HAN
I cannot argue with thine argument.
I shall attempt to fly us closer in
Toward a larger ast’roid.
C-3PO
—Closer?
CHEWBAC.
—Auugh!
C-3PO
O this is suicide, for where have we
To go where we may yet survive? Are we
Not bound for death?
HAN
—Aye, this one here shall do.
It hath a goodly look.
LEIA
—What “goodly look”?
HAN
Be calm, I prithee, for it shall suffice.
C-3PO
Excuse me, Princess, but where are we bound?
[The Millennium Falcon flies deep into one of the asteroids.
LEIA
My hope flies unto you, most worthy man,
My hope for us, and for our safety, too.
I hope it is the Force that leadeth thee,
I hope that thou dost know what thou dost do.
HAN
Thy hopes do echo mine, my lady, true.
[Exeunt into an asteroid’s tunnel.
Scene 6.
Aboard the Empire’s Super Star Destroyer.
Enter ADMIRAL PIETT with DARTH VADER, replacing his mask.
PIETT
[aside:] O sight most tragic, this—a robot-man
Who doth require a mask to stay alive.
What situation e’er did lead to this?
How can he stand to live beneath a mask?
But soft, Piett, and reconsider this:
Aye, verily, how shall I judge? The mask
He wears is far more obvious than most.
With Vader it is plain he wears a mask,
Though few have seen the scarring underneath.
But truly, what man doth not wear a mask?
For all of us are maskèd in some way—
Some choose sharp cruelty as their outward face,
Some put themselves behind a king’s façade,
Some hide behind the mask of bravery,
Some put on the disguise of arrogance.
But underneath our masks, are we not one?
Do not all wish for love, and joy, and peace?
And whether rebel or Imperial,
Do not our hearts all beat in time to make
The pounding rhythm of the galaxy?
So while Darth Vader’s mask keeps him alive,
And sits upon his face for all to see,
’Tis possible he is more honest than
A man who wears no mask, but hides his self.
But come, Piett, now still thy prating tongue—
His private time is done, his mask back on.
VADER
Yes, Admiral?
PIETT
—Our ships have found the swift
Millenn’um Falcon, Lord. However, it
Hath ventur’d deep into an ast’roid field.
It seems unsafe to make pursuit therein:
To follow it is far too great a risk.
VADER
Thy fear of asteroids concerns me not.
I want the ship, not thy most weak dismay.
PIETT
I understand, my Lord, and shall obey.
[Exeunt.
Scene 7.
The Dagobah system.
Enter LUKE SKYWALKER and R2-D2.
LUKE
What misadventure I have seen today!
Our sensors spied no cities or machines
Within this system desolate, but life
Forms plenty. As we made our way unto
The planet’s atmosphere, all went awry:
My X-wing ship began to shake and groan.
My scopes had fail’d, and I did blindly spin
Into a landing doom’d to end with strife.
’Tis almost fortunate that I did land
Within this swampy bog where now the ship
Is partway sunk, for had I hit the ground
My ship and droid and even my own self
Might have been crush’d, and ev’rything destroy’d.
But now my ship is fixèd in the mire,
And how it shall come out I cannot tell.
Was this first trouble all I would endure?
Nay, nay! It seemeth Fate did not see fit
To send pain singular, but multiple!
Fate hath provided pains abundantly,
For this is not the end of our distress.
As R2 and I headed for the shore
He fell into the water, wheels to scope,
And was assaulted by a mighty beast—
Aye, swallow’d whole and disappear’d from sight.
For seeming ages I did search for him,
To no avail. And then, with frightful scream,
He was ejected from the swamp as fast
As proton-fill’d torpedoes from their shaft.
Above my head he sail’d, well o’er the ground,
And landed in a heap of dirt and grime.
’Twas only for his metal-tasting shell
This little droid shall live to see tomorrow.
So much misfortune! After all this pain
I should feel grateful still to have my life.
But now we are maroon’d within a place
Where neither friend nor contact may be found.
I should have listen’d to the wise R2
When he said coming here would work us woe.
Our camp is now set up, our food prepar’d,
My faithful R2 chargeth up his pow’r,
The semblance of good order we present—
But I have neither stomach nor desire
To sit down to a hale and hearty feast.
More pressing, too, I must this Yoda find,
Indeed, if that good man doth e’en exist.
Look ’round about, R2: is this place not
Unlikely for a Jedi master’s home?
’Tis strange, ’tis passing strange, ’tis pitiful.
R2-D2
Beep, squeak?
Enter YODA, hidden behind.
LUKE
—I know not what it is, dear friend.
’Tis like some thing appearing from a dream,
Some midnight reverie I cannot shake.
For neither does this circumstance seem real,
Nor do I slumber here—aye, that I know.
It seems the place is but a walking shadow—
Not dream, not wake, but something in between.
The strangeness of the scene creeps in my bones,
Yet also do I feel familiar pangs.
R2-D2
Beep, whistle, meep?
LUKE
—I know not. I do feel—
[Yoda reveals himself.
YODA
What dost thou feel, hmm?
Prithee, I would truly know
What is it thou feel’st?
[Luke points his blaster at Yoda.
LUKE
That odd, familiar sense that we are watch’d!
R2-D2
Beep, beep, meep, whistle, beep, squeak, whistle, nee!
YODA
Away with weapons!
I mean no harm, but wonder
Why thou hast come here.
LUKE
Thou sneaking imp! I look for someone here.
YODA
Looking, are you, hmm?
Found someone you have, it seems!
Is that not correct?
LUKE