William Shakespeare's the Merry Rise of Skywalker Read online

Neglected or forgotten? Shoot, I pray!

  [Finn shoots at a TIE fighter and destroys it.

  FINN

  A-ha! The first is done, with more to come.

  POE

  How many yet remain? I do confess,

  True, dreadf’ly nervous I had been and am!

  FINN

  In troth, too many for my comfort, Poe.

  CHEWBAC.

  Auugh!5

  POE

  —Thought most wondrous, Chewie, well devis’d!

  O, this great problem is, at length, Finn, solv’d:

  Let us put boulders in the path of TIEs.

  FINN

  ’Twas foremost in my thoughts as well. Aim, guns!

  [Finn shoots at a support structure, which

  collapses after the Falcon flies under

  it and destroys two TIE fighters.

  A fair maneuver. Fly, then, to our base!

  POE

  More fighters make approach—a mighty wave

  And we a tiny vessel on the sea.

  [Aside:] When first this apparition I beheld—

  For scarcely I regard these foes as less—

  My wonder and my terror were extreme.

  [To Chewbacca:] How thick, brave Chewie, is this ice

  wall?

  CHEWBAC.

  —Auugh!6

  [The Millennium Falcon bursts through a

  wall of ice into space. It jumps into lightspeed

  and is pursued by many TIE fighters.

  POE

  This either shall be brilliant or be mad—

  Th’idea of it hath ne’er occur’d to us.

  FINN

  What is this lunacy? Fie on it, Poe!

  POE

  ’Tis lightspeed skipping, gambit hazardous,

  True wretchedness, indeed, woe ultimate!

  I’ll jump through lightspeed quickly, then again,

  Repeating once and twice and thrice and more,

  Until the stratagem hath shaken all

  These foes who would destroy us as we flee.

  FINN

  When didst thou learn such fearful, horrid tricks?

  [As the Falcon jumps through

  lightspeed, more TIE fighters smash

  into obstacles and are destroyed.

  CHEWBAC.

  Egh, egh!7

  POE

  —’Tis well Rey is not here. Tut, tut!

  After the next lightspeed jump, enter a GIANT BEAST,

  opening its mouth to swallow the Millennium Falcon.

  This is our final shot, belike fore’er!

  I plan to fan this spark into a flame,

  Which may yet prove a blaze of glory, friends.

  This bold idea upon my fancy seiz’d;

  I lost myself forthwith in reverie.

  Hold tight, courageous comrades, for we fly

  And death or triumph cometh, by and by!

  [The Falcon shoots past the beast. Exeunt

  Poe Dameron, Finn, Chewbacca, Klaud, and

  R2-D2 in the Millennium Falcon. The final TIE

  fighters are devoured by the beast. Exeunt.

  SCENE 3.

  On Ajan Kloss.

  Enter REY.

  REY

  The training which I once began with Luke

  Here on the planet Ajan Kloss persists.

  I spend my days in Leia’s tutelage,

  So that I may a stronger Jedi be.

  She hath the knowledge and th’experience

  To teach me ev’ry lesson I need know.

  Once I had no one, liv’d a lonesome life,

  Reclaiming wreckage back on dour Jakku,

  Yet longing to be known, accepted, lov’d.

  How shaken was my life when, suddenly,

  A kindly, wand’ring droid came unto me.

  Then follow’d one who fled the trooper life.

  He led me to a Wookiee and a rogue—

  These all became the dearest friends to me.

  Hook’d by a greater cause—Resistance—I

  Escap’d my former home and came to see

  Undream’d-of planets, stars, and forms of life,

  Now open to this sometime scavenger.

  I sought Luke Skywalker in his exile,

  Vied with his stubbornness, that he might come

  Erase our fear with Jedi might. But he

  Refus’d to help us—so it seem’d, until

  Surprisingly he did appear on Crait,

  Establishing his legend for all time,

  Bewitching Kylo Ren so we could flee.

  Embolden’d, the Resistance liveth on;

  Great General Organa leadeth us,

  Undaunted by our disadvantages.

  It is to her, to hallow’d ancestors,

  Luke, all the Jedi now one with the Force—

  E’en these I bid: be with me, be with me.

  Distressingly, I sense they’re not with me.

  Enter GENERAL LEIA ORGANA and BB-8, approaching REY.

  LEIA

  Be patient, Rey, their voices shall yet speak.

  REY

  My thoughts turn pessimistic, and methinks

  It is impossible to hear their words—

  The voices of the Jedi gone before.

  LEIA

  Naught is impossible. Speak thou the words.

  REY

  Naught is impossible. Thus shall I strive

  To know and to believe. Excuse me now,

  The training course awaits my daily run.

  Perchance ’twill free my mind for clearer thought.

  LEIA

  Take thou Luke’s lightsaber, and all my hopes.

  [Exit General Leia Organa as Rey begins to run.

  REY

  The training doth begin, a simple trot.

  My legs go coursing through the trees and fog,

  Atop the rocky face, past waterfalls,

  Unto a chasm o’er a craggy drop.

  My helmet here awaiteth, which I don

  As flieth the remote toward the spot.

  [A remote flies into view as

  Rey puts on her helmet.

  Down, blast shield, to remove mine outer sight,

  That I mine instincts must rely upon.

  Now, balancing atop the sturdy rope,

  O’er the abyss I parry, block, and dodge!

  Past this wide gulf, I leap to climb a tree

  And cut a single length of scarlet cord—

  My mark that half the course is now complete.

  I clasp it in my hand and make return—

  Fleet-footed like my life depended on’t—

  And hurdle o’er the prior opening.

  Enter KYLO REN above, on balcony,

  holding the mask of DARTH VADER.

  KYLO

  With newfound knowledge of the girl, e’en Rey,

  Reported to me by the Emperor,

  Our earlier connection I’ll restore

  That she and I communication share.

  O, mask once worn by my grandfather strong,

  Grant me the pow’r to find her once again.

  [Rey trips.

  REY

  How many times have I this course fulfill’d,

  And never did my feet slip errantly.

  I sense some presence here, which I’ve not felt

  Since last I was too close to Kylo Ren.

  [The remote begins shocking her.

  Alas, the small remote appears to have

  A mind its own, as if it were controll’d

  By human bidding ra
ther than machine.

  Now grows mine anger suddenly—I’ll slash

  And kill the impish, rotten flying pest

  Sans thought of anything around me here!

  [She slashes wildly with her lightsaber,

  destroying many trees.

  If my lightsaber shall not do the deed,

  I shall be more creative in my wrath!

  [Using the Force, she picks up a stick and

  spears the remote to a tree with it.

  KYLO

  I feel her fury, burning with the heat

  Of sun that rises o’er a desert plain.

  REY

  Now I do sense it! Ren is in my head,

  And in a flash such horrid images

  Rush like a torrent into my mind’s eye.

  My parents taken rapidly from me,

  My darker self install’d upon a throne,

  The hand of Kylo Ren held out to me

  In solemn invitation and desire,

  The face of Luke, my master, sad and scar’d,

  The voice of Han ere slain by his own son.

  KYLO

  Her visions are mine own, as if we two

  Shar’d but one eye, one ear, one mind, one heart.

  I must needs find her and discover more.

  [Exit Kylo Ren.

  BB-8

  Blic blooblis roohblik bleezooz roilzoon blip!

  [Rey looks at BB-8, who has been

  caught under a felled tree.

  REY

  Poor BB-8, profound apologies!

  She frees him and they return to the Resistance

  base. Enter GENERAL LEIA ORGANA.

  I finish’d not the training course today—

  Distractions plentiful took focus hence.

  I do not feel myself—be patient, pray,

  I know it seemeth I excuses make.

  LEIA

  Seems, Rey? Nay, say what is; I know not seems.

  REY

  Belike I am exhausted, nothing more.

  Enter LIEUTENANT CONNIX.

  CONNIX

  Good General, the Falcon is not back

  And our commander seeketh your advice.

  [Rey hands Luke’s lightsaber back to Leia.

  REY

  One day I shall obtain the inner worth

  To wield the saber of thy brother Luke—

  When I have earn’d it, fain would I receive’t.

  BB-8

  Rooqzoom bluu zzwablav blayzooz flliblik rooh

  Zoon bleezilf roilflig blip?

  REY

  —Nay, BB-8,

  Thou mayst not help me earn it, kindly droid.

  LEIA

  Nay, never underestimate a droid.

  REY

  Yea, master.

  Enter NIMI.

  NIMI

  —Ho, the Falcon hath return’d!

  Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, R2-D2, and KLAUD

  in the Millennium Falcon, which is in flames. Enter C-3PO and

  various RESISTANCE PILOTS and SOLDIERS, including MAZ KANATA,

  ROSE TICO, SNAP WEXLEY, AFTAB ACKBAR, and BEAUMONT KIN.

  POE

  Anon, the ship! Look to the ship, I pray!

  The rear, it is aflame. The front as well!

  The lurid luster of a fire that I

  Cannot force my imagination to

  Regard as yet unreal. Attend to it!

  REY

  Holla, Poe. What is this I hear of spies?

  POE

  To all appearance, we have—by thee, Rey—

  Been temporarily abandonèd.

  We could have us’d thy help.

  REY

  —How went your task?

  POE

  But poorly, truth be told. No pestilence

  Hath ever been so hideous to me.

  REY

  Han’s ship in tatters maketh its return—

  POE

  [seeing BB-8:] The thousand injuries that I have seen

  I’ve borne as best I could, but when upon

  My droid they venture, I shall vow revenge.

  I prithee, speak: what didst thou to the droid?

  REY

  What didst thou to the Falcon? Wilt thou say,

  Or art thou too embarrass’d to respond?

  POE

  The Falcon is in better shape than he.

  No word speaks the deliverer, I see.

  REY

  Nay, little BB-8 is not afire.

  POE

  What parts of him remain are not afire.

  My nerves are very much affected, Rey.

  REY

  Pray, speak thou plainly, tell me what hath happ’d.

  POE

  Speak thou! The buzz of curiosity

  Doth overwhelm my patience and my tongue.

  REY

  There is a word created for such men

  As thou art, Poe; wouldst thou hear me declare’t?

  POE

  What is’t? Expressions piquant would I learn.

  REY

  Thou art most difficult, as though thou wert

  A door with many locks but none of keys.

  POE

  And thou art—O, it is beyond mine art

  Of speech to speak the words. I candidly

  Confess my feelings are e’en now of the

  Most singular, myster’ous character—

  Incomprehensible, perplexing, too!

  [Finn approaches.

  REY

  Finn, friend forever—safely thou return’st!

  [Rey and Finn embrace.

  FINN

  Yet barely, if the truth be known.

  REY

  —Foul moods

  Do overwhelm the senses, is it true?

  FINN

  Foh, mean’st me?

  REY

  —Him.

  FINN

  —Forever and a day.

  REY

  Is there a spy?

  [Chewbacca approaches.

  CHEWBAC.

  —Auugh!8

  REY

  [to Poe:] —Thou didst lightspeed skip?

  POE

  Indeed I did, our safety to secure.

  The consequence is clear: we did return.

  All this was scarcely more than justice, troth.

  REY

  Yet, Poe, thou knowest the compressor’s weak.

  POE

  I know it well; ’twas I who present was,

  Unlike thyself. Thou look’st to number one,

  We’re number two and must look to ourselves.

  FINN

  [aside:] These two shall ever be like fighting kin.

  REY

  Thou canst not make the Falcon lightspeed skip!

  POE

  The evidence runs contrary to speech,

  For truly, thus did I. It hath been driv’n

  To an extremity, ’tis clear to all.

  FINN

  We have but landed these few moments past—

  I bid ye, friends, can we not find some peace?

  REY

  What happen’d?

  POE

  —More bad news, and nothing more.

  Such as will happen now and then.

  REY

  —No spy?

  POE

  To all this I am sorry I cannot

  Reply with anything but this: no, spy!

  REY

  Thou frightest ev’ry word from its right sense!

  Speak pl
ainly: made we contact with a spy?

  FINN

  A message we receiv’d from th’inner ranks

  Of the First Order, yet near not escap’d.

  BB-8

  Zood flirflit blee flew blayzoom zoodreej flir

  Bluu bloozilf blip bleeblip blav bleeblik zood

  Blox zzwaflig flitrooh flirblip bleereej blee

  Zoom bluuzilf bliprooq blooblay zoon blic zoom

  Rooq blayzooz bliprooh zzwaflli flit fligblee.

  POE

  My strict integrity comes into play:

  Thou dropp’dst a tree upon him? Is this true?

  REY

  Thou blewest both subalternators, Poe?

  POE

  Belike thou shouldst have been with us, if thou

  Art so concernèd o’er the Falcon’s fate.

  Remarkable! Though this plain word is but

  A feeble term t’express my meaning full.

  REY

  Well knowest thou I would be—

  POE

  —Yet art not.

  Make up thy mind to be annoy’d at me:

  Remain’st thou here to train, but to what end?

  Of all our fighters, talent hast thou most.

  We need thee there, not here. Soft—I have done.

  [Poe walks aside with others.

  FINN

  The man speaks fervently but truly, Rey.

  REY

  What is the message ye glean’d from the spy?

  POE

  My friends and soldiers both, pray take ye heed.

  [All gather around Poe.

  We have th’intelligence giv’n by the spy

  Decoded, that we may its secrets know.

  Perhaps no exhibition of the kind

  Hath e’er elicited so general

  Attention as this ominous report.

  The worst hath been confirm’d: somehow, some way,

  The Emperor, e’en Palpatine, return’d.

  LEIA

  [aside:] Base name of evil creeping from the past!

  ROSE

  Wait, is this foul report believable?

  Shall we assume this spy hath truth declar’d?

  AFTAB

  It cannot be! The Emperor is dead!

  He fell within the last war with a zap.

  BEAUMONT

  Dark science, cloning, such dread physic as

  Was only known of by the wretchèd Sith.

  POE

  Look down into th’abysmal distances—

  It doth appear he long hath plann’d revenge,

  And now his followers build something vast

  That hath seen many years’ development:

  A fleet such as the galaxy ne’er knew.

  ’Tis call’d the Final Order. Sixteen hours

  Have we until attacks begin upon

  Each world that currently doth freedom know.

  CHEWBAC.

  Egh, auugh!9

  POE