William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace (14 page)

I take my leave now, to the temple bound,

Therein my Jedi training to begin.

Methinks I never may see her again,

And did but wish to say a fond farewell.

Thy message shall we soon relay to her,

And hear thou this: by royal wisdom we

Are certain that her heart doth follow thee.

With gratitude I thank Your Majesty.

[Exeunt Anakin and Rabe
.

My hope lies past all expectation now:

Unto the Senate I am bound at last,

To plead my case and ask for mercy there.

Yet 'mongst the politicians shall I find

A kindly voice to answer mine appeal?

The senator—e'en Palpatine—doth thirst

To set things right for us, yet hath consum'd

More than a measure of ambition's drink.

Another friend we've none within the hall

Where the Galactic Senate soon shall meet.

Thus, if the time hath not supplied a friend,

I'll fashion one or two with mine own plea.

Mayhap when they behold the regal tears,

Their hearts shall open, blocking out their greed.

I cannot be a man and threaten them,

So shall I with a woman's cunning win.

Pray, hold me fast, O Fate, let me not slip:

Support me by your ever-weaving hands.

Enter
MEMBERS OF THE
G
ALACTIC
S
ENATE
,
including
S
ENATOR
P
ALPATINE
, C
HANCELLOR
V
ALORUM
, L
OTT
D
OD
of the
Trade Federation, and the
SENATOR OF
M
ALASTARE
.

The high, exalted, and unquestionable

Galactic Senate now is call'd to order—

Let harmony be present as we gather.

The chair doth recognize the senior statesman

Who cometh from Naboo, the sov'reign system.

Wise Chancellor Supreme, and delegates

Of this strong Senate, I must make report:

A tragedy of vast proportions hath

Occurr'd upon our innocent Naboo.

Its genesis was in this chamber here,

Taxation of the trade routes its first cause.

The tragedy engulf'd our planet in

Th'oppression of the Federation cruel.

These accusations are outrageous words!

Unto these statements I object with zeal.

VALORUM The chair hath not yet seen fit to acknowledge

The senator from the Trade Federation.

To speak for our great planet and present

Our allegations solemn and severe,

I introduce the newly minted queen—

She of the late election in Naboo—

Queen Amidala, who shall prick your ears,

And, if they can be movèd, hearts as well.

O, honorable representatives

Of this republic we do call our home:

I speak before you as a broken queen,

Within your presence due to dire events

That have of late befallen on Naboo.

Our system hath been senselessly attack'd

By the droid armies of the Federation.

I heartily object! Where is her proof?

Her words are but an idle tale, spun out

From some outlandish dream or whim. Instead,

We recommend a quick commission, sent

To ascertain the truth about Naboo.

The senator of Malastare concurs

With what the Federation's delegate

Doth in this matter recommend and wish.

A commission must be sent unto Naboo.

VALORUM The point is made. Pray, grant me consultation …

[Chancellor Valorum leans aside to speak with his advisors
.

[
aside:
] The perfect part the chancellor now plays,

That I may write the passage I desire.

[
To Amidala:
] Behold, Your Majesty, the bureaucrats

A group of thespians who craftily

Do rule the scene upon their stage of pow'r.

Their coffers by the Federation fill'd,

They act to bend the chancellor's own thoughts

And sap his strength by softly spoken lines,

Until the curtain falls and they have won.

The Federation's point hath been conceded.

Will you, Your Majesty, defer your motion

That we may soon appoint a keen commission,

Which shall investigate your accusations?

Nay, I shall not defer nor be deterr'd,

Nor shall I grant you any deference.

I come before you here in urgency,

Not that we may be turn'd aside again

But that you may resolve this vile attack

Upon our sovereignty even now—

E'en here, e'en on the very instant. Fie!

No more of this delay shall I endure!

My land did not elect me that I might

Deliver it to suffering and death,

Whilst ye in words both weak and impotent

Discuss the dire invasion in committee!

I tell you truly: if incapable

This body is of acting for the right,

Methinks new leadership is warranted.

[
aside:
] The trap is set, and she hath sprung it quite.

I move a somber vote: no confidence

In Chancellor Valorum's leadership.

[The other senators begin chanting their approval
.

Well done, Your Majesty. They shall elect

Another chancellor—a strong one, sure,

Who shall not let our tragedy endure.

[Exeunt
.

Methinks the boy shall never pass the test

The Jedi Council will before him place.

He is too old, e'en at his tender age.

Nay, Anakin shall be a Jedi yet.

I promise thee, in time it will be so.

Do not defy the council yet again.

If I defy them, marry 'tis but what

The situation calleth for. No more.

The council, Master, is within your reach:

If you but follow'd faithfully the code,

You would be on the council, I suspect.

Aye, in this matter their thoughts are not yours,

And they shall not approve of what you wish.

Thou still hast much to learn, apprentice mine.

[Exeunt
.

Enter, below
, Y
ODA, MACE WINDU, KI-ADI-MUNDI, MEMBERS OF THE JEDI COUNCIL
,
and
A
NAKIN SKYWALKER
.

Anakin, young one,

Let thy mind be free, and sense

What thou dost see not.

I sense a ship … a cup … a ship … a speeder.

[
to Yoda:
] The boy hath spoken right in this big game.

Well 'tis, my young one.

Now, speakest thou verily:

How, pray, dost thou feel?

In troth, I have been cold since Tatooine.

Indeed thou mayest,

For climes as thine much heat give.

Yet afeard art thou?

Nay, sir, I suffer neither fear nor dread.

See through thee we can.

To be brave excellent is;

Forthright is better.

Be mindful of th'emotions of the spirit.

Thy thoughts upon thy mother sadly dwell.

My soul doth hunger for her warm embrace.

Mmm, a dish of which

Thou art scared to lose the taste:

A mother's regard.

Of what import is that unto this test?

Doth sadness o'er my mother mount to aught?

Aye, ev'rything 'tis.

To the dark side of the Force,

Fear's the surest path.

Fear leads to anger,

Onward leads anger to hate,

Hate to suffering.

A bounty of fear

Is present in thy spirit—

Fear beyond measure.

Enter
Q
UI
-G
ON
J
INN
and
O
BI
-W
AN
K
ENOBI
.

Wise masters, we have come to hear your will,

To say what shall become of this brave youth.

The force is strong with him; we all do see't.

He shall be trainèd, then? That is your word?

Nay, though the Force may be unbreakable

Within the boy, he shall not trainèd be.

Yet wherefore is this so? What reason is't?

It is but basic: he hath grown too old.

He is the chosen one. Had ye but one

Eye working 'mongst you all, it would be seen.

Mmm, easy 'tis not,

For cloudy this boy's future

Appeareth in sight.

Then I shall train the lad, if you will not.

As Padawan I claim young Anakin.

The boy hereafter mine apprentice is.

Your apprentice is?

Forgotten have you, e'en now,

You've one already?

'Tis impossible,

Aye 'tis never permitted,

That one doth two train.

Rules of engagement do forbid such plans.

Keen Obi-Wan is utterly prepar'd.

Forsooth, I stand a'ready, trials to face.

Our own counsel shall

We heed on who is ready.

Presume not to tell.

The man is obstinate and still hath much

To learn about the Force that liveth, yet

More capable in skill and strength there's none.

Like mother bird who sees her fledgling fly,

There's little more I can teach Obi-Wan.

I prithee, let him take to wing and soar;

Allow room for a new egg in the nest.

Young Skywalker's fate

Shall not yet be unravel'd:

'Tis work for later.

The present is no time for chirping talk:

The Senate shall soon in their chamber vote

For their new Chancellor Supreme. This may

Cause some unrest within Republic ranks,

Put pressure new upon the Federation,

Thus meeting evil with a broader threat.

The queen's attacker you encounter'd there

On Tatooine may be drawn out by this.

It is for you to safeguard this good queen

And find out the identity of this

Dark foe beyond a reasonable doubt.

We think this shall be circumstance enough

To bring to light this myst'ry of the Sith.

O, hesitate not!

Success we wish you—adieu,

The Force be with you.

[Exeunt
.

The course of justice never did run smooth.

Those who are weak by laws are weaker made,

Those who have pow'r by laws are given more.

'Tis near impossible to e'er persuade

The ones with power to surrender it.

Indeed, they often claim they've power none,

And cannot see their unjust privilege.

When some gross fault of theirs is then expos'd,

They throw their hands unto the sky and cry,

“O, now 'tis us who sorely are oppress'd!”

Thus do the dominating twist the tale

And make themselves the subject of their pity,

Whilst turning blind eye to those truly plagued

By burthens those in pow'r can never know.

'Tis certain that the Senate's powerless

And we no justice in its court shall find.

The queen by fear and worry is beset

And cannot make inform'd decisions thus.

We must away, returning to Naboo.

Our hope lies not within the Senate's care,

For only double crossing there we'll find.

Our only hope doth lie in joining strengths:

The Naboo and the Gungans fix'd as one,

Leave Coruscant and take the battle home.

The queen shall never listen to a fool,

Yet she may be convinc'd by foolish words

If they are spoken by coincidence.

Then shall the notion flourish in her mind

As though it were her own. But soft, she comes!

Enter
Q
UEEN
A
MIDALA
.

Are yousa thinkin' people gon' die?