William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

—We do not needThy help, thou whoreson, senseless villain!

LANDO

[choking:]—Han!

LEIA

What didst thou say?

C-3PO

—It sounded like a “Han!”

LANDO

[choking:] There may yet be a chance we can save Han.The bounty hunter’s ship, the platform east.

LEIA

Pray, Chewie, let him go.

[Chewbacca releases Lando. He and Princess Leia begin to walk away, followed by Lando.

C-3PO

—My ferventestApologies for this, good Sir. See, he

Is but a Wookiee, ignorant and plain.

EnterBOBA FETTon balcony, with Guards and the frozen body of HAN SOLO.

FETT

Now put him in the cargo hold. Who now hath been victorious, Solo? Who is the winner clear? And as the victor, so go the spoils. Jabba’s bounty and his great pleasure shall I enjoy when I arrive with thee on Tatooine. I shall become a courtier in the palace of the Hutts ere this is through. Boba Fett triumphant!

[Exeunt Boba Fett and guards.

Enter R2-D2.

R2-D2

[aside:] I have been separated from my master.Yet happy circumstance, for here I seeThe others, and may now rejoin them.

[To C-3PO:] Squeak!

C-3PO

O R2, R2, say, where hast thou been?It does me well to see thee, little droid.

Yet prithee, haste thee, for we all now striveTo save our captain from the clutches ofThe bounty hunter!

R2-D2

—Meep, beep, whistle, squeak!

C-3PO

At least thou art still in one piece—observeMy sad fragmented fate!

[They arrive at the east platform to see Boba Fett’s ship flying away.

LEIA

[aside:]—O flown, alack!My Han—his body flown and fled. Now breakMy heart, and weep mine eyes. A princess IMay be, but first and foremost human withEmotions that betray my higher sense.O gracious Han, forgive that I did comeTo love thee late, and only then to lose thee.

I’ll find thee in the stars, my Han—I’ll searchThe galaxy until I find thee.

C-3PO

—O![To Chewbacca:] Pray, Chewie, look, they come behind thee!

CHEWBAC.

—Egh!

EnterSTORMTROOPERSfrom behind, who battle withCHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, andLANDO. The stormtroopers are slain.

LEIA

The soldiers are dispatch’d; now let us go.A princess doth command thee, Lando: make

Thy choice once and for all whom thou shalt serve.Wilt thou remain the Empire’s stooge, or shaltThou go with us to serve rebellion’s cause?

LANDO

Good lady, this demand is fairly made.Forgive me of the things I’ve done, I pray,And I shall fly with thee and serve thee true.But first, let me a final action takeTo serve the Bespinites I love so well—One moment for the greater good. [Into comlink:] Hear ye,’Tis Lando of Calrissian who speaks.The Empire doth control the city now—I do advise ye all: evacuateAt once, before more troops arrive within.

[Lando tries to open a door and fails.

[To Princess Leia:] This door shall lead us to the Falcon, butThe codes have chang’d. I know not how!

C-3PO