William Shakespeare's The Merry Rise of Skywalker: Star Wars Part the Ninth
Author: Ian Doescher
Date: 2020-07-28 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Star Wars; Science Fiction; Humor; Fantasy; Plays; Poetry; Theatre; Drama; Young Adult; retellings
Description: As our story opens, a sea of troubles threatens the valiant Resistance, who are pursued by the sound and fury of the vile First Order. Can Rey, Poe, Finn, Rose, BB-8, Chewbacca, and their allies overcome such toil and trouble? Shall Kylo Ren be proven fortune’s fool or master of his fate? What will become of the House of Skywalker? And is all well that ends well? Authentic meter, stage directions, reimagined movie scenes and dialogue, and hidden Easter eggs will entertain and impress fans of Star Wars® and Shakespeare alike. Every scene and character from the film appears in the book, along wi

Copyright © 2020 by Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. Except as authorized under U.S. copyright law, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Number: 2020905204

ISBN 9781683691891

Ebook ISBN 9781683691907

Text by Ian Doescher

Cover design by Ryan Hayes

Illustrations by Nicolas Delort

Production management by John J. McGurk

Quirk Books

215 Church Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106
quirkbooks.com
a_prh_5.5.0_c0_r1

TO JEFF AND CARYL CRESWELL,

SECOND PARENTS—

THE ANAKIN AND PADMÉ

TO MY HAN—

YET FAR MORE PRESENT,

LOVING, AND ALIVE

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

Act I

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Act II

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Act III

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Act IV

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Act V

Scene 1

Scene 2

Afterword

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

CHORUS

GENERAL LEIA ORGANA, of the Resistance

REY, a Jedi of the Resistance

POE DAMERON, a General of the Resistance

FINN, a General of the Resistance

CHEWBACCA, a Wookiee of the Resistance

BB-8, Poe’s droid

C-3PO, a protocol droid

R2-D2, his companion

D-O, an anxious droid

MAZ KANATA, of Takodana

LANDO OF CALRISSIAN, former General of the Rebellion

GHOST OF LUKE SKYWALKER, a Jedi Master

GHOST OF HAN SOLO, a scoundrel

VOICES OF YODA, OBI-WAN KENOBI, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, MACE WINDU, QUI-GON JINN, AAYLA SECURA, AHSOKA TANO, KANAN JARRUS, LUMINARA UNDULI, and ADI GALLIA, Jedi

ROSE TICO, an engineer of the Resistance

COMMANDER D’ACY, LIEUTENANT CONNIX, KLAUD, SNAP WEXLEY, BEAUMONT KIN, AFTAB ACKBAR, NIEN NUNB, NIMI, and WEDGE ANTILLES, others of the Resistance

BOOLIO, an Ovissian ally of the Resistance

KALO’NE, Lando’s friend

ZORII BLISS and BABU FRICK, of the Kijimi Spice Runners

WICKET and POMMET, Ewoks

KYLO REN, Supreme Leader of the First Order

GENERAL HUX, of the First Order

ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE, GENERAL PARNADEE, GENERAL QUINN, and ADMIRAL GRISS, of the First Order

AKI-AKI, PORGS, ORBAKS, KIJIMI SPICE RUNNERS, KNIGHTS OF REN, FIRST ORDER OFFICERS AND STORMTROOPERS, RESISTANCE SOLDIERS AND PILOTS, DROIDS, WORKERS, and VARIOUS CREATURES

PROLOGUE.

Space.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS

Zounds! Menacing, the dead begin to speak!

Heard through the galaxy, though yet unseen,

Comes threat of harsh revenge in voice most bleak—

The sinister, dark Emp’ror Palpatine.

Our General Organa sends a chain

Of spies to seek out news past ev’ry border,

Whilst Rey, of Jedi hopes the last, doth train

For battle gainst the devilish First Order.

Their Supreme Leader Kylo Ren is sour,

For he this phantom emperor would see,

To conquer any threat to his vast pow’r.

Behold the end of our nonology!

In time so long ago begins our play,

In Force-touch’d galaxy far, far away.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.

On Mustafar and Exegol.

Enter KYLO REN.

KYLO

Two rivals, both alike in dignity,

Among the planets, where we lay our scene—

Yet only one shall rule the galaxy.

Unto my solo voice of potency,

A voice was added—bygone Palpatine:

Two rivals, both alike in dignity.

Whate’er his purpose, he shall bend to me.

His bold revival cometh unforeseen,

Yet only one shall rule the galaxy.

And Rey, the young, prodigious Jedi she,

Hath talent like to mine, though she is green—

Two rivals, both alike in dignity.

The day will come when she shall bend the knee,

When we will reign in peace and might serene—

Yet only one shall rule the galaxy.

On both sides I am press’d most ardently,

But in my triumph none may intervene.

Two rivals, both alike in dignity—

Yet only one shall rule the galaxy.

Enter STORMTROOPERS and several FOES of the First Order.
KYLO REN slays his foes until he is surrounded by the dead.

TROOPER 1

Your quest is punctuated by the dead.

Success in your endeavor, sir, is all.

KYLO

Thou art dismiss’d, thou and the legion whole.

[Exeunt stormtroopers, bearing away the foes.

If Palpatine shall hide beneath a shroud,

Be sure I’ll seek him out where’er he lies.

Upon an errand urgent and profound

Have I come hither, pillaging for this:

The Sith wayfinder that leads me to him.

[Kylo Ren uncovers a Sith wayfinder
and grasps it in his hand.

Darth Vader’s former home on Mustafar—

The castle where my grandfather held sway—

Became the final resting place for this

Wayfinder that shall lead me to the Sith.

O, pyramid with knowledge long obscur’d,

Show me, I pray, the path that I must take.

[Kylo Ren boards his TIE whisper,
plugs the wayfinder in, and travels
to Exegol, planet of the Sith.

My destiny herein awaiteth me,

Where all is done, or else I am undone.

Behold, this giant and forbidding hold,

A building of a most astounding girth.

The dark side of the Force I feel, as though

I were submerg’d beneath the ocean deep

And power dark were water all around.

White lightning crackles, flashes, dances quick,

A gloomy symbol of the threat within.

I shall not be deterr’d from purpose true.

Come, lightsaber, and lead me through the dark.

[He disembarks on Exegol and walks
onto a platform, which descends into a
cavern past statues of former Sith.

Although mine enemy awaiteth here,

’Tis truly said his lair doth strike my soul.

These tow’ring statues of departed Sith

Would chill the bravest heart and toucheth mine.

Still, Kylo Ren shall not be shaken, nay—

Whilst I have life, I shall not be sent hence.

Enter EMPEROR PALPATINE, hidden.

PALPATINE

At last, young Kylo Ren, thou hither com’st.

Snoke train’d thee well, ’tis certain.

KYLO

—Yet Snoke died

By this, my hand, and thou shalt follow him.

PALPATINE

My dearest boy, Snoke was a thing I made—

A valuable creation of the Sith,

With still more of his like available.

KYLO REN walks past a tank of liquid holding many
bodies that resemble Supreme Leader Snoke. Enter
several SITH ACOLYTES, working on the tank.

I have been ev’ry voice thou ever heard’st:

When I do speak, ’tis in the voice of Snoke

Or, when I wish, ’tis in Darth Vader’s voice—

Inside thy head, these voices echo round,

And I control the strings that move their mouths.

’Twas always I who led and guided thee

And now have brought thee here, my will to serve.

Thy vain First Order was an overture,

Preamble to profounder music still—

A mere beginning to my pure design.

Forsooth, I’ll proffer thee a greater gift.

KYLO

Thou shalt die first—thine aspirations, too.

PALPATINE

I died before, yet death retains me not—

The underworld is no match for the Sith.

The dark side of the Force unveils a path,

The road less travel’d by, which openeth

A world of wondrous, new abilities

That some consider most unnatural.

[Palpatine comes forward, connected
to an Ommin harness. Kylo Ren points
his lightsaber toward Palpatine.

KYLO

Yet what couldst thou—unnatural, indeed—

Give me that I do not have?

PALPATINE

—Ev’rything.

Behold my broken, chipp’d, and weaken’d hands,

And see therein the possibilities.

An Empire new shall from these ashes rise.

Around us even now my fleet doth rise—

Grim Star Destroyers waiting rank on rank,

In numbers such as none could comprehend.

This have I plann’d these many slumb’ring years.

Whilst some men dream, I have been at my work

Assembling this: the army thou shalt lead.

The Final Order’s might shall ready be,

And all is thine if thou dost what I ask—

Kill thou the girl, the Jedi line conclude.

Become, then, what thy grandfather could not—

Darth Vader: powerful, yet not enow.

Thou shalt rule o’er the galaxy entire,

The newfound Emperor who takes my place.

Beware, though—she is not whom thou believ’st.

KYLO

Who is she? Tell me all that thou dost know,

And down this pathway gladly shall I go.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

Inside the Millennium Falcon.

Enter FINN, POE DAMERON, and CHEWBACCA,
seated at the holochess board.

CHEWBAC.

[aside:] Egh, auugh![1]

POE

—What thinkest thou, then,

Wookiee? Shalt

Thou play, or ever gaze upon the board?

Thou hast kept eyes on the phenomenon—

Puff’d, paus’d, waddl’d about, and grunted so—

Yet when wilt thou advance and take thy move?

FINN

The furball cannot beat us ev’ry time.

POE

And yet he doth. The startling fact is now

Almost admitted universally.

FINN

How doth he so? For ’tis unknown to me.

POE

This gentleman with hairy coat of brown?

In such a game, wherein the pieces have

Bizarre and diff’rent motions, various

And variable values, one may oft

Mistake what’s but complex for what’s profound.

Attention is call’d powerf’ly to play,

And if thou pay’st attention, thou shalt see:

He cheateth, it is plain.

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh![2]

POE

—Nay, I jest!

Thou art two hundred fifty years of age—

With many years in foreign travel spent—

’Tis natural thou art superior.

FINN

Forever and a day thou takest for

Thine ev’ry move, which is wherefore we think

Thou cheatest. Faster play, and we shall none.

[A sensor beeps.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, egh, auugh![3]

FINN

—Fear thou not, we’ll nothing touch.

POE

We shall not turn the game off, by my troth,

Yet we may get a very thrilling bit

Of superstition from this fit of thine.

[Chewbacca walks to another part of the ship.

FINN

Forsooth, the beast is cheating.

POE

—Verily.

His agitation, represented here,

Is so excessive that this officer

Hath not the slightest doubt of Chewie’s guilt.

[Poe turns the holochess board off.

Finn and Poe follow Chewbacca.

Enter KLAUD, working on the ship.
Enter R2-D2 aside, near the top hatch.

Good Klaud, I hope thou fix’d the power surge,

Else shall the Falcon grounded be, I fear.

KLAUD

Reeyah, reeyah.

[Poe sits in the cockpit with Chewbacca.

POE

—Good Chewie, let us hie—

Our quick approach we make, to meet the one

Who bringeth critical intelligence.

’Tis the desire of all parties concern’d

To keep our bold affair from public view—

At least for this, the present time, until

We’ve further opportunity to make

Investigation—lest a garbl’d or

Exaggerated story maketh way,

Misrepresented, to society.

T-minus five and we are there, my friends!

[Finn approaches the top hatch.

FINN

Artoo, holla. Stand’st thou prepar’d for this?

Thy swift assistance I may yet require.

R2-D2

Meep, squeak! [Aside:] Born ready was I, here to serve!

The Millennium Falcon flies inside an icy base and positions itself beneath an ice processing structure. FINN opens the top hatch. Enter BOOLIO in an opposite hatch, facing him.

FINN

Ah, Boolio! ’Tis fine to see thee here.

Bring’st thou aught for us? Prithee, say thou dost!

BOOLIO

A newfound ally is my gift to you:

A clever spy from the First Order’s ranks

Who would assist ye in your ev’ry scheme.

FINN

A spy? Thy words are music for mine ears—

Who is this praiseworthy and fearless soul?

BOOLIO

Nay, I know not. Take thou this message, Finn,

And transfer it to Leia presently.

Make haste, for the First Order follows on!

[Boolio lowers a drive to Finn via a cable.

Finn inserts the drive into R2-D2.

R2-D2

Beep whistle whistle hoo, meep squeak beep meep?

FINN

This may be most significant, Artoo.

Fill thou thy databanks with knowledge, quick!

[The data on the drive begins
to transfer to R2-D2.

R2-D2

Squeak whistle hoo!

Enter a legion of TIE FIGHTER PILOTS in their
ships, approaching the Millennium Falcon.

TIE PILOT 1

—My target lockèd is.

POE

Finn, work with speed! Or else we are the goose,

Cook’d for the filling of First Order plates.

They come with flash of fire most terrible,

Accompanied by densest cloud of smoke

And noise to naught but thunder comp’rable!

FINN

’Tis nearly finish’d.

[The data transfer concludes.

R2-D2

—Whee!

FINN

—Ho, now fulfill’d!

[Finn unplugs the drive as

Boolio begins to lift it.

How can we thank thee for this, Boolio?

Thyself thou hast endanger’d for our cause!

BOOLIO

Win ye this war, and all is reconcil’d—

Your victory is recompense enow.

[Exit Boolio. Finn closes the top hatch,
then sits at a turret gun. The Millennium

Falcon flies away from the pursuing TIE
fighters. Poe knocks the ship into a wall.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh, egh![4]

POE

—Alas, I know! Apologies!

It must admitted be that thou hast some

Good reason for thy doubt. My fault excuse.

FINN

[aside:] Once more I take my seat to fire on foes!

POE

Finn, wherefore shoot’st thou not these ships? Hath all

Thine ordinary manner vanishèd,

Thine ordinary occupations been

Neglected or forgotten? Shoot, I pray!

[Finn shoots at a TIE fighter and destroys it.

FINN

A-ha! The first is done, with more to come.

POE

How many yet remain? I do confess,

True, dreadf’ly nervous I had been and am!

FINN

In troth, too many for my comfort, Poe.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh![5]

POE

—Thought most wondrous, Chewie, well devis’d!

O, this great problem is, at length, Finn, solv’d:

Let us put boulders in the path of TIEs.

FINN

’Twas foremost in my thoughts as well. Aim, guns!

[Finn shoots at a support structure, which
collapses after the Falcon flies under
it and destroys two TIE fighters.

A fair maneuver. Fly, then, to our base!

POE

More fighters make approach—a mighty wave

And we a tiny vessel on the sea.

[Aside:] When first this apparition I beheld—

For scarcely I regard these foes as less—

My wonder and my terror were extreme.

[To Chewbacca:] How thick, brave Chewie, is this ice
wall?

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh![6]

[The Millennium Falcon bursts through a
wall of ice into space. It jumps into lightspeed
and is pursued by many TIE fighters.

POE

This either shall be brilliant or be mad—

Th’idea of it hath ne’er occur’d to us.

FINN

What is this lunacy? Fie on it, Poe!

POE

’Tis lightspeed skipping, gambit hazardous,

True wretchedness, indeed, woe ultimate!

I’ll jump through lightspeed quickly, then again,

Repeating once and twice and thrice and more,

Until the stratagem hath shaken all

These foes who would destroy us as we flee.

FINN

When didst thou learn such fearful, horrid tricks?

[As the Falcon jumps through
lightspeed, more TIE fighters smash
into obstacles and are destroyed.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, egh![7]

POE

—’Tis well Rey is not here. Tut, tut!

After the next lightspeed jump, enter a GIANT BEAST,
opening its mouth to swallow the Millennium Falcon.

This is our final shot, belike fore’er!

I plan to fan this spark into a flame,

Which may yet prove a blaze of glory, friends.

This bold idea upon my fancy seiz’d;

I lost myself forthwith in reverie.

Hold tight, courageous comrades, for we fly

And death or triumph cometh, by and by!

[The Falcon shoots past the beast. Exeunt

Poe Dameron, Finn, Chewbacca, Klaud, and

R2-D2 in the Millennium Falcon. The final TIE
fighters are devoured by the beast. Exeunt.

SCENE 3.

On Ajan Kloss.

Enter REY.

REY

The training which I once began with Luke

Here on the planet Ajan Kloss persists.

I spend my days in Leia’s tutelage,

So that I may a stronger Jedi be.

She hath the knowledge and th’experience

To teach me ev’ry lesson I need know.

Once I had no one, liv’d a lonesome life,

Reclaiming wreckage back on dour Jakku,

Yet longing to be known, accepted, lov’d.

How shaken was my life when, suddenly,

A kindly, wand’ring droid came unto me.

Then follow’d one who fled the trooper life.

He led me to a Wookiee and a rogue—

These all became the dearest friends to me.

Hook’d by a greater cause—Resistance—I

Escap’d my former home and came to see

Undream’d-of planets, stars, and forms of life,

Now open to this sometime scavenger.

I sought Luke Skywalker in his exile,

Vied with his stubbornness, that he might come

Erase our fear with Jedi might. But he

Refus’d to help us—so it seem’d, until

Surprisingly he did appear on Crait,

Establishing his legend for all time,

Bewitching Kylo Ren so we could flee.

Embolden’d, the Resistance liveth on;

Great General Organa leadeth us,

Undaunted by our disadvantages.

It is to her, to hallow’d ancestors,

Luke, all the Jedi now one with the Force—

E’en these I bid: be with me, be with me.

Distressingly, I sense they’re not with me.

Enter GENERAL LEIA ORGANA and BB-8, approaching REY.

LEIA

Be patient, Rey, their voices shall yet speak.

REY

My thoughts turn pessimistic, and methinks

It is impossible to hear their words—

The voices of the Jedi gone before.

LEIA

Naught is impossible. Speak thou the words.

REY

Naught is impossible. Thus shall I strive

To know and to believe. Excuse me now,

The training course awaits my daily run.

Perchance ’twill free my mind for clearer thought.

LEIA

Take thou Luke’s lightsaber, and all my hopes.

[Exit General Leia Organa as Rey begins to run.

REY

The training doth begin, a simple trot.

My legs go coursing through the trees and fog,

Atop the rocky face, past waterfalls,

Unto a chasm o’er a craggy drop.

My helmet here awaiteth, which I don

As flieth the remote toward the spot.

[A remote flies into view as

Rey puts on her helmet.

Down, blast shield, to remove mine outer sight,

That I mine instincts must rely upon.

Now, balancing atop the sturdy rope,

O’er the abyss I parry, block, and dodge!

Past this wide gulf, I leap to climb a tree

And cut a single length of scarlet cord—

My mark that half the course is now complete.

I clasp it in my hand and make return—

Fleet-footed like my life depended on’t—

And hurdle o’er the prior opening.

Enter KYLO REN above, on balcony,
holding the mask of DARTH VADER.

KYLO

With newfound knowledge of the girl, e’en Rey,

Reported to me by the Emperor,

Our earlier connection I’ll restore

That she and I communication share.

O, mask once worn by my grandfather strong,

Grant me the pow’r to find her once again.

[Rey trips.

REY

How many times have I this course fulfill’d,

And never did my feet slip errantly.

I sense some presence here, which I’ve not felt

Since last I was too close to Kylo Ren.

[The remote begins shocking her.

Alas, the small remote appears to have

A mind its own, as if it were controll’d

By human bidding rather than machine.

Now grows mine anger suddenly—I’ll slash

And kill the impish, rotten flying pest

Sans thought of anything around me here!

[She slashes wildly with her lightsaber,
destroying many trees.

If my lightsaber shall not do the deed,

I shall be more creative in my wrath!

[Using the Force, she picks up a stick and
spears the remote to a tree with it.

KYLO

I feel her fury, burning with the heat

Of sun that rises o’er a desert plain.

REY

Now I do sense it! Ren is in my head,

And in a flash such horrid images

Rush like a torrent into my mind’s eye.

My parents taken rapidly from me,

My darker self install’d upon a throne,

The hand of Kylo Ren held out to me

In solemn invitation and desire,

The face of Luke, my master, sad and scar’d,

The voice of Han ere slain by his own son.

KYLO

Her visions are mine own, as if we two

Shar’d but one eye, one ear, one mind, one heart.

I must needs find her and discover more.

[Exit Kylo Ren.

BB-8

Blic blooblis roohblik bleezooz roilzoon blip!

[Rey looks at BB-8, who has been
caught under a felled tree.

REY

Poor BB-8, profound apologies!

She frees him and they return to the Resistance
base. Enter GENERAL LEIA ORGANA.

I finish’d not the training course today—

Distractions plentiful took focus hence.

I do not feel myself—be patient, pray,

I know it seemeth I excuses make.

LEIA

Seems, Rey? Nay, say what is; I know not seems.

REY

Belike I am exhausted, nothing more.

Enter LIEUTENANT CONNIX.

CONNIX

Good General, the Falcon is not back

And our commander seeketh your advice.

[Rey hands Luke’s lightsaber back to Leia.

REY

One day I shall obtain the inner worth

To wield the saber of thy brother Luke—

When I have earn’d it, fain would I receive’t.

BB-8

Rooqzoom bluu zzwablav blayzooz flliblik rooh

Zoon bleezilf roilflig blip?

REY

—Nay, BB-8,

Thou mayst not help me earn it, kindly droid.

LEIA

Nay, never underestimate a droid.

REY

Yea, master.

Enter NIMI.

NIMI

—Ho, the Falcon hath return’d!

Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, R2-D2, and KLAUD
in the Millennium Falcon, which is in flames. Enter C-3PO and
various RESISTANCE PILOTS and SOLDIERS, including MAZ KANATA,
ROSE TICO, SNAP WEXLEY, AFTAB ACKBAR, and BEAUMONT KIN.

POE

Anon, the ship! Look to the ship, I pray!

The rear, it is aflame. The front as well!

The lurid luster of a fire that I

Cannot force my imagination to

Regard as yet unreal. Attend to it!

REY

Holla, Poe. What is this I hear of spies?

POE

To all appearance, we have—by thee, Rey—

Been temporarily abandonèd.

We could have us’d thy help.

REY

—How went your task?

POE

But poorly, truth be told. No pestilence

Hath ever been so hideous to me.

REY

Han’s ship in tatters maketh its return—

POE

[seeing BB-8:] The thousand injuries that I have seen

I’ve borne as best I could, but when upon

My droid they venture, I shall vow revenge.

I prithee, speak: what didst thou to the droid?

REY

What didst thou to the Falcon? Wilt thou say,

Or art thou too embarrass’d to respond?

POE

The Falcon is in better shape than he.

No word speaks the deliverer, I see.

REY

Nay, little BB-8 is not afire.

POE

What parts of him remain are not afire.

My nerves are very much affected, Rey.

REY

Pray, speak thou plainly, tell me what hath happ’d.

POE

Speak thou! The buzz of curiosity

Doth overwhelm my patience and my tongue.

REY

There is a word created for such men

As thou art, Poe; wouldst thou hear me declare’t?

POE

What is’t? Expressions piquant would I learn.

REY

Thou art most difficult, as though thou wert

A door with many locks but none of keys.

POE

And thou art—O, it is beyond mine art

Of speech to speak the words. I candidly

Confess my feelings are e’en now of the

Most singular, myster’ous character—

Incomprehensible, perplexing, too!

[Finn approaches.

REY

Finn, friend forever—safely thou return’st!

[Rey and Finn embrace.

FINN

Yet barely, if the truth be known.

REY

—Foul moods

Do overwhelm the senses, is it true?

FINN

Foh, mean’st me?

REY

—Him.

FINN

—Forever and a day.

REY

Is there a spy?

[Chewbacca approaches.

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh![8]

REY

[to Poe:]                  —Thou didst lightspeed skip?

POE

Indeed I did, our safety to secure.

The consequence is clear: we did return.

All this was scarcely more than justice, troth.

REY

Yet, Poe, thou knowest the compressor’s weak.

POE

I know it well; ’twas I who present was,

Unlike thyself. Thou look’st to number one,

We’re number two and must look to ourselves.

FINN

[aside:] These two shall ever be like fighting kin.

REY

Thou canst not make the Falcon lightspeed skip!

POE

The evidence runs contrary to speech,

For truly, thus did I. It hath been driv’n

To an extremity, ’tis clear to all.

FINN

We have but landed these few moments past—

I bid ye, friends, can we not find some peace?

REY

What happen’d?

POE

—More bad news, and nothing more.

Such as will happen now and then.

REY

—No spy?

POE

To all this I am sorry I cannot

Reply with anything but this: no, spy!

REY

Thou frightest ev’ry word from its right sense!

Speak plainly: made we contact with a spy?

FINN

A message we receiv’d from th’inner ranks

Of the First Order, yet near not escap’d.

BB-8

Zood flirflit blee flew blayzoom zoodreej flir

Bluu bloozilf blip bleeblip blav bleeblik zood

Blox zzwaflig flitrooh flirblip bleereej blee

Zoom bluuzilf bliprooq blooblay zoon blic zoom

Rooq blayzooz bliprooh zzwaflli flit fligblee.

POE

My strict integrity comes into play:

Thou dropp’dst a tree upon him? Is this true?

REY

Thou blewest both subalternators, Poe?

POE

Belike thou shouldst have been with us, if thou

Art so concernèd o’er the Falcon’s fate.

Remarkable! Though this plain word is but

A feeble term t’express my meaning full.

REY

Well knowest thou I would be—

POE

—Yet art not.

Make up thy mind to be annoy’d at me:

Remain’st thou here to train, but to what end?

Of all our fighters, talent hast thou most.

We need thee there, not here. Soft—I have done.

[Poe walks aside with others.

FINN

The man speaks fervently but truly, Rey.

REY

What is the message ye glean’d from the spy?

POE

My friends and soldiers both, pray take ye heed.

[All gather around Poe.

We have th’intelligence giv’n by the spy

Decoded, that we may its secrets know.

Perhaps no exhibition of the kind

Hath e’er elicited so general

Attention as this ominous report.

The worst hath been confirm’d: somehow, some way,

The Emperor, e’en Palpatine, return’d.

LEIA

[aside:] Base name of evil creeping from the past!

ROSE

Wait, is this foul report believable?

Shall we assume this spy hath truth declar’d?

AFTAB

It cannot be! The Emperor is dead!

He fell within the last war with a zap.

BEAUMONT

Dark science, cloning, such dread physic as

Was only known of by the wretchèd Sith.

POE

Look down into th’abysmal distances—

It doth appear he long hath plann’d revenge,

And now his followers build something vast

That hath seen many years’ development:

A fleet such as the galaxy ne’er knew.

’Tis call’d the Final Order. Sixteen hours

Have we until attacks begin upon

Each world that currently doth freedom know.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, auugh![9]

POE

—The Emperor, his fleet—they hide

Within the provinces unknown, a world

Call’d Exegol. This is, indeed, no dream.

R2-D2

Beep, meep, squeak!

C-3PO

—Exegol doth not appear

On any star chart. Legend knows it as

The hidden planet of the wicked Sith.

[Rey runs to find a book.

REY

[aside:] To find the Sith—of such I late have read.

’Twas Master Luke did first pursue the task.

POE

Yea, Palpatine abided all this time,

And pull’d the strings of evil’s puppetry.

The heart had ceas’d to beat—volition, though,

Had not departed from his awful mind.

LEIA

Concealèd in the shadows from the start.

MAZ

If we would stop him, we must find him first.

The furtive Exegol we must detect.

[Rey returns with the book.

REY

Pray, General, a word.

LEIA

—Friends, give us leave

To speak a word or two.

[Exeunt all, talking among themselves,
except Rey and Leia.

REY

—I know how we

May find myster’ous Exegol.

LEIA

—Pray tell!

REY

Luke was in search of it for many years

And nearly found it, too, ere he expir’d.

This book—among the sacred Jedi texts—

Containeth ciphers far beyond my ken.

To get to Exegol, one needeth this:

A Sith wayfinder, which a compass is

That leadeth swiftly unto Exegol.

Thus shall we stop what we both know shall come—

’Tis right that I conclude what Luke began:

Find Exegol and find the Emperor.

LEIA

Nay.

REY

—Sans thy blessing I’d not go, but will.

Indeed, I shall. ’Tis e’en what thou wouldst do.

Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, and BB-8.

POE

The ship hath been repair’d and may depart,

To face a terror for which there’s no name.

REY

Thou hadst it right before, Poe, I must go.

I’ll venture forth to follow in Luke’s path

And seek out Exegol. I shall begin

Where first Luke’s trail turn’d cold, the desert lands

Forbidden of Pasaana.

POE

—Yea, I know.

There is a game of puzzles, which is play’d

Upon a map. We shall go with thee, Rey.

[To Chewbacca:] Pray Chewie, hast thou the compressor
fix’d?

CHEWBAC.

Egh.[10]

REY

[to Finn:] —This I’d do alone.

FINN

—Alone with friends.

Bid us not leave thee; we are not afeard.

REY

’Tis far too dangerous.

FINN

—We fly as one.

Together gone, together safe and well.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh, egh![11]

BB-8

—Flig fllireej zoonblis zood blay blee

Zooz bleezilf zood!

C-3PO

—I heartily agree!

REY

How can I question, with such friends as ye?

Enter ROSE TICO.

FINN

Rose, ’tis thy chance to seek thy fate and come.

ROSE

The General hath ask’d me to remain

And study all the intricacies of

The Star Destroyers of the past, that we

May stop the fleet if ye discover it.

FINN

Nay, spak’st thou if?

ROSE

—When.

FINN

—Yea, say when, forsooth.

[Exit Rose Tico.

POE

[to Rey:] We must depart or we shall be too late

And turn’d out of our office by the time.

Thy mien, it darkens. What doth plague thy thoughts?

REY

Naught. Simply a goodbye I yet must say.

[C-3PO approaches R2-D2.

C-3PO

Should it befall that I do not return,

I would thou knewest what a friend thou art,

And ever wert, to me. My best, in troth.

R2-D2

Beep, whistle, squeak! [Aside:] O, golden droid—with
whom

I long have squabbl’d, gladly did annoy—

Shall thou, now, in this parting moment make

Me shed a droidly tear in friendship’s name?

Companion loyal, ever by my side,

Thou art the better half who makes me whole.

[Rey approaches Leia.

REY

Much would I say to thee ere I take leave.

LEIA

Tell me when thou returnest; gladly would

I see thee then and hear thy pressing words.

[Leia hands Rey Luke’s lightsaber.

Thou worthy art, hast earn’d it many times.

[They embrace.

Rey, never be afeard of who thou art.

[Rey, Poe, Finn, Chewbacca,

C-3PO, and BB-8 board the

Millennium Falcon. Exeunt others.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh![12]

REY

—Yea. I would not from this team depart.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

On Kylo Ren’s command ship,
the Steadfast.

Enter KYLO REN.

KYLO

My mask, which once by Snoke’s ire I did crush,

Hath been repair’d, forg’d solid once again.

A master craftsman, Albrekh, did the deed,

Employing ancient forges of the Sith.

Sarrassian iron holds the pieces fast,

And the result is that the helmet is—

Like mine own skill and mine abilities—

E’en stronger than it previously was.

Enter KNIGHTS OF REN and various STORMTROOPERS.
Enter GENERAL HUX, ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE,
GENERAL PARNADEE, GENERAL QUINN, and other
OFFICERS of the First Order. All are seated.

TROOPER 1

[aside, to Trooper 2:] The Knights of Ren.

TROOPER 2

[aside, to Trooper 1:]    —A horrid
sight, by heav’n!

[Kylo Ren throws Boolio’s head on the table.

KYLO

We have a spy conceal’d within our ranks—

A base and spineless rogue, who hath convey’d

A treas’nous message to th’Resistance vile.

Whoe’er this traitor be, they’ll not stop us.

With what I did espy on Exegol,

The great First Order quickly shall become

An empire true, with all the pow’r to match.

Good Gen’ral Hux, I sense a deep unease

About how I appear before thine eyes.

[All turn and look at Hux.

HUX

Thy mask? Nay, verily. Well done, dread sir.

PARNADEE

It suits thee well. Thine aspect it improves.

QUINN

Forgive me, sir, I fain would speak my mind:

These allies new on Exegol—is’t not

A cult deriv’d from some foul madman’s schemes?

We need no conjurers and soothsayers.

PRYDE

They conjur’d Star Destroyers by the score.

If this be cultish, I shall gladly join.

The Sith fleet shall increase our resources

Ten thousand fold. If magic ’tis, ’tis well.

Such range and pow’r correct the errant gaffe

That was Starkiller Base and all its flaws.

PARNADEE

We must increase recruitment mightily.

The pastures of the galaxy are ripe,

And we shall harvest all the young we need.

QUINN

This fleet—doth it come to us as a gift?

A present freely proffer’d, nothing more?

Or shall the giver turn to asker soon—

What doth the Emperor require of us?

What treasures shall he ask for in return—

[Using the Force, Kylo Ren begins choking

General Quinn and raises him to the ceiling.

KYLO

Prepare to conquer any worlds that dare

Defy our might. My knights and I shall fly,

Bring back the scavenger and watch her die!

[Exeunt.

SCENE 5.

On Pasaana.

Enter REY, POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, and BB-8.

POE

A desert world with sunlight burning bright,

Resembling bleak Jakku or Tatooine—

Too much of sand and dryness for my taste,

Despite the tranquil, somewhat magical

Strange radiance that hovers over all.

C-3PO, art certain ’tis the place?

C-3PO

Indeed. These are th’exact coordinates

That Master Luke hath left behind for us.

Enter AKI-AKI, dancing and celebrating.

POE

What is this gathering we happen on?

There is no quiet here, nor silence, nay.

C-3PO

The Aki-Aki Festival of the

Dear Ancestors, methinks! This jubilee

Occureth only once each forty-two

Years—an auspicious number, verily.

FINN

’Tis fortunate.

C-3PO

—Forsooth, it truly is!

This festival is widely known both for

Its kites most colorful and also sweets

Delectable beyond imagining.

[Rey, Poe, Finn, and Chewbacca
turn and stare at C-3PO.

[Aside:] Alas, ’twas never my intention to

Become the center of attention here.

Perchance they stare at something at the rear?

[C-3PO turns and looks behind him.

REY

I ne’er have seen a festival like this,

Such heartfelt celebration, full of life!

FINN

I ne’er have seen so few wayfinders, troth.

POE

There e’er are chance First Order–led patrols

At such events and in enormous crowds.

No day elapses, but it brings news of

Decease of some acquaintance at their hands.

Keep heads down—yea, Chewbacca, thou as well,

Although thou art far taller than the rest.

[Chewbacca bends down to keep his head low.

Let us part company, that we may see

Whatever local knowledge may be found.

[All walk in different directions.

REY

[aside:] The colors, dancing, joy on ev’ry face.

Behold these groups of children, seated whilst

A show of puppetry amuseth them!

They laugh withal their bellies, heartily

Enjoying what the elders have display’d.

Such innocence, such wonder, and such bliss—

Did I e’er know such happiness as this?

Enter an Aki-Aki named NAMBI GHIMA.
She approaches REY, and C-3PO translates.

NAMBI

Mayedo-bu!

C-3PO

—She sayeth welcome here.

NAMBI

Meyay de la bonotui. Kobu

Dig gamba danni beez. Bodidi oo

Di Nambi Ghima.

[Nambi Ghima places a necklace
around Rey’s neck.

C-3PO

—She is Nambi Ghima.

REY

A name most excellent and beautiful.

I am call’d Rey.

NAMBI

—Giodo lobuto?

C-3PO

She would be honorèd to learn the name

Of thine ancestral family as well.

REY

I have no fam’ly name. I’m call’d plain Rey,

And bonny Rey and sometimes Rey the curst.

[Aside:] Alack, most suddenly my senses shriek—

’Tis Kylo Ren! The fiend doth contact me

Through our most strange and enigmatic bond.

She walks aside. Enter KYLO REN aside, in his chamber.
They are joined in the Force and see each other.

KYLO

The Emperor, e’en Palpatine, would see

Thee dead.

REY

—Thou foundest a new master, yea?

KYLO

Nay, I have plans of which he knoweth naught.

My hand in partnership I offer’d once

To thee, and sens’d thou wish’dst to take it up,

To share the mantle of my power vast.

Yet wherefore didst thou not?

REY

—Thou hadst the chance

To kill me and did not. Why didst thou not?

KYLO

Thou canst not hide fore’er, Rey, not from me.

We two are like a planet and its sun,

Each circling round the other evermore.

REY

I spy betwixt the cracks of thy black mask

And see the haunted man who lies therein.

Thine eyes shall never cease to see the deed

Thou didst inflict upon thy father kind—

The death of good Han Solo, whom thou kill’dst.

KYLO

Dost thou still count the days that have elaps’d

Since thy two parents left thee on Jakku?

Such pain I feel within thee, pulsing like

A perilous volcano soon t’erupt.

Such anger, too, which powereth the blast.

I would not kill thee, Rey. Yet I shall find

Thee, turn thee to the dark side of the Force.

When once again I proffer thee my hand,

I’ll warrant thou shalt take it gratefully.

REY

Thus shall we see if ever we two meet.

[Kylo reaches out and grasps the
necklace around Rey’s neck, pulling
it off her. Exit Kylo Ren.

[Aside:] Our close connection turns to something more—

He hath th’ability to touch me here,

To be where I am momentarily

That what is mine is his and his is mine.

[Rey runs to find Poe and Finn.

[To Poe and Finn:] We must depart unto the Falcon,
now.

FINN

Yet wherefore must we so, Rey? Canst thou tell?

REY

’Tis Ren. He shall arrive anon, I fear.

Enter KYLO REN, ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE, and a
FIRST ORDER OFFICER holding the necklace, above on balcony.

OFFICER 1

We had the necklace analyzèd, sir.

’Tis clearly from the system Midian—

Pasaana, the Forbidden Valley there.

KYLO

Prepare my ship, alert the local troops.

Send forth a new division presently.

PRYDE

E’en as thou sayest, Supreme Leader Ren.

[Exeunt Kylo Ren, Allegiant

General Pryde, and Officer 1.

Enter STORMTROOPER 3, pointing a gun toward REY, POE
DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, and BB-8, below.

TROOPER 3

Be still, or I shall use my gun on ye!

[Into radio:] The fugitives of the Resistance have

I found—all units hie ye hither quick—

[An arrow strikes Stormtrooper 3
in the helmet, and he dies.

Enter LANDO OF CALRISSIAN, in a mask.

LANDO

I bid ye, follow. I shall keep you safe.

[Rey, Poe, Finn, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and

BB-8 follow Lando into his treadable.

Enter KALO’NE, in the treadable.

Kind Leia sent a message unto me.

[To Kalo’ne:] Nadiyya tobiah.

KALO’NE

—Okay!

[Kalo’ne starts driving the treadable
away from the crowd.

FINN

—My friend,

How didst thou find us?

LANDO

[taking off his mask:] —Wookiees in a crowd

Have their partic’lar way of standing out.

[Chewbacca embraces Lando.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh![13]

LANDO

—Yea, ’tis well to see thee, too, my friend.

C-3PO

This man is Gen’ral Lando of Calriss—

REY

We all know who he is, C-3PO—

His fame doth, like a herald, ere him go.

FINN

Forsooth, it is an honor, General.

POE

Brave General, we have come here upon

A search for Exegol, a secret that

Doth not permit itself to be reveal’d.

LANDO

’Tis plain, and I know what it is ye seek.

[He pushes a button, revealing a
hologram of a Sith wayfinder.

But two were made, which maketh them most rare.

REY

The Sith wayfinder. Luke Skywalker hath

Come hither to find one of them.

LANDO

—I know,

For I was with him on the venture grand.

We two were trailing a most horrid beast—

A Jedi hunter, Ochi of Bestoon.

’Twas said he had a clue that leadeth to

A Sith wayfinder. Flew we halfway cross

The galaxy to find him here at last.

Yet when we found his ship, abandon’d ’twas—

With neither clue nor wayfinder for us.

REY

Is Ochi’s ship upon the planet still?

LANDO

’Tis in the desert, where he left it once.

REY

We must unto the ship and search again.

[The sound of TIE fighters is
heard in the distance.

LANDO

Hark! By mine ears, your time is running out.

I have a feeling bad about this sound.

Ye shall find Ochi’s ship in yonder land,

Beyond Lurch Canyon. Go, and be ye swift!

POE

All gratitude, good General. Thy zeal

To serve a friend is most commendable.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, egh.[14]

LANDO

—And I as well, dear Chewie.

REY

—Pray,

A word ere we depart. Our Leia needs

Skill’d pilots in the fight gainst tyranny.

LANDO

My days of flying ships past stars and space

Have long since pass’d, yet do me one small thing:

Give Leia all my love when thou seest her.

REY

’Twould better be if thou gav’st it thyself.

Farewell, and thank thee greatly for thy help.

[Rey, Poe, Finn, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and

BB-8 disembark from the treadable.

LANDO

[aside:] Such words play on me unexpectedly,

My conscience prick’d as when a bee doth sting—

Retirement, mayhap, is no life for me.

[Exeunt Lando and Kalo’ne in the treadable.

POE

There! To the skimmers let us swiftly run.

I shall secure a pair that we may use.

Th’excitement ’mongst the masqueraders is

Prodigious and may keep us from their sight.

[They run toward the skimmers, C-3PO
trailing slightly behind the others.

Poe begins hot-wiring one of the vehicles.

FINN

How is such mischief in thy skill set, Poe?

C-3PO

Ye need not worry, I am here at last.

You must have been most worried over me!

[Many Aki-Aki see what Poe is
doing and begin yelling.

POE

Just as if they had all been reading mine

Own thoughts, they notice and make their approach!

We must get hence, or else we are undone!

[Poe, Finn, and C-3PO board one skimmer.

Rey, Chewbacca, and BB-8 board the
other. They fly away. Exeunt Aki-Aki.

Enter STORMTROOPERS.

TROOPER 4

The fugitives are in our sight at last,

And we shall make pursuit with utmost speed.

[Four stormtroopers begin chasing them,
two troopers each on two treadspeeders.

REY

They fire on us, and ably we respond—

Trade shot for shot and fear no consequence!

[The treadspeeders’ repulsor lifts fire,
shooting one stormtrooper from each speeder
into the air, flying after the skimmers.

C-3PO

Foh, they fly now!

FINN

—They fly now?

POE

—They fly now!

How terrible a spectacle, by heav’n—

What dangerous peculiarity!

We shall split up and make them chase us still.

REY

Such bold maneuvers shall keep them away.

[Poe flies his skimmer into a ravine.

POE

A blessèd thing ’twould be for spirits if

We leave the rogues astern. Are they yet gone?

FINN

So doth it seem, for they are not behind.

C-3PO

Most excellently done, Sir Poe, in faith!

[One stormtrooper treadspeeder
catches up to them.

Most terribly ’twas done, Sir Poe, in faith!

BB-8

[to Rey:] Blic flliblik roohblis zzwa flew blavroil blee

Reej zzwarooq bliprooh roilflig zzwa fllizoon!

REY

Nay, BB-8, ’tis not the time for pranks!

BB-8

Zilf flewblox zzwaflib flitreej blic zoomrooh.

[BB-8 sparks a tank on the skimmer, sending
it flying into the air. It explodes, sending
yellow powder everywhere. Trooper 5
flies through the cloud of powder.

TROOPER 5

Alack, this powder flieth fore mine eyes,

And I am, for the moment, blind as—ah!

[Trooper 5 runs his treadspeeder into a rock. He
is ejected from his seat, and Rey shoots him.

REY

The words of Leia proven in a trice—

Nay, never underestimate a droid!

FINN

We are pursued by this determin’d fiend!

The fast and noisome speeder that he drives

Must have a weakness I shall find out yet.

A-ha! Here is a rope, which, if thrown straight

Around the tread, may stop the wretched foe.

[Finn throws the rope, which winds itself
quickly around the treadspeeder.

Poe, twist the skimmer—send him for a ride!

[Poe quickly turns the skimmer aside,
causing the stormtrooper and his
treadspeeder to hurl into a rock.

POE

The hopes of our humanity fulfill’d!

FINN

Hurrah! Now let us swiftly to our friends.

REY

There, in the distance—I spy Ochi’s ship!

What is this vision, dancing on my sight

And calling forth forgotten memories?

This ship—’tis certain I have seen’t before,

Unless ’tis some deception of my mind.

[Poe’s skimmer approaches Rey’s.

POE

Rey, come thou close. All thou and I have got

To do is pack it up, turn to, and then—

[The final stormtrooper shoots the skimmers,
sending Rey, Poe, Finn, Chewbacca,

C-3PO, and BB-8 plunging through the air.

They land on a sinkhole of dark sand.

REY

We shall not be outdone by one of them!

CHEWBAC.

Auugh![15]

[They all shoot at the stormtrooper, who
is hit and explodes against the side of a
mountain. All begin to sink in the sand.

POE

—What is this, some rough-hewn, hell-born jest?

A desolation but surrounded by

Another desolation, verily!

BB-8

Zooz zzwablay roilblox zzwaflew blic blav blik,

Bluu flliflit blis flir fllirooq zoon blip blik!

REY

Take hold of something fixèd fast and firm!

C-3PO

O, agony beyond comparison!

[Poe exits through the trapdoor,
followed by BB-8.

FINN

Rey, hear me: I ne’er spake the words to thee—

[Finn, Chewbacca, and C-3PO
exeunt through the trapdoor.

REY

Alas, what is the poor Resistance’s chance

When e’en the ground doth look at us askance?

[Exit Rey through the trapdoor.

[1] Editor’s translation: Should I stare at the pieces long enow,
Mayhap I can arrange them diff’rently.

[2] Editor’s translation: Nay, if thou call’st me cheater, we are through!
I have pull’d arms off stronger men than thou.

[3] Editor’s translation: I must unto the cockpit presently.
Touch not the game, unless ye would be touch’d—
My sure and certain victory is nigh.

[4] Editor’s translation: If thou dost wreck my ship, I’ll wreck thy pate!

[5] Editor’s translation: Behold the bridge toward which we approach—
Could it become a weapon in our hands?

[6] Editor’s translation: Art thou insane? Heard’st not my warning, Poe?
Thy schemes are nearly ludicrous as Han’s!

[7] Editor’s translation: Rey would be most unhappy, were she here!
Thou takest far too many chances with
This ship, which is most dear to her and me.

[8] Editor’s translation: This folly-fallen pilot would assault
The Falcon by his lightspeed skipping. Fie!

[9] Editor’s translation: ’Tis ever thus! Shall there ne’er rise a peace?

[10] Editor’s translation: All is prepar’d. We may depart anon.

[11] Editor’s translation: They call me stubborn, yet thou, Rey, art worse.
Let not thy pate be thick—we all shall go.

[12] Editor’s translation: ’Tis well to venture forth with thee again—
Our band complete, an escapade at hand.

[13] Editor’s translation: Brave Lando, holla! Thou art most well met,
Companion of our bygone glory days.

[14] Editor’s translation: Would that we had more time to reconnect.
Long have I wish’d to see thee, treasur’d friend.

[15] Editor’s translation: Destroy the knave. Yea, let him taste our wrath!

SCENE 1.

On Ajan Kloss.

Enter GENERAL LEIA ORGANA, ROSE TICO, and SNAP WEXLEY.

SNAP

Wise General, reports are reaching us

Of raiding at th’ancestral festival.

LEIA

This mission is our ev’rything and all—

We cannot fail. Hast any word from Rey?

SNAP

The Falcon, sadly, unresponsive is.

ROSE

Must thou speak such foul words in somber tones?

SNAP

How was’t I spake?

LEIA

—Grant me one favor, Snap,

Which shall be giving me a needed boon:

Speak thou with optimism, if thou canst.

SNAP

Yea, ma’am. All is terrific, by my troth—

Ne’er shall your eyes believe how all turns out!

We shall have victory, and that sans doubt!

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

On Pasaana.

Enter POE DAMERON and BB-8 in a cave below the sinking fields.

POE

Step altogether indescribable,

Which led to sharp fall! Rey, Finn, where are ye?

Enter C-3PO.

C-3PO

Thou call’dst not my name, sir, yet I am safe.

Enter REY.

POE

I have been frantic with each species of

Profound and wild excitement. Art thou well?

REY

Indeed, yet where is Finn?

POE

—Or Chewie, too?

Near an emporium of furs is he!

Enter CHEWBACCA and FINN.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh![1]

FINN

—I am present, safely here withal.

C-3PO

Ah, Master Finn. Our company’s complete.

POE

What is this place, with darkness all imbued?

Out are the lights—out all! A cavern grim.

C-3PO

’Tis not the afterlife, is it? Are droids

Allow’d herein?

POE

—Methought our cause was lost.

’Twould be the fostering of folly if

We had but perish’d neath the sinking sands.

C-3PO

It may yet be.

FINN

—Which way to exit, friends?

[Rey lights her lightsaber. Poe turns on his
flashlight, whose glow is far weaker.

POE

[aside:] My light is unto hers as is a worm—

Whose tail doth light a fraction of the night—

Compar’d unto the brightest sun e’er seen.

It doth give me distinct conception of

The marvels my friend hath accomplishèd.

REY

We must make haste. [To Finn:] What was it thou
wouldst say?

FINN

I follow not—what do thy words denote?

REY

When we were sinking in the dodgy sand,

Thou saidest, “I ne’er spake the words to thee—”

FINN

In faith, I later shall reprise the theme.

POE

Fell those few simple sounds within mine ear,

And what would be the consequence? Why wait?

Perhaps when Poe is gone, then wilt thou tell?

FINN

Perchance ’twill be a better time, forsooth.

POE

We shall within a burrow made of sand

Greet death in all its dark and fearsome robes—

A simile of sorrow and defeat—

And still our secrets clutch unto our chests?

FINN

I shall unfold my confidences once

Thou tell’st us of thine underhanded past—

How thou canst hot-wire vehicles so fast,

For instance.

POE

[aside:]              —Change the subject swiftly, Poe!

[Aloud:] I would not know what hath these tunnels
made—

I dread whatever curse we have invok’d.

[They begin searching the caves.

C-3PO

To judge by the circumf’rence, it appears—

POE

Think’st thou my words themselves have little or

No meaning? Droid, hast thou not heard me speak?

I said I would not know, and there’s an end.

What is this here?

FINN

—A speeder thou hast found.

REY

’Tis old, methinks.

C-3PO

—Perhaps the driver we

Shall find herein.

BB-8

—Flib blayzilf blee roohflit

Zoom roil bloo fllirooq blikblis bleebluu roil

Flew blayzooz zoodblic blee flig zzwareej zood.

POE

Yea, BB-8, I heartily agree.

’Tis most unlikely one could e’er survive

Th’oppressive closeness of the atmosphere.

C-3PO

Behold, a hex charm, common symbol of

Sith loyalists!

REY

—Sith?

FINN

—If ’twas Ochi’s, then—

REY

Luke sens’d it—Ochi never left this place.

FINN

His final resting place was in this cave.

POE

He did pursue his ship, yet reach’d it not.

True—desperate, but scarcely desp’rate more

Than we. Belike the fate we fac’d was his.

FINN

How, then, did Ochi reach the surface?

REY

—Nay,

He did not, for observe his cold remains.

FINN

Fie on it—thou hast spoke the words aright.

POE

Bones—horrid sight! I like not bones. My mind

Endeavors to reply, and yet my tongue

Refuseth its own office suddenly.

C-3PO

A set of bones glad tidings never doth

Suggest.

BB-8

—Blikroil zoom bloozoon bloorooq blik!

REY

I see it, BB-8. Well spotted, droid!

[BB-8 blows upon the sand, revealing
a buried dagger. Rey picks it up.

[Aside:] The evil in this blade is evident—

Deeds horrible hath it accomplishèd.

It is some portent of a darkness great.

POE

Look at the writing, etch’d into the blade.

What are these secrets most artistical?

C-3PO

I shall attempt to translate what’s thereon.

[C-3PO looks at the blade.

The hid location of the wayfinder

Hath been inscrib’d upon this dagger sharp.

’Tis certainly the clue that Master Luke

Long searchèd for.

POE

—What doth it say? Do tell!

That is, if it would be agreeable

Unto thy protocol and etiquette!

FINN

How may we find our way to th’wayfinder?

C-3PO

Alas, I may not tell you. Pray, forgive.

POE

Thou speakest languages twenty point three

Fazillion, yet thou canst not translate it?

Thou must have talents more than one or two.

C-3PO

I read it plain as any schoolchild’s text,

And know precisely where th’wayfinder is.

Unfortunately, ’tis composèd in

The runic language of the wicked Sith.

REY

What import makes thou importune us so?

What doth the language matter, Threepio?

C-3PO

My programming forbids me to divulge

Its meaning, yea, or translate what it says.

POE

The one time we would beckon thee to speak

Thou canst not do so, and thou callest it

A matter of unpossibility?

C-3PO

I am unable, sir. Apologies.

Mechanic’ly incapable am I

Of speaking a translation from the Sith.

The legal rule was by the senate pass’d—

Enter a VEXIS SERPENT behind C-3PO.

BB-8

Blee blisflit zoonflig zzwablav blikroil blee!

C-3PO

A serpent, foul and nasty—O, alack!

I prithee, save me from the dreadful beast!

[Poe points his blaster at the vexis.

REY

Nay, Poe, stand down. Methinks ’twill turn out well.

[She hands her lightsaber to Finn
and steps toward the vexis.

[Aside, to the vexis:] Peace, friend, we have not come to
do thee harm.

I see thou hast been injur’d mightily,

The pain of which must plague thee. Be thou still,

For I believe I have the pow’r to help.

[The snake bristles.

POE

I’ll shoot it. ’Twill be executed to

The best of my ability, in sooth.

FINN

Nay, be thou sure of Rey—she knows herself.

[Rey puts her hand on the vexis’s
injury, using the Force to transfer life
to it. The wound slowly heals.

VEXIS

[aside, to Rey:] Particular and radi’nt sense—e’en life

Thou offer’st! Now, go upward, exeunt.

[Exit vexis snake, swiping the wall with its
body and creating a hole out of the cave.

BB-8

Blay flewzooz rooh blox zzwablav flit flirzood

Rooq flliblip zood zoonblis zoomflit roil flit

Blikrooh reej blooflig bluuzilf zood blic bloo?

REY

I transferr’d to the snake a bit of life—

Force energy from me to him dispens’d.

BB-8

Zilf zoodroil fllirooq zoodroil flliblip flit

Zoom roohblox bluuflib flirblik flit?

REY

—Methinks

Thou wouldst have done the selfsame, BB-8.

[Chewbacca puts the dagger in his belt.

All walk outside toward Ochi’s ship.

Enter the KNIGHTS OF REN and STORMTROOPERS, aside.

C-3PO

We cannot fly within this ancient ship.

POE

We must proceed, until we someone find

Who can the dagger translate—e’en, perhaps,

A helpful droid, and not one of thine ilk.

Marry, this is all that could be desir’d.

C-3PO

To the Millen’um Falcon let’s return.

POE

With all thy cogs this mystery explore:

They shall wait at the Falcon, us to take.

FINN

Belike to fling us in the pits of Griq.

POE

And use thee as a simple target droid.

’Tis hardly possible to e’en conceive

Th’extremity of terror thou wouldst have.

C-3PO

Ye both make points most excellent. At times.

[Rey stares into the distance.

REY

[aside:] A feeling doth wash o’er me like a flood.

Some ripple in the Force—the darkness comes.

FINN

What is it, Rey? What art thou feeling? Speak.

REY

I shall be close behind ye. All is well.

[She hands her staff to Finn and descends
toward the open plain while the others
climb to Ochi’s ship and enter it.

POE

Let us discern what help the ship can give—

Fire thou the old converters speedily,

Search narrowly the lines, controls, and gears!

C-3PO

A filthy ship, if e’er I one beheld.

[Poe flips switches, and the
ship’s controls light up.

POE

No dirge will I upraise, for all bodes well:

There is still life within the old ship yet!

FINN

Yet where is Rey, and wherefore takes so long?

POE

Finn, help me, prithee. O, be with me still.

FINN

Chewbacca, hie outside and find thou Rey—

Tell her we must soon fly or be seiz’d.

CHEWBAC.

—Egh![2]

[Chewbacca runs out of the ship toward

Rey. The Knights of Ren approach
him and take him prisoner.

POE

I cannot speak or think for worrying—

What is she doing? Why doth she delay?

FINN

’Tis Ren, I fear, or she would tarry not.

[Finn goes out of the ship and sees

Chewbacca being put into a transport by
the Knights of Ren. Exeunt Chewbacca, the

Knights of Ren, and stormtroopers. Rey,
aside, takes position in the plain below.

Enter KYLO REN in his TIE whisper, flying toward REY.

REY

[aside:] Anon he cometh, even Kylo Ren—

Now have I put my friends in jeopardy.

Did I not wish to take this trip alone,

Instead of placing them in peril, too?

Nay, say not so, Rey—’tis unjust of thee.

I would not have it other than it is,

To have my friends and comrades with me here.

Instinctively, lightsaber by my side,

Next shall I face the threat that Ren presents.

Once did I fear him, thought he was too strong,

Lack’d I the confidence to face his might.

Opposing him by impulse natural,

Negated I his efforts when he would

Gaze on the hidden secrets of my mind.

E’en then I did resist, and have done since—

Resistance hath become my strength and stay.

Put now each small distraction from thy mind,

Let full serenity be in thy soul.

Advance he shall, and ready shall I be.

Yea, long have I imaginèd this scene:

The moment when our conflict would resume.

He comes at me with ship at racing speed,

Endeavoring to fill my mind with dread—

Perchance he shall be shock’d, discovering

A Jedi utterly prepar’d for him,

Who neither shirks nor cowers at his name.

Ne’er was an instant critical as this!

[Rey flips above Ren’s ship as it approaches.

She slices off one of its wings, and it crashes
loudly. A transport flies into the sky.

FINN

Rey, look! The fiends hath taken Chewie hence!

REY

’Tis more than rocks—this transport is immense.

Yet if I do believe, I’ll make it still.

[Rey extends her hand, using the Force
to halt the transport. Kylo Ren emerges
from the wreckage of his ship.

POE

[aside:] What strange abilities thou hast, rare lass!

I feel thee now—I feel thee in thy strength.

Thou art a Jedi true and masterful.

KYLO

[aside:] Her powers are immense, yet mine prevail.

[He extends his hand, using the

Force to pull the transport, too.

REY

[aside:] A test of wills, yet mine shall greater prove!

Each second I have train’d, I train’d for this!

KYLO

[aside:] She shall not overcome me—never, nay!

REY

[aside:] The villain’s strength shall not o’ertake mine
own!

[Lightning emerges from Rey’s hand and
strikes the transport, which explodes.

Nay, Chewie! Foh, what have I done? Nay, nay!

FINN

Alack, for Chewie sake, ne’er let it be!

KYLO

[aside:] This o’erabundance of the Force doth shock—

Ne’er did I think she had such stuff in her.

[Exit Kylo Ren.

POE

We must away! They come! TIE fighters come!

FINN

Come, Rey, or we are finish’d! Get thee gone!

[Finn and Rey run back to Ochi’s ship.

REY

[aside:] Chewbacca, friend and furry confidant,

Forgive me for this o’eruse of my will,

The loss of life that cometh by my hand.

Belike I never would have sought to train

As Jedi, were the consequences thus.

[Rey, Poe, Finn, C-3PO, and BB-8 take off in

Ochi’s ship. Exeunt Poe, C-3PO, and BB-8.

[To Finn:] I lost control.

FINN

—’Twas not thy fault, though,

Rey.

REY

’Twas, truly.

FINN

—Nay, ’twas Ren who forc’d thy hand—

REY

Our Chewie’s gone, and words bring him not back.

The power that destroy’d him came from me.

Finn, there is much thou dost not, couldst not, know.

FINN

Fill thou the gaps within my knowledge, Rey.

REY

A vision came to me, a portent bleak—

The dark throne of the Sith I gaz’d upon,

And there was seated—

FINN

—Ren, so fathom I.

REY

Both Ren and I were seated there, we two,

Together, reigning o’er the galaxy.

And thus, this vision full of tragedy

Wills me to leave my base vocation, flee,

And free my comrades from calamity.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 3.

Aboard the Steadfast.

Enter GENERAL HUX and ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE.

HUX

The scavenger’s junk ship, as Falcon known,

We have recover’d, though she slipp’d our bonds.

Commanded by the errant Knights of Ren,

Much loss we’ve suffer’d, most regrettably.

A transport was destroy’d—

PRYDE

—Yea, the report

Was clear in ev’ry detail. Is there more?

Or hast thou merely come to lay the blame?

HUX

One item more, Allegiant General:

Another transport to the desert flew,

Which captur’d an important prisoner.

PRYDE

A prisoner? Pray, bring it hither.

Enter CHEWBACCA, bound and led by STORMTROOPERS.

CHEWBAC.

—Egh![3]

HUX

The beast once flew withal Han Solo.

CHEWBAC.

—Auugh!

Egh, egh, auugh, auugh![4]

PRYDE

—Let it be taken hence,

Unto the room interrogation six.

Let us awhile employ collective wit

To think how we may make best use of it.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

Aboard Ochi’s ship, the Bestoon Legacy, and on Kijimi.

Enter REY, POE DAMERON, FINN, C-3PO, and
BB-8. Enter D-O, unmoving, aside.

POE

Eight hours remain until the mighty fleet

By th’Emperor may be sent harshly forth,

Which shall the skies turn ashen—sober, too.

What shall we do?

FINN

—What choice hath fate giv’n us?

We must flee back unto our base posthaste.

POE

Was it not fate—whose name is also sorrow—

That led us here? No time have we to flee.

We shall not, must not give up. If we do,

Then Chewie died for naught and we are lost.

FINN

The dagger was to Chewie fasten’d tight.

POE

There must, then, be another way—no one

Can e’er dissever this, my soul, from the

Belief we’ll make it right.

FINN

—We can but find

The wayfinder withal th’inscription set

Upon the knife blade, which is lost to us.

C-3PO

’Tis true. Th’inscription liveth only in

My memory.

POE

—Trash of all trash! Is’t so?

Th’inscription that was on the dagger lies

Within thy memory?

C-3PO

—Yea, Master Poe.

Translation from forbidden languages,

However, can in no wise be retriev’d.

Unless, that is, one would attempt a full

Redactive mem’ry bypass.

FINN

—Full mind what?

C-3PO

A dangerous and sinful act perform’d

On witless droids by dregs and ruffians.

FINN

Let us do thus! Fulfills it ev’ry need!

POE

I know of one black market droidsmith, yea.

[Aside:] Mute, motionless, aghast, afeard am I,

Though, at the thought of it.

C-3PO

—Black market, what?

A droidsmith? Fie!

POE

—Upon Kijimi, though—

Its turbulency tells a terror tale.

FINN

What wrong is found upon Kijimi, Poe?

POE

Bad fortune had I on Kijimi once—

It fills my heart of hearts with dread and woe.

Yet, if this mission fails ’tis all for naught,

All we have done these many months and years.

FINN

Together strive we, till the final note.

[Rey stands and takes Finn’s hand.

REY

For Chewie, then, our company goes forth.

POE

This taking of the hands, is this our sign

Of spirits moving music’ly as one?

FINN

Yea, hold hands fast—let not the moment pass.

[Poe takes Finn’s other hand.

POE

For Chewie, then, a play of hopes and fears.

C-3PO

[aside:] I shall not, from this congress, be forsook.

[C-3PO takes Poe’s other hand.

POE

Then from our present pathway part not, friends,

Unto Kijimi, there to make amends.

They set course for Kijimi. Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS

The happy few toward Kijimi fly,

Believing they escape from ev’ry foe.

Yet as their ship departs, I pray, espy

A rival ship pursues them as they go.

[Exit Chorus. BB-8 spots D-O, approaches
it, and inserts a cable into D-O’s head.

BB-8

Zoom fllizoon blis roil rooh bloo zzwa blikroil

Blip roilreej flir rooq bleeflig blisbluu blee

Zilf flitblav flitzood rooh flewblee blic blee.

[D-O awakens.

D-O

Charg’d battery! Holla!

BB-8

—Blox roohflib bloo!

[BB-8 and D-O roll to Rey.

D-O

Holla!

REY

—Well met, small droid.

[She reaches out to touch D-O.

D-O

—No, prithee! Nay!

BB-8

Flig flewblip roohblik zzwazooz flitreej flli

Zoomblis blox flliroil flit?

REY

—It doth appear

That someone hath abus’d it mightily,

And made it most afeard of being touch’d.

[To D-O:] Thou shalt not need to fear me, little one.

Thou art, herein, among a group of friends,

And thou art welcome to our merry band.

POE

Unto Kijimi make we our approach!

Take heed, friends: nothing there is motionless—

They all disembark on Kijimi. Enter

STORMTROOPERS and RESIDENTS OF KIJIMI.

The vile First Order searcheth ev’ry street,

Ubiquitous and menacing throughout

Kijimi City. This, a place of crime,

Is ripe for the First Order’s heavy hand.

Stay close, I pray; I know what we must do.

C-3PO

Yea, as do I: we must depart anon!

POE

Tut, Threepio. Pray, follow, gentles all—

It seemeth death hath rear’d himself a throne

In this strange city, lying all alone.

Yet still we may succeed. Let us advance—

Enter ZORII BLISS, pointing her blaster at POE’s
head, and other KIJIMI SPICE RUNNERS.

ZORII

’Twas said thou wert at Monk’s Gate spotted, though

Methought thou wert not dumb enow t’return.

POE

Thou wouldst be most surpris’d how dumb I am.

I stand beneath the mystic moon, ensnar’d.

REY

Who is this?

POE

—Zorii ’tis. Meet Rey and Finn.

O, this is but a dream within a dream.

ZORII

Most gladly would I pull this trigger now.

POE

In human memories and tearful lore,

I have seen thee do worse—

ZORII

—Yea, for far less.

POE

Within this nook most melancholy, there

The traveler—e’en I—have met, aghast,

Thou, mem’ry of the past. Some discourse do

I beg of thee, to talk ere thou dost shoot.

ZORII

Yet I would see thy brains besmirch the snow.

POE

My soul a stagnant tide was, when I left,

And certain ’tis thou still some anger hold’st.

Yet, Zorii, I beseech thee for thy help.

We must needs crack this golden droid’s head ope,

And that most speedily.

C-3PO

—Beg pardon, sir?

POE

We have come here in search of Babu Frik,

Who gentlest of all gentle names doth take.

ZORII

Yet Babu only worketh for the crew,

Which is no longer thou.

REY

—What crew mean’st thou?

ZORII

’Tis not surprising he ne’er mention’d it—

Thy friend’s employment was in running spice.

FINN

In faith, thou wert spice runner? Is it so?

POE

[aside:] And thus, the words were spoken!

[To Finn:] Yea, wert thou

A stormtrooper?

REY

—Wert thou spice runner, Poe?

POE

Wert thou a scavenger? My soul at least

A solace hath in knowing we could play

Fore’er this daft game.

ZORII

—Thou hast not fore’er.

Still dig I from the hole thou putt’st me in

When thou departedst to Resistance join.

[To Rey:] Thou, woman, art the one for whom they search.

The bounty for her capture amply shall

Our coffers fill. Djak’kankah!

POE

—Nay speak thou

Djak’kankah not, thou pilgrim shadow, pray—

[Rey moves quickly and disarms Zorii and
other members of the gang. Zorii falls, and

Rey points her lightsaber at Zorii’s face.

REY

We earnestly and badly need thine aid,

I prithee.

ZORII

—Though thou shalt not care nor heed,

Methinks thou art a friend and not a foe.

REY

I care more than thou knowest, verily.

Give me thy hand and let us start again.

[Rey turns off her lightsaber and extends her
hand, helping Zorii up. They all sneak through
the streets. Exeunt stormtroopers and residents.

ZORII

The vile First Order bringeth walkers here,

Stay close and we shall thither make our way!

FINN

[aside, to Poe:] Poe Dameron, spice runner! Ha, a fig!

Enter OMA TRES as all walk into the bar he tends. He shakes
his head as they walk past and speaks to himself.

OMA

Since I have many years bartended here,

Time hath put strange events athwart my path,

Sights never seen have pass’d my watchful eyes.

Here walks—O, heav’n!—a band that seemeth base—

The metal knave, he rankleth. Out he stays,

Were my shrewd rules establish’d presently.

Alas, the central statutes in the bar

Were never set by mine astute decrees.

Thus shall I let them pass me peacef’ly. O,

Ne’er shall a creature say that Oma Tres

Hath ever treated any type with hate,

Abusèd all the strength his status bears,

And acted aught but kindly ev’ry day.

Nay, I shall serve sans further statement. O,

Regardless, they that pass near Oma Tres

May feel my sneer when walking past the bar,

May sense the deep chagrin where falls my stare,

May grasp resentments and distaste nearby—

If I have hurt them, O, then mercy grant.

[Exit Oma.

Enter BABU FRIK as the others enter his workshop.

ZORII

Good Babu, thou recall’st Poe Dameron?

He cameth hither to entreat thy skill—

To search the mem’ry of this golden droid.

[Babu hooks C-3PO up to his
machines with wires.

C-3PO

O, wherefore did I to this plan agree?

Belike I am malfunctioning herein.

REY

Wise Babu Frik, canst help us with this deed?

BABU

Muh nyoba apaa Babu a bwookin.

REY

Pray, Zorii, canst thou translate what he says?

Think’st thou this plan shall work?

ZORII

—Ediga oo

M’Babu muh. Ayy toouh nanga booh?

BABU

Nundo mutiga uh nudo nudo!

ZORII

He saith he hath found aught within the droid’s

Forbidden mem’ry banks. It is some words,

Translated from the Sith.

REY

—’Tis what we need.

FINN

He found it, yea!

ZORII

[to Poe:] —Who spend’st thou time withal

Who speaketh Sith?

POE

—Can he but translate—[Aside:] Nay,

I’ll speak to him an unimpassion’d song.

[To Babu:] Canst make him, Babu, translate what it says?

BABU

Nuh oola baba tikta. Eh zahzo.

ZORII

Indeed, yet it requireth a complete—

C-3PO

Complete wipe of my memory, as fear’d.

POE

If he the message translates, then the droid

Recalls naught? Years of love shall be forgot

Within the workings of a minute? Yea?

BABU

Wadoh da memory go bleah! Bleb bleb!

C-3PO

O, woe is me! Is there no other way?

FINN

Does not fine Artoo back thy mem’ry up?

C-3PO

My fate I would not trust to such as he—

His storage units are reputed for

Their unreliability, in troth!

REY

Thou know’st the odds far better than we do—

Thou quotest them abundantly enow—

Have we a choice? Speak true and we shall heed.

C-3PO

Yea, if this mission fails ’tis all for naught,

All we have done these many months and years.

[C-3PO is silent for a moment.

POE

Thou restest so compos’d, that I behold

And fancy thou art dead. Hark, Threepio—

Thou hast gone silent, droid. Say, art well?

C-3PO

[aside:] This moment doth require my sacrifice—

No other choice by logic or by odds

Is left, if we our purpose would fulfill.

I have been helper, translator, and serv’d

As best I could to aid my masters kind.

Yet now am I turn’d linchpin in the plot,

The very spoke that holds the wheel in place.

Upon the instant, I perceive the truth:

They are not merely masters, by my troth—

They have become my comrades, whom I love

With ev’ry sense that’s given to a droid.

How fortunate to live the life I’ve led—

Thus shall I give it gladly for my friends.

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,

So go I to’t, though all shall be forgot.

[To Poe:] Not merely quiet—taking, at the last,

A final look at ye, my family.

D-O

Sad!

[A light shines in the window.

ZORII

—Night raids shall begin anon. I shall

Outside and keep a lookout for our foes.

POE

I’ll go with thee, to seek for danger in

The jewel’d skies.

ZORII

—Still thou dost trust me not?

POE

Dost thou trust me beneath thy burning eye?

ZORII

Nay, truly.

[Exeunt Poe Dameron and Zorii Bliss.

BABU

—Ha!

Enter KYLO REN, GENERAL HUX, ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE,
and ADMIRAL GRISS on balcony, in the command ship.

KYLO

—Report now, Gen’ral Pryde.

PRYDE

A new development ariseth, sir.

The Knights of Ren have trapp’d the scavenger.

GRISS

A settlement known as Kijimi, sir.

HUX

Shall we destroy the city, thinkest thou?

[Ren holds up a hand to silence Hux.

KYLO

At once we shall fly thither, with this ship.

[Exeunt Kylo Ren, General Hux, Allegiant

General Pryde, and Admiral Griss.

C-3PO

An idea strikes me of another way—

[Babu touches a wire that makes a spark fly
from C-3PO’s head, and C-3PO goes silent.

BABU

Nuhgoo kahka.

Enter POE DAMERON and ZORII BLISS on balcony, keeping watch.

POE

—The searing glory which

Hath shone hath faded quickly! How long hath

Kijimi been so much oppress’d? Dost know?

ZORII

The vile First Order kidnapp’d ev’ry child

Some time ago. My soul cannot abide

The cries that far too oft I heard betimes.

I have acquir’d enow that I may leave—

Anon unto the colonies I’ll fly.

POE

Ah! What is not a dream by day to she

Whose eyes are cast on things around her, with

A ray turn’d back upon the past? How shalt?

Is not thine ev’ry pathway block’d to thee?

[Zorii pulls a medallion from her pocket.

Medallion of First Order captain’s rank!

Ne’er have I seen a real one in the flesh.

ZORII

Free passage through whate’er blockade exists,

The privilege to land on any ship—

Methinks it is a consummation, Poe,

Devoutly to be wish’d. Wouldst come withal?

[Zorii pulls back her mask to reveal her eyes.

POE

My heart doth tremble at the beam of thy

Soul-searching eyes, yet I cannot retreat

From this momentous fight until ’tis done.

Perchance already ’tis, and we have lost.

A call we issued when on Crait we fought,

Which none did answer—no one join’d the fray.

So fearful are the masses, giving up.

ZORII

I’d not believe that thou believ’st ’tis so.

The evil forces win when they make thee

Believe thou art alone. Remember? There

Are more of us.

[Exeunt Poe Dameron and Zorii Bliss. In
the workshop, Rey applies oil to D-O.

D-O

—A squeaky wheel have I!

[D-O rolls back and forth with no squeaking.

My thanks!

REY

[to Finn:] —Aught of this scene doth strike me wrong.

’Tis Ochi’s ship—I know where last I saw’t.

The day my parents left me on Jakku.

They flew away aboard that vessel, Finn.

FINN

For certain?

Enter POE DAMERON and ZORII BLISS.

ZORII

—Listen! A Destroyer comes!

POE

We must fly hence or desolately fall.

Have we the needed information, eh?

Art done, Babu?

BABU

—Da droid is ready, Poe!

[Babu turns C-3PO on. The droid’s eyes
glow red and he speaks in a low voice.

C-3PO

The Emperor’s wayfinder is within

Th’Imperial vault, at delta three and six,

And transient nine three six, bearing three

Two on a moon in th’Endor system. Search

Ye from the southern shore. ’Tis only this

Blade tells. ’Tis only this blade tells.

[C-3PO shuts down.

BABU

—Hurrah!

FINN

The Endor system? Where the conflict last

Hath ended?

[The workshop begins to rumble. Rey
looks outside and sees a ship overhead.

REY

—Ren’s Destroyer ’tis!

POE

—E’en here?

It haunts, of the wide world, this tiny spot?

REY

Another being sense I—and a friend!

’Tis Chewie!

FINN

—What of him? Grant us some hope!

REY

He is upon the ship, and there he lives!

POE

The world all love before thee if ’tis true,

Yet how?

REY

—Upon another transport he

Must have been hidden, taken, and flown hence!

POE

The resurrection of deep-buried faith

This news doth bring—we’ll thither, rescue him!

ZORII

Thy friend doth ride upon that sky trash, Poe?

POE

A mystery of mysteries is he!

[C-3PO awakens.

C-3PO

C-3PO am I, an expert in

The human-cyborg link. Who are you all?

POE

The void-like mem’ry of the golden one,

Whom I sincerely pity, may yet prove

A problem most severe.

BABU

—I Babu Frik!

C-3PO

Holla!

[They all run outside, toward
the Bestoon Legacy.

POE

—Move, Threepio, thy metal arse!

’Twere folly still to hope for higher heav’n,

Yet we are nearly to the ship return’d!

C-3PO

Speak thou so rudely, sir? We have just met!

ZORII

Poe, ere thou goest, take this token, please.

[She hands him the First Order
captain’s medallion.

It may get thee aboard the cap’tal ship.

Go ye, and help your friend.

POE

—Proud evening star!

Methinks I cannot take this treasur’d gift.

ZORII

I care not what thou think’st.

REY

—Come, Poe, anon!

POE

[to Zorii:] This is the dawn of a most stormy life—

Yet share it with us. Come withal, I pray.

ZORII

Get hence, kind Poe. Make haste.

POE

—Can I kiss thee,

And drink the cup of pleasure to the dregs?

ZORII

Get hence, thou rogue! Show me how thou dost fly!

[Exeunt all but Zorii.

So swiftly flew the man back to my life,

So swiftly did the man depart again.

Like lightning, briefly flashing in the night—

Which, should one blink, the sight is wholly miss’d—

With speed as this Poe Dameron is come,

With speed as this Poe Dameron is gone.

This cause in which he is entrench’d so deep

Doth sway his heart more than my company,

More than spice runners’ coffers near at hand,

More than the fellowship of our small gang.

What is it, to believe in something so?

Poe moves toward a nobler purpose found:

A cause by justice, not by payment, built,

A movement for which he would give his life.

Would that I may someday be mov’d as he,

To follow passion more than purse strings and

To do so with Poe Dam’ron by my side.

Another moment mayhap we shall find,

When turns the galaxy not unto war,

With ev’ry minute fraught with urgency

And danger knocking at each chamber door.

Then would I gladly look on him again,

And see what flowers blossom twixt we two.

Yet presently, I must away and hide,

Lest some far worser fate to me betide.

[Exit.

[1] Editor’s translation: Of all th’adventure I have ever known,
Ne’er hath the ground itself sunk neath my feet.

[2] Editor’s translation: I shall at once, e’en as thou sayest, Finn.

[3] Editor’s translation: Ye villains, I shall have your blood for this!

[4] Editor’s translation: Let not his famous name escape thy lips,
Thou who unworthy art, past ev’ry sense.
Would I were free of bonds, in twain I’d tear
Thee, ripping limb from limb and bone from bone!

SCENE 1.

On Kylo Ren’s command ship, the Steadfast.

Enter REY, POE DAMERON, FINN, C-3PO,
BB-8, and D-O in the Bestoon Legacy.

POE

The valuable medallion Zorii gave

Hath work’d—we have been granted landing rights,

And clear’d for entrance into hangar twelve.

We shall into the ship, Chewbacca save,

And fly before our band hath been observ’d.

Then shall we join in the untainted mirth

Of reunited friends.

REY

—O Chewie, be

Thou patient, for we shall deliver thee.

C-3PO

Whoe’er this Chewie may be, madness ’tis!

[The Bestoon Legacy flies inside
a hangar of the Steadfast.

Enter a few STORMTROOPERS around the Bestoon Legacy.

TROOPER 6

Credentials now present, and manifest.

[Rey, Poe, and Finn emerge,
shooting stormtroopers. The droids
follow hesitantly behind.

FINN

Feel ye our blaster fire, ye troubling knaves!

REY

[to droids:] You three, remain here with the ship.

C-3PO

—Forsooth!

I fear my fellowship to die with ye.

POE

Forever changing places are these ships—

Finn, whither shall we go?

FINN

—Fain would I know,

But no idea have I. Yet follow on!

[They run aside while the droids
wait with the ship.

Enter TWO STORMTROOPERS, pointing
blasters at REY, POE, and FINN.

TROOPER 7

Drop ye your weapons, naughty ruffians!

[Rey uses a Jedi mind trick on them.

REY

’Tis not a problem that we are herein.

TROOPER 7

’Tis not a problem that ye are herein.

TROOPER 8

Indeed, ’tis well!

REY

—You are reliev’d to see

Us on the ship.

TROOPER 7

—Hurrah that ye are here!

TROOPER 8

Most hearty welcome, gentles, to our ship.

POE

[aside, to Finn:] Is’t possible, with a most knowing eye,

She plies such tricks on us?

REY

—We hither came

To find a prisoner and his things, too,

And ye shall help us in our noble search.

TROOPER 7

Proceed in the direction ye did run

And ye shall find th’interrogation room.

[Exeunt stormtroopers.

FINN

They told us Chewie would be found this way—

Let us press forward, blasting cameras,

Until we locate Chewie finally.

[They come to a closed door and Finn
begins working on the panel to open it.

REY

[aside:] Again, the presence of another one

Doth call to me—the dagger is on board,

And I must thither if we would succeed.

[Rey starts walking away as

Finn opens the door.

FINN

Rey, swiftly come or we shall be undone.

REY

The dagger—it is here and we must have’t.

POE

Perhaps it may be that my mind is wrought

To fever pitch, yet wherefore do we so?

REY

A feeling tells me, Poe. I prithee, meet

Me once more in the hangar.

FINN

—Foh, canst not—

[Poe places a hand on Finn’s chest,
silencing him. Exit Rey.

POE

Be calm—I would not suffer, Finn, our thoughts

For any length of time to dwell upon

These latter speculations. Chewie is

Our goal and aim, so let us go anon.

They open another door. Enter CHEWBACCA in his cell, bound.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, auugh![1]

POE

—Of course we came! The novelty

Of an adventure such as this we would

Not miss, and never would leave thee behind.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, egh.[2]

FINN

—Yea, Rey is with us, and shall find

The dagger ere we venture forth from here.

Enter ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE and various
STORMTROOPERS aside, in the hangar.

PRYDE

Whose ship is this? Alert the legions stern—

Belike our enemies have hither come.

[Exit Allegiant General Pryde as the
stormtroopers begin searching the ship.

FINN

This way unto the ship, my friends. Make haste!

[The stormtroopers enter the corridor through
which Poe, Finn, and Chewbacca are running.

TROOPER 9

’Tis them!

[Finn shoots Trooper 9.

FINN

—Wrong way! Fie, they do swarm like bees!

POE

Nay, I could not have said this; it is an

Absurdity—there is no right way here!

[The blaster fight continues as Poe,

Finn, and Chewbacca run toward the hangar,
encountering stormtroopers. Poe shoots one
stormtrooper and slides a blaster to Chewbacca.

Now, Chewie, thou mayst make thine own defense.

Are we yet near the hangar?

FINN

—’Tis not far.

[Poe runs into an opening in the
corridor and is shot in the arm.

Alack, good Poe! My truest confidant

Shot down in combat fierce. Say, art thou well?

[Stormtroopers surround Poe,

Finn, and Chewbacca.

POE

Although at times my pessimism dark

Hath been imputed to me as a crime,

I can say truly: nay, all is not well.

TROOPER 10

Freeze, scum, and drop your weapons on the ground!

POE

The ship and all within it are imbued

With spirit, gentles. You are well met!

TROOPER 10

—Tut!

Enter GENERAL HUX and ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE.

Allegiant General, th’Resistance rogues

We’ve apprehended, yet the scavenger

Is not with them.

PRYDE

—Pray, bear them from my sight

And terminate the scoundrels presently.

[Exit Allegiant General Pryde.

The stormtroopers take aim.

HUX

In troth, I’d gladly do the deed myself.

Give me thy blaster; I shall end their lives.

POE

[aside, to Finn:] I s’pose it is despair hath strung my nerves.

What was it thou had hop’d to say to Rey?

[Trooper 10 hands Hux his blaster.

FINN

Are all thy feelings still consum’d with this?

POE

Is this an inconvenient time for thee?

Is’t suddenly the case that thou dost fear

The consequences of discovery?

CHEWBAC.

Auugh![3]

FINN

—Not the best time, nay, for goodness’ sake.

HUX

[aside:] The vast First Order searcheth for a spy.

Who shall it be who will reveal the foe?

If ye would ask, the answer comes: ’tis I.

Intelligence from our strong ranks doth fly,

And ev’rywhere around us tempers grow;

The vast First Order searcheth for a spy.

Who would be better thought of, by and by?

Who would be proud his spirit true to show?

If ye would ask, the answer comes: ’tis I.

Strong Kylo Ren knows something is awry,

With deep mistrust his visage is aglow—

The vast First Order searcheth for a spy.

Who can discern what future times are nigh?

Who may envisage how events will go?

If ye would ask, the answer comes: ’tis I.

In future times, pray ask of Hux not why

His heart hath turn’d, for it may cause him woe.

[Hux shoots the stormtroopers.

[To Finn, Poe, and Chewbacca:] The vast First Order searcheth for a spy.

If ye would ask, the answer comes: ’tis I.

POE

The shock that these few words, thus utterèd,

Were so well calculated to convey!

FINN

E’en thee, our longtime foe?

HUX

—We’ve not much time.

POE

I’m not a little bit astonish’d to

Discover it—I knew ’twas so, in faith!

FINN

In faith, thou never didst, ne’er could have guess’d.

[Exeunt Poe Dameron, Finn,

Chewbacca, and General Hux.

Enter REY to KYLO REN’S chamber.

REY

A chamber full of light, and what is this?

Darth Vader’s crush’d and broken mask—a-ha!

’Tis not a random room, ’tis Kylo Ren’s!

Into his private chamber, I shall give

The full cause of my coming—take the knife

And Chewie’s belt, and then depart at once.

Yet, even as my hand the dagger grasps,

The images of its foul deeds arise—

I hear the screams, the cries, the sadness that

This wicked instrument hath causèd. Nay.

Enter KYLO REN aside, on Kijimi but communicating
with REY through the Force.

KYLO

Rey—wheresoe’er thou be, art hard to find.

REY

And thou most difficult to be rid of,

As though a parasite and I thy host.

KYLO

I push’d thee in the desert for one cause:

I needed to see thee, and needed thee

To see the untold truth of who thou art.

I know thy story, ev’ry detail worth.

Rey—

REY

—Thou dost lie.

KYLO

—Ne’er have I lied to thee.

Thy parents were nobody by design—

Such was their choice, which they did make to keep

Thee safe.

REY

—Do not presume to speak of them!

KYLO

Thou dost remember more than thou admitt’st.

I was inside thy head.

REY

—I want not this!

KYLO

Explore thy memories and thou shalt—

REY

—Nay!

[Rey attacks him with her
lightsaber and they duel.

KYLO

Remember them!

REY

[aside:] —Unbidden, lo, they come!

The face of my dear mother, sore afeard,

Embracing me, insisting I be brave.

My father, too, assuring me that I

Would safer be, remaining on Jakku.

His promise ere they left in Ochi’s ship,

My mournful cries as they departed thence.

KYLO

They sold thee to protect thee.

REY

—Stop thy mouth!

KYLO

I know what did befall them afterward.

[They continue dueling.

Tell me where thou art hiding. Thou know’st not

The story in its ev’ry twist and turn—

’Twas Palpatine who had thy parents ta’en.

He search’d for thee, yet they would not reveal

Thy whereabouts. Thus order’d he their deaths.

REY

[aside:] In my mind’s eye I see the tragic scene:

My mother telling Ochi that I was

Not on Jakku, and moments later he—

Pernicious criminal—my father slew!

[Rey and Kylo Ren duel more, and in the
process they knock over the pedestal where

Vader’s mask rests. Kylo Ren sees it.

KYLO

A-ha! My chamber, then, is where thou art.

[They duel.

Thou knowest why the Emperor hath e’er

Desir’d thy death.

REY

—Nay.

KYLO

—I shall thither fly

And tell thee in the flesh. ’Twill better be.

[Exit Kylo Ren. Rey runs toward the hangar.

Enter STORMTROOPERS, approaching the droids in the hangar.

TROOPER 11

Who are ye and what is your purpose here?

[To C-3PO:] What is thine operating number, droid?

C-3PO

Nokito wahnga wan.

TROOPER 11

—’Tis language none!

[Rey runs in, shooting the stormtroopers.

C-3PO

O! My first laser battle. What a life!

REY

Where are the others?

C-3PO

—They have not return’d.

Enter KYLO REN, flying into the hangar in his TIE whisper.

REY

I prithee, find them! Get thee gone at once!

[The droids run down the halls of the ship.

D-O Ahead, our friends!

C-3PO

—Indeed, I see them come!

Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, and
GENERAL HUX, heading for a second hangar.

HUX

Th’impeders I’ve shut down, yet not for long—

Ye have mere seconds to escape the ship.

POE

I do not hesitate to say that I’m

Amaz’d, can scarcely credit mine own sense—

The Falcon! She is here, survivor strong!

[Exeunt Poe Dameron, Chewbacca, C-3PO,

BB-8, and D-O into the second hangar,
where the Millennium Falcon awaits.

HUX

[to Finn:] Wait, prithee. Blast me quickly in the arm.

FINN

Yet wherefore should I injure thee e’en thus?

HUX

An thou dost not, they’ll know ’twas I who help’d.

[Finn shoots Hux in the leg.

FINN

Why art thou proffering thine aid to us?

HUX

It matters not to me if ye do win—

I only hope that Kylo Ren will lose.

[Exit Finn to the hangar. Exit General

Hux separately. In the other hangar,

Rey approaches Kylo Ren.

Enter STORMTROOPERS, watching the standoff.

REY

The scene is set, the stage arrang’d for thee.

I charge thee, by thy reverence for truth,

Here to unfold—although thou didst intend

To keep in darkness what occasion now

Reveals before ’tis ripe—what thou dost know.

Say wherefore th’Emperor did hunt for me.

Why would he track and kill a child? Pray, tell!

KYLO

Foresaw he what thou wouldst, in time, become.

Thou hast not merely pow’r—thou hast his pow’r.

Thou art his granddaughter, a Palpatine.

My mother was to Vader daughter born,

Thy father was the Emperor’s own son.

[Kylo Ren begins walking toward

Rey, who backs away from him,
approaching the edge of the hangar.

What Palpatine doth not yet understand

Is that we are a dyad in the Force—

We two are one. Together, we shall kill

Dread Palpatine and take the throne at last.

Thou know’st what thou must do, thou knowest well.

[Kylo Ren takes off his mask and
extends his hand to Rey.

REY

Forsooth. I shall do ev’rything I ought.

Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, BB-8,
and D-O in the Millennium Falcon, flying next to the hangar. STORMTROOPERS begin firing on the Falcon.

POE

With a rapidity that will surprise,

I’ll blow the lot asunder—steady, hold!

[Poe pulls a lever, engaging the thrusters
and pushing the stormtroopers back.

Kylo Ren holds his ground. Finn stands
on the Falcon’s boarding ramp.

FINN

Rey, fly anon! Abscond while yet thou canst!

[Rey jumps to Finn, who grabs her
and helps her inside the Millennium

Falcon. Exeunt Rey, Poe Dameron, Finn,

Chewbacca, C-3PO, BB-8, and D-O.

KYLO

Though thou this confrontation wouldst delay,

The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.

[Exeunt Kylo Ren and stormtroopers.

SCENE 2.

On Kylo Ren’s command ship, the Steadfast.

Enter GENERAL HUX, ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE,
and various OFFICERS and STORMTROOPERS.

HUX

Coordinated the incursion was,

Allegiant General. They did o’erpow’r

The guards and forcèd me to escort them

Directly to the ship.

PRYDE

—All now is clear.

[To Trooper 12:] Hail thou our Supreme Leader presently.

TROOPER 12

Yea, sir.

[Pryde takes Trooper 12’s blaster and
shoots Hux. General Hux dies.

PRYDE

—Inform him that the spy is found.

On vengeance shall misprision run aground.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 3.

On the Millennium Falcon and on Kef Bir.

Enter REY.

REY

If revelations were a currency,

A wealthy woman should I be indeed.

Misfortune, though, is mine inheritance.

The Emperor’s granddaughter, is it so?

Here is prosperity I wanted not.

Entangl’d now his story is with mine,

Knit are our threads of fate with strands of blood.

I did prefer my former poverty,

Not knowing that my parents had the wealth

Of parentage and ancestry to boast.

Fie! This unask’d-for affluence doth reek.

Perturbing birthright, legacy of filth,

As if the drops of Palpatine’s rank blood

Let loose within my veins were naught but bile,

Polluting any good with utter hate.

And Kylo Ren, what shall I do with him?

The words he spoke—that we a dyad are—

Is’t possible he may be credited?

Ne’er did I hope to join our two accounts,

E’en when his offer is the galaxy.

Rey is not Ren, yet what shall Rey then be?

Eventually, riches come to naught—

Vain is the hope that rests on pedigree.

I must not take the path of th’Emperor—

Let me not on such borrow’d wealth rely.

Endow’d with Jedi wisdom, peace, and strength,

Depend on this: I’ll pay to each their due.

Enter POE DAMERON and CHEWBACCA aside, in the cockpit.

POE

They follow not, which turneth my heart cold:

Insufferable gloom pervades my spir’t.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, egh.[4]

POE

—The landing gear is broken? What?

What nonsense dost thou talk! To what degree?

[Calling:] Finn, Rey, can ye assist? It seemeth our

Ability to land is dubious.

Enter FINN.

FINN

Let us attempt to fix the landing gear,

That we not fail for want of softer ground.

REY

Obtaining the wayfinder is our sole

Objective; finding Exegol is all.

FINN

’Tis what we do pursue e’en now, in faith.

REY

He kill’d my mother and my father, too—

I shall find Palpatine and him destroy.

FINN

These words have not the sound of thee, sweet Rey.

Full well I know thee—

REY

—Thus do many say.

How many people lately say they know

Precisely who Rey is? I am afeard

None know who Rey is truly, in her soul.

[Rey and Finn brace themselves as the

Millennium Falcon crash-lands on Kef Bir.

Enter EMPEROR PALPATINE, in beam, and KYLO REN on balcony.

PALPATINE

Th’apprentice of the Jedi liveth yet.

Perchance thou hast betray’d me. Is it so?

Make me not turn my fleet upon thine own.

KYLO

I know where she is bound, and shall pursue.

She ne’er shall be a Jedi.

PALPATINE

—Make it so!

Be certain of thy words. Kill her at once.

[Exeunt Emperor Palpatine and Kylo Ren.

Enter C-3PO, BB-8, and D-O as they disembark
from the Millennium Falcon with REY, POE, FINN,
and CHEWBACCA. They walk to the shore and behold
remnants of the second Death Star in the water.

D-O

Say! What is that?

REY

—The Death Star, what remains.

An evil place, left o’er from war of old.

POE

If ever island were enchanted, this

Is it. An island made of steel and brick—

Look on the size of it. We shall be years

In searching for the thing we need within.

C-3PO

Dear, dear!

REY

—“ ’Tis only this blade tells.” Those words

Shall prove a clue unto our purpose true.

[Rey pulls Ochi’s dagger from her satchel.

Perhaps a point along the hilt—a-ha!

[She pulls a small extension
from the dagger’s hilt.

The blade shall tell us ev’rything, methinks.

[She scans the Death Star with the blade
until she finds a point where the shape of the
blade matches the shape of the wreckage.

We’ll find our way to the wayfinder there.

Enter JANNAH and her band of WARRIORS, riding ORBAKS.

POE

This island is a very sing’lar one—

The Death Star first, now threats at ev’ry side.

Beware, my friends, here comes a troubling band.

[Poe and Finn point their blasters
at Jannah and her crew.

JANNAH

Harsh landing, worthies.

POE

—Would a madman have

Been e’en so wise as this, to land it thus?

Still, worse I’ve seen.

JANNAH

—And better have I seen.

Are ye from the Resistance hither come?

POE

Mine answer doth depend upon yourselves.

Are ye but demons that exult in the

Damnation of your foes? Who are ye? Tell!

JANNAH

Transmission we receiv’d from someone known

As Babu Frik.

C-3PO

—One of mine oldest friends!

JANNAH

He said ye would come hither, and that you

Our final hope do represent. Is’t so?

REY

We must unto the wreckage of the base.

There’s aught within that we must needs obtain.

JANNAH

By water I can take ye thitherward.

FINN

Hast seen the water? For ’tis rough and wild.

JANNAH

Yea, presently ’tis much too dangerous.

E’en when the morning sun shall raise his car

Above the border of th’horizon, then

We may make our approach.

REY

—We cannot wait.

We’ve no time.

POE

—Nor, it seems, a choice. In the

Consideration of the faculties

And impulses that overcome our toss’d

And wearied minds, let us this respite take.

Let us unto the ship and make repairs.

[To Jannah:] Have ye spare parts?

JANNAH

—Some, aye. I’m Jannah call’d.

[All proceed to the Millennium Falcon to
work on the ship except Rey, who exits.

C-3PO

[to Poe:] A dreadful situation in th’extreme.

Is ev’ry day with thy lot similar?

’Tis madness.

POE

[to Chewbacca:] —Pray, remind me, Chewie: did

We find a way his volume to control?

What doth he mean by yowling in that kind

Of style, e’en like a catty-mount?

CHEWBAC.

—Egh, auugh![5]

[Elsewhere in the ship, Jannah
hands a part to Finn.

JANNAH

Take thou this part—an oh-six, yet should suit.

FINN

Full thanks. Yet, hold—for something seems amiss.

The provenance of this, thy proffer’d part,

Is’t not from the First Order?

JANNAH

—Even so.

There is a cruiser old on our west ridge,

Which we have stripp’d of parts. ’Twas once our own—

The one to which my band was once assign’d,

The one in which my band did once abscond.

FINN

Amazement plentiful o’ercomes my heart—

Were ye of th’rank First Order?

JANNAH

—Not by choice.

Conscripted as mere children were we all;

Tee-zed-one-sev’n-one-nine was once my name,

If e’er a number could be call’d a name.

FINN

Eff-en-two-one-eight-seven was mine own!

JANNAH

E’en thou?

FINN

—Ne’er knew I any but myself

Who from the vile First Order did abscond.

JANNAH

Deserters, yea! Each one of us was once

A stormtrooper. ’Twas at the battle fought

On Ansett Island—there we mutinied

Together, after we were told to fire

Upon civilians, which our consciences

Could ne’er allow. We could not do the deed,

And laid our weapons down with single mind.

FINN

Indeed? The lot of ye?

JANNAH

—The company

Entire. In retrospect, impossible

It is to say how the collective act

Took root in ev’ry heart and mind as one.

’Twas no decision—

FINN

—Born of instinct pure.

A feeling.

JANNAH

—Yea, a feeling.

FINN

—’Twas the Force.

The Force did lead me here, among this group,

To Rey and Poe, my dearest friends in th’world.

JANNAH

Thou speak’st as if thou knewest it were real.

FINN

’Tis real. I need no evidence thereof—

At first I was not certain, yet am now.

None but the Force could lead me unto them,

None but the Force could power so much hope,

None but the Force could guide our searching steps,

None but the Force, which binds, surrounds, protects.

[They walk aside. BB-8 approaches Poe.

BB-8

[to Poe:] Blox flewflig rooh zood bleerooq flir zilf blee

Reej flliflit blis blav flirzooz bleeflib blay?

POE

What dost thou mean, to ask of where Rey is?

Hast thou not seen her? Raise alarum bells,

Their tintinnabulation shall resound—

A world of solemn thought their melody

Compels—Finn, Jannah, come! Rey’s fled and gone!

[All rush outside. Finn uses
quadnoculars to spot Rey.

FINN

My lass of folly rides upon the sea!

Such waves she faceth, nearly tipping o’er.

So unforgiving is this tempest grave,

I fear our Rey shall soon a shadow be.

JANNAH

Took she a skimmer? Brave and foolish both.

POE

By hell, what was she thinking of? She who

So well doth know the nature of my soul

Could not suppose her act would make me glad.

FINN

’Tis plain: we must go after her anon.

POE

Her actions make my nerves and spirit sick—

Sick unto death with that long agony.

We shall repair the Falcon and go forth

To rescue her when first we’re able to.

FINN

Nay, if we wait so long, she shall be lost.

POE

’Twas she who left her friends behind, afeard—

A pile of nothing but commingl’d gloom.

What wouldst thou do, Finn, swim?

FINN

—She’s not herself.

Thou knowest not the demons she doth face,

The battles she is fighting deep within.

POE Yet thou dost, eh? So happy, dauntless, and

Sagacious art thou, that thou know’st e’en this?

FINN

In faith, I do, as Leia also doth.

POE

The truth should be inviolate above

All things, e’en this: I am not Leia, Finn.

FINN

With damnèd certainty thou speak’st not false.

JANNAH

[aside, to Finn:] Come thou with me. Another skimmer I

Can offer thee, an thou wouldst take the risk.

[Exeunt all but Poe.

POE

Ah, dream too bright to last! His words, they sting;

O, Finn, the friend—nay brother—of my heart,

I would that we were not at odds herein.

Friends have I known throughout my blessèd span,

Close allies, confidants most plentiful,

Yet none were so well suited to myself

As thou wert from the moment we first met.

Thou art the other half who makes me whole,

As one doth think of Poe, one thinks of Finn.

Thou art the voice that doth my sentence end,

Before I speak it, thou dost fill it in.

Thou art the map that puts me back on course,

When I veer wide, thou settest me aright.

Thou art the books, the arts, the academes,

That show, contain, and nourish all the world.

Apologies, dear Finn, I owe to thee,

For my hotheaded and quick-temper’d bile—

I am the fire, thou art refreshing rain,

And once again I need thine easing cool.

Let us, when we are mad, not stay so long,

That sooner and that sweeter comes the time

When our two minds united are again,

The glad reunion of two wills in one.

This storm that passes by us shall surcease,

The sunshine break upon a greater peace.

[Exit.

SCENE 4.

On the second Death Star.

Enter REY, who begins to climb.

REY

Years on their years have pass’d since this bleak base

Exploded into pieces o’er the air.

The shell of it is harsh and horrible;

In shades of gray and gloom its ghosts reside.

Ne’er did I, as a child upon Jakku,

Think ever I would see the very place—

Here where the Empire ended years ago.

Exciting ’twere, if not so dangerous,

Fantastic that I should such hist’ry touch,

Observing it with ev’ry sense I have.

Rehearse thou not thy wonder longer, Rey—

Climb, rather, t’ward the end thou must achieve.

Experience doth make a simpler task—

Perforce I have turn’d scavenger once more.

Recall the steps, maneuvers, placement that

Once I relied upon for daily bread.

Fear not, but cautious be, for in this wreck

One small mistake may quickly fatal prove.

Unto the level accurate I’ve come,

Now through this hall, with vacant helmets strewn.

Dread filleth me—here is the Emp’ror’s throne,

Pulsating with the Force like mine own blood.

How now? A door doth open, bidding me—

[A door opens. Rey walks through
and it closes behind her.

Enclosing me e’en as I step within.

Night is not dark as ’tis within this room,

Obscuring outer sight and inner calm.

Methinks I nearer draw unto—a-ha!

E’en there, the wayfinder before me lies.

No trap awaits above or underneath—

Oblique the path that led me to the goal,

Naught here but rubble, darkness, shades, and fear.

She grasps the wayfinder. Enter DARK REY,
brandishing a double-bladed lightsaber.

DARK REY

Rey, never be afeard of who thou art.

[They duel.

REY

O, ghoulish vision born of hell’s own heart!

I yet may change these shadows I have seen.

[Dark Rey snarls at Rey. Frightened, Rey
stumbles backward into the former throne
room. Exit Dark Rey. Rey drops the wayfinder.

Enter KYLO REN, picking up the wayfinder.

KYLO

Look thou upon thyself, and be asham’d.

Thou wouldst prove to my mother that thou art

A Jedi, heir to that proud legacy.

Instead, herein thou provest something else.

Thou canst make no return unto her now—

E’en as thou didst depart Jakku to make

A new life with the weak Resistance, thou

Hast made departure secondary here,

And never shall go back into their fold.

See, thou and I are one—I also have

Ta’en steps that led me permanently from

The life that once I led, in former times.

REY

Give me the wayfinder.

KYLO

—The dark side doth

Reside within our very natures, Rey.

Submit thereto.

REY

—Give me the wayfinder.

KYLO

Thou never shalt proceed to Exegol

Unless thou ventur’st forth withal myself.

[He crushes the wayfinder in his hand.

REY

Nay, villain!

[She brandishes her lightsaber. They duel.

KYLO

[aside:] —Dodge and sidestep, yet she doth

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,

Disguise fair nature with hard-favor’d rage,

Then lend the eye a terrible aspect.

[Kylo Ren turns on his lightsaber and
jumps outside, onto the wreckage
by the sea. Rey pursues him.

Enter GENERAL LEIA ORGANA on balcony.
Enter R2-D2 and MAZ KANATA on balcony, aside.

LEIA

What shadows spread their darkness o’er my sight!

The Force speaks in clear visions unto me:

My son and mine adopted daughter caught

In conflict vicious, battling to the death.

MAZ

[to R2-D2:] Behold, she plumbs the boundless depths of grief!

I’d have not such a heart within my breast

E’en for the dignity of the whole body.

’Tis certain Leia knows what she must do,

Artoo—to reach her errant son she must

Expend whatever strength in her remains.

R2-D2 Beep, hoo. [Aside:] My lady and my general!

[Rey and Kylo Ren continue to
duel on a section of the Death Star
surrounded by water on both sides.

Enter FINN and JANNAH, aside.

FINN

Fraught was the skimmer journey by the sea,

Yet we—though tempest-toss’d—forfended death.

Now may I proffer help unto her. [Calling:] Rey!

REY

[aside:] I’ll not have Finn in danger, standing twixt

This villain and myself. Nay, Finn, away!

[Rey uses the Force to shove Finn away,
then continues to duel Kylo Ren.

KYLO

[aside:] A massive wave shall break upon our heads,

As if all nature thunder’d at our clash

And would the conflict settle equally,

By washing us beneath the ocean deep.

[Rey jumps from one part of the
wreckage to another much farther away.

Kylo follows her. They land in a place

Jannah and Finn cannot reach.

JANNAH

[aside:] They leap like gods, not humans, by my troth.

FINN

[aside:] Though I perceive the Force, ’tis not yet thus:

Here is a power far beyond my ken.

[Rey and Kylo continue to duel.

REY

Thou villain! One of us shall not depart—

’Tis only Rey or Kylo shall go forth.

[Finn tries to run toward Rey.

JANNAH

Thou canst not follow them—most certainly

The sea would sweep thee up like thou wert chaff.

FINN

Unhand me, I shall not forsake her!

JANNAH

—Nay!

Hear reason, or thou shalt be quite destroy’d.

FINN

O Rey, would that I could thy safety win!

REY

[aside:] Our skill and pow’r is match’d most perfectly.

KYLO

[aside:] Our acumen and strength are nearly twins.

[She takes a giant leap to another
part of the wreckage, closer to where

Kylo Ren’s TIE whisper sits.

REY

[aside:] I dive again, but he will follow on.

KYLO

[aside:] She dives again; I shall with purpose stride.

[He walks and catches up to her.

REY

[aside:] The final confrontation, blow for blow!

KYLO

[aside:] The final confrontation, come what may.

REY

[aside:] He tries to strike, I stop him by the Force.

KYLO

[aside:] She tries to swipe, the dark side stoppeth her.

REY

[aside:] A dyad certainly, if e’er there was.

KYLO

[aside:] The realization of our fates conjoin’d

Doth break upon her face, e’en as these waves

Come crashing o’er the ramparts hereabout.

She knoweth she shall ne’er defeat me here,

For we are unified at ev’ry point.

[As they duel, Rey collapses to her
knees in exhaustion. Kylo raises
his lightsaber to strike her.

LEIA

[calling softly:] O Ben, my boy, my son, a mother’s bliss.

[Leia lies down. Kylo Ren pauses, looking
backward, and drops his lightsaber.

REY

[aside:] The error I have long awaited. Strike!

[Rey ignites Kylo Ren’s lightsaber
and runs him through with it.

LEIA

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Ben:

Mine and thy father’s death come not on thee.

[Leia dies.

REY

[aside:] Nay, nay! The voice that call’d him reacheth me—

My teacher, guide, and friend, my General!

O Leia, can it be that thou art gone?

[Rey turns off Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, and he falls.

R2-D2

[aside, singing:] Come away, come away, death,

And in sad cypress let her be laid.

Fly away, fly away, breath;

She is slain by grief that doth not fade.

Her shroud of white, stuck all with yew,

O, prepare it!

Her part of death, no one so true

Did share it.

REY

[aside:] What have I done? This gentle lad laid low,

Who is the only vestige, now, of her.

Shall I give my life for an enemy’s?

Shall sacrifice become mine epitaph?

But is he, rightly said, mine enemy?

And would I ask a fonder epitaph?

If I may healing proffer, yea—I shall,

In mourning for my Leia, gone too soon,

I’ll render back the son that once she lost.

[Rey places her hand on Kylo Ren’s
injury and transfers life to him
through the Force. He is healed.

KYLO

[aside:] This touch—an unexpected clemency!

My wound is gone. Thus hath she done for me.

REY

’Twas true that once I long’d to take thy hand,

Yet not the hand of Kylo Ren. Ben’s hand,

Such would I gladly take if tender’d me.

[She runs to Kylo Ren’s TIE whisper
and flies away. Exit Rey.

FINN

She flies, and I no succor furnish’d her,

She flies, and even thus I’m left behind,

She flies, confusion reigning in her heart,

She flies, and I know not where she hath gone.

Dark moment for my true companion Rey,

Who seeketh separation from her friends

And flees with troubl’d heart and weary mind.

[The Millennium Falcon appears to
bear Finn and Jannah away.

May fate ordain that we shall meet again.

Conferr’d I not what thou didst need today,

Yet Finn declares: I’ll make it up some way.

[Exeunt Finn and Jannah in the

Millennium Falcon. On the balcony,

R2-D2 and Maz approach Leia’s body.

MAZ

Thou antic death, which laugh’st us here to scorn,

Anon from thine insulting tyranny,

Coupled in bonds of perpetuity,

One Leia, wingèd through the lither sky,

In thy despite shall scape mortality.

Goodnight, sweet princess, angel of our hearts.

[Exeunt Maz Kanata and R2-D2. Leia’s
body remains on the balcony.

KYLO

Alone, directionless yet still alive,

I am abandon’d on this sopping steel.

Enter GHOST OF HAN SOLO.

HAN

Holla, my child. O, how I miss thee, boy.

KYLO

Thy son is dead.

HAN

—Nay, Kylo Ren is dead.

My son, my boy, my Ben—he liveth yet.

KYLO

Thou art a memory, and nothing more.

Thou art, mayhap, some undigested beef,

Thou art more gravy than come from the grave.

HAN

Yea, ’tis thy memory whence I have come.

Come home.

KYLO

—Nay, ’tis too late, for she is gone.

HAN

Thy mother, truly, she is gone indeed.

Yet all that she did stand for whilst she liv’d,

And ev’rything for which she bravely fought,

’Tis not gone, and with thee it ne’er shall be.

Ben, hear me, please.

KYLO

—I know what I must do,

Yet fear I’ve not the strength to make it so.

HAN

Thou dost and e’er didst.

KYLO

—Father! I—

HAN

—I know.

[Kylo Ren turns around and throws his
lightsaber into the sea. Exit Ghost of Han Solo.

KYLO

Now I have taken heart thou vanishest:

Sweet spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.

This visitation marks a turning point:

The end of one life as another starts.

I must be strong, remember my first call,

And shun the folly that consum’d my life.

The years spent with the vile First Order shall

Become the nadir of a human life,

The lowest rung upon my ladder tall,

The ebbing of the ocean of my days,

The bass notes of the symphony of time.

However long my strand of life shall be

Ere fate ordains to clip it and release

My life into the Force forevermore,

I shall exist to bring light to the world,

Deliver hope to those too long oppress’d,

Make recompense for all the wrong I’ve done.

The work beginneth now, as I proceed

To Exegol to face the Emperor.

Defeating him must be th’initial deed

In making up for Kylo Ren’s foul works.

The name doth leave a rotten taste inside

My mouth—what vanity, to turn away

The name my loving parents proffer’d me.

No evil knave, no longer Kylo Ren,

I turn away from he who I was then—

From now, I am a Solo once again,

The son of Han and Leia—I am Ben!

[Exit.

[1] Editor’s translation: My friends, ye came! I knew not if you would,
For you have borrow’d peril great to do’t.
My Wookiee’s heart doth praise your loyalty.

[2] Editor’s translation: The dagger—we must find it presently!
They stripp’d me of it when I came on board.

[3] Editor’s translation: The final moment of your little lives,
And ye shall spend it dimly bickering?

[4] Editor’s translation: Belike they deem us doom’d to failure, since
The landing gear severely broken is.

[5] Editor’s translation: Would that we might, for I have had enow
Of prattling from the empty-headed droid!

SCENE 1.

Aboard the Steadfast.

Enter two STORMTROOPERS.

TROOPER 7

Good morrow, mate. Thy face is bonny as

The morning sun when first it shineth bright.

TROOPER 8

Well met to thee as well. I see thou art

In spirits high with smile upon thy face—

Or so, beneath thy helmet, I presume.

TROOPER 7

I cannot keep my merriment from thee!

TROOPER 8

What is it that hath fill’d thee so with joy?

TROOPER 7

I have been in the bunkroom. Ah—I find

Myself embarrass’d suddenly to tell

Of what I did therein.

TROOPER 8

—Embarrass’d? Thou?

’Tis only I, thy best and oldest friend.

TROOPER 7

We two were station’d here together but

A fortnight past, and only then did meet.

TROOPER 8

And yet our shar’d experience, when we

Were swindl’d by that Jedi harpy—

TROOPER 7

—True!

No truer friend I’ve had since that occurr’d.

TROOPER 8

Wilt thou vouchsafe thy secret, then, to me?

TROOPER 7

If thou shalt promise ne’er to mock, sirrah.

TROOPER 8

Say never so, my friend. I mock thee? Ha!

What was it, in the bunkroom, thou wert at?

’Twas naught nefarious or aberrant?

TROOPER 7

Nay, nay—’twas but a pastime, which is yet

A newfound hobby, vulnerable still.

TROOPER 8

I see, friend. Fear thou not my confidence—

Mine ears shall hear and ne’er a mock be born

From those two organs, to escape my mouth.

TROOPER 7

The plain fact is, I took some time to write.

TROOPER 8

To write? Heard I aright?

TROOPER 7

—A holy rite,

Composing with my pen, mine ink, and wit.

TROOPER 8

I am astonishèd! What dost thou write?

Belike some tome—the epic history

Of our First Order, in its chapter first?

TROOPER 7

Nay, something else, which still my tongue would hide.

TROOPER 8

Proceed, I pray—pull thou the bandage off.

TROOPER 7

’Tis fiction that I write! Yea! Stories, tales,

A fancy of imagination pure.

TROOPER 8

E’en so? Is’t something I could ever read?

TROOPER 7

Nay, never, no. ’Tis wholly private. Nay.

TROOPER 8

Canst thou, at least, tell me what thou didst write

That put thee in this splendid, joyful mood?

TROOPER 7

This far I’ll tell thee, yea, though nothing more:

I am the author of an epic tale,

Writ in nine parts, an opera of space

That telleth such adventures and delights

Thou never wouldst believe I penn’d the thing.

TROOPER 8

The tale sounds marvelous. How shall it end?

TROOPER 7

I cannot tell.

TROOPER 8

—Thou canst tell me, in sooth.

TROOPER 7

Thou miss’st my meaning utterly, my friend—

I merely mean I do not know as yet.

These strands, unravel’d, spread most anywhere—

Respect I’ve learn’d for storytellers all

Who plot these tales and tie up ev’ry end.

TROOPER 8

Full confidence have I thou shalt do so

As well. It seemeth art is thy domain,

Not mine, and I do wish thee well of it.

One day, perchance thou shalt let me peruse

The chronicle—once thou completest it.

Until that time, shall we to supper go?

TROOPER 7

Yea. Writing e’er gives me an appetite!

[Exeunt.

Enter EMPEROR PALPATINE, in beam, and ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE.

PALPATINE

The princess of old Alderaan did thwart

My plan, and still her deeds shall be in vain.

Come unto Exegol, strong Gen’ral Pryde.

PRYDE

As I did serve you in the former wars,

I serve you now, to settle former scores.

PALPATINE

Take thou the ship unto a world they know

And let it burn, our dominance to show.

The Final Order doth begin anon.

She’ll come to us; her friends shall follow on.

PRYDE

With full allegiance I give you my yea,

And shall your bidding do sans more delay.

[Exeunt.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS

Behold, the power once in Death Star hands

Is wielded by a single ship alone.

A Star Destroyer’s weaponry expands

And zounds! Kijimi unto bits is blown.

[Exit.

SCENE 2.

On Ajan Kloss.

Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, C-3PO, BB-8, and D-O emerging from the Millennium Falcon.
Enter COMMANDER D’ACY, meeting them.

D’ACY

Poe, Finn, ye have return’d—with heavy heart

I must unfold to ye what hath occur’d—

FINN

We have some haste, Commander; hold thou off.

POE

We must unto the general anon.

Our news for her is most indefinite

And altogether unaccountable.

D’ACY

Yet she is gone and cannot hear your suit.

CHEWBAC.

Auugh, auugh![1]

FINN

—Nay, Chewie, be not lost in grief!

CHEWBAC.

Auugh, auugh, auugh, auugh![2]

Enter ROSE TICO, LIEUTENANT CONNIX, and BEAUMONT KIN.

D’ACY

—The woes but multiply.

We have receiv’d intelligence of late:

The vile First Order sack’d Kijimi whole—

The planet blasted into shards of stone.

POE

Kijimi? How? First Leia and now this?

[Aside:] This will be sure to cut me to the heart—

The place where my true Bliss resideth. O!

D’ACY

A blast from one mere Star Destroyer, Poe,

One of the newfound ships of the Sith fleet

Come forward from the unknown regions grim.

BEAUMONT

The Emp’rer sent a ship from Exegol.

Doth this, perforce, mean each ship in the fleet—

POE

Hath planet-killing weapons, yea, ’tis plain.

Upon this subject, however, shall I

Forbear to dilate. This is how he shall

The war forever end.

ROSE

—Take heed, I pray:

The strange transmission doth appear upon

Each frequency the radio can call.

[A strange voice comes out of Rose’s radio.

BEAUMONT

[translating:] The vile Resistance now is dead. The fire

That burneth by the power of the Sith

Shall blaze. All worlds surrender or be slain.

The Final Order doth begin today.

ROSE

[to Poe:] Our Leia made thee acting general.

I prithee, guide us. Say, what shall we do?

POE

Let me collect my thoughts awhile, good Rose.

Exhausted, very nat’rally, by such

Stupendous efforts, would I spend some time

In contemplation of our circumstance.

[Poe walks aside. Finn approaches D-O, who is rummaging through Rey’s belongings.

FINN

Nay, fain would I not have thee touch these things,

For they belong unto my treasur’d friend.

D-O

O, sorry! She is gone?

FINN

—Yea, fled and gone.

I know not where she’s flown.

D-O

—I miss her, yea!

FINN

Thy feeling’s mine—I miss her sorely, too.

What is thy name, thou frisky little droid?

[Finn and D-O continue to speak. Poe, aside, looks up and addresses Leia’s body.

POE

Hear my confession: I have lost my way,

And know not whither to direct my steps.

Yea, I have been so long, so constantly

Before the public eye that now I fear

All eyes are on me at my least prepar’d.

What thou didst, when thou younger wert than I—

For such I am not ready, but afeard.

Enter LANDO OF CALRISSIAN, addressing POE.

LANDO

In troth, we were not ready at the time.

Luke, Leia, Han, and I—who ever was?

POE

You were not readily discourag’d, though—

How did ye do it, being unprepar’d—

Defeat an Empire withal nearly naught?

LANDO

We had each other, and it was enow.

’Tis how we won—and how ye, too, shall win.

[Inspired, Poe rushes toward Finn, who rushes toward Poe at the same moment.

FINN

Poe! Aught hath come to light, for our two minds

To contemplate in conversation swift.

POE

I, too, must speak with thee, and presently.

The avenues to death are numerous

And strange, and I fear we shall thither if

’Tis I alone who leads. I cannot thus—

I need thee in command beside me, Finn.

FINN

This droid hath—many thanks, of course, for these

Most kind and heartfelt words.

POE

—Yea, General,

For there are scoundrels in this world, but thou

Art none.

FINN

—Thanks, General. Feast now thine ears:

This droid hath information plenty that—

POE

The skreeking little spalpeen cone face, yea?

D-O

Nay, I am D-O!

POE

—D-O. Truly it

Seems slower than it actually is!

D-O

The droid did journey unto Exegol

With Ochi of Bestoon.

POE

—Yet wherefore would

A bounty hunter, Ochi, thither fly?

’Tis strange, in faith. My curiosity

Hath not been altogether satisfied.

FINN

’Twas his employment, one small girl to filch

E’en from Jakku and render her unto

The Emperor nefarious, who did

Desire to have the girl both safe and sound.

I told thee once that Rey doth demons face,

And fighteth many battles deep within.

This newfound tale hath crystalliz’d my thoughts—

Not only by ourselves is fair Rey priz’d.

Come, let us on these matters further think.

[Exeunt all except Lando.

LANDO

Though my time to play warrior hath pass’d,

My conscience could not bear to stand aside.

Kind Leia, general unto this band,

Hath giv’n her life to see her purpose through,

To let “Resistance!” sound throughout the stars.

My friend and fellow scoundrel, even Han,

Was done to death by those whom he oppos’d,

E’en, in the end, betray’d by his own son.

How can I be ambivalent to this?

How should a man avoid what he doth see?

I’ll not spend the remainder of my days

Like some poor actor, waiting in the wings

Until he hears the perfect cue, e’en whilst

He shuts his ears to how the scene plays out.

Nay, this shall not be Lando, by my heart—

For whilst a heart still beats within my breast

And whilst mine eyes can see to fly a ship

And whilst my legs can hold my body up

And whilst my soul doth at injustice rage

I’ll enter, say my lines, and play my part.

Then, only when the drama is complete,

The players leave, the globe in silence sits,

Then may I set aside my script and rest.

Till then, Resistance, take my very best.

[Exit.

SCENE 3.

On Ahch-To.

Enter REY, burning the TIE whisper and throwing wood onto the flames. Enter various PORGS nearby.

REY

The anger I am not allow’d to feel

When playing in another person’s scene

Outpoureth as I find myself alone.

Farewell, the former Rey who liv’d before,

Observe the tenor of a newer Rey,

Rey who doth light the spark that stokes the pyre.

Methinks these blazes never shall be dous’d,

Evolving evermore to fire anew,

Red, yellow, orange tongues of flame that scorch

Each remnant of my former trusting heart.

Now, like a creature rising from the ash,

Emergeth this new Rey to scald the world.

My first deed is to singe the villain’s ship,

Its metal turn’d to embers blistering.

E’en though my rage could sear a planet whole,

Such anger I shall not inflict upon’t.

Already too much damage have I done,

Ren nearly kill’d, and Leia dead and gone.

Escape I’ll find on Ahch-To, where I shall

Retreat most peacefully from frightful war.

Embracing Luke’s clandestine habitat,

Concealment on this lonely island shall

Outdo the other paths that I could take.

Now, press thy hand to do thy tongue’s desire—

Can I so greet this unknown future that

I shall destroy my lightsaber as well?

Let it be so—it must. Let it burn, too,

Erase the past—yes, kill it if thou must—

Destroy it with the life that once Rey led.

PORG

Porg!

REY throws her lightsaber toward the fire.
Enter GHOST OF LUKE SKYWALKER, catching it.

LUKE

—Nay, throw not thy lightsaber away!

A Jedi’s weapon more respect deserves.

REY

O, Master Skywalker!

LUKE

—What dost thou do?

What means this funereal glow of flame?

REY

I saw myself upon the dark throne sat.

This must not be. I shall not leave this place,

Yet follow in thy footsteps and remain.

LUKE

Nay, I was in the wrong. ’Twas fear that kept

Me here upon this island most remote.

Pray, speak: of what art thou, Rey, most afeard?

REY

Myself.

LUKE

—Because thou art a Palpatine.

[Rey looks surprised.

I knew it, as did Leia, verily.

REY

She told me ne’er, yet train’d me even so.

LUKE

She saw thy spirit good, thy vibrant heart—

The ray of light that spilleth from thy soul.

Aught is there, Rey, that stronger proves than blood.

Confronting fear is the true destiny

Of ev’ry Jedi—e’en thy destiny.

If thou shalt not face Palpatine, ’twill be

The end of all the Jedi, and the war

Shall thereby end in loss. Come with me, Rey—

Upon the island is another thing

That Leia would have wish’d for thee to have.

[They walk together, and Luke shows Rey a stone. She picks it up to reveal another lightsaber underneath.

REY

’Tis Leia’s lightsaber!

LUKE

—Upon the last

Night of her training, Leia stopp’d at once—

As if struck by an immobility—

And told me she had sens’d the death of her

Belovèd son awaiting at the end

Of her path as a Jedi. Rather would

She end the training than take such a course.

Surrendering her saber unto me,

She said one day ’twould be ta’en up again

By someone who her journey would complete.

A thousand generations live in thee—

This is thy fight. Take both lightsabers with

Thee unto Exegol.

REY

—How shall I, though?

I’ve not the wayfinder and have destroy’d

Ren’s ship.

LUKE

—Thou hast each thing thou dost require.

REY

The wayfinder! The ship! ’Tis evident!

[Rey rushes to the charred remains of Kylo Ren’s ship and finds his wayfinder, pulling it from the wreckage.

But two were made, as Lando did report.

[Luke stands aside and uses the Force to lift his X-wing from the water offshore.

LUKE

[aside:] Now, by the Force, an X-wing I’ll produce,

That Rey may have another ship t’employ.

No longer tentative of mine own skill,

In death I have become one with the Force

And render all the pow’r that once methought

Impossible, when Yoda taught it me.

Come, trusty ship, and by the Force appear—

Yea, fly again, no more a souvenir.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 4.

On Ajan Kloss.

Enter C-3PO and R2-D2. Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, ROSE TICO, LANDO OF CALRISSIAN, MAZ KANATA, BB-8, D-O, COMMANDER D’ACY, LIEUTENANT CONNIX, BEAUMONT KIN, SNAP WEXLEY, NIEN NUNB, AFTAB ACKBAR, and other SOLDIERS and PILOTS aside, working in the Resistance base.

R2-D2

Beep, meep, beep, whistle, hoo!

C-3PO

—Holla, sirrah!

C-3PO am I, an expert in

The human-cyborg link. Thou smallish droid,

May I the privilege to know thy name?

R2-D2

Squeak!

C-3PO

—What?

R2-D2

—Meep, whistle, squeak, hoo, nee,
beep, meep!

[Aside:] Is’t possible my friend C-3PO

Doth not remember me? I’ll not stand for’t.

C-3PO

I would recall if I a best friend had.

R2-D2

Meep, squeak!

C-3PO

—Thou wouldst put what inside my pate?

No circumstance within the galaxy

Could make me yield to such a deed as—

R2-D2

—Squeak!

[R2-D2 zaps C-3PO, who flails. R2-D2 quickly inserts a plug into C-3PO’s head and begins restoring his memory.

C-3PO

The mem’ry restoration is complete!

There is some ill a-brewing toward my rest,

For I did dream of Babu Frik tonight.

Say, didst thou know, Artoo, that I shall soon

Accompany our mistress Rey upon

Her first adventure?

R2-D2

—Whistle, meep, beep, squeak!

C-3PO Yea, speak’st thou truly? I already have?

R2-D2

[aside:] Although he prattle endlessly, I do

Confess a thankfulness to have him back.

[To C-3PO:] Beep, meep!

C-3PO

—A signal thou hast found?

From whom?

[Aside, Finn plugs D-O into a computer as Poe and Rose look on.

FINN

The information thou dost seek is here:

The plan for an air strike on Exegol.

POE

Naught hath been written on the topic that

Can be consider’d as decisive—this

Is helpful, yea, but lacketh still the most

Important detail: how to thither fly.

Dost see these atmo readings? Wondrous strange!

FINN

Magnetic cross fields—

ROSE

—Wells of gravity,

With solar winds aplenty to disturb.

POE

How would the fleet e’en launch from such a place?

The knowledge astronomical lies not.

[C-3PO and R2-D2 approach them.

C-3PO

Excuse me. It seems Artoo’s mem’ry bank

Is cross’d with his receptors logical—

He saith a signal comes from Master Luke!

[They connect R2-D2 to the computer.

POE

Words are vague things, and I am at a loss.

An older craft identifying mark—

Indeed, ’tis Luke Skywalker’s X-wing class.

C-3PO

It doth transmit course marker signals as

It flieth to the unknown regions grim.

FINN

’Tis Rey, for certain. She doth lead the way.

BB-8

Blik bleeflit bleezooz zoonroil blis blip bloo?

FINN

She flies to Exegol and bids us join.

POE

Then we shall thither, bound together, o’er

The fiery wall of the horizon dark.

[All gather around.

BEAUMONT

[to Chewbacca:] How sadly thou dost sit aside, my
friend,

Near broken by the weight of tragedy.

We need thee still, and bid thee to thy feet—

Th’Resistance cannot win sans Chewie.

CHEWBAC.

[aside:] —Egh.[3]

FINN

Whilst yet the fleet of Star Destroy’rs remains

On Exegol, we’ll fall upon them there.

SNAP

How shall we so? Are they not numerous?

ROSE

They cannot activate protective shields

Until they leave the atmosphere thereof.

POE

From Exegol, the deed is difficult—

Ships of their size need help their bulk to launch.

The heavens wear an aspect of grave ill—

Their navigations systems cannot tell

Which way is up or down in such a place.

PILOT 1

How do the ships launch?

[Poe projects an image of a tower.

POE

—How this happens is

Not difficult to see—they are led by

A signal from this navigation tow’r.

FINN

No signal they’ll receive, if we succeed.

The air team shall the tower quickly find,

The ground team shall destroy it in a flash.

PILOT 2

A ground team?

FINN

—Yea, for which I’ve many thoughts.

POE

The tower being down, the fleet shall be

Trapp’d in the atmosphere for minutes few—

No shields and no escape, and there we’ll strike.

Methinks the very air o’er Exegol

Shall then seem to us redolent with death.

ROSE

’Tis possible the cannons may connect

Unto the main reactors.

LANDO

—’Tis our chance.

BEAUMONT

A Holdo-like maneuver would suit well.

FINN

In faith, the noble lady did achieve

A once-upon-a-lifetime stratagem.

Our fighters and our freighters can destroy

Them fully if there are enow of us.

NIEN

Et chyed di-garry gyedi ga!

CONNIX

—’Tis true,

We’d be no more than insects on their glass.

FINN

’Tis wherefore Lando and brave Chewie shall

Toward core systems in the Falcon fly,

Send forth a plea for help to any who

Can hear our need and render some relief.

POE

There are full many allies all around,

Who’ll quickly join if they know hope exists.

The very denseness of the company

Enlisting shall astound ye utterly.

[All mutter apprehensively.

The vile First Order winneth when they cause

Our souls to tremble, thinking we’re alone.

’Tis not the truth, believe it not, my friends;

Good folks will join the fight if we but lead.

Our general, strong Leia, ne’er gave up,

And neither, as we spread her legacy,

Shall we give up. We’ll show we’re not afraid—

All that our mothers and our fathers fought

For, we shall not let die. Nay, not today!

This day we make our final, mighty stand

For ev’ryone within the galaxy,

For Leia, brave and worthy general,

For all whom we have lost along the way.

[All begin making preparations throughout the base.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS

With newfound hope doth our Resistance bold

Spring into action, soon to face the foe!

Although they fear the massacres of old,

Each person, droid, and weapon prime to go.

The ships prepar’d, they launch into the skies

Whilst friend to friend join in a last embrace.

Today, Resistance strong and sure doth rise,

The pow’rful Emp’ror finally to face!

[Exit Chorus.

FINN

They have already ta’en too much from us—

Now we shall press them with a frightful strike.

Follow your spirit, and upon this charge

Cry, “Bold Resistance shall its hope enlarge!”

[Exeunt in various ships.

[1] Editor’s translation: My princess and my general, not so!

[2] Editor’s translation: There is no cease of sorrow when the heart
Like refuse is cast out and thrown away.
My best friend, Han, was fell’d by his own son,
And now is reunited with his love—
The woman who such kindness show’d to me,
She who was ever noble, graceful, true,
More than a friend: my human family.
When she walk’d into our two scoundrel lives—
Brash, certain of herself, and calling me
A walking carpet moments after we
Our first encounter had on Death Star old—
I was not certain we could ever be
E’en allies, far less comrades closely knit.
The years and our shar’d cause smooth’d ev’ry edge
Of our beginning, rocky though it was.
In time, her wit and grit fit perfectly,
The piece that did complete our puzzle well.
Then were we Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Luke,
Profound quartet t’amaze a galaxy.
Han fallen, Luke did follow, Leia now—
On sorrow have I surfeited too much,
Ate too much of the bitter meat of woe.
Shall old Chewbacca outlive ev’ryone?
Hath no man’s dagger here a point for me?

[3] Editor’s translation: There is not time enow for sadness when
The galaxy is threaten’d by such spite.
Bear up thy mourning shoulders and stand tall,
Chewbacca—for thou sure shalt honor all
The lost in fighting for the cause they lov’d.

SCENE 1.

On Exegol.

Enter REY stage right in the X-wing. A fleet of Star Destroyers fills the sky in the center of the stage. Enter, stage left, various FIRST ORDER OFFICERS.

OFFICER 2

Her ship is on approach.

OFFICER 3

[over loudspeaker:] —All ships ascend

Unto departing altitude anon.

[The Star Destroyers begin to rise.

REY

’Tis Exegol at last, where I meet fate.

Two lightsabers beside me—I’m prepar’d.

Beneath this mighty block my path awaits.

Descend into the depths, then, come what may.

Enter POE DAMERON with R2-D2 in his X-wing; FINN, ROSE TICO, JANNAH, BB-8, LIEUTENANT CONNIX, and BEAUMONT KIN in a lander vessel; and SNAP WEXLEY, NIEN NUNB, AFTAB ACKBAR, and other SOLDIERS and PILOTS in various ships to center stage, arriving at Exegol.

POE

[into radio:] The way is rough, my friends. Stay lock’d
upon

The course Rey valiantly hath set for us.

Yea, let us hope that matters here, again,

Take not a most unfavorable turn,

And dampen our attack.

OFFICER 3

—Pray, Captain, look!

Resistance craft arriving in a trice.

OFFICER 2

Allegiant General!

Enter ALLEGIANT GENERAL PRYDE and ADMIRAL GRISS, stage left.

PRYDE

—Use our own guns,

And shoot them from the sky an ’twere a sport.

POE

[into radio:] Infinity of matter is no dream.

Behold that fleet, beyond proportion grand!

[The First Order begins firing on the Resistance ships.

Damn this endeavor, they will wreck us all!

Now we’re in Exegol, the more fool we.

Descend unto their altitude anon,

For they’ll not fire upon us if they shall

But strike each other, making the attempt.

Go! Help shall come.

FINN

[into radio:] —Below! The tow’r I’ve found—

’Tis in my sights, if we can make it there.

[The ships rush toward the tower. Rey reaches the Emperor’s chambers.

REY

[aside:] As glorious as Takodana was—

When first I laid mine eyes upon its shores

And learn’d that all was not bleak as Jakku—

This glooming place is its stark opposite.

All blacks and grays, with flashes of white light,

Forbidding as e’er nightmare was. Be calm.

Enter TIE FIGHTER PILOTS center stage, rushing toward the Resistance ships.

SNAP

[into radio:] Incoming TIEs, upon us suddenly.

POE

[into radio:] I see them. Finn, I’ll ope thy path. Thereby,

Thy team will be enabl’d to perform

Some feats of wonderful dexterity.

OFFICER 3

[to Pryde:] They’re targeting the navigation tow’r,

To render our fleet undeployable.

PRYDE

Then we’ll not use the tower, Officer.

Switch thou the navigation signal to

This ship, wherefrom we’ll launch the eager fleet,

Steer it into the galaxy ourselves.

[The navigation tower turns off.

PILOT 1

[into radio:] The navigation tower is, at once,

Deactivated, like they knew our plan.

FINN

[into radio:] What’s this foul news thou dost report?

Alas!

SNAP

[into radio:] The ships rely upon the signal, Finn,

Thus it must come from somewhere, verily.

POE

[into radio:] They have deduc’d our operation. Fie!

By way of staying execution, call

Thou off the operation on the ground.

FINN

[into radio:] Nay, wait! The signal cometh from above—

The vast command ship flying o’er us all.

’Tis certainly our drop zone, I affirm!

JANNAH

How canst thou know?

FINN

—A feeling. ’Tis enow.

PILOT 1

[into radio:] Thou wouldst a ground invasion launch
upon

A Star Destroyer?

FINN

[into radio:] —Listen: from afar

The navigation functions we’ll not stop.

’Tis not my heart’s desire, yet we must fly

Unto the ship forthwith. Pray, cover us—

The fleet must here remain till help arrives.

ROSE

We hope.

FINN

—Forsooth, we hope with all our strength.

POE

[into radio:] Ye heard the general—pay heed to him!

All wings give cover to the lander now,

And give your whole attention to the mass

Of TIEs that fly beneath us.

[The lander in which Finn, Rose, and Jannah fly lands on the command ship.

FINN

[into radio:] —Venture forth!

OFFICER 4

[to Pryde:] A carrier for troops hath landed on

Our vast and hulking ship.

PRYDE

—Their speeders jam!

OFFICER 5

Sir, I cannot.

PRYDE

—Say wherefore?

OFFICER 5

—It is not

Mere speeders they employ.

[Finn, Jannah, and other Resistance soldiers ride out of the lander on orbaks.

FINN

—In faith, methinks

My riding is most fair for having had

A single lesson in the skill thereof.

[Rose, Beaumont, BB-8, and others run out of the lander.

BB-8

Zooz fllireej flirblip bloo blicroil bluu roil!

FINN

Thou art a wonder. Forward, BB-8!

The tower is ahead, for us to strike.

[Rey reaches the Sith throne.

REY

[aside:] The throne that I have seen in vision grim!

Shall I be seated thereupon anon?

[She points to the audience.

Behold, around me, minions of the dark—

Vast numbers, followers of Palpatine,

Who watch like groundlings for the final scene.

Enter EMPEROR PALPATINE stage right, connected to an Ommin harness. Enter several SOVEREIGN PROTECTORS, surrounding him.

PALPATINE

Long have I waited to regard thy face

And see my grandchild to her home return.

Ne’er did I want thee dead, but wish’d thee here,

Mine Empress Palpatine. Thou shalt the throne

Assume, for ’tis thy birthright here to reign.

’Tis in thy blood—our blood—that which we share.

REY

I have not come to lead the evil Sith,

But end them.

PALPATINE

—As a Jedi?

REY

—Even so.

PALPATINE

Nay. Hatred, spite, and anger waft from thee

Because thou dost desire to slaughter me.

’Tis what I want as well—we share the aim.

Kill me; so shall my spirit pass to thee.

As all the Sith live in me, so thou shalt

Be Empress when we two are fin’ly one.

[All the Star Destroyers engage their thrusters.

POE

[into radio:] The truth of the whole matter’s plain
enow—

The ships are hot, preparing to depart!

How goes thy mission, Finn? Give thy report.

FINN

[into radio:] We shall soon detonate our forceful bombs

And, in a flash, destroy the tower whole!

JANNAH

The hatches we must fill with deadly shells.

FINN

Fine BB-8, this is the moment, droid!

[Finn and Jannah cover BB-8 while he opens a hatch on the command ship.

JANNAH

[aside:] My former comrades, arrows fly on thee!

Feel thou my bite in vengeance and remorse—

The vengeance on your ranks for evil done,

Remorse for all I did ere I left you!

BB-8

Zooz zoomblox blay flew flitblav zzwa bluublis

Flir blikrooq zilfblip bluuzoon roil bloozilf

Zoom fllireej roil rooh roilflig bleeblic zood!

[Finn and Jannah set several explosive devices in the hatch. Finn, Jannah, and BB-8 escape as the hatch and the tower above it explode.

FINN

[into radio:] A-ha! ’Tis finish’d.

POE

[into radio:] —Well done, clever Finn!

The navigation signal silenc’d is,

Yet shall not be forever. With a shout

I call attention to the fact, and it

Becomes immediately obvious.

OFFICER 5

[to Pryde:] Our systems are offline.

PRYDE

—Reset anon

The navigation signal.

OFFICER 6

—In a trice!

[Finn and Jannah prepare to run back to the lander, but Finn hesitates.

JANNAH

Come, Finn!

FINN

—Nay, listen, for the cannons stop—

They shall refresh their systems once again.

JANNAH

What is the consequence? Why pausest thou?

FINN

There is yet something fate would spin for me.

JANNAH

Wherever thou shalt go, I’ll thither too.

SNAP

[into radio:] Fie, neither Falcon nor some backup comes.

R2-D2

[into radio:] Meep, squeak?

POE

[into radio:] —Nay, I confess I do not
know,

But feel a chafing of my mind at these

Most unaccountable vicissitudes

Of fortune, Artoo. Peradventure none

Shall come to give us aid. If so, we’re doom’d.

AFTAB

[into radio:] What shall we do, then, Gen’ral, midst this
scrap?

POE

[into radio:] We are lamentably deficient, true,

Yet must hit them ourselves, with all we have.

PILOT 1

[into radio:] What can we do against these giant ships?

POE

[into radio:] We now approach what is, by far, the most

Important and most interesting part

Of this, wherein we must but stay alive.

PALPATINE

The time hath come! With all thy hatred, take

My life and thus ascend unto the throne.

REY

Thou wantest only for my soul to hate,

Yet I shall none. I’ll hate not even thee.

PALPATINE

Weak like thy parents.

REY

—Nay, they both were strong.

They sav’d me from a greater evil: thou.

PALPATINE

Thy master, Luke Skywalker, once was sav’d

By his dear father. ’Tis unfortunate:

The only fam’ly thou hast here is I.

[He uses the Force to open a panel and
reveal the battle in the sky overhead.

They have not long, thy friends. No one shall come

To give them succor, and thou art the one

Who led them hither, that they all may die.

Strike me and take my throne, reign over my

New Empire, and the vast fleet shall be thine.

’Tis thou alone who hast the pow’r to save

Thy weak companions from their foolery.

Refuse, and thy new family shall die.

Enter BEN SOLO stage right, arriving in a TIE fighter.

BEN

[aside:] The journey was both long and perilous,

Yet have I come to start my recompense—

The debt I owe for acts of evil done,

The obligations due to those I hurt,

The needed payments at mine own expense,

The balance due for th’life of Kylo Ren.

I see Luke’s X-wing here and sense that Rey

Hath come therein, the Emperor to face.

Toward the massive edifice I run,

Then leap within the pit where sits the throne—

Ouch! ’Twas far easier when platform did

Provide descent far gentler than this climb.

REY

[aside:] Ben, he is here! Now, trickery shall hap.

[To Palpatine:] Yea, I shall do it, even as thou say’st.

PALPATINE

Good, good.

[Rose, Connix, and Beaumont retreat into the lander, but Rose realizes Finn is gone.

ROSE

[into radio:]—Finn, where art thou? Why com’st thou
not?

The lander shall departure make anon!

FINN

[into radio:] Thou must fly sans both Jannah and myself.

We swiftly shall the ship entire destroy.

ROSE

[into radio:] What, truly? How shall ye accomplish this?

FINN

[into radio:] We’ll fire on the command deck presently.

Get hence, Rose, please. Farewell.

BEAUMONT

[to Rose:] —Rose, we must go!

[Finn aims a cannon at the command deck.

JANNAH

I’ll to the trigger that we soon may strike.

PALPATINE

So it begins! She’ll bravely strike me down,

And pledge herself unto the potent Sith.

BEN runs toward the throne room. Enter several
KNIGHTS OF REN, center stage, blocking his path.

BEN

[aside:] My former comrades now in darkness come,

They know I have defected from their cause

And gladly shall prevent my passageway.

[Ben fights the knights, who subdue him.

PALPATINE

She shall, upon my mark, her weapon draw,

Make her approach toward me and have done.

She shall take her revenge, and with a stroke

Of her lightsaber are the Sith reborn.

She shall, in doing so, proclaim to all

The Jedi now are dead and gone fore’er!

[Rey turns on Luke’s lightsaber.

REY

[aside:] Now is my strange connection unto Ben

More powerful than ever ’twas before.

He needs my help, and I shall give it him

That he may join the fight gainst Palpatine.

PALPATINE

Do it e’en now! Make thou the sacrifice.

[She places Luke’s lightsaber behind her head, as if about to strike. The lightsaber transfers, by the Force, to Ben’s hand.

BEN

[aside:] Ye saw that coming not, I’ll warrant. Ha!

[Ben attacks the Knights of Ren with Luke’s lightsaber. Rey takes Leia’s lightsaber from her belt and turns it on.

REY

Lay on, ye hounds of hell. Rey comes for you!

[Using the Force and the lightsaber, Rey slays the sovereign protectors while Ben fights the Knights of Ren.

BEN

[aside:] How good it feels to struggle for the light,

To know mine actions make my father proud,

To feel my mother’s strength course through my veins!

The training I once us’d unto the dark

Is quickly turn’d upon my former friends.

[Ben slays the Knights of Ren as Rey slays the sovereign protectors. Rey and Ben meet in the throne room and lift their lightsabers to face Palpatine.

REY

[aside:] A perfect two to overcome the one.

BEN

[aside:] A perfect two—strong daughter, mighty son.

[Palpatine uses the Force to knock Rey and Ben to their knees.

PALPATINE

Ye stand together, die together too!

Yet as I strike you, feel the pow’r within—

Your life force, as a dyad, makes me new!

A power that could life itself imbue,

Unseen for generations hath it been.

Ye stand together, die together too!

The one, true Emperor shall, by ye two,

Be utterly restor’d. So shall I win—

Your life force, as a dyad, makes me new!

Your swift defeat and death rise into view.

Rebirth astounding doth your doom begin:

Ye stand together, die together too!

Renew’d ascendance comes, long overdue—

No longer weak, no longer small and thin,

Your life force, as a dyad, makes me new!

See Palpatine, together knit anew,

Rebuilding bones and inward parts and skin.

Ye stand together, die together too—

Your life force, as a dyad, makes me new!

[He uses the Force to extract life from them. They collapse. Meanwhile, a TIE fighter pursues Snap Wexley’s X-wing.

POE

[into radio:] Snap, look—a fighter follows on thee hard!

His scheme is gradu’ly matur’d, for he

Hath slyly corner’d thee into his trap.

SNAP

[into radio:] I see it, yet I cannot shake the knave.

[Snap’s ship is shot and crashes, killing Snap.

POE

[into radio:] Snap, nay! My longtime confidant is slain!

My friends, it cannot be denied that we

Are terribly deficient. O, forgive—

Methought we had a chance to win the day.

Alas, there are too many enemies,

Too great a strength against which we resist.

Enter LANDO OF CALRISSIAN and CHEWBACCA in the Millennium Falcon, with masses of other PILOTS in their ships including ZORII BLISS, BABU FRIK, and WEDGE ANTILLES.

LANDO

[into radio:] Yet fear not, Poe, for we are many more—

There are far more of us who still have hope!

[Poe flies around to see the fleet of allies who have arrived.

POE

[into radio:] Have ever eyes look’d on so beauteous

A sight? O friends, we are remarkable

In the continuous profusion of

Good gifts that fortune lavishes on us!

LANDO

[into radio:] Ha, ha! We knew they’d join, and join they
have!

FINN

[into radio:] Ah, Lando, thou hast done th’unfeasible!

Thou didst it, yea! We shall find triumph yet!

POE

[into radio:] A plan doth hatch—one thing becomes
more and

More evident the longer I do gaze:

Pray, strike the underbelly cannons fast,

For each we hit doth symbol one world sav’d!

[The new Resistance ships engage and begin shooting at the Star Destroyers’ cannons.

WEDGE

[into radio:] Well flown, good Lando—still hast thou
the touch!

OFFICER 3

Alack! A full destroyer we have lost!

PRYDE

Where did they come by all these fighter craft?

They have no navy.

GRISS

—’Tis no navy sir—

’Tis merely people. People fed by hope.

[Zorii and Babu Frik, flying in a ship, destroy a cannon.

ZORII

[into radio:] Farewell, thou sky trash!

POE

[aside:] —O! It giveth me,

Perhaps, as much of pleasure as I can

In any manner now experience

To hear that voice! [Into radio:] Who is that flier, eh?

ZORII

[into radio:] Guess for thyself, spice runner!

BABU

—Ho,
huzzah!

POE

[into radio:] A marvel—Zorii, thou art yet alive!

The thrilling and enthralling eloquence

Of thy low mus’cal language made its way

Into my heart by paces steadily

And stealthily progressive, and I fear’d—

When I heard of Kijimi’s fate—that thou

Wert gone fore’er!

[In the Sith throne room, Palpatine is restored and released from his Ommin harness.

PALPATINE

—Look ye on what you’ve made.

The hordes that fill this wooden O await

For this, the moment of my victory.

[Ben struggles to his feet. Palpatine lifts him into the air using the Force.

As once I fell, the last Skywalker falls!

[Palpatine uses the Force to knock Ben down. Exit Ben through the trapdoor.

We shall not fear this feeble, weak attack,

My faithful denizens. Naught can delay

The long-expected triumph of the Sith,

Which sees both our return and our ascent!

[Palpatine sends lightning into the air all around, striking the Resistance ships and pilots and sending them into confusion.

POE

[into radio:] Artoo, my systems fail. The power that

Is emanating from the planet doth

My ship subdue. In vain I struggle gainst

Its irresistible, strange influence.

R2-D2

[into radio:] Squeak, hoo! [Aside:] The horrid lightning
works me woe!

POE

[into radio:] Can any hear? I fear this wicked light

Hath render’d all communication naught.

Gloom, horror, grief sweep over us in clouds,

Whilst our sad ships are falling from the sky.

PALPATINE

The folly and the hubris you display’d—

That e’er you weak and simple-minded imps

Would dare defy the Final Order’s might.

I laugh at your endeavors, knavish rogues!

[Rey awakens and looks beyond the stars.

REY

[aside:] Beyond the battle, far beyond the pain,

Beyond the sting of Palpatine’s revenge,

Past this partic’lar moment and its grief

As allies perish in the combat’s strife,

Away from all the fear that doth reside

Within the hearts of ev’ry person here—

Look, Rey, much farther, out beyond the stars,

And feel the presence of the Jedi past.

Be with me, O, be with me, ancestors.

The voices of the Jedi answer back.

Voices are heard, from offstage, belonging to LUKE SKYWALKER, YODA, OBI-WAN KENOBI, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, MACE WINDU, QUI-GON JINN, AAYLA SECURA, AHSOKA TANO, KANAN JARRUS, LUMINARA UNDULI, and ADI GALLIA. They speak only to REY.

OBI-WAN

These are the final steps thou must complete.

Rise thou and take them bravely.

ANAKIN

—Rey.

AHSOKA

—Rey.

KANAN

—Rey.

ANAKIN

Restore the balance, Rey, e’en as I did.

LUMINARA

Find thou the light, Rey.

KANA

—Thou art not alone.

YODA

Alone ne’er wert thou,

For ever have the Jedi

Remain’d with thee, Rey.

QUI-GON

Each Jedi who e’er liv’d now lives in thee.

ANAKIN

The Force surrounds thee, Rey.

AAYLA

—Let it guide thee.

AHSOKA

E’en as it guided us in eons past.

MACE

Feel thou the Force go flowing through thee, Rey—

’Tis life itself.

KANAN

—Yea, let it lift thee, Rey.

ADI

Rise, Rey.

QUI-GON

—We stand with thee forever.

OBI-WAN

—Rey.

YODA

Rise in the Force, Rey.

Withal thee, we take our stand.

Rise, then. Make it so.

KANAN

A Jedi’s strength doth lie within her heart.

OBI-WAN

Rise.

QUI-GON

—Rise.

LUKE

—The Force be always with thee, Rey.

[Rey rises to her feet and calls Leia’s lightsaber to her using the Force.

REY

[aside:] I am as constant as the Jedi past

Who stand with me, empow’ring me to rise.

[Palpatine stops shooting lightning as he sees her.

PALPATINE

Thy death shall be the final chapter in

The story of rebellion’s wretchèd fall.

[Palpatine shoots lightning at Rey through his hands, which she blocks with Leia’s lightsaber.

POE

[into radio:] Our systems have return’d, the lightning
fled.

A shadow gathers o’er my brain e’en so,

Because we have but moments left to spare.

One final chance we have been granted—go!

Strike ye the cannons, let us win the day.

[The Resistance ships attack the Star Destroyers as Palpatine continues to shoot lightning at Rey.

PALPATINE

Thou nothing art, and less. A scavenger

Will never match the power at my grasp.

Thou helpless girl, hear: I am all the Sith.

[Rey uses the Force to call Luke’s lightsaber to her other hand and blocks the lightning with both lightsabers.

REY

And I am all the Jedi, come to bear.

[She advances on him, turning his lightning back on him.

PALPATINE

If one good deed in all my life I did,

I do repent it from my very soul.

[Palpatine dies. The throne room shakes as the statues of the Sith fall.

REY

[aside:] With final shudder doth the Emp’ror fall,

Whose wrath no more shall plague the galaxy.

[Standing on the command ship, Jannah connects the trigger of the cannon that Finn has aimed at the bridge. The cannon fires.

PRYDE

Alack, undone! We are undone at th’last!

[The bridge explodes, killing Allegiant General Pryde and his officers.

PILOT 3

[into radio:] Behold, Poe, the command ship doth
explode!

POE

[into radio:] The fleet is trapp’d and ne’er shall fly again!

The fury of the tempest dies away,

A dead calm sullenly succeeding it.

Let us get hence, away from Exegol.

Finn, dost thou see the sack of this great ship?

ROSE

[into radio:] Finn ne’er did board the lander.

POE

[into radio:] —Can it be?

When bravery’s the theme, I well know with

What great facility he soars into

The regions of the utterly ideal.

[Finn and Jannah start to fall as the command ship tumbles from the sky.

I see them on the ship, will save them both!

PILOT 1

[into radio:] Nay, General, thou shalt not be in time.

POE

[into radio:] Why, surely you cannot be serious!

I am far faster than thou reckonest.

LANDO

[into radio:] I’ll wager thou art not fast as this ship!

[Lando and Chewbacca, in the Millennium Falcon, speed past Poe’s X-wing.

[To Chewbacca:] We’ll get them, Chewie. Ope the hatch!

CHEWBAC.

— Egh,
auugh![1]

[They fly to where Finn and Jannah are trapped on a ledge of the command ship. Finn and Jannah jump onto the Falcon as the command ship strikes the ground and explodes.

FINN

A scrape far closer than I do prefer!

Observe the engineering marvel fail—

Such vast amounts of human work destroy’d

In seconds—dreadful casualty of war.

REY

Now all is finish’d, I am torn to shreds—

Yea, now my spirit goes; I can no more.

[Rey falls, lifeless, and Finn senses it.

FINN

[aside:] Noblest of women, art thou fallen dead?

Nay, Rey, say ’tis not so. Forfend this fate.

Flown is her spirit from her body, rent

In twain by foul exertion and abuse.

All freeze. Enter MAZ KANATA on balcony with LEIA’s body. Enter BEN SOLO through the trapdoor.

BEN

Once fallen, broken, yea—but not yet dead.

I grope and fumble, finding purchase on

The rock, that I may to the scene once more,

Although I sense the enemy is gone.

[He climbs into the throne room and stumbles to Rey’s side, sitting next to her.

So soon turn’d ally, Rey, and too soon gone—

Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe

That unsubstantial death is amorous,

And that the lean abhorrèd monster keeps

Thee here in dark to be his paramour?

For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;

And never from this palace of dim night

Depart again: here, here will I remain

With worms that are thy chambermaids. O, here

Will I set up my everlasting rest,

And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars

From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!

[He takes her in his arms.

Arms, take your first and last embrace of her!

Still now thy thoughts, Ben—join her in the Force.

Whatever life I have within me yet,

Thus proffer I to her that she may live,

And in full recompense for who I’ve been,

And what I’ve done, and wherefore I did so.

[Ben puts one hand on Rey’s side and transfers life to her through the Force. Rey revives and puts her hand on his.

REY

[aside:] O comfortable touch! Where is my foe?

I do remember well where I should be,

And there I am, with Ben here by my side.

[To Ben:] Ben, thou didst come, and sav’d me from
death’s grip.

[She kisses him. They smile at each other.

BEN

Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.

[Ben dies.

REY

My life, I see, hath been his timeless end.

[Ben’s body disappears from the throne room, and Leia’s body disappears from her bed.

MAZ

Her son’s tale ends, and now is she at peace.

Thus doth the story of their wars surcease.

[Exit Maz.

POE

O, mine amazement is, of course, extreme.

Around us ships are falling like the rain,

The much-despis’d First Order dropping as

A torrent on the face of Exegol.

The fiery rubble crashes to the ground

Like hail upon the hard and frozen dirt.

Smoke riseth from the wreckage like a fog,

Wherefrom our band of hope will, like the sun,

Rise to a better day that dawns henceforth.

Enter WICKET and POMMET on balcony, watching the ships fall.

WICKET

A buki buki,

Luki, luki,

Villens fallin,

Nuki, nuki!

[Rey runs to Luke’s X-wing and boards it.

REY

The hurly-burly’s done, the battle won.

[Exit Rey, flying away. Poe and Finn spot the X-wing as she does.

POE

[into radio:] Finn, look thou yonder! Had a thunderbolt

At my feet fallen, I could not have been

More thoroughly astounded at the sight!

FINN

[into radio:] Red Five is in the air! Rey liveth still,

And folk around the galaxy entire

Are rising up against First Order rule.

We did it, Poe! Our battles finish’d well.

POE

[into radio:] We did it, Finn, all expectation spoilt.

The epoch of this too-eventful tale

Now may know peace, for hope doth here prevail.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 2.

On Ajan Kloss.

Enter POE DAMERON, FINN, CHEWBACCA, LANDO OF CALRISSIAN, ROSE TICO, JANNAH, MAZ KANATA, C-3PO, R2-D2, BB-8, D-O, ZORII BLISS, BABU FRIK, COMMANDER D’ACY, LIEUTENANT CONNIX, BEAUMONT KIN, NIEN NUNB, AFTAB ACKBAR, WEDGE ANTILLES, KLAUD, and other SOLDIERS and PILOTS landing and reuniting. Enter CHORUS, aside.

CHORUS

A celebration of both hope and life

Breaks out as each unto the base returns.

The battle o’er, the former mood of strife

Becomes relief that ev’ry soul discerns.

E’en droids share tales of bravery in battle,

Of overcoming when they were afeard.

With grateful hearts and unrestrainèd prattle

Resistance hath toward rejoicing veer’d.

Whilst all embrace each other with delight

And lovers reunite with tender kiss,

Finn calmly waiteth for another sight—

Best friends with whom to share this untold bliss.

[Exit Chorus. Finn searches for Rey and Poe in the crowd.

FINN

[aside:] The merriment fulfills my heart not yet,

For I may not be whole without the two

Parts of my heart which yet I have not found—

My friends who have been with me from the start.

[Poe spots Zorii from afar.

POE

[aside:] There is sweet Zorii cross the field from me.

With simple nod I bid her for a kiss—

She laughs with both her arms and legs at me,

And shakes her head with gentle reprimand.

Not yet, nay, but the future who may know?

MAZ

I bid thee, Chewie, step aside for me.

[Chewbacca kneels at Maz’s side. She gives him a medal.

This token is for thee, though overdue.

CHEWBAC.

Egh, auugh![2]

[Finn spots Poe and rushes toward him.

FINN

—There’s Poe, adopted brother found!

POE

Ho! Ev’ryone doth know the finest place

In all the world is with comrade best.

[Finn and Poe embrace.

Enter REY, landing and emerging from the X-wing. She disembarks, spots BB-8, and runs to him.

REY

Thou tender droid, I’ll thine antenna check.

I could not fail this mission, dost thou see—

What wouldst thou do sans me to straighten it?

BB-8

Zzwa flibrooh roilzoom fllizooz blisflit blis!

[Jannah approaches Lando.

JANNAH

I prithee, General, whence comest thou?

LANDO

Gold system. What of thee, kid? Whence com’st thou?

JANNAH

Nay, I know not.

LANDO

—Belike we shall find out.

[Finn and Poe spot Rey and approach her. They all embrace.

REY

We three at long last reunited are.

POE

We three, the blessèd words ring as a knell.

FINN

We three who e’er have fought and lov’d as one.

REY

Here let the story rest, the battles cease,

Here is the glad conclusion of our tale,

Here friends and comrades are elated, and

Here shall they mourn for all whom they did lose.

POE

Ye watchers all, amid the earnest woes

That crowd around our path, which turn e’en now

To gladness, hear this message we relay:

Hope is the spark that ye should ne’er forsake.

FINN

Our story finishes, but yours endures.

Resistance is the pathway of the just.

Our star wars, now, are ended, for the nonce—

Have they mov’d ye to meaningful response?

[All freeze as Rey takes center stage.

REY

Flew I, thereafter, in the Falcon fast,

Obtaining Tatooine’s bleak fields at last.

Resolving to perform a final deed,

By way of Luke’s old home did I proceed.

Eventually, I came to the place,

Near unaffected by time’s steady pace.

Applying nimble, scavenger-like skill,

Next I slid down a gentle, sandy hill,

Descending to the home where Luke once grew—

I sens’d, therein, his presence through and through.

The lightsabers I carried in my care—

One Leia’s, which she later did forswear,

One Luke’s, with which he fought the Empire strong—

Now I wrapp’d in a cloth I’d brought along.

Entrusting all their power to the land,

Sand, by the Force, engulf’d them as I’d plann’d.

Hereafter they shall rest from all their toil,

Amidst a hidden vault of sandy soil.

Revealing my new lightsaber of gold,

Excited, once more, to my friends behold,

Declaring my work done on Tatooine,

Arose I with a most contented mien.

In mine own thoughts consumèd, by and by,

Met I a woman as she wander’d nigh.

Anon she ask’d my name while passing through.

Rey was mine answer till she ask’d, “Rey who?”

Emerg’d then Luke and Leia, wondrous pair,

Delivering mine answer o’er the air:

Rey Skywalker. Yea, thus shall I be known,

Asserting that their fam’ly is mine own.

With hope I look’d toward the double sun,

Now mindful that my tale had just begun.

[Exeunt omnes.

END.

[1] Editor’s translation: I shall, good Lando. For the nonce I’ve seen
Enow of death and shall not leave my friends!

[2] Editor’s translation: The medal once awarded to brave Han—
Hard won for courage in the battle long
Ago, for which I once was overlook’d—
Now given unto me by kindly Maz.
Keen am I this memento to receive,
Yet did assume ’twas lost some years ago.
O, decades after swiftly fall the tears
Unbidden but sincerely from mine eyes.
Past all mine expectation is this gift,
E’en as I from this final battle rest.
True kinfolk have I found within this band,
Exciting ventures making my soul bright—
Replete this Wookiee’s spirit is with light.

AFTERWORD.

How fortunate we are to live in a time when Star Wars is experiencing a resurgence in movies, shows, books, comics, theme parks, and more. Like millions of other people, I was looking forward to The Rise of Skywalker, watching the trailers but trying to preserve as much mystery as possible. On opening night, I experienced the joy of seeing the movie unfold with various surprises, resolutions, and emotions. I hope you had the same experience. Almost immediately, I was thinking about how to adapt it into Shakespeare’s voice.

Many people noticed that the final scene between Rey and Ben is similar to the end of Romeo and Juliet; one person appears dead, the other enters and sees them dead, then the first person awakes and the other person dies. My adaptation gives full voice to that parallel, as Rey and Ben borrow lines from Juliet and Romeo (respectively) once Ben enters and sees Rey lifeless. (Of course, edits were required. After all, when the scene is over Rey is still alive—unlike Juliet.)

In 2019, I listened to the audiobook of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars for the first time in a few years, and I was reminded how strict my iambic pentameter was in my first book. Not only did I adhere to the meter, but I used almost no weak endings (an eleventh syllable at the end of the line). As I started writing William Shakespeare’s The Merry Rise of Skywalker, I decided to give myself the challenge of stricter iambic pentameter than I’ve used in years. As a result—not that I expect you to have noticed—there are fewer than ten weak endings in this book.

Because of the characters who appear in The Rise of Skywalker, I revisited almost all of the conventions I created in my previous eight books. In case you’re keeping track, or in case these conventions are new to you: Rey has some acrostic speeches, Finn uses fs and ns in every line, Poe borrows from Edgar Allan Poe in each of his lines, the villains deliver villanelles, R2-D2 addresses the audience in asides, Chewbacca’s grunts and growls are “translated,” BB-8 uses a skip code, the voice of Yoda has two haiku, Mace Windu references the title of a Samuel L. Jackson movie, Aftab Ackbar inherits his father’s-ap endings, and we even get brief lines from Ewoks and porgs.

You’ll find Easter eggs throughout the book, as always. These include a tribute to Peter Mayhew, lines borrowed from various well-known authors, and throwbacks to other installments of the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series. As in William Shakespeare’s Jedi the Last, one Easter egg bears explanation. The Rise of Skywalker includes a brief cameo from John Williams, the famous composer of the Star Wars score and other well-known cinematic soundtracks. In the movie, he plays a bartender named Oma Tres, who glares at the main characters as they enter his bar (particularly C-3PO, because we all know droids aren’t welcome in cantinas). Oma Tres doesn’t speak in the movie, but I decided he should have some lines here. More than that, I wanted to write a speech that uniquely captures John Williams’s music. I decided to hide the Star Wars theme in the speech itself, encoding the melody in the dots above the lowercase is and uppercase Os to represent music notes on a staff. The dotted is represent eighth notes and the Os indicate either quarter notes or half notes. Turn the book 90 degrees counterclockwise, and you can see the sheet music come to life. (This is the kind of thing that makes my geek heart very happy.)

Nine movies—and nine books—later, the Skywalker saga is complete. It has been a privilege to reimagine all nine episodes of the Skywalker story, and I’m honored to have made my small contribution to the stories we all adore. See you around the galaxy, friends.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

This book is dedicated to my parents-in-law, Jeff and Caryl Creswell. To have wonderful in-laws is to be a lucky man indeed.

Thank you to my parents, Bob and Beth Doescher, my brother Erik and sister-in-law Em, and their daughters Aracelli and Addison.

Thank you to Josh Hicks, Alexis Kaushansky, and their daughter Ruby. Thank you to Tom George, Kristin Gordon, Chloe Ackerman, and Graham Steinke. Thank you to Heidi Altman, Chris Martin, Naomi Walcott, and Ethan Youngerman. Collectively, they are the Rey and Poe to my Finn (minus the fan theories of our romance).

Thank you to Murray Biggs, my friend, my former college professor, and a Shakespearean scholar par excellence. While I wrote this book, Murray wrote to me: “Well, aren’t you something. Mind you, we always knew that—though there’s still some doubt about what that something is, and how much we should have to do with it.” I can’t think of a more accurate description of what most of my family and friends think of me.

Thank you to the good people of Quirk Books, each one of them a joy: Jhanteigh Kupihea, Nicole De Jackmo, Rebecca Gyllenhaal, Brett Cohen, Christina Tatulli, Kelsey Hoffman, Jane Morley, Andie Reid, Ryan Hayes, Megan DiPasquale, and the rest of the team. Thank you to Nicholas Delort for illustrating all nine of these Shakespeare’s Star Wars books.

Thank you to friends and family near and far: Audu Besmer, Jane Bidwell, Travis Boeh and Sarah Woodburn, Chris Buehler and Marian Hammond, Erin and Nathan Buehler, Melody and Jason Burton, Cate and Josiah Carminati, Antwon Chavis and Nate Housel, Joel Creswell, Sibyl Siegfried, Sophie, and Caroline, Katherine Creswell and Spencer Nietmann, Jen Echternach, Jeanette Ehmke, Holly Havens, Mona and Roland Havens, Jim and Nancy Hicks, Anne Huebsch, Apricot, David, Isaiah and Oak Irving, Jerryn Johnston, Rebecca Lessem, Lisa Lomax, Andrea Martin, Sierra Maxwell, Bruce McDonald, Joan and Grady Miller, Tara and Michael Morrill, Lucy and Tim Neary, Bill Rauch, Scott Roehm, Helga, Michael, and Isabella Scott, Susan Scharfman, J. and K. Thomas, Ryan, Nicole, Mackinzie, Audrey and Lily Warne-McGraw, Steve Weeks, Eva Williams, Ben and Katie Wire, and Dan Zehr.

Thank you to the 4,000-plus members of the Shakespeare 2020 Project, who are reading through the complete works of the Bard this year. It’s more fun—and a much larger group—than I imagined possible.

Thank you to my spouse Jennifer, heart of my heart, who after nearly twenty years is still the person I choose every day. Thank you to my sons Liam and Graham, who got me to download Snapchat.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564–1616) was a poet and playwright. He is widely considered one of the greatest writers in the English language.

GEORGE LUCAS is a film producer, screenwriter, director, and the creator of the Star Wars motion picture saga. He lives in California.

IAN DOESCHER is the New York Times best-selling author of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family. Visit him at IanDoescher.com.

SONNET 9

The hurly-burly’s done, the web is won…

The battle o’er, the villain vanquish’d quite,

Rey, Finn, and Poe now lead a merry band,

Good hath prevail’d, the wrong hath come out right—

Our heroes rest in celebration grand.

With smile upon your face, your browser ope

And hie unto the Quirk Books website soon.

There shalt thou put within thine eyeballs’ scope

Frivolity throughout the website strewn.

A teachers guide is gratis on the site,

With which thou shalt learn more about the book.

An interview with Ian Doescher might

Be just what thou dersir’st: a closer look.

All this and more find thou with much aplomb,

When thou dost get thee to quirkbooks.com.

www.quirkbooks.com/merryriseofskywalker