behind him is Boba Fett, the bounty hunter.
Faster than the wink of an eye, Han draws his blaster and
pops off a couple of shots directly at Vader. The Dark Lord
quickly raises his hand, deflecting the bolts into one of the
side walls, where they explode harmlessly. Just as quickly,
Han's weapon zips into Vader's hand. The evil presence calmly
places the gun on the table in front of him.
VADER: We would be honored if you would join us.
Han gives Lando a mean look.
LANDO: I had no choice. They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry.
HAN: I'm sorry, too.
EXTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- BESPIN SYSTEM
Luke's X-wing races through thick clouds toward Cloud City.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT
Luke is grim-faced as he pilots his course toward Bespin's
shining city. Artoo's beeps and whistles are transmitted onto
the scope.
LUKE: (into comlink) No, Threepio's with them.
Artoo whistles another worried inquiry.
LUKE: (into comlink) Just hang on. We're almost there.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LARGE CELL
Chewbacca is in a Cloud City prison cell. The stark room is
flooded with hot light. To add to Chewie's misery, a
high-pitched whistle screeches loudly. Chewie is going mad. He
hits the wall with giant fists as he paces back and forth
across the cell floor. The upper lights go off abruptly. The
prisoner rubs his eyes and moves to a wall, where he listens
for a moment. Then, moaning to himself, he moves to a platform
where the disassembled pieces of Threepio lie. He picks up the
golden droid's head and meditates on it for a moment, barking
a few philosophical remarks. Chewie sticks the robot's head on
its torso and starts adjusting wires and circuits. Suddenly,
the lights in Threepio's eyes spark to life as Chewie touches
two connectors together. Threepio immediately begins to speak,
but his voice is so slow and so low as to be nearly
unintelligible.
THREEPIO: Mmmm. Oh, my. Uh, I, uh -- Take this off! I, uh, don't mean
to intrude here. I, don't, no, no, no...Please don't get up. No!
Chewie looks at Threepio in bewilderment, then scratches
his furry head. He gets an idea and adjusts some connections,
whereupon Threepio immediately begins speaking normally.
THREEPIO: Stormtroopers? Here? We're in danger. I must tell the
others. Oh, no! I've been shot!
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- PRISON ENTRY AREA
Darth Vader strides through the room as two stormtroopers
prepare an elaborate torture mechanism. Han is strapped to a
rack which tilts forward onto the torture device. Vader
activates the mechanism, creating two bursts of sparks, one of
which strikes Han's face.
The door opens, and Darth Vader moves to the holding
chamber, where Lando and Boba Fett await him.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- HOLDING CHAMBER
LANDO: Lord Vader.
VADER: (to Fett) You may take Captain Solo to Jabba the Hut after I
have Skywalker.
Han's screams filter through the torture room door.
BOBA FETT: He's no good to me dead.
VADER: He will not be permanently damaged.
LANDO: Lord Vader, what about Leia and the Wookiee?
VADER: They must never again leave this city.
LANDO: That was never a condition of our agreement, nor was giving Han
to this bounty hunter!
VADER: Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly.
LANDO: No.
VADER: Good. It would be unfortunate if I had to leave a garrison
here.
Vader turns and sweeps into the elevator with Boba Fett.
Lando walks swiftly down another corridor, muttering to
himself.
LANDO: This deal's getting worse all the time.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- LARGE CELL
Chewie now has a little more of Threepio back together. One
arm is connected, but the legs are yet to be attached. There
is one small problem, however. It seems the Wookiee has
managed to put the droid's head on backwards.
THREEPIO: Oh, yes, that's very good. I like that. Oh! Something's not
right because now I can't see. Wait. Wait! Oh, my! what have you done?
I'm backwards, you stupid furball. Only an overgrown mophead like you
would be stupid enough...
Threepio is cut off in mid-sentence as Chewie angrily
deactivates a circuit and the droid shuts down. The Wookiee
smells something and sits up. The door to the chamber slides
open and a ragged Han Solo is shoved into the room by two
stormtroopers. Barking his concern, the huge Wookiee gives Han
a big hug. Han is very pale, with dark circles under his eyes.
HAN: I feel terrible.
Chewie helps Han to a platform and then turns as the door
slides open revealing Leia. She, too, looks a little worse for
wear. The troopers push her into the cell, and the door slides
closed. She moves to Han, who is lying on the platform, and
kneels next to him, gently stroking his head.
LEIA: Why are they doing this?
HAN: They never even asked me any questions.
The cell door slides open. Lando and two of his guards
enter.
LEIA: Lando.
HAN: Get out of here, Lando!
LANDO: Shut up and listen! Vader has agreed to turn Leia and Chewie
over to me.
HAN: Over to you?
LANDO: They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe.
LEIA: What about Han?
LANDO Vader's giving him to the bounty hunter.
LEIA: Vader wants us all dead.
LANDO: He doesn't want you at all. He's after somebody called
Skywalker.
HAN: Luke?
LANDO: Lord Vader has set a trap for him.
Leia's mind is racing.
LEIA: And we're the bait.
LANDO: Well, he's on his way.
Han's rage peaks.
HAN: Perfect. You fixed us all pretty good, didn't you? (spits it out)
My friend!
Han hauls off and punches Lando. The two friends are
instantly engaged in a frantic close-quarters fight. The
guards hit Han with their rifle butts and he flies across the
room. Chewie growls and starts for the guards. They point
their laser weapons at the giant Wookiee, but Lando stops
them.
LANDO: Stop! I've done all I can do. I'm sorry I couldn't do better,
but I have my own problems.
HAN: Yeah, you're a real hero.
Lando and the guards leave. Han wipes the blood from his
chin as Leia and Chewie help him up.
LEIA: (dabs at his wound) You certainly have a way with people.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER
Four armor-suited stormtroopers stand at the ready in the
large chamber, which is filled with pipes and chemical tanks.
In the middle of the room is a round pit housing a hydraulic
platform. Darth Vader and Lando stand near the platform.
VADER: This facility is crude, but it should be adequate to freeze
Skywalker for his journey to the Emperor.
An Imperial soldier appears.
IMPERIAL SOLDIER: Lord Vader, ship approaching. X-wing class.
VADER: Good. Monitor Skywalker and allow him to land.
The soldier bows and leaves the chamber.
LANDO: Lord Vader, we only use this facility for carbon freezing. If
you put him in there, it might kill him.
VADER: I do not want the Emperor's prize damaged. We will test it...on
Captain Solo.
Lando's face registers dismay.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- BESPIN SYSTEM -- LUKE'S X-WING
Luke's X-wing moves through the clouds as it nears the
city.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING -- COCKPIT
Encountering no city guards, Luke scans the display panel
with concern.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER
There is a great activity on the carbon-freezing platform.
Six Ugnaughts frantically prepare the chamber for use. A
special coffinlike container is put in place. With Boba Fett
in the lead, a squad of six stormtroopers brings in Han, Leia
and Chewie. Strapped to Chewie's back, with only his head,
torso, and one arm assembled, is Threepio. Threepio's head
faces the opposite direction from Chewie's and the droid is
constantly twisting around in a vain effort to see what is
happening. His one attached arm is animate and expressive,
intermittently pointing, gesturing, and covering his eyes. The
remaining pieces of his body are randomly bundled to the
Wookiee's back so that his legs and other arm stick out at odd
angles from the pack.
THREEPIO: If only you had attached my legs, I wouldn't be in this
ridiculous position. Now, remember, Chewbacca, you have a
responsibility to me, so don't do anything foolish.
HAN: (to Lando) What's going on...buddy?
LANDO: You're being put into carbon freeze.
Boba Fett moves away from the group to Darth Vader.
BOBA FETT: What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me.
VADER: The Empire will compensate you if he dies. Put him in!
Realizing what is about to happen, Chewie lets out a wild
howl and attacks the stormtroopers surrounding Han. Within
seconds, other Imperial reinforcements join the scuffle,
clubbing the giant Wookiee with their laser weapons. From the
instant of Chewie's first move, Threepio begins to scream in
panic while he tries to protect himself with his one arm.
THREEPIO: Oh, no! No, no, no! Stop, Chewbacca, stop...!
The stormtroopers are about to bash Chewie in the face.
HAN: Stop, Chewie, stop! Do you hear me? Stop!
THREEPIO: Yes, stop, please! I'm not ready to die.
Han breaks away from his captors. Vader nods to the guards
to let him go and the pirate breaks up the fight.
HAN: Chewie! Chewie, this won't help me. Hey!
Han gives the Wookiee a stern look.
HAN: Save your strength. There'll be another time. The princess -- you
have to take care of her. You hear me?
Han winks at the Wookiee, who wails a doleful farewell.
In a flash the guards have slipped binders on Chewbacca,
who is too distraught to protest. Han turns to Princess Leia.
They look sorrowfully at one another, then Han moves toward
her and gives her a final, passionate kiss.
LEIA: I love you!
HAN: I know.
Tears roll down Leia's face as she watches the dashing
pirate walk to the hydraulic platform. Han looks one final
time at his friends -- and then, suddenly, the platform drops.
Chewie howls. Leia turns away in agony. Lando winces in
sorrow; it makes a life-changing impression on him.
Instantly, fiery liquid begins to pour down in a shower of
sparks and fluid as great as any steel furnace. Holding Leia,
Chewie half-turns away from the sight, giving Threepio a view
of the procedure.
THREEPIO: What...what's going on? Turn around, Chewbacca, I can't see.
Oh...they've encased him in carbonite. He should be quite
well-protected -- if he survives the freezing process, that is.
Chewie is in no mood for technical discussion; he gives the
droid an angry glance and barks.
A huge mechanical tong lifts the steaming metal-encased
space pirate out of the vat and stands him on the platform.
Some Ugnaughts rush over and push the block over onto the
platform. They slide the coffinlike structure to the block and
lift the metal block, placing it inside. They then attach an
electronic box onto the structure and step away.
Lando kneels and adjusts some knobs, measuring the heat. He
shakes his head in relief.
VADER: Well, Calrissian, did he survive?
LANDO: Yes, he's alive. And in perfect hibernation.
Vader turns to Boba Fett.
VADER: He's all yours bounty hunter. Reset the chamber for Skywalker.
IMPERIAL OFFICER: Skywalker has just landed, my lord.
VADER: Good. See to it that he finds his way here. Calrissian, take
the princess and the Wookiee to my ship.
LANDO: You said they'd be left in the city under my supervision.
VADER: I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.
Lando's hand instinctively goes to his throat as he turns
to Leia, Chewie, and Threepio.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CORRIDOR -- DAY
As Luke and Artoo move carefully down a deserted corridor,
they hear a group of people coming down a side hallway. Artoo
lets out an excited series of beeps and whistles. Luke glares
at the tiny droid, who stops in his tracks with a feeble
squeak.
Boba Fett enters from a side hallway followed by two guards
pushing the floating, encased body of Han Solo. Two
stormtroopers, who follow, immediately spot Luke and open fire
on him. The youth draws his weapon and blasts the two
troopers before they can get off a second shot. The two guards
whisk Han into another hallway as Fett lowers his arm and
fires a deadly laser at Luke, which explodes to one side and
tears up a huge chunk of wall.
Luke rushes to a side hallway, but by the time he reaches
it, Fett, Han, and the guards are gone. A think metal door
blocks the passage. Luke turns to see Leia, Chewie, Threepio,
and Lando being herded down a second hallway by several other
stormtroopers. Leia turns just in time to see Luke.
LEIA: Luke! Luke, don't -- it's a trap! It's a trap!
Before she can finish, she is pulled through a doorway and
disappears from sight. Luke races after the group, leaving
little Artoo trailing behind.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- ANTEROOM
Luke runs into an anteroom and stops to get his bearings.
Leia and the others are nowhere to be seen. Behind Luke, Artoo
scoots down the corridor toward the anteroom when suddenly a
giant metal door comes slamming down, cutting off Luke's exit.
Several more doors clang shut, echoing through the chamber.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- HALLWAY LEADING TO ANTEROOM
Artoo stands with his nose pressed against the giant metal
door. He whistles a long sigh of relief and, a little dazed,
wanders off in the other direction.
INTERIOR: CLOUD CITY -- CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER -- ANTEROOM
Luke cautiously walks forward among hissing pipes and
steam. Seeing an opening above him, he stops to look up. As he
does, the platform he stands on begins to move.
