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OBI-WAN

[
aside:
] Upon this platform neither shall prevail—

I shall unto the rocky shore anon

And there possess position tactical.

[Obi-Wan leaps backward onto the rocks.

[
To Vader:
] ’Tis finish’d, Anakin, the triumph’s mine!

Here I do claim the high ground, yea, and all

The keen advantages it offereth.

VADER

You underestimate my power with the Force.

OBI-WAN

Do not attempt the jump, this I warn thee:

Thou shalt not have the legs to make the leap.

[Vader tries to leap over Obi-Wan, who cuts off his legs with his lightsaber. Vader falls to the ground, slipping toward the lava.

VADER

O, bitter agony! O, man most cruel!

OBI-WAN

Thou wert the chosen one, who should destroy

The Sith, not join their frightful company.

Thou shouldst have brought new balance to the Force,

Not leave it underneath a veil of dark.

VADER

[
aside:
] I’d scream to him for help, yet he would smirk.

O, Master, hear your humble friend’s entreaty—

For mercy would I beg, if I did but

Deserve its quality, which is not strain’d

But droppeth as the gentle rain from heav’n.

Instead, with all my bitterness of heart,

I shall respond as doth befit a Sith.

[
To Obi-Wan:
] Hear these, my final words: I hate you, aye!

OBI-WAN

Thou wert to me a brother, Anakin,

An ’twere we two were of one mother born.

I lov’d thee so, shall sadly mourn thy death.

[Vader catches fire. Obi-Wan picksup Vader’s lightsaber and exits, carrying Padmé.

VADER

The taste of hate doth overwhelm my soul,

And all is but betrayal, pain, and death.

Is this my life, the ending of my days?

Shall Anakin Skywalker, son of Shmi,

Born of an unknown father, finish’d be

Upon the burning pyres of Mustafar?

O, wherefore do we humans live and breathe,

Why strive for all our troubl’d length of days,

When all is bitterness and melancholy?

’Tis only now, as I do burn and writhe—

Yea, done to death by mine own Master true—

That I see clearly how my dreadful path

Hath ended here, upon this scorching bank.

I was a boy—a lad on Tatooine—

Was happy, though a servant and not free,

For who hath need of greater happiness

Than that a child doth with his mother find?

But from that home, that mother, was I ta’en,

Untimely ripp’d from her belovèd arms.

By Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan I was

Assur’d a newfound, noble Jedi life.

Then for the Jedi Order did I strive,

My best I gave to them, and wherefore, eh?

For naught but pain and more misfortune and

To be depriv’d of my sweet Padmé’s presence.

This life—this horrid, gods-forsaken life—

Hath been but years of endless misery.

If this is what we humans may expect—

This turmoil that befalls each human life—

’Twere better that we slay each newborn babe

That enters this horrendous galaxy.

For certain, I unto the Jedi younglings

Did grant a sweet and premature release

From all the toil that life could offer them.

O, that someone would do the same for me,

Would come and slay me as I suffer here.

Yet if I live—though even as I say it,

I know that ’tis well nigh impossible—

I ne’er shall trust another soul again,

I ne’er shall search for light, but live in darkness,

I ne’er shall feel remorse when I do kill,

I ne’er shall to these human faults be prey.

Yet all these thoughts of further life are vain,

For even now death’s fingers grasp me tight,

And in its cool embrace my spirit rests.

See Anakin Skywalker: he is dead.

The tragedy of his life is fulfill’d,

Here doth he lie, a corpse deceiv’d and lone.

Enter
D
ARTH
S
IDIOUS
and
CLONE TROOPERS
.

TROOPER 2

Dear Majesty, I bid you come—behold!

SIDIOUS

By heaven, O, ’tis he! Sore blister’d and

Abus’d by those who once did call him friend.

Yet still alive, O, wondrous strength indeed—

Such bravery as none have ever seen,

Which shall resound throughout the galaxy

An ’twere a tale of heroes born of old.

I prithee, bring a capsule medical.

TROOPER 2

Forsooth, I shall command the craft myself.

[Exeunt troopers. Sidious kneels beside Vader, unconscious.

SIDIOUS

O, live to hate the one who made thee thus,

Rise up and be the mighty, killing scourge

That doth pursue the Jedi who remain.

If we can save thy body, thou art mine,

Forever doing what mine hand doth bid,

Forever serving mine own perfect will.

Thou shalt, Lord Vader, be a servant true:

The perfect weapon in mine Empire strong.

All shall be well, my son, rest here, be still.

The Jedi have done thee a grievous ill.

[Exeunt.

Enter
R2-D2, C-3PO,
and
O
BI
-W
AN
K
ENOBI
bearing
P
ADMÉ
above, on balcony.

R2-D2

[
aside:
] Two men did wander off into the night,

Yet only one returns. Belike he is

The victor in this match. [
To Obi-Wan:
] Beep, meep, beep, squeak.

C-3PO

Good Master Obi-Wan. My lady Padmé

We shall secure on board the ship. Make haste—

I’d leave this dreadful planet in a trice.

PADMÉ

[
waking:
] Say Obi-Wan, is’t well with Anakin?

OBI-WAN

Good lady, rest—you shall have answers soon.

R2-D2

[
aside:
] Methinks they shall not be as she doth hope.

[Exeunt R2-D2 and C-3PO, bearing Padmé away. Obi-Wan sings a song of lament.

OBI-WAN

[
sings:
] Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As our ineptitude,

Thy tooth is not so keen

Because thou art not seen,

Although thy breath be rude.

Most friendship is feigning,

Most wisdom is vain,

Heigh-ho! Sing heigh-ho!

My comrade is slain.

Hush, hush, thou Force of might,

Thou art so pure and right,

More than we ever are.

Thy dark side, though, is fierce:

It doth our spirits pierce

And doth our pleasure mar.

Most friendship is feigning,

Most wisdom is vain,

Heigh-ho! Sing heigh-ho!

My comrade is slain.

[
Aside:
] Although it may be said that I have won,

Herein hath died heart of Obi-Wan.

[Exit Obi-Wan.

SCENE 3.

On the planet Polis Massa.

Enter
Y
ODA
and
B
AIL
O
RGANA
,
with a
MEDICAL DROID
.

BAIL

Forgive my swift intrusion, Master Yoda,

But Obi-Wan Kenobi contact makes,

And comes to Polis Massa presently.

Enter
O
BI
-W
AN
K
ENOBI
bearing
P
ADMÉ,
followed by
R2-D2
and
C-3PO.

Good sir, well met. We shall at once bear this

Dear woman to a center medical.

I prithee, follow swiftly where I lead.