William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back (18 page)

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.

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

Thou shalt find me full of surprises yet!

Thy destiny doth lie with me, Skywalker.

Your teacher Obi-Wan did know ’twas true.

Thou liest, O thou villain cruel and cold.

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

[
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.

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.

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.

Alas, I fall—O Fate, be on my side!

[Luke falls out a window.

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.

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!

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.

O horror! O vast pain exceeding words!

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.

—I never shall

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

[
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.

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!

—No, I am thy father.

Nay, ’tis not true! It is impossible!

Pray, search thy feelings, Luke. Thou knowest it

Is true.

—Nay!

—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.

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

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

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

He falls, but I can sense he liveth still.

I have not died—but pass into this shaft.

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

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.

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

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

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

He is held fast by his own clouded mind.

[Exit Darth Vader.

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!

[
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.

What didst thou say?

—I know where Luke is!

—What

About the fighters drawing near?

—Egh, auugh!

I prithee, Chewie: Han we could not save,

But may yet rescue Luke, if we make haste.

But what about the fighters, Princess?

—Auugh!

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.

Give me your hand, good Sir, if we be friends,

And Lando shall, in time, restore amends.

[
To Leia:
] Good Princess, let us fly, for all is well!

O Luke, my heart doth swell to see thee safe!

Thou hast been caught within Darth Vader’s trap,

But now thou art deliver’d and restor’d.

[Luke and Leia embrace while Lando returns to the cockpit.

Now go with me unto the cot, and rest.

In time, we shall trade tales of grief and woe.

The man is sav’d, but now the battle’s on,

For by TIE fighters is our ship pursu’d!

The
Falcon
is attack’d, Luke. Lie thou back,

I shall anon return to give thee aid.

[Leia goes to the cockpit.

[
To Lando:
] Behold, a Star Destroyer doth approach.

Make ready, Chewie, for the lightspeed jump.

Aye, if thy people fix’d the hyperdrive,

Coordinates are set—’tis time we flew.

Now make it so!

[The
Millennium Falcon
makes a sound and fails.

—Auugh!

—I was told ’twas fix’d!

My trust I gave them, to repair the ship.

Some treachery and villainy lie here.

Forgive me, I know not what hath transpir’d.

’Tis not my fault. In troth, ’tis not my fault!

The ship shall be in tractor beaming range

Before thou canst say “aye.”

—Thy trusty men

Disab’d the swift
Falcon
’s hyperdrive?

They did, my Lord.

—’Tis well. Prepare to board

Their ship, and set all weapons onto stun.

They have not made escape for long, and soon

Skywalker shall be in my hand again,

And I shall bring him to the Emperor.