William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

Aye, verily. [Aside:] O what words would I sayTo this man here, if words were loud enough!But hath a word e’er been created, whichCould tell the comrade’s love I feel for him,Articulate the good I sense in him,Express the debt of life I owe to him?At times ’tis true that words betray us all—The mighty pow’r of language fails to speak,And neither tongue nor rhetoric gives aid.This Han hath found a life among our bandThat did transform his former, solo self,But now he takes his leave to pay the priceOf former indiscretions come to call.I would explain how much he means to me,I would disclose my deep respect for him,I would unveil my brotherlike regard,

I would reveal the workings of my soul—But at this moment words are render’d weak.Thus, he must see the story in my eyes,Peruse the tale that’s told within my heart,And there read more than ever can be penn’d.

HAN

Now be thou careful, friend.

LUKE

—And thou as well.

[Exit Luke Skywalker.

HAN

A noble lad, and true. If Fate is kind,I shall make right the danger I am inAnd live to fight aside him once again.

[Exeunt Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Enter theCONTROLLER

andGENERAL RIEEKAN.

CONTROL.

My general, a group of Star Destroy’rsHas just emerg’d from hyperspace, and nowHas been detected in yon sector four.

RIEEKAN

Divert all pow’r unto our forward shield.In doing so we may protect the baseUntil the transports their escape have made.Then, let us all prepare for ground assault.[To all:] Good gentlemen and women, come ye near!For we shall now our very lives defend.

EnterREBEL PILOTS, including

HOBBIEandMAJOR DERLIN, andPRINCESS LEIA.

LEIA

Good cheer! All preparation hath been made,Both for the swift retreat of transports hence,And to defend our base until they’re fled.The carriers shall meet up at the north,And larger transports leave once they are full.Two fighter escorts shall be sent with eachAnd shall remain quite close, for our strong shieldWill be disarm’d a fleeting length of time.’Twill be a passage dangerous no doubt,But with the Force we shall prevail, indeed.

HOBBIE

I prithee, say again: shall only twoOf our small fighters match a Star Destroy’r?

LEIA

Pray, screw your courage to the sticking place.Our ion cannons shall with lethal fireMake ev’ry pathway clear. When you have clear’dThe shield of energy, then go anonUnto our rendezvous. Do all agree?Will ye all go in great rebellion’s name?

ALL

Aye, Princess, aye!

HOBBIE

—We shall heed thy command.

DERLIN

Now ev’ryone unto their stations, go!

[Exeunt rebel pilots, including Hobbie and Lieutenant Derlin.

RIEEKAN