Read Online William Shakespeare's The Phantom Menace by Ian Doescher - Free Book Online

lead!
    KITSTER
    O fly, swift Anakin, and make me proud!
    PADMÉ
    Pray, do not say the word, Qui-Gon: we go
    To eagerly behold the final act.
    [Exeunt Padmé and Jar Jar Binks .
    QUI-GON
    I said so ere this, winsome lady, and
    Declare once more: I sense the boy shall win,
    And when he doth prevail we shall behold
    The swift fulfillment of our mighty hope.
    SHMI
    Your solace is most reassuring, sir,
    Yet I maintain: the mother’s sole concern
    Is for the son, and not the broader cause.
    FODE
    Young Skywalker is forc’d to ride upon
    The service ramp—unfortunate this turn!
    SHMI
    First down, then up, and next in danger great.
    This racing of the pods is made for souls
    Much braver, more courageous than myself.
    Enter P ADMÉ .
    QUI-GON
    How now? Art back so soon?
    PADMÉ
    â€”’Tis pain t’observe!
    With what abusive knocks Sebulba drives
    The boy aside, e’en to the limit of
    The path. ’Twas nearly more than I could bear.
    As Anakin was forcèd far off course,
    It seem’d Sebulba had the lead secure,
    And nothing could disrupt his triumph sure.
    Yet even then all was not lost, in truth—
    Another startling turn had Fate to make:
    Like some astounding phoenix rising from
    The ashes where it recently did burn,
    The boy comes swooping o’er the enemy
    And in a blaze of fire doth fly ahead.
    SHMI
    What can this mean?
    PADMÉ
    â€”Hear, madam, and believe:
    The boy hath ta’en the lead.
    SHMI
    â€”Ahh, can it be?
    I almost am more shaken by this news
    That he could win, than when I did believe
    He had but little chance.
    FODE
    â€”’Tis Skywalker!
    A swift control thrust putteth him on track—
    Such flying we’ve not seen for ages. Zounds!
    Enter J AR J AR B INKS .
    JAR JAR
    His podracer is breakee breakee!
    QUI-GON
    What’s this? [ To Padmé: ] I prithee, go and see again.
    [Exit Padmé .
    FODE
    Now ’tis some trouble for small Skywalker—
    Sebulba hath again reclaim’d the front.
    JAR JAR
    De bad Sebulba come behindee,
    He sneakee up, and Ani scaredee.
    Den did a part fall off his shippee,
    Dere lotsa smoke, Sebulba coughin’,
    But den Sebulba zoom in frontee.
    O! Meesa canna take it nowa.
    QUI-GON
    Divulge yourself, most honor’d, noble Force!
    Be seen by ev’ry soul that gathers here
    To watch the pods fly o’er this desert course.
    Show them the power that the Force doth give,
    E’en to a lowly youth as Anakin.
    Display the wisdom and experience
    That one is heir to in the Force’s sway.
    Reveal how weak are those who nothing know
    Of your astonishing and awesome strength.
    Make known here in the sight of this large crowd,
    That none succeed who do not know your name.
    Enter P ADMÉ .
    PADMÉ
    Another turn upon another turn!
    FODE
    The lad again doth chase Sebulba’s tail—
    And nearly hath he overtaken him!
    BEED
    O inkabunga!
    FODE
    â€”Mad the human small
    Most certain be, to make such desperate
    Maneuvers.
    BEED
    â€”Punda tah punda.
    FODE
    â€”E’en now
    The two are side by side.
    BEED
    â€”Bangu du bang’!
    PADMÉ
    The double-man speaks true! Our Anakin
    Had lost his engine—nearly did he wreck—
    Yet manag’d he to bring it back online.
    As they tore through the canyon, Anakin
    Gave chase until he ran not far behind.
    Then, with a valor well beyond his years,
    Drew he aside Sebulba, and did hook
    The Dug’s fleet pod so that they rode as one.
    At last, when Anakin had all arrang’d,
    He drove his vessel forward, which did blow
    Sebulba’s pod into a thousand parts.
    A’whining and a’crying in the sand,
    Sebulba is defeated! I expect
    The swift return of Ani’s pod anon!
    QUI-GON
    O, thank the Force!
    SHMI
    â€”Past expectation, this!
    Enter A NAKIN S KYWALKER , crossing the finish line in triumph .
    KITSTER
    Hurrah!
    R2-D2
    â€”Beep, meep, beep, squeak!
    C-3PO
    â€”O merry day!
    Mine eyes had not believ’d it