Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

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THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Written by

Lawrence Kasdan

and

Leigh Brackett

From a story by George Lucas

EXT. GALAXY - PLANET HOTH

A Star Destroyer moves through space, releasing Imperial probe robots

from its underside.

One of these probes zooms toward the planet Hoth and lands on its ice-

covered surface. An explosion marks the point of

impact.

EXT. HOTH - METEORITE CRATER - SNOW PLAIN - DAY

A weird mechanical sound rises above the whining of the wind. A

strange probe robot, with several extended sensors, emerges from the

smoke-shrouded crater. The ominous mechanical probe floats across the

snow plain and disappears into the distance.

EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH - DAY

A small figure gallops across the windswept ice slope. The bundled

rider is mounted on a large gray snow lizard, a Tauntaun. Curving

plumes of snow rise from beneath the speeding paws of the two-legged

beast.

The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a stop. Pulling

off his protective goggles, Luke Skywalker notices something in the

sky. He takes a pair of electrobinoculars from his utility belt and

through them sees smoke rising from where the probe robot has crashed.

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

transmitter. His Tauntaun shifts and moans nervously beneath him.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han,

old buddy, do you read me?

After a little static a familiar voice is heard.

HAN:

(over comlink)

Loud and clear, kid. What's up?

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Well, I finished my circle. I

don't pick up any life readings.

HAN:

(over comlink)

There isn't enough life on this

ice cube to fill a space cruiser.

The sensors are placed, I'm going

back.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Right. I'll see you shortly.

There's a meteorite that hit the

ground near here. I want to check

it out. It won't take long.

Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his nervous lizard.

He pats the beast on the head to calm it.

LUKE:

Hey, steady girl. What's the

matter? You smell something?

Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to adjust it when

suddenly a large shadow falls over him from behind. He hears a

monstrous howl and turns to see an eleven-foot-tall shape towering over

him. It is a Wampa Ice Creature, lunging at him ferociously.

LUKE:

Aaargh!

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

claw. He falls unconscious into the snow and in a moment the terrified

screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by the horrible snap of a neck

being broken.

The Wampa Ice Creature grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away

across the frozen plain.

EXT. HOTH - REBEL BASE ENTRANCE - DAY

A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance of an enormous

ice cave.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

Rebel troopers rush about unloading supplies and otherwise securing

their new base. The rider, Han Solo, swings off his lizard and pulls

off his goggles.

He walks into the main hangar deck toward the Millennium Falcon, which

is parked among several fighters. Mechanics, R2 units, and various

other droids hurry about. Han stops at the Millennium Falcon where his

Wookiee copilot, Chewbacca, is welding on a central lifter. Chewie

stops his work and lifts his face shield, growling an irritated

greeting to his boss.

HAN:

Chewie!

The Wookiee grumbles a reply.

HAN:

All right, don't lose your temper.

I'll come right back and give you

a hand.

Chewbacca puts his mask back on and returns to his welding as Han

leaves.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

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

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

troops, and droids move about setting up electronic equipment and

monitoring radar signals.

General Rieekan straightens up from a console at Han's approach.

RIEEKAN:

Solo?

HAN:

No sign of life out there, General.

The sensors are in place. You'll

know if anything comes around.

RIEEKAN:

Commander Skywalker reported in yet?

HAN:

No. He's checking out a meteorite

that hit near him.

RIEEKAN:

(indicates radar

screen)

With all the meteor activity in this

system, it's going to be difficult

to spot approaching ships.

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

HAN:

General, I've got to leave. I

can't stay anymore.

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

white combat jacket and pants. Her hair is braided across her head in

a Nordic fashion. She overhears their conversation and seems somewhat

distressed.

RIEEKAN:

I'm sorry to hear that.

HAN:

Well, there's a price on my head.

If I don't pay off Jabba the Hut,

I'm a dead man.

RIEEKAN:

A death mark's not an easy thing

to live with. You're a good

fighter, Solo. I hate to lose you.

HAN:

Thank you, General.

He turns to Leia as Rieekan moves away.

HAN:

(with feeling)

Well, Your Highness, I guess this

is it.

LEIA:

That's right.

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

head and adopts a sarcastic tone.

HAN:

(cooly)

Well, don't get all mushy on me.

So long, Princess.

Han walks away into the quiet corridor adjoining the command center.

Leia stews a moment, then hurries after him.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - ICE CORRIDOR

LEIA:

Han!

Han stops in the corridor and turns to face Leia.

HAN:

Yes, Your Highnessness?

LEIA:

I thought you decided to stay.

HAN:

Well, the bounty hunter we ran

into on Ord Mantell changed my

mind.

LEIA:

Han, we need you!

HAN:

We?

LEIA:

Yes.

HAN:

Oh, what about you need?

LEIA:

(mystified)

I need? I don't know what you're

talking about.

HAN:

(shakes his head,

fed up)

You probably don't.

LEIA:

And what precisely am I supposed

to know?

HAN:

Come on! You want me to stay

because of the way you feel about

me.

LEIA:

Yes. You're a great help to us.

You're a natural leader...

HAN:

No! That's not it. Come on.

Aahhh - uh huh! Come on.

Leia stares at him, understanding, then laughs.

LEIA:

You're imagining things.

HAN:

Am I? Then why are you following

me? Afraid I was going to leave

without giving you a goodbye kiss?

LEIA:

I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee.

HAN:

I can arrange that. You could use

a good kiss!

Angrily, Han strides down the corridor as Leia stares after him.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - ANOTHER ICE CORRIDOR

A familiar stream of beeps and whistles herald the approach of Artoo-

Detoo and See-Threepio, who appear around a corner and move along an

ice wall toward the main hangar.

THREEPIO:

Don't try to blame me. I didn't

ask you to turn on the thermal

heater. I merely commented that it

was freezing in the princess'

chamber. But it's supposed to be

freezing. How are we going to dry

out all her clothes? I really don't

know.

Artoo beeps a stream of protesting whistles.

THREEPIO:

Oh, switch off.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

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