William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

Fie, fie! Yet once again the ship escapes.I shall devise brave punishments for thoseWho put upon our state this grievous blight.Then shall I seek my son, the Jedi Knight.

[Exit Darth Vader.

Scene 4.

Aboard a rebel cruiser.

EnterLUKE SKYWALKER.

LUKE

The medic droid hath fix’d my hand with care,Though never shall it fully be repair’d.For though I can this hand use as before,

It shall ne’er truly be a hand of mine.For now I am machine, though partly so,Now have I ta’en a step toward the manWho saith he is my father, yet is wiresAnd bolts. O hand, I find thee yet so dear.Pray, serve me well, and prick my memoryThat I did once the dark side briefly know—And fac’d, and fought, and ultimately fail’d.Then rise once more with me, my true right hand—Thy rightful place thou shalt take at my sideTo right the wrongs that we have sufferèd,And right now thou and I begin to workT’ward righteousness in great rebellion’s cause.

Enter

CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, andLANDO.

Now Lando, shalt thou go?

LANDO

—Aye, Luke, for allHath been prepar’d. When we find Jabba andThe bounty hunter, we shall tell thee all.

LUKE

I’ll meet thee where we plann’d—on Tatooine—My homeland that is now estrang’d from me.

LANDO

Good princess, now farewell. ApologiesMost earnest I convey again, and withThem come a vow: we shall find Han, I swear.

LUKE

Dear Chewie, I’ll await thy signal.

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh!

LUKE

Now take thou care—the Force be with ye both.

[They move to separate parts of the stage.

LANDO

Now ends this troubl’d time of Empire’s rise,Our time of harsh betrayal, painful loss.Now have we learn’d what friendship truly costs,

And in the learning lost a comrade strong.

LEIA

Along the way, our hearts were movèd much:By sacred love, most wondrous to behold,By bravery that shall outlive the times,By sacrifice of our most precious friends.

LUKE

Encounters unexpected we did meetWith masters wise and persons unforeseen.These are the star wars, yet they are not done—For sure, the final chapter’s just begun.

Enter chorus as epilogue.

CHORUS