This is the fourth draft of The Empire Strikes Back script. It was purchased from a dealer in the eighties by Brendon Wahlberg and typed into electronic form by John Haller. Please add it to the Script board. It is being sent in four parts. 1 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - HELICOPTER SHOT - DAY 1 A white snowscape races toward camera ... the MAIN TITLE quickly recedes, followed by a roll-up. Episode V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ... After the destruction of its most feared battle station, the Empire has declared martial law throughout the galaxy. A million worlds have felt the oppressive hand of the Emperor as He attempts to crush the growing rebellion. As the Imperial grip of tyranny tightens, Princess Leia and the small band of freedom fighters search for a more secure base of operations ... The roll-up disappears into the black horizon. 2 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - HELICOPTER SHOT - DAY 2 The camera tilts down bringing into view a small figure galloping across the windswept ice slope. 3 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - DAY 3 A closer panning shot reveals a bundled rider on a large gray snow lizard, called a TAUNTAUN. Curving plumes of snow rise from beneath the speeding paws of the two-legged beast. 4 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY 4 The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a stop. 5 EXT PLAINS OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY 5 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 6 From LUKE'S POV, we follow a bright object as it falls to the ground. On the distant horizon, an explosion marks the point of impact. 7 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY 7 The wind whips at Luke's fur-lined cap as he activates a com-link transmitter. His lizard is nervous. LUKE (to the Tauntaun) Easy girl, it's just another meteorite. (into com-link) Han ... Han ol' buddy, do you read me? After a little static a familiar voice is heard. HAN (OS) (filtered) Loud and clear, kid. What's up? LUKE I've finished my circle and I haven't picked up any life read- ings. HAN (OS) (filtered) There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. My sentry markers are placed. I'm heading back to the base. LUKE I'll see you shortly. A meteorite just hit the ground near here and I want to check it out .. Won't be long. 8 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY 8 Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his lizard, which seems frightened. Luke pats the beast on the head to calm it. LUKE Weeho, girl! What's the matter ... you smell something? There's nothing out there. I'll check again ... Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to adjust it when suddenly a large shadow falls over him from behind, followed by a monstrous HOWL. Luke turns and looks up at an eleven foot high shape towering over him. LUKE Son of a jumping ...!!! He grabs for his pistol, but is HIT flat in the face by a huge, white claw, knocking him into the snow, bloody and unconscious. 9 CLOSE-UP LUKE 9 Luke falls unconscious into the snow. The terrified screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by the horrible snap of a neck being broken. 10 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - SLOPE - DAY 10 The WAMPA ICE MONSTER grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away. 11 EXT METEORITE CRATER - SNOW PLAIN - DAY 11 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 disap- pears into the distance. 12 EXT ICE CAVES - REBEL BASE ENTRANCE - DAY 12 A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance of an enormous ice cave. 13 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE 13 Rebel troopers are rushing about unloading supplies and otherwise securing their new base. The rider swings rakishly off his lizard and pulls away his goggles: HAN SOLO. He walks briskly into the main hangar deck toward the MILLENNIUM FALCON, which is parked among several fighters. Mechanics, R-2 units and various other droids hurry about. Han stops at the Millennium Falcon. His Wookiee co-pilot is welding on the back of a central lifter. Now he stops work and lifts his face shield; CHEWIE growls a greeting to his boss. HAN Cold isn't the word for it, Chewie. I'll take a good fight any day over all this hidin' and freezin'! ... How you coming with those lifters? The Wookiee GRUMBLES a reply. HAN All right. I'll go report then I'll give you a hand with them. Soon as those lifters are fixed, we're out of here. Chewbacca lets out with a joyful CHUCKLE and returns to his work as Han leaves. 14 INT COMMAND CENTER - ICE CAVE 14 A makeshift command center has been set up in a blaster area of thick ice. The low-ceilinged room is a beehive of activity. Controllers, troopers, and droids move about setting up electronic equipment and monitoring radar signals. GENERAL RIEEKAN straightens up from a console as Han approaches. RIEEKAN Captain Solo. What's the situation? HAN There isn't a hint of life in the area. But all the perimeter markers are set, so you'll know if anyone comes calling. RIEEKAN Good, and Commander Skywalker? HAN He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him. He'll be in soon. RIEEKAN (indicates radar screen) With all the meteor activity in this system, it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships. HAN The Empire won't look for you out here. I'd say you're all set ... which means it's time for me to get going. LEIA (OS) You're leaving? The two men turn to see PRINCESS LEIA, dressed in a short white combat jacket and pants. She is upset by Han's news. Her hair is braided and tied across her head in a "30's" Nordic fashion ... HAN That's right. RIEEKAN You're an extraordinary fighter. I hate to lose you. HAN Thank you, General. But there's a price on my head. If I don't pay off Jabba the Hutt, I'm a walking dead man. RIEEKAN I understand. A death mark is not an easy thing to live with ... Until our paths cross again, may the force be with you. Rieekan touches Han and moves away. Han turns to Leia. HAN (with feeling) I guess this is it, Your Highness. Leia is angry. Han sees she has no warmth to offer him. He shakes his head and adopts a cooler tone. HAN Well, don't get all mushy on me. So long, Princess. Han walks away. Leia stews a moment, then follows him. 15 INT ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH 15 Han strides down a corridor carved from the ice. Leia follows quickly, agitated. Behind them, unnoticed, an appendage of a Wampa Ice Monster suddenly detaches from a seemingly solid section of ice wall. LEIA Han! Han stops in the quiet corridor and turns to face Leia. HAN Yes, Your Highness? LEIA You said you were going to stay. What happened? HAN That bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind. LEIA Does Luke know? HAN He'll know when he gets back ... Don't give me that look. Every day more bounty hunters are searching for me. If I don't pay off Jabba soon, there'll be too many to stop ... Remotes, Gank killers, and who knows what else. I've got to get that price off my head while I still have a head. LEIA Han, we need you here. HAN We? LEIA Yes. HAN Not you? LEIA (mystified) Me? I don't know what you mean. HAN (shakes his head, fed-up) You probably don't. How could you? You're so terrified of your own emotions ... LEIA And what are they, pray tell? HAN You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me. LEIA I respect you. You're a bold fighter, maybe not the brightest, but ... HAN No, your worship.. That's not what I'm talking about. Leia stares at him, understands, then laughs. LEIA You're imagining things. Han has had it with this broad. He steps closer. Leia is almost against the wall. Han puts a hand against the wall to cut off any retreat. HAN Am I? I say you came running after me because you were afraid I was leaving you without even a kiss. LEIA I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee. HAN There's no accounting for taste. Believe me, you could use a good kiss. (warming to the subject) You've spent so much time doing your duty and giving orders you've never learned how to be a woman. It's a shame, because you've got all the makings for one. I could have helped you plenty in that department ... if you'd have let go for a minute. But it's too late now, sweetheart. Your big opportunity is flying out of here. LEIA We are fighting for a cause much ... HAN Spare me please! Don't tell me about the Rebellion again. I've had it with your noble mission. All you let yourself think about is the Rebellion. The result is you're as cold as this planet. LEIA And you think you're the one to apply some heat? HAN Sure ... If I were interested. But I don't think it'd be much fun. He steps away from her, takes a last cool appraisal. HAN (Continued) We'll meet again. Maybe you'll have grown up a little by then. LEIA You have all the breeding of a Bantha, but not as much class ... Enjoy your trip, hot shot! Leia walks away. 16 EXT ICE PLAIN OF HOTH - DAY 16 Track with the sinister, probe robot as it moves across the vast frozen wilderness. One of its extended sensors detects something and the robot stops, turns and heads off in another direction, at high speed. 17 EXT MOUND OF SNOW - ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAY 17 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 18 The mound shakes a little bit and two large eyes appear at one end, staring directly at the robot. A primeval BELLOW issues forth from the mound. 19 EXT MOUND OF SNOW - ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAY 19 The robot backs off a few feet, then blasts the mound with a heavy laser bolt that disintegrates the snow- covered creature in a cloud of smoke and flame. 20 EXT ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAY 20 The evil robot moves off toward the horizon. 21 EXT ICE GORGE - HOTH - DUSK 21 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. 22 EXT ICE GORGE - MED SHOT LUKE - DUSK 22 Luke pulls himself up, grabs hold of his ankles, and futilely tries to unfasten the thongs. Exhausted, he drops back into the hanging position. LUKE (to himself) Relax. Relax. Luke spies his laser sword lying near a pile of his discarded gear about three feet out of reach. Rever- berating 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, think the saber in your hand. Luke focuses on the saber as the huge monster's feet crunch closer. Luke's hand strains toward the weapon, his eyes squeeze tight in concentration. LUKE Gotta relax, relax .... BEN (Voice Over) Let The Force flow, Luke. Just as the ice monster looms over Luke, the light saber suddenly jumps three feet into Luke's hand. The young warrior instantly ignites the sword, swings up and cuts both of his bindings. He drops to the snow in a heap. The startled ice monster moves back, his giant yellow eyes blinking. The most that can be discerned of the creature is a shape, and those two perplexed eyes. Luke scrambles to his feet. He swings his light saber and the monster screams in pain. 23 EXT ENTRANCE TO ICE GORGE - HOTH - DUSK 23 Luke staggers out of the gorge and stumbles down a snow bank. 24 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - MILLENNIUM FALCON - DUSK 24 The hangar is full of activity. We hear a familiar stream of beeps and whistles a moment before catching sight of ARTOO and THREEPIO, who appear from a corridor and move along an ice wall toward the Millennium Falcon. Behind them, in the ice, two large yellow eyes blink open. THREEPIO It is not my fault, you malfunc- tioning twerp. I merely commented That it was freezing in her chamber. But it's supposed to be freezing. I did not ask you to turn on the thermal heater. I don't know how we'll get all her things dried out ... Ah. Here we are. The two robots stop at Han Solo's space freighter. Han and Chewie are still struggling with their central lifters. THREEPIO Captain Solo, sir. Might I have a word with you? HAN What is it? THREEPIO Mistress Leia has been trying to reach you on the communicator, but either you have it turned off, or it is malfunctioning ... if it's damaged, Artoo, could fix it, if you like. HAN I shut it off. What's her royal holiness want? THREEPIO She is looking for Master Luke, and assumed he would be here with you. No one seems to know ... Han glances at the fading light at the entrance of the ice cave as night slowly begins to fall on the planet. HAN (concerned) Luke's not back yet? It's almost night out there! Han jumps down off the lift. HAN Bolt it down, Chewie ... (yelling) Deck Sergeant! (into com-link) Control, has Commander Skywalker reported in yet? He gets a negative reply as the DECK SERGEANT and an AIDE rush up to Han. DECK SERGEANT Yes sir! HAN Sergeant, is Commander Skywalker back yet? DECK SERGEANT I haven't seen him. He probably came in through the south entrance. HAN Probably isn't good enough, Sergeant. Check on it! The Deck Sergeant and his aide turn and rush off. Artoo lets out a confused whistle. THREEPIO I don't know, Artoo. (to Han) Sir, might I inquire what's going on? HAN Go tell your precious Princess ... Luke is dead unless he shows up soon. Artoo lets out with a hysterical whistle. THREEPIO Oh no! 25 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - TAUNTAUN CORRAL - NEAR ENTRANCE 25 DUSK The Deck Sergeant and several Troopers inspect the mangled remains of three dead Tauntauns. Some of the hardware nearby has also been brutally pulled out of shape. Several surviving Tauntauns shuffle nervously nearby. Outside the light is slowly fading. TROOPER (to Deck Sergeant) ... I can't imagine, sir. Their necks are broken. The Deck Sergeant nods, then notices Han running up and steps out of the group to meet him. DECK SERGEANT Commander Skywalker hasn't come through the south entrance, sir. Maybe he slipped by without checking in. HAN Not likely! Where are the speeders? DECK SERGEANT We haven't got them adapted to this cold yet ... HAN We'll have to go out on Tauntauns. DECK SERGEANT The temperature is dropping too fast. HAN You bet it is ... and Luke's out in it. Han pushes through the troops and mounts a snow lizard. Huge monster feet move into the shadows of one of the X wing bays. DECK SERGEANT The night storms will start before you can reach the first marker. HAN Then I'll see you in Hell. 26 EXT SNOW CAVE ENTRANCE - REBEL BASE - DUSK 26 The small, lone figure riding a snow lizard races off into the hostile vastness of snow and cold. The slightest hint of wind blows up the snow behind the Tauntaun. 27 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - DUSK 27 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 28 Han rides across the plain on his Tauntaun. 29 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - CLOSE-UP HAN - DUSK 29 He reigns his mount to a stop, looks around and listens. It's almost as if he hears something. He turns and looks in one direction, then spurs his lizard in that direction. 30 EXT PLAIN OF HOTH - DUSK 30 Han rides off across the plain on his Tauntaun. 31 EXT SNOW DRIFT - HOTH - DUSK 31 The wind is blowing quite strong now. Luke struggles to stay upright, but a blast of freezing snow knocks him over. He struggles to get up, but can't. The young warrior from Tatooine drags himself a couple of feet and then collapses. LUKE I can't ... BEN You must. Luke, look at me! Luke looks up and sees old BEN KENOBI standing not ten feet away. Luke strains to lift himself up. He is speechless. BEN You must survive, Luke. LUKE I'm cold ... so cold ... BEN You must go to the Dagobah System ... There you will learn from one who taught me: Yoda, the Jedi Master. LUKE Ben ... Ben ... BEN Luke ... you are the only hope. The image of Ben fades, revealing a lone rider on a Tauntaun in the windswept horizon. LUKE Ben!? Luke drops into unconsciousness. 32 EXT SNOW DRIFT - HOTH - DUSK 32 Han pulls up, leaps off his lizard. He goes to his snow-covered friend and cradles him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun lets out a low, pitiful bellow. There is real fear in Han's face as he shakes Luke. HAN Come on, buddy, you aren't dead yet. Give me a sign here. Luke doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing Luke's wounded face. Soon he is slapping him. HAN Don't do this, Luke, it's not your time ... Luke responds to a slap. Han is joyous. HAN All right! I knew you wouldn't leave me out here all alone! Han glances over toward his Tauntaun with concern as he starts to lift Luke. HAN (to Luke) We've got to get you out of here before our transportation freezes. 33 EXT SNOW DRIFT BY TAUNTAUN - HOTH - DUSK 33 Han has carried Luke almost to the lizard when the Tauntaun dies with a moan. Han checks the lizard. HAN Blast! Deader than a Triton moon. We haven't got much time. Han ignites Luke's light saber and cuts the beast from head to toe. He quickly shovels the steaming innards of the beast into the snow. Then he lifts Luke's inert form and stuffs him inside the carcass. HAN I know this doesn't smell so good, Luke, but it'll keep you from freezing. I'm sure this Tauntaun wouldn't hesitate if it were the other way around. (Han gets an awful whiff of the insides) Whew! It's just as well you're out, pal. Han starts pulling things out of a pack on the dead lizard's back. HAN (into com-link) Base one, do you copy? ... This com-link is useless. The wind has picked up considerably and Han is beginning to find it difficult to move. He struggles with the shelter container, opens it and starts constructing it. HAN If I don't get this shelter up fast, Jabba the Hutt won't need those bounty hunters. 34 SNOW DRIFT - HOTH - DUSK 34 A veil of icy snow flows across the snow drift obscuring the doomed warriors. 35 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - ENTRANCE - NIGHT 35 Princess Leia and her two robots stand before the dark entrance to the rebel base, waiting for a sign of the two rebel heroes. Leia shivers as the cold wind blows in on her. Artoo beeps a mournful tone. Chewie is sitting nearby with his head in his hands. THREEPIO Artoo can pick up no signals, although he feels his range is probably too limited to give up hope. Leia nods an acknowledgement, but she is lost in thought that is only broken when General Rieekan approaches. RIEEKAN Nothing more can be done tonight. The shield doors must be closed. I can't wait any longer. I'm sorry. LEIA (resigned) I understand. Chewie lets out a long, mournful howl, somewhat like a coyote. RIEEKAN The speeders should be ready in the morning. They'll make the search easier. LEIA Is there any chance of them surviving out there? RIEEKAN Slim, but yes, there's a chance. They have a shelter. It's not much, but ... Artoo lets out with a complex series of efficient beeps. THREEPIO Beggin' your pardon, ma'am, but Artoo says the chances of survival are one thousand, seven hundred twenty-seven to one. (to Artoo) Actually, I don't think we needed to know that. Leia stands praying to herself as the huge metal doors slam across the entrance of the ice cave. The loud BOOMS echo through the huge cavern. Chewie lets out another howl. 36 EXT ICE PLAIN - HOTH - DAWN 36 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 37 A small, snub-nosed, armored landspeeder races across the white landscape. 38 INT ARMORED SNOWSPEEDER - HOTH SNOWDRIFTS - DAY 38 There is only one PILOT, ZEV, in the enclosed two-man craft. He concentrates on the scopes which ring his cockpit. A low beep can be heard. ZEV (excited) I've got something! Not much but it could be a life form FTC 2321 by TRX 1173. I'm closing in ... 39 EXT ARMORED SNOWSPEEDER - HOTH SNOWDRIFTS - DAY 39 The small craft banks and makes a slow arc racing off in a new direction. 40 INT ARMORED SNOWSPEEDER - HOTH SNOWDRIFTS - DAY 40 The pilot switches over to a new transmitter. ZEV This is S-122 calling Captain Solo, Commander Skywalker. Do you copy? This is S-122 ... There is a sharp crackle of static then a faint voice. HAN (OS) (filtered) Nice of you guys to drop by. Hope we didn't get you up too early. ZEV (switching transmitters) Base One, I found them, Repeat, I found them .... 41 EXT SNOWDRIFT - HOTH - DAY 41 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 42 Strange ROBOT SURGEONS adjust a mass of electronic equipment. A switch is thrown and a sudden blinding flash obscures Luke in a chamber filled with a thick, gelatinous red slime. Luke begins to thrash about, raving in his delirium. 43 INT MEDICAL CENTER OBSERVATION ROOM - REBEL BASE 43 Leia, Threepio, and Chewbacca are watching from a glassed-off room next door, where Han is resting on a cushioned medical table. They can hear the mechanical surgeons working and Luke's ravings on a speaker in the room. LUKE Watch out ... snow creatures ... dangerous ... Yoda ... go to Yoda ... only hope ... must survive .... Han raises himself on the table, listening to Luke. Chewbacca makes him lie back down, then BARKS a comment in reference to Luke. HAN He doesn't make sense to me either, Chewie. THREEPIO I do hope he's all there ... if you take my meaning. I would hate to see Master Luke develop a short circuit ... HAN The kid ran into something mean, and it wasn't the cold. LEIA Those creatures he keeps talking about ... we'd better double the security ... Han, I don't know how ... HAN Forget it. TOO-ONEBEE (2-1B), a surgeon droid, enters the room. TOO-ONEBEE He had gone into dormo-shock, almost hibernation. But he's responding to the Bacta. We'll bring him through. Leia breathes a sigh of relief. Chewie lets out a long GRUNT of approval. LEIA Now all we've got to worry about is what attacked him. HAN No kidding. If this snowball's got nasty natives, they could be anywhere. Chewie WHINES, looks around. HAN That's right, Chewie, inside the base. 44 INT CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE 44 The drip, drip, drip of melting ice echoes throughout the long eerie corridor. A trooper walks by, followed at a short distance by Artoo, who rolls along whistling to himself. Behind him, a Wampa Ice Monster suddenly appears from out of the wall and begins following the little droid. Up ahead Artoo sees several troopers begin to act rather strangely, pointing at him and yelling. This puzzles Artoo, and he stops for a moment to figure it out. Far in the distance, alarms begin to go off. Artoo comes to a conclusion, spins his head around and sees the Ice Monster staring down at him. The droid lets out a screech and races down the hall at full tilt ahead of the advancing monster. A small troop of soldiers has gathered at the end of the hallway with weapons. Artoo races through the armed gathering as the creature screams and charges the troopers, laser bolts exploding around him. Artoo peeks from around a corner in time to see several troopers hurled against the walls like rag dolls. Two soldiers fire a laser bazooka at the monster and it is obscured by an enormous explosion. The smoke clears. The silence is spooky. The Ice Monster stands seemingly dumbstruck. Artoo gives a short, worried beep. The creature topples over in a dead heap. A cheer goes up from Artoo and the troopers as they converge to inspect the fallen creature. A young CORPORAL pulls his com-link off his belt and speaks into it. CORPORAL We got it, sir, but there may be more. 45 INT COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE 45 Alarms buzz softly in the background. The entire command center is on full alert. General Rieekan is conferring with the HEAD CONTROLLER as Han and Leia enter the room. Threepio and Chewie follow. LEIA Have they analyzed the one that was killed? RIEEKAN Not yet. They're working on it now. Another alarm goes off at a console behind them and the SENSOR CONTROLLER at that spot calls across the room. SENSOR CONTROLLER General! Rieekan leaves the group as they continue ... HEAD CONTROLLER It won't be long before our sensors will be able to track them. THREEPIO It figures Artoo would be in the middle of this. HAN It's going to be a little tricky around here until we know where they're coming form. 46 INT COMMAND CENTER BY CONSOLE - REBEL BASE 46 Rieekan looks up grimly from the console in the back- ground. He calls over to Leia and Han. RIEEKAN We have a visitor. The group hurries over to Rieekan. RIEEKAN We've picked up something outside the base in zone one, moving East. LEIA What is it? SENSOR CONTROLLER Can't tell yet ... Metal. HAN Then it's not one of those creatures. LEIA Could it be one of ours? A speeder? SENSOR CONTROLLER I'm getting no signal. Wait, something very weak. Threepio steps up to the control panel and listens to the strange signal intensely. THREEPIO I must say, sir, I'm fluent in over six million forms of communi- cation, but this is something new ... must be in code or .... A new VOICE comes over the com-link. TROOPER VOICE This is station five and we have your object on our scopes ... It's just over the ridge, we should have visual contact in about ... What the? ... Oh no! The transmission ends in static. HAN Whatever it is, it isn't friendly. I'm going to have a look. Come on, Chewie. RIEEKAN Wait. I'll send a patrol with you. HAN (over his shoulder) Fine. But they'll have to take care of themselves. 47 EXT SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY 47 The dark probe robot moves past the smoldering ruins of the station fire and down a ridge toward the rebel base. 48 EXT SNOW PLAIN - SPEEDER - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY 48 The robot stops when it sees in the distance a tiny speeder racing toward it followed by several other speeders. A large antenna projects skyward from the robot's top and it begins to send out a PIERCING SIGNAL. 49 EXT SNOW DUNE - SPEEDER - HOTH - DAY 49 The speeder disappears behind a snow dune. 50 EXT SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY 50 The sinister robot continues to send out its high pitched signal while frantically searching the landscape for the rebel speeders. 51 EXT SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY 51 Shortly, Chewbacca pops his head over a snow bank not thirty feet away. The robot swings around, its deadly ray ready to fire. But before it can get a shot off, it is hit from behind by a laser bolt, and explodes in a million pieces. 52 EXT SNOW PLAIN - OVER REBEL BASE - HOTH - DAY 52 Han Solo rises from the direction of the deadly bolt and walks over to the spot where the robot was a moment before, taking out his com-link. 53 INT COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE 53 Princess Leia and Rieekan listen to Han on the com-link. HAN (OS) (filtered) .... I'm afraid there's not much left. LEIA What was it? HAN (OS) (filtered) Droid of some kind. I didn't hit it that hard. It must have had a self-destruct .... LEIA An Imperial probe droid. HAN (OS) (filtered) Now don't panic. We don't know that. RIEEKAN But, we don't know it wasn't. 54 SPACE - IMPERIAL FLEET 54 Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and stranger than the five Imperial Star Destroyers that surround it, sits in the vastness of space. The six huge ships are surrounded by a convoy of smaller spacecraft. Tie fighters dart to and fro. 55 INT BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK - VADER'S STAR DESTROYER 55 Controllers working the vast complex of electronic controls hear ominous, approaching footsteps and look up from their controls. The squat, evil-looking ADMIRAL OZZEL and the young, powerfully-built GENERAL VEERS, who have been conferring near the front, also feel the approaching presence and turn that way. DARTH VADER, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind. As he moves across the wide bridge, CAPTAIN PIETT hurries up to Ozzel. PIETT I think we've found them, Admiral. OZZEL Are you sure, Captain? PIETT Well, the report we have is only a fragment, from a probe droid in the Hoth System, but it's the best lead we've had in .... OZZEL (angry) We have millions of probe droids searching the galaxy ... I want proof, not leads. I don't intend to continue to chase around from one side .... VADER (looming over the group) The Hoth System? PIETT Yes, Sir .... we have visuals ... the System is supposed to be devoid of human forms ... On a large screen, an image of the rebel snow base appears surrounded by complicated computer readouts. The rebel speeders can be seen approaching in the distance. Vader studies the image. VADER That's it. That's the one. OZZEL My Lord, how do you know it's them? There are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers ... VADER I know. And I know young Skywalker is with them. Bring in the patrol ships, Admiral, and set your course for the Hoth System. General Veers prepare your men .... 56 INT ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH 56 Artoo and Threepio are moving by a steel door on which an X had been painted. From behind it come intermittent THUMPS and ROARS. THREEPIO ... It seems the snow creatures are attracted to a high-pitched whistle. That's how they're being drawn to this trap. Artoo WHISTLES his understanding as he stands before the door. Immediately the THUMPING on the door picks up. Artoo beeps a question. THREEPIO See your whistles upset them. No, I told you they can't get out! Now will you hurry up? I don't know why I bother ... Threepio moves around a corner. Artoo stares at the door another moment, then proceeds to tell the Ice Monsters off in a burst of beeps and whistles. The THUMPING picks up as Artoo moves casually away. 57 INT MEDICAL CENTER - REBEL BASE 57 Luke is out of the chamber, lying on the bed previously occupied by Han. Leia is at his side. She brushes the hair out of his eyes and runs her fingers along the scar on his face. LEIA The Bacta are growing well. The scars should be gone in a day or so. Does it still hurt? LUKE I'm fine. Really. Leia ... when I was out there and it looked pretty bad ... well, it made me think about things. LEIA Me too. I was afraid. Their eyes meet. Luke touches her cheek with his hand. LUKE I don't really know how to say this ... I never have before ... Leia, you know how I feel about you ... She does and it's confusing. Their lips are very close. About to kiss. The door opens noisily and Threepio enters with Artoo. Leia pulls back, startled. Luke realizes the moment has been lost. His mind races for a way to regain it as Leia takes on her more formal manner. The droids are a bothersome distraction; Luke's concentration is on Leia. Artoo beeps a cheerful greeting. THREEPIO Master Luke, it's so good to see you functional again. LUKE Thanks, Threepio. Leia ... Artoo beeps and whistles. THREEPIO Artoo expresses his relief also. LUKE Good. Thanks, Artoo. LEIA (about to leave) You rest now. THREEPIO So much has happened during the period of your indisposition, sir. LEIA I'll be back later. LUKE (anxious to keep her) Leia ... What would you think if I went away for a while? LEIA What did you say?! Leia's reaction is so much bigger and more vociferous than Luke expected, it starts what is to become a growing snowball of confusion for him. LEIA Where are you going? LUKE I have this ... feeling. I'm not sure, really ... LEIA That's just great. Why doesn't everyone just take off? LUKE What are you talking about? LEIA First Han, now you. When am I going to learn not to count on anyone but myself? ... LUKE Han's leaving? LEIA ... I was getting along just fine before I met you two moon jockeys. LUKE Calm down, will ya? Tell me about Han. LEIA He wants to pay off that criminal he's in hock to. LUKE Jabba the Hutt? LEIA (back to her tirade) I could get more loyalty if I went down the hall and recruited some of those snow creatures. LUKE Snow creatures ... they're here?! THREEPIO Yes, sir. But they're being trapped quite cleverly. Artoo beeps and whistles proudly. THREEPIO (to Artoo) What do you mean, you took care of that? I would hardly call your part in that matter great ... Luke's head is spinning as Han and Chewie make a vigorous entrance. The Wookiee GROWLS a greeting. HAN Hi kid, you look strong enough to wrestle a Gundark. LUKE Thanks to you. HAN That's two you owe me, junior. Han turns to Leia with a big, devilish grin. HAN Well, your worship, it looks like you arranged to keep me close by for a while longer. LEIA I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we know where that probe came from. LUKE Probe? What probe? HAN That makes a good story. But I think you just can't bear to let me out of your sight. LEIA I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brains. Chewie is amused; he LAUGHS in his manner. Han is enjoying this. He regards Chewie good-humoredly. HAN Laugh it up, fuzz ball. You didn't see her alone with me in the south passage. Luke sparks to this; he looks at Leia. LEIA (to Luke) I don't know what he's talking about. HAN Ooops! I guess you haven't told Luke about that yet. LUKE About what? HAN Now don't get the wrong idea, pal. She was just trying to express her true feelings for me. LEIA (to Han) You must have gone completely out of your feeble mind. HAN Come on, your highness, are you telling me you haven't been thinking about that kiss? Leia is flushed, eyes darting between Luke And Han. LEIA Why you low-down, stuck-up, half- witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder. HAN Who's scruffy-looking? (a big grin) I tell ya' sweetheart, I must've hit pretty close to the mark to get you hoppin' like this. Doesn't it look that way to you, Luke? LUKE (staring at Leia) Yeah ... it does ... kind of. Leia looks vulnerable for a moment, then the mask again, focusing on Luke. LEIA Oh it does, does it? Well, I guess you don't understand every- thing about women yet ... do you, sonny? With that Leia leans over and kisses Luke on the lips. Then she stands and walks out. Everyone is dumbstruck. The door closes behind Leia and they all look at each other in silence. In the distance, the muffled sound of an alarm is heard. 58 SPACE - IMPERIAL FLEET 58 Six huge star destroyers rest in the Hoth System. 59 INT STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER 59 A dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light from above. The brooding Dark Lord sits on a raised meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches Vader. Vader doesn't move. Veers, although seemingly very sure of himself, is still not bold enough to interrupt the meditating Lord. The young general stands quietly at attention until the evil presence speaks. VADER What is it, Veers? VEERS My Lord, the fleet has moved out of light speed. Com-Scan has detected an energy field protecting an area on the sixth planet in the Hoth System. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment. VADER (angry) The rebel scum is alerted to our presence. I told Admiral Ozzel not to go out of light speed so close to the system. VEERS He felt surprise was a wiser ... VADER He's as clumsy as he is stupid. A clean bombardment is impossible with that energy shield up. Prepare your troops for a surface attack. Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large view-screen showing the bridge of the mighty space cruiser. Admiral Ozzel appears, with Captain Piett in the background. OZZEL Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light ... VADER Captain Piett! The Captain steps forward, as the Admiral moves away slightly confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict. PIETT Yes, My Lord. VADER Make ready to land General Veers' assault troops on the surface. Then deploy the fleet so that nothing can get off that system. You're in command now, Admiral Piett. Piett is as pleased as he is surprised. Admiral Ozzel has been struggling to breathe in the background and now with a final choke, he dies. 60 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE 60 Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews and droids rush to their alert stations. Armored landspeeders are lined up in attack formation near the main entrance. Leia is briefing a group of pilots gathered in the center of the hangar. Beyond them Han can be seen doing some frantic welding on the lifters of the Millennium Falcon. LEIA ... the large transport ships will leave as soon as they've loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only be opened for a split second at a time, so you'll have to stay very close to the transports. PILOT What about those Imperial ships out there? LEIA The ion cannon will fire two blasts which will destroy any enemy ships in your flight path. Then proceed to the rendezvous point. Good luck. The pilots hurry away. 61 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - MILLENNIUM FALCON - REBEL BASE 61 Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He pulls out his com-link, all the time eyeing the lifters. HAN (into com-link) All right, Chewie, give it a try. Leia passes, giving Han a dirty look. A mechanism on the pirate's ship makes a noise and the lifters begin to rise. Suddenly there is a malfunction and the right lifter breaks partially loose, swinging down with a crash. Han winces. Leia, across the hangar, turns at the sound and shoots Han a "What a screw-up!" look, then goes out. HAN (into com-link) Hold it, Chewie. 62 INT COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE - HOTH 62 The command center is quiet but tense, a marked contrast to the rushing about on the hangar deck. Only the buzz of complicated electronic equipment overrides the silence. General Rieekan watches over the shoulder of a RADARMAN as hundreds of small dots dance across a scope readout. Leia joins him. RADARMAN Imperial assault craft have landed on the far side. RIEEKAN If they reach the power generators, that will be the end of our energy shield. LEIA We must hold them off until all our ships are safely away. CONTROLLER The first transport is ready ... Stand by to fire the ion cannon. 63 EXT IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - SPACE 63 FULL SHOT - A huge Imperial Star Destroyer rests against a sea of stars with the white surface of the planet Hoth far below in the left part of the frame. 64 INT IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER NO. 1 BRIDGE 64 FULL SHOT - Interior Imperial Star Destroyer. Out window stars and the white planet on the left side of the frame. CONTROLLER Sir ... rebel ship coming into our sector. CAPTAIN Good, our first catch of the day. Close in .... 65 COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE 65 The long line of rebel controllers are tense, as are Princess Leia and General Rieekan, although they try not to show it. R-2 scoots by in the background followed by Threepio; they leave the room. CONTROLLER Our transport is approaching the shield. RADARMAN Open the shield and fire. 66 EXT ION CANNON - REBEL BASE ICE COVE 66 FULL SHOT - Giant ball-shaped ion cannon as it rotates into position and blasts two red energy beams skyward. 67 SPACE - HOTH REBEL TRANSPORT 67 FULL SHOT - SPACE - The planet Hoth covers two-thirds of the frame, left and lower. A medium rebel transport races away from the planet, followed by the two red energy beams. All race over camera. 68 SPACE - IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - REBEL TRANSPORT 68 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. 69 SPACE - IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - REBEL TRANSPORT 69 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 70 Pilots, gunners and R-2 units hurry about. Luke, pulling on his heavy weather gear, is headed toward a row of armored speeders. He stops at the back of the Millennium Falcon, where Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter with even more haste than before. Luke speaks up to them. LUKE Looks like this'll be it for awhile. Chewie, take care of yourself ... and watch over this guy, will ya. Chewie BARKS a farewell and returns to his work. Han and Luke exchange warm looks. LUKE I hope you make your peace with Jabba. HAN Don't worry. You haven't seen the last of us. Han swings down by one arm like a monkey and clasps Luke's hand. They hold for a long moment, then break. Luke nods and moves away. Han watches him go. HAN Give 'em hell, kid. He goes back to work. Everyone cheers at the announce- ment which echoes through the hangar. ANNOUNCER (OVER PA) First transport is clear and away. Luke hurries up to his landspeeder. His gunner, DACK, a fresh-faced, eager kid, is glad to see him. They climb in. DACK Are you feeling all right, sir? LUKE Like new, Dack. How 'bout you? Ready to try some real fighting? DACK Yes, sir! Right now I feel like I could take on the whole Empire myself. You know what I mean, Commander? LUKE (quietly, strapping in) Yeah, I know ... I know. Leia's voice comes over the PA system. LEIA (OVER PA) Speeder pilots ... Your fighters are being towed to the south slope. They should be safe there. You'll get a signal when the evacuation is complete. 71 ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH 71 Threepio and Artoo stand in the middle of the corridor as troops and aides rush past them. THREEPIO Why is it when things seem to get settled, everything falls apart. Well, I guess it's goodbye then ... Take good care of Master Luke ... and take good care of yourself, too. Until we meet again .... Artoo replies with a whistle and a toot, turns and speeds down the hallway. Threepio waves, then turns and moves off in the opposite direction. 72 EXT ICE CAVE (MATTE) 72 With gun tower in the foreground, men rush about getting ready for the battle. The giant gun swings around pointing to camera slightly left to right. 73 EXT ICE PLAIN - SNOW TRENCH - HOTH 73 MED SHOT - Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons into position along a snow trench. Men rush about as officers yell orders and brace themselves against the rhythmic gusts of wind. 74 EXT ICE PLAIN - GUN TOWERS 74 MED SHOT - Rebel troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing its guns into position. 75 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 75 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 76 MED SHOT of generator, as men scurry about in the fore- ground carrying equipment. The loud buzz and popping of the generator is deafening. Long fingers of energy fly off the huge cores every so often. One trooper moves into the foreground as he hears something but can't quite make out what it is. 77 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 77 MED CLOSE-UP - An officer in the trench hears the sound also. He turns toward the ice plain horizon. All work stops as the men listen to the distant, thump, thump, thump sound. The officer squints to see something. 78 EXT ICE PLAIN - HOTH - POV 78 WIDE SHOT - A thin horizon line cuts across the bleak landscape. Small dot-sized objects begin to appear on the horizon: the wind begins to pick up. 79 EXT ICE PLAIN - HOTH 79 EXTREME CLOSE-UP - The giant foot of an Imperial snow walker crashes thru frame, kicking up snow and ice. It rises out of frame. 80 EXT ICE PLAIN POWER GENERATOR - GUN TOWERS 80 MED SHOT - The rebel officer lifts a pair of electro- binoculars to his eyes. 81 EXT ICE PLAIN - HOTH - POV 81 ELECTRO-BINOCULAR POV of very close view on a giant walker, the view ZOOMS back to reveal a full shot of three approaching walkers. Small flashes appear around the guns of the lumbering monsters. 82 EXT ICE PLAINS - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 82 MED SHOT - The officer drops his binoculars as the regular rhythmic pounding begins to vibrate the ground. It grows louder, with a high-pitched, metallic rattling. He speaks into a com-link. LIEUTENANT Incoming! Open up ... they're point 03, Commander Skywalker LUKE We're on our way. The ice and snow explode around the officer and his men. 83 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 83 MED SIDE ANGLE - The rebel troops aim their weapons at the horizon as explosions erupt all around them. They are nervous, and tighten their weapons from the cold or fear. Behind the troops a dozen speeders race screen left to right. 84 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 84 MED FULL SHOT - Four speeders race over camera at full throttle. Slight left to right angle. 85 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 85 HIGH ANGLE - Trucking with speeders as they accelerate away from camera toward the distant walkers. 86 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 86 MED CLOSE-UP - Walker head fires at speeders. Second walker in background. Moving right to left. 87 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 87 MED FULL SHOT - Two speeders going left to right across ice plain. The one in the foreground explodes in a ball of flames. Camera trucking with ships. 88 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 88 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 89 MED SHOT - Side view looking forward along head of walker as two speeders race toward it, split and fly past. One speeder on the far side of the head, the other to camera. 90 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 90 FULL SHOT - Two speeders going away, race over camera past walker and bank to the right. Camera trucks in at slower speed toward flank of walker during shot. 91 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 91 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 Rogue Leader to Rogue Three. WEDGE Copy, Rogue Leader. 92 INT LUKE'S SNOW SPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 92 CLOSE-UP LUKE - Looking back to the speeder cockpit. The horizon twists and shakes behind Luke's head as he swings the tiny craft around for another run. LUKE Wedge, split your squad into pairs ... 93 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 93 FULL SHOT - Pan through foreground legs of walker as speeder banks and turns away. Two other speeders pass the first speeder going in the opposite direction. 94 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 94 MED FULL SHOT - Three walkers marching right to left firing all cannons. 95 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 95 CLOSE-UP LUKE - Luke speeds towards approaching snow walkers. 96 INT WALKER NO. 3 COCKPIT 96 Two pilots watch the distant gun emplacements as they maneuver their war machine forward. PILOT On the right! Luke's speeder banks in from the side and heads straight for the viewport, blasting away. A huge explosion hits the window and dissipates. The speeder roars over the window. 97 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 97 FULL SHOT - Moving across the top of the walker as Luke's speeder skims across it. Trucking with the speeder then it flys overhead. 98 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 98 CLOSE-UP LUKE LOOKING BACK as the walker grows small in the distance. LUKE That armor is too strong for blasters. 99 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 99 OVERHEAD TWISTING FULL SHOT WALKER - Luke's speeder banks up toward camera and turns. 100 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 100 SIDE VIEW CLOSE-UP LUKE - On the horizon a walker moves up past the cockpit window twisting as Luke banks and starts another run. LUKE Rogue Group use your harpoons and tow cables. Go for the legs. It's our only hope of stopping them. Hobbie, are you still with me? 101 INT HOBBIE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE FOUR 101 CLOSE-UP FRONT HOBBIE as the horizon twists then rights itself in the background. Hobbie, a tanned- skin vet of many battles, expertly works his controls. HOBBIE Yes, sir. LUKE (VO) Well stick close now. 102 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 102 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. 103 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 103 SIDE CLOSE-UP DACK - Struggles with his harpoon gun as he bounces around in the tumbling ship. DACK Whoea! Luke, I can't seem to find my restraints ... Explosions flash outside the window. As the ship moves left to right they pass a walker in the distance. 104 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 104 INT PILOT'S POV - Over the shoulder of Luke as he swings the speeder around and aims it at the oncoming walker. Laser bolts and flack create a deadly wall the speeder must pass through. LUKE Just hang on Dack, and get ready to fire that tow cable .... A huge explosion engulfs Luke's speeder, the battered craft wobbles a bit. 105 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 105 FRONT CLOSE-UP LUKE - As the speeder shudders under the impact of the explosion, but he manages to regain control of the craft. The horizon twists in the back- ground. LUKE Stand by, Dack, we're almost there. Are you okay, Dack? 106 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 106 FULL LOW ANGLE - The speeders fly in a tight formation toward the camera as explosions burst all around the craft. The speeders fly right over the camera. 107 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 107 SIDE CLOSE-UP LUKE - Interior speeder as Luke struggles to turn around to see if Dack is alright. In the back- ground the giant legs of the walker pass by as Luke banks under the monstrous machine. LUKE Dack! 108 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 108 CLOSE-UP DACK FROM LUKE'S POV - Dack is lost, blood streams down his forehead which rests on his smoldering controls. Out the back window the receding walker can be seen in the distance. 109 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 109 MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire their strange weapons at the oncoming walker. Explosions burst all around them. A gun turret explodes in the foreground. 110 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 110 MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire at camera with the generator visible in the distance. Explosions erupt in the foreground. 111 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 111 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 112 MED SHOT - Rebel troops fire the dish-like ray gun. The generator is seen in the background. 113 EXT ICE PLAIN - BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 113 FULL SHOT - Two walkers (one near, one far) lumber on toward camera as a speeder between them explodes in a ball of flames going left to right. 114 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - HOTH 114 Muffled explosions create ear-shattering cracks in the ice roof of the hangar. Han and Chewie look up from their frantic welding to see the gap in the ceiling grow wider. Han makes a final weld. HAN First chance we get, we're giving this crate a complete overhaul ... That's tight enough. Let's get out of here before we become permanent residents. 115 COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE - HOTH 115 Large chunks of snow tumble into the command center. Leia seeks shelter. LEIA Two transports at a time is awfully risky. RIEEKAN We have no choice. Send them up ... and start clearing everyone out. 116 INT IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 116 COCKPIT - Over the shoulder of the pilots to the power generator in the distance. Explosions all around. Two speeders race by right to left. The pilots fire at the gnat-like attackers. General Veers moves in between the pilots. VEERS What's the range to the power generators? PILOT Six twenty one .... still too far out of range, but it won't be long. 117 INT IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 COCKPIT 117 CLOSE-UP VEERS - As he bounces along, he pulls down an electro-telescope and studies the rebel positions. VEERS We have that line of gun emplace- ments to get through .... PILOT No problem .... Suddenly, the huge vehicle rocks violently. The pilots scramble over their controls to level the crafts. VEERS What's that? 118 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 118 HIGH SHOT - Side view of a speeder going left to right as it banks sharply and dives away from camera toward the fast rushing surface. 119 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 119 CLOSE-UP FRONT - Wedge lets out a rebel yell, the horizon twisting behind him. 120 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 120 FULL SHOT TRUCKING - Panning with the speeder as it turns around and races under camera. Starts going left to right, turns to go overhead. 121 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 121 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 122 CLOSE-UP SIDE SHOT of the gunner as he passes the legs. He reaches for the firing switch. WEDGE Activate harpoon. 123 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 123 MED FULL SHOT of the speeder racing to camera through the legs of Walker No. 3. 124 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 124 CLOSE-UP HAND pushes button that fires harpoon. 125 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 125 BACK POV from gunner as the harpoon flashes and fires at the receding legs. ROGUE THREE GUNNER Cable out! Let her go .... 126 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 126 MED SHOT of the harpoon going right to left and embedding itself in one of the legs of Walker No. 3. 127 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 127 CLOSE-UP SIDE WEDGE as he checks his controls, and banks around the walker's front. Left to right. 128 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 128 FULL SHOT SPEEDER as it races left to right around one of the giant walker feet, trailing the cable behind it. The speeder continues around the back foot going right to left. Truck with the Walker No. 3. 129 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 129 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 130 FULL PANNING SHOT of speeder moving left to right in front of the giant legs of the walker towing the cable. 131 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 131 CLOSE-UP OF WEDGE as he swings the speeder between the legs of the giant walker. 132 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 132 PILOT'S POV of walkers legs as the speeder races along the side close to the lumbering machine. ROGUE THREE GUNNER Cable out! 133 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 133 FULL SHOT panning with the speeder as it zooms behind the legs moving right to left. 134 INT WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE THREE 134 CLOSE-UP HAND pushes button on cable release inside speeder cockpit. 135 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 135 CLOSE-UP CABLE RELEASE on back of the speeder as it snaps loose and the cable drops away. 136 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 136 FULL SHOT OF THE SPEEDER zooming over camera and away into the distance moving slightly right to left. Low angle, no horizon. 137 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 137 MED SHOT of the tangled legs and feet of Walker No. 3 coming to camera. The monster begins to stumble. 138 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 138 EXTREME LONG SHOT OF WALKER NO. 3 through the legs of a foreground walker. The giant Imperial assault machine stumbles and starts to fall to the ground. Side angle moving right to left. 139 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 139 CLOSE FULL SHOT of Walker No. 3 coming to camera crashing into the snow which flies in all directions. 140 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 140 CLOSE-UP LUKE FRONT with twisting horizon background. WEDGE (VO) Rogue Leader .... One down, Luke. LUKE I see it Wedge .... good work. 141 EXT ICE PLAIN - SNOW TRENCH - GUN TOWERS 141 MED SHOT OF TROOPS in the trenches cheering at the fallen walker. A damaged gun turret smolders in the background. An officer gives a signal in the fore- ground and the rebel troops charge the fallen walker moving left to right. 142 EXT ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS - GUN TOWERS 142 FULL SHOT of the troops jumping out of the trenches running to camera. The main power generator can be seen in the distance. 143 EXT EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 143 FULL SIDE TRUCKING SHOT of rebel troops running left to right as two speeders race overhead going in the same direction. 144 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 144 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 145 CLOSER ANGLE - Troops rush and fire at the fallen walker as a speeder banks low overhead, blasting away, causing great explosions around the walker. 146 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 146 FULL SHOT of Luke and Rogue Two's speeder flying in formation, banking from right to left and flying over- head. Low angle, no horizon. Flak bursts all around them. 147 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 147 CLOSE-UP OF LUKE from the front. He looks over to Rogue Two on his left. The horizon levels out behind him. The ship shudders as flack bursts all around his speeder. LUKE Steady, Rogue Two, I'll cover for you. 148 INT ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE TWO 148 SIDE CLOSE-UP ANGLE on Rogue Two. Luke's speeder can be seen in the background. The speeders are moving left to right. Rogue Two is wounded in the face. ROGUE TWO (ZEV) It's no good, I can't see. LUKE (VO) Steady, just keep it steady. The ship bounces under the constant impact of flack. 149 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 149 LUKE'S POV OUT THE SPEEDER window at the distant oncoming walker as flack bursts on all sides. Laser bolts streak past. LUKE I'll lead you in. 150 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 150 CLOSE-UP FRONT LUKE works his controls, as the ship shudders under the impact. He keeps looking screen left to Rogue Two. LUKE Is your gunner alright? ROGUE TWO GUNNER (VO) I'm O.K., sir. LUKE Just keep it steady. Don't try to .... Luke's speeder is rocked by a huge explosion, and a loud metal scream drowns out Luke's sentence. He struggles with the controls as a look of terror crosses his face. Smoke pours out the back and the horizon twists. 151 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 151 FULL SHOT of oncoming walkers in distance as Luke's speeder races over camera moving left to right trailing smoke and flames. The speeder crashes into the snow a few yards in front of the walker. 152 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 152 INT CLOSE-UP inside Luke's cockpit as he struggles to get out. He gets desperate as he looks out the cockpit window. 153 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 153 LUKE'S POV out cockpit window of giant walker feet crunching even closer. The ship shudders under the impact of the huge metal feet pounding the ice plain. 154 INT ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE TWO 154 CLOSE-UP FRONT Rogue Two, blood streaming down his face, struggles with his controls. The flack is murder. ROGUE TWO (ZEV) Luke .... What happened, I can't .... The cockpit explodes in a ball of flames. 155 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 155 FULL SIDE SHOT of Rogue Two's speeder in a ball of flames going left to right. 156 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - ROGUE LEADER 156 SIDE ANGLE CLOSE-UP from inside the cockpit as Luke manages to get the hatch open and pulls himself out. The ship shakes from the approaching walker. 157 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 157 EXTREME CLOSE-UP of giant walking foot as it comes crashing to the ground, sending snow in all directions. 158 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 158 MED FULL SHOT (looking back at Luke, away from walker) as Luke climbs out of the speeder and starts to run forward. The ominous shadow of the huge Walker No. 2 falls over him as he looks up at the approaching monster. The ground shakes under the impact of the pounding feet. Luke gets an idea and runs back to the speeder, reaching inside the cockpit for something. 159 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 159 EXTREME CLOSE-UP of the giant walker's foot as it comes crashing to the ground, sending snow in all directions. 160 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 160 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 some- thing else, glancing up with a worried look. 161 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 162 LUKE'S POV of the moving underbelly of the huge Walker No. 2 as it passes over his head. 162 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 162 CLOSE-UP of Luke outside the speeder as he searches the cockpit, straining to reach inside. 163 INT LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER - INSERT 163 CLOSE-UP Luke's arm inside the speeder. He grabs a hold of a large landmine-type bomb and pulls it out of the speeder cockpit. 164 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 164 MED FULL SIDE VIEW as Luke pulls the landmine out of the cockpit and leaps away just as the huge black foot of Walker No. 2 comes crashing down on the tiny speeder. The rebel vehicle is crushed flat by the powerful walker. 165 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 165 MED CLOSE-UP of Luke as he stumbles up out of the snow and runs toward camera slightly left to right chasing after the lumbering walker. He hooks the landmine around his neck. 166 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 166 CLOSE-UP LUKE as walker foot raises in background. 167 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 167 MED PAN PAST the back legs of Walker No. 2 following Luke as he runs under the monstrous machine and fires the gun at the underbelly of the walker, directly above him. A thin cable follows the projectile from the gun. Another walker can be seen in the background moving left to right. 168 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 168 CLOSE-UP OF MAGNETIC head and cable attaching itself on the underbelly of Walker No. 2. The cable is pulled tight as Luke tests it. 169 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 169 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 170 EXTREME LONG SHOT of Luke dangling from the underbelly of Walker No. 2, moving right to left. The giant legs of a second walker move through the foreground. 171 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 171 MED CLOSE-UP of Luke climbing the cable to the under- belly of Walker No. 2 going right to left. The two rebel speeders pass in the background. Flack burst in the distance. 172 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 172 HIGH ANGLE LOOKING down at Luke as he climbs the cable into a close shot. The walker's giant feet are seen pounding across the moving snow. Stray laser bolts pass him as he swings. 173 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 173 MED SIDE SHOT of Luke as he reaches the hull of Walker No. 2, next to a small hatch. Luke, hanging pre- cariously, cuts the solid metal hatch with his laser- sword. 174 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 174 CLOSE SIDE ANGLE of Luke taking the landmine from around his neck and placing it inside the Imperial machine. He closes the hatch and starts sown the cable, fast. 175 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 175 LOW ANGLE looking up at Walker No. 2 as Luke slides down the cable, then drops past camera. 176 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 176 SIDE MED SHOT of Luke falling, then drops out of the frame. 177 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 177 3/4 REAR LOW ANGLE SHOT of the giant Walker No. 2. It stops in mid-step. A muffled explosion is heard, then the insides of the giant walker come blasting out every conceivable opening. It sits dead in its tracks, smoking like a locomotive. 178 COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE 178 The command center is a shambles. The continual explosions outside have caused a massive cave-in. A lone controller works at the remaining computer board, while Leia, Threepio and another controller attempt to move a cake of ice off of General Rieekan. Finally, the ice tumbles to one side and Leia goes to the General, but it's too late. Threepio inspects the General's pulse. THREEPIO I'm afraid he's no longer functioning. Leia is truly sorrowful. She holds the General's hand a moment and regards him reflectively. CONTROLLER (urgent) The last transport is waiting. Another explosion rocks the area. THREEPIO Beg your pardon, ma'am, but our possible avenues of exit are being rapidly reduced. Leia nods, stands, and speaks to the controller with renewed authority. LEIA Tell the ship we're on our way, and signal the troops in the field to retreat to their fighters. 179 INT ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, the corridor is strangely quiet and empty. Running foot- steps echo through the freezing hallway, then Han appears. He hurries toward the Control Center just as Leia, Threepio and the two controllers exit the room. Leia is surprised to see him. Han is greatly relieved to see her. HAN ... I heard on the com-link the command station was destroyed. You all right? Leia nods, still a little confused. LEIA General Rieekan's dead. Han grimaces at the news, then looks them over. HAN This all that's left of your unit? You'd better hurry, the transport's waiting for you. 180 INT ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH 180 With 3PO trailing behind, they race down the corridor to where it ends in a T and round the corner only to find it blocked with ice and snow. They start back the other way when Han stops at a door with a big cross on it. HAN That way is going to take too long. Let's go through these storage rooms. He starts for the door and hears a faint banging. HAN Hey! Someone's still in here. LEIA Wait, don't open it ... that's one of the traps for the ice creatures. The pounding increases. THREEPIO Oh my, there must be a hundred of them in there. They race down the corridor. 181 INT COCKPIT - REBEL TRANSPORT 181 The pilots are getting nervous, the captain leans over one. CAPTAIN I don't know if there's anyone left alive in there. Give it one more try. PILOT Control unit 33, this is transport XJ ... we can't wait any longer .... 182 INT ICE CORRIDOR 182 Han pulls his com-link out and talks as he runs. HAN Hello, XJ! They're coming now ... Suddenly there is an explosion, a loud crack. Han turns, grabs the Princess and pulls her to the wall as a giant cave-in smothers the two controllers. Han grabs his com-link as Leia helps Threepio dig him- self out of the snow. HAN Transport XJ. get out of here. Go! THREEPIO The energy shield is down. We'll be stuck here forever. 183 EXT REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH 183 The icy wind picks up as the battle rages. Rebel and Imperial troops are firing at each other at point blank range. 184 EXT SNOW BY REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH 184 A walker steps on several rebel troops as they attempt to flee. 185 EXT REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT 185 A rebel officer puts his hand to his helmet earphone in an attempt to hear his com-link. COM-LINK Disengage - Disengage - Ships away. Begin retreat action. The officer flips a switch on his com-link and a loud whistle is heard. He signals his men to retreat. 186 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 186 LOW ANGLE MEDIUM SHOT of Walker No. 1 as it advances at camera, going slightly right to left. The smoldering walker that Luke just blasted stands dead in its tracks in the background. 187 INT IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT 187 CLOSE over the shoulder of walker pilot. POV of rebel troops and power generators. Veers steps into the frame. 188 INT IMPERIAL WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT 188 REVERSE CLOSE-UP of Veers as he studies various readouts. PILOT All resistance is fading. VEERS Good, we have them now. Prepare to target the main generator. 189 EST REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH 189 MED SHOT - Rebel troops retreat under the onslaught. 190 EXT REBEL GUN EMPLACEMENT - HOTH 190 ANOTHER ANGLE - Rebel troops retreat as a walker looms in the background. Pan down to troops as an explosion hits. 191 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 191 HIGH ANGLE of troops fleeing and firing back toward camera. 192 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 192 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 193 BACK CLOSE-UP of guns on walker-head, firing. 194 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 194 MED BEHIND TROOPS fleeing over camera, the ground explodes around them. 195 INT WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT 195 CLOSE-UP VEERS inside Walker No. 1 cockpit. He speaks over the com-link as he studies various readouts. VEERS .... yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generators and I'm destroying them now. The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing .... PILOT Look out! Veers looks out the cockpit window. 196 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 196 FULL SHOT of Hobbie's speeder, Rogue Four, as it races over camera right at the head of the oncoming walker. 197 INT WALKER NO. 1 - COCKPIT 197 OVER THE SHOULDER of Veers and his pilots as the speeder crashes into the front window. PILOT He's going to .... Impact, huge explosion. 198 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 198 FULL SHOT of Walker No. 1 with head exploding and frying into a million pieces. 199 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 199 FULL SHOT Walker No. 1. After a few moments the headless walker topples over on its side in a cloud of snow. 200 EXT BATTLEFIELD - HOTH 200 The clamor of battle is heard in the distance. Stray laser bolts whiz past. Debris and rubble are scattered everywhere. Nearby stands the burned-out hulk of No. 2 Walker Luke destroyed, hatches and metal parts clanking in the chilly Hoth wind. 201 EXT BATTLEFIELD - SNOWDRIFT - HOTH 201 Luke pops his head out of a hole in the snow. Still a little shaken, he tries to stand up, but can't. His com-link whistles. COM-LINK ... ships away. Begin retreat action. All troops begin retreat action. Luke musters all his strength and starts off through the snow toward a distant ice formation. 202 INT MAIN HANGAR - REBEL BASE - HOTH 202 A distant, huge explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes come crashing down on the Millennium Falcon. Chewie is pacing under the safety of the ship's landing gear. The giant Wookiee pats the underbelly of his beloved ship and barks a few reassuring words. Chewie searches in vain for his captain. Something catches the Wookiee's eye and he lets out a loud SHRIEK. It is Han and Leia running toward the ship. Chewie runs out into the falling ice, lets out another SHRIEK, then runs up the ship's ramp. Han and Leia run up the ramp after Chewie. Threepio is not far behind. 203 INT MILLENNIUM FALCON COCKPIT - INT ICE CAVE 203 Ice batters the cockpit windows as Chewie works at the controls. Han rushes in and sits in the pilot's seat. Chewie barks a blue streak at his friend. HAN I couldn't get back any faster. It's pretty shaky out there. Chewie starts chattering a mile a minute about something and points to one of the gauges. Han looks worried. HAN I know .... I know. It's not good. But cheer up .... one way or another it will be over soon 204 S C E N E M O V E D 204 204X INT ICE CORRIDOR - REBEL BASE - HOTH 204X Imperial troops appear pushing through an ice blockage. Vader is revealed. 204Y INT COMMAND CENTER - REBEL BASE - HOTH 204Y Imperial troops come rushing through. Vader surveys the place. A huge ice chunk falls, almost hitting him. He continues around it. 205 INT MAIN HOLD MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 205 Han standing before a control panel, is busy flipping switches as Chewie watches the troublesome gauge. Leia worriedly watches their efforts. HAN How's that, Chewie? The Wookiee barks a negative reply. LEIA Would it help if I got out and pushed? HAN Don't worry, your holiness, I'll get her started. Threepio clanks into the hold. THREEPIO Sir, I was wondering if I might ... THREEPIO It can wait. Threepio turns and makes a hasty retreat. LEIA This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade. HAN This baby's got a few surprises left in her. LEIA I'll be surprised if we ever start moving. Chewie lets out a loud WHELP as laser bolts begin to hit the cockpit window. 206 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 206 SIDE VIEW - Han and Chewie look out the window and see a squad of stormtroopers rushing into the hangar deck, firing. Han makes a final panel adjustment. HAN Well, I've tried everything, Chewie .... You'll just have to switch over, and hope for the best. Chewie pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia as he swings past her into the pilot's seat. Leia straps herself into one of the navigator's chairs. LEIA Someday you're going to be wrong, and I just hope I'm there to see it. Han sets himself, looks at Chewie. HAN Punch it! The roar of the Falcon's main engines blast out every- thing as the ice cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window, moving right to left. HAN (shouts) Chewie! Han straps himself into the seat. Leia gets into the navigator's chair. 206W INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - HOTH 206W Stormtroopers are setting up a large Bazooka-like weapon. Behind them the giant hangar doors are opening. 7206X EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 206X A laser gun appears and swings around. 206Y EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 206Y Long shot main hangar. Angle behind Stormtroopers with Millennium Falcon in background. The Stormtroopers are preparing to fire their Bazooka cannon when they are hit by the gun on the Millennium Falcon. They are thrown about in all directions. 206Z INT MILLENNIUM FALCON - MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 206Z Chewie comes dashing into the cockpit. HAN We'll just have to switch over, and hope for the best. A laser hits the window near Chewie as he is settling into his chair. He lets out a loud WHELP. Chewie pulls back on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia. LEIA Someday you're going to be wrong, and I just hope I'm there to see it. Han looks at Chewie. HAN Punch it! The roar of the Falcon's main engines blast out every- thing as the ice cave wall rushes by outside the cock- pit window, moving right to left. 207 OMIT OMIT 207 207X INT MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 207X Stormtroopers run into hangar. Vader comes out of an ice corridor. The roar of the Millennium Falcon engines is very loud. He stops. 207Y POV VADER - INT MAIN HANGAR - HOTH 207Y Shooting toward the main hangar doors as the Millennium Falcon (which is now through the door) lifts up and disappears. 208 EXT ICE SLOPE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - HOTH 208 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 209 Luke's POV Millennium Falcon racing skyward. 210 EXT ICE SLOPE - X WING - HOTH 210 Luke, Wedge, and the pilot trudge onward toward the outline of an X wing fighter. LUKE There goes the Falcon. At least Han got away. Wedge, that looks like yours over there. WEDGE Right. Good luck, Luke. The pilots split up. Luke waves as the others disappear in the windblown snow. He walks on, and hears a familiar whistle coming from the vague silhouette of a fighter. LUKE Artoo, is that you?! Artoo chirps an excited acknowledgement as Luke climbs aboard the snow-covered spacecraft. Artoo beeps his relief. The roar of the departing X wings can be heard in the distance. LUKE Don't worry, we'll be airborne in a second. Open the cockpit and activate the power. 211 INT MAIN HANGAR DECK - REBEL BASE - HOTH 211 Darth Vader strides through the remains of the rebel fortress. Two stormtroopers struggle to keep up with the giant presence. Admiral Piett catches up with the Dark Lord. PIETT Seventeen ships destroyed, we don't know how many got away. VADER Anything on the Millennium Falcon? PIETT It won't get through the blockade. VADER I want that ship. 212 EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTER - STAR DESTROYER - 212 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. 213 EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - STAR DESTROYER - 213 SPACE 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. 214 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE 214 OVERSHOULDER HAN AND CHEWIE. Inside the cockpit Chewie lets out a loud howl. Han checks the deflectors as the ship begins to get buffeted by exploding flak. He appears to be doing six things at once. HAN (harried) I know, I know, I see them ... LEIA See what? HAN Two more Star Destroyers heading right at us. LEIA I'm glad you said there was going to be no problem, or I'd be worried. Threepio bumps and bangs his way into the cockpit. THREEPIO Sir, I was wondering ... HAN Sit down, and shut up! THREEPIO It can wait. 215 INT COCKPIT MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE 215 FULL SHOT INT MILLENNIUM FALCON. POV out window at two approaching Star Destroyers as they grow larger. Small flashes of light on the oncoming Star Destroyers turn into large flak bursts which rock the Falcon. The Star Destroyers grow larger as they get ever closer. HAN Chewie, how's the deflector shield holding up? Chewie barks a reply as he readjusts an overhead switch. HAN Good ... at sub-light, they may be faster, but we can still out- maneuver them. Hold on! 216 INT COCKPIT MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE 216 CLOSE POV - out the Falcon cockpit window as the stars and looming Star Destroyers suddenly shift radically, rising through the top of the cockpit window as the Millennium Falcon starts into a steep dive. Everyone's stomach is in their throat as Han makes a ninety degree dive straight down. 217 EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - STAR DESTROYERS - SPACE 217 FULL SHOT underneath one of the huge oncoming Star Destroyers as the Millennium Falcon races toward it. Suddenly the Falcon starts into a steep dive straight down toward camera. The Falcon races over camera followed by four Tie fighters. The bottom side of the Star Destroyer continues on a collision course. 218 EXT STAR DESTROYERS - SPACE 218 A huge Star Destroyer in the foreground heads right at two oncoming Star Destroyers and slowly starts to veer to the left. 219 INT STAR DESTROYER NO. 2 BRIDGE - SPACE 219 INT IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - Out the front window the two oncoming Star Destroyers can be seen veering to the left. Alarms, panic. Pilots are abandoning their posts as the Imperial Star Destroyers on the view-scanner get closer. The Captain tries to keep control of the situation. CAPTAIN NEEDA Turn it! Turn it! 220 EXT SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS 220 FULL SHOT, SPACE - The Millennium Falcon races to camera followed by four Tie fighters with laser bolts. 221 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE 221 Things have calmed down a bit, but the race isn't over yet. Chewie barks at Han. Leia is still trying to find her stomach. The ship is buffeted by laser blasts. HAN That slowed them down a bit. Chewie stand by to make the jump to light speed. The buffeting of the lasers becomes louder and stronger. LEIA They're getting awfully close ... With a gleam in his eye. HAN Oh yeah ... Watch this. 222 INT MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT 222 REVERSE POV over shoulder out cockpit window as stars DO NOT go into hyperspace, but just sit there. 223 INT MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT 223 Han and Chewie look at each other and are thrown into an acute state of concern. LEIA Watch what? Han tries again ... nothing. HAN I think we're in trouble. THREEPIO If I may say so, Sir, I noticed earlier that the entire main para- light system seems to be damaged. HAN We're in trouble! The explosions become heavier. 224 EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - STAR DESTROYER 224 SPACE FULL SHOT - The Falcon races over camera into the starry vastness followed by six Imperial Tie Fighters and an Imperial Star Destroyer. 225 EXT SPACE LUKE'S X WING - HOTH 225 FULL SHOT, HOTH - Luke's fighter speeds away from the tiny planet, wings closed. 226 EXT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 226 FULL SHOT - Luke's fighter over camera, wings closed disappears into stars. 227 INT COCKPIT - LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 227 CLOSE SHOT Luke's interior fighter, very small planet in background. He makes a decision and flips several switches. 228 INT COCKPIT - LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 228 LUKE'S POV - Stars shift right to left as Luke banks his fighter into a steep turn. 229 EXT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 229 FULL SHOT - Fighter comes to camera, banks sharply to left. PAN with ship flying away in a new direction. 230 EXT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 230 OVER ARTOO looking forward as the stars continue to move right to left, then stop as the fighter pulls out of its bank. 231 INT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 231 INT CLOSE-UP LUKE, stars in background slowly moving from the bottom of the frame to the top. The monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out R-2's question. LUKE There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a new course ... (Artoo beeps) No, we're not going to regroup with the others. 232 EXT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 232 SIDE VIEW of Artoo as he begins his protest. Artoo whistles an unbelieving: "What?" 233 INT LUKE'S X WING - SPACE 233 Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel. LUKE We're going to the Dagobah System. (Artoo beeps) We have enough power. (Artoo sing-songs a bit of chatter) They don't need us there. (Artoo beeps) I'm countermanding the order ... I'm a commander, remember. Luke checks his readouts and makes a few adjustments. He rides along with only the soft hum of the instruments to break the silence. Finally, Artoo chirps up. LUKE Yes, Artoo. Artoo answers with a soft carefully-put phrase of whistles. LUKE Yes, Artoo, I know the Dagobah System doesn't appear on any of our navigational charts. But, don't worry, it's there. (Artoo beeps a worried beep) I'm very sure .... trust me. Artoo lets out a limp little sigh. The little droid is silent for a moment, as though thinking. Then another beep. LUKE Yes, Artoo? (a carefully-put sentence of whistles) No ... no headache, I feel fine ... Why? (Artoo chirps an innocent phrase) No dizziness, no drowsiness, the scars are even gone ... (Artoo whistles a question) No, that's all right. Artoo, I'd rather keep it on manual control for awhile. Artoo lets out a defeated whimper. Luke just smiles at his worried little friend. LUKE Trust me, Artoo. I know where I'm going and I'll get us there safely ... it's not far. 234 EXT IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER - TIE SHIPS - MILLENNIUM 234 FALCON The Falcon races to camera followed by four Tie fighters. The Falcon flies under camera, the Tie fighters fly over camera followed by Star Destroyer No. 2 in the distance. 235 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE 235 SIDE VIEW INT COCKPIT right to left. Stars race by left to right as flak bursts outside the window. 236 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - SPACE 236 Han works furiously at his controls while giving various orders to Chewie. HAN Horizontal booster .... (Chewie barks) Alluvial damper .... (Chewie barks) I don't know how we're going to get out of this one. He gives Leia a glance, then a double take. LEIA I didn't say anything .... Suddenly, a loud thump hits the side of the Falcon, causing it to lurch radically. Chewie barks louder. HAN That was no laser blast .... some- thing hit us .... LEIA Or you ran into something .... 237 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON 237 POV out front cockpit window as asteroids race by right to left. 238 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT 238 Han continues to work his ship controls as a chunk of rock crosses in front of the ship. HAN Asteroids! Chewie, bank left, let's find out where they're coming from ... LEIA Probably an asteroid field .... HAN Let's hope so ... it's just the chance we need. LEIA To get killed ... you're not seriously going into an asteroid field? HAN Aren't I? Hang on, sweetheart. We're gonna do some flyin'. Another asteroid thumps against the ship. Leia winces. LEIA You don't have to do this to impress me. THREEPIO If I might remind you, sir, the probability of successfully navi- gating through an asteroid field is approximately 365,000 to one ... a graceful surrender might not be ... Chewie turns and barks at Threepio, who immediately shuts up. 239 INT COCKPIT - MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT 239 OVER SHOULDER POV as stars move right to left as the Falcon turns into the asteroid storm. Once the stars stop moving right to left and the ship completes its turn, asteroids start coming toward the cockpit window from the distance. 240 EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT 240 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. 241 EXT MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT 241 FULL SIDE VIEW, TRUCKING with the Falcon as it dodges an asteroid. Several