William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace

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William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace Page 9

by Ian Doescher


  Young Anakin by guilt is overrun,

  Thinks he of her he left with sad regret.

  Old Qui-Gon and the younger Obi-Wan

  Consider this portentous recent threat.

  O, how fleet Rumor does her labor—see?—

  Runs to and fro to make them sick with fear.

  Unsung is my impact on history,

  Such times as these are wherefore I am here.

  Catch all, I shall, within the net I threw

  And witness each sharp pain they undergo.

  Now, watch as one more cometh into view:

  The maiden Padmé, full of care and woe.

  [Exit Rumor.

  Enter PADMÉ.

  PADMÉ

  By dark of night I come to hear what news

  I can of my defenseless countrymen.

  Would that I could be present with them there

  To share in their torment and suffering

  And be handmaiden to their ev’ry hope.

  Yet since, for now, I am a traveler

  And spinning through the echelons of space,

  My path lies not with that of my dear ones.

  Thus must I steal a hidden glimpse of them.

  PADMÉ turns on the computer.

  Enter SIO BIBBLE in beam.

  SIO

  The death toll hath been catastrophic here.

  Conform unto their wishes, Highness, please,

  And contact me anon, ere more are dead.

  [Exit Sio Bibble from beam.

  Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

  PADMÉ

  Sweet boy, how dost thou fare?

  ANAKIN

  —I’m very ill.

  And how do you?

  PADMÉ

  —Ahh, very ill, too, lad.

  ANAKIN

  I find the depths of space turn my blood cold,

  The blood that knows the heat of Tatooine.

  [Padmé wraps a blanket around Anakin.

  PADMÉ

  Forsooth, thou comest from a planet warm,

  Belike too warm for mine own temp’rate taste.

  In truth, space is a cold and empty place.

  ANAKIN

  And you: why doth my lady say she’s ill?

  Your visage could recite a thousand woes.

  PADMÉ

  The queen is worried; her concern is mine.

  The people of Naboo face pain and death.

  The queen must make the Senate understand

  That they must rise anon and intervene

  To stop the cruel invasion, else all’s lost.

  The outcome is beyond what I can see.

  [Anakin removes a pendant from his pouch.

  ANAKIN

  I fashion’d this small trinket for you, miss,

  That you might oft remember Anakin.

  ’Tis carvèd from a snippet of japor—

  Perchance it shall bring fortune to your path.

  PADMÉ

  ’Tis passing beautiful, kind Anakin.

  Yet need I not a trinket to recall

  The brave and solemn boy before me here.

  Ne’er shall your memory be far from me,

  Whether I am adorn’d with this or no.

  Pray understand that many things must change

  When safely we arrive at Coruscant;

  What shall not change is how I care for thee.

  ANAKIN

  My heart doth hold you in its care as well,

  Though even this reeks of duplicity,

  For how can one heart hold the care for two?

  PADMÉ

  Thou dost yearn for thy mother kind, I know.

  ’Tis meet and right to do so, Anakin.

  [Exit Padmé.

  ANAKIN

  Then wherefore doth it make my spirit burn?

  Enter RIC OLIÉ.

  RIC

  Attend, lad, we soon land on Coruscant!

  Behold its lights and iridescent glow—

  The planet whole is but one city vast,

  Which giveth light at all times, day or night.

  Below, ’tis Chancellor Valorum’s craft,

  And there, upon the landing dock, doth wait

  Sir Palpatine, an honorable man.

  Enter QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, SABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala, PADMÉ, JAR JAR BINKS, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and, separately, CHANCELLOR VALORUM and SENATOR PALPATINE.

  QUI-GON

  With humble mien, we greet ye heartily.

  [Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi bow to Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine.

  PALPATINE

  And you as well, ye noble Jedi Knights.

  [To Sabé:] Your Majesty, ’tis gift to see you well.

  I fear’d the worst, but you are here: alive.

  The dire communications breakdown did

  Upset us quite, and have us all concern’d.

  I shall with eagerness hear your report

  Of all that hath befallen since Naboo.

  Straight may I introduce unto your grace

  The Chancellor Supreme, Valorum, he.

  VALORUM Your Highness, I do bid you hearty welcome:

  It is a privilege to meet your person.

  SABÉ

  All thanks, respected Chancellor Supreme.

  VALORUM

  Your situation is full well distressing,

  The Senate is most strain’d by all the rumors.

  I’ve call’d a special meeting of the Senate,

  Wherein we may your circumstance consider.

  SABÉ

  Most grateful am I for thy deep concern.

  PALPATINE

  A question of procedure did arise,

  Yet I am confident we’ll overcome.

  QUI-GON

  [aside, to Valorum:] Good Chancellor, I must anon address

  The Jedi Council. All is not as ’twas,

  The situation hath new obstacles.

  [Exeunt Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Chancellor Valorum as the others move to Senator Palpatine’s quarters.

  PALPATINE

  My queen, here is there no civility.

  Aye, no civility: mere politics.

  What once the strong Republic was it is

  No longer: weak and feeble ’tis become.

  The Senate’s rife with babbling delegates,

  E’er greedy for their taste of power’s meat.

  The common good’s become a most rare dish,

  Unsav’ry to their growing appetites.

  I would not lie to you, Your Majesty,

  There is but little chance the Senate shall

  Move to suppress or censor this attack.

  SABÉ

  The chancellor, it seems, would disagree.

  He spoke of hope it may yet be put right.

  PALPATINE

  And yet, the chancellor hath little pow’r.

  He e’er by accusations is beset,

  All whispering corruption’s damning name.

  Full baseless, yea, but still he lacketh might—

  ’Tis bureaucrats who rule the Senate now.

  SABÉ

  I prithee, say: what options have we, then?

  PALPATINE

  ’Twould grant us greatest chance of Fate’s esteem

  If we could push t’elect a chancellor

  Who could be stronger, verily supreme.

  Belike a one as this could then control

  The bureaucrats and rule for justice’s sake.

  If you put forth a vote: no confidence

  In Chancellor Valorum, ’twould suffice.

  SABÉ

  Are you beyond all reason? He hath been

  An ardent friend and patron of Naboo.

  PALPATINE

  ’Tis not the only course: we could, as well,

  Submit a plea unto the courts of law.

  SABÉ

  Which would but take far longer even than

  The Senate in its plodding, snail-like pace.

  Our people groan and die
, O, Senator:

  The Federation must be quickly stopp’d.

  PALPATINE

  If we bethink but realistically,

  Your Majesty, it well may be our lot

  To bear the Federation’s cruel control—

  Not for eternity, but for a time.

  SABÉ

  Not even for a second, Senator.

  I never shall accept their unjust rule.

  Were we to let it be, e’en for a trice,

  Their vicious claws would sink far deeper in,

  And ev’ry day that pass’d would render their

  Control o’er our most happy, peaceful globe

  More palatable for th’Republic to

  Take in: a moment would become a time,

  A time would quickly turn into an age,

  And all would soon forget that e’er Naboo

  Had once been rul’d by its own government.

  Seek not to make me hide their vice from view,

  For this is something that I cannot do.

  [Exeunt.

  SCENE 1.

  On the planet Coruscant.

  Enter YODA, MACE WINDU, QUI-GON JINN, OBI-WAN KENOBI, KI-ADI-MUNDI, and other members of the JEDI COUNCIL.

  QUI-GON

  Whate’er it was that fought with me that day,

  ’Twas trainèd well in all the Jedi arts.

  ’Tis my conclusion, painful though it be,

  That I did face a Sith on Tatooine.

  KI-ADI

  Impossible. The evil Sith have been

  Extinct well nigh a thousand years. ’Tis true?

  MACE

  It seemeth quite unlikely they could rise

  Again, without the Jedi Council’s knowledge.

  Indeed, it is unthinkable to me.

  YODA

  Yet be we mindful

  ’Tis hard to see, the dark side,

  Hard enough, forsooth.

  MACE

  Our ev’ry resource we’ll to this employ,

  So this dark menace to society

  May swiftly be discover’d. By my troth,

  I’ll warrant we shall find th’assailant soon.

  The Force be ever with thee, Qui-Gon Jinn.

  [Obi-Wan turns to leave, but Qui-Gon hesitates.

  YODA

  Good Master Qui-Gon,

  More to say have you to us?

  I bid you, speak it.

  QUI-GON

  With your permission, Master, I report:

  A vergence I’ve encounter’d in the Force.

  YODA

  A vergence, say you?

  Divergent is your news, which

  Converges on us.

  MACE

  Located ’round a person? ’Tis a fluke.

  QUI-GON

  Nay, ’tis a boy: a boy whose cells have stores

  Of midi-chlorians that do surpass

  The number found in any life-form I

  Did e’er encounter, or think possible.

  Yea, ’tis a number higher than I did

  Imagine could be found in anyone.

  Perchance the boy was actu’lly conceiv’d

  By midi-chlorians, strange though it seems.

  MACE

  You reference the prophecy that speaks

  Of one who shall bring balance to the Force.

  And you believe it is this fresh young boy?

  QUI-GON

  ’Tis not my will nor place to here presume—

  YODA

  But presume you do.

  Reveal’d your opinion is.

  ’Tis plain enough, hmm?

  QUI-GON

  I do but wish the boy to tested be.

  YODA

  Ahh, train’d as Jedi?

  For him this is your request?

  So certain are you?

  QUI-GON

  It was the Force’s will that we would meet.

  ’Twas not by chance we came unto his shop,

  But we were thither brought to set him free,

  That he, in turn, would bravely rescue us,

  And we together should make journey here.

  MACE

  Bring him before us then, unto our sphere,

  And we shall test him in the Council here.

  [Qui-Gon bows as all exeunt.

  SCENE 2.

  On the planet Coruscant.

  Enter ANAKIN SKYWALKER, a GUARD, and RABE, a handmaiden to the queen.

  GUARD

  The boy doth seek to visit Padmé here.

  ANAKIN

  Indeed, if ’tis permissible to do.

  [Exit guard.

  RABE

  Apologies, but Padmé is not here.

  Enter QUEEN AMIDALA.

  AMIDALA

  Who is’t who comes?

  RABE

  —’Tis Anakin, who would

  Hold one or two brief words with Padmé, Highness.

  AMIDALA

  Upon an errand Padmé hath been sent.

  ANAKIN

  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.

  AMIDALA

  Thy message shall we soon relay to her,

  And hear thou this: by royal wisdom we

  Are certain that her heart doth follow thee.

  ANAKIN

  With gratitude I thank Your Majesty.

  [Exeunt Anakin and Rabe.

  AMIDALA

  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 GALACTIC SENATE, including SENATOR PALPATINE, CHANCELLOR VALORUM, LOTT DOD of the Trade Federation, and the SENATOR OF MALASTARE.

  VALORUM

  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.

  PALPATINE

  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.

  LOTT

  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.

  PALPATINE

  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.

  AMID
ALA

  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.

  LOTT

  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.

  SENATOR

  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.

  PALPATINE

  [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.

  VALORUM

  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?

  AMIDALA

  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

 

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