SCENE 3.

He parries with such speed as doth amaze—

I ne’er have seen a Jedi move this quick.

’Tis like the crash of thunder when it sounds,

Or like the wind that rushes through the hills.

When once I think I’ve caught him, he doth fly

With stamina most awesome to behold.

I almost would his sprightly moves admire

Were they not us’d to strike upon my life.

A double lightsaber he wields with ease,

Each end a deadly kiss of viper’s tongue.

How like a snake he slithers from our grasp

And snaps at us with kicks and jabs severe.

He knocketh Master Qui-Gon down, whilst I

In vain do seek to gain the upper hand.

Then I am knock’d as well, as Qui-Gon fights.

With such proficiency this Sith doth use

The Force to duck and dodge and move things, too.

Shall this be th’end, or shall we yet prevail?

Ha, by these two I’ll not defeated be.

This old man here and his apprentice weak

Are no match for the infamous Darth Maul!

Were it but one against me here ’twould be

Already done—the Jedi would be slain

And I stand tall, triumphant. Yet the two

Present a challenge—hap’ly I do greet it!

Come, fools, deliver unto me your lives!

The power generator cavity

Unknowingly we three have stumbl’d ’pon.

He thumps on Obi-Wan, who falls below

Onto another platform. Feel my blow!

I fall, yet do not fear the landing, nay—

For falling is but prelude to a climb.

Ere he hath from the dais jump’d to me,

I’m on my feet, for battle well prepar’d.

Methinks I did unto this chasm profound

Near lose my life. More careful I must be!

Now Qui-Gon is alone to fight the beast,

And I must soon return to give him aid.

Into a hall of rays I have been press’d,

Such rays as shall a person slice in twain.

The lightsabers with which we fight are naught

Compar’d to fiery blaze of these sharp lights.

[A beam appears between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul.

Behold—my master and the wretched Sith

Are separated by a deadly beam,

Whilst I am well behind, too far to strike.

The Sith doth pace about, much like a cat,

Whilst Qui-Gon kneels and with the Force communes.

[kneeling:] Be still, my soul, the Force is on thy side.

Be silent, heart, and let thy raging cease.

Be quiet, mind, and to this time assent.

Be calm, my body, take the proffer’d rest.

I know not whether I may yet prevail,

Or if this shall become old Qui-Gon’s end.

If I defeat this foe, still doubts remain:

Who is behind this killer’s presence here?

And how did they arise again, the Sith?

’Twould be a better ending if I could

Subdue the foe and question him at length.

Yet murther is within his aspect. Yea,

He shall not let me live another hour

And shall not answer any query pos’d.

’Tis he or I shall live—or die—herein.

Ye Jedi ancestors, hear now my plea:

If I do slay him, help us find the source

Of this most strange and frightful newfound threat.

If ’tis my time to die, let it be swift

And painless, let my spirit fly with grace.

I think upon the things that I have done,

And those things yet undone that I would do,

Mayhap they shall not be, when I am gone.

A tragic and a weighty thought is this.

Mine only cares are for the wondrous boy,

And for my young apprentice, Obi-Wan,

And for the Jedi in whose name I serve.

If now the time for me is come, O ghosts

Of Jedi past and gone, I ask but this:

Protect my friends, for they are all my life.

I must prepare, the beam shall disappear.

You fool, e’en now your ending draweth nigh.

[The beams disappear. Qui-Gon and Darth Maul begin to duel.

My master fights with purpose full renew’d!

How quickly he doth press toward the beast.

The beams have gone—be jubilant, my feet!

Make haste to run, aid Qui-Gon in the fight.

[The beam appears again, separating Obi-Wan from Qui-Gon and Darth Maul.

So near I was, yet not quite near enough.

I train mine eyes and hope upon the two:

With both I seek the outcome I desire.

He had th’advantage, but the tide has turn’d.

His weakness do I sense as he doth tire.

I push him, stun him, strike the blow forsooth!

[Darth Maul runs Qui-Gon through with his lightsaber.

Et tu, Sith? Then fall, Qui-Gon Jinn!

—Nay, nay!

You beastly villain, feel my anger’s wrath!

[The beams disappear. Obi-Wan and Darth Maul begin to duel.

I strike, and cold revenge doth warm my soul,

So like a flash of lightning I attack.

With strength renew’d he fighteth for his friend,

Avenging this old man with sharpest strikes.

He hopes to claim the life that I have ta’en,

But little doth he know I shall take two.

Vile foe—I swipe, and this is the result:

Your double lightsaber is singl’d out.

’Tis now a fight more even, and shall be

E’en fairer when I take the life you owe,

The one that you from Master Qui-Gon stole.

Not so, foul boy. You have the upper hand,

But yet have turn’d your back upon the chasm.

And now, whilst o’er my lightsaber you fret

I strike with th’Force and send you falling down.

[Darth Maul uses the Force to strike Obi-Wan and knock him into a chasm, where Obi-Wan grasps a nozzle.

Alas, I fall! My lightsaber is gone,

Yet still I cling and am not finish’d yet.

E’en as I hang here, grasping for my life,

I know how much doth hang upon this duel.

Be patient, Obi-Wan, be calm in mind.

Think carefully about thy movement next,

Lest it shall be the final one thou mak’st.

He hangeth there, but just prolongs his death.

’Tis either down into the endless pit

Or up above, where, with no lightsaber

His death shall be as swift as I allow—

Or slow, perhaps, so he shall beg for it.

’Tis certain I cannot go down from here,

So must ascend with mighty upward leap.

This much he shall expect, yet shall he think

I am unarm’d—which, in the main, is true.

However, in my mind’s eye I behold

Another weapon I may master yet.

Now to it, Obi-Wan: earn thy revenge!

[Obi-Wan flips upward, using the Force to pull Qui-Gon’s lightsaber into his hands.

As he lands, he then cuts Darth Maul in two using the lightsaber.

Let vengeance howl! The Jedi so decides.

[Darth Maul falls into the pit.

Good Obi-Wan?

—what ho! He liveth still.

It is too late for me, dear Obi-Wan.

Yet one thing doth remain: I pray, attend:

But promise me thou shalt train Anakin.

Yea, Master, yea.

—He is the chosen one.

Forsooth, he shall bring balance to the Force.

Train him! My spirit goes; I can no more.

[Qui-Gon Jinn dies.

O noble man, by treachery o’erthrown!

A mightier and better Jedi ne’er

Did roam the corners of our galaxy.

The light that hath so shone within my days

Hath here been snuff’d most rancorously out.

Yet let it not be said his death’s for naught,

Nor that he fac’d his end with anything

That’s less than perfect valor, bravery

Beyond the pale of what a man should show.

He went unto his death as unto life:

With energy, with passion, and with strength.

How fortunate I am to be his last

Apprentice, aye, to learn so much from such

A brilliant star as he put in the sky.

We did but pale when he shin’d forth—nay, not

When he did shine, but as he still doth shine,

And ever shall, until the universe

Itself is dark and all’s but memory.

Farewell, my valiant master Qui-Gon Jinn,

Deep peace be yours until we meet again.

[Exit.