William Shakespeare's Star Wars Read Online Free PDF Page B

an attack.
    The rebels have more resources and are
    More dangerous that thou wilt deign to see.
    MOTTI Perhaps of danger to thy star fleet, aye,
    But not unto this battle station strong.
    TAGGE Rebellion shall gain more support within
    Th’Imperial Senate—
    Enter
G RAND M OFF T ARKIN
and
D ARTH V ADER .
    TARKIN [
aside:
]                —O, these men do talk
    And quibble like a brood of clucking hens!
    [
To Tagge:
] Th’Imperial Senate, which thou speak’st of here,
    No longer any threat to us doth hold.
    For truly have I just receivèd word

    That our great Emperor himself dissolv’d
    The Council—now the final remnants of
    The Old Republic fade away like dew.
    TAGGE But marry, ’tis impossible! How shall
    The Emperor maintain control without
    The crimson cord of vast bureaucracy?
    VADER [
aside:
] O, how these politicians irk me so!
    Of governors and territories care
    I not! But I retain their company
    For mine own purposes, and though their talk
    Doth tire my mind I do confess that naught
    I’ve found hath on their counsel yet improv’d.
    For ev’ry human bond is meaningless:
    All family doth leave, and friends betray,
    And lovers fail, and teachers turn, and thus
    Among the politicians shall I dwell—
    Where lies, deceit, and garr’lous talk do make
    The universe go ’round. But yet, I vow:
    I’ll not be govern’d by the governors,
    No policy of politicians heed.
    Instead, myself and my dear Emperor
    Together shall pursue our destiny.
    TARKIN The governors of all the regions now
    Have sole control o’er their especial lands,
    And fear shall keep the people all in line—
    Fear of this very battle station, aye!
    TAGGE But what, pray tell, of the Rebellion vile?
    For if the rebels have the plans to this
    Good station stolen, possible it is
    They may have found a weakness, which, in haste,
    They shall exploit. Pray, Tarkin, mark my words.
    VADER Those plans shall soon recover’d be, fear not.
    MOTTI Attack upon this station pointless is,
    Regardless of the data they have found.
    I speak not rashly when I here aver:
    This station now hath power ultimate
    O’er all else in the vast, wide universe!
    And now, I prithee, let us see it us’d!
    VADER [
to Motti:
] Nay, peace! I warn thee, man, be not too proud
    Of thy great terror technological.
    A weapon for the mass destruction of
    A planet—even to destroy it whole—
    Is no match for the power of the Force.
    MOTTI Thou shalt not ’tempt to frighten us with words
    So like a man of magic, Vader. Nay,
    Thy sorc’rer’s act is tir’d and overdone.
    The sad religion thou dost cling to hath
    No pow’r to conjure up the stolen plans.
    Nor dost thou have a third-eye’s sight to make—
    [Vader begins to choke Motti using the Force
.
    CHORUS The power of the Force is now unveil’d
    As Vader holds the Admiral in check.
    The Force that Motti with his words impal’d
    Now hath a wampa’s hold about his neck.
    VADER I find thy lack of faith disturbing.
    TARKIN —Cease!
    No more of this! Good Vader, let him be.
    VADER As is thy will. [
Aside:
] My point hath well been made
    Upon his prideful, unbelieving throat.
    [Vader releases Motti
.

    TARKIN Enough! This endless bickering shall end.
    Lord Vader shall provide the setting of
    The errant rebel base before the time
    This station shall be operational.
    And then, my friends, the Empire shall rejoice—
    Rebellion shall be crush’d in one swift stroke!
    Now get ye gone, fulfill this purpose grand.
    [Exeunt Imperial generals and Senators, including Admiral Motti and Commander Tagge
.
    VADER My troopers on the planet Tatooine
    Have trac’d the creatures who have found the droids.
    We shall retrieve those plans.
    TARKIN —’Tis well, ’tis well.
    Thou ever wert a faithful servant to
    The Emperor, Lord Vader. Prithee, go,
    And take with thee a gov’nor’s gratitude.
    [Exit Darth Vader
.
    There goes a man who hath a mind to serve.
    The Emperor doth hold him in his grasp,
    And lays a claim upon his heart