Authors: Ian Doescher
C-3PO
The office of the chancellor reports
That Master Anakin hath made return
Unto the Jedi temple. Fear you not,
For certain he is well. Yea, by my troth.
[Exit C-3PO.
PADMÉ
My tears an ocean could themselves create,
Which would wash o’er whomever it did meet
And drown them in my sorrow, deep and wide.
The only fire with pow’r enow to quench
The rising tide of mine own agony
Doth burn within the passion of my love.
That flame, I fear, hath been put out—alack!
Mine Anakin, where are thine embers now?
These fires, which by my window I observe
A’burning on the spires of Coruscant,
Have kindled newfound terror in my mind.
There is some evil in the air tonight:
It toucheth me, it toucheth Anakin.
O, Fate, the weaver of our mortal days,
Let all these tears be sacrifice enow
To knit a better future—this I beg.
[Exit Padmé.
Enter
B
AIL
O
RGANA
aside, with
CLONE TROOPERS
.
BAIL
What is the matter? Tell me, what transpires?
TROOPER 1
Rank, dangerous rebellion breaks forth, sir.
Lo, fear you not, ’tis under our control.
The time hath come, good Senator, for you
To make departure hence from Coruscant.
[The troopers point their blasters at Bail.
BAIL
Thy words are noisome to my startled ears.
Thine actions, though, speak louder than thy words.
Thus I depart, until a brighter time.
Enter a
J
EDI
Y
OUNGLING
,
pursued by more
CLONE TROOPERS
.
TROOPER 2
Engage him, kill him ere he can escape!
[Clones kill the youngling.
BAIL
Nay, nay! O, hath it come to this? Thus I
Must flee and warn the Jedi Knights. Away!
Now homeward: mayhap some few Jedi we
May rescue ere they to this slaughter come,
Like hapless womp rats to a dragon’s den.
[Exit Bail.
TROOPER 2
Ye clone troops all, fear not, but let him fly.
The senator our order toucheth not,
Else in our nets already he’d be caught.
[Exeunt clone troopers.
SCENE 4.
On the planet Utapau.
Enter
O
BI
-W
AN
K
ENOBI
,
emerging from the water.
OBI-WAN
I know not what hath happen’d—was I shot?
By whose hand hath the harsh blast been releas’d?
Methinks could not have been mine own clone troops,
Who have so bravely serv’d me in these wars.
I’d not have thought—when to Kamino first
I ventur’d—I would be an advocate
For this clone army, nay. Yet they have prov’d
Most admirable in their valor, might,
And strength: an asset proud unto th’Republic.
Still, cautious I must be: these clones think not
By their own will, but programm’d they have been
To act on any order they receive.
It may be that the clones have alter’d been,
And made to turn against their former friends.
I, therefore, shall trust no one—if, perchance,
The clones have turn’d, the times are dangerous.
But, wait, what voices make approach? I must
Conceal myself until I know their minds.
Enter
C
OMMANDER
C
ODY
and other
CLONE TROOPERS
.
CODY
Didst thou Kenobi find?
TROOPER
—Lo, sir, sans doubt
It is that no one could survive that fall.
Ne’er trouble your good self o’er his demise—
Let us assume it all hath gone to plan.
CODY
Pray, do begin the loading of the ship.
Then we shall leave anon, to Coruscant.
[Exeunt Cody and clone troopers.
OBI-WAN
O, misery! Yet this can be no trick:
The conference was sadly borne; I have
The truth of this from the commander’s lips.
I must away unto the Council and
Discover what disaster doth unfold.
My fleet starfighter shall speed me away.
[Obi-Wan enters his ship and begins flying away.
[
Into comlink:
] Holla, emergency code nine-thirteen!
I’ve no contact on any frequency.
Enter
B
AIL
O
RGANA
,
in beam.
BAIL
O, Master Obi-Wan?
OBI-WAN
—Good Senator
Organa, is it you? My clone troops turn’d
On me, and I require assistance here.
BAIL
We have recover’d Master Yoda just,
Yet, Obi-Wan, I fear the news is grim:
It seemeth this disaster hath o’erta’en
The galaxy entire, and Jedi Knights
Throughout the galaxy have murther’d been.
The clones have turn’d, yet wherefore we know not.
E’en now we’ll send you our coordinates
That with us you may find some sanctuary.
OBI-WAN
Kind Senator, you have my gratitude.
I’ll fly to you anon, with aim renew’d.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 5.
On the planet Coruscant.
Enter
D
ARTH
V
ADER
.
VADER
What I have done for him, I did for her:
Darth Sidious’ command hath been fulfill’d,
And all the younglings unto death are giv’n.
This have I done that Padmé I might save.
The pow’r of love’s a passing curious thing,
It maketh one man weep, another sing.
I cannot say how much I love my love:
There’s beggary in th’love that can be reckon’d.
To set a measure how far love doth reach,
Then must thou needs find out new galaxies.
I have had exploits in the name of love
That I did ne’er imagine possible
Within the bounds of mine own conscience. Fie!
A slave to love, who, by the pangs of love,
Hath cross’d the borders of morality.
O, love, shalt thou forgive me for my wrongs,
Forgive me for mine oath to Sidious?
Yet what I did for him, I did for thee.
But soft, my Padmé comes, the droids withal.
Enter
P
ADMÉ
, C-3PO,
and
R2-D2.
R2-D2
Beep, meep, beep, squeak!
C-3PO
—Tut, tut, droid—hush thy beeps.
[Padmé and Vader embrace.
PADMÉ
Mine Anakin, O, tell me: art thou well?
Is’t true the Jedi temple’s been attack’d?
From here I saw the smoke as it did swell.
VADER
Sweet Padmé, fear thou not: I am intact.
I came to see if thou and our sweet child
Are well.
PADMÉ
—Yet what, I prithee, hath occurr’d?
VADER
I fear the Jedi Order hath gone wild,
Would have Republic’s pow’r on them conferr’d.
PADMÉ
These tidings ring not true unto mine ears.
VADER
These two eyes did bear witness to the deed:
Bold Master Windu came, with threats and jeers,
And tried to kill the chancellor, indeed.
PADMÉ
Mine Anakin, say what shalt thou do next?
VADER
I’d not betray th’Republic as they did.
Although my mind and soul are sorely vex’d,
My loyalties the chancellor may bid,