William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

EnterHAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, andR2-D2,crossing toGENERAL RIEEKAN, theCONTROLLER, andPRINCESS LEIA.

RIEEKAN

A visitor hath come, my princess. ’TisOutside the base, in sector twelve, and dothAppear to be directed eastward.

CONTROL.

—’TisA thing of metal, cold and harsh and sleek—It is not animal.

LEIA

—Well, then ’tis notThe self-same creature that did harm our Luke.But what do ye men think that it may be?

HAN

Belike a speeder, one of ours?

CONTROL.

—Nay, wait.A signal dim doth reach unto mine ears.

[A faint signal is heard.

PROBE

[through comlink:] Beh mena bem bem. Mena bem bem beh.

C-3PO

Good Sir, six million forms of language doI know, and I may tell thee true that thisStrange signal is not by th’Alliance us’d.It may, perhaps, be an Imperi’l code.

HAN

’Tis not a friendly sound, that much is sure.Now Chewie, come with me and we’ll to it.

[Aside:] Snow creatures first, and now Imperi’l droids,What portents of great evil may these be?Though I am brave, forsooth these signs do makeE’en my courageous heart begin to fear.I find myself afraid of what may come,That my whole soul shall freeze ere this is done.[To all:] Chewbacca and myself have ventur’d outTo see the probe. Now Chewie gives a shout—It fires on him, and I respond in turn.Be gone, thou enemy of all that’s right.But wait, now what hath happen’d? I releas’dA blast most simple—aye, a single blast.Yet it appears that single blast was allIt could withstand; the blast was lethal, friends.Now naught is left, for it hath been destroy’d.

LEIA

What was’t?

HAN

—A droid. My blast did not strike hard,Belike the thing did self-destruct.

LEIA

—’Tis clear!A probe droid from the Empire. This doth meanThe start of our rebellion’s flight from Hoth,For now that we discoverèd have beenWe lack security.

HAN

—Agreed. MethinksThe Empire knoweth we are here on Hoth.[Aside:] My sense of doom and dread is not withoutIts cause, for this event is grave indeed.

RIEEKAN

Good friends, dear rebels, comrades one and all,We have no choice but to flee hastily.Our swift evacuation shall commence,And till ’tis done, make ready our defense.

[Exeunt.

Scene 7.

Aboard the Empire’s Super Star Destroyer.

Enter

ADMIRAL OZZEL, GENERAL VEERS, andCAPTAIN PIETT.

PIETT

My admiral?

OZZEL

—Yes, Captain.

PIETT

—Here’s a thingThat thou shouldst see, good Sir. We have receiv’dReport from a Hoth system probe, the bestThat we have found so far.

OZZEL

—Your best, belike,Shall bested be, for thousands of these probesWe have a’wandering the galaxyAnd looking for the rebels. I want proof,Piett, not leads. Proof—only that—is best.

PIETT