—Nay, truly. He hath gone to seeA met’orite that hath made landfall near.
RIEEKAN
With all the met’orites a’falling inThis system, I believe we shall have painsAnd trouble in detecting ’proaching ships.
HAN
[aside:] How shall I tell my news most difficult,And crush this man’s great hopes for what’s ahead?Fear not, O heart, but be direct and calm:’Tis best approach’d straight on, like th’Kessel Run.[To Rieekan:] My general, I cannot stay. I mustMake haste and get me hence, e’en now.
LEIA
[aside:]—Alack,How like a death knell sounds this news to me!
RIEEKAN
I tell thee truly when I say to thee:This news doth break this gen’ral’s gentle soul.I could not be more sorry, pilot brave.
HAN
A price still lies upon my head, and ifI do not make amends with Jabba, IShall not repay with money, nay, but life.
RIEEKAN
A price too dear, indeed! A death mark isNo kind companion to a free man’s life.Thou art a warrior noble, Solo, andI hate to lose thee.
HAN
—And thou art a kind,Good general, sirrah, I hate to go.
[Exit Rieekan. Han turns to Princess Leia.
And so, Your Highness great, this is the end.
LEIA
’Tis so.
HAN
—I prithee mourn me not, and showNo sentiment. Farewell, thou princess cold.[Aside:] I go, and hope she’ll follow hard upon,For if she shall not follow, all is lost.
[Han Solo begins to exit, pursued by Princess Leia.
LEIA
Han, halt!
HAN
—What is thy pleasure, Highness?
LEIA
I did believe that thou had chos’n to stay.
HAN
The bounty hunter we did meet on OrdMantell hath chang’d my mind.
LEIA
—We need thee, Han.
HAN
What “we”? Why speakest thou of “we”?Dost thou in royal terms speak here of “we”?Hast thou a rodent in thy pocket, suchThat thou and he are “we”? What meanest thou?What need is there that thou dost share with all?Speak not of “we,” but “I.” O princess, whatDost thou most need? Not “we,” not “they,” but thou?
LEIA
I know not what thou speakest of.
HAN
—’Tis true.Most probably thou dost not know thyself.
LEIA
And what, pray tell, precisely should I know?Of what great myst’ry am I unaware?Hast thou the depths of Leia plumb’d and seenWhat lies within my soul, my very core?
HAN
Be not elusive, nay! Thou wouldst that IShould stay because of how thou feelest inThy heart about me. Need hath turn’d to want.Pray, tell me not thy needs, but thy desires.
LEIA
Thou art a leader full of skill, ’tis true.
HAN
Thine answer leadeth thee astray. Let fly!I see it in thine aspect now, let fly!Tell me the answer true.
LEIA
—Thy vanityHath puff’d up thine imagination.
HAN
—Aye?Then why dost thou yet follow me? Wert thouAfraid I would depart without a kiss?