William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

Now go with me unto the cot, and rest.In time, we shall trade tales of grief and woe.

LANDO

The man is sav’d, but now the battle’s on,For by TIE fighters is our ship pursu’d!

LEIA

The Falcon is attack’d, Luke. Lie thou back,I shall anon return to give thee aid.

[Leia goes to the cockpit.

[To Lando:] Behold, a Star Destroyer doth approach.

LANDO

Make ready, Chewie, for the lightspeed jump.

LEIA

Aye, if thy people fix’d the hyperdrive,Coordinates are set—’tis time we flew.

LANDO

Now make it so!

[The Millennium Falcon makes a sound and fails.

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh!

LANDO

—I was told ’twas fix’d!My trust I gave them, to repair the ship.Some treachery and villainy lie here.Forgive me, I know not what hath transpir’d.’Tis not my fault. In troth, ’tis not my fault!

EnterDARTH VADERandADMIRAL PIETTon balcony.

PIETT

The ship shall be in tractor beaming rangeBefore thou canst say “aye.”

VADER

—Thy trusty menDisab’d the swift Falcon’s hyperdrive?

PIETT

They did, my Lord.

VADER

—’Tis well. Prepare to boardTheir ship, and set all weapons onto stun.They have not made escape for long, and soonSkywalker shall be in my hand again,And I shall bring him to the Emperor.

PIETT

Indeed, my Lord, I shall with joy comply.The rebels shall be in our grasp anon.

[Exit Admiral Piett, while Darth Vader stares into space.

Enter C-3PO and R2-D2, who is repairing C-3PO.

C-3PO

Why have we not to lightspeed flown?

R2-D2

—Beep, squeak!

C-3PO

What dost thou mean that we cannot? How canstThou know the hyperdrive disabl’d is?

R2-D2

Beep, meep, meep, beep, squeak, whistle, nee, beep, hoo!

C-3PO

The city’s central processor hath toldThee so? O, R2-D2, how have IOft warnèd thee of talking to a strangeComputer? Now, attend to my repair!

[R2-D2 continues to repair C-3PO.

VADER

[to Luke:] Luke, well I know that thou canst sense my call.

LUKE

My father! Word most strange upon my lips.

VADER

My son.

LUKE

—O Ben, why didst thou tell me not?

[Luke walks to the cockpit.

LANDO

Chewbacca, we must fly or we shall beDestroy’d!

LUKE

—It is Darth Vader on that ship.We are in danger here. When shall we fly?

VADER

Luke, come with me, fulfill thy destiny!

LUKE

[aside:] O Ben, I ask, why didst thou tell me not?What anguish and disorder fill my mind!

[R2-D2 goes to the control panel.

R2-D2

[aside:] It falls to me again to win the day,And rescue the Rebellion from dire loss.I shall reactivate the hyperdrive,Thus we shall fly, to fight another time!

C-3PO

O clever droid, great R2, rescuer!

[R2-D2 adjusts the control panel and the Millennium Falcon flies into lightspeed. Exeunt all but Darth Vader.

VADER