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THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK SHOOTING SCRIPT FOURTH DRAFT BY LAWRENCE KASDAN
A white snowscape races toward camera... the MAIN TITLE quickly recedes, followed by a roll-up. Episode V: THE EMPIRE
STRIKES BACK... A thousand worlds have felt the oppressive hand of the Emperor as He attempts to crush the growing rebellion. As the Imperial grip of tyranny tightens, Princess Leia and the small band of freedom fighters search for a more secure base of operations... The roll-up disappears into the bleak horizon.
The camera tilts down bringing into view a small figure galloping across the windswept ice slope.
A closer panning shot reveals a bundled rider on a large gray snow lizard, called a TAUNTAUN. Curving plumes of snow rise from beneath the speeding paws of the two-legged beast.
The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a stop.
He pulls off his protective goggles. It is LUKE SKYWALKER. He notices something in the sky and takes a pair of electro-binoculars from his utility belt.
6. EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - LUKE'S POV - DAY From LUKE'S POV, we follow a bright object as it falls to the ground. On the distant horizon, an explosion marks the point of impact.
The wind whips at Luke's fur-lined cap as he activates a com-link transmitter. His lizard is nervous. LUKE After a little static a familiar voice is heard. HAN (OS) LUKE HAN (OS) LUKE
Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his lizard, which seems frightened. Luke pats the beast on the head to calm it. Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to adjust it when suddenly a large shadow falls over him from behind, followed by a monstrous HOWL. Luke turns and looks up at an eleven foot high shape towering over him. LUKE He grabs for his pistol, but is HIT flat in the face by a huge, white claw, knocking him into the snow, bloody and unconscious.
Luke falls unconscious into the snow. The terrified screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by the horrible snap of a neck being broken.
The WAMPA ICE MONSTER grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away.
A WEIRD MECHANICAL SOUND is heard over the whining of the wind. A strange PROBE ROBOT, with several extended sensors, emerges from the smoke-shrouded crater. The ominous robot FLOATS across the snow plain, and disappears into the distance.
A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance of an enormous ice cave.
Rebel troopers are rushing about unloading supplies and otherwise securing their new base. The rider swings rakishly off his lizard and pulls away his goggles: HAN SOLO. He walks briskly into the main HAN The Wookiee GRUMBLES a reply. HAN Chewbacca lets out with a joyful CHUCKLE and returns to his work as Han leaves.
A makeshift command center has been set up in a blaster area of thick ice. The low-ceilinged room is a beehive of activity. Controllers, troopers, and droids move about setting up electronic equipment and monitoring radar signals. GENERAL RIEEKAN straightens up from a console as Han approaches. RIEEKAN HAN RIEEKAN HAN HAN LEIA (OS) The two men turn to see PRINCESS LEIA, dressed in a short white combat jacket and pants. She is upset by Han's news. Her hair is braided and tied across her head in a "30's" Nordic fashion... HAN RIEEKAN HAN RIEEKAN Rieekan touches Han and moves away. Han turns to Leia. HAN Leia is angry. Han sees she has no warmth to offer him. He shakes his head and adopts a cooler tone. HAN
Han strides down a corridor carved from the ice. Leia follows quickly, agitated. Behind them, unnoticed, an appendage of a Wampa Ice Monster suddenly detaches from a seemingly solid section of ice wall. LEIA Han stops in the quiet corridor and turns to face Leia. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN Leia stares at him, understands, then laughs. LEIA Han has had it with this broad. He steps closer. Leia is almost against the wall. Han puts a hand against the wall to cut off any retreat. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN He steps away from her, takes a last cool appraisal. HAN (Continued) LEIA Leia walks away.
Track with the sinister, probe robot as it moves across the vast frozen wilderness. One of its extended sensors detects something and the robot stops, turns and heads off in another direction, at high speed.
The robot stops before a large mound of snow about twenty feet long and six feet high. It circles the mound, then shoots a thin laser bolt at the snow drift.
18. CLOSE-UP MOUND OF SNOW The mound shakes a little bit and two large eyes appear at one end, staring directly at the robot. A primeval BELLOW issues forth from the mound.
The robot backs off a few feet, then blasts the mound with a heavy laser bolt that disintegrates the snow-covered creature in a cloud of smoke and flame.
The evil robot moves off toward the horizon.
The jagged face of a huge ice wall sits gloomily in the dim twilight of a Hoth day. Luke hangs spreadeagle upside down, ankles tied by hide thongs to ice stalactites, his extended arms within a meter of the snow floor. His face is covered in dried frozen blood on one side. He opens his eyes as a chilling MOAN of the hideous ice creature echoes off the gorge walls.
Luke pulls himself up, grabs hold of his ankles, and futilely tries to unfasten the thongs. Exhausted, he drops back into the hanging position. LUKE Luke spies his laser sword lying near a pile of his discarded gear about three feet out of reach. Reverberating through the gorge, the growling and crunching sounds of the approaching ice monster can be heard. Luke desperately strains for his sword. Quietly, almost a whisper, Luke hears old BEN'S CALM VOICE. BEN (Voice
Over) LUKE BEN (Voice
Over) Just as the ice monster looms over Luke, the light saber suddenly jumps three feet into Luke's hand. The young warrior instantly ignites the sword, swings up and cuts both of his bindings. He drops to the snow in a heap. The startled ice monster moves back, his giant yellow eyes blinking. The most that can be discerned of the creature is a shape, and those two perplexed eyes. Luke scrambles to his feet. He swings his light saber and the monster screams in pain.
Luke staggers out of the gorge and stumbles down a snow bank.
The hangar is full of activity. We hear a familiar stream of beeps and whistles a moment before catching sight of ARTOO and THREEPIO, who appear from a corridor and move along an ice wall toward the Millennium Falcon. Behind them, in the ice, two large yellow eyes blink open. THREEPIO The two robots stop at Han Solo's space freighter. Han and Chewie are still struggling with their central lifters. HAN THREEPIO HAN THREEPIO Han glances at the fading light at the entrance of the ice cave as night slowly begins to fall on the planet. HAN Han jumps down off the lift. HAN He gets a negative reply as the DECK SERGEANT and an AIDE rush up to Han. DECK SERGEANT HAN HAN The Deck Sergeant and his aide turn and rush off. Artoo lets out a confused whistle. THREEPIO HAN Artoo lets out with a hysterical whistle. THREEPIO
The Deck Sergeant and several Troopers inspect the mangled remains of three dead Tauntauns. Some of the hardware nearby has also been brutally pulled out of shape. Several surviving Tauntauns shuffle nervously nearby. Outside the light is slowly fading. TROOPER The Deck Sergeant nods, then notices Han running up and steps out of the group to meet him. DECK SERGEANT DECK SERGEANT HAN DECK SERGEANT HAN Han pushes through the troops and mounts a snow lizard. Huge monster feet move into the shadows of one of the X wing bays. DECK SERGEANT HAN
The dark, evil probe robot moves across the frozen floor of the Hoth plain. The wind is beginning to pick up, and snow starts to cake on the front of the robot. It stops, hovers, then drops to the ground. Several probes emerge from its metal hull and a dome shaped force field around the robot begins to glow. Eventually, the force field becomes a solid shape and is quickly covered with the blowing snow.
28. EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - DUSK Han rides across the plain on his Tauntaun.
He reigns his mount to a stop, looks around and listens. It's almost as if he hears something. He turns and looks in one direction, then spurs his lizard in that direction.
Han rides off across the plain on his Tauntaun.
The wind is blowing quite strong now. Luke struggles to stay upright, but a blast of freezing snow knocks him over. He struggles to get up, but can't. The young warrior from Tatooine drags himself a couple of feet and then collapses. LUKE BEN Luke looks up and sees old BEN KENOBI standing not ten feet away. Luke strains to lift himself up. He is speechless. BEN LUKE BEN LUKE BEN LUKE Luke drops into unconsciousness.
Han pulls up, leaps off his lizard. He goes to his snow-covered friend and cradles him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun lets out a low, pitiful bellow. There is real fear in Han's face as he shakes Luke. HAN Luke doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing Luke's wounded face. Soon he is slapping him. HAN Luke responds to a slap. Han is joyous. HAN Han glances over toward his Tauntaun with concern as he starts to lift Luke. HAN
Han has carried Luke almost to the lizard when the Tauntaun dies with a moan. Han checks the lizard. HAN HAN Han starts pulling things out of a pack on the dead lizard's back. HAN The wind has picked up considerably and Han is beginning to find it difficult to move. He struggles with the shelter container, opens it and starts constructing it. HAN
A veil of icy snow flows across the snow drift obscuring the doomed warriors.
Princess Leia and her two robots stand before the dark entrance to the rebel base, waiting for a sign of the two rebel heroes. Leia shivers as the cold wind blows in on her. Artoo beeps a mournful tone. Chewie is sitting nearby with his head in his hands. THREEPIO RIEEKAN LEIA Chewie lets out a long, mournful howl, somewhat like a coyote. RIEEKAN LEIA RIEEKAN Artoo lets out with a complex series of efficient beeps. THREEPIO Leia stands praying to herself as the huge metal doors slam across the entrance of the ice cave. The loud BOOMS echo through the huge cavern. Chewie lets out another howl.
The huge dim sun of Hoth crawls lazily over the horizon in the North as a spurt of snow shoots skyward revealing the dark probe robot. The sinister object pulls in several of its extended arms, hovers for a few moments, then starts off across the bleak Hoth plain.
37. EXT SNOWDRIFT - HOTH - DAY A small, snub-nosed, armored landspeeder races across the white landscape.
There is only one PILOT, ZEV, in the enclosed two-man craft. He concentrates on the scopes which ring his cockpit. A low beep can be heard. ZEV
The small craft banks and makes a slow arc racing off in a new direction.
The pilot switches over to a new transmitter. ZEV There is a sharp crackle of static then a faint voice. HAN (OS) ZEV
The small shelter is covered with snow on the windward side. Han has made a makeshift antenna which rests gingerly on top of the snowdrift. The small armored speeder can be seen approaching in the distance as Han waves frantically in the foreground.
42. INT MEDICAL CENTER - REBEL BASE Strange ROBOT SURGEONS adjust a mass of electronic equipment. A switch is thrown and a sudden blinding flash obscures Luke in a chamber filled with a thick, gelatinous red slime. Luke begins to thrash about, raving in his delirium.
Leia, Threepio, and Chewbacca are watching from a glassed-off room next door, where Han is resting on a cushioned medical table. They can hear the mechanical surgeons working and Luke's ravings on a speaker in the room. LUKE Han raises himself on the table, listening to Luke. Chewbacca makes him lie back down, then BARKS a comment in reference to Luke. HAN THREEPIO HAN LEIA HAN TOO-ONEBEE (2-1B), a surgeon droid, enters the room. TOO-ONEBEE LEIA HAN Chewie WHINES, looks around. HAN
The drip, drip, drip of melting ice echoes throughout the long eerie corridor. A trooper walks by, followed at a short distance by Artoo, who rolls along whistling to himself. Behind him, a Wampa Ice Monster suddenly appears from out of the wall and begins following the little droid. Up ahead Artoo sees several troopers begin to act rather strangely, pointing at him and yelling. This puzzles Artoo, and he stops for a moment to figure it out. Far in the distance, alarms begin to go off. Artoo comes to a conclusion, spins his head around and sees the Ice Monster staring down at him. The droid lets out a screech and races down the hall at full tilt ahead of the advancing monster. A small troop of soldiers has gathered at the end of the hallway with weapons. Artoo races through the armed gathering as the creature screams and charges the troopers, laser bolts exploding around him. Artoo peeks from around a corner in time to see several troopers hurled against the walls like rag dolls. Two soldiers fire a laser bazooka at the monster and it is obscured by an enormous explosion. The smoke clears. The silence is spooky. The Ice Monster stands seemingly dumbstruck. Artoo gives a short, worried beep. The creature topples over in a dead heap. A cheer goes up from Artoo and the troopers as they converge to inspect the fallen creature. A young CORPORAL pulls his com-link off his belt and speaks into it.
Alarms buzz softly in the background. The entire command center is on full alert. General Rieekan is conferring with the HEAD CONTROLLER as Han and Leia enter the room. Threepio and Chewie follow. LEIA RIEEKAN Another alarm goes off at a console behind them and the SENSOR CONTROLLER at that spot calls across the room. SENSOR CONTROLLER Rieekan leaves the group as they continue... HEAD CONTROLLER THREEPIO HAN
Rieekan looks up grimly from the console in the background. He calls over to Leia and Han. RIEEKAN The group hurries over to Rieekan. LEIA SENSOR CONTROLLER HAN LEIA SENSOR CONTROLLER Threepio steps up to the control panel and listens to the strange signal intensely. THREEPIO A new VOICE comes over the com-link. TROOPER VOICE The transmission ends in static. HAN RIEEKAN HAN
47. EXT SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY The dark probe robot moves past the smoldering ruins of the station fire and down a ridge toward the rebel base.
The robot stops when it sees in the distance a tiny speeder racing toward it followed by several other speeders. A large antenna projects skyward from the robot's top and it begins to send out a PIERCING SIGNAL.
The speeder disappears behind a snow dune.
The sinister robot continues to send out its high pitched signal while frantically searching the landscape for the rebel speeders.
Shortly, Chewbacca pops his head over a snow bank not thirty feet away. The robot swings around, its deadly ray ready to fire. But before it can get a shot off, it is hit from behind by a laser bolt, and explodes in a million pieces.
Han Solo rises from the direction of the deadly bolt and walks over to the spot where the robot was a moment before, taking out his com-link.
Princess Leia and Rieekan listen to Han on the com-link. HAN (OS) LEIA LEIA HAN (OS) RIEEKAN
Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and stranger than the five Imperial Star Destroyers that surround it, sits in the vastness of space. The six huge ships are surrounded by a convoy of smaller spacecraft. Tie fighters dart to and fro.
Controllers working the vast complex of electronic controls hear ominous, approaching footsteps and look up from their controls. The squat, evil-looking ADMIRAL OZZEL and the young, powerfully-built GENERAL VEERS, who have been conferring near the front, also feel the approaching presence and turn that way. DARTH VADER, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind. As he moves across the wide bridge, CAPTAIN PIETT hurries up to Ozzel. PIETT OZZEL PIETT VADER PIETT On a large screen, an image of the rebel snow base appears surrounded by complicated computer readouts. The rebel speeders can be seen approaching in the distance. Vader studies the image. VADER OZZEL VADER
Artoo and Threepio are moving by a steel door on which an X had been painted. From behind it come intermittent THUMPS and ROARS. THREEPIO Artoo WHISTLES his understanding as he stands before the door. Immediately the THUMPING on the door picks up. Artoo beeps a question. Threepio moves around a corner. Artoo stares at the door another moment, then proceeds to tell the Ice Monsters off in a burst of beeps and whistles. The THUMPING picks up as Artoo moves casually away.
Luke is out of the chamber, lying on the bed previously occupied by Han. Leia is at his side. She brushes the hair out of his eyes and runs her fingers along the scar on his face. LEIA LUKE LEIA Their eyes meet. Luke touches her cheek with his hand. LUKE She does and it's confusing. Their lips are very close. About to kiss. The door opens noisily and Threepio enters with Artoo. Leia pulls back, startled. Luke realizes the moment has been lost. His mind races for a way to regain it as Leia takes on her more formal manner. The droids are a bothersome distraction; Luke's concentration is on Leia. Artoo beeps a cheerful greeting. THREEPIO Artoo beeps and whistles. THREEPIO LUKE LEIA THREEPIO LEIA LUKE LEIA Leia's reaction is so much bigger and more vociferous than Luke expected, it starts what is to become a growing snowball of confusion for him. LEIA LUKE LEIA LUKE LEIA LEIA LUKE LEIA LUKE LEIA LUKE THREEPIO Artoo beeps and whistles proudly. THREEPIO Luke's head is spinning as Han and Chewie make a vigorous entrance. The Wookiee GROWLS a greeting. HAN LUKE HAN HAN LEIA LUKE HAN LEIA Chewie is amused; he LAUGHS in his manner. Han is enjoying this. He regards Chewie good-humoredly. HAN Luke sparks to this; he looks at Leia. LEIA HAN LUKE HAN HAN Leia is flushed, eyes darting between Luke And Han. LEIA HAN LUKE Leia looks vulnerable for a moment, then the mask again, focusing on Luke. LEIA With that Leia leans over and kisses Luke on the lips. Then she stands and walks out. Everyone is dumbstruck. The door closes behind Leia and they all look at each other in silence. In the distance, the muffled sound of an alarm is heard.
Six huge star destroyers rest in the Hoth System.
59. INT STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER A dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light from above. The brooding Dark Lord sits on a raised meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches Vader. Vader doesn't move. Veers, although seemingly very sure of himself, is still not bold enough to interrupt the meditating Lord. The young general stands quietly at attention until the evil presence speaks. VADER VEERS VADER VEERS VADER Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large view-screen showing the bridge of the mighty space cruiser. Admiral Ozzel appears, with Captain Piett in the background. OZZEL VADER The Captain steps forward, as the Admiral moves away slightly confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict. VADER Piett is as pleased as he is surprised. Admiral Ozzel has been struggling to breathe in the background and now with a final choke, he dies.
Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews and droids rush to their alert stations. Armored landspeeders are lined up in attack formation near the main entrance. Leia is briefing a group of pilots gathered in the center of the hangar. Beyond them Han can be seen doing some frantic welding on the lifters of the Millennium Falcon. LEIA PILOT LEIA The pilots hurry away.
Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He pulls out his com-link, all the time eyeing the lifters. Leia passes, giving Han a dirty look. A mechanism on the pirate's ship makes a noise and the lifters begin to rise. Suddenly there is a malfunction and the right lifter breaks partially loose, swinging down with a crash. Han winces. Leia, across the hangar, turns at the sound and shoots Han a "What a screw-up!" look, then goes out. HAN
The command center is quiet but tense, a marked contrast to the rushing about on the hangar deck. Only the buzz of complicated electronic equipment overrides the silence. General Rieekan watches over the shoulder of a RADARMAN as hundreds of small dots dance across a scope readout. Leia joins him. RADARMAN RIEEKAN LEIA CONTROLLER
FULL SHOT - A huge Imperial Star Destroyer rests against a sea of stars with the white surface of the planet Hoth far below in the left part of the frame.
FULL SHOT - Interior Imperial Star Destroyer. Out window stars and the white planet on the left side of the frame. CAPTAIN
The long line of rebel controllers are tense, as are Princess Leia and General Rieekan, although they try not to show it. R-2 scoots by in the background followed by Threepio; they leave the room. CONTROLLER RADARMAN
FULL SHOT - Giant ball-shaped ion cannon as it rotates into position and blasts two red energy beams skyward.
FULL SHOT - SPACE - The planet Hoth covers two-thirds of the frame, left and lower. A medium rebel transport races away from the planet, followed by the two red energy beams. All race over camera.
FULL SHOT TRUCKING as the rebel transport races over the camera toward the waiting Imperial Star Destroyer, followed, then overtaken by the two red energy bolts. The Imperial Star Destroyer is hit in the conning tower by the bolts, causing great explosions.
FULL SHOT - Imperial Star Destroyer as a series of explosions rock the ship causing it to veer, then spin wildly out of control. SIDE VIEW of Star Destroyer right to left as it careens into deep space, and the rebel transport moves across the screen left to right. PAN with the rebel ship as it races away to safety.
70. MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE - HOTH Pilots, gunners and R-2 units hurry about. Luke, pulling on his heavy weather gear, is headed toward a row of armored speeders. He stops at the back of the Millennium Falcon, where Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter with even more haste than before. Luke speaks up to them. Chewie BARKS a farewell and returns to his work. Han and Luke exchange warm looks. LUKE HAN Han swings down by one arm like a monkey and clasps Luke's hand. They hold for a long moment, then break. Luke nods and moves away. Han watches him go. HAN He goes back to work. Everyone cheers at the announcement which echoes through the hangar. ANNOUNCER
(OVER PA) Luke hurries up to his landspeeder. His gunner, DACK, a fresh-faced, eager kid, is glad to see him. They climb in. DACK LUKE DACK LUKE Leia's voice comes over the PA system.
Threepio and Artoo stand in the middle of the corridor as troops and aides rush past them. THREEPIO Artoo replies with a whistle and a toot, turns and speeds down the hallway. Threepio waves, then turns and moves off in the opposite direction.
With gun tower in the foreground, men rush about getting ready for the battle. The giant gun swings around pointing to camera slightly left to right.
MED SHOT - Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons into position along a snow trench. Men rush about as officers yell orders and brace themselves against the rhythmic gusts of wind.
MED SHOT - Rebel troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing its guns into position.
MED SHOT - Rebel troops move a dish-like ray gun into position. The huge power generator can be seen in background against the ice cliffs.
76. EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS MED SHOT of generator, as men scurry about in the foreground carrying equipment. The loud buzz and popping of the generator is deafening. Long fingers of energy fly off the huge cores every so often. One trooper moves into the foreground as he hears something but can't quite make out what it is.
MED CLOSE-UP - An officer in the trench hears the sound also. He turns toward the ice plain horizon. All work stops as the men listen to the distant, thump, thump, thump sound. The officer squints to see something.
WIDE SHOT - A thin horizon line cuts across the bleak landscape. Small dot-sized objects begin to appear on the horizon: the wind begins to pick up.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP - The giant foot of an Imperial snow walker crashes thru frame, kicking up snow and ice. It rises out of frame.
MED SHOT - The rebel officer lifts a pair of electrobinoculars to his eyes.
ELECTRO-BINOCULAR POV of very close view on a giant walker, the view ZOOMS back to reveal a full shot of three approaching walkers. Small flashes appear around the guns of the lumbering monsters.
MED SHOT - The officer drops his binoculars as the regular rhythmic pounding begins to vibrate the ground. It grows louder, with a high-pitched, metallic rattling. He speaks into a com-link. LUKE The ice and snow explode around the officer and his men.
MED SIDE ANGLE - The rebel troops aim their weapons at the horizon as explosions erupt all around them. They are nervous, and tighten their weapons from the cold or fear. Behind the troops a dozen speeders race screen left to right.
MED FULL SHOT - Four speeders race over camera at full throttle. Slight left to right angle.
HIGH ANGLE - Trucking with speeders as they accelerate away from camera toward the distant walkers.
MED CLOSE-UP - Walker head fires at speeders. Second walker in background. Moving right to left.
MED FULL SHOT - Two speeders going left to right across ice plain. The one in the foreground explodes in a ball of flames. Camera trucking with ships.
INT SPEEDER OVER-SHOULDER - Pilot (Luke) works his controls as he fires at the approaching walkers. The monstrous machines fire back, shaking the speeder in a hail of flack.
89. EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH MED SHOT - Side view looking forward along head of walker as two speeders race toward it, split and fly past. One speeder on the far side of the head, the other to camera.
FULL SHOT - Two speeders going away, race over camera past walker and bank to the right. Camera trucks in at slower speed toward flank of walker during shot.
INT PILOT POV - Speeder cockpit. Speeder turns, approaching walker number one, and flys through the legs of the monstrous machine. The horizon twists as the speeder banks through the legs. Second walker in background. LUKE WEDGE
CLOSE-UP LUKE - Looking back to the speeder cockpit. The horizon twists and shakes behind Luke's head as he swings the tiny craft around for another run. LUKE
FULL SHOT - Pan through foreground legs of walker as speeder banks and turns away. Two other speeders pass the first speeder going in the opposite direction.
MED FULL SHOT - Three walkers marching right to left firing all cannons.
95. INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER CLOSE-UP LUKE - Luke speeds towards approaching snow walkers.
Two pilots watch the distant gun emplacements as they maneuver their war machine forward. PILOT Luke's speeder banks in from the side and heads straight for the viewport, blasting away. A huge explosion hits the window and dissipates. The speeder roars over the window.
FULL SHOT - Moving across the top of the walker as Luke's speeder skims across it. Trucking with the speeder then it flys overhead.
CLOSE-UP LUKE LOOKING BACK as the walker grows small in the distance. LUKE
OVERHEAD TWISTING FULL SHOT WALKER - Luke's speeder banks up toward camera and turns.
SIDE VIEW CLOSE-UP LUKE - On the horizon a walker moves up past the cockpit window twisting as Luke banks and starts another run. LUKE
101. INT HOBBIE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE FOUR CLOSE-UP FRONT HOBBIE as the horizon twists then rights itself in the background. Hobbie, a tanned-skin vet of many battles, expertly works his controls. HOBBIE LUKE (VO)
FULL OVERHEAD TRUCKING - Luke's speeder races into the frame from the left in full bank, then straightens out. Hobbie's ship comes in from the left and moves in next to Luke's ship in a tight formation. They bank in unison and drop closer to the ice surface.
SIDE CLOSE-UP DACK - Struggles with his harpoon gun as he bounces around in the tumbling ship. DACK Explosions flash outside the window. As the ship moves left to right they pass a walker in the distance.
INT PILOT'S POV - Over the shoulder of Luke as he swings the speeder around and aims it at the oncoming walker. Laser bolts and flack create a deadly wall the speeder must pass through. LUKE A huge explosion engulfs Luke's speeder, the battered craft wobbles a bit.
FRONT CLOSE-UP LUKE - As the speeder shudders under the impact of the explosion, but he manages to regain control of the craft. The horizon twists in the background.
FULL LOW ANGLE - The speeders fly in a tight formation toward the camera as explosions burst all around the craft. The speeders fly right over the camera.
SIDE CLOSE-UP LUKE - Interior speeder as Luke struggles to turn around to see if Dack is alright. In the background the giant legs of the walker pass by as Luke banks under the monstrous machine. LUKE
CLOSE-UP DACK FROM LUKE'S POV - Dack is lost, blood streams down his forehead which rests on his smoldering controls. Out the back window the receding walker can be seen in the distance.
MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire their strange weapons at the oncoming walker. Explosions burst all around them. A gun turret explodes in the foreground.
MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire at camera with the generator visible in the distance. Explosions erupt in the foreground.
MED SHOT - The rebel officer we had seen earlier is hit by laser fire. Troops rush to his aid.
112. EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire the dish-like ray gun. The generator is seen in the background.
FULL SHOT - Two walkers (one near, one far) lumber on toward camera as a speeder between them explodes in a ball of flames going left to right.
Muffled explosions create ear-shattering cracks in the ice roof of the hangar. Han and Chewie look up from their frantic welding to see the gap in the ceiling grow wider. Han makes a final weld. HAN
Large chunks of snow tumble into the command center. Leia seeks shelter. LEIA RIEEKAN
COCKPIT - Over the shoulder of the pilots to the power generator in the distance. Explosions all around. Two speeders race by right to left. The pilots fire at the gnat-like attackers. General Veers moves in between the pilots. VEERS
CLOSE-UP VEERS - As he bounces along, he pulls down an electro-telescope and studies the rebel positions. VEERS PILOT Suddenly, the huge vehicle rocks violently. The pilots scramble over their controls to level the crafts. VEERS
HIGH SHOT - Side view of a speeder going left to right as it banks sharply and dives away from camera toward the fast rushing surface.
CLOSE-UP FRONT - Wedge lets out a rebel yell, the horizon twisting behind him.
FULL SHOT TRUCKING - Panning with the speeder as it turns around and races under camera. Starts going left to right, turns to go overhead.
OVER THE SHOULDER POV of Wedge as he heads toward Walker No. 3, going almost to where it passes between the legs.
122. INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE CLOSE-UP SIDE SHOT of the gunner as he passes the legs. He reaches for the firing switch. WEDGE
MED FULL SHOT of the speeder racing to camera through the legs of Walker No. 3.
CLOSE-UP HAND pushes button that fires harpoon.
BACK POV from gunner as the harpoon flashes and fires at the receding legs. ROGUE THREE
GUNNER
MED SHOT of the harpoon going right to left and embedding itself in one of the legs of Walker No. 3.
CLOSE-UP SIDE WEDGE as he checks his controls, and banks around the walker's front. Left to right.
FULL SHOT SPEEDER as it races left to right around one of the giant walker feet, trailing the cable behind it. The speeder continues around the back foot going right to left. Truck with the Walker No. 3.
HIGH OVERHEAD MOVING SHOT of speeder as it circles the walker moving around the tail end. A second speeder passes in the foreground with the cable in tow.
130. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH FULL PANNING SHOT of speeder moving left to right in front of the giant legs of the walker towing the cable.
CLOSE-UP OF WEDGE as he swings the speeder between the legs of the giant walker.
PILOT'S POV of walkers legs as the speeder races along the side close to the lumbering machine. ROGUE THREE
GUNNER
FULL SHOT panning with the speeder as it zooms behind the legs moving right to left.
CLOSE-UP HAND pushes button on cable release inside speeder cockpit.
CLOSE-UP CABLE RELEASE on back of the speeder as it snaps loose and the cable drops away.
FULL SHOT OF THE SPEEDER zooming over camera and away into the distance moving slightly right to left. Low angle, no horizon.
MED SHOT of the tangled legs and feet of Walker No. 3 coming to camera. The monster begins to stumble.
138. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH EXTREME LONG SHOT OF WALKER NO. 3 through the legs of a foreground walker. The giant Imperial assault machine stumbles and starts to fall to the ground. Side angle moving right to left.
CLOSE FULL SHOT of Walker No. 3 coming to camera crashing into the snow which flies in all directions.
CLOSE-UP LUKE FRONT with twisting horizon background. WEDGE (VO) LUKE
MED SHOT OF TROOPS in the trenches cheering at the fallen walker. A damaged gun turret smolders in the background. An officer gives a signal in the foreground and the rebel troops charge the fallen walker moving left to right.
FULL SHOT of the troops jumping out of the trenches running to camera. The main power generator can be seen in the distance.
FULL SIDE TRUCKING SHOT of rebel troops running left to right as two speeders race overhead going in the same direction.
FULL SHOT of downed Walker No. 3 as Imperial Snow Stormtroopers climb out of the smoldering walker and start firing at the coming rebels. The rebel troops run over the camera toward the Imperial forces, followed by two rebel speeders flying low overhead.
145. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH CLOSER ANGLE - Troops rush and fire at the fallen walker as a speeder banks low overhead, blasting away, causing great explosions around the walker.
FULL SHOT of Luke and Rogue Two's speeder flying in formation, banking from right to left and flying overhead. Low angle, no horizon. Flak bursts all around them.
CLOSE-UP OF LUKE from the front. He looks over to Rogue Two on his left. The horizon levels out behind him. The ship shudders as flack bursts all around his speeder. LUKE
SIDE CLOSE-UP ANGLE on Rogue Two. Luke's speeder can be seen in the background. The speeders are moving left to right. Rogue Two is wounded in the face. ROGUE TWO
(ZEV) LUKE (VO) The ship bounces under the constant impact of flack.
LUKE'S POV OUT THE SPEEDER window at the distant oncoming walker as flack bursts on all sides. Laser bolts streak past. LUKE
150. INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER CLOSE-UP FRONT LUKE works his controls, as the ship shudders under the impact. He keeps looking screen left to Rogue Two. LUKE ROGUE TWO
GUNNER (VO) LUKE Luke's speeder is rocked by a huge explosion, and a loud metal scream drowns out Luke's sentence. He struggles with the controls as a look of terror crosses his face. Smoke pours out the back and the horizon twists.
FULL SHOT of oncoming walkers in distance as Luke's speeder races over camera moving left to right trailing smoke and flames. The speeder crashes into the snow a few yards in front of the walker.
INT CLOSE-UP inside Luke's cockpit as he struggles to get out. He gets desperate as he looks out the cockpit window.
LUKE'S POV out cockpit window of giant walker feet crunching even closer. The ship shudders under the impact of the huge metal feet pounding the ice plain.
CLOSE-UP FRONT Rogue Two, blood streaming down his face, struggles with his controls. The flack is murder. ROGUE TWO
(ZEV) The cockpit explodes in a ball of flames.
155. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH FULL SIDE SHOT of Rogue Two's speeder in a ball of flames going left to right.
SIDE ANGLE CLOSE-UP from inside the cockpit as Luke manages to get the hatch open and pulls himself out. The ship shakes from the approaching walker.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP of giant walking foot as it comes crashing to the ground, sending snow in all directions.
MED FULL SHOT (looking back at Luke, away from walker) as Luke climbs out of the speeder and starts to run forward. The ominous shadow of the huge Walker No. 2 falls over him as he looks up at the approaching monster. The ground shakes under the impact of the pounding feet. Luke gets an idea and runs back to the speeder, reaching inside the cockpit for something.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP of the giant walker's foot as it comes crashing to the ground, sending snow in all directions.
MED CLOSE-UP as Luke rummages through the smoldering speeder and comes up with a climbing gun. Luke looks up, and ducks as the front foot of the walker comes crashing down right behind him, shaking the speeder violently. He reaches back in the cockpit for something else, glancing up with a worried look.
LUKE'S POV of the moving underbelly of the huge Walker No. 2 as it passes over his head.
162. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH CLOSE-UP of Luke outside the speeder as he searches the cockpit, straining to reach inside.
CLOSE-UP Luke's arm inside the speeder. He grabs a hold of a large landmine-type bomb and pulls it out of the speeder cockpit.
MED FULL SIDE VIEW as Luke pulls the landmine out of the cockpit and leaps away just as the huge black foot of Walker No. 2 comes crashing down on the tiny speeder. The rebel vehicle is crushed flat by the powerful walker.
MED CLOSE-UP of Luke as he stumbles up out of the snow and runs toward camera slightly left to right chasing after the lumbering walker. He hooks the landmine around his neck.
CLOSE-UP LUKE as walker foot raises in background.
MED PAN PAST the back legs of Walker No. 2 following Luke as he runs under the monstrous machine and fires the gun at the underbelly of the walker, directly above him. A thin cable follows the projectile from the gun. Another walker can be seen in the background moving left to right.
CLOSE-UP OF MAGNETIC head and cable attaching itself on the underbelly of Walker No. 2. The cable is pulled tight as Luke tests it.
MED SHOT of Luke running and climbing up the cable. The second walker can be seen left to right in the background.
170. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH EXTREME LONG SHOT of Luke dangling from the underbelly of Walker No. 2, moving right to left. The giant legs of a second walker move through the foreground.
MED CLOSE-UP of Luke climbing the cable to the underbelly of Walker No. 2 going right to left. The two rebel speeders pass in the background. Flack burst in the distance.
HIGH ANGLE LOOKING down at Luke as he climbs the cable into a close shot. The walker's giant feet are seen pounding across the moving snow. Stray laser bolts pass him as he swings.
MED SIDE SHOT of Luke as he reaches the hull of Walker No. 2, next to a small hatch. Luke, hanging precariously, cuts the solid metal hatch with his lasersword.
CLOSE SIDE ANGLE of Luke taking the landmine from around his neck and placing it inside the Imperial machine. He closes the hatch and starts sown the cable, fast.
LOW ANGLE looking up at Walker No. 2 as Luke slides down the cable, then drops past camera.
SIDE MED SHOT of Luke falling, then drops out of the frame.
3/4 REAR LOW ANGLE SHOT of the giant Walker No. 2. It stops in mid-step. A muffled explosion is heard, then the insides of the giant walker come blasting out every conceivable opening. It sits dead in its tracks, smoking like a locomotive on stilts.
178. COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE The command center is a shambles. The continual explosions outside have caused a massive cave-in. A lone controller works at the remaining computer board, while Leia, Threepio and another controller attempt to move a cake of ice off of General Rieekan. Finally, the ice tumbles to one side and Leia goes to the General, but it's too late. Threepio inspects the General's pulse. THREEPIO Leia is truly sorrowful. She holds the General's hand a moment and regards him reflectively. CONTROLLER Another explosion rocks the area. THREEPIO Leia nods, stands, and speaks to the controller with renewed authority. LEIA
Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, the corridor is strangely quiet and empty. Running footsteps echo through the freezing hallway, then Han appears. He hurries toward the Control Center just as Leia, Threepio and the two controllers exit the room. Leia is surprised to see him. Han is greatly relieved to see her. HAN Leia nods, still a little confused. Han grimaces at the news, then looks them over. HAN 180. INT ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH With 3PO trailing behind, they race down the corridor to where it ends in a T and round the corner only to find it blocked with ice and snow. They start back the other way when Han stops at a door with a big cross on it. HAN He starts for the door and hears a faint banging. HAN LEIA The pounding increases. THREEPIO They race down the corridor.
The pilots are getting nervous, the captain leans over one. CAPTAIN
Han pulls his com-link out and talks as he runs. HAN Suddenly there is an explosion, a loud crack. Han turns, grabs the Princess and pulls her to the wall as a giant cave-in smothers the two controllers. Han grabs his com-link as Leia helps Threepio dig himself out of the snow. HAN THREEPIO
The icy wind picks up as the battle rages. Rebel and Imperial troops are firing at each other at point blank range.
A walker steps on several rebel troops as they attempt to flee.
A rebel officer puts his hand to his helmet earphone in an attempt to hear his com-link. COM-LINK The officer flips a switch on his com-link and a loud whistle is heard. He signals his men to retreat.
186. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH LOW ANGLE MEDIUM SHOT of Walker No. 1 as it advances at camera, going slightly right to left. The smoldering walker that Luke just blasted stands dead in its tracks in the background.
CLOSE over the shoulder of walker pilot. POV of rebel troops and power generators. Veers steps into the frame.
REVERSE CLOSE-UP of Veers as he studies various readouts. PILOT VEERS
MED SHOT - Rebel troops retreat under the onslaught.
ANOTHER ANGLE - Rebel troops retreat as a walker looms in the background. Pan down to troops as an explosion hits.
HIGH ANGLE of troops fleeing and firing back toward camera.
LOW ANGLE FULL SHOT of three of the giant walkers advancing to camera, firing lasers, with troops in foreground running toward and over camera as the snow erupts all around them. A lone rebel speeder is in the background.
193. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH BACK CLOSE-UP of guns on walker-head, firing.
MED BEHIND TROOPS fleeing over camera, the ground explodes around them.
CLOSE-UP VEERS inside Walker No. 1 cockpit. He speaks over the com-link as he studies various readouts. VEERS PILOT Veers looks out the cockpit window.
FULL SHOT of Hobbie's speeder, Rogue Four, as it races over camera right at the head of the oncoming walker.
OVER THE SHOULDER of Veers and his pilots as the speeder crashes into the front window. PILOT Impact, huge explosion.
FULL SHOT of Walker No. 1 with head exploding and frying into a million pieces.
199. EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH FULL SHOT Walker No. 1. After a few moments the headless walker topples over on its side in a cloud of snow.
The clamor of battle is heard in the distance. Stray laser bolts whiz past. Debris and rubble are scattered everywhere. Nearby stands the burned-out hulk of No. 2 Walker Luke destroyed, hatches and metal parts clanking in the chilly Hoth wind.
Luke pops his head out of a hole in the snow. Still a little shaken, he tries to stand up, but can't. His com-link whistles. COM-LINK Luke musters all his strength and starts off through the snow toward a distant ice formation.
A distant, huge explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes come crashing down on the Millennium Falcon. Chewie is pacing under the safety of the ship's landing gear. The giant Wookiee pats the underbelly of his beloved ship and barks a few reassuring words. Chewie searches in vain for his captain. Something catches the Wookiee's eye and he lets out a loud SHRIEK. It is Han and Leia running toward the ship. Chewie runs out into the falling ice, lets out another SHRIEK, then runs up the ship's ramp. Han and Leia run up the ramp after Chewie. Threepio is not far behind.
Ice batters the cockpit windows as Chewie works at the controls. Han rushes in and sits in the pilot's seat. Chewie barks a blue streak at his friend. Chewie starts chattering a mile a minute about something and points to one of the gauges. Han looks worried. HAN
Imperial troops appear pushing through an ice blockage. Vader is revealed.
Imperial troops come rushing through. Vader surveys the place. A huge ice chunk falls, almost hitting him. He continues around it.
Han standing before a control panel, is busy flipping switches as Chewie watches the troublesome gauge. Leia worriedly watches their efforts. HAN The Wookiee barks a negative reply. LEIA HAN Threepio clanks into the hold. THREEPIO THREEPIO (Continued) Threepio turns and makes a hasty retreat. LEIA HAN LEIA Chewie lets out a loud WHELP as laser bolts begin to hit the cockpit window.
SIDE VIEW - Han and Chewie look out the window and see a squad of stormtroopers rushing into the hangar deck, firing. Han makes a final panel adjustment. HAN Chewie pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia as he swings past her into the pilot's seat. Leia straps herself into one of the navigator's chairs. LEIA Han sets himself, looks at Chewie. HAN The roar of the Falcon's main engines blast out everything as the ice cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window, moving right to left. Han straps himself into the seat. Leia gets into the navigator's chair.
Stormtroopers are setting up a large Bazooka-like weapon. Behind them the giant hangar doors are opening.
A laser gun appears and swings around.
Long shot main hangar. Angle behind Stormtroopers with Millennium Falcon in background. The Stormtroopers are preparing to fire their Bazooka cannon when they are hit by the gun on the Millennium Falcon. They are thrown about in all directions.
Chewie comes dashing into the cockpit. HAN A laser hits the window near Chewie as he is settling into his chair. He lets out a loud WHELP. Chewie pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia. LEIA Han looks at Chewie. HAN The roar of the Falcon's main engines blast out everything as the ice cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window, moving right to left.
207. OMIT
Stormtroopers run into hangar. Vader comes out of an ice corridor. The roar of the Millennium Falcon engines is very loud. He stops.
Shooting toward the main hangar doors as the Millennium Falcon (which is now through the door) lifts up and disappears.
FULL SHOT of Luke and two other pilots looking up in the snowstorm as the Millennium Falcon races from the distance and over the camera. The ship is flying very close to the ground.
209. EXT SKY OVER ICE SLOPE - HOTH Luke's POV Millennium Falcon racing skyward.
Luke, Wedge, and the pilot trudge onward toward the outline of an X wing fighter. LUKE WEDGE The pilots split up. Luke waves as the others disappear in the windblown snow. He walks on, and hears a familiar whistle coming from the vague silhouette of a fighter. LUKE Artoo chirps an excited acknowledgement as Luke climbs aboard the snow-covered spacecraft. Artoo beeps his relief. The roar of the departing X wings can be heard in the distance. LUKE
Darth Vader strides through the remains of the rebel fortress. Two stormtroopers struggle to keep up with the giant presence. Admiral Piett catches up with the Dark Lord. PIETT VADER PIETT VADER
212. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTER - STAR DESTROYER - SPACE FULL SHOT, SPACE, with the white planet of Hoth in the lower part of the frame. The Millennium Falcon speeds away from the planet and over camera, closely followed by one huge Star Destroyer and six tiny Tie fighters which also race past camera. The slow moving Star Destroyer fills the frame as it plows ever forward.
FULL SHOT, SPACE. The Falcon races low over camera toward two very bright star-sized objects. The six Tie fighters zoom overhead in pursuit followed by a huge Imperial Star Destroyer.
OVERSHOULDER HAN AND CHEWIE. Inside the cockpit Chewie lets out a loud howl. Han checks the deflectors as the ship begins to get buffeted by exploding flak. He appears to be doing six things at once. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA Threepio bumps and bangs his way into the cockpit. THREEPIO HAN THREEPIO
215. INT COCKPIT MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE FULL SHOT INT MILLENNIUM FALCON. POV out window at two approaching Star Destroyers as they grow larger. Small flashes of light on the oncoming Star Destroyers turn into large flak bursts which rock the Falcon. The Star Destroyers grow larger as they get ever closer. HAN Chewie barks a reply as he readjusts an overhead switch. HAN
CLOSE POV - out the Falcon cockpit window as the stars and looming Star Destroyers suddenly shift radically, rising through the top of the cockpit window as the Millennium Falcon starts into a steep dive. Everyone's stomach is in their throat as Han makes a ninety degree dive straight down.
FULL SHOT underneath one of the huge oncoming Star Destroyers as the Millennium Falcon races toward it. Suddenly the Falcon starts into a steep dive straight down toward camera. The Falcon races over camera followed by four Tie fighters. The bottom side of the Star Destroyer continues on a collision course.
A huge Star Destroyer in the foreground heads right at two oncoming Star Destroyers and slowly starts to veer to the left.
INT IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - Out the front window the two oncoming Star Destroyers can be seen veering to the left. Alarms, panic. Pilots are abandoning their posts as the Imperial Star Destroyers on the view-scanner get closer. The Captain tries to keep control of the situation. CAPTAIN NEEDA
220. EXT SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS FULL SHOT, SPACE - The Millennium Falcon races to camera followed by four Tie fighters with laser bolts.
Things have calmed down a bit, but the race isn't over yet. Chewie barks at Han. Leia is still trying to find her stomach. The ship is buffeted by laser blasts. HAN The buffeting of the lasers becomes louder and stronger. LEIA With a gleam in his eye. HAN
REVERSE POV over shoulder out 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 Han tries again... nothing. HAN THREEPIO HAN The explosions become heavier.
224. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - STAR DESTROYER SPACE FULL SHOT - The Falcon races over camera into the starry vastness followed by six Imperial Tie Fighters and an Imperial Star Destroyer.
FULL SHOT, HOTH - Luke's fighter speeds away from the tiny planet, wings closed.
FULL SHOT - Luke's fighter over camera, wings closed disappears into stars.
CLOSE SHOT Luke's interior fighter, very small planet in background. He makes a decision and flips several switches.
LUKE'S POV - Stars shift right to left as Luke banks his fighter into a steep turn.
FULL SHOT - Fighter comes to camera, banks sharply to left. PAN with ship flying away in a new direction.
OVER ARTOO looking forward as the stars continue to move right to left, then stop as the fighter pulls out of its bank.
INT CLOSE-UP LUKE, stars in background slowly moving from the bottom of the frame to the top. The monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out R-2's question.
SIDE VIEW of Artoo as he begins his protest. Artoo whistles an unbelieving: "What?"
Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel. LUKE 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 Artoo answers with a soft carefully-put phrase of whistles. LUKE Artoo lets out a limp little sigh. The little droid is silent for a moment, as though thinking. Then another beep. Artoo lets out a defeated whimper. Luke just smiles at his worried little friend. LUKE
The Falcon races to camera followed by four Tie fighters. The Falcon flies under camera, the Tie fighters fly over camera followed by Star Destroyer No. 2 in the distance.
SIDE VIEW INT COCKPIT right to left. Stars race by left to right as flak bursts outside the window.
Han works furiously at his controls while giving various orders to Chewie. HAN He gives Leia a glance, then a double take. Suddenly, a loud thump hits the side of the Falcon, causing it to lurch radically. Chewie barks louder. HAN LEIA
POV out front cockpit window as asteroids race by right to left.
Han continues to work his ship controls as a chunk of rock crosses in front of the ship. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN Another asteroid thumps against the ship. Leia winces. THREEPIO Chewie turns and barks at Threepio, who immediately shuts up.
OVER SHOULDER POV as stars move right to left as the Falcon turns into the asteroid storm. Once the stars stop moving right to left and the ship completes its turn, asteroids start coming toward the cockpit window from the distance.
CLOSE-UP of asteroid as it tumbles away from the camera a fast speed. When about 40 per cent of the screen is filled with the asteroid, several smaller asteroids crash into it from the side, creating small explosions on the surface. Other asteroids in many sizes pass by in all directions, some colliding and creating explosions. When the big asteroid is 20 per cent of the screen, the tiny Millennium Falcon appears from behind it, veers around the right side and races past camera on the left side through the rain of rocks, followed by the four Tie fighters, bobbing and weaving around the asteroids.
FULL SIDE VIEW, TRUCKING with the Falcon as it dodges an asteroid. Several smaller asteroids explode as they collide with the hamburger-shaped ship. PAN with the ship as it banks away from the camera. Four Tie fighters follow, one of which connects with an asteroid and explodes. The other Tie Fighters are pelted with smaller explosions.
FULL SHOT - Vader's Star Destroyer and two others flanked by several smaller Imperial warships move out of Hoth's orbit and over camera.
243. OMIT
ADMIRAL PIETT hesitates in the entryway to Vader's private cubicle. ADMIRAL PIETT VADER (OS) Admiral Piett steps into the room and pauses at the sight of... Darth Vader, his back turned, is silhouetted in the gloom on the far side of the chamber. A black, insectlooking droid attends him. Among the various apparatus surrounding them, a respirator tube now retracts from Vader's uncovered head. The head is bald with a mass of ugly scar tissue covering it. The black droid then lowers Vader's mask and helmet onto his head. When it is in place, he turns. ADMIRAL PIETT VADER ADMIRAL PIETT VADER
FULL SHOT of two huge asteroids tumbling toward camera as the Millennium Falcon banks around both of them and over camera as a third asteroid barely misses the ship as the three Tie fighters follow in hot pursuit. One Tie fighter scrapes an asteroid and tumbles over camera out of control.
246. EXT STAR DESTROYER NO. 2 - ASTEROID BELT FULL SHOT Star Destroyer coming to camera blasting oncoming asteroids as it goes. Smaller asteroids explode across its massive surface.
FULL TWISTING SHOT of the Falcon on its side as it races under camera and around an oncoming asteroid tumbling over camera, revealing the Falcon still twisting and ending right side up. Two Ties follow in the distance, coming from either side.
Asteroids race by the cockpit window as Han pilots his trusty craft through the dangerous field.
INT POV out cockpit window as a big asteroid drops past the window, narrowly missing the Falcon.
Chewie barks in terror as a small asteroid comes especially close... too close... and bounces off the Falcon with a loud crunch. Threepio's hands cover his eyes. He manages a short peek at the cockpit window. Princess Leia sits stone-faced, staring at the action. Han gives her a quick look. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA
SIDE VIEW INT FULL SHOT of group as asteroids race by outside the window. LEIA HAN LEIA HAN THREEPIO LEIA Chewbacca BARKS the same word, only louder.
INT OVER THE SHOULDER POV of the dense asteroid field as a giant asteroid comes right at the Falcon and it banks sharply around it.
FULL MOVING SHOT as the Millennium Falcon dives away from camera toward the surface of one of the moonsized asteroids. There is a continued display of explosions across the surface as smaller asteroids collide with the larger chunks of rock. Two Ties follow the Falcon to the surface.
FULL OVERHEAD VIEW as the Falcon moving right to left skims the surface of the giant asteroid. Small asteroids explode on the surface of the ship.
LOW TRUCKING across surface as the Falcon and Ties race to camera and zoom overhead under a hail of asteroids.
256. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - GIANT ASTEROID. REVERSE LOW TRUCKING as the Falcon and the two Tie fighters race over camera and into the distance.
Stars whip
by in the background. Pilot looks up screen left.
POV of giant asteroid racing to camera from out of the starry sky, slightly left to right.
LOW TRUCKING SHOT of the Falcon as it races toward camera and past. The Tie fighters approach in the distance, but as the Falcon passes, a giant asteroid intersects the frame in front of the Tie fighters creating a silhouetted explosion. As the asteroid continues on its way, it leaves the remains of two explosions.
Han notices something on his main scope and nudges his faithful Wookiee, pointing. HAN LEIA HAN
262. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - GIANT ASTEROID FULL SHOT of the Millennium Falcon as it dives into the huge crater and disappears.
FULL SHOT of Falcon racing over camera and down into crater. The walls are barely visible as the camera TRUCKS with the Falcon, but at a slower speed. A small cave appears on one side of the crater in the distance. The Falcon turns, slows and scoots into the smaller cave.
FULL SHOT X WING over camera and away toward the cloud cover of Dagobah. Half the planet is seen.
CLOSE SIDE VIEW of R-2 as he rides on the back of the X wing.
CLOSE-UP LUKE FRONT with stars moving right to left in background. Luke watches Artoo's words translated on the computer scope. LUKE
267. EXT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE - PLANET DAGOBAH X wing to camera flying through twilight between space and planet.
CLOSER VIEW as the X wing races over camera and dives into the cloud cover and disappears.
SIDE VIEW LUKE as the clouds race by in the background, bottom to top.
Luke works desperately at his controls. The cloud cover had completely obscured his vision. An alarm buzzes in the background. Artoo beeps and whistles frantically. LUKE The blast of the retro rockets is deafening. Artoo's squeals are barely heard. Suddenly, there is a CRACKING sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a tremendous splashing jolt as the spacecraft hits the surface. Luke is considerably shaken, but all right. Artoo lets out a rattled little beep which shows up on the view screen. LUKE Luke pulls a switch and his canopy pops open.
271. EXT BOG - SWAMP - DUSK - DAGOBAH The mist-shrouded X wing fighter is barely visible, half buried in the murky swamp. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The young warrior surveys his hostile new environment. Huge, twisted trees covered with vines and moss outline the misty landscape. LUKE Artoo lets out a short beep, then steps forward, loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the water. LUKE
Luke dives in near the spot where Artoo fell. He surfaces and scans the water frantically until he sees a small periscope pop up. The periscope turns until it gets a fix on Luke, then lets out a bubbling beep, and starts through the water toward the muddy beach. Luke follows.
We see the POINT OF VIEW of an underwater swimming "thing" as it watches R-2 and his young master struggling toward shore. R-2 is powered by two bubbling jets.
A dark, ominously finned back breaks the surface. Luke stops swimming for a second and sees the disturbing shape swimming toward him. Luke swims for his life, racing past Artoo and finally scrambling up on shore. LUKE
The thing swims up behind the little droid and dives, creating a loud clunk. Artoo's periscope disappears as he lets out a pathetic electronic scream. Luke wades a few feet into the murky pool looking for any sign of his little friend. The black surface is as still as death itself... a few bubbles begin to appear, then PHHEEWAATT! The runt-sized robot is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc and comes crashing down in a patch of moss. Artoo responds with a series of feeble whistles and tones. LUKE
Luke is shivering cold as the fog begins to close in. He helps little Artoo upright and starts to clean him off. All is quiet except for an eerie and inhuman cry every once in awhile in the distance. Both the robot and the boy glance around at the spooky swamp-jungle that surrounds them. Sinister shadows move among the trees, as Luke notices a tiny, but vicious pair of eyes wink out and disappear in a scutter of feet. LUKE
Luke looks back at the slowly sinking spacecraft.
Artoo bubbles electronic profanity and ejects a stream of muddy water from one of the ports in his head. LUKE Artoo beeps a short, "Got me boss."
FULL SHOT - Fleet around Vader's ship in the asteroid storm. Asteroids big and small begin to pelt the huge surface of the ships. One of the smaller Imperial vessels in the foreground gets hit by a huge asteroid and explodes.
280. INT BRIDGE - VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - MAIN CONTROL DECK INT FULL SHOT - Asteroids collide, creating fireworks display out bridge window. Darth Vader stands in the hologram cage above the control deck. Before him are the hologram images of twenty Battleship Commanders. One of these images, the Commander of the ship just exploded, is fading quickly away at this moment. Another image, in the center and a little apart from the others, is faded and continually disrupted by static. It is the Captain Needa of the Star Destroyer which was most hotly on the tail of the Millennium Falcon. Admiral Piett and an aide stand behind the Dark Lord. CAPTAIN NEEDA
(IN HOLOGRAM) VADER The Imperial Star Captains fade off one by one as Vader turns to Admiral Piett. VADER The Admiral is scared white as a sheet. He's shaking. ADMIRAL VADER ADMIRAL VADER ADMIRAL
The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid cave. It is so dark, the exact dimensions are impossible to determine.
Han and Chewie are busy shutting down the engine and the electronic systems. Threepio and Leia watch worriedly as all the service lights go out. Han glances from the dimming lights to Leia with a quick grin. HAN Chewie suggests with a GROWL that Han pay attention to the business at hand. Han returns to work. HAN THREEPIO Chewie BARKS yes, but Han think otherwise. HAN Suddenly the ship lurches, causing all the loose items in the cockpit to go flying. Chewie HOWLS. LEIA THREEPIO The ship begins a violent motion. Chewie HOWLS. HAN The jolting movement throws Leia across the cabin into Han's arms. The motion stops as suddenly as it started. Han and Leia realize they are in each others arms. The pirate grins down at the girl. Chewie watches the embrace with inscrutable interest. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN Leia flushes, averts her eyes. She's not exactly fighting to get free. But, of course, Han blows it... HAN The anger rises in Leia. LEIA HAN LEIA HAN LEIA She turns and leaves the cockpit. Han turns to his faithful Wookiee, who's been watching all this with Threepio. HAN Chewie BARKS and starts out of the cockpit with Han. HAN THREEPIO
The mist has disappeared a bit, but it is still a gloomy looking swamp. The X wing fighter has stopped sinking and is now only about one third above water. A transfer cable has been rigged between the starfighter and the shore. Artoo is on the back of the fighter sending a power case to Luke on the edge of the swamp. LUKE Luke hears a loud snapping crash in the dense jungle right behind him. It is too dark to see anything, but Luke already has his light saber in his hand, waiting to be ignited. Nothing emerges from the obscure foliage so Luke clips his weapon back to his utility belt and continues to unpack the gear. Meanwhile, Artoo has hooked a pulley from his midsection to the transport cable and is whizzing toward his master. The stubby little droid lands with a beep. LUKE LUKE Artoo beeps and Luke nervously looks around at the foreboding jungle. He grimaces as he forces down the ill-tasting food. LUKE STRANGE VOICE Luke jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The young warrior grabs for his light saber as he spins around, looking for the speaker. Mysteriously, standing right in front of Luke is a strange, blue creature, not more than two feet tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions toward Luke's sword. LUKE CREATURE After some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest. CREATURE (Continued) LUKE LUKE CREATURE LUKE CREATURE Yoda jumps and lands on one of the cases of supplies. He begins to rummage around. LUKE Artoo moves to the edge of the case (almost eye level to the creature who is carelessly handling the supplies) and squeaks his disapproval. The creature picks up the container of food Luke was eating from and takes a bite. LUKE The creature spits out the bite he has taken. He makes a face. CREATURE He flips the container in Luke's direction and reaches into one of Luke's supply cases. LUKE CREATURE LUKE CREATURE Clutching the lamp, the creature backs away from Luke right into Artoo, who the creature barely recognizes as animate. But as the following exchange takes place, one of Artoo's little arms slowly moves out toward the power lamp, completely unnoticed by the creature. LUKE CREATURE Artoo grabs hold of the lamp and the two little figures are immediately engaged in a tug-of-war over it. ARTOO CREATURE The creature lets go with one hand and pokes Artoo lightly with one finger. Artoo reacts big with a squeal, and lets go. CREATURE LUKE LUKE CREATURE LUKE CREATURE With that, the creature scurries out of the clearing and down a path which is suddenly more apparent than before. Luke looks after him, thinking, then starts that way. ARTOO LUKE ARTOO Luke is almost out of sight. He yells back. LUKE The little droid grows quiet as Luke disappears from view.
284. EXT BOG TRAIL - DUSK - DAGOBAH Down the misty trail, the creature moves along alone. CREATURE
FULL SHOT - Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer floats against a vast sea of stars.
Darth Vader stands before a shimmering holographic image which slowly comes into focus. The image is that of SATE PESTAGE, Grand Vizier to His Eminence, Emperor. VADER PESTAGE VADER PESTAGE VADER
287. EXT IMPERIAL CRUISER - ASTEROID BELT - SPACE FULL SHOT - Looking down on two medium-sized Imperial cruisers moving across the surface, dropping bombs which create powerful shock waves centered around blue explosions.
The ships move over the crater in which the Millennium Falcon is hiding. A faint ball of light emerges from the crater as a bomb hits bottom.
The ship rattles and vibrates. Threepio is sitting at the main control panel. The flooring and part of the ceiling have been removed revealing a section of the complex powertrain. Chewie's head pops upside-down out of a bundle of wires in the ceiling. He BARKS. Han looks up from where he's working in one of the floor compartments. Princess Leia, who is welding something nearby, also stops working and looks up at Chewie. HAN LEIA THREEPIO Everyone is quiet for a moment, waiting for a second blast. A very slight vibration is felt. LEIA HAN LEIA Han ignores her sarcasm and moves past her, rubbing against her in the tight quarters, to continue his work. She watches him for a moment, then goes back to her welding. Threepio whistles and beeps into the control panel in front of him and the control panel whistles back. CHEWIE Leia finishes welding the valve she's been working on. She attempts to reengage the system by pulling on a lever attached to the valve. It doesn't budge. Han notices her struggle, and moves to help her. She rebuffs him. HAN LEIA Han hears a new tone in her voice. He watches her pull on the lever. HAN LEIA HAN She lets go of the lever and rubs her sore hand. LEIA With that, Han takes her hand, turns it over and presses his lips into her palm. LEIA HAN Leia is flushed, confused. LEIA Han kisses her hand again. Leia yanks it away and steps back. She can only move a few feet in the cramped space, but Han does not follow her. HAN LEIA Han looks at her with a piercing look. He's never looked handsomer, more dashing, more confident. He reaches out slowly and takes Leia's hand again from where it is resting on a console. He draws it toward him. HAN Then, with an irresistible combination of physical strength and emotional power, the space pirate begins to draw Leia toward him... very slowly. HAN Leia is now very close and the following exchange takes place as their faces draw even nearer. Leia's voice is and excited whisper, in complete opposition to what she's saying. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN He kisses her now, with slow hot lips. He takes his time, as though he had forever, bending her body backward. She has never been kissed like this before, and it almost makes her faint. When he stops, she regains her breath and tries to work up some indignation, but finds it hard to talk. LEIA His mouth stops her. A swimming giddiness spins her around until, before she knows it, she is kissing him back. Finally, Han breaks the kiss and looks at her. They stand there for a moment looking at each other. Leia is totally, frantically confused by her feelings. First with her eyes, then with her body, she withdraws, detaches from Han. She slips from his arms and hurries from the cabin. Han stares after her thoughtfully, then turns his attention to the stuck lever. He gives it a confident, mighty pull. It doesn't budge. HAN
290. EXT BOG - EDGE OF SWAMP CAMP - DUSK
The inside of the house is very plain, but cozy. Everything is in the same scale as the creature. The only thing out of place in the miniature room is Luke, who is cramped by the four foot ceiling. He sits crossedlegged on the floor of the living room. The creature is in an adjoining area, which serves as the kitchen, cooking up some incredible meal. The stove is a steaming hodgepodge of pots and pans. The wizened little creature scurries about chopping this, shredding that and showering everything with exotic herbs and spices. He rushes back and forth putting platters on the table in front of Luke, who watches the creature impatiently. LUKE CREATURE LUKE CREATURE LUKE LUKE CREATURE LUKE The creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third party. CREATURE Luke's head spins in that direction. He is startled to see the shimmering image of Ben Kenobi. LUKE Ben is focused on the creature. They ignore Luke for the moment. The boy is bewildered, but over the next few exchanges it dawns on him that the little creature is YODA, the Jedi Master. BEN YODA BEN LUKE YODA LUKE YODA BEN YODA Luke looks down, knows it's true. LUKE YODA BEN YODA Luke thinks he hears a tiny softening. LUKE Yoda turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi Master's huge eyes could somehow determine how much the boy has learned. After a long moment, the little creature turns toward Ben, who meets his look evenly and seems almost to nod. BEN Yoda concedes with a resigned look and Ben's image fades away. Yoda continues to stare at the spot for a long time. LUKE YODA
FULL SHOT - Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer floats against a vast sea of stars.
The Dark Lord, Darth Vader, is alone in his chamber. A STRANGE SOUND is heard and light begins to play across Vader's black figure. He looks up and bows quickly. A twelve foot hologram of the GALACTIC EMPEROR materializes before Vader. The Emperor's face cannot be seen, for it is shrouded in dark robes with a monk's hood, reminiscent of the cloak worn by old Ben Kenobi. His voice is even deeper and more frightening than Vader's. EMPEROR Vader rises, but he is afraid of his master and continually looks at his feet. VADER EMPEROR VADER VADER EMPEROR VADER EMPEROR VADER EMPEROR VADER Vader kneels. The supreme Emperor passes a hand over the crouched Lord of the Sith and fades away.
The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid cave. It is so dark, the exact dimensions are impossible to determine.
The cockpit is quiet and lit only by the indicator lights on the control panel. Princess Leia is sitting alone in the pilot's seat. She runs her hand across the control panel as she thinks of Han, and the confusion he's created within her. The young Princess catches her breath, jumps out of her chair and races from the cockpit.
The lights go bright for a second, then go out again. Threepio turns to Chewbacca who is looking over his shoulder at the control panel. Han finishes with some wires. THREEPIO The Wookiee BARKS and turns as Leia rushes into the cabin. Han drops the final floor panel into place. LEIA HAN LEIA There's a sharp BANGING on the hull. Chewie looks up and BARKS. THREEPIO HAN LEIA HAN LEIA Threepio looks around and sees that he's been deserted. THREEPIO
LEIA HAN Leia stamps her foot on the floor of the cave. LEIA Han kneels and studies the ground, then attempts to study the outline of the cave. There is a Mynock screech in the distance. HAN Han unholsters his blaster and fires at the far side of the huge cave. Moments later the cavern begins to shake and the ground begins to buckle. Chew BARKS and starts for the ship. Leia and Han follow quickly.
As soon as Han and Leia are on board, Chewie closes the main hatch. The ship continues to shake and heave. HAN Threepio and the Wookiee head for the cockpit as Han rushes to the control panel in the hold area and checks the scopes. Leia follows. LEIA Han rushes past her and heads for the cockpit. HAN And with that he's gone. The main engines of the Falcon begin to whine. She races after him, bouncing around in the shaking ship. LEIA
LEIA HAN The ship begins to move forward, the sides of the cave move away. Chewie barks as he notices something out the window ahead.
INT MILLENNIUM FALCON COCKPIT, POV out window of row of jagged white stalagmites and stalactites surrounding the entrance. The entrance of the cave is growing smaller.
Han pulls hard on the throttle as the ship surges forward. HAN LEIA THREEPIO HAN LEIA THREEPIO Leia's mouth drops open as the rocks of the cave entrance are revealed to be giant teeth quickly closing around the tiny ship. Chewie HOWLS. HAN
FULL SHOT inside monster's mouth as the Millennium Falcon rolls on its side and barely makes it between two of the monster's teeth before the huge jaw slams closed.
304. EXT CAVE ENTRANCE - ASTEROID CRATER FULL SHOT - The monstrous slug-type creature moves its head out of the cave as the Falcon flies out of its mouth into relative safety. The monster tilts its head as it watches the starship fly away.
FULL SHOT - The Falcon races out of the asteroid crater into the deadly rain of the asteroid storm. From monster's POV.
Yoda is sitting on a branch high in one of the bog's weird trees. His legs straddle the branch and clasped in his webbed feet is Luke's laser sword. On the ground below, Luke sets himself up and jumps toward Yoda. He jumps incredibly well for a human, but it doesn't bring him close to his object.
Luke runs through the dense jungle on the last leg of what must have been quite a marathon. Yoda rides in a pouch on Luke's back. The young apprentice is sweaty and exhausted. He stumbles into the clearing where Artoo has been patiently waiting. As Luke is about to collapse, Yoda throws a small metal bar in front of him. Luke ignites his laser sword and swings at it. He missed and the bar falls to the ground. Luke does too. LUKE YODA LUKE YODA
307X. EXT
YODA'S BOG (MONTAGE) - DAY - DAGOBAH At the edge of a wide pond, Yoda sits on a log. In his mouth is a Gimer Stick, a short twig with three little branches at the far end. Luke is nowhere in sight, but now we begin to hear the sound of someone crashing through the foliage. Suddenly Luke appears on the far side of the pond at a run and leaps out toward Yoda. It's an extraordinary leap, but he falls short by six feet, creating a huge splash, which drenches Yoda and his Gimer Stick.
In the bog clearing, Yoda and Luke sit facing two bowling ball-size rocks. Artoo observes from the side. Luke stares at the rocks, Yoda stares at Luke. Slowly, one of the rocks lifts from the ground and floats up to rest on the other. Luke smiles with satisfaction and turns to Yoda for approval. The floating rock tumbles off. Artoo beeps his review.
Luke's face is upside-down and showing enormous strain. Soon we see why. He is standing on his hands and Yoda is perched up on Luke's feet. Yoda taps Luke's leg. Luke focusing and quickly removes one hand. His body wavers, but he maintains his balance. Artoo races up to his master whistling and beeping like mad. Luke is trying to maintain his balance, desperately and finally collapses. Yoda jumps clear. LUKE
Artoo runs around in circles, chirping frantically, then scoots over to the edge of the swamp where the X wing fighter has sunk almost from sight. Luke rushes to the water's edge. Yoda stamps his foot in irritation. YODA Luke looks uncertainly out at the ship. LUKE LUKE YODA Luke closes his eyes and tries to think the ship out.
The fighter begins to shake a little, but doesn't rise.
Luke tries as hard as he can. LUKE YODA Luke shakes his head no. YODA Yoda indicates the vicinity of Artoo, whose head spins around looking for The Force.
With that, Yoda, Jedi master, raises his arm. The huge X wing fighter moves magically out of the muddy swamp and lands gently on the shore.
Artoo runs behind some barrels in terror. Luke is amazed. LUKE YODA
FULL SHOT - Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer in space with Tie Fighters buzzing around.
INT BRIDGE - Starfield, Tie fighters in background. Vader stands in the back control area of the bridge with a motley group of men and creatures. Admiral Piett and one of his star captains stand at the front of the bridge and watch the group with scorn. ADMIRAL PIETT A CONTROLLER interrupts. CONTROLLER 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; TUCKUSS 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. At that moment, Admiral Piett approaches Vader in a rush of excitement. ADMIRAL PIETT
FULL SHOT, asteroid field, of the Millennium Falcon followed by a firing Imperial Star Destroyer, head to camera. A large asteroid about the same size as the Falcon tumbles over camera and toward the Falcon, covering it from view. The tiny starship banks to miss the giant asteroid as smaller rocks pelt its surface and it roars under camera. The asteroid grows small in the distance as it explodes harmlessly on the Star Destroyer.
INT COCKPIT, OVER THE SHOULDER, of the asteroid storm and flak.
The ship shudders as flak explodes near the cockpit window. Threepio is watching a tracking scope of the side control panel. Leia watches tensely out the window. THREEPIO HAN
320. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - STAR DESTROYER - SPACE FULL SHOT - The Millennium Falcon races past camera, right to left, followed by the Star Destroyer, firing away.
Chewie BARKS excitedly as the rain of asteroids begins to subside. A bolt from the Star Destroyer creates a huge explosion on the back side of the Millennium Falcon. The ship lurches to one side.
FULL SHOT - The Falcon going from camera is hit by a bolt from the Star Destroyer, creating a huge explosion on the back side of the Falcon. The ship lurches to one side, then rights itself. End asteroid storm.
Han corrects the attitude of the ship. Chewie WHINES. HAN
INT COCKPIT, OVER THE SHOULDER - Han pulls back on the hyperspace throttle and nothing happens. Flak bursts continue outside.
Han is frantic. HAN Chewie is very angry and starts to GROWL and BARK at his friend and captain. Han desperately pulls back on the throttle again. HAN LEIA HAN THREEPIO LEIA Han thinks for a moment, makes a decision and pulls back on a lever. HAN LEIA THREEPIO Chewie BARKS and the golden droid shuts up.
INT COCKPIT, POV of flak, banking as the Falcon makes a steep turn.
FULL SHOT - The Falcon races past camera, right to left. Pan as the starship does a twisting turn and heads back over camera.
328. EXT SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - STAR DESTROYER FULL SHOT - Moving toward the Star Destroyer as the Falcon races over camera and away, becoming very small against the massive surface of the Star Destroyer. Flak.
FULL SHOT - TRUCKING with the Falcon across the surface of the Star Destroyer as it is bobbing and weaving to avoid the numerous flak bursts. The Falcon flies over camera.
INT STAR DESTROYER
BRIDGE, POV of stars as tiny Falcon heads at camera, stars and window
in foreground. DECK OFFICER TRACKING OFFICER CAPTAIN NEEDA DECK OFFICER
INT BRIDGE, window with the Falcon racing at the window as the officers duck. At the last minute, the Falcon veers off and out of sight. Stars, all is quiet. CAPTAIN NEEDA TRACKING OFFICER CAPTAIN NEEDA CAPTAIN NEEDA DECK OFFICER CAPTAIN NEEDA TRACKING OFFICER DECK OFFICER The captain looks at his aide with a resigned expression. CAPTAIN NEEDA
Luke lies motionless in the mud with Artoo leaning over him. Two glowing balls about the size of baseballs hover above them like mosquitoes and occasionally the angry Artoo swats at them; they move just out of the stubby droid's reach. Artoo whistles to his master several times, but gets no response. Artoo turns toward Yoda, who is sitting quietly nearby chewing on his Gimer Stick, and begins to furiously beep and scold the little Jedi Master. YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA Artoo scoots away as the fed-up Luke grabs his laser sword from the mud, ignites it and jumps up. LUKE As he moves toward the hovering balls with a poised saber and ferocious look, they draw away, retreating to the area around Yoda's head. YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA Luke stops protesting, relaxes his body. YODA Luke closes his eyes, tries to clear his thoughts. YODA After a long moment, Yoda makes the tiniest little gesture and the two glowing balls near his head race toward Luke, firing stun bolts. Luke immediately springs to life, but in a lovely, graceful way. He moves incredibly fast, deflecting bolts thrown at him from all directions, jumping incredibly high. YODA Luke is bursting with his achievement as two more glowing seekers float into view from behind Yoda's back, making a poised line of four above Yoda. Luke's grin melts away.
FULL SHOT - Fleet around Vader's Star Destroyer with second Star Destroyer in the foreground.
The dead body of Captain Needa lies at the feet of Darth Vader. Two stormtroopers pick it up and carry it quickly away as Admiral Piett and two of his captains hurry up to the Dark Lord. ADMIRAL PIETT VADER ADMIRAL PIETT The Admiral turns to and aide, a little more worried than when he arrived.
FULL SHOT - Imperial fleet as Vader's ship moves away with the smaller ships. Into the foreground, from the bottom, comes a huge Star Destroyer which moves into the distance.
MED SHOT of Star Destroyer bridge as camera trucks into the Millennium Falcon, clinging to the side of the ship.
INT FALCON COCKPIT, stars moving slowly. Everyone is hanging in their chairs sideways. Threepio is shut down. Leia glances at him. LEIA HAN LEIA HAN Chewie BARKS, struggles from his seat, and climbs out of the cabin. LEIA HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN Han points to a configuration of small light points on a computer map screen on the control panel. Leia slips out of her chair and moves next to the handsome pilot. Several systems flash by on the computer screen. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN LEIA LEIA HAN Chewie BARKS something on the intercom. Han quickly changes his readouts and stretches to look out the cockpit window. HAN Han leans back in his chair and gives her an inviting smile. She thinks for a moment, shakes her head; a grin creeps across her face and she gives him a quick kiss. LEIA HAN
FULL SHOT - Space and Star Destroyer moving slowly away from camera. Junk begins to trail out of the ship and float over camera as the Falcon tumbles by. The Star Destroyer roars and zooms into hyperspace.
FULL SHOT - Junk over camera. Going away, the Falcon starts engines and races off into the distance. The junk slowly drifts away. Boba Fett's ship appears in the foreground and moves after the Falcon.
Luke runs through the Bog, jumping incredibly high over roots, doing amazing double flips across mud holes, racing in and out of the heavy ground fog. Yoda again rides on Luke's neck. YODA LUKE Luke turns to see a huge, tangled, dead black tree. It's base is surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots form a dark and sinister cave near one side. Luke lets Yoda down to the ground. He stares at the tree, breathing hard. LUKE Yoda sits on a large root, pulls out his chew stick. LUKE YODA LUKE YODA Luke looks warily between the tree and Yoda. He ignites his light saber and steps into the water. YODA Luke gives the tree a long look, then shakes his head "no." Yoda shrugs. Luke wades across the water and steps into the darkness of the cave.
341. INT TREE CAVE - DAGOBAH Luke moves into almost total darkness. It's wet and slimy. The young Jedi can barely make out the edge of the passage. Suddenly, he is enveloped by a thick spider web-like membrane. He thrashes to clear himself and cuts through it with his laser sword. When he is free of it, he holds the saber out before him. Five inches from his face, a beetle the size of Luke's hand scurries up the wall to join its mates. Luke draws back only a moment, then pushes deeper into the cave. The space widens around him, but he can feel that rather than see it. His sword casts the only light. Luke peers into the darkness. It has become very quiet here. There is a long, long beat. A loud HISS! Darth Vader appears across the blackness, illuminated by his just-ignited laser sword. Immediately, he charges Luke, saber before him. He is upon him in seconds, but Luke sidesteps perfectly and slashes at Vader with his sword. Vader is decapitated. His head and helmet fly 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 stops. For one instant it sits whole 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.
Yoda sits on the root, calmly chewing on his Gimer Stick.
FULL SHOT - The powerful pirate starship over camera as it heads toward the soft pink planet of Bespin. Planet is about 25 per cent of frame - moons.
FULL SHOT, TRUCKING - Bespin's surface. It is dawn on the gaseous planet. Huge billowing clouds form a canyon as the ship banks around them and past camera.
345. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TWIN CARS - CLOUDS - BESPIN
FULL SHOT, TRUCKING with the Falcon coming to camera as the cloud car banks in from the right and pulls along side on the left. Falcon slowly gains on camera and goes overhead.
INT SIDE VIEW from Falcon cockpit of clouds and cloud car outside, clouds move left to right. Wookiee in foreground. FLAK rocks ships. Chewie barks his concern. HAN (O.S.)
Flak bursts outside the cockpit window and rattles the ship's interior. Leia looks worried. INTERCOM (O.S.
Voice) THREEPIO LEIA HAN CHEWIE HAN Han snaps off intercom. He is angry. The giant Wookiee turns to Han and grunts. Han turns to the worried Princess and her droid. HAN LEIA
FULL SHOT - Camera moves through clouds to reveal the city in a long shot. We see the ball at the bottom as it bobs in and out of the cloud surface. The cloud car and the Falcon pass over camera and head for the city.
FULL SHOT - Ships come to camera, PAN as they pass on left to closer view of city as ships grow small.
HIGH ANGLE - With cloud car near camera and Falcon dives into the distance, landing on one of the tiny city platforms. Several ships in background.
LANDO CALRISSIAN, a suave, dashing black man in his thirties leads a group of aides and bodyguards toward the landing platform. The group, like the other citizens of the city, is a motley collection of aliens, blacks, humanoids, whites and Orientals. Lando has a grim expression on his face as he exits onto the landing platform.
353. EXT LANDING PLATFORM - DOOR OF MILLENNIUM FALCON - CLOUD CITY - BESPIN Han and Leia stand at the open door, armed. Behind them stands Chewie, also armed. They survey the scene warily. A dawn wind whips at Lando and his troops as they march across the narrow bridge leading to the landing platform. LEIA HAN Han walks down the ramp, followed by Chewie. Lando has a pleased, proprietory look on his face as he gazes at the ship, which fades to a neutral look as he stops ten feet from Han. The two men eye each other carefully. Lando just shakes his head. LANDO HAN LANDO HAN LANDO The two old friends embrace, laughing and chuckling. LANDO CHEWIE Leia starts down the ramp, followed by Threepio. Lando glances up at her and does a slow take. LANDO LEIA Lando bows before Leia and kisses her hand. THREEPIO Before Threepio can finish his introduction, Han has put his arm around Lando and steered away from Leia, back toward the city. HAN Lando glances longingly over his shoulder at Leia who is following behind the two old friends. LANDO HAN LANDO Han smiles, explains over his shoulder to Leia. HAN LANDO HAN LANDO
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 legs a bit behind. HAN LANDO HAN Lando is reflective, he looks at Han a moment. LANDO
Threepio enters the off-shoot corridor. THREEPIO As Threepio is about to reach another doorway, the door to the main passage closes behind him. He looks into the room. THREEPIO A laserbolt to Threepio's chest sends him flying in twenty directions. Smoldering mechanical arms and legs bounce off the walls.
Lando, Han and Leia continue down the corridor unaware of Threepio's demise. Chewbacca glances around, sniffs the air, but shrugs his shoulders and follows the group.
Again Yoda sits on the high branch with Luke's laser sword clasped in his webbed feet. Far below, Luke sets, then jumps. This time he not only grabs the sword but soars an extra couple feet, high enough to flash a quick grin at Yoda, eye to eye.
Luke is standing on one hand again, with Yoda perched up on his feet. But now Luke's face shows less strain, more concentration. Suddenly, Luke holds his four fingers off the ground. He is balancing on his thumb.
359. EXT BOG - SWAMP - DUSK - DAGOBAH Artoo is busy washing down the X wing fighter. A powerful stream of water sprays from a nozzle in the droid's side, while a hose from his other side trails off into the watery swamp. Luke and Yoda are sitting in the camp facing each other. The young warrior's eyes are closed. YODA BEN'S VOICE YODA Luke turns to see the image of Ben fade away. LUKE YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA LUKE YODA Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future... Back away, little machine! Yoda lifts his hand towards the pushing droid and Artoo lets out a quick shriek of shock and moves away, mumbling and looking back at Yoda. Luke has started to gather up his things. LUKE YODA Luke is stopped cold by Yoda's words. Gloom shrouds him as he plops down and Artoo comes over to comfort him.
A room piled high with broken or discarded parts. Chewie is poking around... seems to find a piece that pleases him... tosses another part away. Moves around a large piece, which partially obscures him - he lets out a savage growl at what he sees.
Sunlight pours
through the skylight in a large art-deco living area onto which four
apartments open. Han slouches in a lounge chair with his feet on a
table. He aims his blaster at a glow globe and makes a firing sound
with his tongue. He turns to see Leia standing in the doorway to her
apartment. HAN LEIA HAN LEIA HAN Leia thinks it over a moment, then walks over and settles next to Han, who's overjoyed with her apparent pliancy. he's about to envelop her when she throws on the ice water... LEIA HAN Han puts his arm around her. They are ready to kiss. The door zaps open. Chewbacca walks in carrying a packing case of Threepio, arms and legs hanging over the edge. He drops the box on the table. CHEWIE LEIA HAN HAN The giant Wookiee has been studying the array of robot parts. He looks at the Princess. CHEWIE HAN LEIA HAN There is a BUZZ and the door slides open revealing Lando and a pair of body guards. LANDO LEIA LANDO LEIA LANDO Han looks at Lando suspiciously. CHEWIE LANDO Leia takes Lando's proffered arm and the group turns to go. Lando spots Threepio's remains. Han and Leia exchange a quick glance. HAN The door slides closed behind them, leaving the battered droid on the table.
Leia walks between Han and Lando as Chewie and the two bodyguards follow a short distance behind. Long shafts of light pour across the corridor between tall columns. LANDO LEIA LANDO
The corridor opens onto a veranda which overlooks the spiraled top of the city. City Plaza - as Lando and group pass. City in background with several cloud cars flying around. LEIA LANDO
363. INT CORRIDOR - CLOUD CITY - DAY They re-enter the corridor and head for a huge doorway at the far end. Chewie begins to sniff something. CHEWIE HAN LANDO
The mighty doors to the dining room slide open and the group enters the elegant room. At the far end of a huge banquet table sits, Darth Vader. At his side and slightly behind him is standing Bobo Fett, the bounty hunter. Han gives Lando a mean look. LANDO HAN Faster than the wink of an eye, Han has drawn his blaster and popped off a couple of quick 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 out of his grip and mysteriously flies across the room into Vader's hand. The evil presence calmly places the gun on the table in front of him. VADER
365. EXT YODA'S BOG (MONTAGE) - DAGOBAH In the bog clearing, Yoda watches as Luke stares at two equipment cases from the supplies of his fighter. Artoo watches from nearby. Now the two cases lift into the air and exchange places. Luke smiles to himself feeling strong and playful. Now he lifts the two equipment cases again, plus a bewildered, beeping Artoo, who is roughly the same size.
Luke is squatting before Yoda's little stove, working over a chaos of steaming pots, chopping, stirring and sprinkling in a manner strongly reminiscent of Yoda, who, by the way, is not around. Suddenly a painful vision fills Luke's mind; he winces and stops his cooking for a few moments. It passes away, Luke shakes it off and goes back to his cooking. After a few long beats, behind Luke's back and unseen by him, three of Yoda's glowing-ball seekers float quietly into view. They pause, then race toward Luke firing stun bolts. The young Jedi instantly twists to face them, deflecting all the bolts with the pot lid in his left hand and the spoon in his right.
It is almost dark... in the woods a tiny light moves towards us... finally we see it is Artoo... he stops within sight of Yoda's house. A warm light pours out of the house illuminating Luke who is asleep on the ground. A blanket lies half-off Luke; Artoo carefully pulls it up to fully cover Luke. As Artoo moves away Luke begins reacting to a nightmare. He moans... opens his eyes wide and sits up. Yoda comes to the doorway and looks out. LUKE Suddenly the shimmering image of Ben Kenobi appears before Luke. BEN LUKE LUKE BEN LUKE BEN YODA LUKE BEN LUKE BEN LUKE BEN BEN LUKE YODA Luke is in great anguish. He struggles with the dilemma, a battle raging in his head. But then there is a clearing in his expression, a choice made. LUKE Luke looks for a long moment at Ben and Yoda. Then he turns and starts toward his ship followed by his faithful droid. Yoda looks at Ben with a certain irritation, but Ben is focusing on Luke. The old man's expression is resigned.
The fighter's lights come on. Luke is in the process of hoisting a heavy case into the belly of the ship by a cable. Artoo is on top of the ship settling down into his place. Luke stops what he is doing as Ben appears. Yoda steps into the light. BEN Artoo unfastens power couplings on the ship. ARTOO BEN Luke nods and climbs back into his ship. YODA LUKE Artoo closes the cockpit. Ben and Yoda stand watching as the roar of the engines and the wind engulfs them. YODA BEN YODA
FULL SHOT - Luke's tiny X wing rockets to camera, left to right, away from the green planet of Dagobah.
FULL SHOT - X wing, over camera and into space.
370. INT LARGE CELL - CLOUD CITY - BESPIN Chewie, huffing and puffing, paces the cell in anger. He puts his ear to the wall, hears nothing and goes back to an area where there are four beds. A disassembled Threepio rests on one of the beds. The Wookiee picks up the golden droid's head and meditates on it a few moments. 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 unintelligible. THREEPIO Chewie looks at Threepio in bewilderment, then scratches his furry head, gets and idea and adjusts some connections. Threepio immediately begins speaking normally. THREEPIO Chewie barks with glee at the robot's return to life. THREEPIO
The door to another cell slides open and the muffled yells of Han Solo become sharp, piercing screams of agony and pain. Darth Vader exits the cell and is approached by Lando, Lando's aide, and Boba Fett. VADER BOBA VADER VADER LANDO VADER LANDO VADER Vader turns and sweeps into the elevator with Boba Fett. Lando turns with his aide and walks swiftly down another corridor. LANDO AIDE Lando gives his aide a look that speaks volumes, then walks a few steps in silence, thinking. LANDO
Chewie now has a little more of Threepio back together. One arm is connected, but his legs have yet to be attached. There is one small problem, however; it appears the Wookiee has managed to put the droid's head on backwards. Threepio is cut off in mid-sentence as Chewie 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 helped into the room by two Stormtroopers. The huge Wookiee gives him a hug as the Stormtroopers leave. Han is very pale, with dark circles under his eyes. CHEWIE HAN Chewie BARKS again as the door slides open revealing Leia. She looks a little worse for war also. The troopers shove her into the cell, and the door slides closed. Chewie helps her up and over to Han. The two lovers embrace, kiss. HAN LEIA HAN The cell door slides open. Lando and two Bespin troops enter. HAN HAN LANDO LEIA LANDO Leia looks with concern to Han. HAN LANDO HAN Leia's mind is racing. LANDO LEIA HAN LANDO Lando nods. Han's rage peaks. HAN 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 HAN Lando and the guards leave. Han wipes the blood from his chin as Leia and Chewie help him onto one of the bunks. LEIA
FULL SHOT - X wing, past camera toward Bespin in the distance.
CLOSE-UP side R-2, stars left to right.
Armor-suited Stormtroopers rush about the large chamber, which is filled with pipes and chemical tanks. In the middle of the room is a square pit housing a hydraulic platform. Darth Vader and Lando stand near the platform. VADER An Aide appears. AIDE VADER LANDO VADER Lando's face registers his dismay.
FULL SHOT - X wing, through clouds, side-trucking PAN as ship approaches city.
378. INT COCKPIT LUKE'S X WING - BESPIN SYSTEM - SPACE Luke scans his display panels with concern. LUKE ARTOO
With Boba Fett in the lead, a squad of Stormtroopers bring 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's happening. His one attached arm is animate and expressive, intermittently pointing, gesturing and covering his eyes. The remaining pieces of his body are roughly bundled. to the Wookiee's back. His legs and other arm stick out at odd angles from the pack. Vader turns to Boba Fett. VADER BOBA VADER LEIA Chewie lets out a wild HOWL and attacks the Stormtroopers surrounding Han. Within seconds many Imperial reinforcements have joined the scuffle. The giant Wookiee is clubbed with laser weapons. From the instant of Chewie's first move, Threepio is screaming in panic while he tries to protect himself with his one arm... The Stormtroopers are about to bash Chewie in the face. HAN Han breaks away from his captors. Vader nods to the guards to let him go and the pirate breaks up the fight. THREEPIO Han gives the Wookiee a stern look, then a big hug. HAN Han winks at the Wookiee. CHEWIE HAN In a flash the guards have slipped binders on Chewbacca, who is too distraught to protest. Han gives his furry friend a final hug and turns to Princess Leia. He takes her in his arms and she gives him a passionate kiss. LEIA HAN Imperial guards position Han on the platform and quickly bind his arms and legs. They step back. Han looks one final time at his friends and suddenly the platform drops. Han disappears into the steaming vat of sub-zero cold. Chewie HOWLS. Leia turns away in agony. Lando winces in sorrow; it makes a life-changing impression on him. Instantly, a ladle of fiery liquid moves over the vat, tilts and pours, creating a shower of sparks and fluid as great as any steel furnace. Chewie has half turned away from the sight, giving Threepio a view of the procedure. THREEPIO Chewie is in no mood for technical discussions; he gives the droid an angry glance. A huge mechanical tong lifts the metal encased space pirate out of the vat and places him before Vader, Boba Fett and Lando. Technicians inspect the metal mummy with various electronic probes, drilling holes and attaching hoses. TECHNICIAN VADER AIDE VADER LANDO LANDO VADER Lando's hand instinctively goes to his throat as he turns back to Leia, Chewie and Threepio.
Luke and Artoo move carefully down the deserted corridor. Luke stops as he hears 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 carrying the encased body of Han Solo and two Stormtroopers, who immediately start firing on the young warrior. Luke draws his weapon and blasts the two stormtroopers before they can get off a second shot. The two guards whisk Han into another hallway as Boba lowers his arm and fires a deadly laser at Luke, which explodes to one side.
By the time Luke reaches the side hallway, Boba, Han and the guards are gone. A thick metal door blocks the passage. Luke turns to see Leia, Chewie, Threepio, and Lando being herded away by several other Stormtroopers down a second hallway. LUKE LEIA Before she can finish, the group turns a corner and is gone. Luke races after them, leaving little Artoo trailing behind.
382. INT CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER - CLOUD CITY - BESPIN Luke runs into the zero-cold chamber and stops for a second to get his bearings. Leia and the others are nowhere in sight. Behind Luke, Artoo is whistling down the corridor to the chamber when a giant metal door comes slamming down with a loud CLANG (seemingly on top of the stubby droid), cutting off Luke's exit. Several more doors CLANG shut, echoing through the chamber.
Artoo is standing with his nose up against the giant metal door. He whistles a long sigh of relief and, a little dazed, wanders off in the other direction.
Luke searches the complex chamber for any sign of an enemy. There is nothing. He walks forward toward the hydraulic platform, then stops, holstering his gun. LUKE Vader steps into view behind Luke. the young Jedi turns instantly to face his opponent. VADER
Leia, Lando, Chewie and Threepio march along between four Stormtroopers. They reach an intersection where a dozen of Lando's guards are standing at attention. Lando stops before the sergeant of the guard. LANDO The guards immediately aim their weapons at the startled Stormtroopers. The sergeant takes the Stormtroopers weapons from them, handing one to Lando, the others to Chewie and Leia. They release Chewie's binders. Lando's guards march the Stormtroopers away. LEIA LANDO LEIA Lando has to take another look at this broad. She doesn't seem very appreciative. LANDO LEIA LANDO CHEWIE LANDO THREEPIO In the distance, down a long hallway in the direction that Threepio is facing, a familiar whistling can be heard. Artoo appears and zips up toward the group. Chewie turns to see the stubby droid, causing Threepio to be spun away from his little friend. THREEPIO ARTOO THREEPIO LEIA LANDO Lando leads the others quickly down a hall. ARTOO THREEPIO
Vader ignites his powerful light saber. Luke takes a step back and one foot rests on the cold chamber platform. He lights his laser sword and sets himself to face the Dark Lord. VADER LUKE VADER Vader brings his mighty sword down on Luke, who deftly blocks the attack, but moves another step back in the process. He is now standing squarely on the hydraulic platform. LUKE VADER LUKE VADER With that, there is a slight rumble and the hydraulic platform disappears into the vat of freezing steam, which rises to obscure Vader's vision. He looks down into the steam. VADER LUKE (OS) Vader looks up in surprise to see that Luke has leapt fifteen feet straight up and is now hanging from some of the hoses on the carbonite ladle. Luke yanks one of the hoses loose and swings to safety on the far side of the platform. Vader moves toward Luke with overwhelming menace, his laser sword flaring. VADER A section of pipe tears loose from the wall and flies toward Luke. Luke cuts it into five pieces, which bounce around the chamber. VADER VADER Luke looks around for a means of escape. There is only one... a round tunnel with pipes and conduit running through it. He makes his way for it as Vader continues to hurtle objects at him. VADER Luke backs into the tunnel followed by Vader.
Imperial Stormtroopers slide Han's encased body into an opening in the side of the bounty hunter's ship. Boba climbs aboard on a ladder next to the side opening. BOBA
An elevator slides open and Lando, Leia and Chewbacca race for a large bay overlooking the East Landing Platform.
FULL SHOT, INT EAST LANDING PLATFORM - Boba Fett's ship takes off against cloud sky at sunset.
Chewie HOWLS and starts firing at the ship. LANDO THREEPIO LANDO 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 out through their death-dealing weapons. Threepio, at the center of all this, is frantic. THREEPIO LANDO Reluctantly, Leia and Chewbacca move through the rain of laserfire toward the elevator. Once they're inside, the door slams shut and the Stormtroopers race forward.
Leia is out of breath as the levels slowly pass outside the translucent windows. Lando watches the display panel. LANDO THREEPIO LEIA CHEWIE LANDO LEIA CHEWIE LANDO LEIA LANDO LEIA Suddenly, the elevator stops with a jolt and the main lights go out, leaving only the running lights. LEIA CHEWIE ARTOO 392. INT REACTOR CONTROL STATION Vader's powerful thrust and parry continues as Luke is forced back into the cluttered control area of the monstrous reactor that powers the city. Luke is obviously outmatched by the powerful Dark Lord of the Sith; he must struggle to avoid Vader's slashing sword. The laser weapon cuts through pipes and wires, causing steam, fluid and sparks to fly everywhere. VADER Luke lunges at Vader and attempts to put the Dark Lord on the defensive. He succeeds in nicking the giant warrior on the shoulder. Vader reacts, but is quite unhurt. VADER Luke is breathing hard but the mention of Ben has a curious effect on him. He stands motionless for a moment, thinking. He closes his eyes. LUKE A calm comes over Luke, as Vader raises his sword and starts another attack. Using The Force, Vader hurtles large objects at Luke, but the boy deflects them with the good side of The Force. Luke is backed up against a large round window. It over-looks a narrow scaffold and, beyond, an awesome abyss that drops away to the glowing reactor many miles below. VADER A large tool case rises and speeds toward Luke. He deflects it slightly, and it smashes through the window creating a massive rush of air. The gust knocks Luke off balance and sends him flying out the window after the tool case.
Lando climbs into the dimly lit elevator shaft from a door in the top of the elevator. There is no cable, but a great deal of mechanical and electronic gadgetry. Leia and Chewie can be seen inside the elevator looking at him. Lando fiddles with several large braking devices and then starts banging one with his weapon. LANDO
Artoo has found a computer outlet in the side of the elevator control panel. Beeping and whistling madly, he inserts his control arm in the socket. THREEPIO Lando pops his head in as a loud clanking echoes through the shaft. LANDO ARTOO With a jolt, the brakes release and the elevator rockets into oblivion. Leia, Chewie and Threepio are smashed to the ceiling.
Elevator races away from camera with Lando hanging on the back. LANDO
Artoo whistles madly, but the elevator doesn't stop. THREEPIO
397. INT ELEVATOR SHAFT Lando manages to hang on with one hand and fire his laser pistol at the huge brake with the other. A direct hit and the brake snaps closed, stopping the elevator instantly with a loud, horrible SCREECH.
The shaft is noisy with wind. Then, the wind stops and all that can be heard is the echoing footsteps of the Dark Lord. A haggard Luke is dangling over the abyss, struggling to climb back on to the gantry before Vader arrives. He still holds his light saber as he hoists himself back onto the metal walkway. Vader brings his sword down before Luke can stand, but the young Jedi manages to block the blow. He scrambles backwards down the ramp, with Vader following, slashing at the youth. In the distance, the muted roar of the wind blast can be heard getting ever closer, until the two warriors are engulfed in blast of wind that almost knocks them off the gantry. Luke manages to stand in the wind and return Vader's powerful blows. The two battle furiously along the gantry. Vader cuts away part of the railing that Luke is holding. Luke notices with awe as the railing is lifted by the wind. He lets go and the metal floats away. The wind stops and the fighting becomes even more intense. The deadly buzz of the laser swords reverberates through the vast power shaft. An alarm sounds and the public address system inside the control room crackles. ADDRESS SYSTEM VADER LUKE Luke slashes at Vader again, renewing the fight. Luke's sword whistles past Vader and the young warrior is thrown off balance, his guard down. Vader's light saber flashes out with deadly skill and cuts Luke, almost forcing him over the edge. He can barely stand. He wipes the tears from his eyes, but still can barely focus on his massive opponent.
399. INT CORRIDOR LEADING TO LANDING PLATFORM - BESPIN The Millennium Falcon can be seen for a moment before the main door leading to the landing platform slams shut. Leia, Lando, Chewie and the droids round a corner. They duck into the alcove at the main door just as Stormtroopers arrive at both ends of the hall and start firing. The band of rebels squeeze into the little alcove as a rain of laser bolts stream past and explode around them. Chewie blasts away at the Stormtroopers. Leia punches buttons on the door's control panel. LEIA LANDO THREEPIO Threepio points to a computer socket on the control panel. Little Artoo beeps and scoots over to the panel and sticks his computer arm into the socket. ARTOO Artoo's circuits light up, his head spins around wildly and he begins to smoke. Lando pulls him away. ARTOO THREEPIO LEIA
400. INT GANTRY OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM - REACTOR SHAFT - BESPIN The guard rail has been cut to ribbons. Luke has been driven to the edge of the jutting platform; he is ready to collapse under Vader's powerful blows. A continual rain of sparks showers down on the young warrior from a severed power cable on the instrument stand. The noise of clashing laser swords is now covered by the roar of wind working its way up the shaft. Luke almost loses his balance and goes over the edge, but the wind props him up enough for him to regain his balance. He attacks Vader again, with a vengeance, using his last reserves of strength. The wind fades away again. VADER (INSERT B - DIALOGUE ADDED HERE) LUKE Luke starts backing away from Vader, his strength gone at last. VADER LUKE Luke lunges for Vader with his laser sword, but misses. He stumbles to the other side of the platform. In the distance, the wind can be heard working its way up the long shaft. Luke is out of breath, exhausted, bleeding. He hears the wind rising and gives Vader a long, hard look. LUKE Luke staggers to the edge of the platform and jumps off into the endless abyss. Vader rages in disbelief. VADER Spread-eagle, skydiver-style, Luke attempts to maneuver himself closer to the side of the shaft. He has hooked his laser sword to his belt. The wind begins to fade and the wounded Jedi begins to fall fast, unable to grab onto anything.
Suddenly, Luke is sucked into a small exhaust pipe in the side of the shaft. Vader sees this. He turns and hurries off the platform.
TRUCKING FULL SHOT as Luke tumbles through the exhaust pipe.
Luke is spit out of the exhaust pipe on the underside of the city. He manages to grab a protruding weather vane at the exterior mouth of the pipe.
FULL SHOT - Luke hanging on weather vane on bottom of the city. Dangling helplessly above the awesome cloud sea hundreds of miles below, he struggles in vain to pull himself to safety. Finally, he closes his eyes and begins to concentrate. LUKE Luke swings in the gentle breeze of the cloud planet.
405. INT CORRIDOR LEADING TO LANDING PLATFORM Artoo has dismantled the control panel next to the service door and is working with the wires. His work has enabled Lando to hook into the public address system. Now he yells into a microphone over the din of the continuing battle with the Stormtroopers. LANDO An explosion hits nearby. Artoo touches two wires together and the door slides open. Artoo whistles. Lando, Chewie, Leia and Threepio are ecstatically surprised. THREEPIO LEIA Artoo lays down a cloud of fog, obscuring everything, as the group dashes outside.
The group races for the Millennium Falcon as Stormtroopers reach the main door. Lando and Leia hold off the troops as Chewie and the droids get on board. Chewie starts up the ship. As the giant engines start to whine, Lando and Leia jump on board.
MED SHOT - Luke hanging on weather vane on bottom of the city. He has attained a better position on the weather vane and managed to hook one of his legs around the fragile instrument. LUKE There is an ominous CRACKING sound from the base of the weather vane and a piece breaks off, falling into the clouds far below. A rush of air is constantly blowing from the pipe.
408. INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CLOUD CITY - DUSK Chewie pulls back on the controls as Leia and Lando make their way into the cabin. Lando sits in the co-pilot's seat. Leia sits next to one of the control panels. Suddenly, Leia seems to hear something. She turns to Lando with a quizzical look. LEIA LANDO Leia shrugs and turns back to Chewie.
The Millennium
Falcon lifts gracefully into the twilight sky as the squad of Stormtroopers
vainly fires away.
FULL SHOT - Looking down on the landing platform as Falcon roars up and away past camera at dusk.
INT COCKPIT, SIDE as Falcon moves through cloud canyon.
MED SHOT of
Luke dangling from weather vane. LUKE
OVER THE SHOULDER POV of cloud through cockpit window in Millennium Falcon.
414. INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CLOUD CITY - DUSK Leia seems to be lost in a fog, her expression troubled. Everyone else is busy operating the ship. LANDO LEIA LANDO LEIA CHEWIE LEIA LANDO CHEWIE LEIA LANDO CHEWIE LANDO
FULL SHOT TRUCKING of the Falcon making a graceful banking turn over camera. Clouds at dusk.
416. EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - UNDERSIDE CLOUD CITY - DUSK FULL SHOT as Falcon dives to the underside of the floating city.
Artoo is busy trying to re-assemble his friend Threepio. He adjusts the connections to the golden droid's second arm. ARTOO THREEPIO
FULL SHOT - Luke on weather vane. He is almost unconscious, but he hears the familiar whine of the approaching Millennium Falcon. As his body shifts, the weather vane breaks, sending Luke tumbling.
Leia tries to remain calm in the midst of everyone's amazement. LANDO LEIA
POV out Falcon cockpit window as Luke falls into the clouds in the distance.
Leia watches anxiously. LEIA
422. INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - CLOUD CITY - POV CLOSER POV out cockpit window of Luke getting bigger as the Falcon closes on him, until his falling body skims the cockpit window and lands with a thud on the outside hull of the ship.
The hatch pops open with a hiss of pressure. Lando reaches out to help the battered warrior inside the ship. Suddenly, there is a huge explosion near the ship causing it to lurch wildly. Luke is almost thrown overboard, but Lando grabs his hand in time.
OVER THE SHOULDER POV - Clouds and flak bursts as the Falcon banks away from the city. Dusk.
Three Imperial Patrol ships are firing on the Falcon as they speed into pursuit.
Explosions begin to erupt all around the cockpit, buffeting the ship wildly. Chewie HOWLS as he frantically tries to control the ship. LEIA Leia reaches over and speaks into the com-link. LEIA LUKE (OS) Leia and Chewie turn to see the bloody and battered Jedi, supported by Lando in the cockpit entry. Lando has wrapped a blanket around him. Leia jumps up and gives him a giant hug. CHEWIE A huge flak burst rocks the ship.
FULL SHOT - The Falcon speeds away from the planet and over camera followed by two Imperial ships.
FULL SHOT - The Falcon away from camera and into space, followed by two Imperial ships.
Lights flash and muted alarm BUZZERS sound. Threepio leaves the cockpit. Luke is strapped into the seat across from Leia. LANDO LEIA Chewie nods. Leia looks at the control panel warily. LEIA LUKE Leia and Chewie exchange a look. LANDO LEIA Another explosion rocks the ship. LEIA The Wookiee shrugs and pulls back on the lightspeed throttle.
FULL SHOT, OVER THE SHOULDER POV out cockpit window, stars that streak and go into hyperspace.
FULL SHOT, SPACE - The Falcon speeds away from camera and disappears into nothingness.
FULL SHOT - Motley rebel fleet in space. The Millennium Falcon is attached to a huge rebel cruiser by a docking tube. A large star is nearby.
The bridge
area of the Star Cruiser is relatively quiet. Most of the crew is
busy working at their control panels. Leia bows before Lando and Chewie, then gives the large Wookiee a big bear hug. Luke shakes Lando's hand and pats him on the shoulder. He then moves to Chewie and starts scratching his chest vigorously; which the Wookiee loves. He BARKS his enjoyment. Lando and Chewie start to leave the bridge, stopping only when little Artoo races up and tugs at the furry giant with one of his claw arms and whistles. Chewie turns and is hugged by Threepio. The Wookiee is embarrassed, but manages a friendly pat on the droid's back and another on little Artoo's dome head. the robots wave as the two adventurers leave the bridge.
434. INT STAR CRUISER BY VIEW PORT Luke and Leia stand alone before a giant view port - stars and distant suns move through window. Luke smiles and gives Leia a kiss on the forehead as she puts her arm around him. LUKE The tall, golden robot, and the stubby Artoo-droid join the young Jedi and the Princess. They gaze out the view port as the Millennium Falcon pulls gracefully away.
POV of distant sun. The Falcon does a spectacular flip and fly-by, and banks off into the stars. ROLL UP END CREDITS THE END |