Scenes I'd Like to See: More Star Wars
Oct. 30th, 2015 07:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wingedbeastA continuation from http://wingedbeast.dreamwidth.org/23756.html
Scene 1
Setting: In Obi Wan's cave.
Obi Wan: Your father's light saber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times... before the Empire.
Luke SkyWot: How was it more civilized?
Obi Wan: People were more civilized, better.
SkyWot: I know a little about history, my family history. I don't know much about my father, but... did people say "please" and "thank you" when buying and selling my grandmother as a slave?
Obi Wan: Okay, there was slavery, which I opposed by they way. I'm not opposed to less slavery. But, even the slavery that was around then was less... like what you'd see in Jaba's Palace today.
SkyWot: No it wasn't. Jaba still had his palace. It's not just a criminal palace, it has history to it that goes back centuries. And, yeah, sex slavery was always a part of it, as well as pitting slaves against this big, stop-motion-animation-monster.
SkyWot: On average, slavery might not have been as bad, but that's because the average was changed by the big amount of very public slavery that wasn't straight out sex-slavery then death. And, that average was due to the amount, not due to a lack of making slaves have sex with their owners. Heck, my grandmother married an owner-turned-husband. That had to have been a coercive situation.
Obi Wan: Okay, slavery is bad. We're not going to debate that. But, you have to admit that the Republic was not as oppressive as The Empire is, today.
SkyWot: I'm not arguing in favor of the Empire, no. But, the Republic wasn't so much oppressive on its own as it was a collection of constitutional monarchies, absolute monarchies, and theocracies. I mean, sure, if you went to those places, they'd have kings and queens to make you feel right at home, but that's so long as you kept to the "good" parts of town.
SkyWot: What did the Republic do about the Naboo treatment of native Gungans?
Obi Wan: Oh sure, bring up the Gungans. No society is perfect. But, the time was a civilized age.
SkyWot: Where did you live at the time?
Obi Wan: I was a young Jedi, then. I spent much time away on missions to other planets. But, when I was home, home was the Jedi base on Coruscant.
SkyWot: The capitol of the Republic? The one that was an entire planet of city? Well, yeah. Where "civilized" means really wealthy and with easy access to technology and no frontiering and an active and functioning police force and... sheesh. It wasn't the time that was "civilized" it was just that one planet, and even that was on the backs of-
Obi Wan: Okay, fine. Maybe it wasn't more civilized. And, maybe, technically, a rapier made of fire isn't inherently more elegant than a weapon that fires projectiles. I'm an old man and I'm allowed my nostalgia at times. Besides, this Force stuff I'm telling you about is real.
Scene 2:
Setting: Degobah swamps
Yoda: Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph! Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless!
Yoda: Stopped they must be; on this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight, with the Force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now - if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did - you will become an agent of evil.
Obi-Wan: Patience.
Luke SkyWot: And sacrifice Han and Leia?
Yoda: If you honor what they fight for? Yes.
SkyWot: Seriously? You just said that?
Yoda: Think you know better, do you?
SkyWot: You're actually suggesting that I should let people die for the sake of training in... being able to let people die? Is that how the Light Side works?
Yoda: To deny attachment and selfishness, is the way of the Jedi.
SkyWot: There's attachment and there's basic concern for the welfare of people in harm's way. I'm not getting a vision of Leia going off to marry Han and considering riding in to demand her monogamy for myself, here.
Yoda: Very good, that is.
SkyWot: What? Your tone suggests-
Yoda: On topic, stay.
SkyWot: Yeah, right. I'm talking about a vision in which my friends... heck, people that can suffer are, indeed, suffering, and my ability to do something about that. Is that attachment? Because, if it is, I have to rethink this whole "Jedi" concept. It may be flawed from the start of it.
Yoda: Duty to all life, is a Jedi's.
SkyWot: And, Luke and Leia and Chewbacca aren't a part of all life? In fact, they're ranking and well respected members of the rebellion, which makes them valuable in so far as getting rid of the Empire is the goal.
Yoda: Not complete your training is.
SkyWot: And, why does this all rest on there being a fully trained Jedi? Having a buttload of Jedis didn't do much. Why does the concept of "Jedi" matter so much more than people?
SkyWot: It wasn't the name "Jedi" that blew up the death star.
Yoda: It was the Force!
SkyWot: It was the good Intel bought with the lives of Bothans. That might make the emperor powerful, but if he still needs a Death Star (as well as a much better PR guy to come up with names for things), he must be finite in power and need things.
SkyWot: No, I'm not going to sacrifice actually caring about people in the name of avoiding attachment. Sheesh.
Scene 3
Cloud City Big Vertical Tunnel Room
Darth Wot: Luke, I am your father.
Luke SkyWot: No you're not. You never changed one diaper or read one bedtime story!
Darth Wot: You know what? You're right. It wasn't my plan. I'd wanted to raise you. But, it is a bit much to expect you to feel a familial connection based solely upon biology.
Luke SkyWot: Thank you... and if it wasn't for the fact that you were, you know, all evil and oppressy and planet-destroy-ee, it'd be refreshing that you even acknowledge the concept of connection.
Darth Wot: Let me guess, you've talked to Yoda.
Luke SkyWot: Seriously. I mean I get that he's all "one with the Force" 'n all.
Darth Wot: That's just it. The way of the Force is that we're *all* already one with the Force. It can't exist as a separate thing from life.
Luke SkyWot: ... You know, that put into words one of my main confusions with all of this.
Darth Wot: Well, I've had longer than you to deconstruct this stuff.
Luke SkyWot: Is the only alternative really joining the Dark Side?
Darth Wot: It was for me. At least I didn't see much option. The Jedi Code says "There is no passion, only peace."
Luke SkyWot: That makes no sense. If there was only peace, there'd be no need for peacekeeping or remaining peaceful or...
Darth Wot: Think of it less as a description and more as a goal, an ideal for the self.
Luke SkyWot: Then that makes a different kind of no sense, because, sometimes, passions are necessary.
Darth Wot: The Sith Code says "There is no peace, only passion."
Luke SkyWot: That makes about the same kind as no sense. Isn't there a place for balance? If not balance within The Force at least balance within the person?
Darth Wot: What do you suggest?
Luke SkyWot: I don't know, but something that amounts to more than a choice between evil that's obvious and evil that's not as obvious.
Darth Wot: Listen, I know you're with the rebel alliance, but here's my email address. We should talk this out. Heck, you might actually win and then you have to replace the Empire with something. Otherwise, just another bit of history repeating, yanno?
Luke SkyWot: Um, yeah, sure.
Scene 4:
Aboard the new Death Star.
Emperor: Yes, let the hate flow through... what?
Darth Wot: Hey, Palpatine? There's something over here you wanna see.
Emperor: What is it? I'm giving my evil speech, here.
Darth Wot: It's really important. It'll make a big difference not only in this battle but in Galactic Governance for decades to come.
Emperor: Fine, what is it?
Darth Wot throws the emperor down the vertical corridor.
Emperor: Aaah
Luke SkyWot pulls Darth Wot back: Don't look over the side like that, you know what's going to happen.
Force Lightning shoots up.
Darth Wot: Yeah, that could have been bad.
Luke SkyWot: So, we send the message?
Darth Wot: Yup, it's done.
Intercom, Darth Wot's voice: Okay, everybody, you can stop making the sounds, now. He's dead. Now, let's get the chosen representatives together and start talking about a new form of government.
Scene 5.
Luke SkyWot: It's a legitimate concern.
Darth Wot: Oh please. Planet's Rights, Planet's Rights, Planet's Rights. When have you ever heard of that argument when it wasn't about the Planet's Rights to deny individual rights? No, you don't give me that argument unless you're very specific on what right you're talking about.
Scene 1
Setting: In Obi Wan's cave.
Obi Wan: Your father's light saber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times... before the Empire.
Luke SkyWot: How was it more civilized?
Obi Wan: People were more civilized, better.
SkyWot: I know a little about history, my family history. I don't know much about my father, but... did people say "please" and "thank you" when buying and selling my grandmother as a slave?
Obi Wan: Okay, there was slavery, which I opposed by they way. I'm not opposed to less slavery. But, even the slavery that was around then was less... like what you'd see in Jaba's Palace today.
SkyWot: No it wasn't. Jaba still had his palace. It's not just a criminal palace, it has history to it that goes back centuries. And, yeah, sex slavery was always a part of it, as well as pitting slaves against this big, stop-motion-animation-monster.
SkyWot: On average, slavery might not have been as bad, but that's because the average was changed by the big amount of very public slavery that wasn't straight out sex-slavery then death. And, that average was due to the amount, not due to a lack of making slaves have sex with their owners. Heck, my grandmother married an owner-turned-husband. That had to have been a coercive situation.
Obi Wan: Okay, slavery is bad. We're not going to debate that. But, you have to admit that the Republic was not as oppressive as The Empire is, today.
SkyWot: I'm not arguing in favor of the Empire, no. But, the Republic wasn't so much oppressive on its own as it was a collection of constitutional monarchies, absolute monarchies, and theocracies. I mean, sure, if you went to those places, they'd have kings and queens to make you feel right at home, but that's so long as you kept to the "good" parts of town.
SkyWot: What did the Republic do about the Naboo treatment of native Gungans?
Obi Wan: Oh sure, bring up the Gungans. No society is perfect. But, the time was a civilized age.
SkyWot: Where did you live at the time?
Obi Wan: I was a young Jedi, then. I spent much time away on missions to other planets. But, when I was home, home was the Jedi base on Coruscant.
SkyWot: The capitol of the Republic? The one that was an entire planet of city? Well, yeah. Where "civilized" means really wealthy and with easy access to technology and no frontiering and an active and functioning police force and... sheesh. It wasn't the time that was "civilized" it was just that one planet, and even that was on the backs of-
Obi Wan: Okay, fine. Maybe it wasn't more civilized. And, maybe, technically, a rapier made of fire isn't inherently more elegant than a weapon that fires projectiles. I'm an old man and I'm allowed my nostalgia at times. Besides, this Force stuff I'm telling you about is real.
Scene 2:
Setting: Degobah swamps
Yoda: Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph! Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless!
Yoda: Stopped they must be; on this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight, with the Force as his ally, will conquer Vader and his Emperor. If you end your training now - if you choose the quick and easy path as Vader did - you will become an agent of evil.
Obi-Wan: Patience.
Luke SkyWot: And sacrifice Han and Leia?
Yoda: If you honor what they fight for? Yes.
SkyWot: Seriously? You just said that?
Yoda: Think you know better, do you?
SkyWot: You're actually suggesting that I should let people die for the sake of training in... being able to let people die? Is that how the Light Side works?
Yoda: To deny attachment and selfishness, is the way of the Jedi.
SkyWot: There's attachment and there's basic concern for the welfare of people in harm's way. I'm not getting a vision of Leia going off to marry Han and considering riding in to demand her monogamy for myself, here.
Yoda: Very good, that is.
SkyWot: What? Your tone suggests-
Yoda: On topic, stay.
SkyWot: Yeah, right. I'm talking about a vision in which my friends... heck, people that can suffer are, indeed, suffering, and my ability to do something about that. Is that attachment? Because, if it is, I have to rethink this whole "Jedi" concept. It may be flawed from the start of it.
Yoda: Duty to all life, is a Jedi's.
SkyWot: And, Luke and Leia and Chewbacca aren't a part of all life? In fact, they're ranking and well respected members of the rebellion, which makes them valuable in so far as getting rid of the Empire is the goal.
Yoda: Not complete your training is.
SkyWot: And, why does this all rest on there being a fully trained Jedi? Having a buttload of Jedis didn't do much. Why does the concept of "Jedi" matter so much more than people?
SkyWot: It wasn't the name "Jedi" that blew up the death star.
Yoda: It was the Force!
SkyWot: It was the good Intel bought with the lives of Bothans. That might make the emperor powerful, but if he still needs a Death Star (as well as a much better PR guy to come up with names for things), he must be finite in power and need things.
SkyWot: No, I'm not going to sacrifice actually caring about people in the name of avoiding attachment. Sheesh.
Scene 3
Cloud City Big Vertical Tunnel Room
Darth Wot: Luke, I am your father.
Luke SkyWot: No you're not. You never changed one diaper or read one bedtime story!
Darth Wot: You know what? You're right. It wasn't my plan. I'd wanted to raise you. But, it is a bit much to expect you to feel a familial connection based solely upon biology.
Luke SkyWot: Thank you... and if it wasn't for the fact that you were, you know, all evil and oppressy and planet-destroy-ee, it'd be refreshing that you even acknowledge the concept of connection.
Darth Wot: Let me guess, you've talked to Yoda.
Luke SkyWot: Seriously. I mean I get that he's all "one with the Force" 'n all.
Darth Wot: That's just it. The way of the Force is that we're *all* already one with the Force. It can't exist as a separate thing from life.
Luke SkyWot: ... You know, that put into words one of my main confusions with all of this.
Darth Wot: Well, I've had longer than you to deconstruct this stuff.
Luke SkyWot: Is the only alternative really joining the Dark Side?
Darth Wot: It was for me. At least I didn't see much option. The Jedi Code says "There is no passion, only peace."
Luke SkyWot: That makes no sense. If there was only peace, there'd be no need for peacekeeping or remaining peaceful or...
Darth Wot: Think of it less as a description and more as a goal, an ideal for the self.
Luke SkyWot: Then that makes a different kind of no sense, because, sometimes, passions are necessary.
Darth Wot: The Sith Code says "There is no peace, only passion."
Luke SkyWot: That makes about the same kind as no sense. Isn't there a place for balance? If not balance within The Force at least balance within the person?
Darth Wot: What do you suggest?
Luke SkyWot: I don't know, but something that amounts to more than a choice between evil that's obvious and evil that's not as obvious.
Darth Wot: Listen, I know you're with the rebel alliance, but here's my email address. We should talk this out. Heck, you might actually win and then you have to replace the Empire with something. Otherwise, just another bit of history repeating, yanno?
Luke SkyWot: Um, yeah, sure.
Scene 4:
Aboard the new Death Star.
Emperor: Yes, let the hate flow through... what?
Darth Wot: Hey, Palpatine? There's something over here you wanna see.
Emperor: What is it? I'm giving my evil speech, here.
Darth Wot: It's really important. It'll make a big difference not only in this battle but in Galactic Governance for decades to come.
Emperor: Fine, what is it?
Darth Wot throws the emperor down the vertical corridor.
Emperor: Aaah
Luke SkyWot pulls Darth Wot back: Don't look over the side like that, you know what's going to happen.
Force Lightning shoots up.
Darth Wot: Yeah, that could have been bad.
Luke SkyWot: So, we send the message?
Darth Wot: Yup, it's done.
Intercom, Darth Wot's voice: Okay, everybody, you can stop making the sounds, now. He's dead. Now, let's get the chosen representatives together and start talking about a new form of government.
Scene 5.
Luke SkyWot: It's a legitimate concern.
Darth Wot: Oh please. Planet's Rights, Planet's Rights, Planet's Rights. When have you ever heard of that argument when it wasn't about the Planet's Rights to deny individual rights? No, you don't give me that argument unless you're very specific on what right you're talking about.
