HAN
—Nay, I
Know not of any matter.
[They walk, leaving C-3PO’s parts.
Tell me, though,
As we proceed to supper: art thou an
Accepted member of the mining guild?
LANDO
Nay, we are none. Our operation is
Still small enough that we may be discreet.
’Tis advantageous to our customers,
For they are anxious to escape attention.
LEIA
[aside:] O, all this talk of bus’ness, mines and stealth!
My mind cannot abide it, for I sense
That terrible events shall soon befall.
Within my mind a vision of some pain
Begins to form, but still is indistinct.
Would that I had some time to clear my thoughts!
HAN
[to Lando:] But art thou not afraid the Empire shall
Find out about your operation and
Then drive you out of business, or e’en worse?
LANDO
’Tis e’er a danger that looms over us
And all that we have built in Bespin’s walls.
But things have just develop’d which shall make
Our future safe and well-secur’d. A deal
I’ve with the Empire made that shall keep them
Far distant from our operations.
[They arrive at a door and open it.
Enter DARTH VADER and BOBA FETT, revealed inside.
CHEWBAC.
—Auugh!
HAN
[aside:] But what is this? Betrayal! Hands, take flight—
My blaster shall I use, and save us yet!
[Han fires, but Vader deflects the blast and uses the Force to takes Han’s blaster.
VADER
We would be honor’d should ye join us here.
LANDO
I am most sorry, worthy friend. They did
Arrive in Bespin ere thou here didst fly.
HAN
No sorrier, I do expect, than I.
[Exeunt.
Scene 4.
Bespin, the cloud city.
Enter GUARDS 1 and 2.
GUARD 1
Oi! Well met, worthy friend. What dost thou here?
GUARD 2
I have been poring o’er our city’s plans.
GUARD 1
What’s this? A newfound interest? Shalt thou
Turn architect?
GUARD 2
—Nay, nay, and yet I have
Found something curious.
GUARD 1
—Indeed?
GUARD 2
—Indeed.
GUARD 1
Pray tell!
GUARD 2
—The city hath been built within
The Empire’s strict specifications for
Design and building standards.
GUARD 1
—Aye, ’twas wise,
Thus may the Bespin council never have
A reason for to fear the Empire’s sharp
Inspectors.
GUARD 2
—Verily, but follow on:
That they unto the code this city built
Is not the thing that I found strange. Instead,
It was the code’s requirements I did mark.
For didst thou know the Empire doth require
That any major structure shall include
At least one chasm that’s deep and long and dark?
Not only shall these chasms exist: the code
Doth further specify that they shall be
Abutting pathways where pedestrians
May walk. The Death Star that was built some years
Ago had, evidently, sev’ral of
These holes, and our Cloud City has them, too.
Is not this strange?
GUARD 1
—I know them well, and did
Go walking past just such a gaping hole
That led to nothingness but yesterday.
But wherefore dost thou say ’tis strange, I pray?
GUARD 2
It simply maketh little sense to put
Such vast, deep holes in ev’ry structure next
To well-worn paths. Could not a person, by
Some simple misstep, fall most easily
Down one of these great chasms? So wherefore place
Such hazards into ev’ry structure built?
GUARD 1
I see your reasoning, but shall rebut:
The Empire is the greatest strength e’er known, ’Tis true?
GUARD 2
—Of course. I’d not say otherwise.
GUARD 1
And any great thing—person, beast, or realm—
Doth put its greatness on display, agreed?
GUARD 2
’Tis natural, I’ll warrant. Pray, say on.
GUARD 1
I posit that the Empire doth command
That structures have these chasms immense because
It is through their immensity that our
Great Empire’s strength is shown. And since they are
Vast holes that deadly are, should one fall in,
They send a message strong and clear to alclass="underline"
The Empire is a proud and mighty pow’r
And doth not fear sure death, but laughs at it.
I’ faith, we are so full of life that we
Walk by our certain passing daily—it
Is but quotidian for us—and yet
We have no fear.
GUARD 2
—Thy point is clearly made.
But still, I think it strange that this is true:
A structure is not whole till it hath holes.
Such things lie far beyond my understanding,
Yet do I trust there is a master plan.
GUARD 1
Shall we to supper, friend?
GUARD 2
—Forsooth, lead on!
[Exeunt Guards 1 and 2.
Enter LANDO.
LANDO
O what is this dire sound I just have heard?
My friend Han Solo screaming in great pain,
The shrieks of man turn’d victim through my fault—
My quick decision to protect myself.
Yet what choice had I? Could I else have done?
No person in my place would diff’rently
Behave. No choice had I but one: to save
Myself, my interests, and my belov’d
Cloud City from a dark and awful fate.
Yet ever shall my soul be haunted by
These dismal howls of my old friend, unless
I can find some way to make recompense.
But how shall that e’er be whilst Vader’s threats
Do cast their shadows o’er my ev’ry move?
I know not how, but yet it must be so.
I shall—belike with loyal Lobot’s help—
Discover yet a way to make this right,
And save myself from a betrayer’s name!
Enter LOBOT, DARTH VADER, and BOBA FETT.
VADER
[to Boba Fett:] Thou mayst take Captain Solo and transport
Him unto Jabba once Skywalker has
Arriv’d and captur’d been. Say, is this clear?
FETT
’Tis, my Lord. But Solo is no good to me, should he be dead upon delivery. He hath been tortur’d severely in this last hour. ’Tis well, but I prithee do not kill the man ere I deliver him to Jabba.