[Luke leaps out of the carbon freezing machine.
LUKE
I am not captur’d yet, thou lord of hate.
Thou must another evil scheme derive
To catch me in thy snares. For I am quick,
And move with all the power of the Force.
VADER
Impressive, most impressive, worthy lad,
Thine Obi-Wan hath taught thee well, and thou
Hast master’d all thy fears. Now, go! Release
Thine anger, for thy hate alone can strike
Me down! [Aside:] Now ’tis the moment to provoke
His inner rage. Come walls, machines, and parts
And come at him from ev’ry side. He’ll be
Made weak, and in his weakness darkness find!
[Darth Vader uses the Force to strike Luke with nearby objects.
LUKE
Alas, I fall—O Fate, be on my side!
[Luke falls out a window.
VADER
The battle goes exactly as foreseen.
The boy is powerful and skill’d, ’tis true,
But his young powers are no match for mine.
It seems that Obi-Wan was weak with age,
For this boy’s training still is incomplete.
He shall be turnèd yet, for I still hold
The news that shall undo him utterly.
He thinks the speed of my lightsaber and
My power to send objects hurtling at
Him are the worst that I can muster, but
My greatest weapon yet shall break his soul,
Not touch his body. He shall know the truth.
But even as I plan to share with him
The story of his father, I must pause.
The strange confusion I before have felt
Hath come again into my mind. What is’t?
I know no better Fate for him and me
Than to be join’d in service to my Lord
And Emperor. So why am I confus’d?
Enough of this now, Vader: finish it.
The boy shall turn or he shall be destroy’d.
[Exit Darth Vader. Luke begins to climb through the window.
LUKE
O pain, O bitter weariness. I did
Not know the power of the Force till now—
Till it, to purpose rank, was turn’d on me!
Now for my very life I grasp and hold
Unto the precipice whereon I cling.
Be with me now, O Ben, restore my strength.
I see that Vader hath ta’en flight, yet it
Is plain he doth but wait for his next chance.
Some hope remains, e’en now, amidst my fear—
He may yet be defeated, all’s not lost.
I have regain’d my footing, and may rest
Until the fight must be resum’d. Now quick:
Look deep within your heart, Luke, and recall
The teachings of your gentle master Yoda.
Breathe deeply and call on the Force, that it
May show to thee the path that thou must take.
O, give me strength to win this battle now
Or, if not win, maintain my sense of right.
But lo, Darth Vader cometh once again!
Enter DARTH VADER. They duel, and Luke is forced to the edge of a deep cavern.
VADER
This is the end for thee, Skywalker. See,
Thou art defeated now; resistance would
Be futile. Let yourself not be destroy’d
As Obi-Wan did, weak old man he was.
[They duel. Darth Vader cuts off Luke’s right hand with his lightsaber.
LUKE
O horror! O vast pain exceeding words!
VADER
Thou shalt find no escape. Do not make me
Destroy thee. Great importance shalt thou have
Within the Empire’s power, and thine own
Shall only grow with time. I prithee, join
With me, and I your training shall complete.
When our strength is combin’d, we shall conclude
This bitter conflict and bring order to
The galaxy entire.
LUKE
—I never shall
Join with thee; I would rather be destroy’d.
VADER
[aside:] The boy doth admirably keep his head,
But now I shall unleash the final blow.
[To Luke:] If thou but knewest all the power of
The dark side. Obi-Wan hath never told
Thee of what happen’d to thy father, Luke.
LUKE
O, he hath spoken much. And he hath told
Me of the truth—that thou didst slay him, aye,
And without cause or mercy, murderer
Most vile and wretched!
VADER
—No, I am thy father.
LUKE
Nay, ’tis not true! It is impossible!
VADER
Pray, search thy feelings, Luke. Thou knowest it
Is true.
LUKE
—Nay!
VADER
—Luke, thou mayst the Emperor
Destroy; he hath foreseen what thou wouldst do.
It is thy destiny, come join with me—
Together we shall rule the galaxy
As son and father. Come now, Luke, it is
The only way: the dark side is thy path.
O join with me, and we shall be as one.
[Luke looks down and drops into the cavern.
LUKE
I fall, and yet no death’s upon me yet.
I fall, for ’tis a better path than hate.
VADER
He falls, and welcomes death instead of pow’r.
He falls, but I can sense he liveth still.
LUKE
I have not died—but pass into this shaft.
I have not died—though I may wish it so.
VADER
He hath not died—his heart screams in its fear.
He hath not died—so may he yet be turn’d.
[Luke falls onto a weather vane at the bottom of the shaft.
LUKE
I am held fast by this vane o’er the clouds.
I am held fast by some mirac’lous pow’r.
VADER
He is held fast within the dark side’s grasp.
He is held fast by his own clouded mind.
[Exit Darth Vader.
LUKE
O Ben, I call to thee, but wilt thou hear?
I do remember thou didst say thou couldst
Not interfere in this, but O Ben, hear!
Alas, my mentor’s gone fore’er, and gives
No answer—e’en deserted by the dead.
If he cannot appear and rescue me,
Then I shall try the living: Leia, next
I call to thee. I prithee, Leia, hear!
Enter CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, and LANDO, aside in the Millennium Falcon.
LEIA
[aside:] What is this voice that echoes in mine ears?
’Tis Luke, I know it is. Yet how is it
That I do hear him when he is not nigh?
No matter—more important ’tis that I
Respond unto his call. [To Lando:] We must go back.
LANDO
What didst thou say?
LEIA
—I know where Luke is!
LANDO
—What
About the fighters drawing near?
CHEWBAC.
—Egh, auugh!
LEIA