William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher Read Free Book Online

and it shall be.
    [
To controller:
] Thou canst now carry on, and let them pass.
    HAN
    This hesitation pregnant is with doubt:
    Mayhap they are not taken in, Chewbacca.
    CONTROL.
    Good shuttle of
Tydirium
, the swift
    Deactivation of the shield begins.
    Hold fast unto thy present course.
    [Exeunt Darth Vader, Admiral Piett, and Imperial controller.
    HAN
    —’Tis well!
    Did I not tell ye all that it would work?
    No problems here, when Han is at the helm.
    LEIA
    My scoundrel-love, thou ever hast a boast—
    Yet often there’s a reason to thy rhyme.
    Enter several
I MPERIAL SCOUTS ,
aside, as
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2-D2 disembark.
    HAN
    Now have we landed on the forest moon,
    And our good company has disembark’d.
    We make our way through trees and bushes here.
    But what is that, a sound—pray all, alert!
    C-3PO
    You see, R2, I told thee this would be
    Quite dangerous. Alack, be calm, my core!
    HAN
    I see a building with Imperial
    Motifs and markings. There, beside it, are
    Two scouts. This shall require some care, methinks.
    LEIA
    Then shall we try and go around the side?
    LUKE
    It will take time.
    HAN
    —And all shall be for naught
    If we are seen. Yet I do have a plan:
    Chewbacca and myself shall handle this.
    Ye both stay here.
    LUKE
    —But prithee, soft, good Han.
    Be quiet, for there may be others near.
    HAN
    Thy words unnecessary are—’tis me!
    [Han Solo and Chewbacca move toward the Imperial scouts.
    Now shall I move in stealth to take them in,
    Then take them out. With catlike tread I step,
    Ne’er to be notic’d till my prey is mine,
    Then I—alack! A twig snaps underfoot!
    [Imperial Scouts 1 and 2 turn toward the sound and see Han Solo and Chewbacca.
    SCOUT 1
    What is that sound? Alas, ’tis rebels, go!
    And warn our comrades quickly.
    LUKE
    —Let us fly!
    [Han fights with Imperial Scout 1. Imperial Scout 2 boards his speeder bike to fly away but is shot by Chewbacca. Imperial Scouts 3 and 4 jump on their speeder bikes and fly away.
    LEIA
    Behold the two scouts speed from out our grasp!
    Upon the instant I shall give them chase.
    LUKE
    Pray, Leia, patience—straight I come with thee!
    [Luke and Leia board a speeder bike behind Imperial Scouts 3 and 4, in pursuit. Exeunt Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 in the melee.
    Enter
CHORUS .
    CHORUS
    Do not our play too harshly judge, dear friends,
    For with imagination may you see:
    Into the forest now the fight extends
    On speeder bikes that whip ’twixt tree and tree.
    What haste their dauntless riders undergo
    As they fly swiftly past both brush and stumps!
    The rapid derring-do our scene doth show,
    And when ’tis over, some shall have their lumps.
    [Exit chorus.
    LUKE
    Jam thou their comlink, center switch!
    LEIA
    —’Tis done!
    LUKE
    Canst thou yet closer go? Pray, pull aside
    The one before us. Now I jump aboard
    His bike, and he is mine and I’m for him.
    [Luke throws Imperial Scout 3 from his speeder bike, and Imperial Scout 3 dies.
    Enter
I MPERIAL S COUTS 5
and
6
on speeder bikes.
    Aye, he is gone, but others take his place!
    Good Leia, follow that one up ahead.
    I shall remain behind, to face these two.

    LEIA
    ’Tis well. Be safe, and I shall see thee soon.
    LUKE
    [
aside:
] O sister, all my thanks for tender words.
    [Luke falls behind, alongside Imperial Scouts 5 and 6.
    Now shall this bike’s keen blaster find its mark!
    I shoot, and one is dead; the other next.
    [Luke shoots and kills Imperial Scout 6.
    LEIA
    I shall fly high o’er this one’s bike, that he
    May think that I have fled. Then shall I from
    Above make my attack. Ha! Now beside
    His bike, surprise is my sure strategy.
    [Imperial Scout 4 shoots at Leia.
    Alas! My bike is hit, and off I fall!
    [Leia falls to the ground, unconscious. Imperial Scout 4 looks behind him to make sure she has fallen.
    SCOUT 4
    Ha! There’s a rebel scum who shall no more
    Make trouble for our mighty Empire. We
    Are e’er the strongest in the