We are the MOOMIES we do not Forgive we do not forget

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 braided 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
(cooly)
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'
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,
let's 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.


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 your
delusions, laser brain.

Chewie is amused; he laughs in his manner. Han, enjoying himself,
regards Chewie good-humoredly.

HAN
Laugh it up, fuzzball. 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 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.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

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 Rogues Ten and Eleven to
station three-eight.

EXT. 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.

INT. 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.

EXT. 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.

INT. 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 your
course for the Hoth system. General
Veers, prepare you men.

INT. 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.

INT. 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.

INT. 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 a while
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.

INT. 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.

INT. 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.

INT. VADER'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
the Hoth system. The field is
strong enough to deflect any
bombardment.

VADER
(angrily)
The Rebels are alerted to our
presence. Admiral Ozzel came out
of light-speed too close to the
system.

VEERS
He felt surprise was wiser...

VADER
He is as clumsy as he is stupid.
General, prepare your troops for a
surface attack.

VEERS
Yes, my lord.

Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large viewscreen
showing the bridge of his mighty ship. Admiral Ozzel appears on the
viewscreen, standing slightly in front of Captain Piett.

OZZEL
Lord Vader, the fleet has moved
out of light-speed, and we're
preparing to... Aaagh!

VADER
You have failed me for the last
time, Admiral. Captain Piett.

Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly confused,
touching his throat as it begins to constrict painfully.

PIETT
Yes, my lord.

VADER
Make ready to land out troops beyond
the energy shield and deploy the
fleet so that nothing gets off that
system. You are in command now,
Admiral Piett.

PIETT
Thank you, Lord Vader.

Piett's pleasure about his unexpected promotion is not an unmixed
emotion. He glances warily at the struggling Admiral Ozzel who, with a
final choke, stumbles and falls in a lifeless heap before him.

INT. REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

With a sense of urgency, Leia quickly briefs a group of pilots gathered
in the center of the hangar.

LEIA
All troop carriers will assemble
at the north entrance. The heavy
transport ships will leave as
soon as they're loaded. Only two
fighter escorts per ship. The
energy shield can only be opened
for a short time, so you'll have
to stay very close to your transports.

HOBBIE
Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?

LEIA
The ion cannon will fire several
shots to make sure that any enemy
ships will be out of your flight
path. When you've gotten past the
energy shield, proceed directly to
the rendezvous point. Understood?

PILOTS
(in unison)
Right. Okay.

LEIA
Good luck.

DERLIN
Okay. Everyone to your stations.
Let's go!

The pilots hurry away.

EXT. HOTH - ICE PLAIN - SNOW TRENCH - DAY

Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons and position them along
the snow trench. Men hurriedly respond to their officers' yelled
orders and brace themselves against the rhythmic gusts of bitter-cold
wind.

Other troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing its guns into
position.

EXT. HOTH - ICE PLAIN - POWER GENERATORS

Near the base power generators, troops rush to set up their heavy
battle equipment. Buzzing loudly, the generators send along, sparking
fingers of energy into the bitter Hoth wind.

INT. REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

The long line of Rebel controllers is tense, as are Princess Leia and
General Rieekan, who are trying very hard not to show any fear.

RIEEKAN
Their primary target will be the
power generators. Prepare to
open the shield.

EXT. ICE PLAIN

The Rebel transport and two escort fighters begin their departure from
the ice planet.

EXT. SPACE - IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER

A huge