SCENE 3.

The Jedi’s whereabouts my droids have found,

And I shall make my strike on them anon.

I see them now—the older Jedi comes

With boy of little consequence behind.

I’ll make my swift attack upon the elder,

And finish with the youth once he is dead.

Enter QUI-GON JINN and ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

Behold, what’s this? An enemy? [To Anakin:] Make haste!

Unto the ship make thou the swiftest flight,

And tell them to depart most urgently!

[Exit Anakin. Qui-Gon and Darth Maul begin to duel.

Your pow’rs are weak, and agèd your technique.

You art no match for one so skill’d as I.

Alas, such speed and fleet agility

I ne’er have seen but in the Jedi ranks.

Enter OBI-WAN KENOBI, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, R2-D2, CAPTAIN PANAKA, and RIC OLIÉ on balcony, in the cockpit of the Naboo cruiser.

Great trouble doth pursue Qui-Gon below!

I prithee, pilot, take off now!

—I shall!

Draw near to them—fly low that he may leap.

[Qui-Gon begins to lose strength.

You grow still weaker; soon I’ll see you fall.

Perchance I’ve one last leap to save myself.

[Qui-Gon jumps into the ship, on the balcony.

This battle ends, and you are barely sav’d:

Next time you shall not be so fortunate.

[Exit Darth Maul.

Good sir, is’t well with you?

—What was the thing?

I am not certain, merely do I know

That it was trainèd well in Jedi arts.

Belike it hither came to take our queen—

And, lo, the game it plays is dangerous.

What shall we do?

—For now we bide our time,

And strive for calm and patience in all things.

Young Anakin Skywalker, I present

My strong apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Well met, dear sir. Are you a Jedi, too?

Indeed, my lad, as well thou mayest be.

Together we shall this new threat confront—

Belike we’ll answers find on Coruscant.

[Exeunt.