The dark cubicle is illuminated by a single shaft of light
which falls on the brooding Dark Lord as he sits on a raised
meditation cube. General Veers enters the room and approaches
the silent, unmoving Vader. Although seemingly very sure of
himself, Veers is still not bold enough to interrupt the
meditating lord. The younger general stands quietly at
attention until the evil presence speaks.
VADER: What is it, General?
VEERS: My lord, the fleet has moves out of light-speed. Com-Scan has
detected an energy field protecting an area around the sixth planet of
the Hoth system. The field is strong enough to deflect any
bombardment.
VADER: (angrily) The Rebels are alerted to our presence. Admiral Ozzel
came out of light-speed too close to the system.
VEERS: He felt surprise was wiser...
VADER: He is as clumsy as he is stupid. General, prepare your troops
for a surface attack.
VEERS: Yes, my lord.
Veers turns smartly and leaves as Vader activates a large
viewscreen showing the bridge of his mighty ship. Admiral
Ozzel appears on the viewscreen, standing slightly in front of
Captain Piett.
OZZEL: Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of light-speed, and we're
preparing to...Aaagh!
VADER: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral. Captain Piett.
Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly
confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict
painfully.
PIETT: Yes, my lord.
VADER: Make ready to land out troops beyond the energy shield and
deploy the fleet so that nothing gets off that system. You are in
command now, Admiral Piett.
PIETT: Thank you, Lord Vader.
Piett's pleasure about his unexpected promotion is not an
unmixed emotion. He glances warily at the struggling Admiral
Ozzel who, with a final choke, stumbles and falls in a
lifeless heap before him.
INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK
With a sense of urgency, Leia quickly briefs a group of
pilots gathered in the center of the hangar.
LEIA: All troop carriers will assemble at the north entrance. The
heavy transport ships will leave as soon as they're loaded. Only two
fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only be opened for a
short time, so you'll have to stay very close to your transports.
HOBBIE: Two fighters against a Star Destroyer?
LEIA: The ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure that any
enemy ships will be out of your flight path. When you've gotten past
the energy shield, proceed directly to the rendezvous point.
Understood?
PILOTS: (in unison) Right. Okay.
LEIA: Good luck.
DERLIN: Okay. Everyone to your stations. Let's go!
The pilots hurry away.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH -- DAY
Rebel troops carry heavy bazooka-type weapons and position
them along the snow trench. Men hurriedly respond to their
officers' yelled orders and brace themselves against the
rhythmic gusts of bitter-cold wind.
Other troops load power packs into a gun turret and swing
its guns into position.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- POWER GENERATORS
Near the base power generators, troops rush to set up their
heavy battle equipment. Buzzing loudly, the generators send
along, sparking fingers of energy into the bitter Hoth wind.
INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER
The long line of Rebel controllers is tense, as are
Princess Leia and General Rieekan, who are trying very hard
not to show any fear.
RIEEKAN: Their primary target will be the power generators. Prepare to
open the shield.
EXTERIOR: ICE PLAIN
The Rebel transport and two escort fighters begin their
departure from the ice planet.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER
A huge Imperial Star Destroyer rest against a sea of stars,
far above the white surface of the planet Hoth.
INTERIOR: IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE
An Imperial controller approaches his commander.
CONTROLLER: Sir, Rebel ships are coming into our sector.
CAPTAIN: Good. Our first catch of the day.
INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER
WOMAN CONTROLLER: Stand by, ion control....Fire!
EXTERIOR: REBEL BASE ICE CAVE -- ION CANNON
The giant ball-shaped ion cannon rotates into position and
blasts two red energy beams skyward.
EXTERIOR: SPACE -- HOTH -- REBEL TRANSPORT
The Rebel transport and its escort race away from the white
planet, closely followed by the two red energy beams.
As the Rebel transport races toward the waiting Imperial
Star Destroyer, it is overtaken by the two scarlet energy
bolts. The Imperial Star Destroyer is hit in the conning tower
by the powerful bolts, which set up fiery explosions on its
metal hull.
The big Star Destroyer veers, then spins wildly out of
control. As the Imperial ship careers into deep space, the
Rebel transport races away to safety.
INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR DECK
Pilots, gunners, and troopers hurry to their stations and
their vehicles.
ANNOUNCER: (over loudspeaker) The first transport is away.
Everyone cheers at the announcement, which echoes through
the hangar. Luke turns and walks on, heading toward his
snowspeeder. His gunner, Dack, a fresh-faced, eager kid, is
glad to see him. They climb in.
DACK: Feeling all right, sir?
LUKE: Just like new, Dack. How about you?
DACK: Right now I feel I could take on the whole Empire myself.
LUKE: (quietly, strapping in) I know what you mean.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN
A thin horizon line cuts across the bleak landscape. Small
dot-size objects begin to appear on the horizon, moving in the
direction of the Rebel base.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH
A Rebel officer lifts a pair of electrobinoculars to his
eyes. Through the lens he sees a very close view of a giant
Imperial snow walker. He adjusts the view which then zooms
back to reveal three more of the ominous battle machines.
Small flashes of yellow fire billow from the guns of the
lumbering snow walkers.
The officer lowers his binoculars as the regular rhythmic
pounding begins to make the ground vibrate. The pounding grows
louder and is accompanied by a high-pitched, metallic
rattling. The officer speaks into his comlink.
TRENCH OFFICER: Echo Station Three-T-Eight.
INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- CORRIDOR
Pilots and gunners race to their waiting snowspeeders. Ice
and snow begin falling from the walls of the corridor, shaken
by the pounding Imperial snow walker as they draw ever nearer.
TRENCH OFFICER: (over comlink) We have spotted Imperial walkers!
CONTROLLER: Imperial walkers on the north ridge.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH
The Rebel troops aim their weapons at the horizon as
explosions erupt all around them. They are nervous and their
grip on their weapons tightens from the cold and from fear.
Behind the troops a dozen snowspeeders race through the
sky.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE: (into comlink) Echo station Five-Seven. We're on our way.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD
The fleet of snowspeeders races above the ice field at full
throttle. They accelerate away from the base and head toward
the distant walkers.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE: (into comlink) All right, boys, keep tight now.
DACK: Luke, I have no approach vector. I'm not set.
LUKE: Steady, Dack. Attack pattern delta. Go now!
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD
The cannons mounted on the walker head fire at the
speeders. Other walkers loom in the background. Two speeders
race away past two of the enormous walkers and bank to the
right.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE: All right, I'm coming in.
He turns his speeder and heads directly at one of the
walkers, flying toward its towering legs. The horizon twists
as the speeder banks between the legs.
LUKE: (into comlink) Hobbie, you still with me?
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD
Two speeders race directly at the head of a walker, then
split and fly past it.
Three other walkers march onward, firing all cannons.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOWTRENCH
Rebel troops fire on the approaching walkers, as the snow
and ice explode all around them.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD
A speeder banks through and away from the legs of a walker.
Two other speeders pass the first speeder from the opposite
direction. Other Rebel craft race just above the icy plain.
A giant walker head swivels and fires, striking a
snowspeeder and sending it crashing in a ball of flames.
INTERIOR: IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER -- COCKPIT
General Veers and two walker pilots keep a careful eye on
the racing Rebel snowspeeders as they maneuver their lumbering
war machine forward.
Luke's speeder banks in from the side of Veers's walker and
heads straight for its viewport, blasting away. An explosion
hits the walker window, but dissipates, doing no harm. The
speeder roars up and over the impregnable war machine.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
Luke looks back at the walker as it grows smaller in the
distance.
LUKE: That armor's too strong for blasters.
On the horizon, another walker moves up past Luke's cockpit
window, twisting out of sight as Luke banks and starts another
run.
LUKE: (into comlink) Rouge Group, use your harpoons and tow cables. Go
for the legs. It might be our only chance of stopping them. (to Dack)
All right, stand by, Dack.
Dack is at the gunner's controls.
DACK: Luke, we've got a malfunction in fire control. I'll have to cut
in the auxiliary.
LUKE: Just hang on. Hang on, Dack. Get ready to fire that tow cable.
Barely keeping his seat in the tumbling ship, Dack struggles
to set up his harpoon gun.
Luke swings his speeder around and heads toward an oncoming
walker. Laser bolts and flak fill the air, creating a deadly
obstacle course for the tiny craft.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD
Rouge Leader and another snowspeeder fly in tight formation
toward the walker as explosions burst all around them.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
After sustaining a heavy volley of fire, Luke turns around
to see if Dack is all right.
LUKE: Dack? Dack!
Dack is lost. Blood streams down his forehead, which
rests on his smoldering controls. Out the back window, an
Imperial walker recedes in the distance.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH AREA
Rebel troops fire the dishlike ray gun while explosions
erupt around them.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD
Two walkers lumber toward the Rebel base as a speeder
between them explodes in a ball of flames.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH
The dislike ray gun is hit by a laser bolt and instantly
explodes.
INTERIOR: IMPERIAL SNOW WALKER -- COCKPIT
Through the cockpit window, Veers and his pilot can see the
Rebel power generators in the distance.
A hologram of Darth Vader appears on a control panel
screen.
VEERS: Yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generator. The
shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE: (into comlink) Rouge Three.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT
WEDGE: (into comlink) Copy, Rouge Leader
LUKE: (over comlink) Wedge, I've lost my gunner. You'll have to make
this shot. I'll cover for you. Set your harpoon. Follow me on the next
pass.
WEDGE: (into comlink) Coming around, Rouge Leader.
INTERIOR: LUKE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE LEADER -- COCKPIT
LUKE: (into comlink) Steady, Rouge Two
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
Wedge's speeder races through the legs of one of the
monstrous walkers.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT
WEDGE: (to gunner) Activate harpoon.
Wedge's gunner reaches for a firing switch to activate the
harpoon. The harpoon flashes out, and speeds toward the
receding legs of the walker.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The harpoon hurtles toward the walker, In an instant it is
embedded in one of the walker's legs.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT
WEDGE: (to gunner) Good shot, Janson.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The speeder Rouge Three races around one of the giant
walker's feet, trailing the cable behind it. Continuing around
the back foot, Rouge Three then circles the walker around the
tail end.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT
Wedge checks his controls and banks around the front of the
walker.
WEDGE: One more pass.
JANSON: Coming around. Once more.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The speeder sweeps left to right in front of the giant
legs, towing the cable behind it.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT
JANSON: One more.
Wedge swings the speeder between the legs of the giant
walker.
JANSON: Cable out! Let her go!
WEDGE: Detach cable.
EXTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE
The cable release on the back of the speeder snaps loose
and the cable drops away.
INTERIOR: WEDGE'S SNOWSPEEDER, ROUGE THREE -- COCKPIT
JANSON: Cable detached.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD
The speeder zooms away into the distance. The tangled legs
of the enormous war machine attempt a step, but as they do the
giant Imperial walker begins to topple. It teeters for a
moment, and then crashes onto the icy ground, sending snow and
metal pieces flying.
EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- SNOW TRENCH
The troops in the trenches cheer at the sight of the
crashing walker.
An officer gives a signal to his men and Rebel troops
charge the fallen war machine.
