Free William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace by Ian Doescher Page B

shall bring fortune to your path.
    PADMÉ
    â€™Tis passing beautiful, kind Anakin.
    Yet need I not a trinket to recall
    The brave and solemn boy before me here.
    Ne’er shall your memory be far from me,
    Whether I am adorn’d with this or no.
    Pray understand that many things must change
    When safely we arrive at Coruscant;
    What shall not change is how I care for thee.
    ANAKIN
    My heart doth hold you in its care as well,
    Though even this reeks of duplicity,
    For how can one heart hold the care for two?
    PADMÉ
    Thou dost yearn for thy mother kind, I know.
    â€™Tis meet and right to do so, Anakin.
    [Exit Padmé .
    ANAKIN
    Then wherefore doth it make my spirit burn?
    Enter R IC O LIÉ .
    RIC
    Attend, lad, we soon land on Coruscant!
    Behold its lights and iridescent glow—
    The planet whole is but one city vast,
    Which giveth light at all times, day or night.
    Below, ’tis Chancellor Valorum’s craft,
    And there, upon the landing dock, doth wait
    Sir Palpatine, an honorable man.
    Enter Q UI -G ON J INN , O BI -W AN K ENOBI , S ABÉ dressed as Queen Amidala , P ADMÉ , J AR J AR B INKS , C APTAIN P ANAKA , and, separately , C HANCELLOR V ALORUM and S ENATOR P ALPATINE .
    QUI-GON
    With humble mien, we greet ye heartily.
    [Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi bow to Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine .
    PALPATINE
    And you as well, ye noble Jedi Knights.
    [ To Sabé: ] Your Majesty, ’tis gift to see you well.
    I fear’d the worst, but you are here: alive.
    The dire communications breakdown did
    Upset us quite, and have us all concern’d.
    I shall with eagerness hear your report
    Of all that hath befallen since Naboo.
    Straight may I introduce unto your grace
    The Chancellor Supreme, Valorum, he.
    VALORUM Your Highness, I do bid you hearty welcome:
    It is a privilege to meet your person.
    SABÉ
    All thanks, respected Chancellor Supreme.
    VALORUM
    Your situation is full well distressing,
    The Senate is most strain’d by all the rumors.
    I’ve call’d a special meeting of the Senate,
    Wherein we may your circumstance consider.
    SABÉ
    Most grateful am I for thy deep concern.
    PALPATINE
    A question of procedure did arise,
    Yet I am confident we’ll overcome.
    QUI-GON
    [ aside, to Valorum: ] Good Chancellor, I must anon address
    The Jedi Council. All is not as ’twas,
    The situation hath new obstacles.
    [Exeunt Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Chancellor Valorum as the others move to Senator Palpatine’s quarters .
    PALPATINE
    My queen, here is there no civility.
    Aye, no civility: mere politics.
    What once the strong Republic was it is
    No longer: weak and feeble ’tis become.
    The Senate’s rife with babbling delegates,
    E’er greedy for their taste of power’s meat.
    The common good’s become a most rare dish,
    Unsav’ry to their growing appetites.
    I would not lie to you, Your Majesty,
    There is but little chance the Senate shall
    Move to suppress or censor this attack.
    SABÉ
    The chancellor, it seems, would disagree.
    He spoke of hope it may yet be put right.
    PALPATINE
    And yet, the chancellor hath little pow’r.
    He e’er by accusations is beset,
    All whispering corruption’s damning name.
    Full baseless, yea, but still he lacketh might—
    â€™Tis bureaucrats who rule the Senate now.
    SABÉ
    I prithee, say: what options have we, then?
    PALPATINE
    â€™Twould grant us greatest chance of Fate’s esteem
    If we could push t’elect a chancellor
    Who could be stronger, verily supreme.
    Belike a one as this could then control
    The bureaucrats and rule for justice’s sake.
    If you put forth a vote: no confidence
    In Chancellor Valorum, ’twould suffice.
    SABÉ
    Are you beyond all reason? He hath been
    An ardent friend and patron of Naboo.
    PALPATINE
    â€™Tis not the only course: we could, as well,
    Submit a plea unto the courts of law.
    SABÉ
    Which would but take far longer even than
    The