EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

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.

LEIA: 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.

HAN: I'm going to shut down everything but the emergency power

systems.

THREEPIO: Sir, I'm almost afraid to ask, but...does that include

shutting me down, too?

Chewie barks "yes". But Han thinks otherwise.

HAN: No, I need you to talk to the Falcon, find out what's wrong with

the hyperdrive.

Suddenly, the ship lurches, causing all the loose items in

the cockpit to go flying. Chewie howls.

THREEPIO: Sir, it's quite possible this asteroid is not entirely

stable.

HAN: Not entirely stable? I'm glad you're here to tell us these

things. Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him into the

hyperdrive.

THREEPIO: Oh! Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior. After

all, I'm only trying to do my job in the most...

The sliding door closes behind the indignant Threepio as

Chewie and he move back to the hold. Suddenly, the ship

lurches again, throwing Leia across the cabin into Han's arms.

Then, abruptly, the motion stops as suddenly as it started.

With some surprise, Han and Leia realize they are in each

other's arms.

LEIA: Let go.

HAN: Sshh!

LEIA: Let go, please.

Leia flushes, averting her eyes. She's not exactly fighting

to get free. But, of course, Han blows it...

HAN: Don't get excited.

The anger rises in Leia.

LEIA: Captain, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited.

HAN: Sorry, sweetheart. We haven't got time for anything else.

Han grins quickly wickedly at Leia as he turns and exits

through the door. Leia's confused emotions show clearly on her

lovely face.

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- BOG CLEARING -- DUSK

The mist has dispersed a bit, but it is still a very

gloomy-looking swamp.

Luke pulls an equipment box from the shore to the clearing.

He ignites a little fusion furnace and warms his hands before

it. Taking a power cable, he plugs it into Artoo's noselike

socket.

LUKE: Ready for some power? Okay. Let's see now. Put that in there.

There you go.

The droid whistles his appreciation. Luke then opens a

container of processed food and sits before the thermal

heater.

LUKE: (sighs) Now all I have to do is find this Yoda...if he even

exists.

Nervously, he looks around at the foreboding jungle.

LUKE: Still...there's something familiar about this place. I feel

like...I don't know...

STRANGE VOICE: Feel like what?

Luke jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The

young warrior grabs for his lightsaber as he spins around,

looking for the speaker. Mysteriously standing right in front

of Luke is a strange, bluish creature, not more than two feet

tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions

toward Luke's sword.

LUKE: (looking at the creature) Like we're being watched!

CREATURE: Away with your weapon! I mean you no harm.

After some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although

he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest.

CREATURE: I am wondering, why are you here?

LUKE: I'm looking for someone.

CREATURE: Looking? Found someone, you have, I would say, hmmm?

The little creature laughs.

LUKE: (Trying to keep from smiling) Right.

CREATURE: Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.

LUKE: I don't think so. I'm looking for a great warrior.

CREATURE: Ahhh! A great warrior. (laughs and shakes his head) Wars not

make one great.

With the aid of a walking stick, the tiny stranger moves

over to one of the cases of supplies. He begins to rummage

around.

Artoo moves to the edge of the case -- standing almost eye

level to the creature who is carelessly handling the supplies

-- and squeaks his disapproval.

Their tiny visitor pick up the container of food Luke was

eating from and takes a bite.

LUKE: Put that down. Hey! That's my dinner.

The creature spits out the bite he has taken. He makes a

face.

CREATURE: How you get so big, eating food of this kind?

He flips the container in Luke's direction and reaches into

one of Luke's supply cases.

LUKE: Listen, friend, we didn't mean to land in that puddle, and if we

could get our ship out, we would, but we can't, so why don't you

just...

CREATURE: (teasing) Aww, cannot get your ship out?

The creature spots something of interest in Luke's case.

Luke loses patience and grabs the case away. The creature

retains his prize -- a tiny power lamp -- and examines it with

delight.

LUKE: Hey, you could have broken this. Don't do that. Ohhh...you're

making a mess. Hey, give me that!

CREATURE: (retreating with the lamp) Mine! Or I will help you not.

Clutching its treasure, the creature backs away from Luke,

drawing closer to Artoo. As Luke and the creature argue, one

of Artoo's little arms slowly moves out toward the power lamp,

completely unnoticed by the creature.

LUKE: I don't want your help. I want my lamp back. I'll need it to get

out of this slimy mudhole.

CREATURE: Mudhole? Slimy? My home this is.

Artoo grabs hold of the lamp and the two little figures are

immediately engaged in a tug-of-war over it.

Artoo beeps a few angry, "Give me thats."

CREATURE: Ah, ah, ah!

LUKE: Oh, Artoo, let him have it.

CREATURE: Mine! Mine!

LUKE: Artoo!

CREATURE: Mine!

The creature lets go with one hand and pokes Artoo lightly

with one finger. Artoo reacts with a startled squeal, and lets

go.

CREATURE: Mine!

LUKE: (fed up) Now will you move along, little fella? We're got a lot

of work to do.

CREATURE: No! No, no! Stay and help you, I will. (laughs) Find your

friend, hmm?

LUKE: I'm not looking for a friend, I'm looking for a Jedi Master.

CREATURE: Oohhh. Jedi Master. Yoda. You seek Yoda.

LUKE: You know him?

CREATURE: Mmm. Take you to him, I will. (laughs) Yes, yes. But now, we

must eat. Come. Good food. Come.

With that, the creature scurries out of the clearing,

laughing merrily. Luke stares after him. All he sees is the

faint light from the small power lamp moving through the fog.

Luke makes his decision and starts after the creature.

CREATURE: (in the distance) Come, come.

Artoo, very upset, whistles a blue streak of protest.

LUKE: Stay here and watch after the camp, Artoo.

Artoo beeps even more frantically. But as Luke disappears

from view, the worried little droid grows quieter, and utters

a soft electronic sigh.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- MAIN HOLD AREA

Threepio whistles and beeps a strange dialect into the

control panel in front of him. The control panel whistles back

a few mystifying beeps.

THREEPIO: Oh, where is Artoo when I need him?

Han enters the hold area and kneels on the floor near the

control box.

THREEPIO: Sir, I don't know where your ship learned to communicate,

but it has the most peculiar dialect. I believe, sir, it says that the

power coupling on the negative axis has been polarized. I'm afraid

you'll have to replace it.

HAN: Well, of course I'll have to replace it.

He hands a wire coil up to Chewie who is working near the

ceiling.

HAN: Here! And Chewie...

Chewie brings his head back through the trap door in the

ceiling and whines. Han glances back at Threepio, then speaks

quietly to Chewie so only he can hear.

HAN: (continued)...I think we'd better replace the negative power

coupling.

Leia finishes welding the valves she has been working on

and attempts to reengage the system by pulling a lever

attached to the valve. It doesn't budge. Han notices her

struggle, and moves to help her. She rebuffs him.

HAN: Hey, Your Worship, I'm only trying to help.

LEIA: (still struggling) Would you please stop calling me that?

Han hears a new tone in her voice. He watches her pull on

the lever.

HAN: Sure, Leia.

LEIA: Oh, you make it so difficult sometimes.

HAN: I do, I really do. You could be a little nicer, though. (he

watches her reaction) Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I'm all

right.

She lets go of the lever and rubs her sore hand.

LEIA: Occasionally (a little smile, haltingly) maybe...when you aren't

acting like a scoundrel.

HAN: (laughs) Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that.

With that, Han takes her hand and starts to massage it.

LEIA: Stop that.

HAN: Stop what?

Leia is flushes, confused.

LEIA: Stop that! My hands are dirty.

HAN: My hands are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?

LEIA: (looking right into his eyes) Afraid?

Han looks at her with a piercing look. He's never looked

more handsome, more dashing, more confident. He reaches out

slowly and takes Leia's hand again from where it is resting

on a console. He draws it toward him.

HAN: You're trembling.

LEIA: I'm not trembling.

Then with an irresistible combination of physical strength

and emotional power, the space pirate begins to draw Leia

toward him...very slowly.

HAN: You like me because I'm a scoundrel. There aren't enough

scoundrels in your life.

Leia is now very close to Han and as she speaks, her voice

becomes an excited whisper, a tone completely in opposition to

her words.

LEIA: I happen to like nice men.

HAN: I'm a nice man.

LEIA: No, you're not. You're...

He kisses her now, with slow, hot lips. He takes his time,

as though he had forever, bending her body backward. She has

never been kissed like this before, and it almost makes her

faint. When he stops, she regains her breath and tries to work

up some indignation, but finds it hard to talk.

Suddenly, Threepio appears in the doorway, speaking

excitedly.

THREEPIO: Sir, sir! I've isolated the reverse power flux coupling.

Han turns slowly, icily, from their embrace.

HAN: Thank you. Thank you very much.

THREEPIO: Oh, you're perfectly welcome, sir.

The moment spoiled, Han marches out after Threepio.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- ASTEROID FIELD

The Imperial fleet moves through the asteroid-filled void,

intently seeking its prey.

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

Asteroids collide, creating a fireworks display outside the

bridge window. Darth Vader stands, staring out the window

above the control deck. Then slowly turns toward the bridge.

Before him are the hologram images of twenty battleship

commanders. One of these images, the commander of a ship that

has just exploded, is fading away quickly. Another image, in

the center and a little apart from the others, is faded and

continually disrupted by static. It is the image of Captain

Needa, commander of the Star Destroyer most hotly on the tail

of the Millennium Falcon. Admiral Piett and an aide stand

behind the Dark Lord.

NEEDA: (in hologram)...and that, Lord Vader, was the last time they

appeared in any of our scopes. Considering the amount of damage we've

sustained, they must have been destroyed.

VADER: No, Captain, they're alive. I want every ship available to

sweep the asteroid field until they are found.

The Imperial star captains fade out one by one as Vader

turns to Admiral Piett.

PIETT: Lord Vader.

VADER: Yes, Admiral, what is it?

The admiral is scared, his face white as a sheet.

PIETT: The Emperor commands you make contact with him.

VADER: Move the ship out of the asteroid field so that we can send a

clear transmission.

PIETT: Yes, my lord.

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID FIELD -- VADER'S STAR DESTROYER

Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer moves against the vast sea

of stars away from the rest of the fleet.

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER

The Dark Lord, Darth Vader, is alone in his chamber. A

strange sound enters the room and a light begins to play

across Vader's black figure. He looks up and bows quickly.

A twelve-foot hologram of the Galactic Emperor materializes

before Vader. The Emperor's dark robes and monk's hood are

reminiscent of the cloak worn by Ben Kenobi. His voice is even

deeper and more frightening than Vader's.

VADER: What is thy bidding, my master?

EMPEROR: There is a great disturbance in the Force.

VADER: I have felt it.

EMPEROR: We have a new enemy -- Luke Skywalker.

VADER: Yes, my master.

EMPEROR: He could destroy us.

VADER: He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him.

EMPEROR: The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not

become a Jedi.

VADER: If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally.

EMPEROR: Yes. Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?

VADER: He will join us or die, my master.

Vader kneels. The supreme Emperor passes a hand over the

crouched Lord of the Sith and fades away.

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- CREATURE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

A heavy downpour of rain pounds through the gnarled trees.

A strange baroque mud house sits on a moss-covered knoll on

the edge of a small lagoon. The small, gnomish structure

radiates a warm glow from its thick glass windows. As rain

tap-dances a merry tune on Artoo's head, the stubby little

droid rises up on his tip-toes to peek into one of the glowing

portals.

INTERIOR: CREATURE'S HOUSE

Artoo, peeking in the window, sees the inside of the house

-- a very plain, but cozy dwelling. Everything is in the same

small scale as the creature. The only thing out of place in

the miniature room is Luke, whose height makes the four-foot

ceiling seem even lower. He sits cross-legged on the floor of

the living room.

The creature is in an adjoining area -- his little kitchen

-- cooking up an incredible meal. The stove is a steaming

hodgepodge of pots and pans. The wizened little host scurries

about chopping this, shredding that, and showering everything

with exotic herbs and spices. He rushes back and forth putting

platters on the table in front of Luke, who watches the

creature impatiently.

LUKE: Look, I'm sure it's delicious. I just don't understand why we

can't see Yoda now.

CREATURE: Patience! For the Jedi it is time to eat as well. Eat, eat.

Hot. Good food, hm? Good, hmm?

Moving with some difficulty in the cramped quarters, Luke

sits down near the fire and serves himself from the pot.

Tasting the unfamiliar concoction, he is pleasantly surprised.

LUKE: How far away is Yoda? Will it take us long to get there?

CREATURE: Not far. Yoda not far. Patience. Soon you will be with him.

(tasting food from the pot) Rootleaf, I cook. Why wish you become

Jedi? Hm?

LUKE: Mostly because of my father, I guess.

CREATURE: Ah, your father. Powerful Jedi was he, powerful Jedi, mmm.

LUKE: (a little angry) Oh, come on. How could you know my father? You

don't even know who I am. (fed up) Oh, I don't even know what I'm

doing here. We're wasting our time.

The creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third

party.

CREATURE: (irritated) I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience.

Luke's head spins in the direction the creature faces. But

there is no one there. The boy is bewildered, but it gradually

dawns on him that the little creature is Yoda, the Jedi

Master, and that he is speaking with Ben.

BEN'S VOICE: He will learn patience.

YODA: Hmmm. Much anger in him, like his father.

BEN'S VOICE: Was I any different when you taught me?

YODA: Hah. He is not ready.

LUKE: Yoda! I am ready. I...Ben! I can be a Jedi. Ben, tell him I'm

ready.

Trying to see Ben, Luke starts to get up but hits his head

on the low ceiling.

YODA: Ready, are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years

have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be

trained! A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious

mind. (to the invisible Ben, indicating Luke) This one a long time

have I watched. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was

doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these

things. (turning to Luke) You are reckless!

Luke looks down. He knows it is true.

BEN'S VOICE: So was I, if you'll remember.

YODA: He is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training.

Luke thinks he detects a subtle softening in Yoda's voice.

LUKE: But I've learned so much.

Yoda turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi

Master's huge eyes could somehow determine how much the boy

had learned. After a long moment, the little Jedi turns toward

where he alone sees Ben.

YODA: (sighs) Will he finished what he begins?

LUKE: I won't fail you -- I'm not afraid.

YODA: (turns slowly toward him) Oh, you will be. You will be.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- STAR DESTROYERS -- ASTEROID FIELD

The Imperial fleet around Vader's ship is surrounded by the

asteroid storm. Asteroids big and small pelt the vast

exteriors of the menacing ships. One of the smaller Imperial

vessels is hit by a huge asteroid and explodes in a brilliant

flash of light.

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

The cockpit is quiet and lit only by the indicator lights

on the control panel. Princess Leia sits in the pilot's seat.

She runs her hand across the control panel as she thinks of

Han and the confusion he has created within her. Suddenly,

something outside the cockpit window catches her eye. The

reflection of the panel lights obscures her vision until a

soft suctionlike cup attaches itself to the windscreen. Leia

moves closer to see what it might be. Large, yellow eyes flash

open and stare back at her. Startled, she jumps back into her

seat, her heart pounding. There is a scurry of feet and a loud

screech, and in an instant the eyes are gone. The young

princess catches her breath, jumps out of her chair, and races

from the cockpit.

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD AREA

The lights go bright for a second then out again. Threepio

and Chewbacca watch as Han finishes with some wires.

THREEPIO: Sir, if I may venture an opinion...

HAN: I'm not really interested in your opinion, Threepio.

Leia rushes into the cabin just as Han drops the final

floor panel into place.

LEIA: (out of breath) There's something out there.

HAN: Where?

LEIA: Outside, in the cave.

As she speaks, there comes a sharp banging on the hull.

Chewie looks up and barks anxiously.

THREEPIO: There it is. Listen! Listen!

HAN: I'm going out there.

LEIA: Are you crazy?!

HAN: I just got this bucket back together. I'm not going to let

something tear it apart.

He and Chewie grab their breath masks off a rack and hurry

out. Leia follows.

LEIA: Then I'm going with you.

THREEPIO: I think it might be better if I stay here and guard the

ship. (hears another mysterious noise) Oh, no.

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

It is very dark inside the huge asteroid cave, too dark to

see what is attacking the ship.

Leia stamps her foot on the floor of the cave.

LEIA: This ground sure feels strange. It doesn't feel like rock at

all.

Han kneels and studies the ground, then attempts to study

the outline of the cave.

HAN: There's an awful lot of moisture in here.

LEIA: I don't know. I have a bad feeling about this.

HAN: Yeah.

Chewie barks through his face mask, and points toward the

ship's cockpit. A five-foot-long shape can be seen moving

across the top of the Falcon. The leathery creature lets out a

screech as Han blasts it with a laser bolt.

HAN: (to Leia) Watch out!

The black shape tumbles off the spaceship and onto the

ground in front of the princess. Han bends down to investigate

the dead creature.

HAN: Yeah, that's what I thought. Mynock. Chewie, check the rest of

the ship, make sure there aren't any more attached. They're chewing on

the power cables.

LEIA: Mynocks?

HAN: Go on inside. We'll clean them off if there are any more.

Just then, a swarm of the ugly creatures swoops through the

air. Leia puts her arms over her head to protect herself as

she runs toward the ship. Chewie shoos another Mynock away

with his blaster. Several of the batlike creatures flap their

wings loudly against the cockpit window of the Falcon. Inside,

Threepio shudders at their presence.

THREEPIO: Ohhh! Go away! Go away! Beastly thing. Shoo! Shoo!

Han looks around the strange, dripping cave.

HAN: Wait a minute...

He unholsters his blaster and fires at the far side of the

huge cave. The cavern begins to shake and the ground starts to

buckle.

Chewie barks and moves for the ship, followed closely by

Leia and Han. The large wings of the Mynocks flap past them as

they protect their faces and run up the platform.

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- ENTRY AREA

As soon as Han and Leia are on board, Chewie closes the

main hatch. The ship continues to shake and heave.

HAN: All right, Chewie, let's get out of here!

The Wookiee heads for the cockpit as Han, followed by

Threepio, rushes to the hold area and checks the scopes on the

control panel. Leia hurries after.

LEIA: The Empire is still out there. I don't think it's wise to...

Han rushes past her and heads for the cockpit.

HAN: (interrupting) No time to discuss this as a committee.

And with that he is gone. The main engines of the Falcon

begin to whine. Leia races after him, bouncing around in the

shaking ship.

LEIA: (angry) I am not a committee!

INTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

Han is already in the pilot's seat pulling back on the

throttle. The cave-quake has greatly diminished.

LEIA: You can't make the jump to light-speed in this asteroid field...

HAN: Sit down, sweetheart. We're taking off!

As the ship begins to move forward, Chewie barks. He

notices something out the window ahead. Threepio sees it too.

THREEPIO: Look!

HAN: I see it, I see it.

Suddenly, a row of jagged white stalagmites and stalactites

can be seen surrounding the entrance. And as the Falcon moves

forward, the entrance to the cave grows ever smaller. Han

pulls hard on the throttle, sending his ship surging forward.

THREEPIO: We're doomed!

LEIA: The cave is collapsing.

HAN: This is no cave.

LEIA: What?

Leia's mouth drops open . She sees that the rocks of the

cave entrance are not rocks at all, but giant teeth, quickly

closing around the tiny ship. Chewie howls.

INTERIOR: SPACE SLUG MOUTH

The Millennium Falcon, zooming through the monster's mouth,

rolls on its side and barely makes it between two of the

gigantic white teeth before the huge jaws slams closed.

EXTERIOR: CAVE ENTRANCE -- GIANT ASTEROID

The enormous space slug moves its head out of the cave as

the Falcon flies out of its mouth. The monster tilts its head,

watching the starship fly away.

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GIANT ASTEROID

The Falcon races out of the asteroid crater and into the

deadly rain of the asteroid storm.

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- DAY

With Yoda strapped to his back, Luke climbs up one of the

many thick vines that grow in the swamp. Panting heavily, he

continues his course -- climbing, flipping through the air,

jumping over roots, and racing in and out of the heavy ground

fog.

YODA: Run! Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of

the dark side. Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force

are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you

start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny,

consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

LUKE: Vader. Is the dark side stronger?

YODA: No...no...no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.

LUKE: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?

YODA: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses

the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

LUKE: But tell me why I can't...

YODA: (interrupting) No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I

teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmm.

Artoo beeps in the distance as Luke lets Yoda down to the

ground. Breathing heavily, he takes his shirt from a nearby

tree branch and pulls it on.

He turns to see a huge, dead, black tree, its base

surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots form a

dark and sinister cave on one side. Luke stares at the tree,

trembling.

LUKE: There's something not right here.

Yoda sits on a large root, poking his Gimer Stick into the

dirt.

LUKE: I feel cold, death.

YODA: That place...is strong with the dark side of the Force. A domain

of evil it is. In you must go.

LUKE: What's in there?

YODA: Only what you take with you.

Luke looks warily between the tree and Yoda. He starts to

strap on his weapon belt.

YODA: Your weapons...you will not need them.

Luke gives the tree a long look, than shakes his head "no."

Yoda shrugs. Luke reaches up to brush aside some hanging vines

and enters the tree.

INTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- TREE CAVE

Luke moves into the almost total darkness of the wet and

slimy cave. The youth can barely make out the edge of the

passage. Holding his lit saber before him, he sees a lizard

crawling up the side of the cave and a snake wrapped around

the branches of a tree. Luke draws a deep breath, then pushes

deeper into the cave.

The space widens around him, but he feels that rather than

sees it. His sword casts the only light as he peers into the

darkness. It is very quiet here.

Then, a loud hiss! Darth Vader appears across the

blackness, illuminated by his own just-ignited laser sword.

Immediately, he charges Luke, saber held high. He is upon the

youth in seconds, but Luke sidesteps perfectly and slashes at

Vader with his sword.

Vader is decapitated. His helmet-encased head flies from

his shoulders as his body disappears into the darkness. The

metallic banging of the helmet fills the cave as Vader's head

spins and bounces, smashes on the floor, and finally stops.

For an instant it rests on the floor, then it cracks

vertically. The black helmet and breath mask fall away to

reveal...Luke's head.

Across the space, the standing Luke gasps at the sight,

wide-eyed in terror.

The decapitated head fades away, as in a vision.

EXTERIOR: DAGOBAH -- CAVE -- DUSK

Meanwhile, Yoda sits on the root, calmly leaning on his

Gimer Stick.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- VADER'S STAR DESTROYER

Vader's Imperial Star Destroyer moves through space,

guarded by its convoy of TIE fighters.

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE -- CONTROL DECK

Vader stands in the back control area of his ship's bridge

with a motley group of men and creatures. Admiral Piett and

two controllers stand at the front of the bridge and watch the

group with scorn.

PIETT: Bounty hunters. We don't need that scum.

FIRST CONTROLLER: Yes, sir.

PIETT: Those Rebels won't escape us.

A second controller interrupts.

SECOND CONTROLLER: Sir, we have a priority signal from the Star

Destroyer Avenger.

PIETT: Right.

The group standing before Vader is a bizarre array of

galactic fortune hunters: There is Bossk, a slimy, tentacled

monster with two huge, bloodshot eyes in a soft baggy face;

Zuckuss and Dengar, two battle-scarred, mangy human types;

IG-88, a battered, tarnished chrome war droid; and Boba Fett,

a man in a weapon-covered armored spac