Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #23

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Artoo whistles knowingly.

THREEPIO:

The city's central computer told

you? Artoo-Detoo, you know better

than to trust a strange computer.

Ouch! Pay attention to what

you're doing!

Chewie is in the pit. He is trying to loosen something with an

enormous wrench. Frustrated, he uses the wrench like a club and hits

the panel...

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Leia and Lando, seated in front of the control panel, are suddenly

sprayed by a shower of sparks.

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE

Vader stands on the bridge, watching as the Millennium Falcon is chased

by the TIE fighters. As his Destroyer draws nearer, Vader's breathing

gets slightly faster.

VADER:

Luke.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - SLEEPING QUARTERS

Luke realizes that Vader's ship is very near. He feels resigned to his

fate. He senses that he is beaten, more emotionally than physically.

LUKE:

Father.

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE

VADER:

Son, come with me.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - SLEEPING QUARTERS

LUKE:

(moaning)

Ben, why didn't you tell me?

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Lando and Leia are at the controls of the Falcon. Meanwhile, in the

ship's hold, Chewie continues to work frantically on the hyperdrive

mechanism.

LANDO:

(into intercom)

Chewie!

EXT. SPACE

The Falcon races through space followed very closely by the TIE

fighters and the huge Imperial Star Destroyer.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Luke enters the cockpit and looks out the window. He is almost

unconscious with pain and depression.

LUKE:

It's Vader.

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE

VADER:

Luke... it is your destiny.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

LUKE:

Ben, why didn't you tell me?

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE

PIETT:

Alert all commands. Ready for

the tractor beam.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - HOLD

Artoo races to a control panel and starts working on a circuit board.

Furious, Threepio stands on one leg, yelling.

THREEPIO:

Artoo, come back at once! You

haven't finished with me yet!

You don't know how to fix the

hyperdrive. Chewbacca can do

it. I'm standing here in pieces,

and you're having delusions of

grandeur!

Artoo moves a circuit on a control panel. Suddenly, the control panel

lights up.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Leia and Lando are thrown into their seats as the Millennium Falcon

unexpectedly shoot into hyperspace.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - HOLD

The ship tilts up and Artoo topples into the pit on top of Chewie.

THREEPIO:

Oh, you did it!

EXT. SPACE

The Falcon soars into infinity and away from the huge Star Destroyer

which seems, by contrast, to stand still.

INT. VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE

Admiral Piett and another captain glance at Vader in terror. Vader

turns slowly and walks off the bridge, his hands held behind his back

in a contemplative gesture.

EXT. SPACE - REBEL CRUISER

The Millennium Falcon is attached to a huge Rebel cruiser by a docking

tube. Rebel fighters move about the giant cruiser, and a Rebel

transport ship hovers near the fleet.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Lando sits in the pilot's seat as he talks into the comlink. Chewie

busily throws a variety of switches in preparation for takeoff.

LANDO:

(into comlink)

Luke, we're ready for takeoff.

LUKE:

(over comlink)

Good luck, Lando

LANDO:

(into comlink)

When we find Jabba the Hut and

that bounty hunter, we'll contact

you.

INT. STAR CRUISER - MEDICAL CENTER

Luke speaking into the comlink as a medical droid works on his hand.

Leia stands near him while Threepio and Artoo look out the window.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

I'll meet you at the rendezvous

point on Tatooine.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

LANDO:

(into comlink)

Princess, we'll find Han. I

promise.

INT. STAR CRUISER - MEDICAL CENTER

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Chewie, I'll be waiting for your

signal.

Chewie's wail comes over the comlink.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Take care, you two. May the

Force be with you.

Luke looks down at his hand. A metalized type of bandage has been

wrapped around his wrist. The medical droid makes some adjustments in

a tiny electronic unit, then pricks each one of Luke's fingers.

LUKE:

Ow!

Luke wriggles his fingers, makes a fist, and relaxes it. His hand is

completely functional.

He gets up and walks over to Leia. There is a new bond between them, a

new understanding. Leia is thinking about Han; Luke is thinking about

his uncertain and newly complicated future. Together they stand at the

large window of the medical center looking out on the Rebel Star

Cruiser and a dense, luminous galaxy swirling in space.

Luke puts his arm around Leia. The droids stand next to them, and

Threepio moves closer to Artoo putting his arm on him. The group

watches as the Millennium Falcon moves into view, makes a turn, and

zooms away into space.

EXT. SPACE - REBEL STAR CRUISER

While Luke, Leia, and the droids stand, looking out the window of the

star cruiser, two escort fighters join the large ship. Slowly, the

cruiser turns and moves away into space.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GALAXY - SPACE

END CREDITS FADE IN AND OUT OVER BACKGROUND

THE END:

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