Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

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THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Written by

Lawrence Kasdan

and

Leigh Brackett

From a story by George Lucas

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.

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