William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace Read Online Free

we call upon the Force to see
    Correctly, that the thing is not so grand,
    Know this: you ever shall live life in fear.
    Hence, my young Padawan, and Jar Jar Binks,
    E’er bear in mind this plain and vital truth—
    Remember that you must have confidence
    Enough to know: there’s e’er a bigger fish.

    JAR JAR
    O, meesa tink we goin’ back now.
    But whereuh weesa goin’ to, sir?
    QUI-GON
    Fret not: we shall be guided by the Force.
    JAR JAR
    O, maxibig, de Force you sayuh.
    But datta smella stinkowiffee.
    [The console begins to beep .
    OBI-WAN
    Alas, the power swiftly runneth out.
    JAR JAR
    O nay, O weesa die in heeyuh!
    QUI-GON
    Pray, calm thyself. No trouble have we yet.
    JAR JAR
    What “yet”? De monsters swimmin’ out dere,
    All leakin’ and a’sinkin’ heeyuh,
    When yousa tinkin’ we in trouble?
    Enter COLO CLAW , hidden .
    COLO
    My brother opee fail’d where I’ll succeed.
    This vessel shall become my banquet feast—
    And thus I serve my masters by my belly.
    OBI-WAN
    The power is restor’d—with it, our chance.
    [The lights of the transport turn on to reveal the colo claw, which attempts to eat the ship .
    QUI-GON
    From one great trial to another, yet
    I feel as though some hand doth guide us here.
    Enter SANDO AQUA MONSTER as the transport dodges the COLO CLAW .
    SANDO
    I come again to rescue my brave friends!
    Flee twixt my teeth, but you—O, colo brute!—
    Are not so fortunate. Feel my sharp bite:
    I’ll break my fast upon your trait’rous hide!
    [The sando aqua monster eats the colo claw and exits .
    QUI-GON
    Thus are we safe again—head for that slope—
    For with the Force no sea may sink our hope.
    [Exeunt .

SCENE 4.
    Aboard the Trade Federation battleship .
    Enter N UTE G UNRAY , R UNE H AAKO , and, in beam , D ARTH S IDIOUS .
    NUTE
    Th’invasion doth proceed apace, my lord.
    SIDIOUS
    I have, with cunning, slow’d the Senate’s speed,
    Arresting—by procedure—their advance.
    They shall have little choice but to accept
    The strong control you hold o’er small Naboo.
    NUTE
    The queen has faith—misguided, to be sure—
    And doth believe the Senate sides with her.
    SIDIOUS
    Queen Amidala’s but an ingénue;
    Controlling her shall not be difficult.
    NUTE
    Indeed, my lord.
    [Exit Darth Sidious from beam .
    RUNE
    â€”One thing you did omit.
    Naught of the missing Jedi did you speak.
    NUTE
    Why give him reason to make loud retort?
    We shall report when we have some report.
    [Exeunt .

SCENE 5.
    On the planet Naboo .
    Enter Q UI -G ON J INN , O BI -W AN K ENOBI , and J AR J AR B INKS in transport, surfacing in the waters of Naboo .
    QUI-GON
    Our journey through the core is made at last,
    And now shall we make way unto the queen
    To warn her of this threat most imminent.
    Come, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar, let us hence!
    [Exeunt .
    Enter N UTE G UNRAY and R UNE H AAKO with several BATTLE DROIDS , including OOM-9.
    OOM-9
    The queen hath been detainèd, Viceroy.
    NUTE
    â€”Good.
    This victory doth taste most succulent,
    And sates the hunger of my wide ambition.
    Enter S ABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala , S IO B IBBLE , C APTAIN P ANAKA , P ADMÉ , and other members of the N ABOO COURT , guarded by BATTLE DROIDS .
    SIO
    How shalt thou hope to justify this bold
    Attack upon our peaceful planet? Speak!
    NUTE
    The queen and I shall sign a treaty soon;
    It shall confer legitimacy on
    Our occupation of the city here.
    I have been told the Senate shall with haste
    Proceed to ratify the treaty. Aye,
    Methinks the queen shall find it in her heart
    To move her hand and make the needed mark
    That shall deliver her dear populace.
    SABÉ
    No treaty shall I sign. You shall not have
    Cooperation in this matter—nay.
    NUTE
    Be sensible, Your Highness, else we shall
    Persuade you through the suff’ring of Naboo.
    The cries most piteous, the horrid groans,
    The gleam of bodkin’s touch and scream