by Ian Doescher
Now let us hence, and to the ship repair!
CHORUS
The foursome t’ward the ship with swift foot race,
But soon they meet with opposition dire.
Chewbacca goes with Han, both giving chase,
While Luke and Leia to other paths aspire.
HAN
[running away:] Fly hence, my friends, and meet us at the ship!
[Exeunt Han Solo and Chewbacca, chasing stormtroopers.
LEIA
A lion’s share of courage hath he not?
LUKE
[aside:] Alas! Now is her heart mov’d unto him?
[To Leia:] What help is courage if it leads to death?
But come now, let us flee another way.
CHORUS
The chase is under way as all make haste!
Han—once pursuer—soon becomes pursu’d
When with a mass of stormtroopers he’s fac’d:
He turneth quick as like a man unglu’d.
Meanwhile the princess and young Luke do flee
From troopers coming after them with speed.
They happen on an open door and see
A chasm past which they cannot proceed.
LUKE
Belike we have an errant corner turn’d,
For this deep hole leads not unto the ship!
LEIA
Forsooth, methinks that we shall safer be—
E’en with the pit—behind a door shut fast.
[She shuts door.
Yet now I see no lock we may employ,
So what for our dear freedom is the key?
[Luke Skywalker shoots door control.
LUKE
[aside:] I take a note from Han and blaster use,
Belike that shall keep enemies at bay.
LEIA
We must o’erleap this deep abyss somehow.
Pray, canst thou use thy sharp and earnest wit
To find a means for lengthening the bridge?
LUKE
O! Now the wisdom of old Obi-Wan
Is proven, for the blaster was too harsh.
LEIA
Do something, prithee, or they shall burst through!
CHORUS
So clever Luke the scene he doth survey
And soon conceives a noble plan to cross.
To take their flight and save them sans delay,
He bares a length of rope as thin as floss.
Attack’d, now Leia matches fire with fire,
And so they cross, a’swinging o’er th’abyss.
But ere they fly, the princess doth inspire
More strength in Luke by means of royal kiss.
LEIA
A kiss for luck before our flight, dear friend,
A kiss upon thy cheek from lips of mine,
A kiss to give thee hope and confidence,
A kiss to bring us courage in this time.
Now take this kiss—my gift bestow’d by choice—
And on the other side we’ll soon rejoice.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 7.
Inside the Death Star.
CHORUS
While droids do worry o’er their Master’s fate,
Han and Chewbacca make their swift escape.
While Luke and Leia now in safety wait,
A mighty, final duel taketh shape.
Enter DARTH VADER and OBI-WAN KENOBI, with STORMTROOPERS watching.
VADER
For certain, I have waited, Obi-Wan,
And now at last we meet together here:
Our destinies once and for all fulfill’d.
The circle of our lives is now complete—
A student was I when I left thee last,
But now I am the Master over thee.
OBI-WAN
Thou art a Master, Darth, I know ’tis true,
But only evil hast thou Master’d yet.
[They duel.
VADER
In time thy pow’rs have weak become, old man.
OBI-WAN
And yet thou canst not win, I’ll warrant, Darth.
For if thou strike me down, e’en now, e’en here,
I shall more great and powerful become
Than e’er thou hast imagin’d possible.
VADER
I tell thee plain: thou shouldst not have return’d.
CHORUS
What noble battle passes twixt these men—
Lightsabers rage from Sith and Jedi Knight!
No more courageous battle hath there been:
’Tis like the day does combat with the night.
Now whilst the two in conflict strike their blows,
The others come that they the ship may find.
At first Han Solo with Chewbacca shows,
Then Luke and Princess Leia just behind.
Enter HAN SOLO, with CHEWBACCA aside.
HAN
Did we not just this fright’ning party leave?
Enter LUKE SKYWALKER and PRINCESS LEIA with them.
Where hast thou been?
LEIA
—We did some old friends meet,
But, finding them unfriendly, have both vow’d
To find far truer, better friends henceforth.
LUKE
Hast thou seen any problems with the ship?
HAN
It seemeth fine, if we may make approach
And get beyond the stormtroopers. Aye, then
My fondest hope is that thine Obi-Wan
Hath vanquishèd the wicked tractor beam.
LUKE
Behold, what ease! The stormtroopers go hence.
C-3PO
Now ’tis our chance, good R2-D2, come.
R2-D2
[aside:] Aye, will he now be leading me?
[To C-3PO:] Beep, squeak!
HAN
Fly, fly, good friends! Unto the ship make haste.
CHORUS
As ev’ryone unto the ship draws nigh,
Young Luke sees Obi-Wan trade slice with slice.
And Ben Kenobi, catching young Luke’s eye,
Prepares to make a gracious sacrifice.
OBI-WAN
A Jedi is not made of fear or hate,
But must a nobler countenance display.
It is a lesson learn’d in times gone by
That still I teach myself unto this day.
Full many years I’ve spent with thoughts of this—
This instant when Darth Vader I’d confront.
But now my thirst for retribution’s cold,
While sweet forgiveness doth my spirit taste.
I know I cannot win this battle here,
Nor would I wish to slay the kindly man
Who surely still within this black shell lives.
And so, unto this death I’ll go, this sleep,
This sleep that promises the dream of peace.
This undiscover’d galaxy wherein
I’ll know at last tranquility of heart.
But ere I die, I’ll one last lesson teach.
I shall in this—my final moment—set
A keen example for the universe,
That future generations may yet know
The valor and the strength of Jedi Knights.
Put up thy lightsaber now, Obi-Wan,
And show thyself a Jedi to this son.
[Obi-Wan raises lightsaber and is killed by Darth Vader.
CHORUS
The cry of “Nay!” escapes Luke’s trembling lip
And stormtroopers turn ’round to see them there.
A battle great begins before the ship
As to the Falcon these brave souls repair.
But ere the group departs amid the fray,
Luke hears the voice of Obi-Wan inside:
“Pray run, Luke run,” the inner voice doth say,
And Luke the Death Star leaves with Force as guide.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 1.
Space, aboard the Mill
ennium Falcon.
Enter LUKE SKYWALKER and PRINCESS LEIA separately, with C-3PO and R2-D2.
LUKE
My heart doth break at this most recent loss,
And how shall heart be heal’d of this grave pain?
My aunt and uncle first, and now this Ben:
Did e’er a person know such grief as mine?
LEIA
His heart breaks for a person, Obi-Wan—
My heart breaks for a people, Alderaan.
My ship crush’d first, and now my planet too:
Did e’er a person know such grief as ours?
LUKE
I have but known this man a little time,
Yet in my heart he holds a special place.
So had I hop’d to learn from him the Force,
And be his eager new apprentice too.
LEIA
My Alderaan I’ve known for all my life,
And hold it in my heart in high’st esteem.
So had I hop’d to one day make it home,
When this rebellion all is pass’d away.
LUKE
But now must I another pathway take
And make my final destiny sans him.
My hopes shall not fulfillèd be as plann’d,
Yet may I hope to serve through diff’rent deeds.
LEIA
But now must I some other course adopt
And write my life’s own story without them.
My dreams shall not be realiz’d as I wish’d,
Yet may I dream to see some other Fate.
LUKE
Thus shall I strive to hold my head up high,
And be a beacon to this princess dear.
So I’ll in her Rebellion play my part
And show her what a Jedi Knight may be.
LEIA
Thus shall I strive to hold my hands outstretch’d
And be a calming presence to this man.
So I’ll in his deep mourning act my role
And show him what a comfort friends may be.
HAN
[within:] We now approach the Empire’s sentry ships,
I prithee, Chewie, keep the ships at bay
And angle our deflector shields whilst I
Do charge the weapons for our sure defense!
[He enters and speaks to Luke and Leia.
My friends, I know ye grieve most heartily,
Yet we have not made our escape complete.
I need thy help, so get thee to the guns!
CHORUS
With newfound strength Luke rises to the chore
And finds the console opposite from Han.
With lasers arm’d and engines all a’roar,
TIE fighters swiftly come—the battle’s on!
HAN
Now be thou sharp, young Luke.
LEIA
—They come anon!
LUKE
They come too fast, how shall we hold them off?
LEIA
The ship is struck! All lateral controls
Have been destoy’d.
C-3PO
—O heav’n! [He falls.
HAN
—Be not afear’d.
I’ll warrant that the ship shall surely hold.
[Aside:] O ship, hast heard my word? I prithee, hold!
LUKE
Now have I smash’d one!
HAN
—Well, thou worthy lad!
[Aside:] But be thou not too full of pride and joy.
When battle’s won then mayst thou boast indeed,
But none e’er boasted yet who bested were!
LEIA
Still two remain, so be thou bold and wise.
CHORUS
With shouts and sweat and ev’ry skill employ’d,
Young Luke and Han contend with all their might.
At length, the last TIE fighter is destroy’d
And battle ends in fiery blast of light.
LUKE
We are the victors—merry is the day!
C-3PO
But I have fallen—help, O help me now.
’Tis surely thy fault, R2-D2, see!
R2-D2
Beep, meep, squeak, whistle, beep, meep, whistle, whee.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 2.
Inside the Death Star.
Enter GRAND MOFF TARKIN and DARTH VADER.
TARKIN
Now have they gone? The rebels truly fled?
VADER
They have—e’en now—the jump to light speed made.
TARKIN
And thou art sure—I prithee, say thou art—
The homing beacon safe aboard the ship
Hath placèd been? I fear this risk’s unwise.
VADER
The risk and homing beacon both have been
Well plac’d. Thou, Tarkin, be assur’d thereon.
TARKIN
’Tis well, good friend, I trust thy word herein,
Yet would I have thee know what danger’s here:
While I have risk’d the world to let them flee,
Since thou dost reassure, the risk’s on thee.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 3.
Space, aboard the Millennium Falcon.
Enter HAN SOLO and PRINCESS LEIA.
HAN
Thy rescue hath been wondrous, think’st thou not?
Say I: at times I do myself amaze.
Amazing hath my rescue of thee been,
Amazing is my hand at piloting,
Amazing all my part in this escape,
Amazing—aye, ’tis true—my handsome looks.
LEIA
Amazing is thy pride and love of self!
Thus stand I now amaz’d that e’er thou shouldst
Allow thy great, amazing self to stoop
So low that thou wouldst rescue such as I.
But let me now amaze thee if I may,
By telling thee that thy amazement is
Misplac’d! For never have Imperi’l ships
Let enemies escape with such great ease
As thou and thy amazing vessel have
Just now amazingly escap’d.
HAN
—Nay, nay!
Call’st thou this venture easy, Princess? Pish!
LEIA
I’ll warrant we are being track’d e’en now.
HAN
This ship shall never trackèd be, good sis.
LEIA
Methinks thou dost upon this vessel far
Too great a trust bestow. But none of that,
I merely am reliev’d that R2 doth
The information safely in him guard.
HAN
But wherefore does this matter, Princess, say:
What carries he?
LEIA
—Rebellion’s greatest hope:
For he doth hold the readouts technical
Unto that battle station, aye, the one
That such great pow’r display’d o’er Alderaan.
My hope it is that when the data can
Be read, an inner weakness we shall find.
Though thou hast seen this battle end, the war
Has not concluded yet.
HAN
—But there thou err’st,
Thou dost not speak my mind. For this ship and
Its pilot, Princess, ’tis concluded now.
I have not join’d thy revolution, nay—
My purpose runs not to Rebellion help,
My purpose runs not to assist thyself.
My purpose runs toward one aim alone,
And I do speak it plain: I shall be paid,
And will be paid, and ev’ry aspect of
My being lives in expectation of
The moment when thou shalt my coffers fill.
LEIA
O fiendish knave! Be thou concernèd not
O’er thy reward. If thou in money dost
Find love, then surely shalt thou have it, aye.
> Enter LUKE SKYWALKER.
Thy friend is ev’ry part a hirèd man,
A mercenary with no mercy, he.
I question whether he doth care for aught
Or anyone.
[Exit Princess Leia.
LUKE
[aside:] —But I do care, I do!
If only, Leia, thou didst know how much.
[To Han:] Pray tell me, Han, what dost thou think of her?
HAN
I tell thee true, my mind is settl’d fast
When it thinks not of her.
LUKE
—’Tis well, ’tis well.
HAN
[aside:] Now is it plain to me why he doth ask!
The boy doth fancy her, I’ll warrant, else
I’ve made a great mistake in judgment here.
What use are young men’s dreams if not for mocking?
So I shall dance upon his tender heart:
[To Luke:] And yet—
LUKE
[aside:] —Alas, a “yet”? What’s this of “yet”?
HAN
The woman truly hath a spirit bold, And yet I know not.
What think’st thou, I pray:
Think’st thou a princess could with me be—
LUKE
—Nay.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 4.
The rebel base on Yavin IV.
CHORUS
The swift Millenn’um Falcon makes its course
Unto the place the Empire long has sought:
On Yavin IV rebellion hath its source,
O’er which the final battle shall be fought.
Enter PRINCESS LEIA and COMMANDER WILLARD, with LUKE SKYWALKER, HAN SOLO, and R2-D2 behind.