him.

 

Leia's mind is racing.

 

LEIA: And we're the bait.

 

LANDO: Well, he's on his way.

 

Han's rage peaks.

 

HAN: Perfect. You fixed us all pretty good, didn't you? (spits it out)

My friend!

 

Han hauls off and punches Lando. The two friends are

instantly engaged in a frantic close-quarters fight. The

guards hit Han with their rifle butts and he flies across the

room. Chewie growls and starts for the guards. They point

their laser weapons at the giant Wookiee, but Lando stops

them.

 

LANDO: Stop! I've done all I can do. I'm sorry I couldn't do better,

but I have my own problems.

 

HAN: Yeah, you're a real hero.

 

Lando and the guards leave. Han wipes the blood from his

chin as Leia and Chewie help him up.

 

LEIA: (dabs at his wound) You certainly have a way with people.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER

 

Four armor-suited stormtroopers stand at the ready in the

large chamber, which is filled with pipes and chemical tanks.

In the middle of the room is a round pit housing a hydraulic

platform. Darth Vader and Lando stand near the platform.

 

VADER: This facility is crude, but it should be adequate to freeze

Skywalker for his journey to the Emperor.

 

An Imperial soldier appears.

 

IMPERIAL SOLDIER: Lord Vader, ship approaching. X-wing class.

 

VADER: Good. Monitor Skywalker and allow him to land.

 

The soldier bows and leaves the chamber.

 

LANDO: Lord Vader, we only use this facility for carbon freezing. If

you put him in there, it might kill him.

 

VADER: I do not want the Emperor's prize damaged. We will test it...on

Captain Solo.

 

Lando's face registers dismay.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- BESPIN SYSTEM -- LUKE'S X-WING

 

Luke's X-wing moves through the clouds as it nears the

city.

 

INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT

 

Encountering no city guards, Luke scans the display panel

with concern.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER

 

There is a great activity on the carbon-freezing platform.

Six Ugnaughts frantically prepare the chamber for use. A

special coffinlike container is put in place. With Boba Fett

in the lead, a squad of six stormtroopers brings in Han, Leia

and Chewie. Strapped to Chewie's back, with only his head,

torso, and one arm assembled, is Threepio. Threepio's head

faces the opposite direction from Chewie's and the droid is

constantly twisting around in a vain effort to see what is

happening. His one attached arm is animate and expressive,

intermittently pointing, gesturing, and covering his eyes. The

remaining pieces of his body are randomly bundled to the

Wookiee's back so that his legs and other arm stick out at odd

angles from the pack.

 

THREEPIO: If only you had attached my legs, I wouldn't be in this

ridiculous position. Now, remember, Chewbacca, you have a

responsibility to me, so don't do anything foolish.

 

HAN: (to Lando) What's going on...buddy?

 

LANDO: You're being put into carbon freeze.

 

Boba Fett moves away from the group to Darth Vader.

 

BOBA FETT: What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me.

 

VADER: The Empire will compensate you if he dies. Put him in!

 

Realizing what is about to happen, Chewie lets out a wild

howl and attacks the stormtroopers surrounding Han. Within

seconds, other Imperial reinforcements join the scuffle,

clubbing the giant Wookiee with their laser weapons. From the

instant of Chewie's first move, Threepio begins to scream in

panic while he tries to protect himself with his one arm.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, no! No, no, no! Stop, Chewbacca, stop...!

 

The stormtroopers are about to bash Chewie in the face.

 

HAN: Stop, Chewie, stop! Do you hear me? Stop!

 

THREEPIO: Yes, stop, please! I'm not ready to die.

 

Han breaks away from his captors. Vader nods to the guards

to let him go and the pirate breaks up the fight.

 

HAN: Chewie! Chewie, this won't help me. Hey!

 

Han gives the Wookiee a stern look.

 

HAN: Save your strength. There'll be another time. The princess -- you

have to take care of her. You hear me?

 

Han winks at the Wookiee, who wails a doleful farewell.

In a flash the guards have slipped binders on Chewbacca,

who is too distraught to protest. Han turns to Princess Leia.

They look sorrowfully at one another, then Han moves toward

her and gives her a final, passionate kiss.

 

LEIA: I love you!

 

HAN: I know.

 

Tears roll down Leia's face as she watches the dashing

pirate walk to the hydraulic platform. Han looks one final

time at his friends -- and then, suddenly, the platform drops.

Chewie howls. Leia turns away in agony. Lando winces in

sorrow; it makes a life-changing impression on him.

Instantly, fiery liquid begins to pour down in a shower of

sparks and fluid as great as any steel furnace. Holding Leia,

Chewie half-turns away from the sight, giving Threepio a view

of the procedure.

 

THREEPIO: What...what's going on? Turn around, Chewbacca, I can't see.

Oh...they've encased him in carbonite. He should be quite

well-protected -- if he survives the freezing process, that is.

 

Chewie is in no mood for technical discussion; he gives the

droid an angry glance and barks.

A huge mechanical tong lifts the steaming metal-encased

space pirate out of the vat and stands him on the platform.

Some Ugnaughts rush over and push the block over onto the

platform. They slide the coffinlike structure to the block and

lift the metal block, placing it inside. They then attach an

electronic box onto the structure and step away.

Lando kneels and adjusts some knobs, measuring the heat. He

shakes his head in relief.

 

VADER: Well, Calrissian, did he survive?

 

LANDO: Yes, he's alive. And in perfect hibernation.

 

Vader turns to Boba Fett.

 

VADER: He's all yours bounty hunter. Reset the chamber for Skywalker.

 

IMPERIAL OFFICER: Skywalker has just landed, my lord.

 

VADER: Good. See to it that he finds his way here. Calrissian, take

the princess and the Wookiee to my ship.

 

LANDO: You said they'd be left in the city under my supervision.

 

VADER: I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.

 

Lando's hand instinctively goes to his throat as he turns

to Leia, Chewie, and Threepio.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR -- DAY

 

As Luke and Artoo move carefully down a deserted corridor,

they hear a group of people coming down a side hallway. Artoo

lets out an excited series of beeps and whistles. Luke glares

at the tiny droid, who stops in his tracks with a feeble

squeak.

Boba Fett enters from a side hallway followed by two guards

pushing the floating, encased body of Han Solo. Two

stormtroopers, who follow, immediately spot Luke and open fire

on him. The youth draws his weapon and blasts the two

troopers before they can get off a second shot. The two guards

whisk Han into another hallway as Fett lowers his arm and

fires a deadly laser at Luke, which explodes to one side and

tears up a huge chunk of wall.

Luke rushes to a side hallway, but by the time he reaches

it, Fett, Han, and the guards are gone. A think metal door

blocks the passage. Luke turns to see Leia, Chewie, Threepio,

and Lando being herded down a second hallway by several other

stormtroopers. Leia turns just in time to see Luke.

 

LEIA: Luke! Luke, don't -- it's a trap! It's a trap!

 

Before she can finish, she is pulled through a doorway and

disappears from sight. Luke races after the group, leaving

little Artoo trailing behind.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- ANTEROOM

 

Luke runs into an anteroom and stops to get his bearings.

Leia and the others are nowhere to be seen. Behind Luke, Artoo

scoots down the corridor toward the anteroom when suddenly a

giant metal door comes slamming down, cutting off Luke's exit.

Several more doors clang shut, echoing through the chamber.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- HALLWAY LEADING TO ANTEROOM

 

Artoo stands with his nose pressed against the giant metal

door. He whistles a long sigh of relief and, a little dazed,

wanders off in the other direction.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER -- ANTEROOM

 

Luke cautiously walks forward among hissing pipes and

steam. Seeing an opening above him, he stops to look up. As he

does, the platform he stands on begins to move.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER

 

Luke rises into the chamber, borne by the platform. The

room is deathly quiet. Very little steam escapes the pipes and

no one else seems to be in the large room. Warily, Luke walks

toward the stairway.

Steam begins to build up in the chamber. Looking up through

the steam, Luke sees a dark figure standing on a walkway above

him. Luke holsters his gun and moves up the stairs to face

Vader. He feels confident, eager to engage his enemy.

 

VADER: The Force is with you, young Skywalker. But you are not a Jedi

yet.

 

Luke ignites his sword in answer. In an instant, Vader's

own sword is lit. Luke lunges, but Vader repels the blow.

Again Luke attacks, and the swords of the two combatants clash

in battle.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR

 

Leia, Lando, and Chewie, with Threepio on his back, march

along, guarded by six stormtroopers. The group reaches an

intersection where Lobot and a dozen of Lando's guards stand

at attention.

The guards immediately aim their weapons at the startled

stormtroopers. Taking the stormtroopers' weapons from them,

Lobot hands one to Leia and one to Lando.

 

LANDO: Well done. Hold them in the security tower -- and keep it

quiet. Move.

 

As Lando's guards quickly march the stormtroopers away,

Lando begins to undo Chewie's binding.

 

LEIA: What do you think you're doing?

 

LANDO: We're getting out of here.

 

THREEPIO: I knew all along it had to be a mistake.

 

Chewie turns on Lando and starts to choke him.

 

LEIA: Do you think that after what you did to Han we're going to trust

you?

 

Lando tries to free himself from Chewie.

 

LANDO: (choking) I had no choice...

 

Chewie barks ferociously.

 

THREEPIO: (to Chewie) What are you doing? Trust him, trust him!

 

LEIA: Oh, so we understand, don't we, Chewie? He had no choice.

 

LANDO: I'm just trying to help...

 

LEIA: We don't need any of your help.

 

LANDO: (choking) H-a-a-a...

 

LEIA: What?

 

THREEPIO: It sounds like Han.

 

LANDO: There's still a chance to save Han...I mean, at the East

Platform...

 

LEIA: Chewie.

 

Chewie finally releases Lando, who fights to get his breath

back.

 

THREEPIO: (to Lando) I'm terribly sorry about all this. After all,

he's only a Wookiee.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- EAST LANDING PLATFORM -- BOBA FETT'S SHIP

 

The two guards slide Han's encased body into an opening in

the side of the bounty hunter's ship. Boba Fett climb aboard

on a ladder next to the cargo hold.

 

BOBA FETT: Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold.

 

And with that, the door slams shut.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR

 

Lando, Leia, and Chewie run down a Cloud City corridor when

suddenly they spot Artoo who rushes toward them, beeping

wildly.

 

THREEPIO: Artoo! Artoo! Where have you been?

 

Chewie turns around to see the stubby droid, causing

Threepio to be spun out of sight of his friend.

 

THREEPIO: Turn around, you wooly...! (to Artoo) Hurry, hurry! We're

trying to save Han from the bounty hunter!

 

Whistling frantically to Threepio, Artoo scoots along with

the racing group.

 

THREEPIO: Well, at least your still in one piece! Look what happened

to me!

 

EXTERIOR: EAST LANDING PLATFORM -- SIDE BAY

 

An elevator door slides open and Lando, Leia, and Chewbacca

race for a large bay overlooking the East Landing Platform.

Just as they arrive, Boba Fett's ship takes off against a

cloudy sunset sky.

In wild anguish, Chewie howls and starts firing at the

ship.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, no! Chewie, they're behind you!

 

A laser bolt explodes near the princess. Everyone turns to

see what Threepio has already spotted coming from the other

direction; a squad of stormtroopers running toward them. Artoo

peeks out from the elevator.

Leia and Chewbacca start firing at the troopers as Lando

makes a break for the elevator. Laser bolts continue to

explode around the princess and the Wookiee, but they refuse

to budge. Lando sticks his head out of the elevator and

motions for the pair to run, but they barely notice. They seem

possessed, transported, as all the frustration of captivity

and anger of loss pour through their death-dealing weapons.

But after a few moments, they begin to move through the

rain of laser fire toward the elevator. Once they are inside,

the door slams shut and the stormtroopers race forward.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER

 

Luke and Vader are locked in combat on the platform

overlooking the chamber. Their swords clash, the platform

sways. Luke aggressively drives Vader back, forcing Vader to

use defensive tactics.

 

VADER: You have learned much, young one.

 

LUKE: You'll find I'm full of surprises.

 

Vader makes two quick moves, hooking Luke's sword out of

his hand and sending it flying. Another lightning move at

Luke's feet forces the youth to jump back to protect himself.

Losing his balance, Luke rolls down the stairs to the circular

carbon-freezing platform. There he sprawls on the floor,

surprised and shaken. Just in time he looks up to see Vader,

like a giant black bird, flying right at him. Luke rolls away

as Vader lands. Crouching, Luke keeps his gaze steadily on his

enemy.

 

VADER: Your destiny lies with me, Skywalker. Obi-Wan knew this to be

true.

 

LUKE: No!

 

Behind Luke the hydraulic elevator cover has opened

noiselessly. All the while, Luke slowly, cautiously moves

back, away from the Dark Lord.

Suddenly, Vader attacks so forcefully that Luke loses his

balance and falls back into the opening. There is a rumble,

and in an instant freezing steam rises to obscure Vader's

vision. Vader turns aside and deactivates his sword.

 

VADER: All to easy. Perhaps you are not as strong as the Emperor

thought.

 

Through the steam behind Vader something blurs upward.

Liquid metal begins to pour into the pit.

Vader turns around -- and then looks up. He sees Luke, who

has leaped fifteen feet straight up and who now hangs from

some hoses on the carbonite outlet.

 

VADER: Impressive...most impressive.

 

Luke jumps down to the platform where he is separated from

Vader by the steaming carbonite pit. He raises his hand. His

sword, which had fallen on another part of the platform,

swiftly jumps into his outstretched hand and is instantly

ignited. Vader immediately lights his sword as well.

 

VADER: Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear...

now release your anger.

 

Luke is more cautious, controlling his anger. He begins to

retreat as Vader goads him on. As Luke takes a defensive

position, he realizes he has been foolhardy. A quick sword

exchange and Luke forces Vader back. Another exchange and

Vader retreats. Luke presses forward.

 

VADER: Only your hatred can destroy me.

 

Breathing hard, Luke jumps in the air, turning a somersault

over Vader. He lands on the floor and slashes at Vader as the

room continues to fill up with steam.

Vader retreats before Luke's skillful sword. Vader blocks

the sword, but looses his balance and falls into the outer rim

of pipes. The energy Luke has used to stop Vader has brought

him to the point of collapse. Luke moves to the edge and looks

down, but sees no sign of Vader. He then deactivates his

sword, hooks it on his belt, and lowers himself into the pit.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- TUNNEL AND REACTOR CONTROL ROOM

 

Moving through a tunnellike entrance, Luke cautiously

approaches the reactor room. He ignites his sword and moves

into the room and toward a large window as Vader enters.

Luke raises his sword and moves forward to attack.

Behind Luke a large piece of machinery detaches itself from

the wall and comes smashing forward toward his back. Luke

turns and cuts it in half just as another machine comes

hurtling at him. Using the Force, Luke manages to deflect it

and send it flying as if it had hit an invisible shield. A

large pipe detaches and comes flying at Luke. He deflects it.

Sparking wires pull out of the wall and begin to whip at the

youth. Small tools and equipment come flying at him.

Bombardment from all sides, Luke does his best to deflect

everything, but soon he is bloodied and bruised. Finally, one

machine glances off his and goes flying out the large window.

A fierce wind blows into the room, unmoving, stands the dark,

rocklike figure of Vader.

A piece of machinery hits Luke and he is knocked out of the

window.

 

INTERIOR: GANTRY -- OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM -- REACTOR SHAFT

 

Luke falls onto the gantry, rolls, and hangs over the edge,

holding his deactivated sword in hand. He puts the sword on

his belt and begins to scramble up.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR LEADING TO LANDING PLATFORM

 

Leia, Lando, Chewie and the droids come round a corner and

head for the door to the landing platform. They glimpse the

Millennium Falcon for a moment before the door slams shut. The

group ducks into an alcove as stormtroopers arrive at the end

of the corridor. The troopers send a rain of laser bolts at

the group. Chewie returns their fire as Lando punches

desperately at the door's control panel.

 

LANDO: The security codes has been changed!

 

THREEPIO: Artoo, you can tell the computer to override the security

system.

 

Threepio points to a computer socket on the control panel.

Artoo beeps and scoots toward it. Lando meanwhile has

connected up to the panel's intercom.

 

LANDO: Attention! This is Lando Calrissian. The Empire has takes

control of the city. I advise everyone to leave before more Imperial

troops arrive.

 

Artoo takes off a computer cover and sticks his computer

arm into the socket. Suddenly, a short beep turns into a wild

scream. Artoo's circuits light up, his head spins wildly, and

smoke begins to seep out underneath him. Quickly, Chewie pulls

him away.

 

LANDO: This way.

 

Lando, Leia, Artoo, and Chewie flee down the corridor. As

he scoots along with them, Artoo sends some angry beeps

Threepio's way.

 

THREEPIO: Don't blame me. I'm an interpreter. I'm not supposed to know

a power socket from a computer terminal.

 

INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR

 

In a panic, Cloud City residents are trying to get out of

the city. Some carry boxes, others packages. They run, then

change direction. Some are shooting at stormtroopers, others

simply try to hide.

Other stormtroopers pursue Lando, Leia, and Chewie who are

firing back at them. Artoo works on another door to the

landing platform while Threepio berates him for his seeming

ineptitude.

 

THREEPIO: What are you talking about? We're not interested in the

hyperdrive on the Millennium Falcon. It's fixed! Just open the door,

you stupid lump.

 

Chewie, Leia, and Lando retreat along the corridor. A

triumphant beep from Artoo -- and the door snaps open.

 

THREEPIO: (to Artoo) I never doubted you for a second. Wonderful!

 

Artoo lays a cloud fog, obscuring everything, as the group

dashes outside.

 

EXTERIOR: LANDING PLATFORM -- CLOUD CITY -- DUSK

 

They race for the Millennium Falcon as a battalion of

stormtroopers reaches the main door. Lando and Leia hold off

the troops as the droids get on board with Chewie. As Chewie

bounds to the ship the Threepio on his back, Threepio hits his

head on the top of the ramp.

 

THREEPIO: Ouch! Oh! Ah! That hurt, Bend down, you thoughtless...Ow!

 

Chewie starts up the ship. The giant engines begin to whine

as Lando and Leia race up the ramp under a hail of laser fire.

 

LANDO: Leia! Go!

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- CORRIDOR

 

Artoo drags the partially assembled Threepio down the

corridor of the Falcon.

 

THREEPIO: I thought that hairy beast would be the end of me. Of

course, I've looked better.

 

Artoo beeps understandingly.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Chewie works the controls as Leia sits in Han's seat and

Lando watches over their shoulders. As Chewie pulls back on

the throttle, the ship begins to move.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LANDING PLATFORM -- DUSK

 

The Millennium Falcon lifts gracefully into the twilight

sky and roars away from the city. Troops fire after it and TIE

fighters take off in pursuit.

 

INTERIOR: GANTRY -- OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM -- REACTOR SHAFT

 

Luke moves along the railing and up to the control room.

Vader lunges at him and Luke immediately raises his lit sword

to meet Vader's. Sparks fly as they duel, Vader gradually

forcing Luke backward toward the gantry.

 

VADER: You are beaten. It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be

destroyed as Obi-Wan did.

 

Luke answers by rolling sideways and thrusting his sword at

Vader so viciously that he nicks Vader on the shoulder. The

black armor sparks and smokes and Vader seems to be hurt, but

immediately recovers.

Luke backs off along the narrow end of the gantry as Vader

comes at him, slashing at the young Jedi with his sword. Luke

makes a quick move around the instrument complex attached to

the end of the gantry. Vader's sword comes slashing down,

cutting the complex loose; it begins to fall, then is caught

by the rising wind and blown upward.

Luke glances at the instrument complex floating away. At

that instant, Vader's sword comes down across Luke's right

forearm, cutting off his hand and sending his sword flying.

In great pain, Luke squeezes his forearm under his left armpit

and moves back along the gantry to its extreme end. Vader

follows. The wind subsides. Luke holds on. There is nowhere

else to go.

 

VADER: There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you. You do not yet

realize your importance. You have only begun to discover you power.

Join me and I will complete your training. With our combined strength,

we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.

 

LUKE: I'll never join you!

 

VADER: If you only knew the power of the dark side. Obi-Wan never told

you what happened to your father.

 

LUKE: He told me enough! He told me you killed him.

 

VADER: No. I am your father.

 

Shocked, Luke looks at Vader in utter disbelief.

 

LUKE: No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!

 

VADER: Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

 

LUKE: No! No! No!

 

VADER: Luke. You can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is

your destiny. Join me, and we can rule the galaxy as father and son.

Come with me. It's the only way.

 

Vader puts away his sword and holds his hand out to Luke.

A calm comes over Luke, and he makes a decision. In the

next instant he steps off the gantry platform into space. The

Dark Lord looks over the platform and sees Luke falling far

below. The wind begins to blow at Vader's cape and the torrent

finally forces him back, away from the edge. The wind soon

fades and the wounded Jedi begins to drop fast, unable to grab

onto anything to break his fall.

 

INTERIOR: REACTOR SHAFT

 

Suddenly Luke is sucked into an exhaust pipe in the side of

the shaft. When Vader sees this, he turns and hurries off the

platform.

 

INTERIOR: EXHAUST PIPE

 

Luke tumbles through the exhaust pipe.

He slides to the end of the slickly polished pipe and stops

as his feet hit a circular grill and knock it open. Luke claws

at the surface of the pipe, trying to keep from sliding out

into space.

 

EXTERIOR: BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY -- WEATHER VANE -- DUSK

 

Unable to hang onto the pipe, Luke tumbles out, emerging at

the undermost part of Cloud City. Reaching out desperately, he

manages to grab onto on electronic weather vane.

 

LUKE: Ben...Ben, please!

 

Luke tries to pull himself up on the weather vane but slips

back down. He hooks one of his legs around the fragile

instruments. All the while, a powerful current of air rushes

out at him from the exhaust pipe.

 

LUKE: Ben. Leia!

 

There is an ominous cracking sound from the base of the

weather vane and a piece breaks off, falling into the clouds

far below.

 

LUKE: Hear me! Leia!

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Leia seems to be lost in a fog, her expression troubled.

Chewie is busy operating the ship. Lando stands next to the

Wookiee, watching a readout on the control panel.

 

LEIA: Luke...We've got to go back.

 

Chewie growls in surprise.

 

LANDO: What?

 

LEIA: I know where Luke is.

 

LANDO: But what about those fighter?

 

Chewie barks in agreement with Lando.

 

LEIA: Chewie, just do it.

 

LANDO: But what about Vader?

 

Chewie turns on Lando, the newcomer, with an ominous growl.

 

LANDO: All right, all right, all right.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- DUSK

 

The Falcon makes a graceful banking turn back toward Cloud

City.

 

EXTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LANDING PLATFORM

 

Vader enters the landing platform and watches as the speck

that is the Falcon disappears. The wind blows at his cape.

He turns to two aides who are standing near the entrance to

the landing platform.

 

VADER: Bring my shuttle.

 

EXTERIOR: BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY -- WEATHER VANE

 

Nearly unconscious, Luke hangs upside-down on the weather

vane as his body shifts in the wind.

 

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY

 

The Falcon dives to the underside of the floating city.

Three TIE fighter close in on the starship.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

Leia tries to remain calm.

 

LANDO: (pointing out the cockpit window) Look, someone's up there.

 

LEIA: It's Luke. Chewie, slow down. Slow down and we'll get under him.

Lando, open the top hatch.

 

Lando rushes out of the cockpit.

 

EXTERIOR: BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY -- WEATHER VANE

 

Luke hangs by one arm from the crossbar of the weather

vane. He slips from the bar and grabs onto the pole of the

vane as the Falcon banks toward him. The Falcon positions

itself under Luke as Lando moves up through the opening of the

hatch. Luke begins to slide and finally falls from the vane

into space.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Out the cockpit window, Leia sees Luke falling from the

bottom of the city. The ship gains on him.

 

LEIA: Okay. Easy, Chewie.

 

The Falcon closes in on Luke.

 

EXTERIOR: BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY

 

Three TIE fighters race toward the Falcon, firing away.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HATCH

 

The hatch pops open with a hiss of pressure. Lando reaches

out to help the battered warrior inside the ship.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Flak bursts all around it as the Falcon banks away from the

city. Leia and Chewie struggle with the controls.

 

LEIA: (into intercom) Lando?

 

LANDO: (over intercom) Okay, let's go.

 

EXTERIOR: BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY

 

The Falcon races away. It is closely followed by three TIE

fighters, all of which keep up a heavy laser assault on the

fleeing starship.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Explosions erupt all around the cockpit, buffeting the ship

wildly. Chewie howls as he frantically tries to control the

ship.

Leia and Chewie turns to see Luke, bloody and battered,

enter the cockpit supported by Lando. Leia jumps up and hugs

him while Chewie barks in joyous relief.

 

LUKE: Oh, Leia.

 

LANDO: All right, Chewie. Let's go.

 

Leia helps Luke from the cockpit as another huge blast

rocks the ship.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- CLOUD CITY -- DAY

 

The Falcon, still followed by the three TIE fighters, races

away from the cloud-covered city.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- SLEEPING QUARTERS

 

Luke rests on a cot, his injured arm wrapped in a

protective cuff. Leia gently wipes his face. The ship lurches

again.

 

LEIA: I'll be back.

 

She kisses him, then leaves the quarters.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

All over the ship muted alarm buzzers sound. Lando

anxiously watches the flashing lights on the control panel and

hurriedly adjusts some switches. Seated next to him, Chewie

points out a new blip appearing on the panel. Leia, watching

over their shoulders, recognizes the shape.

 

LEIA: Star Destroyer.

 

LANDO: All right, Chewie. Ready for light-speed.

 

LEIA: If your people fixed the hyperdrive.

 

Another explosion rocks the ship. Leia notices as a green

light on the panel next to her flashes on.

 

LEIA: All the coordinates are set. It's now or never.

 

Chewie barks in agreement.

 

LANDO: Punch it!

 

The Wookiee shrugs and pulls back on the light-speed

throttle. The sound of the ion engine changes...it is winding

up. Faces are tense, expectant. But nothing happens, and the

engine goes off. Chewie lets out a frustrated howl. The flak

still violently rocks the ship.

 

LANDO: They told me they fixed it. I trusted them to fix it. It's not

my fault!

 

Chewie gets up from his chair and starts out of the

cockpit. He gives Lando and angry shove as he storms past him.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE

 

In the distance the TIE fighters continue their chase,

still shooting lasers. Vader's Star Destroyer moves behind

them, determinedly following the Falcon.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

Vader stands on the bridge looking out the window as

Admiral Piett approaches him.

 

PIETT: They'll be in range of our tractor beam in moments, lord.

 

VADER: Did your men deactivate the hyperdrive on the Millennium

Falcon?

 

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

 

VADER: Good. Prepare the boarding party and set for your weapons for

stun.

 

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON

 

Beeping while he works, Artoo is busy connecting some wires

to Threepio who now has one leg attached.

Chewie enters through the doorway, grunting to himself.

 

THREEPIO: Noisy brute. Why don't we just go into light-speed?

 

Artoo beeps in response.

 

THREEPIO: We can't? How would you know the hyperdrive is deactivated?

 

Artoo whistles knowingly.

 

THREEPIO: The city's central computer told you? Artoo-Detoo, you know

better than to trust a strange computer. Ouch! Pay attention to what

you're doing!

 

Chewie is in the pit. He is trying to loosen something with

an enormous wrench. Frustrated, he uses the wrench like a club

and hits the panel...

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Leia and Lando, seated in front of the control panel, are

suddenly sprayed by a shower of sparks.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

Vader stands on the bridge, watching as the Millennium

Falcon is chased by the TIE fighters. As his Destroyer draws

nearer, Vader's breathing gets slightly faster.

 

VADER: Luke.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- SLEEPING QUARTERS

 

Luke realizes that Vader's ship is very near. He feels

resigned to his fate. He senses that he is beaten, more

emotionally than physically.

 

LUKE: Father.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

VADER: Son, come with me.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- SLEEPING QUARTERS

 

LUKE: (moaning) Ben, why didn't you tell me?

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Lando and Leia are at the controls of the Falcon.

Meanwhile, in the ship's hold, Chewie continues to work

frantically on the hyperdrive mechanism.

 

LANDO: (into intercom) Chewie!

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE

 

The Falcon races through space followed very closely by the

TIE fighters and the huge Imperial Star Destroyer.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Luke enters the cockpit and looks out the window. He is

almost unconscious with pain and depression.

 

LUKE: It's Vader.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

VADER: Luke...it is your destiny.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

LUKE: Ben, why didn't you tell me?

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

PIETT: Alert all commands. Ready for the tractor beam.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD

 

Artoo races to a control panel and starts working on a

circuit board. Furious, Threepio stands on one leg, yelling.

 

THREEPIO: Artoo, come back at once! You haven't finished with me yet!

You don't know how to fix the hyperdrive. Chewbacca can do it. I'm

standing here in pieces, and you're having delusions of grandeur!

 

Artoo moves a circuit on a control panel. Suddenly, the

control panel lights up.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Leia and Lando are thrown into their seats as the

Millennium Falcon unexpectedly shoot into hyperspace.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD

 

The ship tilts up and Artoo topples into the pit on top of

Chewie.

 

THREEPIO: Oh, you did it!

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE

 

The Falcon soars into infinity and away from the huge Star

Destroyer which seems, by contrast, to stand still.

 

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

 

Admiral Piett and another captain glance at Vader in

terror. Vader turns slowly and walks off the bridge, his hands

held behind his back in a contemplative gesture.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- REBEL CRUISER

 

The Millennium Falcon is attached to a huge Rebel cruiser

by a docking tube. Rebel fighters move about the giant

cruiser, and a Rebel transport ship hovers near the fleet.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

Lando sits in the pilot's seat as he talks into the

comlink. Chewie busily throws a variety of switches in

preparation for takeoff.

 

LANDO: (into comlink) Luke, we're ready for takeoff.

 

LUKE: (over comlink) Good luck, Lando

 

LANDO: (into comlink) When we find Jabba the Hut and that bounty

hunter, we'll contact you.

 

INTERIOR: STAR CRUISER -- MEDICAL CENTER

 

Luke speaking into the comlink as a medical droid works on

his hand. Leia stands near him while Threepio and Artoo look

out the window.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) I'll meet you at the rendezvous point on

Tatooine.

 

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

 

LANDO: (into comlink) Princess, we'll find Han. I promise.

 

INTERIOR: STAR CRUISER -- MEDICAL CENTER

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Chewie, I'll be waiting for your signal.

 

Chewie's wail comes over the comlink.

 

LUKE: (into comlink) Take care, you two. May the Force be with you.

 

Luke looks down at his hand. A metalized type of bandage

has been wrapped around his wrist. The medical droid makes

some adjustments in a tiny electronic unit, then pricks each

one of Luke's fingers.

 

LUKE: Ow!

 

Luke wriggles his fingers, makes a fist, and relaxes it.

His hand is completely functional.

He gets up and walks over to Leia. There is a new bond

between them, a new understanding. Leia is thinking about Han;

Luke is thinking about his uncertain and newly complicated

future. Together they stand at the large window of the medical

center looking out on the Rebel Star Cruiser and a dense,

luminous galaxy swirling in space. Luke puts his arm around

Leia. The droids stand next to them, and Threepio moves closer

to Artoo putting his arm on him. The group watches as the

Millennium Falcon moves into view, makes a turn, and zooms

away into space.

 

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- REBEL STAR CRUISER

 

While Luke, Leia, and the droids stand, looking out the

window of the star cruiser, two escort fighters join the large

ship. Slowly, the cruiser turns and moves away into space.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

EXTERIOR: GALAXY -- SPACE

 

 

END CREDITS FADE IN AND OUT OVER BACKGROUND

 

THE END

 

Directed by

IRVIN KERSHNER

Produced by

GARY KURTZ

Screenplay by

LEIGH BRACKETT and LAWRENCE KASDAN

Story by

GEORGE LUCAS

Executive Producer

GEORGE LUCAS

 

STARRING

Luke Skywalker MARK HAMILL

Han Solo HARRISON FORD

Princess Leia CARRIE FISHER

Lando Calrissian BILLY DEE WILLIAMS

C-3PO ANTHONY DANIELS

CO-STARRING

 

Darth Vader DAVID PROWSE

Chewbacca PETER MAYHEW

R2-D2 KENNY BAKER

Yoda FRANK OZ

 

Production Designer

NORMAN REYNOLDS

Director of Photography

PETER SUSCHITZKY b.s.c.

Edited by

PAUL HIRSCH a.c.e.

Visual Special Effects

BRIAN JOHNSON, RICHARD EDLUND

Music by

JOHN WILLIAMS

Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra

Associate Procuders

ROBERT WATTS, JAMES BLOOM

 

SUPPORTING CAST

Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi ALEC GUINNESS

Boba Fett JEREMY BULLOCH

Lando's Aide JOHN HOLLIS

Chief Ugnaught JACK PURVIS

Snow Creature DES WEBB

Performing Assistant for Yoda KATHRYN MULLEN

Voice of Emperor CLIVE REVILL

 

IMPERIAL FORCES

 

Admiral Piett KENNETH COLLEY

General Veers JULIAN COLLEY

Admiral Ozzel MICHAEL SHEARD

Captain Needa MICHAEL CULVER

Other Officers

JOHN DICKS, MILTON JOHNS, MARK JONES, OLIVER MAGUIRE,

ROBIN SCOBEY

 

REBEL FORCES

 

General Rieekan BRUCE BOA

Zev (Rouge 2) CHRISTOPHER MALCOM

Wedge (Rouge 3) DENNIS LAWSON

Hobbie (Rouge 4) RICHARD OLDFIELD

Dak (Luke's Gunner) JOHN MORTON

Janson (Wedge's Gunner) IAN LISTON

Major Derlin JOHN RATZRNBERGER

Deck Lieutanant JAKE McKENZIE

Head Controller JERRY HARTE

Other Officers

NORMAN CHANCER, NORWICH DUFF, RAY HASSETT, BRIGITTE KAHN,

BERNELL TUCKER

 

Design Consultant and Conceptual Artist

RALPH McQUARRIE

Art Directors

LESLIE DILLEY, HARRY LANCE, ALAN TOMKINS

Set Decorator

MICHAEL FORD

Construction Manager

Bill Welch

Assistant Art Directors

MICHAEL LAMONT, FRED HOLE

Sketch Artist

IVOR BEDDOES

Draftsman

TED AMBROSE, MICHAEL BOONE, REG BREAM, STEAVE COOPER, RICHARD DAWKING

Modellers

FRED EVANS, ALLAN MOSS, JAN STEVENS

Chief Buyer

EDWARD RODRIGO

Construction Storeman

DAVE MIDDLETON

 

Operating Cameramen

KELVIN PIKE, DAVID GARFATH

Assistant Camermen

MAURICE ARNOLD, CHRIS TANNER

Second Assistant Cameraman

PETER ROBINSON, BRIAN OSBORN

Matte Photography Consultant

STANLEY SAYER b.s.c.

Gaffer

LUARIE SHANE

Rigging Gaffer

JOHN CLARK

Lighting Equipment and Crew from Lee Electric

 

Make-up and Special Creature Design

STUART FREEBORN

Chief Make-up Artist

GRAHAM FREEBORN

Make-up Artists

KAY FREEBORN, NICK MALEY

Chief Hairdresser

BARBARA RITCHIE

Yoda Fabrication

WENDY MIDENER

 

Costume Designer

JOHN MOLLO

Wardrobe Supervisor

TINY NICHOLLS

Wardrobe Mistress

EILEEN SULLIVAN

 

Property Master

FRANK BURTON

Property Supervisor

CHARLES TORBETT

Property Dressing Supervisor

JOE DIPPLE

Head Carpenter

GEORGE GUNNING

Head Plastarer

BERT RODWELL

Head Rigger

RED LAWRENCE

 

Sound Design and Supervising Sound Effects Editor

BEN BURTT

Sound Editors

MICHAEL BURROW, TERESA ECKTON, BONNIE KOEHLER

Producion Sound

PETER SUTTON

Sound Boom Operator

DON WORTHAM

Production Maintenance

RON BUTCHER

Re-Recording

BILL VARNEY, STEVE MASLOW, GREGG LANDAKES

Music Recording

ERIC TOMLINSON

Orchestrations

HERBERT W. SPENCER

Supervising Music Editor

KENNETH WANNBERG

Assistant Film Editors

DUWAYNE DUNHAM, PHIL SANDERSON, BARBARA ELLIS, STEVE STARKEY,

PAUL TOMLINSON

Dialogue Editors

CURT SCHULKEY, LESLIE SHATZ, JOANNE D'ANTONIO

Optical Coordinator

ROBERT FRIEDMAN

Assistant Sound Editors

JOHN BENSON, JOANNE CAPPUCCELLI, KEN FISCHER, CRAIG JAEGER, NANCY JENCKS,

LAUREL LADEVICH

Foley Editors

ROBERT RUTLEDGE, SCOTT HECKER

Foley Assistants

EDWARD M. STEIDELE, JOHN ROESH

Sound Effects Recording

RANDY THOM

Recording Technicians

GARY SUMMERS, HOWIE, KEVIN O'CONNELL

 

Production Supervisor

BRUCE SHARMAN

Assistant Production Manager

PATRICA CARR

Production Coordinator

MIKI HERMAN

First Assistant Director

DAVID TOMBLIN

Second Assistant Directors

STEVE LANNING, ROY BUTTON

Location Manager

PHILIP KOHLER

Continuity

KAY RAWLINGS, PAMELA MANN

Casting

IRENE LAMB, TERRY LEIBLING, ROB EDMISTON

Assistant to Producer

BUNNY ALSUP

Assistant to Direcctor

Debbie Shaw

Assistant to Executive Producer

JANE BAY

Production Assistants

BARBARA HARLEY, NICK LAWS, CHARLES WESSLER

Stunt Coordinator

PETER DIAMOND

Stunt Doubles

BOB ANDERSON, COLIN SKEAPING

Production Accountant

RON PHIPPS

Assistant Accountant

MICHAEL LARKINS

Set Cost Controller

KEN GORDON

Location Accountant

RON COOK

Staff Photographer

GEORGE WHITEAR

Unit Publicist

ALANN ARNOLD

Assistant Publicist

KRISTEN WING

 

Studio Secont Unit

Directors

HARLEY COKLISS, JOHN BARRY

Directory of Photography

CHRIS MENGES

Assistant Director

DOMINIC FULFORD

Second Assistant Director

ANDREW MONTGOMERY

 

Location Secont Unit

Director

PETER MacDONALD

Director of Photography

GEOFF GLOVER

Operating Cameraman

BOB SMITH

Assistant Cameramen

JOHN CAMPBELL, MIKEBREWSTER

Second Assistant Cameramen

JOHN KEEN, GREG DUPRE

Dolly Grip

FRANK BATT

Production Manager

SVIEN JOHANSEN

Assistant Directors

BILL WESTLEY, OLA SOLUM

 

Production and Mechanical Effects Unit

Mechanical Effects Supervisor

NICK ALLDER

Location Unit Supervisor

ALLAN BRYCE

Senior Effects Technician

NIEL SWAN, DAVE WATKINS

Robot Fabrication and Supervisor

ANDREW KELLY, RONHONE

Effects Technicians

PHIL KNOWLES, BARRY WHITROD, MARTIN GANT, BRIANEKE, GUY HUDSON, DENNIS LOWE

Effects Engineering

ROGER NICHILLS, STEVE LLOYD

Electrical Engineer

JOHN HATT

Electircal Consultant

ROB DICKINSON

Model Construction

JOHN PAKENHAM

Effects Assistants

ALAN POOLE, DIGBY MILNER, ROBERT McLAREN

Effects Secretary

GILL CASE

 

Miniature and Optical Effects Unit

Effects Director of Photography

DENNIS MUREN

Effects Cameramen

KEN RALSTON, JIM VEILLEUX

Camera Operators

DON DOW, BILL NEIL

Assistant Cameramen

SELWYN EDDY, JODY WESTHIEMER, RICK FIGHTER, CLINT PALMER, MICHAEL McALISTER,

PAUL HUSTON, RICHARD FISH, CHRIS ANDERSON

 

Optical Photography Supervisor

BRUCE NICHOLSON

Optical Printer Operators

DAVID BERRY, KENNETH SMITHDONALD CLARK

Optical Line-up

WARREN FRANKLIN, MARK YARGO, PETER AMUNDSON, LORING DOYLE, THOMAS ROSSETER,

TAM PILLSBURY, JAMES LIM

Optical Coordinator

LAURIE VERMONT

Labroatory Technicians

TIM GEIDEMAN, DUNCAN MYERS, ED JONES

 

Art Director - Visual Effects

JOE JOHNSTON

Assistant Art Director

NILO MODIS JAMERO

 

Stop Motion Animation

JON BERG, PHIT TIPPETT

Stop Motion Technicians

TOM ST. AMANO, DOUG BESICK

 

Matte Painting Supervisor

HARRISON ELLENSHAW

Matte Artists

RALPH McQUARRIE, MICHAEL PANGRAZIO

Matte Photography

NEIL KREPELA

Additional Matte Photography

MICHAEL LAWLER

Matte Photography Assistants

CRAIG BARRON, ROBERT ELSWIT

 

Chief Model Maker

LORNE PETERSON

Modelshop Foreman

STEVE GAWLEY

Model Makers

PAUL HUSTON, TOM RUDDUCK, MICHAEL FULMER, SAMUEL ZOLLTHEIS, CHARLES BAILEY,

EASE OWYEUNG, SCOTT MARSHALL, MARC THORPE, WESLEY SEEDS, DAVE CARSON,

ROB GEMMEL, PAT McCLUNG

 

Animation and Rotoscope Supervisor

PETER KURAN

Animators

SAMUEL COMSTOCK, GARRY ALLER, JOHN VAN VLIET, RICK TAYLOR, KIM KNOWLTON,

CHRIS CASADY, NINA SAXON, DIANA WILSON

 

Visual Effects Editorial Supervisor

CONRAD BUFF

Effects Editor

MICHAEL KELLY

Assistant Effects Editors

ARTHUR REPOLA, HOWARD STEIN

Apprentice Editor

JON THALER

 

Production Administration

DICK GALLEGLY

Production Secretary

PATRICA BLAU

Production Associate

THOMAS BROWN

Production Accountant

RAY SCALICE

Assistant Accountants

GLENN PHILLIPS, PAM TRAAS, LAURA CROCKETT

Production Assistant

JENNY OZNOWICZ

Transportation

ROBERT MARTIN

Still Photography

TERRY CHOSTNER

Lab Assistant

ROBERTO McGRAITH

 

Electronic Systems Designer

JERRY JEFFRESS

System Programming

KRIS BROW

Electronic Engineers

LHARY MEYER, MIKE MacKENZIE, GARY LEO

Special Project Coordinator

STUART ZIFF

Equipment Engineering Supervisor

GENE WHITEMAN

Design Engineer

MIKE BOLLES

Machinists

UDO PAMPEL, GREG BEAUMONTE

Draftsman

ED TENNLER

Special Projects

GARY PLATER

Supervising Stage Technician

T.E. MEHNKE

Stage Technicians

WILLIAM BECK, BOBBY FINLEY, LEO LOVERRO, EDWARD HIRSH, DICK DOVA, ED BREED

Miniature Pyrotechnics

JOSEPH VISKOCIL, DAVE PIER, THAINE MORRIS

 

Optical Printer Compenent Manufacturer

GEORGE RANDLE CO.

Camera and Movement Design

JIM BEAUMONTE

Special Optical Designer

DAVID GRAFTON

Special Optical Fabrication

J.L. WOOD OPTICAL SYSTEMS

Optical Printer Component Enginnering

FRIES ENGINNERING

High Speed Camera Movements

MITCHELL CAMERA CORP.

Ultra High Speed Cameras

BRUCE HILL PRODUCTIONS

 

Color Timer

ED LEMKE

Negative Cutting

ROBERT HART, DARRELL HIXSON

Dolby Consultant

DON DIGIROLAMO

Additional Optical Effects

VAN DER VEER PHOTO EFFECTS, MODERN FILM EFFECTS, RAY MERCER & COMPANY,

WESTHEIMER COMPANY, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FILMS

 

Aerial Camera Systems by Westcam Camera Systems (Europe)

Aerial Cameraman

RON GOODMAN

Assistant

MARGARAT HARRON

Helicopter Supplied by Dollar Air Services Limited

Pilot

MARK WOLFE

Cloud Plates Photographed with Astrovision by Continental Camera Systems Inc.

Snow Vehicles Supplied by Aktiv Fisher

R2 Bodies Fabricated by White Horse Toy Company

Special Assistance from Giltspur Engineering and Company

Photographed on he Hardangerjskuien Glacier, Finse, Norway

and at EMI Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, England

Music Recorded at Anvil Studios, Danham, England

Re-Recording at Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Los Angeles, California

Special Visual Effects Produced at Industrial Light and Magic,

Marin County, California

 

Filmed in Panavision Recorded in DOLBY STEREO

 

Color by Rank Film Laboratories Prints by Deluxe

 

A Lucasfilm Ltd. Production A Twenieth Century-Fox Release

 

Original Soundtrack on RSO Records Novalization from Ballantine Books

 

 TM Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) 1980