The Empire Strikes Back

lies face down in the snow, nearly unconscious. Slowly he looks up and sees Ben Kenobi, barely visible through the blowing snow. It is hard to tell if Kenobi is real or a hallucination.

BEN
Luke... Luke.

LUKE
(weakly)
Ben?

BEN
You will go to the Dagobah system.

LUKE
Dagobah system?

BEN
There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me.

image of Ben fades, revealing a lone Tauntaun rider approaching from the windswept horizon.

LUKE
(groaning faintly)
Ben... Ben.

drops into unconsciousness.pulls up and leaps off his mount. He hurries to his snow-covered friend, cradling him in his arms. Han's Tauntaun lets out a low, pitiful bellow. But Han's concern is with Luke, and he shakes him urgently.

HAN
Luke! Luke! Don't do this, Luke. Come on, give me a sign here.

doesn't respond. Han begins frantically rubbing and slapping Luke's unconscious face. As he starts to lift the youth, Han hears a rasping sound behind him. He turns, just in time to see his Tauntaun stagger and then fall over into the snow.carries Luke to the moaning beast. Then, with a final groan, the Tauntaun expires.

HAN
Not much time.

pushes Luke's inert form against the belly of the dead beast.

LUKE
(moaning)
Ben... Ben...

HAN
Hang on, kid.

LUKE
Dagobah system...

ignites Luke's saber and cuts the beast from head to toe. He quickly tosses it's steaming innards into the snow, then lifts Luke's inert form and stuffs him inside the carcass.

HAN
(reeling from the odor)
Whew...

LUKE
Dagobah...

HAN
This may smell bad, kid...

LUKE
(moaning)
Yoda...

HAN
...but it will keep you warm... til I get the shelter built.
(struggling to get Luke inside the carcass)
Ooh... I thought they smelled bad on the outside!

wind has picked up considerably, making it difficult to move. Han removes a pack from the dead creature's back, taking out a shelter container. He begins to set up what can only be a pitiful protection against a bitter Hoth night..

SPACE - LUKE'S X-WING

's fighter, its wings closed, speeds away from the icy planet. Soon it disappears into the stars..

LUKE'S X-WING - COCKPIT

, looking thoughtful, suddenly makes a decision. He flips several switches. The stars shift as he takes his fighter into a steep turn. The X-wing banks sharply and flies away in a new direction.monitor screen on Luke's control panel prints out a question from the concerned Artoo.

LUKE
(into comlink)
There's nothing wrong, Artoo. I'm just setting a new course.

beeps once again.

LUKE
(into comlink)
We're not going to regroup with the others.

begins a protest, whistling an unbelieving, "What?!"reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel.

LUKE
(into comlink)
We're going to the Dagobah system.

checks his readouts and makes a few adjustments. He rides along with only the soft hum of the instruments to break the silence. Finally, Artoo chirps up.

LUKE
(into comlink)
Yes, Artoo?

utters a soft, carefully phrased steam of whistles.

LUKE
(into comlink, chuckling)
That's all right. I'd like to keep it on manual control for a while.

little droid lets out a defeated whimper. Luke smiles, and continues on his course..

SPACE - DAGOBAH - LUKE'S X-WING

X-wing continues its flight through the twilight above the cloud-covered planet..

LUKE'S X-WING - COCKPIT

sees the cloud race by as he takes his craft closer to the planet. He must operate his controls carefully since the cloud cover has completely obscured his vision. An alarm buzzes in the background, Artoo beeps and whistles frantically.

LUKE
(into comlink)
I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...

blast of the retrorockets is deafening, drowning out Artoo's electronic squeals. Suddenly, there is a cracking sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a tremendous jolt as the spacecraft stops. Luke pulls a switch and his canopy pops open..

DAGOBAH - DUSK

mist-shrouded X-wing fighter is almost invisible in the thick fog. Luke climbs out onto the long nose of the spacecraft as Artoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The young warrior surveys the fog, which is barely pierced by the ship's landing lights. About all he can make out are some giant, twisted trees nearby. Artoo whistles anxiously.

LUKE
No, Artoo, you stay put. I'll have a look around.

lets out a short beep. As Luke moves along the nose, Artoo loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the boggy lake.

LUKE
Artoo?

kneels and leans over the plane looking for Artoo, but the water is still and reveals no sign of the little droid.

LUKE
Artoo! Where are you?

small periscope breaks the surface of the water and a gurgly beep is heard. The periscope starts to move to shore. Relieved, Luke starts running along the nose of the fighter to its tip.

LUKE
Artoo! You be more careful.

outline of the shore is now more than ten feet away.jumps off the plane into the water, scrambles up to the shore, and turns to look for Artoo. The periscope still steadily moves toward shore.

LUKE
Artoo - that way!

, through the thick fog layer, a dark shape appears, moving toward the little droid. The dark, sinuous bog beast dives beneath the swampy water, making a loud clunk against Artoo's metal hull. The droid disappears from sight, uttering a pathetic electronic scream.his ignited lightsaber before him, Luke wades a few feet into the murky pool, looking for any sign of his little friend.

LUKE
Artoo!

black surface is still as death itself... until a few bubbles begin to appear. Then, phheewaat!! The runt-size robot is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc, and comes crashing down into a patch of soft gray moss.

LUKE
Oh, no! Are you all right? Come on. You're lucky you don't taste very good. Anything broken?

helps Artoo to his feet and begins wiping the mud and roots from his round metal body. Artoo responds with feeble, soggy beeps.

LUKE
If you're saying coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to agree with you. Oh, Artoo, what are we doing here? It's like... something out of a dream, or, I don't know. Maybe I'm just going crazy.

Luke glances around at the spooky swamp jungle that surrounds him, Artoo ejects a stream of muddy water from one of his cranial ports..

DAGOBAH - BOG CLEARING - DUSK

mist has dispersed a bit, but it is still a very gloomy-looking swamp. pulls an equipment box from the shore to the clearing. He ignites a little fusion furnace and warms his hands before it. Taking a power cable, he plugs it into Artoo's noselike socket.

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

droid whistles his appreciation. Luke then opens a container of processed food and sits before the thermal heater.

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

, he looks around at the foreboding jungle.

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

STRANGE VOICE
Feel like what?

jumps out of his skin. Artoo screeches in terror. The young warrior grabs for his lightsaber as he spins around, looking for the speaker. Mysteriously standing right in front of Luke is a strange, bluish creature, not more than two feet tall. The wizened little thing is dressed in rags. It motions toward Luke's sword.

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

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

some hesitation, Luke puts away his weapon, although he really doesn't understand why. Artoo watches with interest.

CREATURE
I am wondering, why are you here?

LUKE
I'm looking for someone.

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

little creature laughs.

LUKE
(Trying to keep from smiling)
Right.

CREATURE
Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.

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

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

with the aid of a walking stick, the tiny stranger moves over to one of the cases of supplies. He begins to rummage around.moves to the edge of the case - standing almost eye level to the creature who is carelessly handling the supplies - and squeaks his disapproval.tiny visitor pick up the container of food Luke was eating from and takes a bite.

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

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

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

flips the container in Luke's direction and reaches into one of Luke's supply cases.

LUKE
Listen, friend, we didn't mean to land in that puddle, and if we could get our ship out, we would, but we can't, so why don't you just...

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

creature spots something of interest in Luke's case. Luke loses patience and grabs the case away. The creature retains his prize - a tiny power lamp - and examines it with delight.

LUKE
Hey, you could have broken this. Don't do that. Ohhh... you're making a mess. Hey, give me that!

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

its treasure, the creature backs away from Luke, drawing closer to Artoo. As Luke and the creature argue, one of Artoo's little arms slowly moves out toward the power lamp, completely unnoticed by the creature.

LUKE
I don't want your help. I want my lamp back. I'll need it to get out of this slimy mudhole.

CREATURE
Mudhole? Slimy? My home this is.

grabs hold of the lamp and the two little figures are immediately engaged in a tug-of-war over it.beeps a few angry, "Give me thats."

CREATURE
Ah, ah, ah!

LUKE
Oh, Artoo, let him have it!

CREATURE
Mine! Mine!

LUKE
Artoo!

CREATURE
Mine!

creature lets go with one hand and pokes Artoo lightly with one finger. Artoo reacts with a startled squeal, and lets go.

CREATURE
Mine!

LUKE
(fed up)
Now will you move along, little fella? We're got a lot of work to do.

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

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

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

LUKE
You know him?

CREATURE
Mmm. Take you to him, I will.
(laughs)
Yes, yes. But now, we must eat. Come. Good food. Come.

that, the creature scurries out of the clearing, laughing merrily. Luke stares after him. All he sees is the faint light from the small power lamp moving through the fog. Luke makes his decision and starts after the creature.

CREATURE
(in the distance)
Come, come.

, very upset, whistles a blue streak of protest.

LUKE
Stay here and watch after the camp, Artoo.

beeps even more frantically. But as Luke disappears from view, the worried little droid grows quieter, and utters a soft electronic sigh..

DAGOBAH - CREATURE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

heavy downpour of rain pounds through the gnarled trees. A strange baroque mud house sits on a moss-covered knoll on the edge of a small lagoon. The small, gnomish structure radiates a warm glow from its thick glass windows. As rain tap-dances a merry tune on Artoo's head, the stubby little droid rises up on his tip-toes to peek into one of the glowing portals..

CREATURE'S HOUSE

, peeking in the window, sees the inside of the house - a very plain, but cozy dwelling. Everything is in the same small scale as the creature. The only thing out of place in the miniature room is Luke, whose height makes the four-foot ceiling seem even lower. He sits cross-legged on the floor of the living room.creature is in an adjoining area - his little kitchen - cooking up an incredible meal. The stove is a steaming hodgepodge of pots and pans. The wizened little host scurries about chopping this, shredding that, and showering everything with exotic herbs and spices. He rushes back and forth putting platters on the table in front of Luke, who watches the creature impatiently.

LUKE
Look, I'm sure it's delicious. I just don't understand why we can't see Yoda now.

CREATURE
Patience! For the Jedi it is time to eat as well. Eat, eat. Hot. Good food, hm? Good, hmm?

with some difficulty in the cramped quarters, Luke sits down near the fire and serves himself from the pot. Tasting the unfamiliar concoction, he is pleasantly surprised.

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

CREATURE
Not far. Yoda not far. Patience. Soon you will be with him.
(tasting food from the pot)
Rootleaf, I cook. Why wish you become Jedi? Hm?

LUKE
Mostly because of my father, I guess.

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

LUKE
(a little angry)
Oh, come on. How could you know my father? You don't even know who I am. (fed up)
Oh, I don't know what I'm doing here. We're wasting our time.

creature turns away from Luke and speaks to a third party.

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

's head spins in the direction the creature faces. But there is no one there. The boy is bewildered, but it gradually dawns on him that the little creature is Yoda, the Jedi Master, and that he is speaking with Ben.

BEN'S VOICE
He will learn patience.

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

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

YODA
Hah. He is not ready.

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

to see Ben, Luke starts to get up but hits his head on the low ceiling.

YODA
Ready, are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained! A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.
(to the invisible Ben, indicating Luke)
This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things.
(turning to Luke)
You are reckless!

looks down. He knows it is true.

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

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

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

LUKE
But I've learned so much.

turns his piercing gaze on Luke, as though the Jedi Master's huge eyes could somehow determine how much the boy had learned. After a long moment, the little Jedi turns toward where he alone sees Ben.

YODA
(sighs)
Will he finished what he begins?

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

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

DAGOBAH - DAY

Yoda strapped to his back, Luke climbs up one of the many thick vines that grow in the swamp. Panting heavily, he continues his course - climbing, flipping through the air, jumping over roots, and racing in and out of the heavy ground fog.

YODA
Run! Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger... fear... aggression. The dark side are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice.

LUKE
Vader. Is the dark side stronger?

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

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

YODA
You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

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

YODA
(interrupting)
No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmmmm.

beeps in the distance as Luke lets Yoda down to the ground. Breathing heavily, he takes his shirt from a nearby tree branch and pulls it on. turns to see a huge, dead, black tree, its base surrounded by a few feet of water. Giant, twisted roots form a dark and sinister cave on one side. Luke stares at the tree, trembling.

LUKE
There's something not right here.

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

LUKE
I feel cold, death.

YODA
That place... is strong with the dark side of the Force. A domain of evil it is. In you must go.

LUKE
What's in there?

YODA
Only what you take with you.

looks warily between the tree and Yoda. He starts to strap on his weapon belt.

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

gives the tree a long look, than shakes his head "no." Yoda shrugs. Luke reaches up to brush aside some hanging vines and enters the tree..

DAGOBAH - TREE CAVE

moves into the almost total darkness of the wet and slimy cave. The youth can barely make out the edge of the passage. Holding his lit saber before him, he sees a lizard crawling up the side of the cave and a snake wrapped around the branches of a tree. Luke draws a deep breath, then pushes deeper into the cave.space widens around him, but he feels that rather than sees it. His sword casts the only light as he peers into the darkness. It is very quiet here., a loud HISS! Darth Vader appears across the blackness, illuminated by his own just-ignited laser sword. Immediately, he charges Luke, saber held high. He is upon the youth in seconds, but Luke sidesteps perfectly and slashes at Vader with his sword.is decapitated. His helmet-encased head flies from his shoulders as his body disappears into the darkness. The metallic banging of the helmet fills the cave as Vader's head spins and bounces, smashes on the floor, and finally stops. For an instant it rests on the floor, then it cracks vertically. The black helmet and breath mask fall away to reveal... Luke's head. the space, the standing Luke gasps at the sight, wide-eyed in terror.decapitated head fades away, as in a vision..

DAGOBAH - CAVE - DUSK

, Yoda sits on the root, calmly leaning on his Gimer Stick..

DAGOBAH - BOG - DAY

's face is upside-down and showing enormous strain. He stands on his hands, with Yoda perched on his feet. Opposite Luke and Yoda are two rocks the size of bowling balls. Luke stares at the rocks and concentrates. One of the rocks lifts from the ground and floats up to rest on the other.

YODA
Use the Force. Yes...

taps Luke's leg. Quickly, Luke lifts one hand from the ground. His body wavers, but he maintains his balance. Artoo, standing nearby, is whistling and beeping frantically.

YODA
Now... the stone. Feel it.

concentrates on trying to lift the top rock. It rises a few feet, shaking under the strain. But, distracted by Artoo's frantic beeping, Luke loses his balance and finally collapses. Yoda jumps clear.

YODA
Concentrate!

at the disturbance, Luke looks over at Artoo, who is rocking urgently back and forth in front of him.waddles closer to Luke, chirping wildly, then scoots over the edge of the swamp. Catching on, Luke rushes to the water's edge. The X-wing fighter has sunk, and only the tip of its nose shows above the lake's surface.

LUKE
Oh, no. We'll never get it out now.

stamps his foot in irritation.

YODA
So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done.Hear you nothing that I say?

looks uncertainly out at the ship.

LUKE
Master, moving stones around is one thing. This is totally different.

YODA
No! No different! Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.

LUKE
(focusing, quietly)
All right, I'll give it a try.

YODA
No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

closes his eyes and concentrates on thinking the ship out., the X-wing's nose begins to rise above the water. It hovers for a moment and then slides back, disappearing once again.

LUKE
(panting heavily)
I can't. It's too big.

YODA
Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hm? Mmmm.

shakes his head.

YODA
And well you should not.For my ally in the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we...
(Yoda pinches Luke's shoulder)
... not this crude matter.
(a sweeping gesture)
You must feel the Force around you.
(gesturing)
Here, between you... me... the tree... the rock... everywhere! Yes, even between this land and that ship!

LUKE
(discouraged)
You want the impossible.

Yoda turns toward the X-wing fighter. With his eyes closed and his head bowed, he raises his arm and points at the ship., the fighter rises above the water and moves forward as Artoo beeps in terror and scoots away.
entire X-wing moves majestically, surely, toward the shore. Yoda stands on a tree root and guides the fighter carefully down toward the beach. stares in astonishment as the fighter settles down onto the shore. He walks toward Yoda.

LUKE
I don't... I don't believe it.

YODA
That is why you fail.

shakes his head, bewildered..

DAGOBAH - BOG - CLEARING - DAY

the clearing behind Yoda's house, Luke again stands upside-down, but his face shows less strain and more concentration than before. Yoda sits on the ground below the young warrior. On the other side of the clearing, two equipment cases slowly rise into the air. Nearby Artoo watches, humming to himself, when suddenly he, too, rises into the air. His little legs kick desperately and his head turns frantically, looking for help.

YODA
Concentrate... feel the Force flow. Yes. Good. Calm, yes. Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future... the past. Old friends long gone.

suddenly becomes distressed.

LUKE
Han! Leia!

two packing boxes and Artoo fall to the ground with a crash, then Luke himself tumbles over.

YODA
(shaking his head)
Hmm. Control, control. You must learn control.

LUKE
I saw... I saw a city in the clouds.

YODA
Mmm. Friends you have there.

LUKE
They were in pain.

YODA
is the future you see.

LUKE
Future? Will they die?

closes his eyes and lowers his head.

YODA
Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

LUKE
I've got to go to them.

YODA
Decide you must how to serve them best. If you leave now, help them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered.

is stopped cold by Yoda's words. Gloom shrouds him as he nods his head sadly..

DAGOBAH - BOG - DUSK

the bright lights of the fighter, Luke loads a heavy case into the belly of the ship. Artoo sits on top of the X-wing, settling down into his cubbyhole. Yoda stands nearby on a log.

YODA
Luke! You must complete the training.

LUKE
I can't keep the vision out of my head. They're my friends. I've got to help them.

YODA
You must not go!

LUKE
But Han and Leia will die if I don't.

BEN'S VOICE
You don't know that.

looks toward the voice in amazement. Ben has materialized as a real, slightly shimmering image near Yoda. The power of his presence stops Luke.

BEN
Even Yoda cannot see their fate.

LUKE
But I can help them! I feel the Force!

BEN
But you cannot control it. This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the dark side of the Force.

YODA
Yes, yes. To Obi-Wan you listen. The cave. Remember your failure at the cave!

LUKE
But I've learned so much since then. Master Yoda, I promise to return and finish what I've begun. You have my word.

BEN
It is you and your abilities the Emperor wants. that is why your friends are made to suffer.

LUKE
And that is why I have to go.

BEN
Luke, I don't want to lose you to the Emperor the way I lost Vader.

LUKE
You won't.

YODA
Stopped they must be. On this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight with the Force as his ally will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil.

BEN
Patience.

LUKE
And sacrifice Han and Leia?

YODA
If you honor what they fight for ... yes!

is in great anguish. He struggles with the dilemma, a battle raging in his mind.

BEN
If you choose to face Vader, you will do it alone. I cannot interfere.

LUKE
I understand. (he moves to his X-wing)
Artoo, fire up the converters.

whistles a happy reply.

BEN
Luke, don't give in to hate - that leads to the dark side.

nods and climbs into his ship.

YODA
Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.

LUKE
I will. And I'll return. I promise.

closes the cockpit. Ben and Yoda stand watching as the roar of the engines and the wind engulf them.

YODA
(sighs)
Told you, I did. Reckless is he. Now matters are worse.

BEN
That boy is our last hope.

YODA
(looks up)
No. There is another..

SPACE - PLANET DAGOBAH

's tiny X-wing rockets away from the green planet of Dagobah and off into space..