Star Wars: One Line at a Time

[elvisnake]

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

Luke 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.

Han carries Luke to the moaning beast. Then, with a final groan, the
Tauntaun expires.

HAN
Not much time.

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

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

HAN
Hang on, kid.

LUKE
Dagobah system...  

[Nelowulf]

((I'll take this line, since nobody else is.))

Han: This may smell bad kid.

Luke: yoodaa...

Han Cuts open the Tauntaun, and stuffs luke inside

Han: It'll keep you warm... until I get the shelter up. Ah... And I thought they smelled bad... on the outside...

Han begins to deploy the shelter.


The Next morning...
Snowspeeders are sent out to find Skywalker and Solo. Zev Senesca leads the group.

Zev: Echo Base. I've got something. Not much, but it could be a life form. Commander Skywalker, do you copy? This is Rogue Two. This is Rogue Two. Captian Solo, do you copy? Commander Skywalker, do you copy? This is Rogue Two.

Solo (com): Good Morning! Nice of you to drop by!

Zev: Echo Base, this is Rogue Two. I found them, repeat, I found them!

Zev makes a flyby to a waving Solo.


ECHO BASE
Luke is patched up by the medical droid back in the bacta tank. Once healed, Han, Leia, and the gang go to see him in his room.

3P0: Master Luke Sir! Its so good to see you fully functional again.

Luke: Thanks.

3P0: R2 espresses his relief also.

Han: How you feelin' kid? You don't look so bad to me. And you look strong enough to pull the ears off a gundark.

Luke: Thanks to you.

Han: That's two you owe me, junior.

Han turns to Leia, who is in the door.

Han: Well your worship. It looks like you've managed to keep me around for a while longer.

Leia: I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks its dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated the energy grid.

Han: Its a good story. I just think you can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight.

Leia: I don't know where you get your delusions, laserbrain.

Chewy laughs.

Han: Laugh it up, fuzzball. You didn't see us alone in the South Passage. She expressed her true feelings for me.

Leia: What? Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf Herder!

Han takes offense.

Han: Who's scruffy looking?

R2 Beeps. Han talks to Luke.

Han: Must have hit pretty close to the mark, to get her riled up like that, huh kid?

Leia moves towards luke, glaring at Han.

Leia: I guess you don't know everything about women yet.

Leia kisses luke straight on the lips, and stomps out. Luke reclines back, satisfied, as Han can't believe his chuckling wookiee.

Han (to luke): Take it easy.

3P0: Excuse me.  

[elvisnake]

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - COMMAND CENTER

Rieekan looks up grimly from a console screen. He calls over to Leia
and Han.

RIEEKAN
Princess... we have a visitor.

The group hurries over to Rieekan.

RIEEKAN
We've picked up something outside
the base in zone twelve, moving
east.

SENIOR CONTROLLER
It's metal.

LEIA
Then it couldn't be one of those
creatures that attacked Luke.

HAN
It could be a speeder, one of ours.

SENIOR CONTROLLER
No. Wait - there's something very
weak coming through.

Threepio steps up to the control panel and listens intently to the
strange signal.

THREEPIO
Sir, I am fluent in six million
forms of communication. This signal
is not used by the Alliance. It
could be an Imperial code.

The transmission ends in static.  

[Nelowulf]

Han: It isn't friendly, whatever it is. Come on Chewy, let's check it out.

Rieekan: General seven eleven, station three.


HOTH WASTELANDS
The probe droid retracts its sensors, and searches for more inhabitants. Chewy and Han decide to ambush it. As Chewy distracts the droid, Han shoots it, and the droid explodes. Han reports back to Echo Base.

Han(com): I'm afriad there's not much left.

Leia: What was it?

Han(com): Droid of some kind. I didn't hit it that hard, must of hit a self-destruct.

Leia: An imperial Probe Droid.

Han: Well, the Empire knows we're here.

Rieekan: We better start the evacuation.


SPACE
The Imperial fleet continues to monitor for traces of the Rebel base. The Executor, the newly commissioned Super Star Destroyer led by Darth Vader himself, dwarfs the fleet, and is the headquarters of communication for the Imperial hunt. A com officer spots something, as Captain Piett calls for Admiral Ozzel, the current captain of the Executor.

Piett: Admiral?

Ozzel: Yes, Captain?

Piett: Sorry to bother you. A report from one of the probe droid in the Hoth system. Its the best lead we've had.

Ozzel: We have thousands of droids scouring the galaxy. I want proof, not leads.

Piett: Visuals indicate life forms.

Vader, suddenly aware to the discussion, heads over to the group.

Ozzel: It could mean anything. If we followed up every lead...

Piett: But sir, the Hoth system is to be devoid of human life...

Vader: You found something?

Ozzel: Yes, mi'lord.

Vader sees the picture of the power generators on screen.

Vader: That's it. The Rebels are there.

Ozzel: Mi'lord, there are so many uncharted settlements, it could be smugglers, it could be..

Vader: That is the system. I am sure Skywalker is with them. Set your course for the hoth system. General Veers, prepare your men.

Veers: Admiral?

Ozzel gives a nervous nod, as he makes way for the bridge.  

[elvisnake]

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - TRANSPORT BAY

A captain issues instructions to two of his men at the entrance to the
main transport bay. Several Rebel transports behind them are being
loaded by men carrying heavy boxes and moving quickly, but not in
panic.

REBEL CAPTAIN
Groups seven and ten will stay
behind to fly the speeders. As
soon as each transport is loaded,
evacuation control will give
clearance for immediate launch.

REBEL FIGHTER
Right, sir.

INT. HOTH - REBEL BASE - MAIN HANGAR DECK

Alarms sound. Troops, ground crews, and droids rush to their alert
stations. Armored snowspeeders are lined up in attack formation near
the main entrance.

In the midst of all this activity, Han does some frantic welding on the
lifters of the Millennium Falcon.

Han finishes his work and hops down to the hangar floor. He pulls out
his comlink, all the while eyeing problematic lifters.

HAN
(into comlink, to
Chewie)
Okay, that's it. Try it... Off!
Turn it off! Turn it off! Off!

Smoke rises from a minor explosion on the lifter. Exasperated, Han
surveys the new damage.

INT. REBEL BASE - MEDICAL CENTER

Luke dresses in readiness for the evacuation as his attending medical
droid stands by.

MEDICAL DROID
Sir, it will take quite a while
to evacuate the T-forty- sevens.

LUKE
Well, forget the heavy equipment.
There's plenty of time to get the
smaller modules on the transports.

MEDICAL DROID
Take care, sir.

LUKE
Thanks.  

[Nelowulf]

ECHO BASE HANGAR
Luke checks up on Chewy and han before heading to the speeders.

Luke: Chewy? Take care of yourself. Okay?

Luke scratches chewy's neck, and in return, gets a bearhug from chewie.

Luke: Okay, okay!

Han talks to a droid that is helping repair the ship, and notices luke.

Han: Hi Kid. There's gotta be a reason for it. check it at the other end. You alright?

Luke: Yea

Han: Be careful.

Luke: You too.


ECHO BASE SENSOR SUITE

Sensor officer: General, there's a fleet of star destroyers coming out of hyperspace in sector four.

Rieekan: Reroute all power to the energy shield. We got to hold them off till all transports are away. Prepare for ground assault.


HOTH SPACE
The Imperial fleet nears Hoth. General Veers reports to Lord Vader with less than pleasurable news.

Vader: What is it General?

Veers: My lord, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed. Comscan has detected an energy shield protecting an area on the sixth planet of the hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any bombardment.

Vader: The Rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel came out of lightspeed too close to the system.

Veers: He felt suprize was wiser.

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

Veers: Yes, My Lord.

Vader turns to a screen, where Ozzel reports to Vader.

Ozzel: Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed and preparing to..

Vader begins to choke Ozzel.

Vader: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral. Captian Piett?

Piett: Yes, My Lord?

Vader: Make ready to land our troops outside the field and deploy the fleet so nothing gets off the system. You are in command now, Admiral Piett.

Ozzel falls dead.

Piett: Thank you, Lord Vader.  

[Nelowulf]

ECHO BASE
Pilots gather around Leia for a breifing over what the defense plan shall be.

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

Pilot: Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?

Leia: The Ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure any enemy ships will be out of your flight path. When you have gotten past the energy shield, proceed directly to the rendezvous point. Understood?

Everyone: Yeah.

Leia: Good luck.

Commanding officer: Okay, everyone back to your stations, let's go!  

[Nelowulf]

HOTH TRENCHES
Rebel troops prepare for a surface attack, as weapon emplacements are secured and troopers line the trenches.

ECHO BASE
Rieekan and Leia watch over the sensor suites and issue commands. The first Transport and its escorts prepare to take off, at the first sign of an open shield.

Rieekan: The primary target will be the power generators. Prepare to open shield.


HOTH ORBIT
The Imperial Fleet has prepared to capture any fleeing transports.

Imperial officer: Sir, Rebel ships are coming into our sector.

Imperial Commander: Good, our first catch of the day.


ECHO BASE

Torin Farr: Standby Ion Control.... fire!


HOTH ORBIT
The Ion cannon fires, disabling the ISD blocking the path of the transport. The transport safely gets away.


ECHO BASE
Pilots scramble to the speeders, as Luke and his gunner Dak Ralter head towards their own. Cheers erupt at the news of the first transport's success.

Intercom: The first transport is away. The first transport is away.

Dak: Feeling alright sir?

Luke: Just like new, Dak. How about you?

Dak: Right now I feel like I could take on the whole Empire by myself.

Luke: I know what you mean.  

[Nelowulf]

HOTH BATTLEFIELD
AT-ATs are seen in the distance, making their way towards the power generators. Troopers line up in the trenches, as visual confirmation of the Enemy forces is made.

Rebel soldier: Echo station, 3TA. We've spotted Imperial walkers

ECHO BASE
R2 listens, as a clump of ice falls on his domed head.

Intercom: Imperial Walkers spotted on the North Ridge.

Pilots take off in their speeders. The AT-ATs begin firing at the ground troops, who retailiate as well as they possibly can. Luke leads Rogue Squadron, who comes to help combat the walkers.

Luke: Echo Station Fox Seven, We're on our way. Alright boys keep tight now.

Dak: Luke, I have no approach vector, I'm not set.

Luke: Steady, Dak. Attack pattern Delta. Go now.

The Speeders zoom past the walkeres in formation.

Luke: Alright, coming in.

Luke fires, but the blasters have no effect on the armored walkers.

Luke: Hobbie, you still with me?

The walkers continue their assault, kocking down a speeder in their march. The ground troops repel as best they can, to no avail. Veers is pleased with his success so far.

Luke: That armor's too strong for blasters. Rogue Group, use your harpoons and tow cables, go for the legs, it might be our only chance at stopping them. Alright, standby Dak.

Dak: Oh Luke, we've got a malfunction in fire control. I'll have to cut in the auxillery.

Luke: Just hang on. Hang on Dak, get ready to fire that tow cable.

A blast from an AT-AT shorts out the electronics of the gunner station, killing Dak.

Luke: Dak... Dak?

The AT-ATs blow apart the defensive line put up by Echo Base. Turrets are destroyed one by one, as Veers makes a connection to Lord Vader.

Veers: Yes Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generators. The shield will be down in moments, you may begin your landing.  

[Nelowulf]

The Rebels continue to attack the AT-ATs.

Luke: Rogue Three?

Wedge: Copy Rogue Leader.

Luke: Wedge, I've lost my gunner. You'll have to take the shot. I'll cover for you. Set your harpoon, follow me on the next pass.

Wedge: Coming around, Rogue leader.

Luke: Steady Rogue two...

Wedge: Activate Harpoons!

Wedge flies near an AT-AT, as his gunner fires the cable, and catches one of the legs.

Wedge: Good shot, Jansen!

Wedge flies around the AT-AT Three times, entangling the cable around the legs of the walker.

Wedge: One more pass....

Jansen: I'm all out... Let her go!

Wedge: Detach Cable!

Jansen: Cable Detached!

The Walker, now tied up by the Cables, falls over and is rendered inoperable. The Rebels in the Trenches witness this, and run from their protection to evacuate.

Trench officer: Come on!

Wedge: Hoo-Ah! That got him!

Luke: I see it wedge, good work.


ECHO BASE
Leia and Rieekan try to speed up the Evac as much as possible.

Rieekan: I don't think we can protect two transports at a time.

Leia: Its risky, but we can't hold out much longer. We have no choice.

The base shakes from the ongoing battle.

Rieekan: Launch patrol.

Leia: Evacuate the remaining ground staff.  

[elvisnake]

Trying to ignore the noise and falling bits of snow, Han
works on one of the Falcon's lifters while Chewie works on one of the
wings. Noticing Chewie attach a wrong part, Han grows impatient.

HAN
No, no! No! This one goes there,
that one goes there. Right?

In another area of the hangar, Threepio watches as Artoo is raised up
into Luke's X-wing fighter.

THREEPIO
Artoo, you take good care of
Master Luke now, understand? And
... do take good care of yourself.
Oh, dear, oh, dear.

EXT. HOTH - BATTLEFIELD

The fierce battle on the vast snow plains of Hoth rages on. The
Imperial walkers continue their slow, steady assault on the Rebel base,
firing lasers as they lumber ever onward. In the snow trench, Rebel
troops fire large bazookalike guns and dishlike ray guns as explosions
erupt around them. A gun tower is hit by a laser bolt and instantly
explodes. Another blast destroys a ray gun.

INT. IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER - COCKPIT

General Veers studies various readouts on his control panel.

VEERS
All troops will debark for ground
assault. Prepare to target the
main generator.  

[Nelowulf]

HOTH BATTLEFIELD
The Rebels lose ground more and more.

Luke: Rogue two, Are you alright

Wedge: Yea, I'm with you Rogue Leader.

Luke: Set harpoon, I'll cover for you.

Wedge: Comign around.

Luke: Watch that crossfire boys.

Wedge: Set for postition three. Steady.

Luke: Stay tight and low. This is it!

Luke is hit.

Luke: Augh... I've been hit!

Luke's speeder crashes to the ground. An AT-AT heads to stomp on the speeder. Luke scrambles to grab a grappling cable and his lightsaber.


ECHO BASE
Han attempts to find Leia, as the base begins to fall apart around him. He finds her in the com room.

Han: You alright?

Leia: Why are you still here?

Han: The Command center has been hit.

Leia: You have your clearance to leave.

Han: Don't worry, I'll leave. First I got to get you to your ship.

3P0: Your highness, we must leave on this last transport. Its our only hope.

Leia: Move all groups from sector 12 to the south wall to protect the fighters.

Intercom: Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have entered. *static*

Han: well?

Leia: Give the evacuation code signal. And get to your transports!

3P0: Oh, Wait for me!  

[Nelowulf]

HOTH BATTLEFIELD
The march of the AT-ATs continues to be successful. With the rebels in full retreat, the way is cleared to attack the power generators. Luke makes a last ditch attempt at knocking one of the walkers down. Using his grappling gun, he manages to cut a hole and plant a grenade in the gear drive, destroying the Walker. Veers, in blizzard one, reaches firing range.

Veers: Distance to power generators?

AT-AT cpu: 1-7 decimal 2-8

The AT-AT shoots down a speeder, then locks onto the power generators.

Veers: Target, Maximum Firepower!

The Power Generators go up in flames.  

[Nelowulf]

ECHO BASE
Han attempts to flee with Leia throughout the base, with 3P0 in tow. Their progress is halted as more of the ice crumbles.

Han: Transport? This is Solo. Better take off, I can't get to you. I'll take her out on the Falcon. Come on.

Han grabs Leia, and rushes past 3P0

3P0: Oh, where are you going? Come Back!

Echo Base continues to Crumble as Lord Vader enters, hot in pursuit of Solo, Skywalker, and Leia. Han goes through a door, leaving 3P0 behind.

3P0: Wait! Wait for me! Wait! Stop! How Typical...

Han grabs 3P0, and heads towards a waiting chewbacca and Millenium Falcon.

Han: Hurry up goldenrod, or you'll be a permanent resident!

3P0: Wait, wait!

Vader is in hot pursuit, as the Falcon warms up. The Falcon has difficulty, though, in actually starting up.

Han: How's this?

Leia: Would it help if I got out and pushed?

3P0: Captain Solo! Captain Solo!

Han: It might.

3P0: Sir? Might I suggest that you...

Han cuts 3P0 off. Inside the cockpit, he starts the electronics up, which short out. A quick bash restarts the electronics.

Leia: This bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade.

Han: This baby's got a few suprizes left in her, sweetheart.

Outside the Falcon, Snowtroopers set up an E-web and prepare to assault the freighter. Han deploys a remote turret to knock out some of the troopers.

Han: Come on, come on! Switch over... Let's hope we don't have a burnout. See?

Leia: Someday you're going to be wrong, I just hope I'm gonna see it.

The remote turret destroys the E-web.

Han: Punch It!

The Falcon takes off, just as Lord Vader arrives. The Falcon flies off into orbit.  

[elvisnake]

Luke and two other pilots look up as the Millennium Falcon races above
them, flying very close to the ground.

The three pilots turn then, and trudge onward toward their X-wing
fighters, each going to his own ship. Luke waves farewell, then heads
toward his own fighter.

Artoo, seated on his cubbyhole, chirps an excited greeting as Luke
climbs aboard the spacecraft.

LUKE
Artoo! Get her ready for takeoff.

From his ship, Luke sees Wedge in his own X-wing, preparing for
takeoff.

WEDGE
Good luck, Luke. See you at
the rendezvous.

Luke smiles and nods at Wedge, then lowers himself into the cockpit of
his X-wing while Artoo waits in the cubbyhole, beeping impatiently.

LUKE
Don't worry, Artoo. We're going,
we're going.

The canopy over the X-wing lowers and snaps shut.

EXT. SPACE - LUKE'S X-WING

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

INT. LUKE'S X-WING - COCKPIT

Luke, 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.

The 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.

Artoo beeps once again.

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

Artoo begins a protest, whistling an unbelieving, "What?!"

Luke reads Artoo's exclamation on his control panel.

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

Luke 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?

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.

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