Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #7

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The two speeders race across the horizon toward the giant walkers.

INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO - COCKPIT

ZEV:

(into comlink)

Coming around.

INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE LEADER - COCKPIT

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Watch that cross fire, boys.

INT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO - COCKPIT

ZEV:

(into comlink)

Set for position three.

(to gunner)

Steady.

LUKE:

(over comlink)

Stay tight and low.

EXT. ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE TWO

Luke's speeder moves in formation with Rogue Two, when suddenly Zev's

speeder is hit by a laser bolt. His ship bucks violently under the

impact and the cockpit explodes in a ball of flame.

Spewing smoke, the speeder hurtles toward a looming walker. Before

they collide. Rogue Two explodes in a million flaming pieces.

INT. LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROGUE LEADER - COCKPIT

Desperately, Luke works the controls of his flak-buffeted ship.

Suddenly, the speeder is rocked by a huge explosion. Luke struggles

with the controls with a look of terror on his face. The speeder fills

with smoke, and electrical sparks jump about the cockpit.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Hobbie, I've been hit!

INT. REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

Apart from the distant thunder of laser blasts, the corridor is

strangely quiet and empty. Running footsteps echo through the freezing

hallway, then Han appears. Cracks have appeared in some of the walls

and some pipes have broken, sending hot steam billowing into the

underground hallways. Han hurries into the command center. It is a

shambles, but some people are still at their posts. As he enters, a

gigantic cave-in almost obliterates the room. He finds Leia and

Threepio near one of the control boards.

HAN:

You all right?

Leia nods. She is surprised to see him.

LEIA:

Why are you still here?

HAN:

I heard the command center had

been hit.

LEIA:

You got your clearance to leave.

HAN:

Don't worry. I'll leave. First

I'm going to get you to your ship.

THREEPIO:

Your Highness, we must take this

last transport. It's our only hope.

LEIA:

(to controller)

Send all troops in sector twelve

to the south slope to protect the

fighters.

A blast rocks the command center, throwing Threepio backward into Han's

arms.

ANNOUNCER:

(over loudspeaker)

Imperial troops have entered the

base.

HAN:

Come on... that's it.

LEIA:

(to head controller)

Give the evacuation code signal.

And get to your transports!

Leia looks exhausted. Han grabs her and starts to lead her out.

As Han, Leia, and Threepio run out of the command center, the code

signal can be heard echoing off the corridor walls.

HEAD CONTROLLER:

K-one-zero... all troops disengage.

THREEPIO:

(to Han and Leia)

Oh! Wait for me!

EXT. BATTLEFIELD - SNOW TRENCH

Rebel troops retreat under the awesome Imperial onslaught.

OFFICER:

Begin retreat!

SECOND OFFICER:

Fall back!

Troops flee from the battle, the ground exploding around them.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

Three of the giant walkers, firing lasers, advance toward the Rebel

headquarters.

EXT. HOTH - SNOW TRENCH

Continuing their retreat, the Rebels see the walkers looming ever

nearer.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD - ICE PLAIN

On the battlefield, Luke watches as a walker foot rises and moves over

him. He looks up at the underbelly of the huge walker, passing

overhead.

Running beneath the monstrous machine, Luke fires his harpoon gun at

the walker's underside. A thin cable follows the projectile from the

gun. The magnetic head and cable attach firmly to the metal hull.

Still running under the walker, Luke attaches the cable drum to his

belt buckle. Soon he is pulled up the cable and hangs dangling

underneath the walker.

The walker's giant feet continue to pound onward across the frozen

snow. Stray laser bolts whistle by Luke as he climbs up the cable to

the walker's hull, reaching a small hatch. Hanging precariously, Luke

cuts the solid metal hatch with his laser sword.

He takes a landmine from around his neck and throws it inside the

Imperial machine. Quickly, Luke starts down the cable and crashes onto

the icy ground far below. He lies unconscious as a giant rear leg

passes by - and just misses him.

The giant walker stops in mid-step. A muffled explosion comes from

within - and then the walker's mechanical insides are spewed out every

conceivable opening. The machine sits dead in its tracks, smoking like

a locomotive on stilts.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

Veers's walker continues to advance toward the Rebel base. The

smoldering walker that Luke exploded stands smoking just to the right

of Veers's path.

INT. IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER - COCKPIT

Inside his walker, General Veers prepares to fire on the Rebel power

generators.

VEERS:

Distance to power generators?

PILOT:

One-seven, decimal two-eight.

Veers reaches for the electrorangefinder and lines up the main

generator.

VEERS:

Target. Maximum fire power.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

The Rebel troops continue their desperate retreat, pushed back by the

relentless Imperial assault.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - ICE CORRIDORS

With Threepio lagging behind, Han and Leia race through the crumbling

ice corridors. Suddenly, there is an explosion. Han turns, grabs the

princess, and pulls her to the wall as a tremendous cave-in blacks

their path.

He takes the comlink from his pocket.

HAN:

(into comlink)

Transport, this is Solo. Better

take off - I can't get to you.

I'll get the princess out on the

Falcon.

Han and Leia turn and race down the corridor.

THREEPIO:

But... but... but... where are

you going? Uh... come back!!

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

Imperial troops have reached the base. As they push through the

blocked passageway, Darth Vader strides behind them.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - ICE CORRIDOR

Han and Leia run toward the entrance of the main hangar where the

Millennium Falcon is docked. Threepio still lags behind.

THREEPIO:

Wait! Wait for me! Wait! Stop!

The door to the hangar closes in his face.

THREEPIO:

(exasperated)

How typical.

Quickly, the door reopens as Han reaches out and pulls the golden droid

through.

HAN:

Come on.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR

Chewie paces under the shelter of the Millennium Falcon's landing gear.

The giant Wookiee pats the underbelly of his beloved ship and barks a

few reassuring words. As he searches worriedly for his captain,

something at last catches his eye.

Chewie lets out a relieved shriek at seeing Han and Leia running toward

the ship. The Wookiee runs out into the falling ice, lets out a howl,

then runs up the ship's ramp. Han and Leia run up the ramp after him,

closely followed by Threepio.

HAN:

Hurry up, goldenrod, or you're

going to be a permanent resident!

THREEPIO:

Wait! Wait!

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - ICE CORRIDOR

Imperial troops run through the base corridors. Vader surveys the

place. A huge chunk falls, almost hitting him, but he calmly,

purposefully, continues around it.

INT. REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGER - MILLENNIUM FALCON

A distant, huge, explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes come

crashing down on the Millennium Falcon.

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