The Empire Strikes Back

 

 

 

 

Story by                                      George Lucas

 

Screenplay by                              Leigh Brackett

                                                   Lawrence Kasdan

 

Produced by                                Gary Kurtz

 

Directed by                                 Irvin Kershner

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

Mark Hamill                              Luke Skywalker

Harrison Ford                           Han Solo

Carrie Fisher                             Princess Leia Organa

Billy Dee Williams                    Lando Calrissian

Anthony Daniels                        See-Threepio (C-3PO)

David Prowse                            Lord Darth Vader

Peter Mayhew                           Chewbacca

Kenny Baker                             Artoo-Deetoo R2-D2

Frank Oz                                   Yoda

Alec Guiness                             Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi

 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

 

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away...

 

It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has

been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from

their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.

Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters

led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote

ice world of Hoth.

The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker,

has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of

space..."

 

 

EXT. GALAXY – PLANET HOTH

 

A Star Destroyer moves through space, releasing Imperial probe robots from its underside. One of these probes zooms toward the planet Hoth and lands on its ice-covered surface. An explosion marks the point of

impact.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – METEORITE CRATER – SNOW PLAIN – DAY

 

A weird mechanical sound rises above the whining of the wind. A strange probe robot, with several extended sensors, emerges from the smoke-shrouded crater. The ominous mechanical probe floats across the snow plain and disappears into the distance.

 

 

EXT. PLAIN OF HOTH – DAY

 

A small figure gallops across the windswept ice slope. The bundled rider is mounted on a large gray snow lizard, a Tauntaun. Curving plumes of snow rise from beneath the speeding paws of the two-legged beast. The rider gallops up a slope and reins his lizard to a stop. Pulling off his protective goggles, Luke Skywalker notices something in the sky. He takes a pair of electrobinoculars from his utility belt and through them sees smoke rising from where the probe robot has crashed. The wind whips at Luke's fur-lined cap and he activates a comlink transmitter. His Tauntaun shifts and moans nervously beneath him.

 

LUKE

(into comlink)

Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you read me?

 

After a little static a familiar voice is heard.

 

HAN

(over comlink)

Loud and clear, kid. What's up?

 

LUKE

(into comlink)

Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any life readings.

 

HAN

(over comlink)

There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. The sensors are placed. I'm going back.

 

LUKE

(into comlink)

Right. I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out. It won't take long.

 

Luke clicks off his transmitter and reins back on his nervous lizard. He pats the beast on the head to calm it.

 

LUKE

Hey, steady girl. What's the matter? You smell something?

 

Luke takes a small device from his belt and starts to adjust it when suddenly a large shadow falls over him from behind. He hears a monstrous howl and turns to see an eleven-foot-tall shape towering over him. It is a Wampa Ice Creature, lunging at him ferociously.

 

LUKE

Aaargh!

 

Luke grabs for his pistol, but is hit flat in the face by a huge white claw. He falls unconscious into the snow and in a moment the terrified screams of the Tauntaun are cut short by the horrible snap of a neck being broken.

 

The Wampa Ice Creature grabs Luke by one ankle and drags him away across the frozen plain.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – REBEL BASE ENTRANCE – DAY

 

A stalwart figure rides his Tauntaun up to the entrance of an enormous ice cave.

 

 

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

Rebel troopers rush about unloading supplies and otherwise securing their new base. The rider, Han Solo, swings off his lizard and pulls off his goggles. He walks into the main hangar deck toward the Millennium Falcon, which is parked among several fighters. Mechanics, R2 units, and various other droids hurry about. Han stops at the Millennium Falcon where his Wookiee copilot, Chewbacca, is welding on a central lifter. Chewie stops his work and lifts his face shield, growling an irritated greeting to his boss.

 

HAN

Chewie!

 

The Wookiee grumbles a reply.

 

HAN

All right, don't lose your temper. I'll come right back and give you a hand.

 

Chewbacca puts his mask back on and returns to his welding as Han leaves.

 

 

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – COMMAND CENTER

 

A makeshift command center has been set up in a blasted area of thick ice. The low-ceilinged room is a beehive of activity. Controllers, troops, and droids move about setting up electronic equipment and monitoring radar signals. General Rieekan straightens up from a console at Han's approach.

 

RIEEKAN

Solo?

 

HAN

No sign of life out there, General. The sensors are in place. You'll know if anything comes around.

 

RIEEKAN

Commander Skywalker reported in yet?

 

HAN

No. He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him.

 

RIEEKAN

(indicates radar screen)

With all the meteor activity in this system, it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships.

 

Taking a deep breath, Han blurts out what is on his mind.

 

HAN

General, I've got to leave. I can't stay anymore.

 

Princess Leia, standing at a console nearby, is dressed in a short white combat jacket and pants. Her hair is brained and tied across her head in a Nordic fashion. She overhears their conversation and seems somewhat distressed.

 

RIEEKAN

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

HAN

Well, there's a price on my head. If I don't pay off Jabba the Hut, I'm a dead man.

 

RIEEKAN

A death mark's not an easy thing to live with. You're a good fighter, Solo. I hate to lose you.

 

HAN

Thank you, General.

 

He turns to Leia as Rieekan moves away.

 

HAN

(with feeling)

Well, Your Highness, I guess this is it.

 

LEIA

That's right.

 

Leia is angry. Han sees she has no warmth to offer him. He shakes his head and adopts a sarcastic tone.

 

HAN

(coolly)

Well, don't get all mushy on me. So long, Princess.

 

Han walks away into the quiet corridor adjoining the command center. Leia stews a moment, then hurries after him.

 

 

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – ICE CORRIDOR

 

LEIA

Han!

 

Han stops in the corridor and turns to face Leia.

 

HAN

Yes, Your Highnessness?

 

LEIA

I thought you decided to stay.

 

HAN

Well, the bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind.

 

LEIA

Han, we need you!

 

HAN

We?

 

LEIA

Yes.

 

HAN

Oh, what about you need?

 

LEIA

(mystified)

I need? I don't know what you're talking about.

 

HAN

(shakes his head, fed up)

You probably don't.

 

LEIA

And what precisely am I supposed to know?

 

HAN

Come on! You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me.

 

LEIA

Yes. You're a great help to us. You're a natural leader...

 

HAN

No! That's not it. Come on. Aahhh – uh huh! Come on.

 

Leia stares at him, understanding, then laughs.

 

LEIA

You're imagining things.

 

HAN

Am I? Then why are you following me? Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?

 

LEIA

I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee.

 

HAN

I can arrange that. You could use a good kiss!

 

Angrily, Han strides down the corridor as Leia stares after him.

 

 

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – ANOTHER ICE CORRIDOR

 

A familiar stream of beeps and whistles herald the approach of Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio, who appear around a corner and move along an ice wall toward the main hangar.

 

THREEPIO

Don't try to blame me. I didn't ask you to turn on the thermal heater. I merely commented that it was freezing in the princess's chamber. But it's supposed to be freezing. How are we going to dry out all her clothes? I really don't know.

 

Artoo beeps a stream of protesting whistles.

 

THREEPIO

Oh, switch off.

 

 

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – MAIN HANGAR DECK

 

The two robots stop at Han Solo's space freighter. Han and Chewie are struggling with their central lifters.

 

HAN

(to Chewie)

Why do you take this apart now? I'm trying to get us out of here and you pull both of these.

 

Chewie grumbles in irritation.

 

THREEPIO

Excuse me, sir.

 

HAN

(to Chewie)

Put them back together right now.

 

THREEPIO

Might I have a word with you, please?

 

HAN

What do you want?

 

THREEPIO

Well, it's Princess Leia, sir. She's been trying to get you on the communicator.

 

HAN

I turned it off. I don't want to talk to her.

 

THREEPIO

Oh. Well, Princess Leia is wondering about Master Luke. He hasn't come back yet. She doesn't know where he is.

 

HAN

I don't know where he is.

 

THREEPIO

Nobody knows where he is.

 

HAN

What do you mean, "nobody knows"?

 

Han glances at the fading light at the entrance of the ice cave as night slowly begins to fall on the planet.

 

THREEPIO

Well, uh, you see...

 

Han jumps down off the lift, as Threepio follows him.

 

HAN

Deck Officer. Deck Officer!

 

THREEPIO

Excuse me, sir. Might I inqu –

 

Han abruptly puts his hand over Threepio's mouth as the deck officer approaches.

 

DECK OFFICER

Yes, sir?

 

HAN

Do you know where Commander Skywalker is?

 

DECK OFFICER

I haven't seen him. It's possible he came in through the south entrance.

 

HAN

It's possible? Why don't you go find out? It's getting dark out there.

 

DECK OFFICER

Yes, sir.

 

The deck officer leaves hurriedly, as Han takes his hand off Threepio's mouth.

 

THREEPIO

Excuse me, sir. Might I inquire what's going on?

 

HAN

Why not?

 

THREEPIO

Impossible man. Come along, Artoo, lets find Princess Leia. Between ourselves, I think Master Luke is in considerable danger.

 

 

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – MAIN ICE TUNNEL

 

The deck officer and his assistant hurry toward Han as he enters the tunnel.

 

DECK OFFICER

Sir, Commander Skywalker hasn't come in through the south entrance. He might have forgotten to check in.

 

HAN

Not likely. Are the speeders ready?

 

DECK OFFICER

Not yet. We're having some trouble adapting them to the cold.

 

HAN

Then we'll have to go out on Tauntauns.

 

DECK OFFICER

Sir, the temperature's dropping too rapidly.

 

HAN

That's right. And my friends out in it.

 

ASSISTANT OFFICER

I'll cover sector twelve. Have com-control set screen alpha.

 

Han pushes through the troops and mounts a Tauntaun.

 

DECK OFFICER

Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first marker.

 

HAN

Then I'll see you in hell!

 

Han maneuvers his mount out of the cave and races into the dark bitter night.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – ICE GORGE – DUSK

 

The jagged face of a huge ice wall sits gloomily in the dim twilight of a Hoth day. Luke hangs upside down, ankles frozen into icy stalactites, his extended arms within a foot of the snow floor. One side of his face is covered in a dried mask of frozen blood. He opens his eyes as a chilling moan of the hideous ice creature echoes off the gorge walls. Luke pulls himself up, grabs hold of his ankles, and futilely tries to unfasten the throngs. Exhausted, he drops back into his hanging position. As he hangs there, he spies his lightsaber lying near a pile of his discarded gear, about three feet out of reach. He focuses on the saber and, as his hand strains toward the weapon, he squeezes his eyes tight in concentration. Just as the ice creature looms over Luke, the lightsaber jumps into Luke's hand. The young warrior instantly ignites his sword, swinging up, and cuts himself loose from the ice. He flops to the snow in a heap. The startled creature moves back, his giant yellow eyes blinking. Luke scrambles to his feet. He swings his lightsaber and the beast screams in pain.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – ENTRANCE TO ICE GORGE – DUSK

 

Luke staggers out of the gorge into the dark and snowy twilight. Weak and exhausted, he stumbles down a snow bank.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – SNOW PLAIN – DUSK

 

A small, lone figure riding a Tauntaun races through the hostile vastness of snow and cold. As it runs, the Tauntaun's legs kick up large clouds of snow and ice into the snowy air.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – OUTSIDE ICE HANGAR – DUSK

 

Artoo stands in the falling snow, beeping worriedly. Threepio moves stiffly over to him.

 

THREEPIO

You must come along now, Artoo. There's really nothing more we can do. And my joints are freezing up.

 

Artoo beeps, long and low.

 

THREEPIO

Don't say thing like that! Of course we'll see Master Luke again. He'll be quite all right, you'll see.

(to himself)

Stupid little short-circuit. He'll be quite all right.

 

Threepio turns to go back inside the main hangar as Artoo mournfully keeps his vigil.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – SNOW DRIFT – DUSK

 

The wind is blowing quite strong now. Luke struggles to stay upright, but a blast of freezing snow knocks him over. He struggles to get up, but he can't. The young warrior from Tatooine drags himself a couple of feet and then collapses.

 

 

INT. REBEL BASE – MAIN HANGAR DECK – ENTRANCE – NIGHT

 

Princess Leia stands inside the dark entrance to the Rebel base, waiting for a sign of the two Rebel heroes. She shivers in the cold wind as, nearby, Chewie sits with his head in his hands. In the background, Artoo and Threepio move through the doors.

 

A Rebel lieutenant moves to Major Derlin, an officer keeping watch with the princess.

 

LIEUTENANT

Sir, all the patrols are in. There's still no contact from Skywalker or Solo.

 

THREEPIO

Mistress Leia, Artoo says he's been quite unable to pick up any signals, although he does admit that his own range is far too weak to abandon all hope.

 

Leia nods an acknowledgment, but she is lost in thought.

 

DERLIN

Your Highness, there's nothing more we can do tonight. The shield doors must be closed.

 

He turns to the lieutenant.

 

DERLIN

Close the doors.

 

LIEUTENANT

Yes, sir.

 

The lieutenant walks away. Chewie lets out a long, mournful howl, somewhat like a coyote. At the same moment, Artoo begins a complex series of efficient beeps.

 

THREEPIO

Artoo says the chances of survival are seven hundred seventy-five...to one.

 

Leia stands praying to herself as the huge metal doors slam across the entrance of the ice cave. The loud booms echo throughout the huge cavern. Chewie lets out another suffering howl.

 

THREEPIO

Actually, Artoo has been known to make mistakes... from time to time. Oh, dear, oh, dear. Don't worry about Master Luke. I'm sure he'll be all right. He's quite clever, you know... for a human being.

 

 

EXT. HOTH – SNOW DRIFT – DUSK

 

Luke lies face down in the snow, nearly unconscious. Slowly he looks up and sees Ben Kenobi, barely visible through the blowing snow. It is hard to tell if Kenobi is real or a hallucination.

 

BEN

Luke... Luke.

 

LUKE

(weakly)

Ben?

 

BEN

You will go to the Dagobah system.

 

LUKE