STAR WARS: DARK EMPIRE

AUDIO ADAPTATION TRANSCRIPT

Based on an audio adaptation of "Star Wars: Dark Empire," a
six-issue comic book miniseries published by Dark Horse
Comics in 1991. Audio Adaptation produced by Highbridge
Audio, Inc.

Comic version written by Tom Veitch

Audio version adapted by John Whitman

A long time ago,

in a galaxy far, far
away......

NARRATOR: Star Wars: Dark Empire.

Music: Star Wars Main Theme.

NARRATOR:

Following the deaths of Darth Vader and the Emperor and the
destruction of the second Death Star, the Rebel Alliance
proclaimed a New Republic over three-fourths of the galaxy.
But without the thousands of Jedi Knights who formed the
backbone of the Old Republic, the new confederation was a
precarious one. Long years of struggle followed, during
which Imperial factions gained control over a fourth of the
Galaxy. Whole systems became fortresses, bristling with
firepower.

Then, five years after the Battle of Endor, the infamous

Grand Admiral Thrawn mounted a terrible assault, nearly
bringing the fledgling Republic to its knees. Ultimately,
Thrawn was defeated. But within days of his downfall,
surviving members of the Emperor's Ruling Circle staged a
stunning assault on the Emperor's throneworld, a planet
called Coruscant, and that vital system once again fell
under Imperial control.
It seemed certain that a new Empire was about to emerge from
the ashes of the old. That very possibility triggered a
ferocious civil war among the numerous Imperial factions.
Who would sit in the Emperor's throne? Who had the right--
and the might?

Meanwhile, the Rebels were quick to seize the opportunity to

sow confusion among the feuding Imperials, using two
captured Star Destroyers to stage hit-and-run sorties into
the war zones.
One such raid, over the raging Imperial City battleground,
ended in disaster: The Alliance Star Destroyer Liberator,
commanded by Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian, crash-
landed on the planet's surface. As our story opens, Princess
Leia Organa and her husband Han Solo have left their two
children in safekeeping, and together with the Wookiee
Chewbacca and the protocol droid C3P0, are on a daring
mission to rescue their fallen comrades.....

SCENE 1-1 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

=====================================================
Sound: The roar of the Falcon's engines. An alarm goes off.

LEIA: Han, the navicomputer just reported extreme turbulence

at our reentry coordinates over the Imperial City!

HAN: That'll be battle debris, Leia! The whole Imperial

sector is littered with it! Warn the other ships!

Sound: Intercom activates.

LEIA: This is the Millenium Falcon. Rebel Star, Antares Six,

do you copy?

CAPTAIN SNUNB: We copy you, Millenium Falcon. Antares Six

here.

CAPTAIN NEVA: Rebel Star here, over.

LEIA: We're coming up on some spatial distortions ahead. Our

scanners show lots of orbital wreckage. Stay sharp--those
big Frigates you're flying aren't as manueverable as the
Falcon.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: We copy that, Falcon. We're right behind you.

HAN: Chewie, get ready to cut in the sublight engines.

Energize repulsorlifts. Prepare to exit hyperspace.

CHEWBACCA: ROARS IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

THREEPIO: Sir, the odds of collision with that amount of

spacial debris are 3,722 to 1....if I may suggest--

HAN:Chewie, watch your thrusters!

CHEWBACCA: ROARS.

HAN: And remind me to crosswire Threepio's voice synthesizer

when we get back to base.

THREEPIO: But sir, if I may say so--

LEIA: Threepio, sit down! Five seconds to reentry!

Four.....three....two.....

Sound: The Falcon leaves hyperspace.

HAN: Starship wreckage dead ahead!! Bank right!

Sound: The Falcon swerves to avoid collision.

CHEWBACCA: GRUMBLES.
HAN: I see it, I see it, Chewie. Lucky I just brought the
Falcon's thrusters up to maximum specs, or we'd be sliced
and diced like space slugs in a servo.

LEIA: (awed) There must be hundreds of wrecked ships out

here. The battle must have been incredible.

HAN: Leia, the other ships are coming out of hyperspace.

Those big Frigates'll never get through this wreckage.

Sound: Leia activates the intercom again.

LEIA: Rebel Star, Antares Six, this is the Falcon. There is

too much debris here. Come around to 02. That's 02. You'll
find a gap in the wreckage.

CAPTAIN NEVA: Negative, Millenium Falcon. We can make it, we

can--

REBEL STAR OFFICER: Watch it--Maximum thrust!! HARD LEFT,

HARD LEFT---

Sound: A massive explosion as the Rebel Star collides with a

wreck and is blown to bits.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: Millenium Falcon, Rebel Star just vanished in

a ball of flame.....

LEIA: Captain Neva's Frigate is hit!

HAN: We've got to go back and help them--

LEIA: (distant) It's too late......none of them survived.

HAN: Are you sure?

LEIA: Han.......I feel it. Through the Force. I'm sure.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: Millenium Falcon, this is Antares Six. We'll

stay and look for survivors. You go ahead after the others.

HAN: Stand by, Antares Six. (turns off intercom.) Just

great. Luke crashes a captured Star Destroyer, and we just
lost a good Frigate crew....I knew this trip was a bad idea.

LEIA: Han....

HAN: What we really ought to do is take the Falcon out

towards the Galactic Core and investigate those rumors of
superweapons coming out of the Imperial sector.

LEIA: They sent Admiral Ackbar to do that, Han. Besides,

those are just rumors. Luke and Lando are in real trouble.

HAN: They don't need us! If I know those guys, right about
now they've got the Imperials doing the Gamorrean two-step!

LEIA: Han, we lost their signal! The distress beacon broke

contact at zero altitude!!

CHEWBACCA: ROARS.

HAN: Yeah, Chewie, you're right. You're both right. I'm

sorry I shot off my big mouth. (activates intercom.) Solo to
Antares Six. Establish a docking orbit and prepare to search
for survivors....we're going planetside.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: Copy that, General Solo. We'll keep you on

our tracking screens. Good luck looking for Commander
Skywalker.

HAN: Yeah, wherever he is.

Sound: The Falcon roars towards Coruscant.

SCENE I-2 INT. EMPEROR'S PALACE

==================================================
Sound: Crunching rock and effort as Luke frees a doorway in
the Imperial Palace.

LUKE: There. It's open.

ARTOO: WHISTLES A BRIEF QUERY.

LUKE: Yes Artoo, just as I thought. Some sort of secret

passageway, leading down from the Imperial Palace.

Sound: Luke begins to walk (and Artoo to roll).

LUKE: In all the years the Rebels occupied Coruscant, I

can't believe we never found this chamber.

ARTOO: BEEPS OUT "WHEN?" .

LUKE: Probably during the civil war. A laser blast or

concussion cannon--probably destroyed this whole panel. It's
dark......so dark........

ARTOO: SUGGESTS USING HIS LIGHTS.

LUKE: No thanks, Artoo. But it's not that kind of darkness.

There's something.....something powerful here. Something
dangerous, too. Artoo, lock that door into position.
Whatever was down here was well hidden and well shielded.
That's why I told Lando not to follow us.

ARTOO: PROTESTS.

LUKE: I know you don't detect any life-forms. These are the
ruins.....of the Emperor's Palace. It's been pretty much
deserted since we evacuated during the civil war. (shivers)
No, these are more like dangerous memories. Memories of.....

Sound: A door opens automatically.

LUKE:....my father.

ARTOO: BLEEPS IN SURPRISE.

LUKE: Yes, Artoo. Anakin Skywalker. But if he ever lived

here, he did so as Darth Vader. This whole place is......it
resonates with the power of the Dark Side. Stay here, Artoo.
See if you can power up that tech station. And get us some
light! I've got to have a look around.

Sound: Artoo rolls off as Luke begins to walk around the

chamber.

LUKE: (more to himself than Artoo) I can still feel the Dark
Side here. Like a cold hand--it's focus is very powerful. I
wish I knew why my father turned to the Dark Side. What did
he find there....?

ARTOO: WHISTLES A YODELING SUMMONS.

Sound: A holoprojector comes on.

LUKE: Artoo, I wanted a light, not some old hologram!

ARTOO: MOANS.

LUKE: Wait--leave it on!!! That's an image of the Emperor~!

What's he saying? C-can you boost the power?

ARTOO: BEEPS IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

EMPEROR: My attempts to create my own version of the device

called "the Jedi Holocron" have failed. I have resorted to
this crude device to record my discoveries of the Dark Side.

LUKE: It is the Emperor!

ARTOO: BLATTS IN DISGUST.

LUKE: (strangely insistent) NO, Artoo, leave it on! (voice

trailing off) I...want....to listen......

Sound: A low humming echoes through the next line, as if the

Dark Side itself was audible.

EMPEROR: The Book of Anger, Chapter One.....

SCENE 1-3 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

============================================
Sound: The Falcon blasts through Coruscant's atmosphere.

CHEWBACCA: WHINES.

HAN: Okay, Chewie. Buckle up, everyone--we've hit a mild

magnetic storm in the upper atmosphere.

LEIA: Han, I love you, but this ship is still a pile of

junk!
HAN: Yeah, well this "pile of junk" just saved us from
becoming one more piece of space garbage.

LEIA: Maybe, but I'm getting pretty shaken up by this

magnetic storm.

HAN: That's because you prefer my kind of magnetism.

LEIA: Oh, Han......

THREEPIO: Oh, sir, there seem to be--

HAN: I see 'em, I see 'em!

LEIA: What is it?

HAN: Imperial TIE Fighters, going our way.

Sound: Proximity alarm goes off. The roar of passing TIE

Fighters.

HAN: Deflector shields up, Chewie!

CHEWBACCA: AGREES, THEN MUTTERS IN CONFUSION.

HAN: Yeah.....didn't even stop to say hello.

LEIA: They must be joining forces with one of the Imperial

factions fighting for the throne. They're heading straight
for the ruins of the Imperial City.

HAN: Where the Emperor himself used to hang his hat, back
when he was alive. Not much left of that place now.

LEIA: Not since the civil war started. Coruscant was a

beautiful place when the Rebels controlled this system.

HAN: Yeah, 'till we got driven off-planet by those

Imperials.

LEIA: Coruscant used to be the political center of the

galaxy. Now it's only a barren battleground, fought over by
remaining members of the Emperor's Ruling Council.

THREEPIO: Thank goodness we've seen the last of the Empire.

That's all I have to say.

HAN: Yeah, that's what we thought when Luke and his father
defeated the Emperor. Then Admiral Thrawn unleashed his
forces and almost wiped us out.

CHEWBACCA: TEASES HAN.

LEIA: Chewie's right, Han. You are a pessimist.

HAN: Hey, I'm not complaining. All this infighting among the
Imperials has given the Rebel Alliance a chance to get
organized. Not to mention giving you and me time for a
honeymoon.

LEIA: (LAUGHS)

HAN: I just feel like we've been in this situation before.

We've think we've got the Empire on the ropes, but who knows
what enemy is waiting in the wings?

SCENE 1-4 INT. EMPEROR'S PALACE

=======================================
Sound: Same as in 1-2. A low humming as the hologram of the
Emperor speaks.

EMPEROR: And I have come to realize that the Dark Side is my

only ally. The Dark Side is the only means to power.

ARTOO: BEEPS UNEASILY.

LUKE: Be quiet, Artoo,I-I don't care about the time. But

could you do something about the heat? I suddenly
feel....cold.........

ARTOO: TRIES TO COMPLY.

EMPEROR: My explorations of the Dark Side of the Force have

revealed to me many wonderful secrets.

LUKE: (growing weak) Cold.....like a dead hand pressing

against my heart......

EMPEROR: I have learned that anger and will, when joined

together, forge a most unholy and devastating alliance.

LUKE: Maybe Artoo's right.....time to leave......but it's

like a great weight, pressing down on me.....I....can't
move.....can't.....leave.....

EMPEROR: Using anger, I have learned to unlock the hidden

reserviors of the glorious Dark Side power.

LUKE: No.....

EMPEROR: Anger, concentrated by will, in the vital center of

the body, creates a portal through which vast energies are
released--the energies of the Dark Side of the Force. This
is the power I command now that I am one with the Dark Side.

LUKE: Is this....what my father felt?

EMPEROR: With these energies, I have slain my enemies from

across the empty reaches of space.

LUKE: I shouldn't.....listen....

EMPEROR: I have created lightning, and unleashed devastating

fires.
LUKE:......but I can't.....stop......

EMPEROR: With this knowledge, I can unleash the Dark Side

energies around us, even to shatter the fabric of space
itself! In this way, I have created storms.....

Sound: New and louder humming as Luke calls upon the Force.

LUKE: Got--to--break---FREE!!!

Sound: Luke crashes against the floor. The holoprojector

suddenly cuts out.

ARTOO: BEEPS IN ALARM.

LUKE: I'm all right, Artoo. This place is strong with the
Dark Side. And the presence of the Emperor.....even in a
hologram....is almost overpowering. I've got to resist the
temptation to study these tapes. Still......I wonder what he
meant about "storms"........

SCENE 1-5 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

====================================================
HAN: Okay, we're coming up on the ruins of the Imperial
City.

LEIA: According to Luke's last coordinates, you're right on

target.

HAN: That's the idea, sweetheart. Whoo......we're three

miles above the surface, and I can still see smoke rising
from the city....if there's anything left of that place. I'd
say ol' Luke put that big Star Destroyer right down on top
of it.

THREEPIO: Poor Artoo-Detoo is with them! If anything's

happened to him, I'll never forgive myself.

SCENE 1-6 EXT. CORUSCANT BATTLEFIELD/ INT. AT-AT WALKER

===================================================
Sound: A falling shell hits the ground, shaking it. The sky
is filled with screams, blaster fire, and louder cannon
fire. Comlink is activated.

AT-AT CONTROLLER: Imperial Walker Unit One, this is Unit

Six.

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: Unit One here, over.

AT-AT CONTROLLER: We've got a whole platoon of mutinous

Imperial troops marching in at 060. We're taking heavy fire.
Looks like they're going on the offensive.

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: Copy that, Unit Six. Stay on target.

We've got a squadron of TIE Fighters dropping out of orbit.
They'll blast those mutineers into Rancor food! Our AT-AT's
have been ordered to track down the Rebel intruders, so keep
your scanners focused on the ruins where that Star Destroyer
crashed.

AT-AT CONTROLLER: We're never going to find those Rebels in

all this wreckage....

Sound: Two cannon shots, and an explosion.

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: I think they just found us!

Sound: Comlink goes off.

SCENE 1-7 EXT. CORUSCANT BATTLEFIELD

================================================
Sound: Two blaster shots.

WEDGE: Good shot, Lando!

LANDO: Thanks, Wedge. But I don't think our field weapons

are doing much good against those huge Imperial walkers.
Status report?

WEDGE: We've got 15 wounded, and most of our blasters need

time to re-energize.

LANDO: Maybe if we explained that to the Imperials, they'd

break for lunch. GET DOWN!!

Sound: Cannon fire, close by.

LANDO: You okay, Wedge?

WEDGE: Yeah, thanks. You saved my--

LANDO: Never mind! Just keep your head down and return fire!

WEDGE: We can't hold out much longer against that!

Sound: A ship roars overhead, and opens up on the AT-AT.

LANDO: That's the Millenium Falcon!!

HAN: (over comlink) YEEHAH!! Too late for us to get in on

the fun?

LANDO: Han Solo, you ol' space pirate! What are you doing
here?

HAN: What I always do, Lando--

SCENE 1-8 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

=================================================
HAN: --saving your butt! Again!

LEIA: Look at all the carnage down there! Blasted TIE

Fighters, twisted hulks of armored transports--the wreckage
goes on for miles, and they're still fighting! I wish all
these Imperials would just wipe each other out! It would
save us a lot of trouble.

HAN: No such luck, Princess. We've still got that Imperial

walker to deal with.

Sound: Han sets some controls and gets up.

HAN: Take the helm, Chewie. Leia, get to the upper gun
turret. I'll take the belly gun. All right, Chewie--take us
in. You're about to watch the greatest husband and wife
gunner team in the galaxy!

SCENE 1-9 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON GUN TURRETS

================================================
HAN: (over headset throughout scene) You all set up there,
Leia?

LEIA: Let's see....tracking systems on.....

Sound: The gun activates. The tracking screen beeps into

activation.

LEIA: ....blaster cannons charged....ready!! At least, I

hope so.....this is only the second time I've ever had to
use one of these things....

Sound: A low humming, as the Force begins to build within

Leia.

LEIA: (whispering to herself) Okay, Leia. Try to remember

what Luke taught you. Let your mind merge with the Force.
Feel the living energy that binds the galaxy together....

SCENE 1-10 INT. AT-AT WALKER

================================================
AT-AT CONTROLLER: New target acquired. One ship, bearing 06.

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: (over comlink) It's a piece of junk!

Must be a scavenger ship! These Imperial walkers we're using
will pulverize them!

AT-AT CONTROLLER: Affirmative, Walker One. Move off, I'll

handle this!

Sound: Comlink is deactivated.

SCENE 1-11 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON GUN TURRETS

=================================================
HAN: (over headset) Okay, Leia, my scanner shows our target
at 104, moving into my range. Bring her in, Chewie. Watch me
turn that metal monster into a pile of--

LEIA: (to herself) Luke is right. I can feel the Force

moving through me. Guiding my hands....

Sound: Cannon fire.

HAN: Blaster's firing.....Damn, my shots bounce off his
deflector shields! Chewie, give me a---

LEIA: CHEWIE!!! Swing around to 12.3!

CHEWBACCA: YELPS IN SURPRISE.

Sound: Falcon swings around.

LEIA: Good! Hold her steady.....steady.....NOW!!

Sound: Cannon fire--and an explosion, followed by a crashing

sound.

HAN: Good shot, Leia! That's thing's gonna---

Sound: Massive explosion.

SCENE 1-12 EXT. BATTLEFIELD

======================================
BRICK: Hey, Slag. Another ship is landing. Get those battle
droids ready.

SLAG: I dunno, Brick. They just took out an Imperial

walker...we're only a couplea junk traders and scavengers.
What if they're too tough for us?

BRICK: Aw, you must be part Jawa. We have these hot-wired

weapons droids running interference, don't we? Get some
backbone, will ya? Would ya rather leave this exciting life
we got, gallivanting around the Empire--

SLAG: Gallivanting?

BRICK:--growing rich off the spoils of war,

SLAG: Rich? I dunno about rich--

BRICK: and dying a glorious death!

SLAG: D-d-d-death?

BRICK: Or would you rather waste your life on some backwater

planet getting old'n'fat?

SLAG: Now that you mention it, uh, that sounds pretty good.

BRICK: I thought so. Now get goin'! Reattach that blaster

armor on this attack droid while I activate his program.

Sound: The two work on the droid.

BRICK: There.

DROID: Droid activated. Systems on.

BRICK: Walk over there with the other droids and await
further orders. Come on, Slag, let's go.

SLAG: I-I just don't know, Brick.

BRICK: Aw, relax! Even if these old battle droids don't do

the trick....I gotta 'nother surprise up my sleeve.....

SCENE 1-13 EXT. CORUSCANT BATTLEFIELD

=====================================================
Sound: The Falcon lands, and it's boarding ramp lowers.

HAN: Hey, Lando!

LANDO: Han, you grundly spork-chaser, it's good to see you!

Well, what took you so long? Another honeymoon? We've been
holed up here for days!

THREEPIO: Oh, Artoo, it's so good to see you in one piece!

ARTOO: GREETS THREEPIO.

LEIA: Lando, where's Luke?

LANDO: He took off with Artoo right after we crashed. He

said something about "the dark side of the Force still being
very powerful in this place."

LEIA: You mean....he's been gone for six days?!?

LANDO: Yeah--but if Artoo's back, Luke must be nearby. Right

now, I'm more concerned about the renegades and the
scavengers that are crawling all over the ruins. Every junk-
trader in the galaxy has been drawn to this place like flies
to the feast. This bunch is using hot-wired weapons droids!
They've created their own little army!!!

HAN: And it looks like they're heading this way! Take

cover!!

Sound: More blaster fire, and the clomping sound of droid

feet.

DROID: Targets acquired. Begin rapid-fire.

Sound: A machine-gun like blaster opens up, followed by

others.

LANDO: Return fire! Watch out for those war droids!

Sound: Regular blaster fire joins the fray.

BRICK: Ha. Come on, Slag, let's go check out that ship!

SLAG: Heyyyy, look at the tech on this baby! Modified power

couplings, first-class flux stabilizers.....

BRICK: Hey....you know what this ship is?!? This is the

Millenium Falcon!
SLAG: The Falcon!? The most notorious ship in the galaxy!!
Oh ho, man, I'm gonna love strippin' this starship!

Sound: Brick and Slag start attacking the Falcon with tools.

LEIA: Oh no--those scavengers are between us and the

Millenium Falcon!

HAN: Hey, they're trying to steal my ship!

CHEWBACCA: HOWLS WITH OUTRAGE.

LEIA: Han, wait--!

Sound: More blaster fire, bouncing off the Falcon's hull.

HAN: Get away from my ship, scum!!! Come on, Chewie!!

LEIA: Don't be crazy!

SLAG: See Brick, it ain't workin'! Here they come!

BRICK: I got things under control. Uh, let's see....Activate

dis, uh, remote that opens the cargo door on my transport
ship, and....

Sound: Cargo door opens. A group of large animal noises,

like pit bulls on steroids.

LANDO: Watch it, Han!!! They're releasing a pack of Neks!!!!

HAN: (grunts as he dives back behind cover) Neks? What are

Neks?

LEIA: Cyborrean battle dogs, armoured and fitted with attack

stimulators. They kill on sight.

HAN: Yeah, and they're ugly too. We'd better get out of
here.

LEIA: Wait. I think I can handle them. Luke taught me how to

use the Force to sow confusion in the minds of others. It's
faster than a blaster, and a lot less messy.

HAN: I don't know, sweetheart, I think I'd prefer a blaster.

That way I know they're not gonna gnaw off my leg when my
back is turned. Besides, I'm not even sure these things have
minds.

Sound: A humming, rising in volume and pitch.

LEIA: Just got to concentrate.....concentrate.....

Sound: The dogs suddenly start yelping, running off into the
distance.

HAN: Huh. The dogs are turning tail. Leia, I apologize, I

didn't know you could--

LEIA: It wasn't me. Han--

LUKE: It was me.

HAN: Luke!

LEIA: Oh, Luke! (hugs him) You're all right! Where were you?

LUKE: In a minute, Leia. First, let me take care of these

battle droids.

DROID: Anomaly. Anomaly. This unit experiencing unexplained-

-

Sound: Explosions, all across the battlefield.

HAN: Wha--he just waved his hand and all those battle droids
exploded!

LUKE: Simple. I just used the Force to displace the master

servo control in each droid. They destroyed themselves.

LEIA: Luke, behind you! It's another Imperial Walker! It's

about to--

Sound: Cannon fire--which spangs as it bounces off Luke!

Luke waves his lightsaber, deflecting the rest. One
deflected shot goes right back at the Walker, blowing off
it's 'head' weapons. Luke turns off his saber.

HAN: I don't believe it, he used his lightsaber to deflect

the blaster fire right back at that thing!

LANDO: But it's still standing!

LUKE: (supremely confident) Not for long, Lando.

LANDO: Don't tell me you can use the Force against something
that big!

LUKE: Of course. "Size matters not." The only difference is

in your mind. Watch...

Sound: The humming begins again, stronger than with

Leia.....

LANDO: What's he doing now?

Sound: Creaking and shaking of gears and metal plates....

SCENE 1-14 INT. AT-AT WALKER

========================================================
AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: He's still standing!

GUNNER: How could we have missed him?

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: We didn't miss him! He deflected our
shots with that saber thing!

GUNNER: What's he doing? What's he doing??

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: He's just standing there!!

GUNNER: He's doing something. My power grid's gone haywire!

My turboblasters are on overload!

AT-AT CONTROLLER TWO: Dump the power from the engines! HURRY
BEFORE---

Sound: Massive explosion and screams. Huge crashing sound.

SCENE 1-15 EXT. CORUSCANT BATTLEFIELD

===========================================================
Sound: Cheers from the Rebel fighters.

HAN: Good job, kid!

LEIA: Oh, Luke, I'm so glad you're all right!

ARTOO: BEEPS OUT A LITTLE LINE.

THREEPIO: Yes Artoo, this is quite an emotional moment! My

protocol empathy module is starting to overheat!

LEIA: Come on, get those wounded aboard the Falcon!

REBEL: (over intercom) Evacuating planet in 15 minutes.

REBEL #2: Move it, let's go, let's go!

REBEL #3: Got to get those wounded out of here, get the
equipment off!

LANDO: --so there we were, Han. Me, Luke, and the others,
standing on the bridge of that Star Destroyer--

HAN: The one you just crashed, Lando.

LANDO: A ship with lightspeed engines that'll take you from

here to Tatooine in a nanosecond. But it drops through the
atmosphere like a stray meteor. I'm telling you, this face
of mine should be smashed as flat as a Hutt in heavy
gravity.

HAN: So what happened?

LANDO: It was Luke! He guided that ship down like it was an

Ewok's hang glider. Used the deflector shields to cushion
our fall.

HAN: That's great, but--

LANDO:--but.....it was more than that! NO ONE should have

been able to land that ship! But after seeing what he did to
that Imperial Walker, well......he must have used the Force
to help him. He's growing strong, Han. Really strong. I
haven't seen anything like that since......since Vader.....

SCENE 1-16 ANTARES SIX BRIDGE

====================================================
REBEL: (over intercom) Antares Six, this is Medavac Shuttle
One, we are entering the docking bay.

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN (A Sullustan in the comic): Affirmative,

Shuttle One. (turns off comlink) Captain, that's the last of
the shuttle crews. All the wounded from the planet's surface
are accounted for.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: That's all of them? My dear, what a tragedy.

Get the wounded to Sickbay immediately. And contact the
Millenium Falcon. Tell them we've finshed rescue operations
and are about to depart. Keep a sharp eye out, helm. We
don't want Antares Six to end up like Rebel Star--

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: Captain!!! Look at this!!

SCENE 1-17 EXT. CORUSCANT BATTLEFIELD

=======================================================
HAN: You want to do what?!?

LUKE: I have to stay on this planet, Han!

LEIA: Luke, what's wrong??

LUKE: I found strange clues in the Palace. Leia, I have to

stay here. But you and Han, Chewie, Lando--you should leave
this place at once.

HAN: Are you kidding?! We traveled a million light-years to

get you out of trouble, and you want to stay here?!?

LUKE: Han, you don't understand! There's a great disturbance

in the Force. Someone--or something--is using the Dark Side
with unbelievable power!!! I've felt it! SEEN it!!!

LEIA: But you know we can't leave you! I won't let you face
whatever it is by yourself!

HAN: Whatever this thing is, we'll be right there beside

you, kid, blasters blazing.

LUKE: (tightly) Han, this isn't just another gun battle.

(distant) A vast evil is approaching. It knows I'm here.
What will happen is unavoidable. It is my destiny. It is
beginning....now.

SCENE 1-18 INT. ANTARES SIX BRIDGE

==========================================
Sound: A proximity alarm has gone off.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: What is it?

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: Some kind of.....wormhole...opening up
in space. It's huge! Fifty times the size of our ship!
Energy readings off the scale!

Sound: Comlink goes on.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: Antares Six calling the Millenium Falcon. Our

scanners just picked up a gigantic hyperspace wormhole--an
energy storm of undetermined magnitude is--

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: It's no good, sir--there's too much

interference. Your message isn't getting through.

Sound: A huge maelstrom of sound--lightning, hail, laser

blasts, and more all joined in a capohony of noise--is
blasting straight at the Antares Six.

CAPTAIN SNUNB: Blast.....

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: It's heading right for us!!!

CAPTAIN SNUNB: EVASIVE ACTION! FULL RIGHT THRUSTERS!!!

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: THEY'RE NOT RESPONDING, CAPTAIN!!!

WE'VE LOST LATERAL GUIDANCE!!!

CAPTAIN SNUNB: FULL REVERSE!!!! BACK US AWAY!!!

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: TOO LATE--!!!!

Sound: The sound of the energy storm is deafening, and

growing closer.....closer....
....and fades off into the distance again.

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: Wha--What happened?

CAPTAIN SNUNB: The energy storm....swept right by

us.....ignored us like we weren't even here.

ANTARES SIX CREWMAN: Captain....it's heading right for the

surface of the planet! It's heading right for--

CAPTAIN SNUNB:--right for the ruins of the Imperial City.

And our friends are in it's path. May the Force be with
them......

SCENE 1-19 EXT. CORUSCANT BATTLEFIELD

================================================
LUKE: Leia, please! You all must leave now!!!

HAN: Listen kid, all-powerful Force or no Force, we can't

just leave you to--

Sound: The storm is now audible in the distance.

ARTOO: WHOOPS AND SQUEALS IN ALARM.

THREEPIO: Don't interrupt, Artoo!

ARTOO: SQUAWKS IN PANIC.

THREEPIO: What's that?

ARTOO: ELABORATES WITH SOME SPEED.

THREEPIO: An energy storm? Well, I don't hear anything.

Sound: The storm becomes VERY audible.

THREEPIO: OH MY!!!

LANDO: (hushed) Look at that sky.

THREEPIO: What is it!?!?

LEIA: The sky's on fire!

HAN: Must be that same magnetic storm we hit earlier--

LUKE: It's a storm--but not caused by anything natural. It's

almost upon us. There's no need for you to die too!

LEIA: We can't leave you!!!

LUKE: It doesn't want you! It wants me! Leave, all of you,

or you'll be destroyed!

LEIA: No, Luke!! We're brother and sister--

LUKE: We are brother and sister! But my destiny is not

yours! You.....your children....are the future of the Jedi.
Protect them!!! LEAVE!!!!

HAN: (reluctantly) Come on, Leia. We've got to get back to

the ship.

LEIA: But Luke won't--

HAN: Luke can take care of himself. Even if he is crazy.

ARTOO: LETS OUT A DEFIANT WHISTLE.

THREEPIO: Artoo--? Oh, NO! He thinks he belongs with Master

Luke! Stop him, someone, please!

HAN: No time! Luke will have to save Artoo while he's busy
saving himself. Get on board, Threepio!

Sound: The heroes bundle into the Falcon, and the ramp
closes. Artoo's treads are heard coming up to Luke. The
storm is closing, fast.

LUKE: Good. They've escaped. Oh, Leia.....you don't

understand the power I've achieved since our father died.
But I still don't know why our father betrayed his
friends....and himself. I must find out what he
learned....what made him give in to the Dark Side. It's the
Dark Side that's coming. My presence triggered such hatred
that it rends the fabric of space.

Sound: The Falcon's engines ignite, and the ship blasts out
of ground zero.

ARTOO: MOANS WITH WORRY.

LUKE: Yes, Artoo. I know they're leaving. They've made the

right decision.

Sound: The storm is now deafening again.

LUKE: I only wonder......have I?

Sound: The storm drowns out all background noise, drowns out
everything.....except a lone man's scream.

SCENE 1-20 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

=================================================
HAN: Believe me, Leia, Luke knows what he's doing. I think.

LEIA: (quiet) I'm not so sure, Han. Something about the way
he looked at me.....I was afraid of him.

HAN: Lando, notify Antares Six we're returning to Pinnacle

Base. Chewie, lock in the auxilary power. Prepare to jump to
lightspeed.

CHEWBACCA: AGREES WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

Sound: The Falcon roars into hyperspace.

SCENE 1-20 INT. DEFIANT BRIDGE

==================================================
Sound: Comlink goes on.

GREEN THREE: (on comlink, nervous) This is Green Three to

Green Leader. I show target ship exiting hyperspace beyond
the third moon.

GREEN LEADER: (on comlink) Green Leader here. Pinnacle Base

confirms our readings. The ship is broadcasting no I.D.
codes. Assume intercept course.

GREEN THREE: (VERY nervous) Uh....uh, auxiliary power

engaged.......

GREEN LEADER: Relax, kid, you sound nervous. This your first
patrol mission?

GREEN THREE: Of-of-of....yeah, it is.

GREEN LEADER: (laughs) Take it easy. It's only one ship.

We've got the whole Rebel Alliance orbiting a nearby planet.
And our own Star Destroyer to back us up. You got nothing to
worry about. Just keep an eye on your scanner, intercept 05.
ACKBAR: This is Admiral Ackbar, aboard the flagship Defiant.

GREEN LEADER: Admiral Ackbar? From the planet Mon Calamari?

If that's so, how come you aren't broadcasting on a
recognition code?

ACKBAR: We ran into an Imperial convoy, and our transponder

was damaged.

GREEN LEADER: I thought you were on a recon mission into the

Galactic Core....

ACKBAR: Let's just say the Imperials didn't like the idea as
much as we did. Patch me through to Mon Mothma, the Alliance
leader, immediately.

GREEN LEADER: Affirmative.

Sound: The comlink changes frequencies, and a viewscreen

comes on.

MON MOTHMA: Admiral Ackbar! Glad to see you in one piece!

ACKBAR: Glad to be in one piece, Mon Mothma, after what

we've seen. We penetrated as far as we could into the star
systems still controlled by the Empire. We got as far as the
planet Byss. It was ringed with thousands of warships.
Something of great consequence is happening there. We saw
Imperial ships from both sides of the civil war vanishing
into the farthest reaches of the Galactic Core.

MON MOTHMA: Our spies and probe droids report similar

sightings in other sectors. Whole fleets of ships vanishing
from our tracking screens. What can it mean?

ACKBAR: The civil war has left the Imperial system a

wasteland. The populations are in desperate straits. Half of
the galaxy is ripe for the pickings if one person gains
control of the fleet. But just when one of these Starfleet
commanders has a chance to seize power, he vanishes.

MON MOTHMA: Thank goodness for that.

ACKBAR: It could be a blessing for us. Or.....well, I'm

afraid of the alternative. It's beyond my ability to
understand. How did the mission to the old Imperial
homeworld go? Is there any news of Commander Skywalker?

MON MOTHMA: Yes, but not good, I'm afraid. We received a

garbled transmission from the Imperial planet, but there was
too much interference to understand it. We think they found
General Calrissian and Luke, but only Lando is returning
with them. I don't know what to make of it.

ACKBAR: I think you'll get your answer soon, Mon Mothma.

We've picked up the Millenium Falcon, exiting hyperspace.
We're heading into Pinnacle Base.
SCENE 1-21 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT
======================================================
COMPUTER: (on comlink) Pinnacle Base. Current headquarters
of the Rebel Alliance. Location: Fifth moon of the planet Da
Sootcha. Topographical description: The atmosphere of the
fifth moon sustains carbon-based life forms. 100% of the
moon's surface is covered by jagged rock formations.
Indigenous life forms: Sentient avians known as 'ixylls.'
Alliance headquarters located in a series of caverns on the
northern hemisphere. Weapons systems: This information is
classified for trainees.

Sound: Comlink goes off.

HAN: I gotta fix this stupid transmitter. Every time I bring

the Millenium Falcon back to base, my comlink picks up that
damn trainee orientation!

LEIA: Relax, Han. We're mooring now.

Sound: The Falcon lands on the cavern floor.

COMPUTER: (on comlink again) Tractor beam disengaging.

Repulsorlift deactivated. You are clear to disembark.
Welcome to Pinnacle Base.

Sound: Ramp lowers.

SCENE 1-22 EXT. DA SOOTCHA CAVERN

================================================
ACKBAR: Princess Leia! Thank goodness you're back!

LEIA: Admiral Ackbar.

ACKBAR: I've only just returned myself. Where's Commander

Skywalker?

LEIA: A terrible thing has happened. The Dark Side has taken
Luke prisoner. He let it happen!

THREEPIO: And poor Artoo is with him! They'll make

hydrospanners out of him--if he survives!

ACKBAR: Hurry! You can give a full report immediately! Mon

Mothma has just called an emergency meeting of the command
staff!

SCENE 1-23 INT. CAVERN MEETING ROOM

===============================================
MON MOTHMA: (grimly) The energy storm that took Commander
Skywalker--this is NOT an isolated event. Similar storms
have been detected in several systems. Furthermore, Admiral
Ackbar's reconnaisance mission suggests that there is a vast
war fleet gathering at the very core of the galaxy. Someone-
-or something--has been biding its time, while the feuding
Imperial factions distracted our attention.
ACKBAR: We have reason to believe that some Dark Side genius
is at work, creating new technologies that go beyond all
previous conception.

MON MOTHMA: Activate holographic projector.

Sound: Holoprojector activates. What follows is the sounds

of destruction--the humming of repulsorlifts, explosions,
screams, blaster shots--but on a monstrous scale.

MON MOTHMA: The images you are seeing are being transmitted
at this very moment from the water-covered planet Mon
Calamari-- the homeworld of Admiral Ackbar. The people of
Calamari have been a proud part of the Alliance since the
beginning. Now, Calamari seems to be under attack from some
diabolical new machines. There, coming into view now....

Sound: Gasps from the people in the room.

LEIA: Oh my G--

CHEWIE: MOANS IN SHOCK.

HAN: What is THAT thing?!?

MON MOTHMA: The Calamari call them "World Devastators."

There are dozens of them gathering near many of the worlds
sympathetic to the Rebellion.

LEIA: It's--it's larger than one of the Empire's Star

Destroyers.

ACKBAR: And more lethal than the Death Star.

HAN: Doesn't look all that threatening to me--I mean, I only

see a few escorts of TIE Fighters, no heavy weapons--just
these huge rectangular black ships hovering over the
planet's surface.

ACKBAR: The World Devastators only need one weapon, General

Solo. You see the large square opening at the front of the
Devastator?

HAN: Sure. And another on the bottom. Looks like some kind
of tractor bay.

MON MOTHMA: These World Devastators are giant factories.

They consume everything in their path, and in the belly of
each machine, great furnaces process the collected matter
into raw elements, and then into--

LEIA: --into even more weapons of destruction. Han, the

World Devastators are like twisted versions of living things-
-every time they destroy something, they get even stronger.

ACKBAR: Reports from Calamari indicate my people are unable

to stop the World Devastators. They are impervious to all
modes of attack.
HAN: What about ion cannons, Admiral?

ACKBAR: Ineffective.

HAN: Ground assault?

ACKBAR: Suicidal.

HAN: Nothing works???

SCENE 1-24 EXT. MON CALAMARI BATTLEFIELD

===================================================
Sound: The noises of battle are even louder. A comlink is
activated.

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: Nothing! I repeat, torpedoes have done

nothing to halt the enemy advance!

CALAMARIAN TWO: (over intercom) C fire 4! C fire 4!! Pull

up, pull up!!

Sound: Crash and explosion.

CALAMARIAN THREE: (over intercom) I'm hit, I'm hit!!!

Sound: Another explosion.

CALAMARIAN TWO: C fire team, C fire team, take out the

tower!

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: Evac shuttles! Get those evac shuttles to

the front line! We're being slaughtered!!!

REBEL PILOT: (over intercom) Pull back! Pull back! All

squads, regroup in a (garbled) formation!

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: But that's three degrees north of here! We

can't just give up that much ground!

REBEL PILOT: Who is that?!

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: Uh, this is Captain Gammack, third

battalion.

REBEL PILOT: Well, Captain, there are three World

Devastators heading north,a few miles from the equator, and
two more heading west. Looks like they're forming a wedge to
sweep us out of the whole hemisphere! Just one of these
monsters has taken out a whole division of our troops! How
can we face the whole fleet???

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: We must send a transmission to the Rebel

base.

REBEL PILOT: Then send it and fall back! We'll cover you as
long as we can!
Sound: Transmitter is activated.

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: I hope my transmitter is strong enough to

reach offplanet. Rebel Alliance, this is a transmission from
the planet Calamari. We are under assault from massive World
Devastators.....

SCENE 1-25 INT. CAVERN MEETING ROOM

========================================================
CAPTAIN GAMMACK: (over intercom) I repeat, massive World
Devastators--HERE THEY COME!!! LOOK OUT--

Sound: Ominous static.

MON MOTHMA: That's all the transmission that got through.

LEIA: It's a massacre down there.

ACKBAR: (pause, then tightly) The people of Calamari were

the first to defy the Empire, years ago. When the Death Star
was created, we were scheduled to be one of the first
planets annihilated by that terrible weapon. When the
Emperor was killed, we thought we'd been spared, but
now.....whoever is reunifying the Empire is carrying out the
Emperor's decision to 'discipline' us.

LEIA: Don't give up, Admiral Ackbar. If there's one thing

I've learned from Luke, it's the power of hope. And the
power of strong will. We'll save your planet.

SCENE 1-26 EXT. DA SOOTCHA CAVERN

===================================================
Sound: Starfighters warming up.

MON MOTHMA: Green and Blue Squadrons will leave at once in

their X-Wing Fighters to escort and defend the evacuation of
Calamari. General Calrissian, are you prepared to pilot our
remaining captured Star Destroyer against these World
Devastators?

LANDO: I don't know. After what I did to the last Star

Destroyer, I'm not sure I'm qualified to pilot anything
fancier than a garbage scow. How about you, Han?
(grudgingly) You're the best star pilot in the galaxy.

HAN: Ah, sorry, uh....You'll have to wing it, Lando. I've

got my hands full wet-nursing all these new fighter pilots
that have joined the Rebellion. But, uh....good luck.

SCENE 1-27 INT. HAN AND LEIA'S QUARTERS

====================================================
Sound: The hum of a holoprojector. A faint lullaby tickles
at the air.

LEIA: Hello, little Jacen....oh, and there's my beautiful

Jaina. Oh, I miss you so much......
Sound: Door opens.

HAN: Hey, Leia, I--oh, there you are. Looking at those

holograms of our kids again.

LEIA: (sigh) I can't help it, Han. They're so far away.....

HAN: Leia.....you know it's better this way. As long as

they're hidden away on New Alderaan, they're safe from the
Empire.

LEIA: But sometimes I want to reach out and hold them so

much I--

Sound: The hologram is disrupted.

HAN: Don't! You're breaking up the projection.

LEIA: (giggles) You like looking at their pictures as much

as I do.

HAN: Yeah, I guess so.

LEIA: Look, Han. She has your hair. And he has your eyes.

HAN: Yeah....and if they're lucky, they'll both have your

smarts. With my looks and your brains, they'll be the stars
of the Galaxy.

LEIA: The next generation of Jedi Knights.

HAN: They're gonna be the leaders of hundreds of worlds, and

here I am, their old dad the smuggler, tickling them under
the chin like a doting old moisture farmer. (chuckles)

LEIA: What?

HAN: Oh, me. This life. I got a beautiful wife, a nice soft
bed, pictures on the walls....yep, just what I always
wanted.

Sound: Holoprojector is turned off. The lullaby fades.

LEIA: Han.....it's not like you to turn down an assignment

like you did today.

HAN: Leia, this endless war......it's like we've been alone

for only five minutes since we got married.

LEIA: But?

HAN: I really wanted to go with Lando. But I accepted this

other assignment so we'd have a chance to be together.

LEIA: Han......something terrible is happening to Luke.

HAN: Oh jeez, Leia.....for once in my life, I'm trying to be

sensitive and romantic, and see where it gets me? Luke can
take care of himself!

LEIA: I can feel him, Han. He's getting farther and farther
away....we must help him.

HAN: We need some time to ourselves, Leia. For you and me.
Luke doesn't want any help. He says he has to do it alone,
and I believe him.

LEIA: Han.....

HAN: I mean, who am I to challenge the judgment of a Jedi?

Besides....(slyly) You've got enough to worry about right
here.....

LEIA: (giggles again) Do I?

HAN: Uh huh. After all, beautiful princess here alone with a

notorious scoundrel.....(both giggle)....who knows what
could happen.......

Sound: Fade out on kissing sounds.

SCENE 1-28 INT. PRISON SHIP/ EXT. SPACEPORT

======================================================
Sound: Ship's engines.

LUKE: Uhh........whatever grabbed me, it was no energy

storm.......and it's left me somewhere dark. And cold.

ARTOO: BEEPS A WORRIED GREETING.

LUKE: Artoo, is that you?

ARTOO: REPLIES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

LUKE: I don't know where we are. Some sort of ship.

Whoever.....whatever captures us has kept us in the dark.
But I don't need light to see.....

Sound: The Force rises in Luke.

LUKE: And I don't care how thick these walls

are......they're nothing compared to the power of the
Force.....we're inside an Imperial dungeon ship. The kind
they used to transport Jedi Knights during the Clone Wars.

Sound: Rattling.

LUKE: And it looks like we've reached our destination.

ARTOO: BLEEPS IN SURPRISE.

LUKE: A planet.....somewhere in the core of the galaxy.

Surrounded by THOUSANDS of warships.....Gigantic--ahh!!!
It's entirely enveloped in the Dark Side of the
Force........if there is a dark center to the universe,
Artoo, this is it.
ARTOO: MOANS.

Sound: Door opens.

DARK GUARD: (echoing) We are ready to receive the prisoner.

Sound: Footsteps on metal.

DARK GUARD TWO: (amplified and echoing) JEDI KNIGHT,

WELCOME. PLEASE......COME WITH US.

LUKE: I'm not going anywhere until--

DARK GUARD: Activate Dark Force cage.

Sound: An electrical field is engaged, and Luke and Artoo

yell and grunt as they are forcibly yanked inside.

DARK GUARD: Dark Force cage energized. Prisoner contained.

Inform His Excellency that his.....guest has arrived
undamaged. Take him to the Great Hall.

SCENE 1-29 EXT. PALACE ENTRANCE

==========================================================
Sound: Humming of Dark Force cage as it moves. Footsteps on
metal again.

LUKE: Artoo, are you functioning?

ARTOO: BLEEPS OUT "BARELY."

LUKE: I'm glad one of us is. I......I don't

understand.....(echoing throughout the scene) my
mind.....these whispers in my head.....can't....seem
to.....concentrate........

DARK GUARD: This cage is designed to hold Jedi. It disturbs

the power of the Force. Neither your mind control abilities,
nor your control of physical objects will work while you're
in the cage.

LUKE: Ungghhh........then I guess I'll have to resort to

some old-fashioned questioning. What planet are we on?

DARK GUARD: You are on the planet Byss, at the very center
of the Galaxy.

LUKE: What's that....whispering I hear?

DARK GUARD: Whispering?

LUKE: Yes....those voices....so sinister.....

DARK GUARD: I hear nothing.

LUKE: Who are you?

DARK GUARD: I serve his Excellency.

LUKE: Who's that? Some two-bit Imperial governor with

delusions of grandeur?

DARK GUARD: You are foolish to mock your new master. As

you'll soon see.

Sound: Footsteps stop.

DARK GUARD: We have arrived at the Palace.

Sound: The Palace gates open.

IMPERIAL SENTINEL: Release the prisoner. We will take him

from here.

LUKE: Who are these big ugly guys in the armor? They look
familiar.

DARK GUARD: These are Imperial Sentinels. The elite warriors

of the Empire. Deactivating Dark Force cage.

Sound: The field fades, and the cage door is opened.

LUKE: (sighs with relief)

IMPERIAL SENTINEL: Prisoner. Out.

LUKE: This is it, Artoo.

ARTOO: SAYS "THIS IS WHAT?"

LUKE: This is where my opponent--whoever he is--is waiting.

IMPERIAL SENTINEL: I said.....OUT!!!!

LUKE: Don't threaten me!! I'm here because I choose to be

here!!

Sound: The Force rises.

IMPERIAL SENTINEL: (gasps in pain, hits ground)

IMPERIAL SENTINEL TWO: (does the same)

LUKE: That should teach you to offend a Jedi Master. Now to

face your leader.

ARTOO: BEEPS AN ELECTRONIC RASPBERRY AT THE SENTINELS AS HE

DEPARTS.

Sound: Footsteps fading into the distance, as well as

Artoo's treads.

IMPERIAL SENTINEL: Impudent whelp!! I will--

DARK GUARD: --do nothing. Let him believe it is his free

choice if he wants. But he is walking to his doom.

SCENE 1-30 INT. THRONE ROOM

===================================================
Sound: Footsteps and treads.

LUKE: This Palace is like a maze. But the Force is leading

me. Here.

Sound: Steps and treads stop.

LUKE: But this looks like......a throne room!

A FAMILIAR, OLD, CRACKLY VOICE: Yes......MY throne room!

LUKE: YOU!?!?! THE EMPEROR!!!!

EMPEROR PALPATINE: Yes.

LUKE: But you're---

EMPEROR: Dead? Young Skywalker.....You of all people should

know the power of the Dark Side. And you WILL know......oh,
yes......for YOU are destined to rule the Empire by my
side!! FOREVER!!!!

Music: The chilling Imperial March, then fade to silence.

SCENE 2-1 INT. THRONE ROOM

=================================================
Music: A short, chilly piece (from "Jaws"), then fade.

EMPEROR: Well, young Skywalker. I am pleased that you have

come to me once again.

LUKE: (disbelieving) The Emperor......ALIVE.......somehow, I

knew. But I saw you die.....

EMPEROR: Yes, you knew, didn't you? You....sensed it. You

are in touch with the Dark Side already. You've grown very
strong in the Force since last we met. But then, so have I.
Guards, you may leave us.

Sound: Twin sets of footsteps, fading off.

LUKE: How did you survive?

EMPEROR: Survive your foolishness over the moon of Endor?

Survive the base treachery of your poor, weak father?
(cackles) That was not the first time I "died." Nor will it
be the last. Such are the mysteries of the Dark Side of the
Force. Mysteries you will soon learn well. You see, my young
apprentice, flesh does not easily support this great power.
After all, I live primarily as energy, formless and
powerful. For many years, I have been under a dire
necessity. My body has decayed again and again. And each
time, I have needed to take another, transferring my essence
into a humble clone of the man I once was.
LUKE: Clones?

EMPEROR: Yes, young Skywalker. The dying is painful--the

transition is terrible to endure. But the suffering is a
small price to pay for eternal life. (pause) Well, my young
apprentice, your father is dead. Have you come to join me?
Will you take the place that rightfully belongs to you?

LUKE: (grunting with effort) I......can't.....think.......

EMPEROR: You hesitate. Let me offer you an incentive. Screen

on.

Sound: Viewscreen comes on, and we hear the sounds of

destruction again.

EMPEROR: Behold the battle raging across the planet

Calamari. Those pathetic Rebels flee before the might of my
World Devastators. You have only to kneel before me, and
they are yours to command.

LUKE: No.....

EMPEROR: The Rebels had their chance! They had years to

reclaim the galaxy, while my discorporate mind drifted
across the empty reaches of space, to return to this cloning
chamber. I spent five years in hiding, while your friends
tried to fufill their dream. But without the Jedi Knights,
they failed miserably. And now, I have outflanked them!
Working in secret, I have created weapons such as the galaxy
has never seen! These World Devastators are utterly
invincible. They are invunerable to attack. Even if every
member of the crew were destroyed, the ships themselves
would continue in their destructive purpose, directed by a
special master control program which I maintain.

Sound: Artoo pops open his top, and pulls out Luke's
lightsaber on an arm.

ARTOO: URGES LUKE TO TAKE THE LIGHTSABER.

LUKE: (sounding lethargic) What's that...Artoo? Oh......my

lightsaber.

EMPEROR: It is your destiny, my friend. To succeed your

father. To wield my discipline over the worlds that have
betrayed me.

Sound: Luke's lightsaber ignites!!!

LUKE: NEVER!!!

EMPEROR: Once again you stand before me, lightsaber in hand.

And once again, you hesitate. I know. I know too well, my
young friend. My promise of power does not entice you? And a
stroke of your lightsaber might help the cause of billions--
but will it mean the end of the Dark Side?
LUKE: (straining) Strike.....everything that I am cries out
for me to strike.....

EMPEROR: Is it so difficult to decide, my son? Surely you

know that if you strike me down in anger, I will live again!
Perhaps I will even live--as YOU!!

LUKE: NNOOOO!!!!!

Sound: The lightsaber hums and cracks as it strikes--

something......

EMPEROR: (laughs) You strike the throne, but not the man!
You miss by inches! But you miss on purpose! I see you have
grown wise in the ways of the Force. You have achieved
control; you are no longer the impulsive youth at war with
your own anger. Excellent.....

LUKE: I......will not......kill you......

EMPEROR: But you can still conquer me. By learning the

secrets of the Dark Side. We both know there is no other way
for you.

Sound: The Emperor's voice echoes at "you," and continues to

reverberate in Luke's mind, along with other whispers.

LUKE: (echoing himself) The secrets of the Dark

Side........those whispers......that's the Dark Side. The
seduction of its' power.... but maybe for once......it
speaks the truth........Maybe I must challenge the Dark
Side......from within.........

EMPEROR: Your decision, young Skywalker! NOW!!!

LUKE: I.......I.......

Sound: The lightsaber deactivates, and clatters to the

floor.

LUKE: YES.

Sound: Rustling of cloth, as Luke kneels before the Emperor.

LUKE: (with a new, dangerous tone to his voice) My father's

destiny.......is my own.

EMPEROR: (triumphant) It is done, my young apprentice! Let

us celebrate our conquest of the galaxy!! (A long, echoing
laugh......)

SCENE 2-2 EXT. DA SOOTCHA CAVERN

==============================================
Sound: The cavern hanger is in full bustle.

DECK OFFICER (over intercom): Pinnacle Base trainees,

General Solo is now demonstrating the new prototype E-Wing
fighter at the main hangar.

HAN: Okay, you trainees, thanks for signing up with the

Alliance, now let's get down to business.

TRAINEE: (whispering) Man, is General Solo in a bad mood or

what?

TRAINEE TWO: (whispering) I'd like a blast at his mind--

TRAINEE: (whispering) I hear he's peeved 'cuz he's stuck

here with the fleet--

HAN: (loudly) Hey! You guys wanna run this training program?
(normally) All right, then. As I was saying--a major weapons
manufacturing plant on Norval II just deposed their governor
and joined the Rebellion. You're looking at the result. The
latest hot Imperial fighter.

TRAINEES: (whistles and gasps of awe)

HAN: We've got it. And you guys get to fly it. Not only do
you get to fly it, you get to fly it tomorrow.

TRAINEE: Why's that, General Solo?

HAN: Cuz' we just got word we're getting the stuffing kicked
out of us on Calamari by those new World Devastators. I
haven't gone up against them unfortunately, but I'm told
they're meaner than the Death Star. So you guys have got
your work cut out for you. Now, over here we've got--

THREEPIO: Excuse me, sir, but--

HAN: Later, Threepio. Now, over here we've got the latest
Alliance fighter craft, the E-Wing--

THREEPIO: Sir--

HAN: It's a good ship, but we've had to beef up the cannons
to the point where they might blow up in your face.

THREEPIO: General Solo--

HAN: WHAT!?!

THREEPIO: It's Princess Leia, sir. She's locked herself in

her chamber. She refuses to answer anyone!

SCENE 2-3 INT. HAN AND LEIA'S QUARTERS

==================================================
Sound: Door opens.

HAN: Leia?

LEIA: (quiet, distant) Yes, Han. I'm here.

HAN: Sitting alone. In the dark. Can I turn on some lights?

LEIA: Hm? Oh....yes.

Sound: Han flicks the light switch.

HAN: There, that's better. What's going on?

LEIA: (sad) I'm sorry, Han. I just can't escape this feeling
of dread.....

HAN: You need cheering up, is all. Come outside, see what's
happening. The whole galaxy is pulling together against the
Empire--

LEIA: Han......I shouldn't have listened to you. I shouldn't

have listened to Luke. I hear.....terrible laughter.
Something awful has happened, Han. We've.......(swallows) we
may have lost him.

HAN: Hey, Ol' Luke's got more tricks up his sleeve than--

LEIA: Don't be a fool, Han. Luke's in serious trouble, and I

have to help him!! Don't you see? This isn't about you or
me! It's not even about our children, because if we don't
help him, our children won't have any life at all!!! It's
about Luke. It's about the whole galaxy. Han, he needs me!!

HAN: Yeah. But....aw man, they told me marriage to a Jedi

princess wasn't gonna be easy.

LEIA: Han, don't be angry.

HAN: I'm not angry. It's just, I've got this bad feeling
about this......

SCENE 2-4 EXT. DA SOOTCHA CAVERN

==================================================
Sound: Same as before. Footsteps coming up. The sparking of
welding tools.

HAN: (somber) Chewie? Chewie?

Sound: Welding stops.

CHEWBACCA: GREETS HAN.

HAN: Chewie, when you finish repairing the flux

stabilizers.......fuel up the Falcon. We've got a date with
the Dark Side.

SCENE 2-5 INT. STAR DESTROYER EMANCIPATOR BRIDGE

=================================================
Sound: The hum of normal ship activity. Comlink static.

LANDO: Affirmative, Rebel base. This is Lando Calrissian.

Star Destroyer Emancipator will leave hyperspace over the
planet Calamari in fifty-eight seconds.

Sound: Comlink goes off.

WEDGE: General Calrissian, we've intercepted a new

hyperspace communications channel, beamed between Calamari's
orbit and the galactic core. They're transmitting images of
the destruction of Calamari!

LANDO: They're doing us a real favor by beaming us those

images, Wedge. Recalculate our exit from hyperspace at two
degrees from their point of transmission!

WEDGE: Lando, are you crazy?! If we leave hyperspace at

those coordinates, we'll smash right into whatever's sending
the signal!

LANDO: That's the idea, Wedge.

WEDGE: If you say so, Lando.....Coordinates locked in. We

exit hyperspace in thirty-three seconds.

LANDO: Stand by to cut in sublight engines. Prepare to fire

all forward turbolasers and ion cannons at my command.

Sound: Hyperspace reversion--

WEDGE: Imperial Star Destroyer dead ahead!!

LANDO: FIRE!!!

Sound: A fusillade from the Emancipator--and a series of

explosions as the Imperial ship is crippled.

WEDGE: We've done it! That Super Star Destroyer was caught
with it's deflector shields down, it's hit!!

LANDO: Signal the other ships! Concentrate all firepower on

the remaining Star Destroyer!

Sound: Several volleys of fire.

LANDO: That's it! Inform Pinnacle Base we're in position

over Calamari. Deflector shields up! Prepare to take further
offensive action!

WEDGE: The rest of the fleet is through, sir! They're

holding off the other enemy ships.

LANDO: Drop the X-Wing fighters and transports. We've got to

get down there and hammer those Devastators!

Sound: A sound like a meteor falls and hits.

Note: All Green fighters are over intercom.

GREEN LEADER: Affirmative, Emancipator. A-Wing fighters,

target that Destroyer with concussion missiles.
GREEN TWO: Affirmative, Green Leader. Concussion missiles
locked onto shield generators. Missiles away--

Sound: Two sets of two torpedoes shoot out--and connect.

GREEN THREE: Watch those TIE Fighters. They're directing

their energy output to thrusters.

Sound: The roar of multiple TIE's. Fire is being exchanged

throughout the rest of the scene.

GREEN TWO: Missiles on target (explosion)--direct hit!

GREEN LEADER: Emancipator, this is Green Leader. A-Wing

fighters have things under control. Green team entering
upper atmosphere of Mon Calamari.

LANDO: Copy, Green Leader. Good luck against those

Devastators.

SCENE 2-6 INT. WORLD DEVASTATOR SILENCER SEVEN

=================================================
Sound: The sounds of battle continue, although muted.
Comlink crackle.

ALLEGIANCE OFFICER: Silencer Seven, Imperial Star Destroyer

Allegiance. Rebel forces have-

OFFICER: Commander Klev, we're receiving distress calls from

our space fleet.

Sound: Dull thudding sounds as Rebel fire rocks the World

Devastator.

OFFICER: And now we're being attacked from low orbit! X-Wing
Fighters and speeders, launched from an Imperial-Class Star
Destroyer!

COMMANDER KLEV: Interesting. It must be the contemptible

Rebel Alliance. They captured two of our ships at Endor,
years ago.

OFFICER: Sir, you and I both know those X-Wings are nothing
but antiques! They haven't the slightest chance of
penetrating the defenses of this World Devastator!

COMMANDER KLEV: (amused) Yes, and they can hardly realize

the destructive power at our command. Their game is over.
Send a message to Byss. Inform Supreme Commander Skywalker
of the Rebel presence. Meanwhile, let's allow these Rebels a
brief moment of hope.....

SCENE 2-7 EXT. MON CALAMARI BATTLEFIELD

=================================================
GREEN LEADER: (over comlink) Green Leader calling Calamari
world defense.
CAPTAIN GAMMACK: We read you, Green Leader. This is Captain
Gammack. My battalion's about all that's left in this
sector. But we're glad to see you.

GREEN LEADER: Prepare your people for--Green Four, watch

that cover fire!! Prepare your people for evacuation,
Captain Gammack. Just give us five minutes to blast these
overgrown garbage smashers to pieces.

SCENE 2-8 INT. SILENCER SEVEN BRIDGE

=================================================
OFFICER: Commander Klev, two of our ships actually report
minor hits! Silencer Four has lost two turbolaser stations!
Silencer Six reports damage to its' munitions warehouse!
Their assail's about to shut down our aft hangar bay!

COMMANDER KLEV: Yes, very well. It's time to end this little
game. Release the robotic TIE Fighters, and increase our
altitude.

SCENE 2-9 EXT. MON CALAMARI BATTLEFIELD

=================================================
CAPTAIN GAMMACK: (ecstatic) Green Leader, this is Captain
Gammack. You're doing it! One of those World Devastators is
pulling back!!

GREEN LEADER: (over comlink through scene) No, wait.....it's

releasing some kind of fightercraft......move in to
intercept!

Sound: A new, larger wave of TIE's.

GREEN TWO: (comlink) They look like typical TIE Fighters to

me.

GREEN LEADER: Negative. Watch their axial rotation. Too

smooth for living pilots. Those fighters are computer
controlled! Stay sharp, everyone--

Sound: A close brush from a TIE.

GREEN FOUR: It's on my back! I can't shake it!!

GREEN LEADER: Green Three, I'm executing low-ton weave. I've

got your man in my sights, Green Four.

GREEN FOUR: I can't shake him!!!!

GREEN LEADER: In my sights.....

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: Green Leader, watch your back!! You've got

TWO fighters on your tail!

GREEN LEADER: Almost.....

CAPTAIN GAMMACK: PULL OUT!! PULL OUT!!! PULL--

Sound: A scream and explosion as Green Leader is hit and

destroyed, and another as Green Four follows him a split-
second later.

SCENE 2-10 INT. STAR DESTROYER EMANCIPATOR BRIDGE

=================================================
WEDGE: General Calrissian, the World Devastators have just
released a whole fleet of advanced TIE Fighters!! They're
cutting our ships to ribbons!!!

LANDO: Call our people back! CALL THEM BACK!!!!

WEDGE: We--we can't! Th-they're cut off! There's one hungry-

looking Devastator in ascent trajectory......

LANDO: (whisper) I think we're in trouble......

SCENE 2-11 INT. HAN AND LEIA'S QUARTERS

=============================================
Sound: An intercom beep.

LEIA: (just waking up) Uhn......hm.....

Sound: A second beep.

THREEPIO: (over intercom throughout scene) Princess Leia,

are you there?

LEIA: Uh.....what is it, Threepio?

THREEPIO: Sorry to disturb you, Your Highness. Are you all

right?

LEIA: Um....(swallows hard) I'm fine, Threepio.

THREEPIO: If you don't mind my saying so, you are exhibiting

fatigue and illness often associated in humanoid women with-
-

LEIA: I'm fine. What can I do for you?

THREEPIO: May I come by your quarters? I have the most

interesting--

LEIA: Of course. Leia out. (turns off intercom, then sighs.)

Got to pull myself together. Luke needs me. And now that I'm-
-

VADER: (echoing) Leia......Leia......

Sound: A slow, blowing wind.

LEIA: (gasps) A vision.....appearing before me.....that

black armor, the death mask......F-Father? Is....is it you?
VADER: No. Your father is free, with all the Jedi who went
before. And Darth Vader lives no more.....(while still
echoing, the voice changes to Luke's).....my sister.

LEIA: (relieved) Luke.

LUKE: Leia.....do not try to find me. Do not interfere.

LEIA: Why do you wear that armor?

LUKE: Destiny has forced me to follow the path our father

took. It was the only way....the only way to save
everything..... from the power of the Dark Side.

LEIA: Luke, NO!! That can't be! You know that! How can you
save us--by joining the Dark Side?!? You'll destroy
yourself, and you'll destroy us with you!

LUKE: Leia.....m-my mind is....can't......concen--

LEIA: I've got to help him! Try to use the Force to reach
him.....

Sound: Humming as Leia calls on the Force--but the humming

is suddenly overtook by humming on a lower--and louder--
level.

EMPEROR: (echoing) No, little Jedi!! Skywalker is beyond

your reach!! Your brother has risked all--and LOST!!!

Sound: The low humming becomes deafening--and stops abruptly

as Leia shrieks and crashes to the ground. After a long
moment of silence, the door opens.

THREEPIO: (in the room this time) Princess Leia, I've just
had the most fascinating discussion about the complex dining
etiquette on the planet Sisk, where all the spider people
have eight arms, so it seems--Princess Leia? Princess Leia--
oh my word, she's collapsed!!

SCENE 2-12 INT. DA SOOTCHA MEDLAB

=============================================
Sound: Medical equipment.

LEIA: (weak and moaning) Luke.....Luke.......

HAN: Take it easy, Leia. It's me, Han. You're safe in the
infirmary. Me, Mon Mothma, and Threepio have been looking
after you.

MON MOTHMA: You gave us quite a scare, Princess.

THREEPIO: (excited) I thought you had short-circuited. But

medical scan indicates you are simply--

LEIA: FINE, Threepio. I said I was fine. Han, Luke--

HAN: What's wrong, Leia? You've been muttering about Luke in
your sleep for hours.

LEIA: The Force....the Force is bringing me closer....to

him. Even though he's light-years away. I must--

HAN: Hey, take it easy, Leia. Just sit back, relax for a
while.

LEIA: He's in terrible trouble, Han. The Dark Side is

swallowing him whole. I've got to find him.....before it's
too late.

HAN: Sure, why not. There's only 12 million inhabitated star

systems out there. Shouldn't be too hard--

LEIA: I can find him. The Force will lead me to him.

HAN: Leia, we've talked about this before--

MON MOTHMA: General Solo, may I speak with you for a moment?

HAN: Sure, Mon Mothma.

Sound: The med equipment moves farther away.

MON MOTHMA: (speaking quietly) General Solo, I believe we

should follow Princess Leia's advice.

HAN: But she's in no condition to--

MON MOTHMA: Medically, there's nothing wrong with her. Our

forces in Calamari are no match for World Devastators. I
believe we will never find a way to defeat them without
Commander Skywalker's Jedi insights. Therefore, I believe
the success of this mission is paramount.

HAN: More important than her life?

MON MOTHMA: More important than MY life, your life, and yes,
even the life of Leia Organa-Solo. Luke Skywalker is
probably the last fully realized Jedi in existance.

HAN: Well, if he's such a great Jedi, how come I always have
to keep rescuing him?

MON MOTHMA: General Solo! Han!

HAN: Okay, okay. Anyway, I was getting antsy playing

professor with these green kids you've been recruiting.
Besides, Chewie just finished overhauling the Millenium
Falcon for this trip.

MON MOTHMA: For 'this' trip? (amused) You mean you already
expected to leave? Well, that's very foresighted of you!

HAN: Hey, I'm not just a pretty face.

SCENE 2-13 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT / EXT. DA SOOTCHA
CAVERN
=============================================
Sound: The hum of the Falcon's cockpit.

HAN: Chewie, hurry up with those lightspeed calculations.

CHEWBACCA: "I'M HURRYING, I'M HURRYING."

HAN: Lock in auxiliary power.

Sound: The hissing and then roaring of the Falcon's engines.

THREEPIO: Sir, I'd just like to thank you for allowing me to

accompany you. I fear for poor Artoo-

HAN: Yeah, yeah. Take your seat, Goldenrod, we're about to

launch.

THREEPIO: Yes, sir.

HAN: It's you I'm worried about, Leia. You sure you're up to
another lightspeed hop? You still look awfully pale.

LEIA: I'll be fine, Han. (whisper) I have to be.

DECK OFFICER: (over intercom) Millenium Falcon, you are

cleared for takeoff. Navicom indicates it's a clear path
from here to your destination.

MON MOTHMA: (over intercom) Millenium Falcon, this is Mon

Mothma. Good luck, General Solo. And bring Skywalker back
this time.

HAN: Man, this woman never gets off my case. (turns on

intercom) Uh, acknowledged, Mon Mothma. We'll contact you
when we reach the planet Nal Hutta.

LEIA: Nal Hutta? But Han, I told you my senses tell me that
Luke is somewhere in the galactic core!

HAN: I know. But those systems have been closed off to

outsiders for decades. We'll need a ship authorized to land
in the secure systems. And I know just where to find it.
(hits intercom again) Pinnacle Base, we're clearing tractor
beam. Switching to repulsorlift....and......

Sound: The Falcon roars as it rises off the pad, and blasts
into the sky. Sound changes to outside the Falcon, in the
hangar.

MON MOTHMA: May the Force be with you! (quietly to

herself)....for it is now clear to me that the future of the
New Republic depends on the revival of the Jedi Knights. If
Luke Skywalker is lost to the Dark Side...(grim)....then the
Alliance is finished.
SCENE 2-14 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT / GALLEY
=============================================
Sound: Falcon interior.

HAN: Okay, let the navicomputer take over, Chewie. The

Falcon'll take us right to Nal Hutta. Come on Leia, let's
grab some lunch.

Sound: Cockpit door opens, sound shifts to the galley

interior. A computer hums.

COMPUTER: Food dispenser activated. Today's entrees:

Altarian spinefish. Braised Syrrian bloodworm. Mugroot
stew.

Sound: Eating sounds.

LEIA: Han, why does that planet sound so familiar to me?

HAN: You mean Nal Hutta? Oh, I may have mentioned it. Try
the spinefish, it's fresh. Nal Hutta means "Glorious Jewel"
in the language of the Hutts.

LEIA: The Hutts? Han, isn't that planet Jabba's homeworld?

HAN: (evasive) Well yeah, a lot of those big slimy traders

did migrate there over the years. Uh, slip some salad. But
also it's the center for smuggling activities across the
galaxy. Especially it's nearest moon, Nar Shaddaa. That's
where we're heading. The days before...may I have the
pepper, please....in the days before hyperspace travel, Nal
Hutta was a heavily populated cargo port, under tight
control. 'Course, there hasn't been much control over
anything lately. Now, the only law on Nal Hutta is the deal
you cut with your friend. Or your enemy.

LEIA: But if there are smugglers, won't there be bounty

hunters?

HAN: Sure.

LEIA: But there's bound to be a price on our heads, after

what I did to Jabba the Hutt!

HAN: Don't worry about it, Leia. I've got friends there.
We'll be fine. (deep breath) Ah, just what I needed--a nice,
hot meal.

Sound: Proximity alarm from the Falcon's computer.

THREEPIO: (over intercom) Captain Solo, Chewbacca asked me

to inform you that we are approaching Nal Hutta, and
receiving an emergency message.

HAN: Patch it through to this monitor, Threepio.

MAKO: (over intercom) Solo, are you out of your mind?!

HAN: Hah, my old friend Mako! Still in charge of the
Corellian sector of the spaceport, I see.

MAKO: You're crazy to come here, Solo. Every bounty hunter

in the galaxy is looking for you. The Hutts have quadrupled
the asking price, dead OR alive!

HAN: Yeah, well it's nice to feel wanted, Mako. Now open the
planetary shields.

MAKO: Where have YOU been? Planetary shields conked out six
years ago. Come on in, Solo--but you're asking for trouble!

Sound: Turbolaser fire. The Falcon shakes.

HAN: Thanks, Mako. Looks like it's already found us. Solo
out.

Sound: A louder blast, and the Falcon REALLY shakes.

HAN: We'd better get up front, Leia.

SCENE 2-15 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

=============================================
Sound: Cockpit sounds. Door opens. More turbolaser fire.

CHEWBACCA: ROARS IN ANGER.

HAN: Three bounty hunter ships? We got three on our tail

already??

Sound: More fire.

HAN: The bounty MUST be high. Maybe I oughta collect it

myself.

LEIA: Want me to get on the turret gun?

HAN: Nah, these are just local rust-buckets. Real bounty-

hunters know better than to go up against the Millenium
Falcon. We'll just outrun these guys.

Sound: The Falcon's engines rev up.

HAN: YEEHAH!! Whoa---turbulence in the upper atmosphere.

CHEWBACCA: GRUMBLES.

Sound: Falcon's shaking constantly now. More laser fire.

HAN: Strap yourself in there, you furry oaf! I can't watch

your head and my back at the same time!

Sound: More fire, and a ship passes the Falcon.

HAN: Hang on, we're entering the upper atmosphere. (close

blast) Yikes, that was a close one! Angle the deflector
shields, Chewie.

CHEWBACCA: COMPLIES.

HAN: Whoo--I've spent so much time wet-nursing those

trainees I forgot how much fun this was! Okay, let's see how
fast these local boys can go!

DENGAR: (over intercom) You won't lose me that easy, Solo!!

HAN: Dengar! Is that you, Dengar? Hah hah! Well, I must be

moving up in the world if I'm attracting a better breed of
bounty-hunter like you!

DENGAR: (over laser fire) Keep talking, Solo. I just want

you to know it's me that finally got you. Dengar out.

HAN: (laughs nervously) Oh boy, this is not good..... Let's

get to the chute fast, Chewie.

LEIA: The chute?

HAN: Yeah, it's the entrance to a hideout. THE hideout, as a

matter of fact. I got a friend who lives there. Hold
on....here we go!

LEIA: This is the chute? It's barely wide enough for the
Falcon! Those bounty hunters are still on our tail. We've
got no room to manuever!

DENGAR: (over intercom) So much for your fancy flying, Solo.

Got you in my sights--

HAN: Chewie, put everything into the rear deflector shields,

FAST!!

CHEWBACCA: HASTILY DOES SO.

Sound: Point-blank range laser fire hits the Falcon. The

whole ship heaves hard.

HAN: Okay, my other buddy's name is Ninx. Let's see, what's

his comm-code....?

Sound: Han punches in Ninx's number as the Falcon shudders

from laser fire.

SHUG: Han! I just got off the link with Mako. Said you were
coming my way.

HAN: Yeah, Ninx, I need a place to--

SHUG: No can do, Solo. I'm in enough trouble with the Hutts.

HAN: Come on, pal, I got hot-shots shooting on my tail, and

you owe me!! I saved your skin when you got caught running
ion triggers to the Ziggurats, remember?
SHUG: Yeah, and I paid you back with that free power core I
gave you back in--

HAN: Shut the gab, Ninx! I don't have time to barter like
the old days, I'm comin' in!

LEIA: Han--Han, you're heading straight for a blast wall!!

HAN: Come on Ninx, don't let me down old buddy......

THREEPIO: We're going to die!!!!

LEIA: Han, you don't have to do this to impress me--aahh!!!

Sound: Zapping sound as the Falcon hits--and passes through-

-a holoprojection.

HAN: YES! (laughs)

CHEWBACCA: LAUGHS TOO.

HAN: Yeah, I knew he'd come through too.

LEIA: We passed right through that blast wall like it wasn't

there.

HAN: Private energy shield. A hologram designed to look like

a wall. Oldest trick in the smuggler's book.

LEIA: What about the bounty hunters?

HAN: If I know my old pal Ninx, he raised the shield on 'em.

They're bantha fodder by now. Better power down and land
before we get smashed up too.

Sound: The Falcon sets down.

SCENE 2-16 INT. SHUG NINX'S STARSHIP CHOP SHOP

=============================================
Sound: Heavy factory noise, mixed with hangar noises. The
Falcon's ramp lowers, and the heroes step out.

LEIA: Han, what is this place?

HAN: Ninx fixes starships. Specializes in illegal engine

modifications that can outrun the Imperials.

LEIA: This is quite an operation. What's that big ship

they're building over there?

HAN: I dunno. We're about to find out.

SHUG: Solo, Chewbacca! (hugs Han) Haven't seen you guys in a

Rancor's age.

HAN: Hey, Ninx.

CHEWBACCA: GRUNTS OUT A GREETING.

SHUG: You guys never should have come here. Heard you killed
Jabba. Nobody kills a Hutt and lives.

HAN: Yeah, well, actually....my wife did it. Leia, this old
space pirate is Shug Ninx. He's got a Corellian heart of
gold......and silver.....and spice.

SHUG: Pleasure to meet you, lovely lady. So you aced ol'

Jabba, huh? Guess you're a lot tougher than you look.

THREEPIO: Excuse me, but would you mind if I used your oil-
bath? No one's bothered to lubricate me, they're so busy
fighting.

SHUG: Sure! Right over there, gold dome. Now I don't know
what you're doing here, Solo, but I want you guys to know
ol' Ninx will be more than happy to put his own life on the
line for you.

SALLA: But the truth is, we can't help you.

HAN: (startled) Salla!!

(Note: Although Salla is an ordinary black human in the

comic, she speaks with an amplified, feline tone in the tape
version.)

SALLA: Han Solo, you nerf-herding son of a-- (growls) How

many years has it been since you walked out on me?

HAN: And you look beautiful as ever, Salla. But look, Ninx,
about that help I need--

SHUG: Listen, Han. The Imperials are buying up cargo space

on every tin can in the galaxy. The action is heavy
equipment runs. Moving military hardware. We ain't got time
for the business we got. That's why Salla is building that
monster ship you saw back there. "The Starlight Intruder."

HAN: All we need is a ship that's legal for making a deep-

core run. The Alliance will pay 100,000 credits, in cash.

CHEWBACCA: GUARANTEES IT.

SALLA: Sounds intriguing, Solo. The Intruder IS registered

for deep core runs. But he's not ready yet. Still needs his
hyperdrive overhauled. And power couplings. By the
way.....who's the lady?

HAN: Oh. This is, uh, er....

LEIA: Leia. My name is Leia. Han and I are married.

SALLA: My condolences, dear. Han's great fun, but he's a

scoundrel. He'll break your heart.
HAN: (angry) She likes scoundrels, Salla. Now come on, how
long before the Starlight Intruder's ship-shape? We're in a
big hurry!

SALLA: Not long. IF Ninx will let me salvage a hyperdrive

off one of these other chariots.

SHUG: Sure, why not? But we'll still need top of the line
power couplings to get the Intruder up to maximum specs for
it's deep core run. Now Han, as I recall--

HAN: Yeah, yeah, I still got stuff stashed in my old digs.

SALLA: Of course, the equipment stays on the ship. Even if

you don't.

LEIA: What? That's robbery!

HAN: It's all right, Leia. This is how we do business around

here.

SALLA: Besides, it's a chance I just can't pass up--(slyly)

Han Solo's got the best equipment in the galaxy.

LEIA: Just a minute, you--!

HAN: (interrupting) You got a deal, Salla. Chewie, help 'em

prep the ships. We're going after some power couplings.

SALLA: (purrs) Coupling. Hmm. There's a thought. Hurry back.

SCENE 2-17 EXT. NAR SHADDAA STREET

=============================================
Sound: Your average poor man's street, with vendors
haggling, and others muttering in low tones.

LEIA: You know the most interesting people, Han Solo.

HAN: You mean Ninx and Salla? They're good people, Leia.
They'd jump down a Sarlacc's throat for me, as long as I
promised them a profit. Ninx and I go way back. He's even
wilder than me.

LEIA: I find that hard to believe.

HAN: He taught me how to tear down a hyperdrive, how to get

the most power out of a third-hand Modog power coup--

LEIA: And, uh..... Salla?

HAN: (nervous) I think she's a story for another time. (back

to normal) Now the guy that let us planetside, Mako, he's
like a brother to me.

LEIA: The guy we first contacted?

HAN: Yeah. Mako and I met way back when I was a cadet at the
Imperial Space Academy. Mako's my kind of guy. Troublemaker.
When we were classmates, he stole a gram of antimatter from
the physics lab, and used it to blow up a nearby moon.

LEIA: Sounds like the life of the party.

HAN: Actually, I owe him a lot. After I got drummed out of

the service, he did me a favor and introduced me to the
smuggling business.

LEIA: Hmph. Some favor. Did he introduce you to this place?

(disgusted) How could you have lived here?

HAN: Nar Shaddaa's nothin' to look at, but I called it home.

Just a place where I could stash my gear between jumps,
really.

LEIA: Ugh, look at the garbage. And the smell.....

HAN: Yeah, the city seems to have fallen on hard times. Not
as nice as I remember. But then, nothing ever is.

Sound: A humming sled, coming close.

HAN: Hey, duck--!

LEIA: (grunts as Han pulls her down to the ground) Hey,

what's the idea?

Sound: The unmistakable sound of a Hutt laughing. "Ho Ho

Ho...."

HAN: Keep your head down. You see that hoversled floating
by, carrying one of those big, wormy slime-covered---

LEIA: (shocked) It looks just like Jabba the Hutt! But I

killed him!

HAN: Gotta be one of his relatives. They all look alike. And
they all have long memories.

LEIA: Did he see us?

HAN: I don't think so. But we better cool it for a minute.

VIMA: (an old, crackly voice) You.....Jedi!!

LEIA: Who said that?

VIMA: Vima speaks.

HAN: Well, look at that--a talking pile of rags.

LEIA: Han, it's a old woman. A poor homeless woman.

HAN: What does she say?

VIMA: Jedi, Jedi!! Vima knows! Vima can see the Force! Vima
can FEEL the Force!

HAN: Hey, that's my wife you've got your paws on--

LEIA: It's okay, Han. Let me talk to her.

VIMA: Oh daughter of the Force, can you forgive Vima for her
crimes?

LEIA: Who are you? I can feel the Force in you....covered by

a great shadow.

VIMA: For 200 years, daughter, Vima was Jedi. (sadly) Vima
betrayed her own. Vima tried to forget, in the time of
dying.....Vima hurled herself down among the lost, to escape
the great scourge.

HAN: Great scourge?

LEIA: She must mean when the Empire began hunting down the
Jedi Knights.

VIMA: (agitated) Yes, yes!! Everyone was hunted!! Everyone

was killed!! But you....you live!!! You contain the spark
that will rekindle the fire!! Jedi, Great Jedi she is, Vima
can feel. Take this gift. What is inside will help you.

(In the comic only: A lizard-like creature waves something

at Han. "Ne chutta ka wonga?" "No, I don't need a hyperspace
compass. Buzz off.")

LEIA: This old box? But wh-what's inside?

VIMA: Vima wants you to have it. It was Vima's. Now, it is

yours.

LEIA: I don't know what to say.

HAN: Come on Leia, the Hutts are gone. We should get moving.

LEIA: Wait, I have to thank--she's gone. She vanished.

HAN: Let's do the same thing. My place is just around the

corner.

Sound: Street noise decreases as Han reaches the door.

HAN: Here we go. Just push the intercom and see if Zeezee is
still on the job.

ZEEZEE: (a old, tired-sounding droid) You have reached the

residence of Mr. Han Solo.

HAN: Zeezee, it's me. Open up. (to Leia) Zeezee's my

housekeeping droid.

ZEEZEE: I apollooogize MisterSolo--Misstterrr Sollooo is

notathome.
HAN: I AM MISTER SOLO!! OPEN UP!! Lousy second-hand
housekeeping droid--been away so long his servos are
probably rusted through. Aw, forget it, I'll just hit the
override.

Sound: Han works on a keypad. The door opens.

HAN: In we go.

SCENE 2-18 INT. HAN'S HOUSE

=========================================
Sound: The door closes.

LEIA: (sarcastic) Oh, lovely place you've got here, Han. Why
didn't you bring me here on our honeymoon?

HAN: Man, what a mess! Gosh, Zeezee, I see you did a great
job taking care of the place while I was gone!

ZEEZEE: Missttterrr Solo sogood to see youuuuu.

HAN: Yeah, thanks. Now--

ZEEZEE: A Missttterrr Fett to see you sirrrrrrr

AMisterFetttoseeyou sirrrr AMisterFettto see youu sirrr....

HAN: Mister WHO!?!? What the---

Sound: A gun is cocked.

BOBA FETT: Greetings, Solo.

HAN: Boba Fett?!?!

LEIA: But you're dead!!

HAN: Yeah, I saw you fall into that pit back on Tatooine!

BOBA: The Sarlacc found me somewhat indigestable, Solo. Now,

I'm back to collect my debts. And this time, I've brought
friends.

DENGAR: Hello again, Solo.

HAN: Dengar. I thought I left you smashed up against the

shield wall of Ninx's garage. Or do ALL you bounty hunters
come with extra lives?

ZEEZEE:ppppppoourrsomecoffee Pour some coffeeee?

HAN: How'd you know where to find me?

DENGAR: Your friend Mako's been real helpful. Told us right

where to find you.

MAKO: (cold) Hello, Solo.

HAN: Mako......after all these years, you're adding betrayal
to your list of accomplishments?

MAKO: Sorry, Han. The asking price was just too good. I
gotta be thinking of my old age.

BOBA: A lot of people would pay to see you dead, Solo. But
the Hutts are paying more for you alive. They want to watch
you die.

ZEEZEE:Peerrhhaps some tea, thereeee......

HAN: Yeah, Zeezee, pour them some--

BOBA: Get out of the way, you stupid droid!!

Sound: Zeezee walks right into Fett, sending both to the

floor.

HAN: Now's our chance, Leia! Make a break for it!

Sound: Han fires one shot, opens the door, and ducks out
with Leia.

ZEEZEE: Perrrhhappss you'd likeee some creeamm

wouldyoulikecream wwwoullddd you lll....

SCENE 2-19 EXT. NAR SHADDAA STREET/ SPACEPORT

=========================================================
Sound: Same bustle as before, turning to panic as blaster
shots are heard.

LEIA: How romantic--we're BOTH wanted by the Hutts.

HAN: Yeah, husband and wife, marked for death. Watch out,
Boba Fett's deadly accurate with those wrist rockets of his.
Turn left here, down this alleyway. I know this city like
the back of my hand.

LEIA: Turn here?

HAN: No, here, HERE!! Down this alley, right into---

oops.....

Sound: Hoversled.

HUTT: Ba Cheesa....

LEIA: Did the back of your hand tell you there would be a
big slimy Hutt on his hoversled, surrounded by bodyguards
down here?!?

HAN: Behind this pillar!!

Sound: More blaster fire.

LEIA: Bounty hunters behind us, and Hutt bodyguards in front

of us!
HAN: I hope Lando's having better luck than we are.....

SCENE 2-20 INT. STAR DESTROYER EMANCIPATOR BRIDGE

=======================================================
Sound: The sounds of a very one-sided space battle. From the
sound of hundreds of TIE's, the Rebels are losing, and
losing big.

WEDGE: General Calrissian, that World Devastator has left

the atmosphere! It's on an intercept course with us!!

LANDO: Gunners, target all weapons systems on that

approaching Devastator!

Sound: Multiple turbolasers are fired.

WEDGE: Turbolasers are ineffective against their shields!

(hits intercom) Emancipator to Pinnacle Base? Emanicipator
to Pinnacle Base!! We're in trouble! One of those world
smashers is coming straight at us!!

LANDO: Fire all forward torpedoes!!

Sound: Multiple torpedoes fire.

WEDGE: I'm trying....our forward firing systems won't

respond! The nose of our ship has been incinerated by that
monster!! It's no use, Lando! In a few minutes,
Emancipator's going to be nothing but scrap!

LANDO: ARRRGGHH!!! That's TWO Star Destroyers I've lost!!

All personnel to the escape pods. (Sigh) Things haven't been
this bad for the Alliance since Vader was alive!!!

SCENE 2-21 EXT. NAR SHADDAA SPACEPORT

================================================
LEIA: Nice going, Han. We're trapped in a crossfire.

HAN: Yeah, and every bounty hunter in town seems to be

joining the party.

HUTT: Na shan nee cho sha pan kee.

BOBA: Everyone back off!! Solo's MINE!!

HAN: Watch it--Boba Fett's making his move!

Sound: Boba fires--and hits the Hutt on his hoversled.

HUTT: (Coughs and gasps as he falls off the sled)

HAN: (laughs) Look at that! Boba Fett hit that fat slug of a
Hutt instead of us!! Knocked him right off his floater--

LEIA: Come on, there's our chance!! Get on board!

Sound: Han and Leia jump on the sled.

LEIA: Ugh!! What's on this thing?!?

HAN: Man, I never thought a Hutt's slime tracks would smell

so sweet.

LEIA: Okay, I'm on. Let's go.

HAN: Hang on, Your Worship, I'm trying to figure out these
weird knobs and switches....

LEIA: Don't call me "Your Worship"!!! Why is it you always

get formal when you're about to (sled suddenly goes into
second gear) dooo somethingggg stupidddddd!!!!!

HAN AND LEIA: YELL THEIR HEADS OFF AS THE SLED TAKES OFF
INTO THE AIR.

BOBA: You won't get away that easy, Solo! One of these days,
I'll catch up to you!!!

SCENE 2-22 INT. SLED/ INT. STARLIGHT INTRUDER

=========================================================
Sound: Humming of the sled.

HAN: There's Ninx's garage up ahead. And look--Starlight

Intruder's ready to take off. Man, Salla's great. Trust an
old girlfriend to help out a guy in a jam.

LEIA: Somehow, your "old girlfriends" don't inspire that

much trust in me.

SHUG: (far below, shouting to be heard) Han, move your

butt!! They're broadcasting your location all over the comm-
net!!

Sound: The sled comes to a landing. Han and Leia climb out.
The Intruder's hatch opens.

HAN: What about the Millenium Falcon?

SHUG: She's stowed in the cargo bay. Come on.

HAN: Here we go.....hey Chewie, give Leia a hand.

CHEWBACCA: GRUNTS.

Sound: Changes to Starlight Intruder interior. Hatch shuts.

HAN: Okay Ninx, we're aboard. Let's vacate this dead moon.

Sound: Engines warm up.

SHUG: Blast out of here, Salla!

Sound: Engines roar.

HAN: Whoa!!
SALLA: How are we doing, Ninx?

SHUG: Fine, Salla. Navicomputer says the Starlight Intruder

is cleared all the way to Byss.

SALLA: But will he stall out in hyperspace? That's what

worries me. I've rebuilt the hyperdrive motivator three
times, and it's still shaking like Andorian jellyfish. I
could have used those couplings of yours.

HAN: You'll handle it, Salla. No one can coax an engine like
you can.

LEIA: Huh? What's this? Oh! In the excitement, I never

opened the box that old woman gave me!

HAN: What you got there, Leia?

LEIA: Let's open it and see.

Sound: Box opens.

LEIA: (gasps) Oh, Han.....that woman WAS a Jedi. This is a

lightsaber. And an old one, from the looks of it.

HAN: Kinda like the woman who gave it to you--a real

antique.

LEIA: Han, will you ever understand? For better or for

worse, you're married to a Jedi now.

HAN: I understand the things that matter.

LEIA: This lightsaber has a long history. It has a strong

connection to the Force. (Sound: The Force begins to hum) I
can feel it.....helping me focus my power......(Sound: Force
grows stronger) (gasp)

HAN: Leia! What's wrong??

LEIA: The vision......I-I can't stop it!!! NO!!!

SHUG: Hey, Han, is she okay??

LEIA: No no no no no!!!!

HAN: Leia, let go of the lightsaber! LET GO!!!

SHUG: Take it out of her hand!!

Sound: Han slaps the lightsaber out of Leia's hands, and it

clatters to the floor.

HAN: There!

LEIA: No......Luke......LUKE!!
SHUG: She's still out of it!

HAN: Leia, WHAT'S WRONG???

LEIA: (extremely upset) Han!! It's TERRIBLE!!!!

HAN: Was it the lightsaber??

LEIA: No......when I touched the lightsaber--I tried to

reach out with the Force. But all I can see is...(swallows
hard) Han, I see Luke. He's commanding the Imperial forces.
Like our father. I see him sending hundreds--thousands--of
ships against the Alliance. I fear we've lost him, Han. I
fear we've lost everything.........

Music: Swells into the last notes of the ROTJ End Theme.
Fade out on all music and sound.

THE STORY SO FAR........

Music: Star Wars Main Theme.

NARRATOR: Six years after the deaths of Darth Vader and the
Emperor, the battle rages on.
As rival factions within the Empire struggle for power, the
Rebel Alliance is quick to seize the opportunity to sow
confusion among the feuding Imperials, using captured Star
Destroyers to perform hit-and-run sorties into the war zone.
One such raid, over the raging Imperial City battleground,
ended in disaster.
The Alliance Star Destroyer Liberator, commanded by Luke
Skywalker and Lando Calrissian, crashlanded on the planet's
surface. Although Princess Leia and her husband Han Solo
arrived in time to save their friends, before a mysterious
energy storm ravaged the planet, Luke Skywalker refused to
leave, sensing that a powerful Dark Side entity had
appeared.
Princess Leia and the others returned to the Rebel base,
only to discover that a new, unknown leader had reassembled
the vast forces of the Empire.
What they did not know was that it was the Emperor himself,
resurrected by the awesome power of the Dark Side, who had
unleashed his powerful "World Devastators" against the
rebellious water-covered world of Mon Calamari.
While Lando Calrissian took command of the remaining Star
Destroyer to defend Calamari, Leia (a Jedi in her own right)
discovered the worst news of all: Luke Skywalker had crossed
over to the Dark Side.
Aided by two Corellian smugglers, Han and Leia journey to
the planet Byss, to the heart of the Dark Side, to rescue
Luke. Meanwhile, Lando Calrissian faces overwhelming odds,
as a space battle rages over the planet Calamari......

SCENE 3-1 INT STAR DESTROYER EMANCIPATOR BRIDGE/ INT.

ESCAPE POD.
============================================
Sound: The sound of destruction and devastation are never-
ending. An alarm is shrieking.

WEDGE: We've lost everything! Ion cannons,

turbolasers...Lando, all weapons systems are dead!

LANDO: That machine is eating us for lunch! Reverse

engines!! Full astern!

WEDGE: Ion engines unresponsive! We're still being sucked

into the mouth of that World Devastator.

LANDO: This ship is a lost cause. Jettison the escape pods.

(groans) That's two Star Destroyers I've lost.

WEDGE: Come on, Lando! We have to take this last escape pod!

Sound: The bridge instruments fade as Lando and Wedge enter

the escape pod. The pod's hatch shuts.

WEDGE: Ready to launch.

LANDO: Ohhh, I guess I just wasn't cut out to command Star

Destroyers....

Sound: Blasting noise as the pod bursts free of the dying

Star Destroyer.

WEDGE: Pod away! We're cleared of the Star Destroyer. Whew--

just in time!

LANDO: Yeah. And floating around space like Mynocks in a

shooting gallery.

SCENE 3-2 INT. WORLD DEVASTATOR SILENCER SEVEN FIRING ROOM

===========================================================
COMMANDER KLEV: There's another escape pod, cadet.

CADET: I don't see anything, sir! Where?

KLEV: (angry) Right there on your screen! I can't believe an

idiot like you has been assigned to my World Devastator.

CADET: I-I'm sorry, Commander!

KLEV: Never mind! Just arm your turboblaster.

Sound: Clicking of instruments.

KLEV: Good. Now activate your targeting computer.

Sound: Computer is activated.

COMPUTER: Target acquired. One escape pod, two life forms

aboard.

KLEV: You may fire when ready.

SCENE 3-3 INT. PALACE ROOM

=========================================
Sound: The sounds of destruction are quieter, and half-
filtered through a holoscreen.

LUKE: (sounding darker and colder than ever) The Rebels have
no hope against your World Devastators, my Master.

EMPEROR: (amused) You mean OUR World Devastators, young

Skywalker. It is beautiful, is it not, my young apprentice,
to be the cause of so much destruction?

LUKE: The art of misery knows no one greater than you, my

Master.

EMPEROR: You take too little credit, my son! It was you who
predicted the Rebels would send their remaining Star
Destroyer to Calamari. YOU are the victor here. Now do you
see the power of the Dark Side?

LUKE: Only too well. But I must leave you, my Master. I have
duties to attend.

EMPEROR: And miss the final death throes of the Rebellion??

Ah, well, the loss is yours.

Sound: Footsteps as Luke leaves the throne room. We follow

Luke through a corridor and up to a door.

COMPUTER: Imperial War Room. Authorized personnel only.

Identify.

LUKE: Luke Skywalker, Supreme Imperial Commander.

COMPUTER: Voice authorization confirmed.

Sound: Door opens, and we hear the sounds of a room filled

with computers. Luke begins typing on a console.

LUKE: Now, to give the Rebellion a surprise it will never

forget......

SCENE 3-4 INT. WORLD DEVASTATOR SILENCER SEVEN FIRING ROOM

============================================================
==
KLEV: Cadet, what are you waiting for?!? FIRE!!!

CADET: Yes, Commander Klev. Escape pod targeted.....firing

sequence engaged....and--firing!!

Sound: A muffled group of explosions.

KLEV: Great Lords of the Sith, what was that?!? (hits

intercom) Bridge, report!!

CREWMAN: Commander, a new fleet of Rebel fighters has just

come out of hyperspace. We're under attack!
SCENE 3-5 INT. ESCAPE POD
===============================================
(Note: All voices in scene are over intercom, except for
Lando and Wedge.)

KNAVE LEADER: Knave Team, this is Knave Leader. Sublight

power engaged. Deflector shields on. Arm turbos and ion
cannon.

WHITE LEADER: White team, this is White Leader. Concentrate

your fire on that rear scanning tower.

WHITE TWO: Right behind you, White Leader.

KNAVE LEADER: Knave Leader to Blue Leader: I count 8--make

that 9--9 escape pods transmitting Alliance codes.

BLUE LEADER: Affirmative, Knave Leader. Blue Leader to Blue

Team: Transfer energy from ion cannons to shields and
lasers.

KNAVE LEADER: Locking S foils into position....

KNAVE TWO: Look at the size of the machines!

BLUE THREE: Must be five kilometers high!!

BLUE LEADER: Cut the chatter, Blue Team. Fan out, defensive
formation Delta. Protect those escape pods.

KNAVE LEADER: Knave Leader to all teams, beginning our

attack run!!!

LANDO: Listen to that, Wedge!!!

WEDGE: Looks like half the galaxy's arrived, Lando! Look out
the observation port. X-Wings, Frigates, even those new E-
Wing Fighters.

CAPTAIN NEVA: Escape Pod ES17T, this is Antares Six.

LANDO: HEY, ARE WE GLAD TO SEE YOU!!!

CAPTAIN NEVA: You guys look like you could use a lift.

SCENE 3-6 INT. WORLD DEVASTATOR SILENCER SEVEN BRIDGE

============================================================
====
KLEV: Rebel SCUM!!! Did they really think they could
penetrate our defenses with these new ships?

CREWMAN: Commander Klev, we've got a problem! The Master

Control computer on Byss is transmitting improper signals.
It's shutting us down!!

KLEV: WHAT!?! That's impossible! Put Silencer Seven on

override!! Do you hear me?? Override all systems!!
COMMANDER: Override confirmed, sir. We're okay. But Silencer
Five's override has failed to respond! The Master Control
signal has locked out it's override command!

SCENE 3-7 INT. ANTARES SIX BRIDGE

==================================================
KNAVE LEADER: (over intercom, as with all Knave fighters)
Knave team, this is Knave Leader. That World Devastator is
frozen in place.

KNAVE THREE: Knave Three here. I see it, but I don't believe
it.

KNAVE LEADER: Watch yourself, Knave Three. That forward

turbolaser is still firing.

Sound: A small explosion.

KNAVE THREE: I'm hit, I'm hit!!!

KNAVE LEADER: Go planetside! Ditch her in the ocean! Knave

Two, can you see where--

KNAVE TWO: Affirmative--He burned up, he burned up in the

atmosphere.

KNAVE LEADER: Come on, let's blast that thing to pieces

while it's immobilized.

LANDO: I'm glad to be out of that escape pod, Wedge. Antares

Six feels like a luxury liner after that floating coffin.

WEDGE: (incredulous) It's got a better view, too. Check out

the screen.

LANDO: (incredulous himself) I see it! That big World

Devastator's on fire!!! Spinning out of orbit! It's
crashing!!

WEDGE: Those new E-Wings must have found the Devastator's

weak spot.

LANDO: Not the way I saw it, Wedge. That World Devastator
self-destructed. Whoever's in charge of those monsters is an
idiot. You'd almost think he WANTS to lose!

SCENE 3-8 INT. HYPERSPACE MARAUDER BRIDGE

========================================================
Sound: Hum of ship's engines.

SALLA: Do you want to lose your fingers or what, Solo?!

HAN: Sorry, Salla. I-I just can't help it.....

SALLA: Keep your hands off my instruments. Nobody flies the

Starlight Intruder but me. How we doing, Ninx?
SHUG: Fine. We're entering the Deep Core Security Zone.
Planet Byss has acknowledged our approach. But the whole
planet is protected by heavy-duty shield generators.

HAN: Kinda like the system we took out on the Endor moon.
But you're clear to land, right?

Sound: Crackle of intercom.

COMPUTER: Starlight Intruder, this is planet security. We

have confirmation of your registration code, but our scanner
indicates you have an uncleared ship stored in your cargo
bay.

LEIA: They've detected the Falcon!

SHUG: Ah, affirmative.....uh, it's an empty hulk we picked

up. Yeah, yeah, that's it--j-just junk we picked up for
salvage.

COMPUTER: Acknowledged. The planetary perimeter shield will

open in exactly 3.2 seconds. Follow your pre-arranged flight
path, or you will be vaporized. If you make any sudden
manuevers, you will be vaporized. If you deviate from your
course by one degree, you will be vaporized. Welcome to the
planet Byss. (intercom goes off)

Sound: The Intruder's engines quiet, and the ship sets down.

SALLA: Okay, we're docking.

HAN: Where are we?

SALLA: At the Imperial freight complex at the outskirts of

the city.

SHUG: We're tapped into the city's computer network.....We

got cargo bays all around us. The whole area's patrolled by
hunter-killer droids the size of small moons. And just west
of us, we've got......well, looks like somebody opened up a
bar right here on Byss. (chuckles) Wonder if the drinks are
any good.

HAN: Never mind that. What else is around?

SHUG: About four klicks east, we got one serious security

zone. Must be something really big happening there.
Electronic barricades, surveillance equipment all over the
place.

LEIA: Luke is there. I can feel him. Han, you have to let me
pilot the Falcon. I'll take us to Luke.

Sound: Leia heads towards the Intruder's cargo bay.

HAN: Pilot the Falcon?? I don't know about that, Leia--this

place is crawling with hunter-killer droids. You don't
really have that much experience--

SALLA: You better quit talking and start walking, Solo. Your
wife is already heading for the Falcon.

HAN: (heading off) Leia? Leia....

SCENE 3-9 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT - A SHORT TIME

LATER
==========================================================
HAN: (nervous as hell) Leia, keep your eye on the auxiliary
power.

LEIA: (amused) Yes, Han.

HAN: And-and steady that forward stabilizer.

LEIA: Han--

HAN: Keep your eyes on your flying!!!

CHEWBACCA: MOANS IN FEAR.

SHUG: Talk about a back seat pilot.

SALLA: (laughs) Poor Solo never could stand to have a woman

in the driver's seat, hmm?

LEIA: Han, stop being so protective. You taught me

everything I know, darling. (imitating Han) Trust me.

HAN: Yeah, but the Falcon's a tricky--

LEIA: Now be quiet. I need to concentrate on Luke.

Sound: The Force rises, softly.

LEIA: (to herself, whispering) Luke......

LUKE: (echoing in her head) Leia.....

LEIA: I'm coming.....

HAN: Leia? Uh, Leia? You're taking us right into the

Imperial security zone!

LEIA: That's where Luke is, Han. See that big tower? We'll
land in that hangar on top.

HAN: But this is the security zone!

COMPUTER: (over intercom) Unauthorized vessel, you are in

violation of security protocol. If you do not withdraw, you
will be destroyed. This is your only warning.

CHEWBACCA: ROARS "FUNK DAT!!"

THREEPIO: Ohh, perhaps we should give ourselves up!

Sound: Turbolaser fire.

THREEPIO: Too late!!!

HAN: We're gonna get vaporized!

LEIA: The Force will get us through, Han.

CHEWBACCA: TELLS HER WHAT HE THINKS OF THE FORCE.

HAN: Yeah, yeah, I know, Chewie. Cool it. I gotta hunch

we're gonna need the Force to get us where we're going.

SALLA: We're not going anywhere with that security shooting

our backs.

LEIA: Got to use the Force. (sound: Force rises, louder) Got
to reach the gunner's mind.....

SHUG: You got any suggestions, I'm all--hey? What's with

Leia?

LEIA: I am....(amused) making a suggestion.

SCENE 3-10 INT. BYSS PATROL SHIP GUNNER STATION

================================================
PATROL CAPTAIN: Security command, this is patrol XLS. We are
in pursuit of unregistered traffic in Security Zone One.

COMPUTER: Acknowledged, XLS. Target ship and destroy.

PATROL CAPTAIN: You heard the order, gunner. Fire when

ready! (long pause) Gunner, what are you waiting for?!

GUNNER: They must be using a cloaking device. We've lost

visual sighting, and the scanners can't locate them.

PATROL CAPTAIN: (exploding) What do you mean?!? That ship's

right there on the screen!!! DESTROY IT!!

GUNNER: I'm sorry, sir. The targeting computer is never

wrong. Maybe they've dropped behind us--

Sound: The Falcon roars past XLS.

PATROL CAPTAIN: You FOOL!! Now we've missed our chance! That
tramp freighter is in violation of the Emperor's personal
security zone! We'll BOTH be executed for this!!

SCENE 3-11 INT. EMPEROR'S TOWER - HANGAR

=====================================================
COMPUTER: Unidentified ship now on approach pattern.

DARK GUARD: Permit them to land.

Sound: The Falcon approaches, and lands in the hangar.

COMPUTER: Bioscan indicates five lifeforms and one droid.

DARK GUARD: Prepare to take the prisoners to Lord Skywalker.

HAN: (from far off) We're coming out. We surrender.

THREEPIO: Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

DARK GUARD: Exit with your hands up. Well, well. What a
motley crew we have here. A battered protocol droid--

THREEPIO: Battered? Well, if I may say so, sir--

DARK GUARD: An unkempt Wookiee, a common smuggler, a woman,

and--but....weren't there five...?

Sound: Falcon's engines roar into life again. The Falcon

fires at the hangar.

COMPUTER: Alert! Alert! Unauthorized weapons discharge.

DARK GUARD: That ship is escaping!

HAN: Everybody hit the deck. Chewie, use your bowcaster to

take out that tracking beam.

CHEWBACCA: AGREES.

THREEPIO: What about me? I'm completely defenseless!

LEIA: Over here, Threepio.

HAN: The plan worked. Ninx 'n' Salla are blasting their way
to freedom!

LEIA: That's the last of the guards. We're safe....for now.

THREEPIO: I don't know why I put so much trust in humans. I

always end up getting hurt.

HAN: If Salla's lucky, she'll find a hole to hide the Falcon

in 'til we need it.

LEIA: Right. Listen, Han, Luke's not far. All we have to do

now.....

LUKE: (echoing, in vision) Leia.....

LEIA: Luke?

HAN: That's not Luke. You can see right through him. That's
some sort of a projection. But.....those two goons in battle
armor look real enough.

LUKE: Leia, you should not have come here. It will not go
well. My master wishes to speak with you. These sentinels
will escort you to the Emperor's presence.
LEIA: The Emperor?!?

CHEWBACCA: GASPS IN SHOCK.

LUKE: Yes.......he lives.

SCENE 3-12 INT. PALACE CORRIDOR/ CLONING CHAMBER

=================================================
SENTINEL: Prisoners, follow me.

HAN: Keep your mitts off me, you big ape.

CHEWBACCA: MAKES A THREAT.

HAN: No offense, Chewie.

THREEPIO: Excuse me, sir. I am only programmed for etiquette

and protocol and not well versed in philosophy,
but.....isn't the Emperor dead?

Sound: Door opens.

SENTINEL: Through here.

HAN: Yeah. Luke's probably gone crazy. How could the Emperor
be alive?

Sound: The hum of machinery, and bubbling from many

directions.

SENTINEL: Prisoners, halt!

LEIA: Oh, NO. I think you have your answer, Han.

HAN: Jeez.....

CHEWBACCA: "WHAT IS THAT?"

LEIA: They're clones, Chewie. See those transparent pods

lined up against the walls?

CHEWBACCA: "YEAH, I DO."

LEIA: Those are cloning chambers. Each one is filled with

amniotic fluid, and--

HAN: And a clone of the Emperor himself.

LEIA: In various stages of growth. Look, he's full grown in

this one, but still a teenager in the one down here.

HAN: Ugh.....he was even ugly as a baby.

SENTINEL: Do not touch the generation chamber!

HAN: Awright, all right!

LEIA: Why are we here? Where is Luke?

LUKE: I'm here.

LEIA: Luke!

ARTOO: GIVES A TIRED GREETING...OR AS CLOSE TO TIRED AS A

DROID CAN GET.

THREEPIO: And Artoo's with him! Oh, Artoo, I've missed you!

SENTINEL: Droid, halt!!

HAN: Careful, Threepio. Luke's brought more of those

sentinel goons with him. You must rate pretty high to get
the Emperor's personal bodyguards, "old buddy."

LUKE: It was very foolish of you to come here. I TOLD you

that my destiny was not yours.

HAN: (angry, and more than a little sad) I can see you've
really gone off the deep end this time, kid. Looks like
being a Jedi was just too much for you.

LUKE: (vicious) Be quiet, Han. There are things far beyond

the mind and powers of a space pirate. Things you'll NEVER
understand.

HAN: Hey, wait a minute!! I can read a face, farmboy! You've

come a long way from the idealistic kid who couldn't wait to
get off Tatooine and join the Rebellion. A long way DOWN.

LEIA: Han, take it easy! We don't know what's happened!

THREEPIO: (shocked) Master Luke!! Artoo says they've erased

his main programming!!! How could you LET them?!?

LUKE: (a bit regretful) Threepio.....I wish I could

explain.....

SENTINEL: Lord Skywalker. The Master wishes to meet our

guests.

LUKE: (regaining his "evil" mien) Of course. Take their

weapons. Leia, give me that lightsaber.

HAN: (pulls out his blaster) Not on your life!

LUKE: Han, put away your blaster!

HAN: We're leaving here now! And THIS time, you're coming
with us!!

Sound: The low-pitch Force ROARS, and Han's blaster flies

out of his hand and into Luke's.

HAN: Hey!!

LUKE: Be grateful, Han. I only used the Force to pull the

blaster from your hand. (coldly) I could just as easily have
ripped your arm off along with it. Sentinel, take him!!

Sound: Sentinel seizes Han.

LUKE: And take the Wookiee too.

CHEWBACCA: IS ALMOST OUT OF HIS MIND WITH OUTRAGE.

SENTINEL: Prisoners secured.

Sound: Sentinel is choking Han with a headlock.

LUKE: Now, Leia.....(threatening) GIVE ME that lightsaber!!

Sound: Leia's lightsaber ignites.

LEIA: Come and take it!!

EMPEROR: (from far off) Good.....good....

LEIA: (gasps) The Emperor himself!!

LUKE: Leia, don't be a fool!!

LEIA: (almost crying) I don't know what he did to you, Luke,

but get back!!

EMPEROR: Excellent! Strike your brother! Then you will see

what new powers he's won from the Dark Side of the Force!!

LEIA: (hesitates) I......I won't use this lightsaber on you,

Luke. But your sentinels--hey, you overgrown freak, LET GO
OF MY HUSBAND!!!

Sound: A lightsaber slash, and the thud of something hitting

the ground.

SENTINEL: (screams)

HAN: (catching his breath) Thanks....Leia....it's good to

be....breathing again.

LEIA: Now we're leaving! And we're taking Luke with us!

EMPEROR: Brave little Jedi. But really, such an old

lightsaber is not a worthy weapon for you.

Sound: The Force roars again--the deepest and darkest we've

heard yet. The lightsaber in Leia's hands explodes.

LEIA: (shrieks as she drops the saber's remains)

EMPEROR: SENTINELS!!!

SENTINEL TWO: Prisoners restrained.

HAN: (choking again) Not--again--

EMPEROR: Look at you. Brother and sister Jedi. The last of
your kind. And I have you both. This one, my dear
apprentice, so strong in the Force. He has learned his
lessons well. And the sister--so vunerable, so
inexperienced. And yet, she holds the key to the future.

LEIA: Get your hands off me!!!

EMPEROR: Do not worry, little Jedi. I will not harm you.

Indeed, I will teach you things you have never imagined. I
will show you the REAL power a Jedi can wield. Come, my son.

LUKE: (sounding a LOT like Vader) Yes, my master.

EMPEROR: Bring your friends. Let us reveal to them the

wonders I have in store. Let us show them the future of the
galaxy......my lovely clones.

LEIA: (echoing, thinking to herself) Come on, Leia. If there

was ever a time to prove you're a Jedi, now's the time. Wait-
-that power generator's suspended from the ceiling. It's
heavy enough to crush a Bantha. If I can just use the
Force.....

ARTOO: BEEPS IN SURPRISE.

THREEPIO: Power surge? I don't sense a power surge anywhere.

Sound: The Force is getting louder.....

EMPEROR: Long ago, I found my flesh could not withstand the

awesome demands of the Dark Side. The great Emperor himself
discovered he was dying.

LEIA: (whisper) Fall.....fall.....

EMPEROR: My body was literally consumed by the energies I

had released. Fortunately there was a way....a road to
eternal life....

LEIA: (whisper) now.....

Sound: The power generator cracks, falls on the Emperor--and

explodes.

EMPEROR: (roars with laughter)

LEIA: (gasping with the effort).....how?!?

EMPEROR: Well done, my daughter! Your first step toward the

Dark Side of the Force! But it will take more than a Jedi
apprentice and a falling object to kill me. Now, let ME show
YOU something!

Sound: The snap, crackle and pop of some all-too-familiar

purple lightning.
LEIA: (screams in agony)

HAN: Stop it!! STOP!! YOU'RE KILLING HER!!!

CHEWBACCA: RAGES.

LEIA: (weak) L-Luke....help me....(hits ground, lightning

stops)

HAN: FILTH!!! YOU'VE MURDERED MY WIFE!!!

EMPEROR: Don't worry, my friend. She will live. That was

just a little discipline for a Jedi. Sentinels!! Take her to
my quarters! It is time to begin her training!

HAN: (straining against the Sentinel) Don't take her!!

LEIA!!!

LUKE: Han, do not interfere.

HAN: (breaks free of the Sentinel) TRAITOR!!! OUT OF MY

WAY!!!

LUKE: (growls as he seizes Han and lifts him into the air)
You leave me no choice!!!

HAN: (gasping) Let go of my throat....Luke.....

LUKE: Han, I STRONGLY suggest you refrain from any further

violence. For Leia's sake.

HAN: You've become--just like him--just like Vader!! Or

WORSE!!

CHEWBACCA: "STOP IT!!"

THREEPIO: Master Luke, you're KILLING him!!

LUKE: You understand NOTHING of what is taking place. Or

what I'm doing to save the galaxy.

HAN: You don't deserve to live. For what you've done,

Luke......I'll kill you myself. I'll--GAKK~!

Sound: Luke throws Han against the wall. Han crashes against
it, but is still held by Luke.

LUKE: That may be true, Han. I may HAVE to die. But I assure
you, it won't be YOU who does the deed.

3-13 INT. BYSS CANTINA

===============================================
Sound: The bustle of a busy bar. A tune is playing in the
distance.

LO KHAN: So I says "Thrusters"? I got your thrusters right

here, baby!
LO, SALLA, AND SHUG: (all laugh)

SHUG: Ah, you're a lifesaver, Lo Khan. Thanks for letting us

hide the Millenium Falcon inside your ship.

LO: Yeah, Ninx, the Hyperspace Marauder's got room. But both
of you owe me big. If the Imperials find out, I'm dead meat.
Got that, Salla?

SALLA: Yeah. And Solo owes me. Byss security impounded my

ship, the Starlight Intruder. You know how long it took me
to build that ship?

LO: That's a debt you'll never collect. Solo and his pals
are probably Rancor food by now.

SALLA: Well, if he's not, he'd better show up soon. Or I'm

taking the Falcon and jumping for home.

SHUG: So what's the deal with this bar full of space

jockeys, Lo Khan? The Imperials never let deep core haulers
planetside before.

LO: It's a military buildup, Ninx. Every pirate ship in a

thousand systems is running supplies from Byss to the
Imperials offworld.

SALLA: Well, I'm not complaining. It's been a long time

since I've been in a joint this classy.

LO: Hmph.

Sound: A comlink beeps for attention.

LO: Hey, that's my comlink.

SHUG: Nah, it's mine. Let's hope it's Solo. Ninx here.

HAN: Ninx, Salla--it's Han. I don't know if you can hear

this, but our big plan isn't working out like I wanted. If
you're out there, I'm beaming my coordinates. We're in big--
-

VOICE: (loud and amplified on the comlink) NO TRANSMISSIONS

ALLOWED!

3-14 INT. PALACE DUNGEON

================================================
Sound: The man the voice belongs to suckerpunches Han in the
gut, knocking the comlink to the ground.

HAN: Hey, you broke my comlink!

DARK GUARD: Who did you contact?

HAN: My mother. She worries about me.

Sound: The Dark Guard wails away on Solo again.

DARK GUARD: You will regret your impudence. Into the cell
with your Wookiee friend!

Sound: The Guard kicks Han (literally) into the cell and
slams/locks the door.

CHEWBACCA: GROWLS IN CONTEMPT OF THE GUARD.

HAN: I'm okay, Chewie. I'm okay. At least so far. Well, old
pal, I think we're in big trouble.

3-15 EXT. BYSS SPACEPORT

=========================================
Sound: A ship zooms by. A low humming (this time of
machinery), coming close.

SHUG: You sure this is a good idea, Salla?

SALLA: No, it's a lousy idea, Ninx. But we've gotta get back
to the Millenium Falcon. And the Falcon's hidden inside Lo
Khan's ship. The only way there is through the spacedock.

SHUG: Yeah, but there's one of those giant hunter-killer

droids wandering around the spacedock. Like it's looking for
something.

SALLA: It IS. Look at that bright light--it keeps focusing

on different ships.

SHUG: Yeah, I've seen those before. That's a sensory

enhanced detection array. It'll see right through the hull
of a ship and detect anything inside. And it's looking this
way!

SALLA: Duck!!

SHUG: (long pause) Did it see us?

SALLA: I don't think so. Come on, we'd better get to Lo

Khan's ship before--

SHUG: Too late.....that hunter-killer droid just zeroed in

on the Hyperspace Marauder.

SALLA: We've got to make a break for it.

PROBOT: (a steely, mechanical voice) Judgment 12-X7 to

Security Command. Freighter Hyperspace Marauder, docking
permit X7A97HM, cargo scan in progress. Anomaly--detecting
second vessel concealed within. Please confirm
identification of Priority One quarry.

SECURITY COMMAND: (over intercom) Priority One Quarry:

Corellian YT-1300 transport. Cargo capacity 100 metric tons.
Vessel designation: Millenium Falcon.

PROBOT: Identification confirmed. Sensor analysis: Increased

energy readings in aft quadrant. Location: Engines.
Conclusion: Target ship preparing to--

Sound: The Millenium Falcon blasts out of the Hyperspace

Maruader's cargo bay, passing the probot.

3-16 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

===============================================
SHUG: This is the stupidest thing we've ever done, Salla.

SALLA: Not as stupid as sitting around and waiting to get

arrested, Ninx.

PROBOT: (over intercom) Judgment 12-X7 to Security Command.

Apprehension and detainment of target ship in progress.

SALLA: He's closing on us fast, Ninx. Hit him, hit him--!

Sound: The Falcon opens fire on the probot.

SHUG: No good. That H-K's got some new kind of deflectors.

Th-The Falcon's missiles are bouncing off his shields like
pebbles!

Sound: The opening of a giant door from far away, and the
roar of--

SALLA: We're caught in a tractor beam! Increase power!

SHUG: No good, we're being drawn in.

SALLA: Looks like Han and Leia will have to take care of
business without us.

SHUG: Not if I can help it.....

3-17 INT. EMPEROR'S SUITE

=============================================
EMPEROR: Welcome to my inner sanctum, my dear.

LEIA: I'd be more comfortable if you took this restraining

device off me.

EMPEROR: Hmm. Very well. Sentinel, release her.

Sound: The Sentinel removes the restraining device from

Leia.

LEIA: (sighs with relief)

EMPEROR: Now leave us. I have secrets that can only be

shared with a Jedi.

SENTINEL: Yes, my lord.

Sound: The door closes behind the Sentinel.

EMPEROR: Now, we may talk....privately.

LEIA: I have nothing to say to you.

EMPEROR: My brave little warrior. Just like your brother.

Oh, yes. He is brave, despite what you think. In fact, he
has been sabotaging my efforts. He can hide nothing from me.

LEIA: Luke? S-sabotaging? But why.....?

EMPEROR: Why do I allow him to continue? It suits my

purpose. Everything is as I foresaw it. And everything works
according to my plan. In the end, he is insignificant.

LEIA: My brother is a great Jedi!!

EMPEROR: Yessss.....a great Jedi. But YOU are destined to be

far greater. (suddenly moans, then weaker:) Forgive me, my
dear. I am not well. The time of my transference approaches.

LEIA: "Transference?" Then....it's true. You ARE using

clones.

EMPEROR: Soon this body will no longer be able to contain my

great power. But, forgive the ramblings of an old man. Come
here, little Jedi. I want to show you something.

Sound: A small humming.

LEIA: That small cube? Glowing with inner light?

EMPEROR: Yes. This is the Jedi Holocron, given to me many

years ago by a very old Jedi, before his.....(amused)
untimely departure.

LEIA: It's.....beautiful.

EMPEROR: Go ahead, my daughter. Don't be afraid. Take it.

Sound: The hum increases as Leia takes the Holocron.

LEIA: Something about it.....so wondrous....so

familiar......

EMPEROR: Yes. It knows you are a Jedi.

Sound: The hum crests.

LEIA: An image.....springing from the

cube......it's...magical.

EMPEROR: Nothing magical about it, my dear. Primitive

hologram technology. The old Jedi you see in the image was
part of a group that lived in the Adega system, 600 years
ago. They took it upon themselves to make a record of Jedi
history and teachings, for the Jedi of the future. Like
yourself.

BODO: (a gravelly, unmistakably alien voice) Jedi......hear

the words of Bodo Baas. Some among us have sought to conquer
the Dark Side by learning it's secrets. Three to my
knowledge, three have tried this. Perished, every one of
them perished. The first was Ulic Qel-Droma, who fell into
the Dark Side in the time--

LEIA: (outraged) This is a Jedi teaching device!! You have

no right to this!

EMPEROR: Oh, but I do. Aren't I the master of all the Jedi?
Your own father was my apprentice.

LEIA: My father DIED because of you!!! And now my brother--

(catches herself) my brother is in grave danger.

EMPEROR: Your foolish brother has caused me great harm. Look

at me!! I am only a helpless old man. Soon, like all great
Jedi, like your own father, I will drop this fragile flesh.
Please, help a dying old man into his bed.....

LEIA: Into your grave!

EMPEROR: So rude. Very well, I will help myself. (lowers

himself with effort into a floating bed.) There. I must lay
here a while. Stay with me. Soon you will see what very few
have seen. The Dark Side has given me a wonderful power--the
power to enter one of my clones. Indeed, I can enter
ANYONE.....I can overshadow the soul that dwells therein. I
can even enter.....your CHILD.

LEIA: My children?! My children are hidden from you!

EMPEROR: Your FIRST two, yes.......but not the one now

stirring in your womb.

LEIA: (shocked whisper) .....you know?

EMPEROR: Yessss, little Jedi. And this child belongs to ME.

LEIA: NEVER!!!

EMPEROR: Wait, you'll tip the bed--! AGGHH!!!!

Sound: Leia flings the bed over, tumbling the Emperor onto
the ground.

EMPEROR: (gasping in pain) My leg.....is broken.....

LEIA: It was a mistake to leave yourself so helpless lying

there on your bed, old man!! Now to find Han and get out of
here!

Sound: Leia runs off. The door opens and closes.....and the
Emperor's gasping becomes laughter.

EMPEROR: I have tested her, and it is exactly as I have

foreseen. She has the Skywalker anger. Like her brother,
like her father. Let her flee, for now. She will fall to the
Dark Side soon enoug-----eh? What's this? My Holocron! SHE
TOOK MY HOLOCRON!!! (For the first time ever, the Emperor
gets ANGRY.) GUARRRRDS!!!!

3-18 INT. THRONE ROOM

========================================
Sound: Door opens.

CAPTAIN: Guards are posted outside the cell of the space

pirate and the Wookiee, Lord Skywalker, and I've brought the
two droids, as you've commanded.

LUKE: Very well, Captain. Anything else, Captain?

CAPTAIN: There was, um, one other thing, my Lord. Security

reports that the Master Control signal has been tampered
with.....by someone in the command section. As a result, we
have lost three World Devastators.

LUKE: Hmm, is that so? Have you informed the Emperor of

this?

CAPTAIN: I was about to, my Lord, but.......

LUKE: (with a Force echo in his voice) You were saying.....?

Commander?

CAPTAIN: I was about to, Lord Skywalker, but......I forgot,

my Lord. It's very strange.

LUKE: (echoing) Then why don't you keep this information to

yourself, Captain. And if anyone else knows, send them to me
at once.

CAPTAIN: Yes, sir. Keep it to myself, sir.

LUKE: Very well. Dismissed. (waits for the Captain to leave)

Now, Threepio--

THREEPIO: Yes, sir?

LUKE: (talking fast) Unhook Artoo from that tech station and
bring him over here!

THREEPIO: Yes, sir, Master Luke.

ARTOO: BLEEPS IN SURPRISE AS HE IS UNHOOKED.

LUKE: I know, Artoo. But you'll have to trust me. I'll

restore your main programming....someday. Right now, I need
all the space in your memory banks for these plans of--

LEIA: Luke!

THREEPIO: Princess Leia! Master Luke, it's Princess Leia!

The Emperor let her go!

LUKE: Hello, Leia. I've been expecting you.

THREEPIO: Oh, Princess, tell Master Luke to be careful. He's
putting far too much data in Artoo's memory. He's only a
simple astromech droid, you know.

ARTOO: BEEPS "WANNA BET?"

LUKE: You freed yourself from the Emperor, Leia. You did
well. The Force is strong in you.

LEIA: Luke....please. The Dark Side is all around us. Get

Han. We're leaving. I...I want you to come with us.

LUKE: Leia, you've got the wrong idea. Everything's fine! I

know what I'm doing. Leia, it's good that you came to Byss.
Your Jedi power, added to my own, has helped me break the
grip of the Dark Side.

LEIA: I'm not so sure. I see something happening. I sense

great danger for you.... and us. The Emperor is toying with
you, Luke.

LUKE: Yes, he may think so, but look--here's Artoo. I've

hidden the Master Control code in his circuits. The
Emperor's priority battle plans!

ARTOO: WHISTLES WITH EXCITEMENT.

LEIA: How......how can I believe you?

LUKE: Come on. I'll take you to Han and Chewie. And then
we'll ALL return to Pinnacle Base--together!!

Music: The Imperial Theme rises, then fades to silence.

4-1 INT. BYSS DUNGEON CELL

===============================================
Music: The short piece from "Jaws" again, then back to the
dripping dungeon.

CHEWBACCA: GRUNTS WITH EFFORT.

HAN: Listen, furface, if you'd let me cut off some of that

rug you're wearing, we could make ourselves a rope and get
out of here a lot quicker.

CHEWBACCA: COMPLAINS.

HAN: Oh, come on, I ain't that heavy! Besides, I'm the one
who has to squeeze through this little window and drop
twelve stories. (straining) If I can get this bar loose,
that is.....Push me up a little higher!

Sound: The humming of the giant probot.

HAN: Uh oh, hold it pal. I don't think this is gonna work.

There's a hunter-killer droid spying on us. Let me down!
He's charging up his cannons!
CHEWBACCA: GROWLS AS HE LETS HAN DOWN.

Sound: The probot fires, blowing off the cell wall!

HAN: (coughing) You okay, Chewie? If these Imperials are

trying to kill us, they're sure going about it the hard way.
All they did was blow a big hole in the wall of our cell.

CHEWBACCA: SNARLS IN ANGER.

HAN: Yeah, yeah, I see it. That droid's coming closer, but
it's stopped firing and it's.........

Sound: A door opening and a ramp lowering.

HAN:......it's extending it's gangplank? What kind of a

hunter-killer droid is that??

SALLA: My kind, Solo.

HAN: Salla! Am I glad to see YOU!! Hey, you almost got us

killed!

SALLA: You're free, aren't you? That's two you owe your old
girlfriend. Now come on!

Sound: Inside of droid is closer.

HAN: How's you get hold of a hunter-killer droid?

SALLA: It got hold of us first. But once it detained us, it

didn't figure on a genius mechanic like Ninx. He's up inside
the mainframe, hotwiring this thing's computer brain. It'll
do backflips if we want it to. Now come on--the Falcon's
right inside. Planet security knows we stole one of their
droids.

CHEWBACCA: SUGGESTS THEY GET GOING.

HAN: Hold it, Chewie, to heck with the Falcon! We're not
leaving until we find Leia!

SALLA: But there's no time!

THREEPIO: (in the distance) Wait for us! Wait for us!

SALLA: Somebody's following through the hole we blasted.

THREEPIO: Wait! Oh, it'd be just like them to leave us--

LEIA: Talk less and run faster, Threepio!

ARTOO: BEEPS OUT A FEW WORDS.

THREEPIO: That's easy for you to say. You're on wheels!

HAN: Don't fire, Salla--it's Leia! And Threepio! There's

Artoo, and there's......

LUKE: Han!

HAN: (tone suddenly turns ugly)....the TRAITOR. Give me that

blaster, Salla. (takes blaster) Okay, farmboy, here's where
I even the score!!

LEIA: Han, STOP!! It's over!!

HAN: Get out of my way, Leia!!! The Dark Side's got him!
He's liable to do anything!

LEIA: No, Han. We're all leaving. Together. Luke has the
code we need to stop the Devastators.

LUKE: Han, listen to Leia. If what I'm doing succeeds, the

Empire will be finished forever!

HAN: Okay. If you're telling the truth, why don't we take

out the Emperor right NOW, as long as we're in town?

Sound: A whistling of an approaching vehicle.

CHEWBACCA: CRIES OUT AN ALERT.

Sound: Far-off firing.

SALLA: It's a security patrol. Cut the gab and move it!!

THREEPIO: Ohh, wait for me!!

HAN: Chewie, grab Goldenrod and yank him in. I'm closing the
door.

THREEPIO: No one ever cares what happens to me. Oh my....

Sound: Door closes.

SCENE 4-2 INT. HUNTER-KILLER PROBOT

================================================
CHEWBACCA: GROWLS OUT AN OBSCENITY.

THREEPIO: Chewbacca! Such language! I didn't think there was

a translation for that!

HAN: Okay, they're in, they're in! And there's my beautiful

ship. I was afraid I'd never see you again.

SALLA: There's Ninx, up on that walkway.

SHUG: Rev up the Falcon! I've programmed the H-K's targeting

computer to shoot up everything using Imperial codes! But
there's a whole fleet coming down on us.

Sound: Falcon's engines warm up.

SALLA: Okay, Han, Ninx is on board! Let's blast out of here!

HAN: Way ahead of you, Salla, sweetheart!

Sound: Falcon's engines blast off.

SCENE 4-3 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

=================================================
HAN: Okay, we're clear of the H-K. Shields up, Chewie.

Sound: Close-range blaster fire on the Falcon.

LEIA: Han, you sure have a habit of collecting unwanted

attention.

HAN: These security ships are no problem, sweetheart. The

Falcon'll lose 'em on one thruster.

THREEPIO: But sir, what about the planetary shield? We'll be

smashed up against it!

HAN: I'm on that, too. Leia, calculate the jump to

hyperspace from our present coordinates.

CHEWBACCA: "WHAT?!?!"

LEIA: But Han, we're still in the planet's atmosphere! If we

make the jump now--

HAN: I know, I know, we're gonna risk high-atmosphere

burnup. But unless your pretty smile can open up that
shield, it's our only hope!

LEIA: I hope you know what you're doing......

HAN: Chewie, distance to the shield perimeter?

CHEWBACCA: "TWO KILOMETERS."

THREEPIO: Two kilometers? We'll never make it! 1.5

kilometers....

HAN: Navicomputer's finished it's calculations--

THREEPIO: One kilometer---

HAN: Disengaging sublight engines--

THREEPIO: Half a kilometer---

HAN: We're going hyper--

THREEPIO: We're doomed!!

HAN: NOW!!!

Sound: The Falcon screams into hyperspace......and

everything suddenly goes down several degrees in pitch.
HAN: We're past the energy shield. Weeee mmmaddeeee
ittttt........

LEIA: Mmmaddee iittttt??? Wwwwwhhhhaattt'ssss wrroonnggg

wittthh ussss?????

HAN: Llleeegggsss feeellll likkkeee chhhhuurrnninnggg innnn

watterrrrr......

CHEWBACCA: RRROOARRSS VERRRYY SLLOOWWWLLYYYY.

ARTOO: BEEEEPPPSS VERRRYYY SLOOWWWLLLLYYYYY.

SALLA: Haaaannnnddsssss arrreeee

dddiisapppearrrinnnggg......

HAN: Weee''rree toooo cloooseeee toooo tthhheee

woorrrrmmhoollllee efffecttt,,, ttttrriigggerrreddd byyy
thhheee plllannnett''ssss magggnetttiiiccc
fiiieeellldddd.....

LUKE: Ooouurrr attoommmsss arreeee beeeinngggg

scccattterrreedd accrroosss hypppeerrsppacceeee.......

LEIA: Navvviiicccommmputtterrrr'sss (unintelligable)

SALLA: Ooohhhh nooooooooo (unintelligable)

LUKE: Cuuttt innnn yyouurrr suubbbliighhhttt ennggginnesss!!

HAN: Arrreee youuuu crazzzyyy? Ifffff IIIIII cuutttt innnn

thhheeee subbbliighhtttsss, wwwwee'llll dropppp outttt offf
hyyypperrrrsppaccceeee,,,, annnndddd weeee donnnn'ttt
evvveeennn knnnowwww whhheerreeeee wweeee arrreeee!
Yyyyyyouuuu wannnttttt tooooo droopppp righhhtttt
innntttooooo aaaa plannnnettttarrryyyy coorrrreeee????

LEIA: Ttttrrrruuustttt himmmmm,, Haaannnn........

HAN: Alll righhhttt......buutttt evvverryyy timmmeee

Lukkkkeee'sss innnn troubblleeee, itt''sss myyyy shippp
thattttt getttssss bloowwwnn toooo pieeceessss......

Sound: The hyperdrive cuts out, and things go back to

normal.

LEIA: There. We're out.

HAN: Yeah. We're back in normal space.

THREEPIO: Thank goodness. I thought my servo motors were

going to fall right off!

HAN: Hey, Luke, how'd you know we were gonna be okay?

LUKE: I told you, Han--I can discover things you'll never

imagine. With the Force.
HAN: With the Dark Side, you mean.

LEIA: Han, that's not fair. Luke has provided us with

everything the Rebels need to beat those World Devastators.
It's all stored in Artoo's memory banks.

ARTOO: BEEPS "SHE'S RIGHT!"

LUKE: Take Artoo and plug him into your hyperspace comm
system. He'll help you beam interference codes to the World
Devastators, even while you're in hyperspace.

HAN: That's great. Why don't you show us? Or maybe you've
got a little surprise planned?

LUKE: I can understand why you still don't trust me, Han.
But now that all of you are safely away from Byss, I have
other work to do.

Sound: The Force rises....

LUKE: If I fail in the task I must now accomplish, the

Alliance must be prepared to fight it's greatest battle.

HAN: What do you mean, "all of us are safely away"? Aren't

you too?

LUKE: No.

HAN: What are you talking about?

LUKE: Very simple. (Voice becomes immaterial and fades out)

I'm on Byss.....

SALLA: He's gone! How?

LEIA: He must have used a Dark Side power to project a

double of himself, Salla. He knew I'd never willingly leave
him on Byss.

HAN: I knew it. He's STILL a traitor!

LEIA: Han, he did it to save us!

HAN: I don't care what you say, Leia. I'm starting to feel
sorry I ever heard the name Luke--

SCENE 4-4 INT. CLONING CHAMBER

===================================================
EMPEROR: --Skywalker? I sense your presence.

LUKE: Yes. I am here.

EMPEROR: How did you get into my cloning chamber? This

laboratory is sealed! My moment of transition is close....no
one is allowed in here no--

Sound: Luke's lightsaber ignites.

LUKE: I have come to prevent that transition.

EMPEROR: .....So you have. Using powers I have given you.

Let me offer you a bargain, my friend. I will kill you now,
or you can permit me to move into YOUR body. Then, you and I
will rule the Universe as one.

LUKE: I've learned many of your secrets, your Majesty. Your

power over me is broken. When I destroy your clones, your
reign will be at it's end!!

EMPEROR: Hmm......is it so? Very well......then I must

die!!! (laughs. The laughter echoes as his body fades out of
his clothing.)

LUKE: He's vanished!

EMPEROR: (echoing) Vanished, Skywalker? I exist as energy,

remember? I am all around you. Here--and here! And here, and
HERE!

LUKE: He's trying to enter one of the clones! Must destroy

them all! (Sound: Lightsaber slashes through glass, and
water floods as the bodies thump to the floor.) Cut through
the cloning chambers! Slash these mindless clones to bits!!

Sound: Screaming as each of Palpatine's mindless clones die.

EMPEROR: Too late, Skywalker. Too late.

(Note: Although the Emperor is in a young body now, his soul

is still as old and corrupt as ever--and so is his voice.)

EMPEROR: Yes. You missed ONE clone. And one is all I need,
for now. Look at me! I am YOUNG again!! I will live
FOREVER!!!

LUKE: Not if I can help it! (slashes at the Emperor, who

dodges the attack)

EMPEROR: (laughs) Too slow, Skywalker!

LUKE: (lunges at Palpatine again, screaming.)

EMPEROR: Did you think you could conquer me by coming here

to Byss--to the very heart of the Dark Side?

LUKE: You forget, I am a Jedi Master now. And I KNOW

something about the Dark Side!

Sound: Luke unleashes his OWN Force lightning on the

Emperor. The old (young) man crashes against the wall.

EMPEROR: You try to use the Force against ME?!? All you've
succeeded in doing in hurtling me in reach of my collection
of Jedi weapons! As for your Dark Side knowledge--
Sound: The Emperor ignites his OWN lightsaber.

EMPEROR: Does it tell you how many other so-called "Jedi

Masters" failed to vanquish me? Does your knowledge tell you
that I have already beaten you?! Poor Jedi. Your kind will
soon be extinct. And how fitting that one of their precious
lightsabers brings an end to the Jedi delusion!!

Sound: Luke lunges. The two clash sabers, and duel

viciously.

EMPEROR: What's the matter, Skywalker? Getting tired? Not

quite as young as you were when you fought your father!

LUKE: (breathing hard) You have filled the galaxy with your
darkness. But I have seen what my father could not see. I
have seen that ultimately, the Dark Side will FAIL!!

EMPEROR: Jedi FOOL! In spite of the stories you tell

yourself, I am the stronger! Did I not warn you?!? Now, take
the consequences of your failure, like your father before
you!!

Sound: Furious dueling--but the Emperor gets the better of

Luke, forcing the elder Jedi's lightsaber out of his hands.
Both lightsabers deactivate.

EMPEROR: No, Skywalker. It is not your time to die. It is

your time to submit. The Dark Side WILL break you. Now get
up. We are going to find your sister. I want my Holocron,
and I want your sister's child! I am going to crush the
Rebellion, once and for ALL!!!

SCENE 4-5 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON

=========================================
LEIA: Can the Millenium Falcon go any faster, Han? I'm
worried about the battle on Calamari.

HAN: We're doing twice the speed of light now! Don't worry
Leia, once we get Artoo plugged in, his transmission'll
reach Lando long before we arrive.

ARTOO: BEEPS AND WHISTLES.

THREEPIO: Please be careful, sir! Artoo says they burned out

his differential regulators when they erased his memory
banks!

HAN: I know. Why do you think we're having so much trouble

accessing the battle codes Luke hid in his subsystems?

Sound: Tinkering.

HAN: There. Okay, Chewie, ready on this end. Hope this

works....

THREEPIO: But sir, I think--

HAN: (snaps) LISTEN, Professor, if you want to do something
useful, why don't you--

LEIA: Why don't you come with me, Threepio? (whispers) Han
hates being wrong about people. And he was wrong about Luke.
He's in a grumpy mood.

THREEPIO: I should say so.

LEIA: Come here. I'll plug you into the hyperspace

transponder, so you can monitor transmissions for us. Luke
says the information he stored in Artoo will paralyze the
Devastator's command computers. I want you to tell me if
they start beaming distress calls to Byss.

THREEPIO: Of course, Princess Leia. The Imperial network

operates on a binary code I am quite familiar with. I'm SO
glad somebody appreciates my talents!

LEIA: There. You're all hooked up.

THREEPIO: I've picked up a binary code transmission from

Calamari. Translating....Your Highness--oh my word!! Oh
hurry, hurry!! They're being slaughtered!!!

SCENE 4-6 EXT. MON CALAMARI BATTLEFIELD

================================================
GAMMACK: Pull back, pull back!!! We need air support!!

CALAMARIAN SOLDIER: (over intercom) We're hit! World

Devastators coming right for us!!! AGGHH!!!!

CALAMARIAN SOLDIER TWO: (over intercom) Get that evac unit

over here!!! Gammack, all aircraft have been destroyed! All
we have left are these ocean-going attack boats!!

GAMMACK: Well, pull them back! Keep them out from under
those World Devastators, or they'll get sucked up along with
the rest of this sector!!!

REBEL SOLDIER: (over intercom) Captain Gammack, scanners

indicate that the World Devastators have gathered from all
areas of Calamari, and are converging on our location! We've
got SIX of them bearing down on us!! LOOKS LIKE THIS IS IT!!

GAMMACK: Get those assault boats into attack formation!

General Calrissian wants our commando teams ready to board
those planet-smashers at a moment's notice!!

REBEL SOLDIER: (over intercom) But that's a suicide

mission!!

GAMMACK: Maybe, but Lando thinks Commander Skywalker is

doing something to sabotage those World Devastators! I don't
know what it could be.....

REBEL SOLDIER: (over intercom) I don't believe it!

GAMMACK: Something strange is happening.....the Devastators
just stopped! They're just sitting there, like somebody's
switched them off! All right, men---let's go!!

SCENE 4-7 INT. WORLD DEVASTATOR SILENCER SEVEN BRIDGE

===========================================================
Sound: Alarm going off.

KLEV: What's going on?

CREWMAN: Commander Klev, we're being jammed by command codes

coming over the Emperor's secure hyperspace channel!

KLEV: Then bypass the Master Control computer!

CREWMAN: We're trying, sir! But the system was designed to

prevent tampering!!

KLEV: This is ridiculous! We're being paralyzed by our own

command center!! (muffled explosion) What was THAT?!?

CREWMAN: The Calamari have launched a counter-assault

against us! Our stormtroopers are attempting to repel
boarders! There is one option available to us, Commander. We
are able to restore power to the onboard factories.

KLEV: Well then DO IT! If we're going to sit here like a

dead moon, we might as well give them a good fight!

SCENE 4-8 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

================================================
HAN: Okay, the Falcon's exiting hyperspace.

Sound: You heard what he said.

HAN: And there's Calamari, dead ahead.

LEIA: Entering the upper atmosphere. Careful, Han--we're

coming in right on top of the battle.

HAN: Yeah, what's going on? That World Devastator's still

got it's furnace blasting! I thought those codes were
supposed to shut down the Devastators. I guess your brother
decided to pull a fast one on us after all.

LEIA: Han, use your eyes! It's paralyzed! Obviously the

Imperial engineers figured out how to keep the recycling
factories working.

ARTOO: WHISTLES FOR ATTENTION.

THREEPIO: Sir, If I may say--

HAN: Okay, your Worship, if that's true, what's to stop them

from getting the whole thing operational?

THREEPIO: Sir? Sir, please listen---

HAN: Threepio, I thought I told you to SHUT UP!!

THREEPIO: It's Artoo, sir! He says he's created a new

command code that will make the Devastators do anything he
wants! Frankly, sir, I think---

HAN: Well, why didn't you say so!! It's worth a try--Luke's
big plan sure didn't help much.

LEIA: Han, I don't know why you're still so down on Luke.

He's taking a great risk for the Alliance.

HAN: Yeah, yeah. Let's see if this chirping three-legged

bolt bucket can do any better.

ARTOO: BLATTS.

THREEPIO: Actually, sir, I believe Artoo is having delusions

of grandeur.

HAN: He ain't the only one. Okay, he's plugged in. Chewie,
radio those commando teams to get 'em clear of the
Devastators. They've got three minutes.

CHEWBACCA: BEGINS GROWLING INTO THE INTERCOM.

SCENE 4-9 EXT. MON CALAMARI BATTLEFIELD

===============================================
GAMMACK: We copy, Millenium Falcon! All teams, back to the
boats!! Clear off this world-smasher!!

REBEL SOLDIER: (over intercom) But we just fought off a

whole platoon of stormtroopers to get on it!

GAMMACK: Move it, soldier!! If my guess is right, this

monster's about to---

SCENE 4-10 INT. SILENCER SEVEN BRIDGE

============================================
CREWMAN:--crash, Commander Klev! We've lost all control of
this World Devastator! We're being steered directly towards
Silencer Four!!!

KLEV: Don't just stand there, you idiot, do something!! DO

SOMETHING!!!

Sound: Deafening explosion as the Devastator hits it's

sister---and is blown apart!!!

SCENE 4-11 INT. MILLENIUM FALCON COCKPIT

=================================================
THREEPIO: (ecstatic) Artoo, you've done it!! Thank the
Maker!!! I KNEW you could do it!!
You've saved the day!!

ARTOO: "IT WEREN'T NOTHING. AND BY THE WAY--$#^#%$&@!!!!"

THREEPIO: OH!! I've never been so insulted in all my life!!

And to think it was I who told them about your grand plan!
Too bad you've destroyed all the Devastators--I'd like to
feed you to them to be recycled!!

LANDO: (over intercom) Millenium Falcon!

HAN: Lando, you ol' womp rat!

LANDO: Good work, Han. Those World Devastators have

destroyed each other. WE WON!!! HA HAA!!!!

SCENE 4-12 INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - PINNACLE BASE - A FEW

DAYS LATER.....
============================================================
======
HAN: Uh, Leia.....uh....b-before the Council meeting begins,
I-I'd just like to say....I mean, I wanted to tell you since
we returned to Pinnacle Base.....I'm sorry for what I said.
I-I guess I'll never figure old Luke out.

LEIA: (gently) Sometimes the actions of a Jedi make no sense

toward ordinary men. Luke is sacrificing his life for us,
Han.......for our.....three children.

HAN: Yeah, well........(classic double take) Three?? Did you

say...."THREE" children?! (excited) You mean.....?

LEIA: (joyous) Yes, Han, I'm pregnant! I can feel the baby
stirring....it will be strong with the Force.

HAN: (chuckles) Pregnant again. Who woulda thought? Me, the

father of three Jedi. I guess an "ordinary" guy can do
something right.

Sound: Door opens.

LEIA: Shh. Here come Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar.

MON MOTHMA: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to

this council of war.

ACKBAR: Thanks to your efforts, the Battle of Calamari has

been won.

MON MOTHMA: But according to the plans that Artoo has

brought us, Calamari was but a small part of the Emperor's
overall scheme. The deep core systems have become inviolable
fortresses.

ACKBAR: The Imperial fleet has reaffirmed it's allegiance to

the Emperor. Now, the Emperor plans to expand his total area
of dominance in stages. He will launch a series of wave-
assaults on all worlds in proximity to the Galactic Core.
Moving out from the center, he will not rest until the
entire galaxy falls under the sway of the Dark Side.

MON MOTHMA: Our only hope lies in Commander Skywalker's

attempts to sabotage the Emperor's plans. In the meantime, I
have assigned teams to analyze all our possible responses.
We'll meet again tomorrow. I want you all rested, and ready
to act.

SCENE 4-13 INT. HAN AND LEIA'S QUARTERS

================================================
LEIA: See you later, Han.

Sound: Door opens.

HAN: Okay, Leia. Just got to check that shipment of Incom

GBK's for the X-Wings, and I'll be back. Try and get some
rest.

Sound: Door closes.

LEIA: "Rest." That's the last thing on my mind. What could

be happening to Luke? Is he safe? Oh--what's this in my
pocket? The device I stole from the Emperor! I'd forgotten
about it!

Sound: The hum begins as she grabs hold of the Holocron.

LEIA: What a strange thing. So old, constructed by a long-

lost science. What did the Emperor call it? The
"Holocron"......

Sound: The hum rises to a wail......

LEIA: Wh---what's happening? M-My room--Pinnacle Base---it's

all fading!

BODO: Greeting, Jedi. I am Bodo Baas.

LEIA: You. You're the image I saw in the Holocron. But

you're no longer an image--you're real! Where am I?

BODO: Everywhere. Nowhere. You are with the Force.

LEIA: Bodo Baas, am I....inside the Holocron?

BODO: No. The Holocron is a device. It helps us to reach

each other. It is the Force which truly brings us together.

LEIA: And you....are you real? I mean.....didn't you die, a

long time ago?

BODO: Past history and present action are one. The Force
surrounds all time, all doing. Bodo Baas is with the Force,
that is certain.

LEIA: Can you tell me what will become of Luke?

BODO: For you, Bodo Baas will speak a prophecy written 1,000
years before your time, by my own master:

"A brother and sister, born to walk the sky.

But reckless brother falls into Dark Side's eye.
Jedi sister carries hope for future in her womb.
Only she can save her brother from a certain doom.

A Jedi killer wants to tame her.

Now the Dark Side comes to claim her.
She must join with her brother to combat this thief,
Before the Jedi come to grief."

Sound: The hum fades as the Holocron deactivates.

LEIA: "Join with my brother"? "Join with my brother"??

HAN: Leia? Leia, wake up.

LEIA: Huhh? Han.....where's Bodo Baas?

HAN: Bodo who? You've been dreaming, Leia.

LEIA: It wasn't a dream. It was the Holocron--

HAN: Whatever, come on, we gotta go!

LEIA: What's wrong?

HAN: We got company. Serious company.

SCENE 4-14 INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER

================================================
FEMALE REBEL PILOT: (over intercom) We count three ships--
repeat, three ships--approaching Pinnacle Base!

CAPTAIN SNUNB: (over intercom) Confirm that. Scanners

indicate two Imperial-class Destroyers. The third is---!!!!

FEMALE REBEL PILOT: ENORMOUS!! Measures 10 miles across!!!

LEIA: (rushing in) Mon Mothma, what's happening?

MON MOTHMA: Good. You and Han have arrived. Three Imperial
ships just came out of hyperspace right over the planet. Two
Star Destroyers, and.....well, it can only be the Emperor's
flagship.

Sound: Holographic comm system comes on.

HAN: A hologram. Signal's cut across all our frequencies.

We're getting the same image on every channel.

LEIA: It's the Emperor! But he's.....grown young!

EMPEROR: (over holocomm) Leaders of the Rebel Alliance. I

have no quarrel with you. Give me the woman Jedi, sister of
Skywalker, and return the precious object she stole from me.

HAN: He's gotta be kidding!

MON MOTHMA: Why should we comply with your demands?

EMPEROR: A shuttle is waiting. Send her to my ship, and I
will discuss a truce with the Alliance.

Sound: Shocked gasps from all over the chamber.

HAN: I vote we blast him with everything we've got!!! That's

what Luke would want!

LEIA: No. I have to go to them. I HAVE to.

HAN: It's too dangerous! There comes a point where you have
to choose between this Force business and your own good
common sense!

LEIA: You're right, Han. There does. And I have.

HAN: Leia, I won't let you go!! Not with our child!!!

LEIA: (quietly insistent) You WILL let me, Han.

HAN: I--(Leia storms out of the room without even

replying).......all right.

MON MOTHMA: You look dazed, General Solo. Almost like Leia
used a Jedi mind trick on you.

HAN: No, no mind tricks. I'm just surprised that with all
the women in the galaxy, I married the only one as stubborn
as I am.

MON MOTHMA: And as brave, General Solo. Do you still think

we should prepare our forces for an all-out attack?

HAN: No. It's taken me long enough, but I just realized that
whatever's going on here, it has nothing to do with blasters
or fighter pilots. It's up to the Jedi now.

SCENE 4-15 INT. EMPEROR'S FLAGSHIP - HANGAR

==================================================
Sound: A shuttle lands inside the hangar.

IMPERIAL OFFICER: Inform the Emperor the shuttle has landed.

The Jedi woman is approaching his chambers.

SCENE 4-16 INT. EMPEROR'S FLAGSHIP - THRONE ROOM

==================================================
Sound: Same as in the Emperor's throne room on Byss, except
with added ship hum.

EMPEROR: Soon, my young apprentice, your sister will be

mine.

LUKE: (back to the Vader-like voice) Yes, my master.

Sound: Footsteps coming up.

EMPEROR: Good, Princess Leia. You have understood.

LEIA: I am here.

EMPEROR: You may leave us, guards. (Guards leave, door

closes) Now, my daughter, the time for subtlety is over.
Where is my Holocron?

LEIA: I don't have it. I've come for my brother. Luke, are
you all right?

EMPEROR: He will not answer you, unless I command him.

LEIA: He WILL answer me. Luke?

EMPEROR: You still defy me? Perhaps you do not know your own
heart in these matters. The child in your womb will be given
to me. Is that not so?

LEIA: NO!

EMPEROR: (using Force-voice) You cannot resist. I will raise

this child in the power of the Dark Side. The child will
become an extension of my will.

LEIA: (weakening under Palpatine's voice) Yes....

EMPEROR: At the appropriate age, I will displace the

personality that dwells within, take on it's young Jedi body
as my own.

LEIA: yes......

EMPEROR: Now, if I but touch you.......yes.....here.....the

child grows....

Sound: An arc of lightning flies from Leia's abdomen onto

Palpatine's hand!

EMPEROR: (shrieks in pain) You tricked me!!!

LEIA: You aren't the only one here who understands the power
of the Force, "Your Majesty!"

Sound: A lightsaber ignites----Leia's own, handbuilt

lightsaber.

LEIA: And if you touch me again, I'll cut off your hand!

EMPEROR: Curse you, Jedi!! No......a curse is not

necessary.....I have something better for you. Skywalker! I
have broken you. Now, prove yourself worthy of serving me!!

Sound: Luke's lightsaber activates.

LUKE: (hate-filled voice) Yes, my master.

EMPEROR: Bring your sister over to the Dark Side. You have
the power.
LEIA: (waving her lightsaber in defense) I don't know what
he's done to you, Luke, but this time we're REALLY leaving.

LUKE: Leia, put the lightsaber away. I don't want to hurt

you.

LEIA: The last thing I'D do is hurt you, Luke. What's

happened to you is NOT final!

EMPEROR: (laughs) He cannot hear you, child! To him, you are

a ghost! A faint memory of a former life!!

LEIA: Luke.....listen!! (shuts off lightsaber) Luke.....?

(near crying) Oh, what have you DONE? What's behind his
vacant stare??

EMPEROR: Why, nothing, my child. NOTHING.

Sound: We now hear from Luke's POV. The dialogue is all but
buried under the whispers of the Dark Side, now deafening
and overlapping.

WHISPERS: (the voice of the Emperor) Nothing....you are

nothing......

LUKE: (echoing whisper) Where am I?

WHISPERS: Alone.

LUKE: (echoing whisper) No.....help me......

WHISPERS: There is no one. There is only the Dark Side.

LUKE: I...am....a Jedi.....(moans in pain)

WHISPERS: You are NOT a Jedi. You are nothing. You have no
name.

LUKE: My name......is......Skywalker......(cries out in near-

silent agony)

WHISPERS: You.....have......NO.....name!!!

LUKE: I.......

WHISPERS: Accept the Dark Side. You have no name.

LUKE: (losing to despair) I.....have.....no.....name.......

WHISPERS: You serve the Dark Side.

LUKE: I sss.....

WHISPERS: Listen to the voices.

LUKE: The voices......

WHISPERS: .....of the Dark Side.

LUKE: (dark voice again) Yes.

WHISPERS: The one law is fear. The one fear is power. The
one power is hate.

LUKE: Hate......

LEIA: (echoing, as if from a far distance) Luke......

WHISPERS: Hate....

LEIA: (using the Force to "amplify" her voice)

Luke.....clear your mind.......

LUKE: Leia.....?

WHISPERS: The one law is fear.....the one fear is

power.....the one---

LEIA: Luke, I'm your sister. I NEED you.

LUKE: My sister......

WHISPERS: You are alone.

LEIA: Luke, listen to my voice. My child....will be a very

great Jedi. Because YOU will train him. You will train ALL
my children in the ways of the Force.

Sound: The whispers seem to be losing power....

WHISPERS: Do not listen!!

LUKE: Leia.....the Force......I am not alone!!! I AM NEVER

ALONE!!!!!

Sound: The whispers suddenly STOP.

EMPEROR: (shocked) NO!! This can't be!! NO ONE returns from

the Dark Side!! You're mine....

LUKE: (now talking aloud, sobbing) Leia....help me......I've

gone too far.....I've found knowledge, all the dark things
Father knew so well......the ability to control others, to
destroy others if he chose! If I chose. Ben warned me, Yoda
warned me---But I HAD to do it, Leia!! I had to know what
happened to our father! I had to know WHY he chose the Dark
Side......

LEIA: And now you know what happened to our father. It's
time to come home, Luke.

EMPEROR: Do not listen to her!! Listen to the voice of the

Dark Side! Your power is immense!!

LUKE: (new bravery and maturity in his voice) No. The powers
of control and destruction weren't the only things I found
in the Dark Side, Emperor. I also found great isolation, and
sadness. I found fear. These are the feelings my father
felt. The feelings YOU feel, in your moments of darkest
triumph.

EMPEROR: (He's hit a nerve) NONSENSE!!! CURSE YOU

SKYWALKERS, BOTH OF YOU!!!! I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT
YOUR FATHER----

Sound: The Emperor lashes out with his Force lightning,

leveling Luke!

EMPEROR: The "great" Darth Vader was a sick man in an iron

mask!!! Yes, that mask inspired terror throughout the
galaxy. But the feeble heart within was forever possessed by
the impotent side of the Force!! You can be far stronger
than he was. Dark Jedi, are you going to let your weak
sister get the better of you?!?! GET UP!! I can give you the
power to break her! You will KILL YOUR SISTER, if I demand
it!!!

LUKE: NO!!! I made a mistake! I thought I had to save the

galaxy alone. All by myself. But the way of the Jedi is not
a solitary path.

LEIA: (gasps suddenly) The Holocron!! Luke, the Holocron

told me to "join with my brother!"

LUKE: (realizing) Yes. The Force binds us. Brings us

TOGETHER. Many people are fighting this war---together!! Our
ally IS the Force! Through the strength of the Force, your
shroud of evil has been lifted from my mind!

Sound: The Emperor's own lightsaber activates.

EMPEROR: So be it. Through the power of the Force, you will

DIE!!!

Sound: The Emperor lunges at Luke--who activates his own

lightsaber and blocks the blow!! A vicious duel ensues
between the two. Both grunt and yell as they lash out.

LEIA: Be careful, Luke! The Force is strong....they're both

moving so fast, I can hardly see them....I feel waves of
power....the Dark Side and the Light.....But......I
feel......the Light.....is winning!!

Sound: One blow finally lands---and something thuds on the

floor as both lightsabers deactivate!

EMPEROR: NNAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!! MY HANDD!!! YOU'VE CUT OFF MY

HANNNDDDD!!!!!!

LUKE: NOW, "Your Highness," we will escort you to the

Alliance base, where you will surrender the Galaxy to the
New Republic!!

EMPEROR: (long pause) Look at you. Don't think I don't know

your plan.

Sound: A far-off roar begins in the far distance.....the

same noise that spirited Luke away from Coruscant.

EMPEROR: The Dark Side HAS you. You intend to rule the
Galaxy, in my place. But....utter imbecile that you
are....you have STILL failed to understand MY POWERRRR!!!!!!

LEIA: (hearing the noise) What's happening?!

EMPEROR: Watch the viewscreen!! And listen as your friends

DIE!!!!

Sound: The sound becomes louder......and moving lower.

LUKE: He's created another storm!

LEIA: It's descending on Pinnacle Base, consuming all the

ships in its path! (rushes to the comm console and activates
the comm) Mon Mothma, can you hear me?!

MON MOTHMA: (on intercom, shouting to be heard) Princess

Leia, there's an energy storm! It's suddenly taken over the
planet!! We have 12 ships lost already!!! All our hands have
been lost--we're being wiped out!!!

HAN: (on intercom) LEIA!! LE-----(ominous static)

LEIA: (tightly controlling her anger) You're going to

SLAUGHTER all those people!!

EMPEROR: Yes. Did I not warn you? I've played your Jedi
dueling games long enough. Now, you will experience my FULL
potency. I live as energy!! I AM THE DARK SIDE!!!!

LUKE: What have you done....? The power you've

unleashed....even YOU can't control it!

LEIA: But WE can, Luke. WE can do it. That's what the

Holocron meant. Let me add my power to yours.

EMPEROR: Yes. Waste your time on stupid Jedi tricks. The

storm will crush your Rebel base to dust.

LUKE: (echoing) Leia....

LEIA: (echoing) I'm here, Luke.

LUKE: (echoing) Concentrate.....

LEIA: (echoing) I'm trying.

EMPEROR: What are you doing?

LEIA: (echoing) Luke, I FEEL the Force!

EMPEROR: (realizing at long last) NO!!!

LUKE: (echoing) Yes. It's surrounding the Emperor. Cutting
him off from all the power he poured into the storm....

EMPEROR: Fools!!! If you destroy me, the Dark Force will

crush you as well!!!!

LUKE: (echoing)....trapping him in his own dark hatred!!

EMPEROR: NOO!!! NNNNOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Sound: The energy storm drowns out the Emperor's dying

scream......drowns out everything.....

SCENE 4-17 INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER

===============================================
MON MOTHMA: The storm! It's reversed course!

HAN: It's heading for the Emperor's ship!! (hits intercom

frantically) Leia! GET OUT OF THERE!! LEIA!!!!

Sound: Groundshaking noise as the storm obliterates the

Emperor's flagship.....and fades into silence.

MON MOTHMA: Scanners? This is Mon Mothma--report!!

SCANNER OFFICER: No sign of.....anything!

HAN: No sign of?! What do you mean?!?

SCANNER OFFICER: Sorry, General Solo. The Emperor's ship,

it's.....it's just gone.

HAN: (voice about to break) No.......oh, no........

THREEPIO: (likewise) Oh, dear. The Princess! Master Luke!!

CHEWBACCA: ROARS IN ANGUISH.

HAN: (hits intercom) LEIA!!!

Sound: Static on the comm channel. A long, breath-holding

silence. And then.....

"This is the...(static).....ase, do you copy? (crackle) This

is the (buzz) ....do you copy?"

HAN: Leia.....?

LEIA: (on comm) Perk up, flyboy!!

HAN: Leia!!

LUKE: (on comm) Don't forget about me!

THREEPIO: Master Luke!!

SCANNER OFFICER: We've got 'em, sir! A small shuttle just

coming into viewscreen!!!

Sound: The Council Chamber explodes with jubilant cheers.

Every voice is raised in celebration.

SCENE 4-18 INT. SHUTTLE COCKPIT

============================================
LUKE: Clear the way, Pinnacle Base. We're coming home!
(turns off comm)

LEIA: The last of the great storm is fading, Luke. Vanishing

into the void....taking the Emperor with it!

Music: The last minute of the End Theme starts up, quietly
at first......

LUKE: One Jedi cannot conquer the galaxy alone. I guess we

proved that. But together, we were a Jedi fire that outshone
his evil.

LEIA: Two are more powerful than one. THREE are more
powerful than two.

LUKE: What??

LEIA: I felt another join us, Luke. My third child. He's

going to be a VERY great Jedi.

LUKE: Your child? (happiest we've heard him) This IS the

beginning, Leia. I feel it. GREAT things are coming!! The
Jedi Knights WILL rise again!!!

Music: End Theme hits full volume, on through the closing

credits.

THE END