WARP - Empire Strikes Back

[Iggy McSnurd]

Iggy here:

This was one that seemed rather obvious to do, when you get down to it.
It's more of a sequence of events, rather than a specific scene.  Again,
the exact setting itself is less important.  (Also because, let's face
it, Neville and Ron are droids in this one. *grin*)

I threw in a little something for you Lupin the Betrayer theorists, with
a twist.  (Partly because I don't believe Lupin has, or will, betray
anyone.  For one thing, Remus was betrayed by Romulus, not the other way
around.)

One interesting note:  While Vader became Voldemort, the funny thing is
that there's a reference to the Dark Lord that was actually in the
script already.  (Apparently Vader and Voldemort are both Dark Lords.)

As always, enjoy!

Iggy McSnurd
	


THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Written by Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett
	From a story by George Lucas

(WARPed by Iggy McSnurd)


INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR - DAY

As Harry and Ron move carefully down a deserted corridor, they hear a
group of people coming down a side hallway.  Ron lets out an excited
series of beeps and whistles.  Harry glares at the tiny droid, who stops
in his tracks with a feeble squeak.

Lucius Malfoy enters from a side hallway followed by two guards pushing
the floating, encased body of Sirius Black.  Two Death Eaters, who
follow, immediately spot Harry and open fire on him.  The youth draws
his wand and blasts the two troopers before they can get off a second
shot.  The two guards whisk Sirius into another hallway as Malfoy lowers
his arm and fires a deadly spell at Harry, which explodes to one side
and tears up a huge chunk of wall.

Harry rushes to a side hallway, but by the time he reaches it, Malfoy,
Sirius, and the guards are gone.  A think metal door blocks the passage.

Harry turns to see Hermione, Hagrid, Neville, and Remus being herded
down a second hallway by several other Death Eaters.  Hermione turns
just in time to see Harry.

				HERMIONE
		Harry!  Harry, don't - it's a 
		trap!  It's a trap!

Before she can finish, she is pulled through a doorway and disappears
from sight.  Harry races after the group, leaving little Ron trailing
behind.

INT. CLOUD CITY - ANTEROOM


Harry runs into an anteroom and stops to get his bearings.  Hermione and
the others are nowhere to be seen.  Behind Harry, Ron scoots down the
corridor toward the anteroom when suddenly a giant metal door comes
slamming down, cutting off Harry's exit.  Several more doors clang shut,
echoing through the chamber.

INT. CLOUD CITY - HALLWAY LEADING TO ANTEROOM

Ron 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.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER - ANTEROOM

Harry 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.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER

Harry rises into the chamber, borne by the platform.  The room is
deathly quiet.  Very little steam escapes the pipes and no one else
seems to be in the large room.  Warily, Harry walks toward the stairway.

Steam begins to build up in the chamber.  Looking up through the steam, 
Harry sees a dark figure standing on a walkway above him.  Harry
holsters his wand and moves up the stairs to face Voldemort.  He feels
confident, eager to engage his enemy.

				VOLDEMORT
		The Power is with you, young 
		Potter.  But you are not an 
		Auror yet.

Harry draws his wand in answer.  In an instant, Voldemort's own wand is
lit.  Harry lunges, but Voldemort repels the blow.  Again Harry attacks,
and the spells of the two combatants clash in battle.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR

Hermione, Remus, and Hagrid, with Neville on his back, march along,
guarded by six Death Eaters.  The group reaches an intersection where 
Mundungus and a dozen of Remus's guards stand at attention.

The guards immediately aim their wands at the startled Death Eaters.
Taking the Death Eaters' wands from them, Mundungus hands one to
Hermione and one to Remus.

				REMUS
		Well done.  Hold them in the 
		security tower - and keep it 
		quiet.  Move.

As Remus's guards quickly march the Death Eaters away, Remus begins to
undo Hagrid's binding.

				HERMIONE
		What do you think you're doing?

				REMUS
		We're getting out of here.

				NEVILLE
		I knew all along it had to be a 
		mistake.

Hagrid turns on Remus and starts to choke him.

				HERMIONE
		Do you think that after what you 
		did to Sirius we're going to trust 
		you?

Remus tries to free himself from Hagrid.

				REMUS
			(choking)
		I had no choice...

Hagrid barks ferociously.

				NEVILLE
			(to Hagrid)
		What are you doing?  Trust him, 
		trust him!

				HERMIONE
		Oh, so we understand, don't we, 
		Hagrid?  He had no choice.

				REMUS
		I'm just trying to help...

				HERMIONE
		We don't need any of your help.

				REMUS
			(choking)
		S-i-i-i...

				HERMIONE
		What?

				NEVILLE
		It sounds like Sirius.

				REMUS
		There's still a chance to save 
		Sirius... I mean, at the East 
		Platform...

				HERMIONE
		Hagrid.

Hagrid finally releases Remus, who fights to get his breath back.

				NEVILLE
			(to Remus)
		I'm terribly sorry about all this. 
		After all, he's only a Half-Giant.

EXT. CLOUD CITY - EAST LANDING PLATFORM - LUCIUS MALFOY'S SHIP

The two guards slide Sirius's encased body into an opening in the side
of the bounty hunter's ship.  Lucius Malfoy climbs aboard on a ladder
next to the cargo hold.

				LUCIUS MALFOY
		Put Mister Black in the cargo 
		hold.

And with that, the door slams shut.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR

Remus, Hermione, and Hagrid run down a Cloud City corridor when suddenly
they spot Ron who rushes toward them, beeping wildly.

				NEVILLE
		Ron!  Ron!  Where have you 
		been?

Hagrid turns around to see the stubby droid, causing Neville to be spun
out of sight of his friend.

				NEVILLE
		Turn around, you wooly...! 
			(to Ron)
		Hurry, hurry!  We're trying to 
		save Sirius from the bounty hunter!

Whistling frantically to Neville, Ron scoots along with the racing
group.

				NEVILLE
		Well, at least your still in 
		one piece!  Look what happened to 
		me!

EXT. EAST LANDING PLATFORM - SIDE BAY

An elevator door slides open and Remus, Hermione, and Hagrid race for a
large bay overlooking the East Landing Platform.

Just as they arrive, Lucius Malfoy's ship takes off against a cloudy
sunset sky.  

In wild anguish, Hagrid howls and starts a wand at the ship.

				NEVILLE
		Oh, no!  Hagrid, they're behind 
		you!

A spell explodes near the princess.  Everyone turns to see what 
Neville has already spotted coming from the other direction; a squad of
Death Eaters running toward them.  Ron peeks out from the elevator.

Hermione and Hagrid start firing at the troopers as Remus makes a break
for the elevator.  Spells continue to explode around the girl and the
Half-Giant, but they refuse to budge.  Remus sticks his head out of the
elevator and motions for the pair to run, but they barely notice.  They
seem possessed, transported, as all the frustration of captivity and
anger of loss pour through their death-dealing wands.

But after a few moments, they begin to move through the rain of spell
fire toward the elevator.  Once they are inside, the door slams shut and
the Death Eaters race forward.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CARBON-FREEZING CHAMBER

Harry and Voldemort are locked in combat on the platform overlooking the
chamber.  Their spells clash, the platform sways.  Harry aggressively
drives Voldemort back, forcing Voldemort to use defensive tactics.

				VOLDEMORT
		You have learned much, young one.

				HARRY
		You'll find I'm full of surprises.

Voldemort makes two quick moves, hooking Harry's wand out of his hand
and sending it flying.  A quick lightning spell at Harry's feet forces
the youth to jump back to protect himself.  Losing his balance, Harry
rolls down the stairs to the circular carbon-freezing platform.  There
he sprawls on the floor, surprised and shaken.  Just in time he looks up
to see Voldemort, like a giant black bird, flying right at him.  Harry
rolls away as Voldemort lands.  Crouching, Harry keeps his gaze steadily
on his enemy.

				VOLDEMORT
		Your destiny lies with me, 
		Potter.  Dumbledore knew this to 
		be true.

				HARRY
		No!

Behind Harry the hydraulic elevator cover has opened noiselessly.  All
the while, Harry slowly, cautiously moves back, away from the Dark Lord.

Suddenly, Voldemort attacks so forcefully that Harry loses his balance
and falls back into the opening.  There is a rumble, and in an instant
freezing steam rises to obscure Voldemort's vision.   Voldemort turns
aside and puts away his wand.

				VOLDEMORT
		All to easy.  Perhaps you are not 
		as strong as the Emperor thought.

Through the steam behind Voldemort something blurs upward.  Liquid metal
begins to pour into the pit.

Voldemort turns around - and then looks up.  He sees Harry, who has
leaped fifteen feet straight up and who now hangs from some hoses on the
carbonite outlet.

				VOLDEMORT
		Impressive... most impressive.

Harry jumps down to the platform where he is separated from Voldemort by
the steaming carbonite pit.  He raises his hand.  His wand, which had
fallen on another part of the platform, swiftly jumps into his
outstretched hand and is instantly ignited.  Voldemort immediately
lights his wand as well.

				VOLDEMORT
		Dumbledore has taught you well.  You 
		have controlled your fear... now 
		release your anger.

Harry is more cautious, controlling his anger.  He begins to retreat as 
Voldemort goads him on.  As Harry takes a defensive position, he
realizes he has been foolhardy.  A quick spell exchange and Harry forces
Voldemort back.  Another exchange and Voldemort retreats.  Harry presses
forward.

				VOLDEMORT
		Only your hatred can destroy me.

Breathing hard, Harry jumps in the air, turning a somersault over
Voldemort.  He lands on the floor and slashes a spell at Voldemort as
the room continues to fill up with steam.

Voldemort retreats before Harry's skillful magic.  Voldemort blocks the
spell, but looses his balance and falls into the outer rim of pipes.
The energy Harry has used to stop Voldemort has brought him to the point
of collapse.  Harry moves to the edge and looks down, but sees no sign
of Voldemort.  He then extinguishes his wand, tucks it into his belt,
and lowers himself into the pit.

INT. CLOUD CITY - TUNNEL AND REACTOR CONTROL ROOM

Moving through a tunnel-like entrance, Harry cautiously approaches the
reactor room.  He ignites his wand and moves into the room and toward a
large window as Voldemort enters.

Harry raises his wand and moves forward to attack.

Behind Harry a large piece of machinery detaches itself from the wall
and comes smashing forward toward his back.  Harry turns and cuts it in
half just as another machine comes hurtling at him.  Using the Power,
Harry manages to deflect it and send it flying as if it had hit an
invisible shield.

A large pipe detaches and comes flying at Harry.  He deflects it.  
Sparking wires pull out of the wall and begin to whip at the youth.  
Small tools and equipment come flying at him.  Bombardment from all
sides, Harry does his best to deflect everything, but soon he is
bloodied and bruised.  Finally, one machine glances off his and goes
flying out the large window.  A fierce wind blows into the room,
unmoving, stands the dark, rocklike figure of Voldemort.

A piece of machinery hits Harry and he is knocked out of the window.

INT. GANTRY - OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM - REACTOR SHAFT

Harry falls onto the gantry, rolls, and hangs over the edge, holding his
deactivated wand in hand.  He tucks the wand into his belt and begins to
scramble up.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR LEADING TO LANDING PLATFORM

Hermione, Remus, Hagrid and the boys come round a corner and head for
the door to the landing platform.  They glimpse the Millennium Falcon
for a moment before the door slams shut.  The group ducks into an alcove
as Death Eaters arrive at the end of the corridor.  The troopers send a
rain of spells at the group.  Hagrid returns their fire as Remus punches
desperately at the door's control panel.

				REMUS
		The security codes has been changed!

				NEVILLE
		Ron, you can tell the computer 
		to override the security system.

Neville points to a computer socket on the control panel.  Ron beeps and
scoots toward it.  Remus meanwhile has connected up to the panel's
intercom.

				REMUS
		Attention!  This is Remus
		Lupin.  The Dark Wizards have taken 
		control of the city.  I advise 
		everyone to leave before more 
		Death Eaters arrive.

Ron takes off a computer cover and sticks his computer arm into the
socket.  Suddenly, a short beep turns into a wild scream.  Ron's
circuits light up, his head spins wildly, and smoke begins to seep out
underneath him.  Quickly, Hagrid pulls him away.

				REMUS
		This way.

Remus, Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid flee down the corridor.  As he scoots
along with them, Ron sends some angry beeps Neville's way.

				NEVILLE
		Don't blame me.  I'm an interpreter. 
		I'm not supposed to know a power 
		socket from a computer terminal.

INT. CLOUD CITY - CORRIDOR

In a panic, Cloud City residents are trying to get out of the city.  
Some carry boxes, others packages.  They run, then change direction.  
Some are shooting at Death Eaters, others simply try to hide.

Other Death Eaters pursue Remus, Hermione, and Hagrid who are firing
back at them.  Ron works on another door to the landing platform while 
Neville berates him for his seeming ineptitude.

				NEVILLE
		What are you talking about?  We're 
		not interested in the hyperdrive 
		on the Millennium Falcon.  It's 
		fixed!  Just open the door, you 
		stupid lump.

Hagrid, Hermione, and Remus retreat along the corridor.  A triumphant
beep from Ron - and the door snaps open.

				NEVILLE
			(to Ron)
		I never doubted you for a second.
		Wonderful!

Ron lays a cloud fog, obscuring everything, as the group dashes outside.

EXT. LANDING PLATFORM - CLOUD CITY - DUSK

They race for the Millennium Falcon as a battalion of Death Eaters
reaches the main door.  Remus and Hermione hold off the troops as the
droids get on board with Hagrid.  As Hagrid bounds to the ship the 
Neville on his back, Neville hits his head on the top of the ramp.

				NEVILLE
		Ouch!  Oh!  Ah!  That hurt.  Bend 
		down, you thoughtless... Ow!

Hagrid starts up the ship.  The giant engines begin to whine as Remus
and Hermione race up the ramp under a hail of laser fire.

				REMUS
		Hermione!  Go!

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - CORRIDOR

Ron drags the partially assembled Neville down the corridor of the
Falcon.

				NEVILLE
		I thought that hairy beast would 
		be the end of me.  Of course, I've 
		looked better.

Ron beeps understandingly.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Hagrid works the controls as Hermione sits in Sirius's seat and Remus
watches over their shoulders.  As Hagrid pulls back on the throttle, the
ship begins to move.

EXT. CLOUD CITY - LANDING PLATFORM - DUSK

The Millennium Falcon lifts gracefully into the twilight sky and roars
away from the city.  Troops fire after it and TIE fighters take off in
pursuit.

INT. GANTRY - OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM - REACTOR SHAFT

Harry moves along the railing and up to the control room.

Voldemort lunges at him and Harry immediately raises his lit wand to
meet Voldemort's.  Sparks fly as they duel, Voldemort gradually forcing
Harry backward toward the gantry.

				VOLDEMORT
		You are beaten.  It is useless 
		to resist.  Don't let yourself 
		be destroyed as Dumbledore did.

Harry answers by rolling sideways and growling a curse at Voldemort so
viciously that he nicks Voldemort on the shoulder.  The black robes
spark and smoke and Voldemort seems to be hurt, but immediately
recovers.

Harry backs off along the narrow end of the gantry as Voldemort comes at
him, slashing at the young Auror with his wand.  Harry makes a quick
move around the instrument complex attached to the end of the gantry.  
Voldemort's wand comes slashing down, a spell cutting the complex loose;
it begins to fall, then is caught by the rising wind and blown upward.

Harry glances at the instrument complex floating away.  At that instant,
Voldemort's next spell comes down across Harry's right forearm, cutting
off his hand and sending his wand flying.  In great pain, Harry squeezes
his forearm under his left armpit and moves back along the gantry to its
extreme end.  Voldemort follows.  The wind subsides.  Harry holds on.
There is nowhere else to go.  

				VOLDEMORT
		There is no escape.  Don't make 
		me destroy you.  You do not yet 
		realize your importance.  You 
		have only begun to discover your 
		power.  Join me and I will complete 
		your training.  With our combined 
		strength, we can end this destructive 
		conflict and bring order to the 
		galaxy.

				HARRY
		I'll never join you!

				VOLDEMORT
		If you only knew the power of the 
		dark side.  Dumbledore never told 
		you what happened to your father.

				HARRY
		He told me enough!  It was you 
		who killed him.

				VOLDEMORT
		No.  I am your father.

Shocked, Harry looks at Voldemort in utter disbelief.

				HARRY
		No.  No.  That's not true!  
		That's impossible!

				VOLDEMORT
		Search your feelings.  You know 
		it to be true.

				HARRY
		No!  No!  No!

				VOLDEMORT
		Harry.  You can destroy the Minister.
		He has foreseen this.  It is your 
		destiny.  Join me, and together 
		we can rule the galaxy as father 
		and son.  Come with me.  It is the 
		only way.

Voldemort puts away his wand and holds his hand out to Harry.

A calm comes over Harry, and he makes a decision.  In the next instant
he steps off the gantry platform into space.  The Dark Lord looks over
the platform and sees Harry falling far below.  The wind begins to blow
at Voldemort's cape and the torrent finally forces him back, away from
the edge.  The wind soon fades and the wounded Auror begins to drop
fast, unable to grab onto anything to break his fall.

INT. REACTOR SHAFT

Suddenly Harry is sucked into an exhaust pipe in the side of the shaft.

When Voldemort sees this, he turns and hurries off the platform.

INT. EXHAUST PIPE

Harry tumbles through the exhaust pipe.

He slides to the end of the slickly polished pipe and stops as his feet
hit a circular grill and knock it open.  Harry claws at the surface of
the pipe, trying to keep from sliding out into space.

EXT. BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY - WEATHER VANE - DUSK

Unable to hang onto the pipe, Harry tumbles out, emerging at the
undermost part of Cloud City.  Reaching out desperately, he manages to
grab onto on electronic weather vane.

				HARRY
		Albu... Albus, please!

Harry tries to pull himself up on the weather vane but slips back down.

He hooks one of his legs around the fragile instruments.  All the while,
a powerful current of air rushes out at him from the exhaust pipe.

				HARRY
		Albus.  Hermione!

There is an ominous cracking sound from the base of the weather vane and
a piece breaks off, falling into the clouds far below.

				HARRY
		Hear me!  Hermione!

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Hermione seems to be lost in a fog, her expression troubled.  Hagrid is
busy operating the ship.  Remus stands next to the Half-Giant, watching
a readout on the control panel.

				HERMIONE
		Harry... We've got to go back.

Hagrid growls in surprise.

				REMUS
		What?

				HERMIONE
		I know where Harry is.

				REMUS
		But what about those fighter?

Hagrid barks in agreement with Remus.

				HERMIONE
		Hagrid, just do it.

				REMUS
		But what about Voldemort?

Hagrid turns on Remus, the newcomer, with an ominous growl.

				REMUS
		All right, all right, all right.

EXT. CLOUD CITY - MILLENNIUM FALCON - DUSK

The Falcon makes a graceful banking turn back toward Cloud City.

EXT. CLOUD CITY - LANDING PLATFORM

Voldemort enters the landing platform and watches as the speck that is
the Falcon disappears.  The wind blows at his cape.

He turns to two aides who are standing near the entrance to the landing
platform.

				VOLDEMORT
		Bring my shuttle.

EXT. BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY - WEATHER VANE

Nearly unconscious, Harry hangs upside-down on the weather vane as his
body shifts in the wind.

EXT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY

The Falcon dives to the underside of the floating city.  Three TIE
fighter close in on the starship.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON

Hermione tries to remain calm.

				REMUS
			(pointing out the 
			 cockpit window)
		Look, someone's up there.

				HERMIONE
		It's Harry.  Hagrid, slow down.
		Slow down and we'll get under him.
		Remus, open the top hatch.

Remus rushes out of the cockpit.

EXT. BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY - WEATHER VANE

Harry hangs by one arm from the crossbar of the weather vane.  He slips
from the bar and grabs onto the pole of the vane as the Falcon banks
toward him.  The Falcon positions itself under Harry as Remus moves up
through the opening of the hatch.  Harry begins to slide and finally
falls from the vane into space.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Out the cockpit window, Hermione sees Harry falling from the bottom of
the city.  The ship gains on him.

				HERMIONE
		Okay.  Easy, Hagrid.

The Falcon closes in on Harry.

EXT. BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY

Three TIE fighters race toward the Falcon, firing away.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - HATCH

The hatch pops open with a hiss of pressure.  Remus reaches out to help
the battered warrior inside the ship.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON - COCKPIT

Flak bursts all around it as the Falcon banks away from the city.
Hermione and Hagrid struggle with the controls.

				HERMIONE
			(into intercom)
		Remus?

				REMUS
			(over intercom)
		Okay, let's go.

EXT. BOTTOM OF CLOUD CITY

The Falcon races away.  It is closely followed by three TIE fighters,
all of which keep up a heavy spell assault on the fleeing starship.