Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #21

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INT. CLOUD CITY - TUNNEL AND REACTOR CONTROL ROOM

Moving through a tunnellike entrance, Luke cautiously approaches the

reactor room. He ignites his sword and moves into the room and toward

a large window as Vader enters.

Luke raises his sword and moves forward to attack.

Behind Luke a large piece of machinery detaches itself from the wall

and comes smashing forward toward his back. Luke turns and cuts it in

half just as another machine comes hurtling at him. Using the Force,

Luke manages to deflect it and send it flying as if it had hit an

invisible shield.

A large pipe detaches and comes flying at Luke. He deflects it.

Sparking wires pull out of the wall and begin to whip at the youth.

Small tools and equipment come flying at him. Bombardment from all

sides, Luke does his best to deflect everything, but soon he is

bloodied and bruised. Finally, one machine glances off his and goes

flying out the large window. A fierce wind blows into the room,

unmoving, stands the dark, rocklike figure of Vader.

A piece of machinery hits Luke and he is knocked out of the window.

INT. GANTRY - OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM - REACTOR SHAFT

Luke falls onto the gantry, rolls, and hangs over the edge, holding his

deactivated sword in hand. He puts the sword on his belt and begins to

scramble up.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR LEADING TO LANDING PLATFORM

Leia, Lando, Chewie and the droids come round a corner and head for the

door to the landing platform. They glimpse the Millennium Falcon for a

moment before the door slams shut. The group ducks into an alcove as

stormtroopers arrive at the end of the corridor. The troopers send a

rain of laser bolts at the group. Chewie returns their fire as Lando

punches desperately at the door's control panel.

LANDO:

The security codes has been changed!

THREEPIO:

Artoo, you can tell the computer

to override the security system.

Threepio points to a computer socket on the control panel. Artoo beeps

and scoots toward it. Lando meanwhile has connected up to the panel's

intercom.

LANDO:

Attention! This is Lando

Calrissian. The Empire has takes

control of the city. I advise

everyone to leave before more

Imperial troops arrive.

Artoo takes off a computer cover and sticks his computer arm into the

socket. Suddenly, a short beep turns into a wild scream. Artoo's

circuits light up, his head spins wildly, and smoke begins to seep out

underneath him. Quickly, Chewie pulls him away.

LANDO:

This way.

Lando, Leia, Artoo, and Chewie flee down the corridor. As he scoots

along with them, Artoo sends some angry beeps Threepio's way.

THREEPIO:

Don't blame me. I'm an interpreter.

I'm not supposed to know a power

socket from a computer terminal.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR

In a panic, Cloud City residents are trying to get out of the city.

Some carry boxes, others packages. They run, then change direction.

Some are shooting at stormtroopers, others simply try to hide.

Other stormtroopers pursue Lando, Leia, and Chewie who are firing back

at them. Artoo works on another door to the landing platform while

Threepio berates him for his seeming ineptitude.

THREEPIO:

What are you talking about? We're

not interested in the hyperdrive

on the Millennium Falcon. It's

fixed! Just open the door, you

stupid lump.

Chewie, Leia, and Lando retreat along the corridor. A triumphant beep

from Artoo - and the door snaps open.

THREEPIO:

(to Artoo)

I never doubted you for a second.

Wonderful!

Artoo lays a cloud fog, obscuring everything, as the group dashes

outside.

EXT. LANDING PLATFORM - CLOUD CITY - DUSK

They race for the Millennium Falcon as a battalion of stormtroopers

reaches the main door. Lando and Leia hold off the troops as the

droids get on board with Chewie. As Chewie bounds to the ship the

Threepio on his back, Threepio hits his head on the top of the ramp.

THREEPIO:

Ouch! Oh! Ah! That hurt. Bend

down, you thoughtless... Ow!

Chewie starts up the ship. The giant engines begin to whine as Lando

and Leia race up the ramp under a hail of laser fire.

LANDO:

Leia! Go!

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - CORRIDOR

Artoo drags the partially assembled Threepio down the corridor of the

Falcon.

THREEPIO:

I thought that hairy beast would

be the end of me. Of course, I've

looked better.

Artoo beeps understandingly.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Chewie works the controls as Leia sits in Han's seat and Lando watches

over their shoulders. As Chewie pulls back on the throttle, the ship

begins to move.

EXT. CLOUD CITY - LANDING PLATFORM - DUSK

The Millennium Falcon lifts gracefully into the twilight sky and roars

away from the city. Troops fire after it and TIE fighters take off in

pursuit.

INT. GANTRY - OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM - REACTOR SHAFT

Luke moves along the railing and up to the control room.

Vader lunges at him and Luke immediately raises his lit sword to meet

Vader's. Sparks fly as they duel, Vader gradually forcing Luke

backward toward the gantry.

VADER:

You are beaten. It is useless

to resist. Don't let yourself

be destroyed as Obi-Wan did.

Luke answers by rolling sideways and thrusting his sword at Vader so

viciously that he nicks Vader on the shoulder. The black armor sparks

and smokes and Vader seems to be hurt, but immediately recovers.

Luke backs off along the narrow end of the gantry as Vader comes at

him, slashing at the young Jedi with his sword. Luke makes a quick

move around the instrument complex attached to the end of the gantry.

Vader's sword comes slashing down, cutting the complex loose; it begins

to fall, then is caught by the rising wind and blown upward.

Luke glances at the instrument complex floating away. At that instant,

Vader's sword comes down across Luke's right forearm, cutting off his

hand and sending his sword flying. In great pain, Luke squeezes his

forearm under his left armpit and moves back along the gantry to its

extreme end. Vader

follows. The wind subsides. Luke holds on. There is nowhere else to

go.

VADER:

There is no escape. Don't make

me destroy you. You do not yet

realize your importance. You

have only begun to discover your

power. Join me and I will complete

your training. With our combined

strength, we can end this destructive

conflict and bring order to the

galaxy.

LUKE:

I'll never join you!

VADER:

If you only knew the power of the

dark side. Obi-Wan never told

you what happened to your father.

LUKE:

He told me enough! It was you

who killed him.

VADER:

No. I am your father.

Shocked, Luke looks at Vader in utter disbelief.

LUKE:

No. No. That's not true!

That's impossible!

VADER:

Search your feelings. You know

it to be true.

LUKE:

No! No! No!

VADER:

Luke. You can destroy the Emperor.

He has foreseen this. It is your

destiny. Join me, and together

we can rule the galaxy as father

and son. Come with me. It is the

only way.

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