Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #12

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NEEDA:

(in hologram)

... and that, Lord Vader, was the

last time they appeared in any of

our scopes. Considering the amount

of damage we've sustained, they

must have been destroyed.

VADER:

No, Captain, they're alive. I

want every ship available to

sweep the asteroid field until

they are found.

The Imperial star captains fade out one by one as Vader turns to

Admiral Piett.

PIETT:

Lord Vader.

VADER:

Yes, Admiral, what is it?

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

PIETT:

The Emperor commands you make

contact with him.

VADER:

Move the ship out of the asteroid

field so that we can send a clear

transmission.

PIETT:

Yes, my lord.

EXT. ASTEROID FIELD - VADER'S STAR DESTROYER

Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer moves against the vast sea of stars

away from the rest of the fleet.

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - VADER'S CHAMBER

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

enters the room and a light begins to play across Vader's black figure.

He looks up and bows quickly.

A twelve-foot hologram of the Galactic Emperor materializes before

Vader. The Emperor's dark robes and monk's hood are reminiscent of the

cloak worn by Ben Kenobi. His voice is even deeper and more

frightening than Vader's.

VADER:

What is thy bidding, my master?

EMPEROR:

There is a great disturbance in

the Force.

VADER:

I have felt it.

EMPEROR:

We have a new enemy - Luke

Skywalker.

VADER:

Yes, my master.

EMPEROR:

He could destroy us.

VADER:

He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no

longer help him.

EMPEROR:

The Force is strong with him. The

son of Skywalker must not become a

Jedi.

VADER:

If he could be turned, he would

become a powerful ally.

EMPEROR:

Yes. Yes. He would be a great

asset. Can it be done?

VADER:

He will join us or die, my

master.

Vader kneels. The supreme Emperor passes a hand over the crouched Lord

of the Sith and fades away.

EXT. DAGOBAH - CREATURE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

A heavy downpour of rain pounds through the gnarled trees. A strange

baroque mud house sits on a moss-covered knoll on the edge of a small

lagoon. The small, gnomish structure radiates a warm glow from its

thick glass windows. As rain tap-dances a merry tune on Artoo's head,

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

the glowing portals.

INT. CREATURE'S HOUSE

Artoo, peeking in the window, sees the inside of the house - a very

plain, but cozy dwelling. Everything is in the same small scale as the

creature. The only thing out of place in the miniature room is Luke,

whose height makes the four-foot ceiling seem even lower. He sits

cross-legged on the floor of the living room.

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

an incredible meal. The stove is a steaming hodgepodge of pots and

pans. The wizened little host scurries about chopping this, shredding

that, and showering everything with exotic herbs and spices. He rushes

back and forth putting platters on the table in front of Luke, who

watches the creature impatiently.

LUKE:

Look, I'm sure it's delicious.

I just don't understand why we

can't see Yoda now.

CREATURE:

Patience! For the Jedi it is

time to eat as well. Eat, eat.

Hot. Good food, hm? Good, hmm?

Moving with some difficulty in the cramped quarters, Luke sits down

near the fire and serves himself from the pot. Tasting the unfamiliar

concoction, he is pleasantly surprised.

LUKE:

How far away is Yoda? Will it

take us long to get there?

CREATURE:

Not far. Yoda not far. Patience.

Soon you will be with him.

(tasting food from

the pot)

Rootleaf, I cook. Why wish you

become Jedi? Hm?

LUKE:

Mostly because of my father, I

guess.

CREATURE:

Ah, your father. Powerful Jedi

was he, powerful Jedi, mmm.

LUKE:

(a little angry)

Oh, come on. How could you know

my father? You don't even know

who I am.

(fed up)

Oh, I don't know what I'm doing

here. We're wasting our time.

The creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third party.

CREATURE:

(irritated)

I cannot teach him. The boy has

no patience.

Luke's head spins in the direction the creature faces. But there is no

one there. The boy is bewildered, but it gradually dawns on him that

the little creature is Yoda, the Jedi Master, and that he is speaking

with Ben.

BEN'S VOICE

He will learn patience.

YODA:

Hmmm. Much anger in him, like his father.

BEN'S VOICE

Was I any different when you

taught me?

YODA:

Hah. He is not ready.

LUKE:

Yoda! I am ready. I... Ben! I

can be a Jedi. Ben, tell him I'm

ready.

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

ceiling.

YODA:

Ready, are you? What know you

of ready? For eight hundred years

have I trained Jedi. My own counsel

will I keep on who is to be trained!

A Jedi must have the deepest

commitment, the most serious mind.

(to the invisible

Ben, indicating Luke)

This one a long time have I watched.

All his life has he looked away...

to the future, to the horizon.

Never his mind on where he was.

Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph.

Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh!

A Jedi craves not these things.

(turning to Luke)

You are reckless!

Luke looks down. He knows it is true.

BEN'S VOICE

So was I, if you'll remember.

YODA:

He is too old. Yes, too old to

begin the training.

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

LUKE:

But I've learned so much.

Yoda turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi Master's huge

eyes could somehow determine how much the boy had learned. After a

long moment, the little Jedi turns toward where he alone sees Ben.

YODA:

(sighs)

Will he finished what he begins?

LUKE:

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

YODA:

(turns slowly toward

him)

Oh, you will be. You will be.

EXT. SPACE - STAR DESTROYERS - ASTEROID FIELD

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

storm. Asteroids big and small pelt the vast exteriors of the menacing

ships. One of the smaller Imperial vessels is hit by a huge asteroid

and explodes in a brilliant flash of light.

INT. ASTEROID CAVE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

The cockpit is quiet and lit only by the indicator lights on the

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

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

confusion he has created within her. Suddenly, something outside the

cockpit window catches her eye. The reflection of the panel lights

obscures her vision until a soft suctionlike cup attaches itself to the

windscreen. Leia

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

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

heart pounding. There is a scurry of feet and a loud screech, and in

an instant the eyes are gone. The young princess catches her breath,

jumps out of her chair, and races from the cockpit.

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