Lando
—’Tis well,
I am persuaded, and shall take the ship
And leave with thee both gratitude and my
Assurance that I know how deeply thy
Heart stirs for her. Thus do I pledge: I shall
Take care of her as though she were my own,
And shall deliver her sans e’en a scratch.
Han
[ aside:] This Lando doth protest too much, methinks.
I was not nervous till he made his pledge.
[ To Lando:] No scratch, indeed. I take with me thy word.
Lando
We part, thou pirate true. And Han, good luck.
Han
To thee as well, good friend.
[Exit Lando of Calrissian as Han Solo boards the Imperial shuttle Tydirium.
Enter Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 in the cockpit with Han Solo.
Chewbac.
—Auugh.
Han
—Nay, I think
The Empire had not Wookiees on their minds
When they design’d her, Chewie. Are we set?
Enter PRINCESS Leia.
I see the good Millenn’um Falcon yon,
And wonder how the die for her is cast.
Leia
Art thou awake, or dost thou slumber on?
Han
A feeling tells me this look is my last.
Chewbac.
Auugh.
Leia
—General, let us depart.
Han
—Aye, true—
Now let’s see what this heap of junk can do!
[Exeunt, flying off in the shuttle Tydirium.
Scene 4.
Inside the second Death Star.
Enter DARTH VADER.
Vader
The strangest feelings have been mine of late.
To know my son exists confounds my wits
As I did ne’er imagine. What is this
Confusion that doth obfuscate my mind?
For evil I am made, for punishment
Of foes, for conquering of peoples, and
To do the perfect will of my great lord
And Emperor. Of these I certain am,
For this hath been my role full many years.
Yet where within this surety is room
For offspring? For a son? What can a life
Liv’d on the dark side of the Force have still
To do with heirs, with flesh and bone that sprang
From me and that sweet life that once I led?
How can this Sith, this man of pain and death,
Be father to the fruit of far-gone love?
It seems well nigh impossible when one
Considers what I’ve been. For, verily,
I may not hide the man I truly am:
A warrior devoted to the cause
Of Emperor and Empire both. ’Tis who
I am: I must be mad when I have cause
And smile at no one’s jests. No humor doth
Give pleasure to my mouth or stir my heart,
Nor would I dare to ever love again,
If e’en this mess of tangl’d wires could love.
I am a Sith, most surely to be fear’d.
Yet that perplexing thing remains: a son.
Enter EMPEROR PALPATINE and royal guards.
What is thy bidding, master?
Emperor
—Send the fleet
Unto the farthest side of Endor. There
Let it remain, until ’tis callèd for.
Vader
What of the recent news that rebels are
Amassing near to Sullust? Is it so?
Emperor
It is of little consequence, for soon
This vile Rebellion shall be crushèd and
Young Skywalker shall know the dark side’s pow’r.
Thy work upon the Death Star is complete.
Thou shalt go hence to the command ship, and
Await my orders there.
Vader
—My master: aye.
[Exit Darth Vader.
Emperor
Now all the players and the scenes are set
To bring about our greatest triumph yet.
[Exeunt.
Act III
Scene 1.
On the Imperial shuttle Tydirium and the Super Star Destroyer.
Enter LUKE SKYWALKER, HAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Enter ADMIRAL PIETT and IMPERIAL CONTROLLER on balcony, on the Super Star Destroyer.
Han
Now if the Empire is not by our ruse
Deceiv’d, we must fly quickly, Chewie.
Chewbac.
—Auugh.
Control.
We have you on our screens; identify
Yourselves.
Han
—The shuttle of Tydirium
Requests deactivation of the shield
Of energy.
Control.
— Tydirium, transmit
Your clearance code for passage through the shield.
Han
Transmission doth commence.
Leia
—Now shall we learn
If all these codes were worth the price we paid
For them—the loss of friends, the loss of life.
Han
Aye, it shall work, ’twas sacrifice well made.
Chewbac.
Egh!
Luke
—Vader is aboard that giant ship.
Han
Be not afear’d, good Luke, let not thy nerves
Thy better judgment mar. Full many ships
There are that do command the Empire’s fleet.
Keep thou thy distance, though, Chewbacca, but
Do not appear as though thou keepest it.
Chewbac.
Auugh?
Han
—Let me make it plain: fly casual.
Chewbac.
Egh!
Enter DARTH VADER on balcony.
Vader
—Tell me now: where is that shuttle bound?
PIETT
Small shuttle of Tydirium, what is
Thy destination and thy cargo? Speak!
Han
We come to bring both parts and crew, which shall
Deliver technical assistance to
Our comrades on the forest moon.
Vader
—Have they
The code that clearance would ensure?
PIETT
—They do.
It is an older code, but hits the mark.
I was about to grant them passage, Lord.
Luke
[ aside:] My father, how I sense him clearly now!
His thoughts, his aspect, e’en his very mood.
[ To Han Solo:] I have endangerèd the mission here,
And should not hither have accomp’nied you.