LEIA It's risky, but we can't hold out much longer. We have no
choice.
RIEEKAN (into comlink) Launch patrols.
LEIA (to an aide) Evacuate remaining ground staff.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR
Muffled distant explosions create widening cracks in the
ice roof of the hangar. Trying to ignore the noise and falling
bits of snow, Han works on one of the Falcon's lifters while
Chewie works on one of the wings. Noticing Chewie attach a
wrong part, Han grows impatient.
HAN No, no! No! This one goes there, that one goes there. right?
In another area of the hangar, Threepio watches as Artoo is
raised up into Luke's X-wing fighter.
THREEPIO Artoo, you take good care of Master Luke now, understand?
And...do take care of yourself. Oh, dear, oh, dear.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth rages on.
The Imperial walkers continue their slow, steady assault on
the Rebel base, firing lasers as they lumber ever onward. In
the snow trench, Rebel troops fire large bazookalike guns and
dishlike ray guns as explosions erupt around them. A gun tower
is hit by a laser bolt and instantly explodes. Another blast
destroys a ray gun.
INTERIOR IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER -- COCKPIT
General Veers studies various readouts on his control
panel.
VEERS All troops will debark for ground assault. Prepare to target
the main generator.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
Luke's speeder and Rouge Two fly in formation, banking from
right to left and flying above the erupting battlefield. Flak
bursts all around them.
INTERIOR LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
Luke, glancing over, sees Rouge Two on his left. His ship
shudders as flak bursts nearby.
LUKE (into comlink) Rouge Two, are you all right?
INTERIOR ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO -- COCKPIT
ZEV (into comlink) Yeah. I'm with you, Rouge Leader.
INTERIOR LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE (into comlink) We'll set harpoon. I'll cover for you.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The two speeders race across the horizon toward the giant
walkers.
INTERIOR ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO -- COCKPIT
ZEV (into comlink) Coming around.
INTERIOR LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE (into comlink) Watch that cross fire, boys.
INTERIOR ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO -- COCKPIT
ZEV (into comlink) Set for position three. (to gunner) Steady.
LUKE (over comlink) Stay tight and low.
EXTERIOR ZEV'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE TWO
Luke's speeder moves in formation with Rouge 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. Rouge Two explodes in a million flaming
pieces.
INTERIOR LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE 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!
INTERIOR 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!
EXTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
Three of the giant walkers, firing lasers, advance toward
the Rebel headquarters.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- SNOW TRENCH
Continuing their retreat, the Rebels see the walkers
looming ever nearer.
EXTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
Veers's walker continues to advance toward the Rebel base.
The smoldering walker that Luke e
xploded stands smoking just
to the right of Veers's path.
INTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The Rebel troops continue their desperate retreat, pushed
back by the relentless Imperial assault.
INTERIOR 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!!
INTERIOR HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER
Imperial troops have reached the base. As they push through
the blocked passageway, Darth Vader strides behind them.
INTERIOR 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.
INTERIOR 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!
INTERIOR 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.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGER -- MILLENNIUM FALCON
A distant, huge, explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes
come crashing down on the Millennium Falcon.
INTERIOR MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- MAIN HOLD
Han, standing before a control panel, is busy flipping
switches as Chewie watches a troublesome gauge. A worried Leia
observes their efforts.
HAN (to Chewie) How's this?
The Wookiee barks a negative reply.
LEIA Would it helped if I got out and pushed?
HAN It might.
Threepio clanks into the hold.
THREEPIO Captain Solo, Captain Solo...sir, might I suggest that
you...
Han gives the gold robot a devastating look.
THREEPIO It can wait.
INTERIOR MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
They move to the cockpit where Han flips some more
switches. Leia watches him, impatient, disbelieving.
LEIA The bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade.
HAN This baby's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart.
Han and Leia look out the cockpit window and see a squad of
stormtroopers rushing into the far side of the hangar.
Quickly, Han straps himself into the pilot's seat and Leia
into the navigator's chair.
INTERIOR HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR
Stormtroopers hurriedly set up a large bazookalike weapon.
Behind them the giant hangar doors open slowly.
EXTERIOR MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON
A laser gun appears on the Falcon and swings around to aim
at the Imperial troops.
The stormtroopers, preparing to fire their bazooka cannon,
are hit by the Falcon's fire and are thrown about in all
directions.
INTERIOR MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
Chewie rushes into the cockpit.
HAN Come on! Come on! Switch over. Let's hope we don't have a
burnout.
A laser hits the window near Chewie as he is settling into
his chair. Letting out a loud whelp, Chewie quickly pulls back
on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be
heard. Han flashes a big grin at Leia.
HAN See?
LEIA Someday you're going to be wrong, and I hope I'm there to see it.
Han looks at Chewie.
HAN Punch it!
The roar of the Falcon's main engines blasts out everything
as the ice-cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR
More stormtroopers run into the hangar, closely followed by
Vader. Hearing the loud roar of the Millennium Falcon's
engines, Vader looks toward the main hangar doors just in time
to see the Falcon lift up and disappear outside the cave.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- ICE SLOPE -- DAY
Luke and two other pilots look up as the Millennium Falcon
races above them, flying very close to the ground.
The three pilots turn then, and trudge onward toward their
X-wing fighters, each going to his own ship. Luke waves
farewell, then heads toward his own fighter.
Artoo, seated on his cubbyhole, chirps an excited greeting
as Luke climbs aboard the spacecraft.
LUKE Artoo! Get her ready for takeoff.
From his ship, Luke sees Wedge in his own X-wing, preparing
for takeoff.
WEDGE Good luck, Luke. See you at the rendezvous.
Luke smiles and nods at Wedge, then lowers himself into the
cockpit of his X-wing while Artoo wa its in the cubbyhole,
beeping impatiently.
LUKE Don't worry, Artoo. We're going, we're going.
The canopy over the X-wing lowers and snaps shut.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- LUKE'S X-WING
Luke's fighter, its wings closed, speeds away from the icy
planet. Soon it disappears into the stars.
INTERIOR LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT
Luke, looking thoughtful, suddenly makes a decision. He
flips several switches. The stars shift as he takes his
fighter into a steep turn. The X-wing banks sharply and flies
away in a new direction.
The monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out a
question from the concerned Artoo.
LUKE (into comlink) There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a
new course.
Artoo beeps once again.
LUKE (into comlink) We're not going to regroup with the others.
Artoo begins a protest, whistling an unbelieving, "What?!"
Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel.
LUKE (into comlink) W
e're going to the Dagobah system.
Luke checks his readouts and makes a few adjustments. He
rides along with only the soft hum of the instruments to break
the silence. Finally, Artoo chirps up.
LUKE (into comlink) Yes, Artoo?
Artoo utters a soft, carefully phrased steam of whistles.
LUKE (into comlink, chuckling) That's all right. I'd like to keep it
on manual control for a while.
The little droid lets out a defeated whimper. Luke smiles,
and continues on his course.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON
Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back Page 4