William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return

The strangest feelings have been mine of late.
To know my son exists confounds my wits
As I did ne’er imagine. What is this
Confusion that doth obfuscate my mind?
For evil I am made, for punishment
Of foes, for conquering of peoples, and
To do the perfect will of my great lord
And Emperor. Of these I certain am,
For this hath been my role full many years.
Yet where within this surety is room
For offspring? For a son? What can a life
Liv’d on the dark side of the Force have still
To do with heirs, with flesh and bone that sprang
From me and that sweet life that once I led?
How can this Sith, this man of pain and death,
Be father to the fruit of far-gone love?
It seems well nigh impossible when one
Considers what I’ve been. For, verily,
I may not hide the man I truly am:

A warrior devoted to the cause
Of Emperor and Empire both. ’Tis who
I am: I must be mad when I have cause
And smile at no one’s jests. No humor doth
Give pleasure to my mouth or stir my heart,
Nor would I dare to ever love again,
If e’en this mess of tangl’d wires could love.
I am a Sith, most surely to be fear’d.
Yet that perplexing thing remains: a son.

EnterEMPEROR PALPATINEand royal guards.

What is thy bidding, master?

Emperor

—Send the fleet
Unto the farthest side of Endor. There
Let it remain, until ’tis callèd for.

Vader

What of the recent news that rebels are

Amassing near to Sullust? Is it so?

Emperor

It is of little consequence, for soon
This vile Rebellion shall be crushèd and
Young Skywalker shall know the dark side’s pow’r.
Thy work upon the Death Star is complete.
Thou shalt go hence to the command ship, and
Await my orders there.

Vader

—My master: aye.

[Exit Darth Vader.

Emperor

Now all the players and the scenes are set
To bring about our greatest triumph yet.

[Exeunt.

Act III

Scene 1.

On the Imperial shuttle Tydirium and the Super Star Destroyer.

Enter

LUKE SKYWALKER, HAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Enter ADMIRAL PIETT and IMPERIAL CONTROLLER on balcony, on the Super Star Destroyer.

Han

Now if the Empire is not by our ruse
Deceiv’d, we must fly quickly, Chewie.

Chewbac.

—Auugh.

Control.

We have you on our screens; identify
Yourselves.

Han

—The shuttle of Tydirium
Requests deactivation of the shield
Of energy.

Control.

— Tydirium

, transmitYour clearance code for passage through the shield.

Han

Transmission doth commence.

Leia

—Now shall we learn
If all these codes were worth the price we paid
For them—the loss of friends, the loss of life.

Han

Aye, it shall work, ’twas sacrifice well made.

Chewbac.

Egh!

Luke

—Vader is aboard that giant ship.

Han