SCENE 4.

The strangest feelings have been mine of late.

To know my son exists confounds my wits

As I did ne’er imagine. What is this

Confusion that doth obfuscate my mind?

For evil I am made, for punishment

Of foes, for conquering of peoples, and

To do the perfect will of my great lord

And Emperor. Of these I certain am,

For this hath been my role full many years.

Yet where within this surety is room

For offspring? For a son? What can a life

Liv’d on the dark side of the Force have still

To do with heirs, with flesh and bone that sprang

From me and that sweet life that once I led?

How can this Sith, this man of pain and death,

Be father to the fruit of far-gone love?

It seems well nigh impossible when one

Considers what I’ve been. For, verily,

I may not hide the man I truly am:

A warrior devoted to the cause

Of Emperor and Empire both. ’Tis who

I am: I must be mad when I have cause

And smile at no one’s jests. No humor doth

Give pleasure to my mouth or stir my heart,

Nor would I dare to ever love again,

If e’en this mess of tangl’d wires could love.

I am a Sith, most surely to be fear’d.

Yet that perplexing thing remains: a son.

What is thy bidding, master?

—Send the fleet

Unto the farthest side of Endor. There

Let it remain, until ’tis callèd for.

What of the recent news that rebels are

Amassing near to Sullust? Is it so?

It is of little consequence, for soon

This vile Rebellion shall be crushèd and

Young Skywalker shall know the dark side’s pow’r.

Thy work upon the Death Star is complete.

Thou shalt go hence to the command ship, and

Await my orders there.

—My master: aye.

[Exit Darth Vader.

Now all the players and the scenes are set

To bring about our greatest triumph yet.

[Exeunt.