Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #4

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HAN:

(over comlink)

Afraid there's not much left.

LEIA:

(into comlink)

What was it?

HAN:

(over comlink)

Droid of some kind. I didn't hit

it that hard. It must have had a

self-destruct.

LEIA:

(into comlink)

An Imperial probe droid.

HAN:

(over comlink)

It's a good bet the Empire knows

we're here.

RIEEKAN:

We'd better start the evacuation.

EXT. SPACE - IMPERIAL FLEET

Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and more awesome 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.

INT. DARTH VADER'S STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE - MAIN CONTROL DECK

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 toward it. Darth Vader, Lord of the

Sith, enters like a chill wind. As Vader moves across the wide bridge,

Captain Piett hurries up to Ozzel.

PIETT:

Admiral.

OZZEL:

Yes, Captain

PIETT:

I think we've got something, sir.

The report is only a fragment from

a probe droid in the Hoth system,

but it's the best lead we've had.

OZZEL:

(irritated)

We have thousands of probe droids

searching the galaxy. I want proof,

not leads!

PIETT:

The visuals indicate life readings.

OZZEL:

It could mean anything. If we

followed every lead...

PIETT:

But, sir, the Hoth system is supposed

to be devoid of human forms.

Vader moves to a large screen showing an image of the Rebel snow base.

Rebel speeders can be seen approaching the base in the distance.

VADER:

You found something?

PIETT:

Yes, my lord.

VADER:

(studying the image

on the console screen)

That's it. The Rebels are there.

OZZEL:

My lord, there are so many uncharted

settlements. It could be smugglers,

it could be...

VADER:

That is the system. And I'm sure

Skywalker is with them. Set your

course for the Hoth system. General

Veers, prepare you men.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - TRANSPORT BAY

A captain issues instructions to two of his men at the entrance to the

main transport bay. Several Rebel transports behind them are being

loaded by men carrying heavy boxes and moving quickly, but not in

panic.

REBEL CAPTAIN:

Groups seven and ten will stay

behind to fly the speeders. As

soon as each transport is loaded,

evacuation control will give

clearance for immediate launch.

REBEL FIGHTER:

Right, sir.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews, and droids rush to their alert

stations. Armored snowspeeders are lined up in attack formation near

the main entrance.

In the midst of all this activity, Han does some frantic welding on the

lifters of the Millennium Falcon.

Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He pulls out

his comlink, all the while eyeing problematic lifters.

HAN:

(into comlink, to

Chewie)

Okay, that's it. Try it... Off!

Turn it off! Turn it off! Off!

Smoke rises from a minor explosion on the lifter. Exasperated, Han

surveys the new damage.

INT. REBEL BASE - MEDICAL CENTER

Luke dresses in readiness for the evacuation as his attending medical

droid stands by.

MEDICAL DROID:

Sir, it will take quite a while

to evacuate the T-forty- sevens.

LUKE:

Well, forget the heavy equipment.

There's plenty of time to get the

smaller modules on the transports.

MEDICAL DROID:

Take care, sir.

LUKE:

Thanks.

INT. REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

Pilots, gunners, and R2 units scurry about. Luke, pulling on his

heavy-weather jacket, is headed toward a row of armored speeders. He

stops at the rear of the Millennium Falcon, where Han and Chewie are

trying to repair the right lifter with even more haste than before.

LUKE:

Chewie, take care of yourself,

okay?

As Luke pats Chewie on the arm, Chewie puts his arms around Luke and

gives him a tight hug. Han is discussing the lifter with a repair

droid when he sees Luke.

HAN:

Hi, kid.

(to droid)

There's got to be a reason for

it. Check it at the other end.

Wait a second.

(to Luke)

You all right?

LUKE:

Yeah.

HAN:

Be careful.

LUKE:

You, too.

Luke smiles, then waves at his friend and walks on. After a few steps,

he stops and looks back. Han glances up and the two exchange a silent

communication, each wishing the other safety, happiness - many things,

all difficult to verbalize.

INT. REBEL BASE - CONTROL ROOM.

Alarms sound throughout the hidden Rebel base. In the control room, a

controller urgently gestures for General Rieekan to check a computer

scan.

CONTROLLER:

General, there's a fleet of Star

Destroyers coming out of hyperspace

in sector four.

RIEEKAN:

Reroute all power to the energy

shield. We've got to hold them till

all transports are away. Prepare

for ground assault.

Rieekan exits hurriedly.

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

The dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light which falls

on the brooding Dark Lord as he sits on a raised meditation cube.

General Veers enters the room and approaches the silent, unmoving

Vader. Although seemingly very sure of himself, Veers is still not

bold enough to interrupt the meditating lord. The younger general

stands quietly at attention until the evil presence speaks.

VADER:

What is it, General?

VEERS:

My lord, the fleet has moves out

of light-speed. Com-Scan has

detected an energy field protecting

an area around the sixth planet of

the Hoth system. The field is

strong enough to deflect any

bombardment.

VADER:

(angrily)

The Rebels are alerted to our

presence. Admiral Ozzel came out

of light-speed too close to the

system.

VEERS:

He felt surprise was wiser...

VADER:

He is as clumsy as he is stupid.

General, prepare your troops for a

surface attack.

VEERS:

Yes, my lord.

Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large viewscreen

showing the bridge of his mighty ship. Admiral Ozzel appears on the

viewscreen, standing slightly in front of Captain Piett.

OZZEL:

Lord Vader, the fleet has moved

out of light-speed, and we're

preparing to... Aaagh!

VADER:

You have failed me for the last

time, Admiral. Captain Piett.

Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly confused,

touching his throat as it begins to constrict painfully.

PIETT:

Yes, my lord.

VADER:

Make ready to land out troops beyond

the energy shield and deploy the

fleet so that nothing gets off that

system. You are in command now,

Admiral Piett.

PIETT:

Thank you, Lord Vader.

Piett's pleasure about his unexpected promotion is not an unmixed

emotion. He glances warily at the struggling Admiral Ozzel who, with a

final choke, stumbles and falls in a lifeless heap before him.

INT. REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

With a sense of urgency, Leia quickly briefs a group of pilots gathered

in the center of the hangar.

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