Obi-Wan
Thine instincts serve thee well, Luke. Bury now
These feelings, for they do thee credit but
May be manipulated and abus’d
If e’er the Emperor should learn of them.
Luke
It bringeth my heart joy to see thee, Ben,
I’ll heed thy counsel till we meet again.
[Exeunt.
Scene 3.
The rebel fleet, in space.
Enter HAN S OLO and LANDO OF CALRISSIAN.
Han
My friend, well met! ’Tis good to see thee here
And not a’dangling o’er a sarlacc’s pit.
Thou wast promoted well—a general!
Lando
Belike our leaders were inform’d about
Mine actions at the battle of Taanab.
Han
Cast not thine eyes on me for blame or thanks—
I did but tell them thou art pilot fair.
But knew not that they hop’d to find the one
Who would direct this crazy-brain’d attack.
Lando
Nay, “crazy-brain’d” thou sayst? How may that be,
Since thou dost know a thing or two of Death
Star battles and what it doth take to win?
Surpris’d I am that they did not ask thee.
Han
But who hath said that they did not inquire?
Yet I am not of madness made. And thou,
Remember well, art fashion’d of respect.
Enter PRINCESS LEIA, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, MON MOTHMA, ADMIRAL ACKBAR, GENERAL MADINE, WEDGE ANTILLES, and several REBEL PILOTS.
MOTHMA
I prithee, gather ’round, ye rebels all,
And mark ye well the message I relay.
The Emperor hath made a critical
Mistake, and our time for attack is nigh.
The data brought to us by Bothan spies
Details th’exact location of the vast
New battle station that the Emperor
Hath underta’en to build. We also know
This battle station’s weapon systems are
Not fully operational as yet.
Th’Imperi’l fleet is spread both far and wide
Throughout the galaxy, with hopes—quite vain
—
That they shall soon engage us in a fight.
And while the fleet’s away, the station hath
But minimal protection. This, my friends,
Would be good news enough, but there is more:
Reliable report hath come to us
That e’en the dreaded Emp’ror Palpatine
Himself doth oversee construction of
The Death Star, and is presently on board.
This news doth cheer us, friends, but pray recall
That many Bothans died to bring it here.
I call on Adm’ral Ackbar to unfold
Our plan so you may know your roles in this,
The final chapter of rebellion’s tale.
[Admiral Ackbar turns on a visual model of the Death Star and the forest moon of Endor.
Ackbar
You may within this model see the Death
Star orbiting around the forest moon
Of Endor. Though the weapons systems on
The Death Star are not operational
As yet, the Death Star hath a strong defense:
It is secur’d by shield of energy
A’generated on the forest moon.
Deactivated must this shield be ere
We can attack. Then, when the shield hath been
Disarm’d, our cruisers shall take wing and fly
Within the superstructure to destroy
The main reactor. This attack shall be
Made by a squadron of our wingèd ships
Led by our General Calrissian,
Who is a worthy and a noble chap.
Han
Good luck be thine, my friend. Thou shalt need it.
Ackbar
Thus endeth my report. Now General
Madine, thine efforts for our mission wilt
Thou presently recap?
MADINE
—We’ve stolen an
Imperi’l shuttle, which, disguisèd as
A cargo ship, shall use a secret code
To land upon the moon. Thereon a team
Shall fearlessly deactivate the shield.
C-3PO
A dangerous experience, no doubt.
Leia
[ to Han:] And who, I wonder, has agreed to it?
For such a mission may quite futile prove.
Han
Nay, be thou not afraid. A man of wit,
Of clever mind and fine exterior
They must have chosen, whom thou shalt approve.
MADINE
Good Gen’ral Solo, is thy team prepar’d?
Leia
[ aside:] A man of wit! He ne’er doth cease t’amaze.
Han
My team is ready, yet I do not have
A crew who shall the shuttle’s flight command.
Chewbac.
Auugh!
Han
—It shall not be easy, friend, thus I
Had not yet volunteer’d thy worthy name.
Chewbac.
Egh!
Han
—Well! Now have I one!
Leia
—And count me two.
Good General, I gladly follow thee.
Wherever thou dost go, then so shall I,
Wherever thou remain, thus I shall too,
Thy people shall my people be as well,
And all thy battles shall my battles be.
Enter LUKE S KYWALKER and R2-D2.
Luke
Why have but two when three is company?
I shall go with thee also, noble friend.
[ Aside:] My sister! Ah! To see her fills my heart!
[Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia embrace.
Leia
What is’t?
Luke
—Ask yet again, another time.
Han
Ho, Luke!
Luke
—Good Han, and Chewie!
R2-D2
—Beep, meep, squeak!
C-3PO
“Exciting” would not be my word of choice,
’Tis more like “harrowing,” if I were ask’d.
[Exeunt all but Han Solo and Lando of Calrissian.
Han
Now preparation’s made, good Lando, yet
A word with thee ere thou depart, my friend:
With heart sincere I proffer this to thee:
Take thou my ship, the brave Millenn’um Falcon.
Thou shalt be greatly aided in thy task
If thou wilt take the fastest ship that e’er
Did fly within our galaxy. Thou dost
Have more experience with this swift ship
Than any but Chewbacca and myself.
Thou art a skill’d and worthy pilot, and
I trust that thou shalt keep her safe.