The Millennium Falcon speeds away from Hoth, closely
followed by one huge Star Destroyer and four tiny TIE
fighters.
As it is pursued, the Falcon races toward two very bright
star-sized objects.
INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
Inside the cockpit, Chewie lets out a loud howl. Han checks
as the ship is buffeted by exploding flak. He appears to be
doing six things at once.
HAN (harried) I saw them! I saw them!
LEIA Saw what?
HAN Star Destroyers, two of them, coming right at us.
Threepio bumps and bangs his way into the cockpit.
THREEPIO Sir, sir! Might I suggest...
HAN (to Leia) Shut him up or shut him down! (to Chewie) Check the
deflector shield!
Chewie barks a reply as he readjusts an overhead switch.
HAN Oh, great. Well, we can still outmaneuver them.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- STAR DESTROYERS
The Millennium Falcon races toward one of the huge oncoming
Star Destroyers. Suddenly, the Falcon starts into a deep dive
straight down, closely followed by four TIE fighters. The
underside of the Star Destroyer continues on a collision
course with two oncoming Star Destroyers. Slowly, it starts
to veer to the left.
INTERIOR STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE
Out the front window, the two approaching Star Destroyers
can be seen veering to the left.
IMPERIAL OFFICER Take evasive action!
Alarms sound all over the huge ship. The two other Star
Destroyers get closer, one of them moving over the bridge so
close that it makes brushing contact with it.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- TIE FIGHTERS
The Millennium Falcon races away from the colliding Star
Destroyers, still followed by four TIE fighters. Laser bolts
spark the pitch-black skies.
INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
Things have calmed down a bit, but the race isn't over yet.
Chewie barks at Han. Leia is still trying to recover from the
steep dive. The ship is buffeted by laser blasts.
HAN Prepare to make the jump to light-speed.
THREEPIO But, sir!
The buffeting of lasers becomes louder and stronger.
LEIA They're getting closer!
HAN (with a gleam in his eye) Oh yeah? Watch this.
Expectantly, they look out the cockpit window as stars do
not go into hyperspace, but just sit there.
Han and Chewie look at each other and are thrown into an
acute state of concern.
LEIA Watch what?
Han tries again. Still nothing.
HAN I think we're in trouble.
THREEPIO If I may say so, sir, I noticed earlier the hyperdrive
motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to light-speed!
HAN We're in trouble!
The explosions become heavier.
EXTERIOR 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.
INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
Stars race by as flak bursts outside the Falcon's window.
INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD
Han works furiously at some control panels while giving
various orders to Chewie.
HAN Horizontal boosters...!
(Chewie barks)
HAN Alluvial dampers...! Well that's not it.
(Chewie barks)
HAN 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.
INTERIOR 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!
EXTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- STAR DESTROYER -- ASTEROID BELT
The massive Star Destroyer blasts oncoming asteroids as it
follows the Falcon. Smaller asteroids explode across its vast
surface.
EXTERIOR 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.
INTERIOR 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.
LEI
A 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 the big ones.
LEIA Closer?
THREEPIO Closer?!
Chewbacca barks the same word, only louder.
EXTERIOR 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.
INTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GIANT ASTEROID CRATER
The Millennium Falcon dives into the huge crater and
disappears.
INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
LEIA I hope you know what you're doing.
HAN Yeah, me too.
INTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR 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.
INTERIOR 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.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- DAGOBAH -- LUKE'S X-WING
The X-wing continues its flight through the twilight above
the cloud-covered planet.
INTERIOR 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.
LUKE (into comlink) I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't
see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...
The blast of the retrorockets is deafening, drowning out
Artoo's electronic squeals. Suddenly, there is a cracking
sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a
tremendous jolt as the spacecraft stops. Luke pulls a switch
and his canopy pops open.
EXTERIOR DAGOBAH -- DUSK
The mist-shrouded X-wing fighter is almost invisible in the
thick fog. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the
spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The
young warrior surveys the fog, which is barely pierced by the
ship's landing lights. About all he can make out are some
giant, twisted trees nearby. Artoo whistles anxiously.
LUKE No, Artoo, you stay put. I'll have a look around.
Artoo lets out a short beep. As Luke moves along the nose,
Artoo loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the
boggy lake.
LUKE Artoo?
Luke kneels and leans over the plane looking for Artoo, but
the water is still and reveals no sign of the little droid.
LUKE Artoo! Where are you?
A small periscope breaks the surface of the water and a
gurgly beep is heard. The periscope starts to move to shore.
Relieved, Luke starts running along the nose of the fighter to
its tip.
LUKE Artoo! You be more careful.
The outline of the shore is now more than ten feet away.
Luke jumps off the plane into the water, scrambles up to the
shore, and turns to look for Artoo. The periscope still
steadily moves toward shore.
LUKE Artoo -- that way!
Suddenly, through the thick fog layer, a dark shape
appears, moving toward the little droid. The dark, sinuous bog
beast dives beneath the swampy water, making a loud clunk
against Artoo's metal hull. The droid disappears from sight,
uttering a pathetic electronic scream.
Holding his ignited lightsaber before him, Luke wades a few
feet into the murky pool, looking for any sign of his little
friend.
LUKE Artoo!
The black surface is still as death itself...until a few
bubbles begin to appear. Then, phheewaat!! The runt-size robot
is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc, and comes
crashing down into a patch of soft gray moss.
LUKE Oh, no! Are you all right? Come on. You're lucky you don't taste
very good. Anything broken?
Luke helps Artoo to his feet and begins wiping the mud and
roots from his round metal body. Artoo responds with feeble,
soggy beeps.
LUKE If you're saying coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to
agree with you. Oh, Artoo, what are we doing here? It's like...
something out of a dream, or, I don't know. Maybe I'm just going
crazy.
As Luke glances around at the spooky swamp jungle that
surrounds him, Artoo ejects a stream of muddy water from one
of his cranial ports.
EXTERIOR VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER
Admiral Piett hesitates in the entryway to Vader's private
cubicle. After a moment, he steps into the room and pauses at
the surprising sight before him.
Darth Vader, his back turned, is silhouetted in the gloom
on the far side of the chamber. A black, insectlike droid
attends him. Among the various apparatuses surrounding them, a
respirator tube now retracts from Vader's uncovered head. The
head is bald with a mass of ugly scar tissue covering it. The
black droid then lowers the mask and helmet onto Vader's head.
When it
is in place, the Dark Lord turns to face Piett.
VADER Yes, Admiral?
PIETT Our ships have sighted the Millennium Falcon, lord. But...it
has entered an asteroid field and we cannot risk...
VADER (interrupting) Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want
that ship and not excuses.
PIETT Yes, lord.
EXTERIOR ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON
The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid
cave. It is so dark that the cave's exact dimensions are
impossible to determine.
INTERIOR MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT
Han and Chewie busily shut down the engine and all
electronic systems. Threepio and Leia watch worriedly.
Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back Page 5