The second episode of the radio drama adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back, titled "The Coming Storm," was initially broadcast on National Public Radio on February 21, 1983. This installment covers the events from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back that unfold on the icy planet of Hoth, specifically Han Solo's decision to abandon the Rebel Alliance, which is then complicated by his efforts to save Luke Skywalker.
The episode commences with the distressed vocalizations of Luke, who is struggling against fierce winds as he repeatedly calls out for Ben and Yoda. Simultaneously, inside Echo Base, General Rieekan informs Princess Leia about a peculiar energy signature that has appeared on their sensors. This signal seems to be mobile and is emitting a transmission. While tracking it is impossible during the night, Rieekan intends to dispatch Solo and Skywalker on a patrol the following day to investigate. Soon after, Solo enters and announces to Rieekan and Leia his impending departure from the Rebellion, along with Chewbacca, to settle outstanding debts. Leia attempts to persuade Han to remain with the rebels; however, Han retorts by suggesting that she harbors romantic feelings for him but is unwilling to acknowledge them.
Outside the base, Luke continues to desperately call Ben's name. Eventually, his strength fails him, and he collapses into the snow. Back at the base, Han approaches Chewie, who is still occupied with repairing the Millennium Falcon. Han expresses his desire to leave the planet immediately, even before the blast doors close for the night, but the ship is not yet ready for flight. As Han hurries to complete the repairs, See-Threepio approaches him to report that Luke is missing. Immediately, Han abandons his work to search for him. After confirming that Luke has not returned to the base, Han decides to venture out on a tauntaun to locate him, despite the obvious dangers of being stranded outside during a Hoth night.
Venturing out into the cold, Han discovers Luke in a semi-conscious state, delirious, and rapidly freezing. After his tauntaun collapses and dies, Han uses Luke's lightsaber to cut open the animal's carcass. He then shelters Luke inside the tauntaun to keep him warm while constructing an emergency shelter. Luke briefly regains consciousness but finds that he cannot see. Han does everything he can to sustain Luke and keep his spirits up. Luke fluctuates between despair and making light of the situation. He questions Han's motives, asking, "What's your excuse this time?... I guess you can't claim it was the money." Han avoids answering directly and focuses on keeping Luke comfortable as the wind howls and the temperature plummets outside.
Leia, Chewbacca, Threepio, and Artoo-Detoo remain just inside the base's shield door, anxiously awaiting the return of Han and Luke. The droids had been outside, using Artoo's scanners in an attempt to locate them, but the extreme cold has forced them back inside. A lieutenant informs them that the doors cannot remain open due to the freezing temperatures, and Artoo ominously calculates the slim odds of surviving outside under such conditions.
The scene between Han and Leia is interpreted in a different way by the radio actors, in comparison to the film. In the original film, Han is portrayed as angry with Leia as he accuses her of having feelings for him. In the radio drama, Han speaks in a soft and flirtatious manner. His offer of a "goodbye kiss" is playful rather than sarcastic.
The scene between Luke and Han in the emergency shelter is an original addition to the radio drama. It provides insight into the deepening friendship between the two characters since the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.