159474808X (13 page)

ANAKIN

[
aside:
] Alas, how can he know?—yet plainly doth.

[
To Palpatine:
] I know not what I should say in reply.

PALPATINE

Remember, long ago, the teachings prime:

Those who gain pow’r are most afeard to lose.

’Tis true, I fear, e’en of our Jedi friends.

ANAKIN

The Jedi use their power but for good.

PALPATINE

Yet what is good? A certain point of view.

’Tis what good is, my lad, and nothing more.

The Sith and Jedi both are similar

In every respect, which doth include

A hearty taste for power’s dividends.

ANAKIN

I have been taught the Sith rely upon

Mere passion to obtain what strength they have.

They think but inwardly, about themselves:

There’s naught can touch the cold heart of a Sith.

PALPATINE

Yet do the Jedi not seek their own int’rests?

ANAKIN

Nay, Jedi care for others, and are selfless.

PALPATINE

Attend, my boy, the players come anon.

Enter
PLAYER
1
dressed as Darth Plagueis and
PLAYER
2
dressed as Darth Plagueis’s wife. Enter
PLAYER
3,
standing aside as narrator.

PLAYER 3

The most lamentable and tragic tale

Of one Darth Plagueis, he the Sith of old.

A story of ambition that did fail,

Of death that conquer’d over life: behold!

PLAYER 1

Darth Plagueis I am call’d, and higher rise

Than any Sith throughout the galaxy.

PLAYER 2

Indeed, my love, most mighty and most wise:

So may you e’er remain and always be.

Yet what shall come of me if thee I lose?

I tremble at the thought of your demise.

Or what if Fate did come, and me did choose,

How shall one live when that the other dies?

PLAYER 1

It shall not be, I’ll pick the lock of death.

By Force th’midi-chlorians I control,

And have obtain’d the pow’r to grant a breath.

In short: I can create life, by my soul.

PLAYER 2

My love, thy knowledge of the dark side frights:

Should any human have such learning, dear?

PLAYER 1

Methinks thou shalt not fear my dazzling heights

When I do rescue thee from death severe.

ANAKIN

Pish! Pray, what is this tale of wonder, sir?

PALPATINE

A story, lad, yet not as thou wouldst hear

From Jedi mouths, for they would keep it hid.

’Tis but an ancient legend of the Sith.

ANAKIN

But could this man indeed his helpmate save?

PALPATINE

Be patient, lad, for they shall come to it.

PLAYER 1

The dark side of the Force is passing strong,

A path to varied possibilities,

E’en if, by some, they are consider’d wrong.

With all my might, these powers shall I seize.

[A dumb show begins. Player 2 falls suddenly, as though dead. Player 1 rushes to Player 2’s side, throwing his hands in the air in sorrow. Then Player 1 mimes using the Force through hand motions and incantations. Player 2 rises, as if from sleep.

PLAYER 1

There never was a Sith like unto me;

The power over life and death is mine!

Now come, my love, away, and let us flee—

Forever thou art mine and I am thine!

[Exeunt Player 1 and Player 2.

PLAYER 3

Alas, the might of Plagueis would not hold.

Although with power he was plenty full,

The thought of losing it did turn him cold;

Though death he trump’d, his fear he’d not control.

Enter
PLAYER
1
dressed as Darth Plagueis and
PLAYER
2
dressed as Darth Plagueis’s apprentice.

PLAYER 1

My young apprentice, I did teach thee all:

Thy mind doth hold the wisdom that I know.

PLAYER 2

Your wisdom’s light doth hold me in its thrall—

My recompense shall bear an equal glow.

[Player 2 brandishes a prop lightsaber and mimes killing Player 1.

PLAYER 3

The tragic tale of this Darth Plagueis ends

Upon a hopeful moral all should heed:

To save your family, to save your friends:

’Tis possible if you with care proceed.

[Player 1, Player 2, and Player 3 bow, then exeunt.

ANAKIN

[
aside:
] Herein doth lie a moral I should learn—

This tale a morass of keen intrigue op’d;

’Twas ’gainst all mores, yet my soul more would hear.

PALPATINE

Ironic, is it not? The man could save

His lov’d ones, but he could not save himself.

ANAKIN

Is’t possible to learn his pow’r o’er death?

PALPATINE

Not from a Jedi, nay. They fear the tale.

ANAKIN

I would hear more of this when time allows:

Mine utmost interest it doth inspire.

PALPATINE

[
aside:
] O, wondrous work of art that moves him so—

The play hath caught him, shall not let him go.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 5.

On the planet Kashyyyk.

Enter
Y
ODA
.
Enter
T
ARFFUL
and
C
HEWBACCA
aside, with
C
LONE
T
ROOPERS
.

YODA

[
aside:
] Now upon Kashyyyk

I am, the Wookiees withal.

Safe, in the present.

The brave clone troopers

Here by my transport have come:

They protect us all.

Yet some misgiving

In mine old green gorge doth rise—

Fear most unresolv’d.

So quickly we come

On these troopers to depend.

What if they were turn’d?

What if over them

Our control most tenuous

We lost? ’Twould be death.

Away with these thoughts.

The Jedi Council doth meet;

Connect now I must.

Enter
M
ACE
W
INDU
, K
I
-A
DI
-M
UNDI
, O
BI
-W
AN
K
ENOBI
, A
NAKIN
S
KYWALKER
,
and other
MEMBERS OF THE
J
EDI
C
OUNCIL
in beam above, on balcony.

KI-ADI

Is’t true, young Anakin, that Palpatine

Thinks Gen’ral Grievous hides on Utapau?

ANAKIN

A message partial apprehended was,

In diplomatic packet, which did bear

The name of Utapau’s own ruler, sir.

YODA

Act on this we must.

If General Grievous we

Capture, th’war shall end.

With bold decision

And swiftly as nexu’s stride

Must we forward move.

ANAKIN

The chancellor hath made request of me

That I should lead ’gainst Grievous this campaign.

MACE

Though he’d advance thy cause at turbo speed,

The Jedi Council our own counsel keep

O’er who shall go and who shall here remain.

The chancellor hath no voice in our midst.

YODA

A Master ’twill be,

With experience greater

Than young Anakin.

KI-ADI

Indeed. Methinks ’tis Master Obi-Wan

Who is most fit for this employment grave.

MACE

Then ’tis decided. Obi-Wan shall go