Two speeder bikes chase Ewoks through the underbrush. As the scouts round a tree, they are knocked off their bikes by a vine tied between two trees.

---------------------

The Falcon and other Rebel fighters are engaged in a ferocious combat with Imperial TIE fighters, the battle raging around the cruisers of the Rebel armada.

Lando is in radio communication with the pilots of the other Rebel squads.

Lando: Watch yourself, Wedge! Three from above!

Wedge: Red Three, Red Two, pull in!

Red Two: Got it!

Red Three: Three of them coming in, twenty degrees!

Wedge: Cut to the left! I'll take the leader! They're heading for the medical frigate.

Lando steers the Falcon through a complete flip, as his crew fires at the TIEs from the belly guns.

Navigator: Pressure's steady.

The copilot Nien Nunb chatters an observation.

Lando: Only the fighters are attacking. I wonder what those Star Destroyers are waiting for.

---------------------

The giant Imperial Star Destroyer waits silently some distance from the battle. The Emperor's huge Super Star Destroyer rests in the middle of the fleet.

Admiral Piett and two fleet Commanders watch the battle at the huge window of the Super Star Destroyer bridge.

Commander: We're in attack position now, sir.

Piett: Hold here.

Commander: We're not going to attack?

Piett: I have my orders from the Emperor himself. He has something special planned for them. We only need to keep them from escaping.

---------------------

The Emperor, and Vader watch the aerial battle fireworks out the window and on the view screens as Luke looks across the chasm in horror. Another Rebel ship explodes against the protective shield.

Emperor: As you can see, my young apprentice, your friends have failed. Your father can not save you. Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station. (into comlink) Fire at will, Commander.

Luke, in shock, looks out across the surface of the Death Star to the Rebel fleet beyond.

---------------------

Controllers pull back on several switches. Commander Jerjerrod stands over them.

Jerjerrod: Fire!

---------------------

A button is pressed, which switches on a panel of lights. A hooded Imperial soldier reaches overhead and pulls a lever. A huge beam of light emanates from a long shaft. Two stormtroopers stand to one side at a control panel.

The giant laser dish on the completed half of the Death Star begins to glow; Then a powerful beam shoots out toward the aerial battle.

The air is thick with giant ships. In among them, Rebel X-wings dogfight with Imperial TIE fighters. Now an enormous Rebel cruiser is hit by the Death Star beam and is blown to dust.

The Millennium Falcon roars, followed closely by several TIE fighters.

The ship is buffeted by the tremendous explosion of the Rebel cruiser. Lando and his copilot are stunned by the sight of the Death Star firepower.

Lando: That blast came from the Death Star! That thing's operational! (into comlink) Home One, this is Gold Leader.

Ackbar stands amid the confusion on the wide bridge and speaks into the comlink.

Ackbar: We saw it. All craft prepare to retreat.

Lando: You won't get another chance at this, Admiral.

Ackbar: We have no choice, General Calrissian. Our cruisers can't repel firepower of that magnitude.

Lando: Han will have that shield down. We've got to give him more time.

---------------------

R2 and 3PO make it to the door, as Han and Leia provide cover fire.

3PO: We're coming!

Han: Come on! Come on!

3PO: Oh, R2, hurry!

The little droid moves to the terminal and plugs in his computer arm. A large explosion hits near R2, knocking him head over heels, finally landing on his feet. The stubby astrodroid's head is spinning and smoldering.

Suddenly there is a loud sproing and Han and Leia turn around to see R2 with all his compartment doors open, and all of his appendages sticking out; water and smoke spurt out of the nozzles in his body. Han rushes to the terminal, as 3PO rushes to his wounded companion.

3PO: My goodness! R2, why did you have to be so brave?

Han: Well, I suppose I could hotwire this thing.

Leia: I'll cover you.

Ewoks in handmade, primitive hang gliders drop rocks onto the stormtroopers, dive bombing their deadly adversaries. One is hit in the wing with laser fire and crashes. A walker lumbers forward, shooting laser blasts at frantic Ewoks running in all directions. Two Ewoks are struck down by laser blasts. One tries to awaken his friend, then realizes that he is dead.

---------------------

The Rebel fleet continues to be picked off, from one side by the Death Star's deadly beam, from the other by the rampaging Imperial Star Destroyers.

Lando steers the Falcon wildly through an obstacle course of floating giants. He's been yelling into the comlink.

Lando: (desperately) Yes! I said closer! Move as close as you can and engage those Star Destroyers at point-blank range.

Ackbar: At that close range, we won't last long against those Star Destroyers.

Lando: We'll last longer then we will against that Death Star...and we might just take a few of them with us.

The Rebel cruisers move very close to the Imperial Star Destroyers and begin to blast away at point-blank range. Tiny fighters race across the giant surfaces, against a backdrop of laser fire.

The control tower of a Star Destroyer is under attack.

Rebel Pilot: She's gonna blow!

Y-Wing Pilot: I'm hit!

The damaged Y-wing plummets toward the Star Destroyer, and crashes into the control tower, exploding.

---------------------

Out of the window and on the view screens, the Rebel fleet is being decimated in blinding explosions of light and debris. But in here there is no sound of battle. The Emperor turns to Luke.

Emperor: Your fleet has lost. And your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. There is no escape, my young apprentice. The Alliance will die...as will your friends. As has Y/N. Your precious father. How weak he was. Pity. He would have been a fine apprentice.

Luke's eyes are full of rage. Vader watches him.

Emperor: Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Avenge your father! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete.

Luke can resist no longer. His lightsaber flies into his hand. He ignites it in an instant and swings at the Emperor. Vader's lightsaber flashes into view, blocking Luke's blow before it can reach the Emperor. The two blades spark at contact. Luke turns to fight meet his uncle's gaze.

---------------------

The battle rages on. Stormtroopers fire on Ewoks with sophisticated weapons while their furry little adversaries sneak up behind the Imperial troopers and bash them over the head with large clubs.

A walker marches through the undergrowth blasting Ewoks as it goes. An Ewok warrior gives the signal, and a pile of logs is cut loose. The logs tumble under the walker's feet, causing it to slip and slide until it finally topples over with a great crash.

A scout bike races past and is lassoed with a heavy vine. The other end of the vine is tied to a tree, and the bike swings around in ever-tightening circles until it runs out of rope and crashes into the trees with a huge explosion.

Chewie swings on a vine to the roof of one of the walkers. Two Ewoks cling to him. They land with a thud on the top of the lurching machine, then hang on for dear life. One of the Ewoks peeks through the window.

Walker Pilot #1: Look!

Pilot #2: Get him off of there!

The walker pilot opens the hatch to see what's going on. He is yanked out and tossed overboard before he can scream. The two Ewoks jump into the cockpit and knock the second pilot unconscious. The Ewoks are thrown violently as the mighty machine careens out of control.

Outside, Chewie is almost knocked overboard; he sticks his head into the hatch with a series of angry barks. The Ewoks are too busy and frightened to listen to the Wookiee's complaint. Chewie slips inside the walker.

Chewbacca's walker moves through the forest, firing laser blasts at unsuspecting stormtroopers, and destroying other Imperial walkers. The Ewoks shout and cheer as the giant machine helps turn the tide of the battle in their favor.

---------------------

Han works furiously at the control panel; wires spark as he attempts to hotwire the door. He motions to Leia, who is blasting away at some stormtroopers.

Han: I think I got it. I got it!

The three wires spark as the connection is made. With a loud whoosh, a second blast door crashes down in front of the first.

Han frowns and turns back to the wires again. Leia exchanges shots with stormtroopers in the bushes, then suddenly cries out in pain, her shoulder hit by a laser blast.

3PO: Oh, Princess Leia, are you all right?

Han: Let's see.

Leia: It's not bad.

Stormtrooper: Freeze!

They freeze.

3PO: Oh, dear.

Stormtrooper: Don't move!

Leia holds her laser gun ready, behind Han, out of view of the two stormtroopers moving toward them. Han and Leia's eyes lock; the moment seems suspended in time.

Han: Oh I love you.

Another shared look between them, as she smiles up at Han.

Leia: I know.

Stormtrooper: Hands up! Stand up!

Han stands up slowly and turns, revealing the gun in Leia's hand. She disposes of the stormtroopers in a flash. As Han turns back toward Leia, he looks up to see a giant walker approach and stand before him, its deadly weapons aimed right at him.

Han: (to Leia) Stay back.

The hatch on top of the walker opens and Chewie sticks his head out and barks triumphantly.

Han: Chewie! Get down here! She's wounded! No, wait.... I got an idea.

---------------------

Luke and Vader are engaged in a man-to-man duel of lightsabers even more vicious than the battle on Bespin. But the young Jedi has grown stronger in the interim, and now the advantage shifts to him. Vader is forced back, losing his balance, and is knocked down the stairs. Luke stands at the top of the stairs, ready to attack.

Emperor: (laughing) Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy! Let the hate flow through you.

Luke looks momentarily toward the Emperor, then back to Vader, and realizes he is using the dark side. He thinks of Y/N's tutelage and Ben's wisdom. He steps back, turns off his lightsaber, and relaxes, driving the hate from his being.

Vader: Y/N has taught you well.

Luke: I will not fight you, Vader.

Vader walks back up the stairs to Luke.

Vader: You are unwise to lower your defenses. I taught my brother that first hand. I ran my blade through him and I will be sure to do the same to you.

Vader attacks, forcing Luke on the defensive. The young Jedi leaps in an amazing reverse flip up to the safety of the catwalk overhead. Vader stands below him.

Luke: Your thoughts betray you, uncle. I feel the good in you... the conflict.

Vader: There is no conflict.

Luke: You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll destroy me now.

Vader: You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.

Vader throws the lightsaber and it swings through the air, cutting through the supports holding the catwalk, then returns to Vader's hand. Luke tumbles to the ground in a shower of sparks and rolls out of sight under the Emperor's platform. Vader moves to find him.

Emperor: (laughs) Good. Good.

---------------------

The two armadas, like their sea-bound ancestors, blast away at each other in individual point-blank confrontations. A Star Destroyer explodes. The Rebel victor limps away, its back half alive with a series of minor explosions.

The Rebel cruiser manages to move in next to a second Star Destroyer before it explodes completely, taking the Imperial Star Destroyer with it. The Falcon and several fighters attack one of the larger Imperial ships.

Lando: Watch out. Squad at point zero six.

Rebel Pilot: I'm on it, Gold Leader.

Wedge: Good shot, Red Two.

Lando: Now... come on, Han, old buddy. Don't let me down.

---------------------

Controllers watch the main viewscreen on which a vague figure of an Imperial walker pilot can be seen. There is a great deal of static and interference.

Pilot: It's over, Commander. The Rebels have been routed. They're fleeing into the woods. We need reinforcements to continue the pursuit.

The controllers cheer.

Control Room Commander: Send three squads to help. Open the back door.

Second Commander: Yes, sir.

---------------------

As the door to the bunker opens and the Imperial troops rush out, they're surprised to find themselves surrounded by Rebels, their weapons pointed at them. Ewoks holding bows and arrows appear on the roof of the bunker. The Imperial troops throw down their guns as Han and Chewie rush inside the bunker with explosive charges.