Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Page #9

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HAN:

We're in trouble!

The explosions become heavier.

EXT. SPACE - MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - STAR DESTROYER

The Falcon races into the starry vastness, followed by the four

Imperial TIE fighters and an Imperial Star Destroyer.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Stars race by as flak bursts outside the Falcon's window.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - HOLD

Han works furiously at some control panels while giving various orders

to Chewie.

HAN:

Horizontal boosters...!

(Chewie barks)

Alluvial dampers...! Well that's

not it.

(Chewie barks)

Bring me the hydrospanners!

Chewie hurries over to the pit and places the tools on the edge.

HAN:

I don't know how we're going to

get out of this one.

Suddenly, a loud thump hits the side of the Falcon, causing it to lurch

radically. Chewie barks. The tools fall into the pit on top of Han.

HAN:

Oww! Chewie!

More turbulence rocks the ship.

HAN:

That was no laser blast! Something

hit us.

LEIA:

(over comlink)

Han, get up here!

HAN:

Come on, Chewie!

Han climbs out of the hold like a shot. Both he and Chewie run out of

the hold and toward the cockpit.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Out the front cockpit window, they see hundreds of asteroids racing by.

LEIA:

Asteroids!

Han changes places with Leia who has been at the controls, and Chewie

gets into his chair. Han works his controls as a chunk of rock crosses

in front of the ship.

HAN:

Oh, no! Chewie, set two-seven-

one.

LEIA:

What are you doing? You're not

actually going into an asteroid

field?

HAN:

They'd be crazy to follow us,

wouldn't they?

Another asteroid thumps against the ship and Leia winces at the jolt.

LEIA:

You don't have to do this to

impress me.

THREEPIO:

Sir, the possibility of successfully

navigating an asteroid field is

approximately three thousand, seven

hundred and twenty to one.

HAN:

Never tell me the odds!

EXT. ASTEROID BELT - MILLENNIUM FALCON

The Falcon turns into the asteroid storm and as the ship completes its

turn, asteroids start coming straight at the cockpit windows.

A large asteroid tumbles away from the Falcon's path at top speed.

Several smaller asteroids crash into the big one, creating small

explosions on its surface. Other asteroids of all sizes pass by in

every direction, some colliding and exploding. The tiny Millennium

Falcon veers around the big asteroid and races past it through the rain

of rocks, followed by four TIE fighters, which bob and weave around the

asteroids.

One of the pursuing TIE fighters connects with an asteroid and

explodes. The other fighters are pelted with a steady stream of

smaller explosions.

Two huge asteroids tumble toward the Millennium Falcon, which quickly

banks around both of them. The three TIE fighters follow in hot

pursuit until one of the fighters scrapes an asteroid and tumbles out

of control into deep space.

EXT. SPACE - STAR DESTROYER - ASTEROID BELT

The massive Star Destroyer blasts oncoming asteroids as it follows the

Falcon. Smaller asteroids explode across its vast surface.

EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - TIE FIGHTERS - ASTEROID BELT

The Falcon twists on its side as it races around an oncoming asteroid.

Two TIE fighters follow in the distance, coming from either side.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Asteroids race by the cockpit window as Han pilots his trusty craft

through the dangerous field.

Looking out the cockpit window, the Falcon crew sees a big asteroid

drop past the window, narrowly missing their ship.

Chewie barks in terror as a slightly smaller asteroid comes especially

close - to close - and bounces off the Falcon with a loud crunch.

Threepio's hands cover his eyes. He manages a short peek at the

cockpit window. Princess Leia sits stone-faced, staring at the action.

Han gives her a quick look.

HAN:

You said you wanted to be around

when I made a mistake; well, this

could be it, sweetheart.

LEIA:

I take it back. We're going to

get pulverized if we stay out here

much longer.

The group watches as more asteroids race by outside the window.

HAN:

I'm not going to argue with that.

THREEPIO:

Pulverized?

HAN:

I'm going in closer to one of

those big ones.

LEIA:

Closer?

THREEPIO:

Closer?!

Chewbacca barks the same word, only louder.

EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - ASTEROID BELT

The Millennium Falcon dives toward the surface of one of the moon-sized

asteroids. There is a continued display of explosions against the

starry void as smaller asteroids collide with larger chunks of rock.

The two remaining TIE fighters follow the Falcon to the large asteroid.

The Falcon skims the surface of the giant asteroid as, all the while,

small asteroids explode on the surface of the ship.

The TIE fighters approach the Falcon, but a giant asteroid hurtles

directly into their path. As the asteroid continues on its way, it

leaves remains of the two exploded TIE fighters to tumble into deep

space.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Rattled by the violent rocking of the starship, Threepio is nearly in

hysterics.

THREEPIO:

Oh, this is suicide!

Han notices something on his main scope and nudges his faithful

Wookiee, pointing.

HAN:

There. That looks pretty good.

LEIA:

What looks pretty good?

HAN:

Yeah. That'll do nicely.

THREEPIO:

(to Leia)

Excuse me, ma'am, but where are

we going?

Out the cockpit window, they see that they are skimming the surface of

the enormous asteroid and nearing a large crater.

EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - GIANT ASTEROID CRATER

The Millennium Falcon dives into the huge crater and disappears.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

LEIA:

I hope you know what you're doing.

HAN:

Yeah, me too.

INT. GIANT ASTEROID CRATER

The Falcon races down into the crater. The walls are barely visible as

the ship speed through the tunnellike opening. A small cave appears on

one side of the crater, and the Falcon turns, slows, and scoots into

it.

EXT. SPACE - LUKE'S X-WING

The tiny X-wing speeds toward the cloud cover of Dagobah. Artoo,

riding on the back of the fighter, turns his head back and forth with

some anxiety.

INT. LUKE'S X-WING - COCKPIT

Luke watches Artoo's words as they are translated and screened on the

computer scope.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Yes, that's it. Dagobah.

Artoo beeps a hopeful inquiry.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

No, I'm not going to change my

mind about this.

(getting a little nervous)

I'm not picking up any cities or

technology. Massive life-form

readings, though. There's something

alive down there...

Artoo beeps, this time a slightly worried question.

LUKE:

(into comlink)

Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe

for droids.

EXT. SPACE - DAGOBAH - LUKE'S X-WING

The X-wing continues its flight through the twilight above the cloud-

covered planet.

INT. LUKE'S X-WING - COCKPIT

Luke sees the cloud race by as he takes his craft closer to the planet.

He must operate his controls carefully since the cloud cover has

completely obscured his vision. An alarm buzzes in the background,

Artoo beeps and whistles frantically.

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