William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace (19 page)

You fool, e'en now your ending draweth nigh.

[The beams disappear. Qui-Gon and Darth Maul begin to duel
.

My master fights with purpose full renew'd!

How quickly he doth press toward the beast.

The beams have gone—be jubilant, my feet!

Make haste to run, aid Qui-Gon in the fight.

[The beam appears again, separating Obi-Wan from Qui-Gon and Darth Maul
.

So near I was, yet not quite near enough.

I train mine eyes and hope upon the two:

With both I seek the outcome I desire.

He had th'advantage, but the tide has turn'd.

His weakness do I sense as he doth tire.

I push him, stun him, strike the blow forsooth!

[Darth Maul runs Qui-Gon through with his lightsaber
.

Et tu, Sith? Then fall, Qui-Gon Jinn!

—Nay, nay!

You beastly villain, feel my anger's wrath!

[The beams disappear. Obi-Wan and Darth Maul begin to duel
.

I strike, and cold revenge doth warm my soul,

So like a flash of lightning I attack.

With strength renew'd he fighteth for his friend,

Avenging this old man with sharpest strikes.

He hopes to claim the life that I have ta'en,

But little doth he know I shall take two.

Vile foe—I swipe, and this is the result:

Your double lightsaber is singl'd out.

'Tis now a fight more even, and shall be

E'en fairer when I take the life you owe,

The one that you from Master Qui-Gon stole.

Not so, foul boy. You have the upper hand,

But yet have turn'd your back upon the chasm.

And now, whilst o'er my lightsaber you fret

I strike with th'Force and send you falling down.

[Darth Maul uses the Force to strike Obi-Wan and knock him into a chasm, where Obi-Wan grasps a nozzle
.

Alas, I fall! My lightsaber is gone,

Yet still I cling and am not finish'd yet.

E'en as I hang here, grasping for my life,

I know how much doth hang upon this duel.

Be patient, Obi-Wan, be calm in mind.

Think carefully about thy movement next,

Lest it shall be the final one thou mak'st.

He hangeth there, but just prolongs his death.

'Tis either down into the endless pit

Or up above, where, with no lightsaber

His death shall be as swift as I allow—

Or slow, perhaps, so he shall beg for it.

'Tis certain I cannot go down from here,

So must ascend with mighty upward leap.

This much he shall expect, yet shall he think

I am unarm'd—which, in the main, is true.

However, in my mind's eye I behold

Another weapon I may master yet.

Now to it, Obi-Wan: earn thy revenge!

[Obi-Wan flips upward, using the Force to pull Qui-Gon's lightsaber into his hands
.

As he lands, he then cuts Darth Maul in two using the lightsaber
.

Let vengeance howl! The Jedi so decides.

[Darth Maul falls into the pit
.

Good Obi-Wan?

—what ho! He liveth still.

It is too late for me, dear Obi-Wan.

Yet one thing doth remain: I pray, attend:

But promise me thou shalt train Anakin.

Yea, Master, yea.

—He is the chosen one.

Forsooth, he shall bring balance to the Force.

Train him! My spirit goes; I can no more.

[Qui-Gon Jinn dies
.

O noble man, by treachery o'erthrown!

A mightier and better Jedi ne'er

Did roam the corners of our galaxy.

The light that hath so shone within my days

Hath here been snuff'd most rancorously out.

Yet let it not be said his death's for naught,

Nor that he fac'd his end with anything

That's less than perfect valor, bravery

Beyond the pale of what a man should show.

He went unto his death as unto life:

With energy, with passion, and with strength.

How fortunate I am to be his last

Apprentice, aye, to learn so much from such

A brilliant star as he put in the sky.

We did but pale when he shin'd forth—nay, not

When he did shine, but as he still doth shine,

And ever shall, until the universe

Itself is dark and all's but memory.

Farewell, my valiant master Qui-Gon Jinn,

Deep peace be yours until we meet again.

[Exit
.

O, Viceroy, get you gone and ne'er return.

You must unto the Senate go and tell

How your abuse of power did occur,

How you attack'd a people innocent,

How you conspir'd with men of evil deeds,

How you did seek to conquer brave Naboo.

It seems your dream of harsh, unending pow'r

Hath interrupted been and shall ne'er be.

[Exeunt Nute Gunray and Rune Haako escorted by Captain Panaka and guards
.

Enter
Y
ODA
, M
ACE
W
INDU
, K
I
-A
DI
-M
UNDI
,
members of the Jedi Council
,
and
C
HANCELLOR
P
ALPATINE
.

We are indebted to you heartily,

Courageous Obi-Wan Kenobi. Aye,

And thou, young Skywalker, with interest

We shall watch o'er the progress of thy days.

Congratulations on your grand election,

Good Palpatine, now Chancellor Supreme.

Your spirit bold hath sav'd our sweet Naboo,

'Tis you to whom congratulation's due.

As one, we two together shall bring peace,

Prosperity and joy to the Republic.

[Exeunt all but Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who kneels
.

Confer on thee, now,

The level of Jedi Knight

The Council doth. Rise!

 

Yet agree with this—

Taking as Padawan th'boy—

I do not, indeed.

Yet Qui-Gon had a strong belief in him.

Mayhap 'tis correct

That the boy's the chosen one.

Belike it is true.

Nevertheless, O!

A danger grave foresee I

In his being train'd.

Wise Master Yoda, I did give my word

To Qui-Gon as he knock'd upon death's door.

I will train Anakin, and can, and shall—

Without approval of the council, if

Indeed it doth come to that point and time.

Qui-Gon's defiance

Is greatly renew'd in thee.

Need that thou dost not.

Agree with thy wish

The council doth, despite me.

The boy shall be train'd.

Thy new apprentice

Anakin Skywalker is.

The Force be with thee.

[Exit Yoda
.

Enter
Q
UEEN
A
MIDALA
, A
NAKIN
S
KYWALKER
, J
AR
J
AR
B
INKS
, C
HANCELLOR
P
ALPATINE
, R2-D2, B
OSS
N
ASS
, N
ABOO CITIZENS
,
and
G
UNGANS
in celebration
.

What is the path that I shall follow next?

The council hath permission granted that

I may take you as my new Padawan.

Thou wilt be train'd by me, if it shall suit.

Thou shalt a Jedi be, I promise thee.

I stand prepar'd to follow and obey.

Enter
Y
ODA
and
M
ACE
W
INDU
,
above on balcony
.

There is no doubt: the man mysterious,

The one who slew Qui-Gon, he was a Sith.

Always two there are.

'Tis no more and no fewer:

Master, apprentice.

Yet who was he destroyèd in the shaft?

The master or apprentice? None can say.

O, strike up, pipers! Sing us merry songs!

[The people of Naboo and the Gungans join together in song
.

[
sing:
] Fly happily upon your feet,

Sing ho and be ye merry!

The wretched foe hath seen defeat,

O, be ye merry! Very!

Our frightful battle all is done,

Sing ho and be ye merry!

Naboo and Gungans now are one,

O, be ye merry! Very!

The strife is o'er, the woe is pass'd,

Sing ho and be ye merry!

And now sweet peace hath come at last,

O, be ye merry! Very!

[Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, and Anakin Skywalker come forward as all freeze
.

The first adventure hath both come and gone,

And in its tranquil outcome we find rest.

Toward the future we now look with hope,

And seek to enter it with spirits brave.

A boy took his first step on th'Jedi path,

A Jedi from a killer sav'd a queen,

A queen releas'd her people from a threat,

A people made sweet peace with neighbors kind.

New friends were made, another dear friend lost,

And all hath grown by this experience.

These star wars end in celebration here,

Despite the pain, betrayal, hurt, and fear.

Enter
CHORUS
as epilogue
.

With beating drums a'pounding in the air

And standards wav'd in flight above each head,

With decorations streaming o'er the square

And marching Gungans, joy is here widespread.

Young Anakin, now dress'd as Padawan,

Doth give a knowing nod unto the queen.

His master Jedi Knight, e'en Obi-Wan,

Looks on as Jar Jar rides his kaadu keen.

The Jedi Council watches the parade,

And Palpatine's odd visage none can probe.

Boss Nass walks forth in pomp, his help repaid

As Padmé offers him a glist'ning globe.

This globe of peace o'er all Naboo holds sway,

Whilst falls the curtain on our merry play.

[Exeunt omnes
.