William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

[aside:] This stings my soul, yet no more can I doThan hold my head up high, and plan what’s next.

[Exeunt Lando and guards.

LEIA

My soldier, O my heart, thy fire doth blaze!Thy skill with others ne’er doth cease t’amaze.

[Exeunt.

Act V

Scene 1.

Bespin, the cloud city.

EnterUGNAUGHTS 1, 2, and 3, singing.

UGN. 3

The time is ripe!

UGN. 1

His time is nigh!

UGN. 2

And soon he will be frozen!

UGN. 1

We’ve never done—

UGN. 2

This on a man—

UGN. 3

But someone’s now been chosen!

UGN. 2

A merry prank!

UGN. 3

O shall it work?

UGN. 1

Or will the man be dying?

UGN. 3

What’er befall—

UGN. 1

One thing is sure—

UGN. 2

The pleasure’s in the trying!

[Exeunt Ugnaughts.

EnterLANDO, LOBOT, DARTH VADER, andBOBA FETT

.

VADER

A perfect touch this is, to freeze Skywalker.The plan is perfect—he who hath destroy’dThe Death Star shall be packag’d as a gift.But now, let us inspect the details. Aye,This crude contraption should be adequateTo put this vexing Skywalker on iceEre his deliv’ry to the Emperor.

EnterIMPERIAL SOLDIER.

SOLDIER

Lord Vader—there’s a ship that doth approach,An X-wing class.

VADER

—’Tis well. Watch Skywalker,Allow his landing, let him hither come.

[Exit Imperial soldier.

LANDO

Lord Vader, this facility has ne’erBeen us’d for humans, only carbon freezing.If thou dost put him in this vast machineIt may not freeze him, but may mean his death.

VADER

This is a point that I consider’d not.It seems, Calrissian, that thou dost learnTo be obedient unto thy Lord.’Tis well, and it is in thine interest.I do not wish him harm’d; the EmperorShall not enjoy a damag’d prize. So shallAnother stand for him to be a test—We shall make Captain Solo undergoThe freezing process first, to test its pow’r.

FETT

My Lord, although his death would bring me joy, it doth not pay. Jabba, like thine Emperor, giveth no fees for damag’d goods. I prithee, what shall happen if the man doth die? What then, for Boba Fett?

VADER

Fear not, thy hunt shall have its bounty still.Thou shalt be compensated if he dies.

EnterHAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, and C-3PO (attached to Chewbacca’s back), all guarded.

C-3PO

[to Chewbacca:

] I almost fully am restor’d to myOld self, except thy work is not complete.If thou had but attach’d my legs, I wouldNot yet remain in this position rare!I prithee, good Chewbacca, do recallThat I am thy responsibility—Do not in any instance foolish be!

HAN

[to Lando:] Pray tell, O dearest friend, what is at hand?

LANDO

Thou shalt be plac’d in total carbon freeze.

HAN

[aside:] The news of my grim fate doth chill my blood.O, how I once thought Hoth was cold and bleak,Yet now I pine for all its balmy plains.

VADER

Now, put him in!

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh!

[Chewbacca fights guards and slays three of them.

HAN

—Chewie, stop, I pray!

C-3PO