Directed By: Irvin Kershner

Written By: George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan

Cast: (main characters only)

Opening Crawl:

Plot Synopsis:

After the opening crawl fades away, the view of stars pans down to show the forest moon of Endor. In orbit above the moon hangs a massive half-finished sphere. The sphere, obviously a recreation of the original Death Star, dwarfs the fleet of Star Destroyers hovering around it. From our viewpoint, another Star Destroyer comes zooming towards the new Death Star, then slows as an Imperial shuttle launches out of its underside hangar bay. Escorted by two TIE Fighters, the shuttle flies down to the battle station and into one of the many hangars lining its outer ring.

In the hangar, rows of storm troopers snap to attention as a middle-aged Imperial officer (Moff Jerjerrod) rushes up to the shuttle. When the landing ramp lowers, Darth Vader comes striding down towards the officer. Their conversation reveals that the construction of the project is behind schedule, and the Emperor himself is coming for a personal inspection of its progress. The moff's grievances of manpower and scheduling fall upon a deaf ear, and the nervous man assures Vader that they will double their efforts prior to the Emperor's arrival.

On Tattooine, we see a dusty R2-D2 and C-3PO walking down the long road to a large palace in the distance. Bickering as usual, the pair reach the massive sealed door of the complex, and C-3PO lightly taps the door a few times before attempting to leave. As he turns around, a small robotic arm with an eyeball-like lense on its end pops out of a small hatch beside the door. C-3PO and the small device talk in a strange language, with C-3PO explaining that they are there to present Jabba the Hutt with a message and a gift. The security device laughs rudely and pops back into its hatch, but the doors begin to open. A nervous C-3PO follows R2-D2 into the darkness beyond. Inside the dark corridors of Jabba's palace, the droids are met by Bib Fortuna, Jabba's majordomo and aide. Bib attempts to coerce the gift out of R2, but the little droid refuses, stating it must be present to Jabba himself. A frustrated Bib leads them to Jabba.

In the main room of the palace, Jabba (a large 16-foot long slug-like creature) sits on a large flat dais. He is surrounded by various scantily-clad dancing girls and rough-looking guards and henchmen. When Bib introduces the droids to Jabba and tells him about the gift, the slug laughs and beckons them forward. R2-D2 projects a larger-than-life hologram of Luke, who introduces himself as a Jedi Knight and then proceeds to flatter Jabba while stating that he will arrive to take possession of Han Solo. Jabba is not impressed by the subtle threat. The hologram goes on to say that the gift is the two droids, surprising the already-nervous C-3PO. R2, however, seems to take it all in stride. Jabba announces that there will be no bargain, as Han (still encased in carbonite) is his favorite decoration, hanging from a nearby wall. The two droids are then marched off to the droid room of the palace, where the head droid positions C-3PO as the translator droid in Jabba's throneroom and then R2-D2 as a serving droid on Jabba's sailbarge.

Some time later, Jabba's throneroom is in full swing as music plays and several dancers dance for Jabba. One dancer in particular, a green-skinned Twi'Lek, catches the eye of Jabba but refuses his amorous advances. An angry Jabba hits a switch on his dais and the floor opens beneath the dancer, dropping her into the darkness beyond. As the excited crowd gathers around the trapdoor, we hear the growls of a large monster and then the dancer's screams. A laughing Jabba and his minions look on another few minutes, then return to their festivities. Moments later, the party is again interrupted when a loud roar echoes through the halls, followed by a guard flying into the room. A short creature wearing armor walks in, leading a cuffed Chewbacca by a chain around his neck. The creature, apparently a bounty hunter, announces that he come for the bounty on the Wookie. Jabba gloats over the captured alien, then offers twenty-five thousand. The bounty hunter demands fifty-thousand and backs up the demand with a thermal detonator. Jabba, laughing at the bounty hunter's boldness, agrees to a sum of thirty-five thousand, and then orders his guards to take Chewbacca to the dungeons. Across the room, Boba Fett nods respectfully at the new bounty hunter.

Later that night, as Jabba's throneroom lays littered with drunken and sleeping revelers, the bounty hunter quietly sneaks across the room and releases Han Solo from the carbonite. Blinded by temporary hibernation sickness, Han is surprised at the rescue and becomes even more surprised when the bounty hunter reveals itself as Leia. As she helps the weakened Han back across the room, a booming laughter is heard. A back curtain slides aside to reveal Jabba and several of his guards. Han vainly attempts to bargain with Jabba, even offering to triple the amount he lost, but Jabba is adamant and has him taken off to the dungeons. The large slug then has Leia dragged to him, laughing at her threats and the mention of "powerful friends". Down in the dungeon, Han is thrown into a dark cell. As he backs against the wall, a large howl erupts in the cell, and he is soon encircled in the arms of very happy Chewbacca. The Wookie explains that they are all there to rescue him, including Lando (disguised as a guard) and Luke. He also explains that the plan was designed by Luke, who is now a Jedi Knight. A disbelieving Han mutters about delusions of grandeur while hugging his excited co-pilot.

The next morning, the outer door of Jabba's palace begins rising of its own accord. Two large Gammorrean guards rush forward to block the black-robed figure striding through the doors, but he casts them aside with a gesture. Further down the hall, he is met by Bib Fortuna, who steadfastly declares that he is not to be permitted. The figure looks up at Bib, revealing himself to be Luke Skywalker, and uses a Jedi mind trick to persuade Bib to lead him to Jabba. The pair walk into the throneroom where Bib awakens Jabba, then introduces Luke. Jabba angrily yells at Bib before casting him off the dais. Luke commands that Han and Chewbacca be brought to him, but Jabba laughs and tells him that mind tricks won't work on him. Luke glances at Leia, now dressed in a slave girl outfit and chained to the dais, then tells Jabba that he is taking the prisoners regardless. Jabba refuses and tells Luke that he will enjoy watching him die. Luke uses the Force to pull a guard's blaster into his hand just as Jabba hits a switch on his dais. Luke fires at Jabba while the guards clamor to grab the pistol, but the bolt misses as he and one of the guards fall down into the pit beneath the room. Jabba and his minions move forward to watch once more, including a concerned Lando and Leia.

Down in the pit, Luke and the guard tumble out into a large open room. As Luke climbs to his feet and looks around, the guard begins squealing and frantically clawing at a barred window on one wall. Suddenly a large door on one wall begins opening, and an enormous ape-like monster (the Rancor) emerges. The guard immediately starts screaming and trying to climb back up the chute they fell out of. Attracted to the noise and movement, the Rancor passes up the still and silent Luke and grabs the guard, swallowing him in two bites. The beast then spots Luke and grabs him just as Luke picks up a large bone from the floor. When the Rancor attempts to put Luke in its mouth, the Jedi wedges the bone between its upper and lower jaw, trapping the mouth open. He then drops to the floor and crawls into a crevice as the Rancor claws at its mouth. After biting the bone in half, the creature starts clawing at the crevice, attempting to get Luke out. Between the beast's legs, Luke spots a door on the other side of the chamber that it came out of. He smashes a stone on the Rancor's hand, running to the other side while it screams in pain. When he opens the door, however, it's barred just like the window. Spotting the controls for the large door across the chamber, Luke throws a skull at the panel as the Rancor comes lumbering forward. The skull smashes the panel, causing the door to slam down on the Rancor, killing it. A furious Jabba demands that Luke and his friends be brought before him immediately.

Moments later up in the throneroom, Han and Chewie are shoved up to Jabba while Luke is brought in from the other side. Jabba pronounces that the three will be taken into the deep desert and cast into the mouth of the Sarlacc, where they will then be slowly digested over a thousand years. Luke is still confident, and explains to Jabba that he should have bargained. Jabba's only response is to laugh as they are marched off towards the hangar. We next see our heroes as they stand on a sail skiff, racing across the desert. Luke expresses his confidence that they will escape, but Han is doubtful. Their skiff and another like it escort Jabba's larger sail barge, a two-story vehicle resembling the sailing ships of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Within the barge, Jabba lies on a duplicate of his throneroom dais, Leia's chain held in his hand. A very nervous C-3PO encounters R2-D2, serving drinks. He explains that Luke and Han will be executed, but the little astromech droid assures him that everything will be okay. As they talk, the ships approach the Sarlacc pit.

As the barge and one of the skiffs come to a stop near the pit, the skiff holding Luke, Han, Chewie, and Lando (still disguised as a guard) hovers out over the pit. As the guards herd Luke out onto a plank hanging over the pit, Threepio announces that Jabba will now hear their pleas for mercy. A defiant Han tells Jabba he'll get no such pleasure from them, and then Luke tells Jabba this is his last chance to free them. A laughing Jabba tells the guards to push him in. Luke then salutes R2, now on the upper story of the barge, and the astromech opens a small hatch on his dome. Luke then jumps off the plank but uses it as a springboard to fly back up onto the skiff. R2 launches his lightsaber out towards the skiff, and Luke uses the Force to catch it. The young Jedi and Lando then proceed to eliminate the guards while a freed Chewie unties Han.

Up on the barge, Jabba is furious and begins shouting orders at his henchmen. One of the henchmen mounts a large cannon on the upper story of the barge and begins firing at the skiff. One of the shots connects, and knocks Lando off into the pit. He manages to grab a cable hanging from the damaged skiff, however, and begins shouting for help. Boba Fett then uses his rocket pack to jump from the barge to the skiff, and immediately ensnares Luke in a steel cable from one of his gauntlets. Luke manages to cut the cable, and the next shot from the barge knocks Boba to the deck. Luke then jumps to the second skiff and begins taking out guards as a still semi-blind Han shouts to Chewie for guidance. As Boba stands up and aims at Luke, Han grabs a spear and spins around, accidentally hitting Boba's jet pack and sending him rocketing off towards the barge. The bounty hunter whacks into the side of the barge, then falls down into the Sarlacc with a scream. Han and Chewie then turn their attention towards the dangling Lando. Inside the chaos of the barge, Leia jumps over the dais, trailing her chain around Jabba's thick neck. She then begins heaving with all her might until the heavy chain finally suffocates the large slug. Exhausted, she then jumps down and begins looking for a way to escape.

Back outside, Luke finishes the guards on the second skiff while Han (now hanging upside down) attempts to save Lando by lowering a spear to him. The barge cannon continues to fire at the skiff, breaking the cable that Lando was hanging by. Seeing his friends' predicament, Luke runs and then jumps to the barge, climbing up its side to the upper deck. On the skiff, Lando is sliding precariously close to the pit when a tentacle shoots forth and grabs his ankle. Han gets a pistol from Chewbacca and slowly takes aim. An extremely nervous Lando reminds him that he's supposed to be blind, but Han pulls off the shot and hauls him back up into the skiff. On the barge, Luke has reached the upper deck and is fighting the guards. Below him, R2-D2 cuts the chain around Leia's neck and the two head for the upper story. Luke then commands her to point the large cannon at the deck just before getting shot in his mechanical hand. Although the burned synthflesh now reveals its robotic workings, the hand still works, so Luke proceeds to finish the last guards. He then grabs Leia and uses a loose cable to swing off towards the skiff. Just before the leap, however, he kicks the trigger on the cannon, firing it into the barge. As the barge begins to explode, R2-D2 pushes C-3PO off into the sand before jumping himself. After Luke and Leia land on the skiff, Luke tells Lando to get the droids and they take off as Jabba's barge continues to explode and settle down onto the sand.

As the Millenium Falcon and Luke's X-Wing fly away into space, Luke promises to meet his friends at the fleet. Pulling a black glove over his damaged robotic hand, he then tells a curious R2-D2 that they're going to meet an old friend... on Dagobah. Elsewhere in the galaxy, we again see the half-completed Death Star II. Now swarming with Imperial ships, Star Destroyers, and TIE Fighters, we see a shuttle approaching the station with a large escort of TIE's. Inside a large hangar, we see thousands of Imperial stormtroopers, technicians, and pilots standing at rapt attention. As the shuttle comes to a landing within the bay, Darth Vader and Moff Jerjerrod approach it. When the ramp lowers, six Imperial Royal Guards march out and form a line along either side of the ramp. Then a small-appearing old man comes hobbling out of the shuttle, leaning on a gnarled cane. At sight of the old man (Emperor Palpatine), both Vader and the moff kneel. The Emperor motions for Vader to rise and follow him, and they talk as Palpatine hobbles down the line of troops, followed by numerous aides and his Royal Guards. The black-robed old figure congratulates Vader on the construction of the Death Star, and informs him that he should be patient -- Luke will come to him. He further states that the younger Skywalker has become stronger, and that now only together will they be able to turn him to the dark side. Gazing up at Vader with shrunken yellow eyes, Palpatine states that everything is proceeding as he foresaw and then starts cackling to himself.

In Yoda's hut on Dagobah, Luke watches as the sickly and frail little creature hobbles towards his bed. Unafraid of death, the nine-hundred year old Jedi explains that he is about to die. At Luke's protests, Yoda explains that he strong with the Force, but not that strong. Luke continues to protest, stating that he has come to complete his training as promised, but Yoda replies that he requires no more training. However, to become a true Jedi Knight, he must confront Vader. Luke then asks Yoda what's really on his mind -- is Darth Vader truly his father? The reluctant answer is yes. Yoda begins to warn Luke again of the dark side, and then gathers his last strength to utter four words, "There... is... another... Skywalker." With that statement, Yoda dies, his physical body vanishing before Luke's eyes, just like Ben (see Episode 4). A dejected Luke leaves and walks out to his X-Wing, where he declares to R2 that he can't confront Vader alone. He is suprised to hear Ben's voice state that Yoda will always be with him. Turning, he sees Ben (in spirit form) walking out of the swamp. A surprised Luke confronts Ben about the lie he told on Tattooine - that Vader killed his father. Ben explains to Luke that many truths we cling to depend greatly upon our point of view. The two then discuss the fall of Anakin Skywalker, and Luke asks him what Yoda meant by his last statement. Ben explains that Luke has a twin sister, and that the two of them were hidden from Anakin when he fell to the dark side. Luke correctly guesses that Leia is his sister, and Ben tells him to bury the knowledge deep within him, as it can be used against him by the Emperor and Vader. Luke looks thoughtfully and concernedly into the swamp as the scene fades.

Elsewhere in the galaxy (and presumedly some time later), the Alliance is gathering its fleet. In the main war room, numerous officers and pilots gather around a large circular table. A middle-aged woman in white robes (Mon Mothma, the Alliance leader) walks in and is immediately surrounded by officers. On the other side of the room, Lando strides in dressed like a dashing space captain. He and Han greet each other warmly, and Han notes that Lando is now a general, and their conversation reveals that Lando will be leading the fighter attack on the Death Star. Lando is surprised that Han wasn't leading it, but Han states he isn't that crazy. Mon Mothma signals for attention, and the room becomes quiet. She states that the Emperor is aboard the Death Star for a personal inspection, and that now is the time to attack. A hologram of the forest moon of Endor and the orbiting Death Star appears over the table, and she turns the briefing over to a red fish-like creature (Admiral Ackbar). Ackbar proceeds to explain that the fighters and capital ships will engage the Imperial Fleet while a select squadron of fighters flies into the superstructure of the station itself and attempts to destroy the main reactor. However, there is a slight problem -- the entire station is surrounded by an energy shield which is projected from the planet below. He then turns the briefing over to a middle-aged man, Crix Madine (leader of Alliance Intelligence).

Crix explains that a small team of special forces will land on the moon using a stolen Imperial shuttle, and then attempt to disable the shield at its source. Amid murmurs of how suicidal and crazy the mission sounds, Crix asks Han if his team is ready. With a stunned Leia and Chewie looking on, Han states that his team is ready, but he still doesn't have a command crew for the shuttle. Both Leia and Chewbacca immediately volunteer, and they are soon joined by Luke, who walks in from a side door. Later out in the hangar, Han is explaining to Lando that he wants him to use the Millenium Falcon as his ship during the attack. A reluctant Lando agrees and promises not to damage the ship. Han then walks across the hangar and stands near the Imperial shuttle, looking forlornly at the Millenium Falcon. He explains to Leia that he has a bad feeling he won't see his ship again, but then they start up the shuttle. Outside the capital ship, the shuttle turns away from the fleet and leaps into hyperspace.

In a throne room aboard the Death Star, the Emperor summons Darth Vader and commands him to move the fleet to the other side of the planet. Their conversation reveals that the Emperor is aware of the Alliance fleet gathering, but is not concerned. Outside, the shuttle bearing the Alliance strike team is maneuvering through the Imperial fleet, awaiting clearance of their stolen Imperial code. While waiting, Luke senses Vader aboard the Executor, and states that he's endangering the mission. Although he senses Luke as well, Vader allows the shuttle to land on the forest moon. A short time later down on the moon, the team makes its way to the shield bunker, which is protected by scouttroopers on speeder bikes. While attempting to sneak up on the guards, Han steps on a stick and the rebels must act quickly to silence the remaining guards. However, across the clearing, two more guards take off on their speeder bikes, and Han and Leia race after them on a single bike.

Racing through the woods at breakneck speed, Luke and Leia shoot one of the bikers, but then two more show up from elsewhere in the woods. Luke takes one of the other bikes, and he and Leia split up. In one part of the forest, Leia is knocked off her bike and falls to the ground unconscious after seeing her quarry crash into a tree. In another part of the forest, Luke takes out one of his assailants on the bike, then the other one with a lightsaber before making his way back to the bunker on foot. Some time later, Luke emerges from the forest and is surprised to learn from Han that Leia never came back. The five of them (Han, Luke, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2) take off in search of Leia. Across the forest, a small bear-like creature (an Ewok) cautiously approaches Leia's still form before poking her with a spear. She comes to, frightening the small creature, but befriends him with food. As they talk, they are attacked by two more bikers, but the troopers are quickly dispatched by the pair. The little native then leads Leia off into the forest.

In the Emperor's throne room aboard the battle station, Vader approaches the throne and tells Palpatine that a small Rebel force has landed on the moon. The Emperor says he knows, but Vader surprises him by telling him that Luke is with them. Since the elder Sith Lord didn't sense Luke's presence, he begins to suspect Vader's feelings on the matter. Vader assures him that his feelings on the matter are clear, and Palpatine then orders him to go down to the moon to await Luke. Vader expresses doubt that Luke will come to him, but the Emperor explains that he has foreseen it, so it will happen. Down in the forest, Luke and crew can't find Leia but have found the wrecked speeder bikes and her helmet. Chewbacca then takes off, running towards a piece of meat positioned on a stake a few clearings away. The group warily looks at it for a few minutes, but are too slow to stop the Wookie from grabbing the meat. The entire party is immediately caught up in a net suspended from a tree, and they quickly begin to try cutting themselves free. R2-D2 cuts a structurally-dependent rope, and the entire thing collapses to the ground. Sitting up, our heroes are then shocked to find themselves surrounded by Ewoks with spears.

Obviously not taking the teddy bear-looking creatures seriously, Han pushes a spear away from him and starts to get up. The spear is thrust right back at him, and he angrily grabs the spear and pulls his pistol. Luke stops him, explaining that it will be okay. The Ewoks take their weapons, but just then C-3PO sits up. The natives all back up, chattering away in their language, and the golden protocol droid answers them in the same langauge. The lead Ewok starts bowing before the droid, and soon the other Ewoks are too. C-3PO explains that they think he is a god, much to the amusement of Han and Luke. Han asks him to use his "divine influence" to get them out of the situation, but C-3PO refuses, explaining that it is against his programming to impersonate a god. Han moves threateningly toward the droid, but is stopped by several spears thrust towards him.

We next see our heroes being carried across the forest by the ewoks. Luke, Han, and Chewie are hanging upside down from poles being carried at either end by ewoks. R2-D2 is tied to a litter being dragged behind them, and C-3PO is perched atop a wooden chair carried by several ewoks. The party is taken into the forest, and eventually reach a large village nestled up in the trees. The poles bearing the humans and the Wookie are promptly placed onto spits and the ewoks begin cheerfully cutting logs and preparing fires beneath each spit. C-3PO, sitting on his throne-like chair nearby, is rather embarrased to inform Luke and Han that they are being prepared as the main course in a banquet for him. Suddenly Leia comes out of one of the huts, wearing an animal-skin dress with her long hair down in braids. She protests their treatment to the ewoks, who don't understand her. She explains to C-3PO that they must be set free, and he then relays the message to the tribe's chief but the chief refuses to release anybody. Luke convinces a reluctant C-3PO to threaten the ewoks with his magic, then uses the Force to levitate C-3PO and his throne. The ewoks scramble in all directions, but several begin to untie the captives. Luke, Leia, and Han embrace each other warmly, and Luke finally lowers a stunned C-3PO.

Later that night, the entire tribe sits around a large fire while C-3PO tells them the story of the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. Hearing their adventures recounted, Leia leans on Han's arm and holds him tightly. When C-3PO finishes, the ewoks consult each other and then announce that the Alliance heroes have been officially adopted into the tribe. Amid the excited celebration, Luke becomes thoughtful and walks out onto the bridge-like walkways between trees. Leia notices and goes out after him. In the hut, Han is using his newfound status to get their weapons and supplies back, bewildering a rushed C-3PO. Out on the walkways, Leia catches up with Luke, asking him what's wrong. Hesitant at first, Luke asks her what she remembers about her mother. When she tells him, he mentions that he has no memories of his mother. He then explains that she is his sister, and that Darth Vader is their father. A disbelieving Leia accepts the brother part but refuses to acknowledge Vader as her father. Luke explains that he must face Vader to find out if there is any good left in the Dark Lord. Leia doesn't understand, encouraging him instead to flee. Luke hugs her tightly and then leaves. Han comes out to find a crying Leia, and the two get into a short argument which reveals that Han is still somewhat jealous of Luke and the bond the youth shares with Leia. Han comes back after storming off, and his apology earns him a hug from a still-crying Leia. He stands there dismayed, holding her comfortingly while gazing out into the forest after Luke.

Elsewhere in the forest, we see the Imperial shield installation and landing platform. A shuttle comes to a landing on the pad, and we then cut to a corridor inside the installation. Vader walks out of the elevator and walks down the corridor. A gigantic AT-AT walker comes to a stop at the open end of the corridor, and Luke Skywalker comes out escorted by an Imperial officer and two stormtroopers. As Luke gazes calmly at his father, the officer explains that the young rebel surrendered and was armed only with a lightsaber. He then hands Vader the lightsaber and is curtly dismissed with orders to search the forest for other rebels. Luke and Vader have a truly touching moment alone where Luke attempts to convince Vader that there is still good within him. Vader counters that the dark side is too powerful to resist, but seems to ponder his son's words. He appears impressed by Luke's new lightsaber (remember, he lost the other one along with his hand on Cloud City in Episode 5), stating that Luke is indeed powerful as the Emperor has foreseen. Luke again tries to reason with him, but Vader states that it is simply too late for him. As the Sith Lord motions for the two stormtroopers at the end of the hall to escort Luke out, the younger Skywalker dejectedly admits that perhaps his father is dead after all. When he leaves, Vader stands gazing out into the forest, obviously disturbed by the conversation.

The next day in another part of the installation, Han and his strike team hide in the bushes near the installation's entrance. While wondering how they can get past the heavy defenses, one of the ewoks with them mentions that there is a back entrance on the other side. They quickly regroup and head for the rear entrance. Out in space several sectors away, the Alliance fleet begins jumping into hyperspace to attack the Death Star. Lando assures his alien copilot that Han will get the shield down in time. Back on the moon, Han and his team are pleased to see that there's only a few guards at the back entrance. While discussing how best to take them out, one of the ewoks steals a speeder bike and all but one of the guards takes off in pursuit. The strike team quickly takes out the remaining guard and enters the installation.

Aboard the Death Star, Vader escorts Luke into the Emperor's throne room. Vader bows before his master, but Luke remains standing. The Emperor welcomes the younger Skywalker and opens his cuffs with a gesture. The withered old man then orders his Royal Guards to leave the room, and he explains to a confident Luke that he is eager to begin his training in the dark side. Luke rebuffs the Emperor, stating that he will never turn as his father did. Examining the youth's lightsaber, Palpatine explains that Luke is mistaken about a great many things. He reveals that he knows about the Alliance fleet as well as the strike team on the forest moon. Gloating still, he tells Luke that he allowed the plans to leak out in order to lure the Alliance here, and that the entire "plan" is a trap. He also tells Luke that an entire legion of Imperial troops is hidden away at the shield installation, ready to capture the strike team. A stunned Luke lowers his gaze to his lightsaber as the seemingly victorious Emperor looks on.

In the shield bunker down on the moon, Han's strike team hurriedly sets up explosive charges all over the control station and generator room. Outside, C-3PO and R2-D2 remain hidden behind the bushes and witness several Imperial troops entering the back entrance of the installation. The ewok watching with them hurriedly rushes off into the forest, much to the dismay of the increasingly nervous C-3PO. In the bunker, Han and his team are surrounded and realize that they're completely helpless as more and more troops rush into the bunker. Out in space, the Alliance fleet emerges from hyperspace and begins heading towards the Death Star. As the fighter groups check in with Lando aboard the Millenium Falcon, his copilot informs him that they can't get a reading on the energy shield - they're being jammed. Lando realizes that it's a trap and pulls his fighters back in time to narrowly avoid slamming into the deadly shield. As the confused Alliance fleet begins regrouping, the Imperial fleet comes around the moon and begins attacking them. Peering out from a window in the Emperor's throne room, Luke watches helplessly as the Alliance fleet is caught unawares and begins suffering casualties. The Emperor continues to provoke the youth, and even urges Luke to use his lightsaber to kill him. Luke refuses, knowing that such an act would be of the dark side, but he is obviously wearing down as the Emperor gloats over his apparent victory.

Back down on the moon, the stormtroopers are rounding up the strike team in front of the bunker. Over on one edge of the clearing, C-3PO appears and several troopers rush over towards him. When they do, they are immediately ambushed by several Ewoks. One of the creatures raises a primitive horn to his lips and sounds a loud wail throughout the forest. As he does, hundreds of the furry natives being dropping down out of trees or popping up out of bushes and attacking the Imperial forces. The Imperials scramble as they attempt to figure out who's attacking them, and the Rebels fan out to join the fray. Han and Leia rush back to the bunker door, but the code's been changed, so Leia calls R2-D2 over. As the little astromech rolls through the chaos towards the bunker, we witness the ewoks devastate the Imperial forces with primitive traps and weaponry - crushing AT-ST walkers with swinging logs, tripping them with vines or rolling stones, and taking out biker scouts with trip wires made of vine.

Out in space, the fighting is intense as Lando leads the Rebel fighters against the seemingly overwhelming mass of TIE fighters swarming around the Rebel fleet. As they're fighting and defending the Rebel capital ships, Lando ominously comments that the Star Destroyers aren't attacking, and wonders why. In the Emperor's throne room, Palpatine continues to gloat over a dismayed Luke, then announces that the Death Star is fully functional. With that, he orders the station to begin firing, and Luke looks on in horror as its massive beam takes out one of the larger Rebel capital ships. The Rebel fleet immediately begins to retreat, but Lando convinces them to stay, fully convinced that Han's team will get the shield down. In the meantime, he convinces the fleet to get as close as possible to the Star Destroyers, hoping that the Death Star won't fire on their own fleet as well. Down on the moon, R2 arrives at the bunker door but is shot by a stray laser. Han moves on to Plan B, trying to manually hotwire the door controls. Out in the forest, the situation begins turning grim as Ewoks begin to fall before the might and advanced technology of the Imperial forces. Up on the Death Star, Luke finally gives in to his despair and rage, calling his lightsaber to him and slashing down towards the Emperor. The blow is blocked by Vader's blade, and the two finally turn to face each other as the Emperor grins in triumph.

Below in the forest, the Ewoks continue to destroy Imperial equipment as the Imps fight back. Chewbacca and two ewoks manage to take control of an AT-ST walker, and then use the lumbering machine to fire at stormtroopers and other walkers. At the bunker door, Han finishes his hotwire job but is dismayed to see additional blast doors slam down over the existing door. He frowns and starts again, but is interrupted when Leia gets shot in the shoulder. As he holds her, they are quickly surrounded by several stormtroopers. Before turning, Han notices the gun in Leia's hand and tells her he loves her. In a reverse of their goodbye on Bespin, she responds, "I know." and then fires at the troopers as Han spins around. They take out the troopers but stand still as an AT-ST lumbers up, its guns aimed at their position. A nervous Han is relieved to see Chewbacca come out of the hatch, and then tells Leia he has an idea. Up in the throne room, Luke viciously hacks and slashes at Vader as the Emperor gloats. Finally hearing the triumph in Palpatine's words, Luke stops attacking and lowers his weapon. He tells Vader that he will not fight him, and then attempts to reach the goodness within his father. The attempt is less than successful, and Vader begins attacking anew, driving Luke away into hiding. Vader then begins to prowl the dark recesses of the room, looking for his son.

Outside of the space station, the Rebel and Imperial fleets remain locked in a death embrace, each capital ship swarming with fighters from both sides and volleys of laser fire radiating in all directions. The badly damaged Rebels begin using suicide tactics as dying fighters and larger ships start taking the Imperial Star Destroyers with them. At the bunker, Han uses the captured walker to convince the Imperials inside the installation to open the door. The strike team then quickly resumes its mission and begins lining the facility with explosives. In the Emperor's throne room, Vader tries luring Luke out from his hiding place by threatening his friends in an attempt to enrage him. Luke tries not to think of Leia but fails and Vader reads his thoughts, telling Luke that if he won't turn to the dark side, perhaps his newly-found sister will. In a fit of absolute rage, Luke lunges out of the darkness toward Vader and begins to attack his father in a frenzy of rage-heightened strength. Finally driving Vader to his knees on one of the catwalks, Luke slashes at his father's arm, severing the wrist and sending both hand and lightsaber careening down into the depths beyond. Behind him, the Emperor stands before his throne and gleefully urges Luke to finish off Vader, taking his place as the Imperial enforcer. Stunned by the Emperor's words, Luke looks down at the wires protruding from Vader's mechanical wrist, and then flexes his own mechanical hand. Finally coming to a decision, Luke straightens and tosses his lightsaber away from him. He calmly informs the Emperor that he is a Jedi, like his father before him. The Emperor does not look pleased.

Seemingly heralding the turning of the tide, the shield facility on the forest moon collapses in a gigantic explosion, hurling fire up into the sky. Aboard the Rebel capital ships, they immediately notice the shield going down, and commence their attack on the Death Star itself. The Millenium Falcon and several support fighters hurl themselves into the superstructure of the station, racing down towards the reactor at its center. Several TIE fighters race after them in pursuit. Back up in the throne room, an enraged Palpatine begins frying Luke with powerful arcs of Force lightning. Watching as his father limps his way to Palpatine's side, Luke cries out in agony to his father. The Emperor stops the lightning long enough to tell Luke he will die, and then starts up again even stronger. Screaming in pain, Luke reaches out to Vader, now standing behind the Emperor, his feelings hidden behind his impassive mask. Finally, when it seems that Luke can stand no more, Vader picks the Emperor up with his good arm and casts him down into one of the near-bottomless shafts throughout the room. With Palpatine's Force lightning still raining down his armor and cape, Vader then collapses beside the shaft. Luke drags himself over to his father's side and the two lay there, breathing heavily.

In the reactor shaft, the Falcon continues, now escorted by only one fighter (Wedge Antilles). Several of the TIE fighters behind them have been destroyed in the tight confines of the shaft, but there are still two behind the Rebels. After barely making it through an opening near the end of the shaft, the Falcon and Wedge's fighter destroy the support structures of the reactor and pull a quick u-turn. They barely escape before being engulfed in a gigantic fireball. The TIE fighter left pursuing them isn't so lucky. Aboard the station, Luke is dragging the limp form of Vader towards a shuttle in one of the hangar bays. Knowing he will not make it, Vader asks Luke to remove his mask so that he can look on his son with his own eyes. Luke does so, and feels compassion at the site of his father's pale and scarred visage beneath the mask. A tired old man, Anakin Skywalker dies happy, and Luke manages to escape with his father's body just before the station explodes. Down on the moon, Leia worriedly looks up towards the explosion and Han assures her that Luke got off in time. She replies that she would feel it if Luke died, and a hurt Han announces that he will leave so that Leia and Luke can be together. Leia lovingly shakes her head and tells Han that Luke is her brother before kissing him soundly. An elated Han returns the kiss with vigor.

Later that evening, Luke stands before the funeral pyre of his father, looking on as the empty armor of Darth Vader burns. He then glances up into the sky before joining his friends at the Ewok celebration dance. As he gazes into the forest, Luke sees the ghostly forms of Yoda and Obi-Wan, now joined by his father Anakin. Leia then arrives, coaxing him back into the celebration with a hug of affection. Luke grins and goes off to enjoy the victory. Screen fades, begin end credits.