William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy Read online

  through. Boba Fett triumphant!

  [Exeunt Boba Fett and guards.

  Enter R2-D2.

  R2-D2

  [aside:] I have been separated from my master.

  Yet happy circumstance, for here I see

  The others, and may now rejoin them.

  [To C-3PO:] Squeak!

  C-3PO

  O R2, R2, say, where hast thou been?

  It does me well to see thee, little droid.

  Yet prithee, haste thee, for we all now strive

  To save our captain from the clutches of

  The bounty hunter!

  R2-D2

  —Meep, beep, whistle, squeak!

  C-3PO

  At least thou art still in one piece—observe

  My sad fragmented fate!

  [They arrive at the east platform to see Boba Fett’s ship flying away.

  LEIA

  [aside:] —O flown, alack!

  My Han—his body flown and fled. Now break

  My heart, and weep mine eyes. A princess I

  May be, but first and foremost human with

  Emotions that betray my higher sense.

  O gracious Han, forgive that I did come

  To love thee late, and only then to lose thee.

  I’ll find thee in the stars, my Han—I’ll search

  The galaxy until I find thee.

  C-3PO

  —O!

  [To Chewbacca:] Pray, Chewie, look, they come behind thee!

  CHEWBAC.

  —Egh!

  Enter STORMTROOPERS from behind, who battle with CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, and LANDO. The stormtroopers are slain.

  LEIA

  The soldiers are dispatch’d; now let us go.

  A princess doth command thee, Lando: make

  Thy choice once and for all whom thou shalt serve.

  Wilt thou remain the Empire’s stooge, or shalt

  Thou go with us to serve rebellion’s cause?

  LANDO

  Good lady, this demand is fairly made.

  Forgive me of the things I’ve done, I pray,

  And I shall fly with thee and serve thee true.

  But first, let me a final action take

  To serve the Bespinites I love so well—

  One moment for the greater good. [Into comlink:] Hear ye,

  ’Tis Lando of Calrissian who speaks.

  The Empire doth control the city now—

  I do advise ye all: evacuate

  At once, before more troops arrive within.

  [Lando tries to open a door and fails.

  [To Princess Leia:] This door shall lead us to the Falcon, but

  The codes have chang’d. I know not how!

  C-3PO

  —R2,

  Thou canst o’erride the door’s security.

  Pray, R2, speed thee!

  [R2-D2 tries to plug into the computer and gets shocked.

  R2-D2

  —Beep, meep, whistle, beep!

  C-3PO

  O blame me not, I am interpreter,

  And know not power socket from computer!

  [More stormtroopers enter and begin to shoot at Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and Lando.

  LANDO

  Now under siege again! O, let us hence

  Away unto the Falcon. Droid, canst thou

  Release these doors that we may pass and fly?

  LEIA

  If ever droid were worthy, R2 is.

  Go to it, R2, make our good escape!

  R2-D2

  Beep, meep, beep, beep, squeak, whistle, beep, meep, meep!

  C-3PO

  We do not care about the hyperdrive—

  The great Millenn’um Falcon is repair’d!

  R2-D2

  [aside:] Fie! This computer tells me all’s not well,

  But how shall I convey this ’midst these blasts?

  The doorway first; the hyperdrive shall wait.

  [To C-3PO:] Beep, meep!

  C-3PO

  —Pray, ope’ the door, thou stupid lump!

  [The door opens.

  O, R2, never did I doubt thee, thou

  Art wonderful!

  [Exeunt R2-D2, Lando, and Chewbacca with C-3PO, into the Millennium Falcon.

  LEIA

  —I know that I should fly,

  And yet for Han’s sake would I stay and slay

  Each enemy that cometh from within.

  Love unfulfill’d turns quickly into spite,

  And vengefulness doth fill the empty place

  Within my heart. O die a thousand times,

  Ye basest beasts who fed upon my love.

  O brutes, ye think not of the lives ye take—

  You are but senseless minions who fulfill

  The sordid whims of your Imperi’l lords.

  Belike ’tis not your fault, for you are by

  A merciless, vile Emperor controll’d.

  Yet I shall strike at ye till you do fall

  For ev’ry pain that you have giv’n to me:

  The loss of Alderaan, of my great friends,

  And now the loss of my belovèd one.

  O die, ye mindless men of Empire cruel!

  I shall upon the Empire be reveng’d

  Until my gallant Han hath been aveng’d.

  [Exit Princess Leia.

  SCENE 3.

  Bespin, the cloud city.

  Enter LUKE SKYWALKER.

  LUKE

  Where am I now, and where are all my friends?

  Some wrong turn have I ta’en, and now am lost

  Within a cavern, dark and fill’d with mist.

  R2 is left behind; I am alone.

  What evil lurks within this passage bleak?

  What fate shall I discover in this place?

  What pow’r hath brought me here—is it the Force?

  If not, what messenger of darkness vile

  Hath giv’n me up unto this realm of fear?

  The cold I feel is as on Dagobah,

  When in the cave my darkest self I fac’d.

  The thoughts I thought therein do now return,

  The questions that did rise and give me pause:

  O, what is life, and what our purpose here?

  Are living creatures made for pain and strife,

  Do we but walk our days upon the ground

  To perish without memory or fame?

  If so, what shall we seek whilst we yet live?

  Is brave adventure worthy of our time,

  Or should we seek the principle of pleasure?

  Are family and children noble aims,

  Or is the Force itself our holy goal?

  Is life a quest or is it but a farce—

  A splendid journey or a fool’s crusade?

  Such questions plague my soul, and make me doubt.

  They draw my mind toward the darkest thoughts

  That e’er I’ve known since I became a man.

  And here, away from Dagobah, I have

  No firm assurance of my safety, nor

  The comfort of my master being here.

  Thus shall I face my fortune by myself,

  Without my mentors great to give me help.

  The thought doth bring me trepidation, for

  I have relie’d upon their counsel wise.

  Be with me here in spirit, if not form,

  Good Obi-Wan and Yoda—masters true.

  O life, O Fate! I would I knew my place,

  My time, my end, my destiny complete—

  But I cannot see why or how life is.

  Because the past is not a perfect guide,

  And since the future still remains unknown:

  My fate shall I meet in the present tense.

  [A sound is heard.

  But soft, I hear slow footsteps drawing near.

  Enter DARTH VADER.

  VADER

  The Force is with thee now, young Skywalker,

  In troth—but thou art not a Jedi yet.

  LUKE

>   [aside:] ’Tis Vader, and ’tis Fate. Let it begin.

  [They duel.

  Enter CHORUS.

  CHORUS

  O mighty duel, O action ne’er surpass’d:

  The lightsabers do clash and glow like fire.

  Darth Vader in the villain’s role is cast,

  While Luke’s young temper turneth soon to ire.

  They flash and fly like dancers in a set,

  Yet never dance did know such deadly mood.

  Luke tires, and soon his brow begins to sweat,

  Whilst Vader doth attack with strength renew’d.

  VADER

  Forsooth, young one, ’tis plain thou hast learn’d much.

  LUKE

  Thou shalt find me full of surprises yet!

  VADER

  Thy destiny doth lie with me, Skywalker.

  Your teacher Obi-Wan did know ’twas true.

  LUKE

  Thou liest, O thou villain cruel and cold.

  [They duel, and Luke falls into the carbon freezing machine.

  VADER

  [aside:] ’Twas far too simple, trapping him within.

  Perhaps the boy is not as powerful

  As my great Emperor and I did think.

  [Luke leaps out of the carbon freezing machine.

  LUKE

  I am not captur’d yet, thou lord of hate.

  Thou must another evil scheme derive

  To catch me in thy snares. For I am quick,

  And move with all the power of the Force.

  VADER

  Impressive, most impressive, worthy lad,

  Thine Obi-Wan hath taught thee well, and thou

  Hast master’d all thy fears. Now, go! Release

  Thine anger, for thy hate alone can strike

  Me down! [Aside:] Now ’tis the moment to provoke

  His inner rage. Come walls, machines, and parts

  And come at him from ev’ry side. He’ll be

  Made weak, and in his weakness darkness find!

  [Darth Vader uses the Force to strike Luke with nearby objects.

  LUKE

  Alas, I fall—O Fate, be on my side!

  [Luke falls out a window.

  VADER

  The battle goes exactly as foreseen.

  The boy is powerful and skill’d, ’tis true,

  But his young powers are no match for mine.

  It seems that Obi-Wan was weak with age,

  For this boy’s training still is incomplete.

  He shall be turnèd yet, for I still hold

  The news that shall undo him utterly.

  He thinks the speed of my lightsaber and

  My power to send objects hurtling at

  Him are the worst that I can muster, but

  My greatest weapon yet shall break his soul,

  Not touch his body. He shall know the truth.

  But even as I plan to share with him

  The story of his father, I must pause.

  The strange confusion I before have felt

  Hath come again into my mind. What is’t?

  I know no better Fate for him and me

  Than to be join’d in service to my Lord

  And Emperor. So why am I confus’d?

  Enough of this now, Vader: finish it.

  The boy shall turn or he shall be destroy’d.

  [Exit Darth Vader. Luke begins to climb through the window.

  LUKE

  O pain, O bitter weariness. I did

  Not know the power of the Force till now—

  Till it, to purpose rank, was turn’d on me!

  Now for my very life I grasp and hold

  Unto the precipice whereon I cling.

  Be with me now, O Ben, restore my strength.

  I see that Vader hath ta’en flight, yet it

  Is plain he doth but wait for his next chance.

  Some hope remains, e’en now, amidst my fear—

  He may yet be defeated, all’s not lost.

  I have regain’d my footing, and may rest

  Until the fight must be resum’d. Now quick:

  Look deep within your heart, Luke, and recall

  The teachings of your gentle master Yoda.

  Breathe deeply and call on the Force, that it

  May show to thee the path that thou must take.

  O, give me strength to win this battle now

  Or, if not win, maintain my sense of right.

  But lo, Darth Vader cometh once again!

  Enter DARTH VADER. They duel, and Luke is forced to the edge of a deep cavern.

  VADER

  This is the end for thee, Skywalker. See,

  Thou art defeated now; resistance would

  Be futile. Let yourself not be destroy’d

  As Obi-Wan did, weak old man he was.

  [They duel. Darth Vader cuts off Luke’s right hand with his lightsaber.

  LUKE

  O horror! O vast pain exceeding words!

  VADER

  Thou shalt find no escape. Do not make me

  Destroy thee. Great importance shalt thou have

  Within the Empire’s power, and thine own

  Shall only grow with time. I prithee, join

  With me, and I your training shall complete.

  When our strength is combin’d, we shall conclude

  This bitter conflict and bring order to

  The galaxy entire.

  LUKE

  —I never shall

  Join with thee; I would rather be destroy’d.

  VADER

  [aside:] The boy doth admirably keep his head,

  But now I shall unleash the final blow.

  [To Luke:] If thou but knewest all the power of

  The dark side. Obi-Wan hath never told

  Thee of what happen’d to thy father, Luke.

  LUKE

  O, he hath spoken much. And he hath told

  Me of the truth—that thou didst slay him, aye,

  And without cause or mercy, murderer

  Most vile and wretched!

  VADER

  —No, I am thy father.

  LUKE

  Nay, ’tis not true! It is impossible!

  VADER

  Pray, search thy feelings, Luke. Thou knowest it

  Is true.

  LUKE

  —Nay!

  VADER

  —Luke, thou mayst the Emperor

  Destroy; he hath foreseen what thou wouldst do.

  It is thy destiny, come join with me—

  Together we shall rule the galaxy

  As son and father. Come now, Luke, it is

  The only way: the dark side is thy path.

  O join with me, and we shall be as one.

  [Luke looks down and drops into the cavern.

  LUKE

  I fall, and yet no death’s upon me yet.

  I fall, for ’tis a better path than hate.

  VADER

  He falls, and welcomes death instead of pow’r.

  He falls, but I can sense he liveth still.

  LUKE

  I have not died—but pass into this shaft.

  I have not died—though I may wish it so.

  VADER

  He hath not died—his heart screams in its fear.

  He hath not died—so may he yet be turn’d.

  [Luke falls onto a weather vane at the bottom of the shaft.

  LUKE

  I am held fast by this vane o’er the clouds.

  I am held fast by some mirac’lous pow’r.

  VADER

  He is held fast within the dark side’s grasp.

  He is held fast by his own clouded mind.

  [Exit Darth Vader.

  LUKE

  O Ben, I call to thee, but wilt thou hear?

  I do remember thou didst say thou couldst

  Not interfere in this, but O Ben, hear!

  Alas, my mentor’s gone fore’er, and gives

  No answer—e’en deserted by the dead.

>   If he cannot appear and rescue me,

  Then I shall try the living: Leia, next

  I call to thee. I prithee, Leia, hear!

  Enter CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, and LANDO, aside in the Millennium Falcon.

  LEIA

  [aside:] What is this voice that echoes in mine ears?

  ’Tis Luke, I know it is. Yet how is it

  That I do hear him when he is not nigh?

  No matter—more important ’tis that I

  Respond unto his call. [To Lando:] We must go back.

  LANDO

  What didst thou say?

  LEIA

  —I know where Luke is!

  LANDO

  —What

  About the fighters drawing near?

  CHEWBAC.

  —Egh, auugh!

  LEIA

  I prithee, Chewie: Han we could not save,

  But may yet rescue Luke, if we make haste.

  LANDO

  But what about the fighters, Princess?

  CHEWBAC.

  —Auugh!

  LANDO

  Pray, peace, good Wookiee, thou shalt have thy way.

  [They approach Luke in the ship. Lando breaks off from the others to let Luke in.

  What ties most deep do bind these souls as one!

  In all my workings as a bus’nessman,

  In all my making deals and earning more,

  I have forgotten what doth make life rich:

  ’Tis friendship, love, and sacrifice that make

  A life, and I too long have not liv’d well!

  Farewell, the former Lando, lonely man!

  Farewell to selfish pride and high ambition!

  Farewell to scoundrelhood and avarice!

  Farewell to all the things my life has been!

  From now, I shall the great Rebellion serve,

  And join myself unto this band of friends

  Whate’er befall—pain, injury, or death.

  [Lando opens the hatch. Luke drops from the weather vane into the ship.

  Now come, brave Luke, whose mates to thee are dear,

  I have not met thee, but do call thee brother.