Don't Make a Scene: Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

The Story: Happy Father's Day!

And given that, you knew it was inevitable I'd be putting up this scene eventually.

For many, it was the big jawa-dropper of the first sequel to Star Wars, Star Wars-Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. And, if you think I should put some spoiler-warning on this (as some have told me recently), grow the heck up. 

After all, it's been 43 years since this movie came out and an entire prequel trilogy told the whole story of how and why it happened, not to mention there was another three sequels years later where it's alluded to, so this Dad-reveal is as old as Aunt Hattie's Hat! 

(oh, alright! *grumble*)

Flashy spoiler alert courtesy of Mark Evanier's newsfromme.com

Check it out!

(besides, the spoiler alert distracts from a difficult topic transition)

Frankly, I thought it was a bad idea to reveal that Darth Vader was actually the father of our hero, Luke Skywalker (and I did when it was revealed in the tie-in novel that was published before the movie came out!). It folded the Star Wars Universe in on itself and fairly started shutting down wilder, more interesting possibilities and turned a Galaxy-wide drama into a family tragedy. But, it made sense the way The Wizard of Oz made sense—on a psychological-mythical level (Psychology Today ran an article after the first movie came out saying that "Darth Vader" was basically a bastardization of "Dark Father" and fed right into Oedipal fairy-tale fears). 

 

But, the revelation had back-story consequences as it made a manipulative liar-opportunist out of ol' Ben Kenobi (which was troubling), even while it made sense that Luke would inherit his Pop's powers...wait a minute! "The Force" is hereditary? That sucks! So much for "binds the galaxy together."

But, what the heck, it created enough mystery and brought up so many questions that it made everyone anticipate the next film—as if anyone wasn't going to see it, anyway.

Apologies for some of the blurry images—those light-sabers move pretty darn fast.

 

The Set-Up: It is a dark time for the Galaxy. The rebels are on the run after a disastrous rout on the ice-planet Hoth. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has just spent some extended recuperative time on the planet Dagobah with a Jedi Master to hone his Force-training, and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) (and Chewbacca), on the run from the Imperials, have sought refuge on Bespin, only to be captured by Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones). Luke, sensing their danger—hey, that "Force-stuff" really works!—has ignored warnings of facing Vader at this stage and rushed off to rescue them. Only to find that...maybe he should have listened.

 

Action.

INT. GANTRY - OUTSIDE CONTROL ROOM - REACTOR SHAFT    

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

Vader lunges at him 

and Luke immediately raises his lit sword to meet Vader's. 

Sparks fly as they duel, 

Vader gradually forcing Luke backward toward the gantry. 

VADER You are beaten. 

VADER It is useless to resist. 

VADER Don't let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did. 

Luke answers by rolling sideways and thrusting his sword at Vader so viciously that he nicks Vader on the shoulder. 

The black armor sparks and smokes and Vader seems to be hurt, but immediately recovers. 

Luke backs off along the narrow end of the gantry as Vader comes at him, slashing at the young Jedi with his sword. 

Luke makes a quick move around the instrument complex attached to the end of the gantry. 

Vader's sword comes slashing down, cutting the complex loose;

it begins to fall, then is caught by the rising wind and blown upward.

Luke glances at the instrument complex floating away. 

At that instant, Vader's sword comes down across Luke's right forearm,

cutting off his hand and sending his sword flying. 

In great pain, Luke squeezes his forearm under his left armpit and moves back along the gantry to its extreme end. 

Vader follows. 

The wind subsides. 

Luke holds on. There is nowhere else to go. 

VADER There is no escape. 

VADER Don't make me destroy you. 

VADER Luke. 

VADER You do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. 

VADER Join me and I will complete your training. 

VADER With our combined strength, we can end this destructive 

VADER conflict and bring order to the galaxy. 

LUKE I'll never join you! 

VADER If you only knew the 

VADER power of 

VADER the dark side. 

VADER Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father. 

LUKE He told me enough! 

LUKE It was you who He told me you killed him. 

VADER No. 

VADER I am your father. 

Shocked, Luke looks at Vader in utter disbelief. 

LUKE No. No. 

LUKE That's not true! 

LUKE That's impossible! 

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

LUKE No! No! No! 

VADER Luke. 

VADER You can destroy the Emperor. 

VADER He has foreseen this. 

VADER It is your destiny. 

VADER Join me, 

VADER and together we can rule 

VADER rule the galaxy as father 

VADER and son. 

VADER Come with me. 

VADER It is the only way. 

Vader puts away his sword and holds his hand out to Luke. 

A calm comes over Luke, 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 Luke falling far below. 

The wind begins to blow at Vader's cape and the torrent finally forces him back, away from the edge. 

The wind soon fades and the wounded Jedi begins to drop fast, 

unable to grab onto anything to break his fall. 

INT. REACTOR SHAFT 

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

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

 

Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

 

Words by Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, and Leigh Brackett

 

Pictures by Peter Suschitzky and Irvin Kershner

 

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from Fox Home Entertainment.