159474808X (24 page)

OBI-WAN

Sweet Senator, forgive me for my words,

Yet I must be direct and speak the point:

When was the last time you saw Anakin?

PADMÉ

’Twas yesterday, ere he departed hence.

OBI-WAN

Know you where he hath gone?

PADMÉ

—Nay, by my troth.

OBI-WAN

Kind Padmé, ’tis your help alone I need,

For he is in grave danger.

PADMÉ

—From the Sith?

OBI-WAN

Nay, lady, from himself. The man is chang’d:

I tell you, to the dark side he hath turn’d.

PADMÉ

Your errant accusation shocketh me!

How could you say such things of Anakin?

OBI-WAN

Mine eyes have seen the dreadful hologram,

Ta’en by the temple’s sharp security.

O, how I wish I could unsee the sight!

’Twas he, a’killing younglings innocent.

PADMÉ

Not Anakin, nay, ne’er. He could not do’t.

OBI-WAN

He was deceiv’d by vicious, hateful lies—

Forsooth, we all were utterly deceiv’d.

The chancellor hath play’d the puppeteer

And pull’d the strings that set the whole Republic

Aflame with hate, mistrust, and horrid war.

The Sith for whom we search’d—’tis Palpatine!

When old Count Dooku died, then Anakin

Did rise to be apprentice in his place.

PADMÉ

I’ll not believe these words, I never shall.

OBI-WAN

Brave Padmé, I entreat you by whate’er

Hath still some good within our galaxy:

I must discover whither he hath flown.

PADMÉ

Then you shall kill him: speak, is that your aim?

OBI-WAN

He hath become a threat unto us all.

PADMÉ

Nay, I cannot mine Anakin betray.

OBI-WAN

He is the father of the child within—

The one you carry in your womb—’tis true?

[Padmé looks down, ashamed.

Dear lady, pray forgive me for my deeds.

I ask of you: in all your orisons,

Bethink upon mine humble soul contrite.

[Obi-Wan moves as if to exit but hides instead.

PADMÉ

I must away to Mustafar anon

And warn my love, mine Anakin, of this.

Is’t possible that Obi-Wan is right—

Is Anakin turn’d murtherer? Alack!

It cannot be, I’d ne’er believe it so.

Yet with these doubts and whispers doth mine heart

Begin to ache, thus must I find him soon

And learn from his own mouth what hath transpir’d.

O, Captain Typho! Captain Typho, say!

Enter
C
APTAIN
T
YPHO
and
C-3PO.

TYPHO

My lady, what is it? How may I help?

PADMÉ

I must depart at once.

TYPHO

—But where and why?

PADMÉ

The destination must remain unknown.

TYPHO

Sweet lady, prithee, let me come with you.

PADMÉ

There is no danger—this I promise thee.

The war is over; this is personal.

TYPHO

As you desire, yet I must disagree.

PADMÉ

Fear not, kind Captain: soon all shall be well.

This single journey I must make myself.

C-3PO—good droid, I’d have thee come:

Protect me well and ease this captain’s mind.

TYPHO

If he shall go with you, I shall be sway’d.

C-3PO

My heavens! Aye, my lady, I shall go—

The feat of flight I do begin t’embrace.

TYPHO

Then fare you well, until we meet again.

[Exeunt Padmé and C-3PO. Exit Captain Typho severally. Obi-Wan comes forward.

OBI-WAN

To Mustafar! I’ll follow on with haste

And join the two as they do thither fly.

Entirely hidden, though, I must remain,

Until the system Mustafar we reach.

Young Anakin I’ve known since Tatooine:

On Mustafar we play our final scene.

[Exit Obi-Wan.

SCENE 1.

On the planet Coruscant, in the chamber of the Galactic Senate.

Enter
D
ARTH
S
IDIOUS
.
Enter
D
ARTH
V
ADER
in beam
.

VADER

The Sep’ratists have been dispatch’d, my lord.

SIDIOUS

’Tis finish’d, then. Thou hast, in one fell swoop,

Restor’d unto the galaxy the peace

And justice for which it so long hath yearn’d.

Pray, send a message to the far-flung ships

Of the Trade Federation—all the droids,

The armies and the units, ev’ry one,

Must be turn’d silent.

VADER

—Master, it shall be.

[Exit Vader from beam.

Enter
Y
ODA
.

YODA

A new apprentice

Taken you have, Emperor—

Or, Darth Sidious.

SIDIOUS

My little Master Yoda—you surviv’d.

YODA

That tone in your voice:

Is’t the stunn’d note of surprise

That I do perceive?

SIDIOUS

Your pride o’erwhelms your sight, O, foolish one.

Now, know the power of the dark side whole!

[Sidious shoots lightning from his hands, taking Yoda by surprise and knocking him against a wall.

How I have long’d for such a time as this,

O, strange companion, small and weak and green.

’Tis certain that the Jedi are extinct.

[Yoda rises.

YODA

Not if there is aught

About these circumstances

To which my voice speaks.

[Yoda uses the Force to throw Sidious back.

SIDIOUS

O, peril! Mighty power of the Force!

YODA

Upon your harsh rule

The curtain shall quickly fall;

Not short enow ’twas.

[Sidious tries to escape.

If so powerful,

So mighty and wise you are,

Wherefore should you flee?

SIDIOUS

You shall not stand athwart my passage hence.

Darth Vader shall become more powerful

Than either you or I have ever been.

YODA

Hmm. Your profound faith

In your newfound apprentice

Misplacèd may be.

As, most verily,

Is your erroneous faith

In the dark side’s might.