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.
EXTERIOR 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 Dagobah system?
BEN There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed
me.
The image of Ben fades, revealing a lone Tauntaun rider
approaching from the windswept horizon.
LUKE (groaning faintly) Ben...Ben.
Luke drops into unconsciousness.
Han pulls up and leaps off his mount. He hurries to his
snow-covered friend, cradling him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun
lets out a low, pitiful bellow. But Han's concern is with
Luke, and he shakes him urgently.
HAN Luke! Luke! Don't do this, Luke. Come on, give me a sign here.
Luke doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing and
slapping Luke's unconscious face. As he starts to lift the
youth, Han hears a rasping sound behind him. He turns, just in
time to see his Tauntaun stagger and then fall over into the
snow.
Han carries Luke to the moaning beast. Then, with a final
groan, the Tauntaun expires.
HAN Not much time.
He pushes Luke's inert form against the belly of the dead
beast.
LUKE (moaning) Ben...Ben...
HAN Hang on, kid.
LUKE Dagobah system...
Han ignites Luke's saber and cuts the beast from head to
toe. He quickly tosses it's steaming innards into the snow,
then lifts Luke's inert form and stuffs him inside the
carcass.
HAN (reeling from the odor) Whew...
LUKE Dagobah...
HAN This may smell bad, kid...
LUKE (moaning) Yoda...
HAN ...but it will keep you warm...til I get the shelter built.
(struggling to get Luke in the carcass) Ooh...I thought they smelled
bad on the outside!
The wind has picked up considerably, making it difficult to
move. Han removes a pack from the dead creature's back, taking
out a shelter container. He begins to set up what can only be
a pitiful protection against a bitter Hoth night.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- SNOWDRIFT -- DAWN
Four snub-nosed armored snowspeeders race across the white
landscape.
INTERIOR SNOWSPEEDER COCKPIT
There is only one pilot, Zev, in the enclosed two-man
craft. He concentrates on the scopes which ring his cockpit.
He hears a low beep from one of his monitors.
ZEV (into transmitter) Echo Base...I've got something! Not much, but
it could be a life form.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- SNOWDRIFT
The small craft banks and makes a slow arc, then races off
in a new direction.
INTERIOR SNOWSPEEDER -- COCKPIT
The pilot switches over to a new transmitter.
ZEV (into transmitter) This is Rouge Two. this is Rouge Two. Captain
Solo, so you copy? Commander Skywalker, do you copy? This is Rouge
Two.
There is a sharp crackle of static, then a faint voice.
HAN (filtered over Zev's receiver) Good morning. Nice of you guys to
drop by.
ZEV (switching transmitters) Echo Base...this is Rouge Two. I found
them. Repeat, I found them.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- SNOWDRIFT -- DAY
The small shelter Han set up is covered with snow on the
windward side. A makeshift antenna rests gingerly on top the
snowdrift. Han spots Zev's snowspeeder approaching in the
distance, and begins waving his arms frantically at the tiny
craft.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MEDICAL CENTER
Strange robot surgeons adjust a mass of electronic
equipment. A switch is thrown and a sudden blinding flash
obscures Luke in a bacta tank filled with a thick, gelatinous
slime. He begins to thrash about, raving in delirium.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MEDICAL CENTE R -- RECOVERY ROOM
Luke sits up in a recovery-room bed, weak but smiling. His
face shows terrible wounds from the Wampa's attack. Threepio
and Artoo enter the room.
THREEPIO Master Luke, sir, it's good to see you fully functional
again.
Artoo beeps his good wishes.
THREEPIO Artoo expresses his relief, also.
Han and Chewie make their entrance. The Wookiee growls a
greeting.
HAN How are you feeling, kid? You don't look so bad to me. In fact,
you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark.
LUKE Thanks to you.
HAN That's two you owe me, junior.
Han turns as Leia enters the room. He looks at her with a
big, devilish grin.
HAN Well your Worship, looks like you managed to keep me around for a
little while longer.
LEIA (haughtily) I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks
it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated
the energy shield.
HAN That's a good story. I think you just can't bear to let a
gorgeous guy like me out of your sight.
LEIA I don't know where you get you delusions, laser brain.
Chewie is amused; he laughs in his manner. Han, enjoying
himself, regards Chewie good-humoredly.
HAN Laugh it up, fuzz ball. But you didn't see us alone in the south
passage.
Luke sparks to this; he looks at Leia.
HAN She expressed her true feelings for me.
Leia is flushed, eyes darting between Luke and Han.
LEIA My...! Why, you stuck up,...half-witted,...scruffy-looking...
nerf-herder!
HAN Who's scruffy-looking? (to Luke) I must have hit her pretty close
to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?
Leia looks vulnerable for a moment, then the mask falls
again, and she focuses on Luke.
LEIA Why, I guess you don't know everything about women yet?
With that she leans over and kisses Luke on the lips. Then
she turns on her heel and walks out, leaving everyone in the
room slightly dumbstruck. With some smugness, Luke puts his
hands behind his head and grins.
Suddenly, in the distance, the muffled sound of an alarm is
heard.
ANNOUNCER (over loudspeaker) Headquarters personnel, report to command
center.
The voice repeats the order and Han, Chewie, Artoo, and
Threepio hurry out of the room, bidding farewell to Luke.
HAN Take it easy.
THREEPIO Excuse us, please.
INTERIOR HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND C
ENTER
Rieekan looks up grimly from a console screen. He calls
over to Leia and Han.
RIEEKAN Princess...we have a visitor.
The group hurries over to Rieekan.
RIEEKAN We've picked up something outside the base in zone twelve,
moving east.
SENIOR CONTROLLER It's metal.
LEIA Then it couldn't be one of those creatures that attacked Luke.
HAN It could be a speeder, one of ours.
SENIOR CONTROLLER No. Wait -- there's something very weak coming
through.
Threepio steps up to the control panel and listens intently
to the strange signal.
THREEPIO Sir, I am fluent in six million forms of communication. This
signal is not used by the Alliance. It could be an Imperial code.
The transmission ends in static.
HAN It isn't friendly, whatever it is. Come on, Chewie, let's check
it out.
RIEEKAN Send Rouges Ten and Eleven to station three-eight.
EXTERIOR HOTH -- SNOW PLAIN -- DAY
The dark probe robot moves past the smoldering ruins of
station three-eight and down a ridge toward the Rebel base. It
raises a large antenna from the top of its head and begins to
send out a piercing signal.
The probe droid has spotted Chewbacca who, not thirty feet
away, has popped his head over a snow bank. Instantly, the
probe robot swings around, its deadly ray ready to fire. But
before it can get a shot off, it is hit from behind by a laser
bolt, and explodes in a million pieces.
Han Solo replaces his blaster in its holster and peers
intently at the smoldering remains of the Imperial probe.
INTERIOR HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER
Leia and Rieekan listen to Han on the comlink.
HAN (over comlink) Afraid there's not much left.
LEIA (into comlink) What was it?
HAN (over comlink) Droid of some kind. I didn't hit it that hard. It
must have had a self-destruct.
LEIA (into comlink) An Imperial probe droid.
HAN (over comlink) It's a good bet the Empire knows we're here.
RIEEKAN We'd better start the evacuation.
EXTERIOR SPACE -- IMPERIAL FLEET
Darth Vader's Star Destroyer, larger and more awesome than
the five Imperial Star Destroyers that surround it, sits in
the vastness of space. The six huge ships are surrounded by a
convoy of smaller spacecraft. TIE fighters dart to and fro.
INTERIOR DARTH VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE -- MAIN CONTROL DECK
Controllers working the vast complex of electronic controls
hear ominous approaching footsteps and look up from their
controls. The squat, evil-looking Admiral Ozzel and the young,
powerfully built General Veers, who have been conferring near
the front, also feel the approaching presence and turn toward
it. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, enters like a chill wind.
As Vader moves across the wide bridge, Captain Piett hurries
up to Ozzel.
PIETT Admiral.
OZZEL Yes, Captain
PIETT I think we've got something, sir. The report is only a fragment
from a probe droid in the Hoth system, but it's the best lead we've
had.
OZZEL (irritated) We have thousands of probe droids searching the
galaxy. I want proof, not leads!
PIETT The visuals indicate life readings.
OZZEL It could mean anything. If we followed every lead...
PIETT But, sir, the Hoth system is supposed to be devoid of human
forms.
Vader moves to a large screen showing an image of the Rebel
snow base. Rebel speeders can be seen approaching the base in
the distance.
VADER You found something?
PIETT Yes, my lord.
VADER (studying the image on the console screen) That's it. The
Rebels are there.
OZZEL My lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be
smugglers, it could be...
VADER That is the system. And I'm sure Skywalker is with them. Set
INTERIOR HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- TRANSPORT BAY
A captain issues instructions to two of his men at the
entrance to the main transport bay. Several Rebel transports
behind them are being loaded by men carrying heavy boxes and
moving quickly, but not in panic.
REBEL CAPTAIN Groups seven and ten will stay behind to fly the
speeders. As soon as each transport is loaded, evacuation control will
give clearance for immediate launch.
REBEL FIGHTER Right, sir.
INTERIOR HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK
Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews, and droids rush to
their alert stations. Armored snowspeeders are lined up in
attack formation near the main entrance.
In the midst of all this activity, Han does some frantic
welding on the lifters of the Millennium Falcon.
Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He
pulls out his comlink, all the while eyeing problematic
lifters.
HAN (into comlink, to Chewie) Okay, that's it. Try it...Off! Turn it
off! Turn it off! Off!
Smoke rises from a minor explosion on the lifter.
Exasperated, Han surveys the new damage.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MEDICAL CENTER
Luke dresses in readiness for the evacuation as his
attending medical droid stands by.
MEDICAL DROID Sir, it will take quite awhile to evacuate the T-forty-
sevens.
LUKE Well, forget the heavy equipment. There's plenty of time to get
the smaller modules on the transports.
MEDICAL DROID Take care, sir.
LUKE Thanks.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK
Pilots, gunners, and R2 units scurry about. Luke, pulling
on his heavy-weather jacket, is headed toward a row of armored
speeders. He stops at the rear of the Millennium Falcon, where
Han and Chewie are trying to repair the right lifter with even
more haste than before.
LUKE Chewie, take care of yourself, okay?
As Luke pats Chewie on the arm, Chewie puts his arms around
Luke and gives him a tight hug. Han is discussing the lifter
with a repair droid when he sees Luke.
HAN Hi, kid. (to droid) There's got to be a reason for it. Check it
at the other end. Wait a second. (to Luke) You all right?
LUKE Yeah.
HAN Be careful.
LUKE You, too.
Luke smiles, then waves at his friend and walks on. After a
few steps, he stops and looks back. Han glances up and the two
exchange a silent communication, each wishing the other
safety, happiness -- many things, all difficult to verbalize.
INTERIOR REBEL BASE -- CONTROL ROOM.
Alarms sound throughout the hidden Rebel base. In the
control room, a controller urgently gestures for General
Rieekan to check a computer scan.
CONTROLLER General, there's a fleet of Star Destroyers coming out of
hyperspace in sector four.
RIEEKAN Reroute all power to the energy shield. We've got to hold
them till all transports are away. Prepare for ground assault.
Rieekan exits hurriedly.
INTERIOR VADE
R'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER -- MEDITATION CUBICLE
The dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light
which falls on the brooding Dark Lord as he sits on a raised
meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches
the silent, unmoving Vader. Although seemingly very sure of
himself, Veers is still not bold enough to interrupt the
meditating lord. The younger general stands quietly at
attention until the evil presence speaks.
VADER What is it, General?
VEERS My lord, the fleet has moves out of light-speed. Com-Scan has
detected an energy field protecting an area around the sixth planet of