GALADRIEL (Voiceover)
I
amar prestar aen
The world is changed.
Han mathon ne nen
I feel it in
the water.
Han mathon ne chae...
I feel it in the earth.
A han noston ned
gwilith.
I smell it in the air.
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
Much that once was
is lost, for none now live who remember it. It began with the forging of the
great rings. Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest and fairest of all
beings. Seven to the Dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain
halls. And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men who above all else,
desire power. For within these rings, was bound the strength and will to govern
each race. But they were all of them deceived, for another ring was made. In the
land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in
secret a master Ring, to control all others. And into this Ring, he poured his
cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. "One Ring to rule them
all." One by one, free lands in Middle-Earth fell to the power of the Ring. But
there were some who resisted. A last alliance of Men and Elves marched against
the armies of Mordor and on the slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the
freedom of Middle-Earth.
(The Last Alliance of Men and Elves fight
against Sauron's forces)
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
Victory was near. But the
power of the Ring could not be undone.
SAURON appears, and destroys many
men with each swing of his mace.
GALADRIEL(V.O.)
It was in this
moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his
father's sword.
ISILDUR tries to pick up the sword, but SAURON breaks it.
ISILDUR uses the broken blade to cut off SAURON'S fingers, and the
Ring.
GALADRIEL(V.O.)
Sauron, the enemy of the free peoples of
Middle-earth, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance
to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the
ring of power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur, to his
death.
ISILDUR is attacked by orcs and dies in the river, and the Ring is
lost in the water.
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
And some things that should not
have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And
for two and a half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until,
when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer.
A hand finds the Ring in the
riverbed.
GOLLUM
My Precious
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
The Ring came
to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty
Mountains, and there it consumed him.
GOLLUM
It came to me, my own, my
love, my own, my Prrrrrecious.
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
The Ring brought to
Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years it poisoned his mind, and in
the gloom of Gollum's cave it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of
the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the east, whispers of a nameless fear, and
the Ring of Power perceived its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum. But
something happened then that the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the
most unlikely creature imaginable.
BILBO
What's this?
GALADRIEL
(V.O.)
A hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, of the Shire.
BILBO
A
Ring!
GOLLUM
Lost! My Precious is lost!
GALADRIEL (V.O.)
For
the time will soon come when hobbits will shape the fortunes of
all.
Title: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Shire... 60 years
later
FRODO reading a book under a tree, hears GANDALF approach
singing.
GANDALF
The road goes ever on and on down from the door where
it began, now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow if I
can...
FRODO
You're late.
GANDALF
A wizard is never late,
Frodo Baggins, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means
to.
They both try to keep a straight face, and fail. FRODO throws himself
into GANDALF'S arms for a hug.
FRODO
It's wonderful to see you,
Gandalf!
GANDALF
You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's
birthday?
FRODO
What news of the outside world? Tell me
everything.
GANDALF
Everything? Far too eager and curious for a
hobbit, most unnatural. Well what can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on
much as it has this past age, full of its own comings and goings. Scarcely aware
of the existence of hobbits... for which I am very thankful...
HOBBIT
FOLK
Look, it's Gandalf! It's Gandalf!
GANDALF tips his
hat
They pass a field where tents and a banner are being set
up.
GANDALF
Oh! The long-expected party. So how is the old rascal? I
here there's to be a party of special magnificence.
FRODO
You know
Bilbo. He has the whole place in an uproar.
GANDALF
Hmm, now well that
should please him, hmmm.
FRODO
Half the Shire's been
invited.
GANDALF
Good gracious me!
FRODO
He's up to
something.
GANDALF
Oh really?
FRODO
All right then, keep
your secrets. Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought
of.
GANDALF
Indeed?
FRODO
Never had any adventures or did
anything unexpected.
GANDALF
If you're referring to that incident with
the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge
out of the door.
FRODO
Whatever you did, you have been officially
labeled a disturber of the peace.
Odo Proudfoot gives Gandalf a grumpy
look. A group of HOBBIT children see GANDALF and come
running.
CHILDREN
Gandalf, Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf!
GANDALF
pretends he won't, but he sets off butterfly fireworks the behind cart. The
Hobbit children cheer and Gandalf laughs. Odo Proudfoot chuckles. Odo's grumpy
old hobbitwife comes out and gives a nagging look to Odo who quickly restores
his grumpy grim look.
FRODO
Gandalf, I'm glad you're
back.
FRODO jumps off the wagon.
GANDALF
So am I, dear boy, so
am I.
GANDALF approaches BILBO's home, Bag End
GANDALF
Woah,
woah
He checks his wagon in front and walks through a gate with a sign
attached that says 'no admittance except on party business', knocks on the door
with his staff. A disgruntled voice comes from within.
BILBO
No thank
you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant
relations!
GANDALF
And what about very old
friends?
BILBO
Gandalf?
GANDALF
Bilbo
Baggins!
BILBO
My dear Gandalf!
GANDALF
Good to see you. One
hundred and eleven years old! Who would believe it? You haven't aged a
day.
BILBO
Come on, come in! Welcome, welcome! Oh, here we are. Tea?
Or maybe something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the old Winyard
left. 1296, very good year. Almost as old as I am! Hahaha! It was laid down by
my father. What say we open one, eh?
BILBO puts GANDALF'S hat and staff
away.
GANDALF
Just tea, thank you.
GANDALF knocks the
chandelier, steadies it, and hits his head on the beam when he turns
around.
BILBO
I was expecting you sometime last week! Not that it
matters, you come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You
caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of
pickle... here's some cheese here - oh no that won't do. We've got raspberry
jam, an apple tart, but not much for afters I'm afraid- oh no, we're all right!
I've just found some sponge cake. I can make you some eggs if you like... oh.
Gandalf?
BILBO comes into the room, but GANDALF isn't
there.
GANDALF appears from behind him.
GANDALF
Just tea, thank
you
BILBO
Oh, right. You don't mind if I eat, do you?
BILBO has
a mouthful of food already.
GANDALF
Oh, no, not at all.
Lobelia
Sackville-Baggins knocks on the door.
LOBELIA
Bilbo! Bilbo
Baggins!
BILBO (to Gandalf)
I'm not at home! I've got to get away from
these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a
moment's peace. I want to see mountains again, mountains, Gandalf! And then find
someplace quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, tea.
GANDALF
So you
mean to go through with your plan, then?
BILBO
Yes, yes, it's all in
hand. The arrangements have been made. Oh, thank you.
GANDALF
Frodo
suspects something.
BILBO
Of course he does. He's a Baggins, not some
blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!
GANDALF
You will tell him,
won't you?
BILBO
Yes, yes.
GANDALF
He's very fond of
you.
BILBO
I know. He'd probably come with me if I asked him, but I
think in his heart Frodo is still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields,
little rivers. I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to
feel it in my heart. I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over
too much bread. I need a holiday, a very long holiday, and I don't expect I
shall return. In fact, I mean not to.
BILBO and GANDALF sit outside
Bag-End, smoking.
BILBO
Old Toby, the finest weed in
Southfarthing.
BILBO blows a smoke-ring, GANDALF blows a galleon, which
sails through the ring.
BILBO
Gandalf, my old friend, this will be a
night to remember!
Next scene: The birthday party. GANDALF sets off
fireworks -
BILBO (to guests)
Hello, hello...Fatty Bolger! Lovely to
see you! Welcome, welcome.
FRODO sits down next to
SAM.
FRODO
Go on, Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!
SAM is too
shy.
SAM
I think I'll just have another ale.
FRODO
Oh no you
don't! Go on!
FRODO pushes SAM to ROSIE, and they dance off
BILBO
is telling a story to the young HOBBIT children.
BILBO
So there I was,
at the mercy of three monstrous trolls, and they were arguing amongst themselves
about how they were going to cook us! Whether it be turned on a spit, or whether
they should sit on us one by one and squash us into jelly!
CUTIE-PIE
HOBBIT CHILD
(shakes her head emphatically)
BILBO
They spent so
much time arguing the whithertos and whyfores that when the sun's first light
crept over the top of the trees, POOF!
HOBBIT
CHILDREN
*Gasp*
BILBO
It turned them all to stone!
GANDALF
sets off a butterflies firework, which the
children try to catch. MERRY and
PIPPIN steal one of their own. MERRY gives PIPPIN a boost into Gandalf's wagon,
where he roots around and comes up with one.
MERRY
No, no! The big
one, the big one!
PIPPIN grabs the largest firework he can find, which is
bright red and huge. They hurry into the tent, so they won't be caught with it.
PIPPIN lights it.
PIPPIN
Done!
MERRY
You're supposed to
stick in the ground!
PIPPIN
It is in the
ground!
MERRY
Outside!
PIPPIN
This was your idea!
The
firework goes off, taking the roof of the tent with it, and leaving MERRY and
PIPPIN flat on the ground, covered in soot. The firework goes straight up,
becomes a dragon's head, turns around, sprouts wings, and flies in low over the
crowd. General panic. FRODO sees it coming and tries to warn
BILBO.
FRODO
Bilbo, Bilbo, look out for the
dragon!
BILBO
Dragon? Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these
parts for a thousand years!
They duck to avoid the dragon, which, having
given everyone a good scare, dissolves into a spectacular shower of
sparks.
PIPPIN
That was good!
MERRY
Let's get another
one!
GANDALF comes up behind and grabs MERRY and PIPPIN by their
ears.
GANDALF
Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took. I might have
known.
MERRY and PIPPIN end up washing dishes in penance. BILBO stands
up.
HOBBITS
Speech! Speech!
BILBO
My dear Bagginses and
Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers,
Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots!
ODO
PROUDFOOT
Proudfeet!
BILBO
Today is my one hundred and eleventh
birthday! Alas, eleventy one years is far too short a time to live among such
excellent and admirable hobbits! I don't know half of you half as well as I
should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you
deserve.
The crowd is confused
BILBO (to himself)
I have things
to do. I've put this off for far too long.
BILBO (to the crowd)
I
regret to announce this is the end! I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond
farewell! Goodbye.
BILBO puts on the ring and vanishes, to the
astonishment of everyone except GANDALF. Footsteps up the path to Bag End. Door
opens. BILBO appears, taking off the RING. Puts it in his pocket. Chooses a
staff from beside the door. GANDALF has arrived before him.
GANDALF
I
suppose you think that was terribly clever.
BILBO
Come on, Gandalf!
Did you see their faces?
GANDALF
There are a good many magic rings in
the world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used
lightly.
BILBO
It was just a bit of fun. Oh, you're probably right, as
usual.
BILBO gathers some things to take with him.
BILBO
You
will keep an eye on Frodo, won't you?
GANDALF
Two
eyes
BILBO
Yes
GANDALF
As often as I can spare
them.
BILBO
I'm leaving everything to him.
GANDALF
What
about this ring of yours, is that staying, too?
BILBO
Yes yes, it's in
an envelope over there on the mantelpiece.
GANDALF looks on the
mantel.
BILBO
No wait, it's... here in my pocket. Isn't that odd, now?
Yet, afterall why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?
GANDALF
I think you
should leave the ring behind. Bilbo Is that so hard?
BILBO
Well, no,
and yes. Now it comes to it. I don't feel like parting with it! It's mine. I
found it! It came to me!
GANDALF
There's no need to get
angry.
BILBO
Well if I'm angry it's your fault! It's mine. My own, my
precious...
GANDALF
Precious? It's been called that before, but not by
you.
BILBO
What business is it of yours what I do with my own
things?
GANDALF
I think you've had that ring quite long
enough.
BILBO
You want it for yourself!
A shadow draws around
GANDALF, revealing the power he usually keeps hidden.
GANDALF
Bilbo
Baggins! Do not take me for some conjuror of cheap tricks! I am not trying to
rob you! I'm trying to help you.
The shadow retreats, and GANDALF is the
kindly old man again. BILBO runs to him.
GANDALF
All your long years,
we have been friends. Trust me as you once did. Let it
go.
BILBO
You're right, Gandalf. The ring must go to Frodo. It's late,
the road is long. Yes, it is time.
BILBO gathers his pack and heads out
the door. GANDALF stops him on the doorstep.
GANDALF
Bilbo, the ring
is still in your pocket.
BILBO
Oh, yes.
BILBO takes out the
ring, holds it on his palm, and with a great effort, turns his hand until the
ring slips off and drops on the floor. BILBO walks out, takes a deep
breath.
BILBO
I've thought of an ending for my book. "And he lived
happily ever after, to the end of his days."
GANDALF
And I'm sure you
will, my dear friend.
BILBO
Goodbye, Gandalf.
They shake hands,
friends as always.
GANDALF
Goodbye, dear Bilbo.
Exit BILBO,
singing.
BILBO
The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where
it began...
GANDALF
Until our next meeting.
GANDALF reaches
down to pick up the RING, sees the EYE, and leaves it where it is. He sits in
front of the fire, thinking about BILBO'S words.
BILBO
(Voiceover)
It's mine, my own, my precious.
GANDALF
Riddles in the
dark... My precious...
FRODO
Bilbo!
FRODO enters, sees the ring
and picks it up.
FRODO
He's gone, hasn't he? He talked for so long
about leaving, I didn't think he would really do
it.
GANDALF
Precious....
Gandalf?
GANDALF looks over,
sees FRODO has the RING.
GANDALF
Bilbo's Ring. He's gone to stay with
the elves. He's left you Bag End
GANDALF holds out an envelope, FRODO
slips the RING inside. GANDALF seals it with wax.
GANDALF
Along with
all his possessions. The Ring is yours now. Put it somewhere out of
sight.
FRODO
Where are you going?
GANDALF heads for the
door.
GANDALF
I have some things that I must see
to.
FRODO
What things?
GANDALF
Questions, questions that
need answering.
FRODO
But you've only just arrived! I don't
understand.
GANDALF
Neither do I. Keep it secret. Keep it
safe.
GANDALF rides to the White city, sees fire over the mountains and
Barad Dur rebuilt. A voice screams 'Shire! Baggins!' The Nine ride out of Minas
Morgul. GANDALF looks through the library in Minas Tirith, and he finds a
manuscript of ISILDUR'S tale.
GANDALF
The year 3434 of the Second Age.
Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor, and the finding of the
Ring of Power. It has come to me, the One Ring. It should be an heirloom of my
kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline should be bound to its fate, for I
will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, though I buy it with a
great pain. The markings on the band fade, the writing which was at first as
clear as red flame has all but disappeared, a secret now only fire can
tell.
A hobbit cutting wood is startled by a BLACK RIDER. His dog
sensibly retreats into the house.
BLACK RIDER
Shire.
Baggins.
HOBBIT
There's no Bagginses around here! They're out in
Hobbiton. That way.
He follows his dog as the BLACK RIDER turns toward
HOBBITON.
FRODO returns home from the Green Dragon, the window is open
and all is dark. GANDALF is lurking in the shadows of the cottage and
grabs FRODO''S shoulder from behind.
GANDALF
Is it
secret? Is it safe?
FRODO gets out the envelope, still sealed, and
GANDALF throws it in the fire.
FRODO
What are you
doing?
Envelope burns away, revealing the Ring. GANDALF retrieves it from
the fire with tongs.
GANDALF
Hold out your hand, Frodo. It's quite
cool. What can you see? Can you see anything?
FRODO
Nothing. There's
nothing. Wait. There are markings. It's some form of Elvish. I can't read
it.
GANDALF
There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor,
which I shall not utter here.
FRODO
Mordor?
GANDALF
In the
common tongue, it says, One Ring to rule them all, one Ring to find them. One
Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
GANDALF
This is
the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom, taken
by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself.
FRODO
Bilbo found it in
Gollum's cave.
GANDALF
Yes. For sixty years, the Ring lay quiet in
Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer, Frodo.
Evil stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It's heard its master's
call.
FRODO
But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed.
The
RING
(whispers in the Black Speech)
GANDALF
No, Frodo. The spirit
of Sauron endured. His life- force is bound to the Ring, and the Ring survived.
Sauron has returned. His orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad-Dur is
rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the
lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it, all his thought is
bent on it. The Ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master.
They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find
it.
FRODO grabs the RING.
FRODO
Alright, we put it away. We
keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do
they?
GANDALF is silent.
FRODO
Do they,
Gandalf?
GANDALF
There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the ring.
I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the Enemy found him first. I
don't know how long they tortured him, but amidst the endless screams and inane
babble, they discerned two words.
GOLLUM
Shire!
Baggins!
FRODO
Shire. Baggins. But that would lead them
here!
The BLACK RIDERS kill a night watchman. FRODO holds out the RING to
GANDALF.
FRODO
Take it, Gandalf, take it!
GANDALF
No,
Frodo.
FRODO
You must take it!
GANDALF
You cannot offer me
this Ring!
FRODO
I'm giving it to you!
GANDALF
Don't tempt
me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe! Understand Frodo, I would use
this Ring from a desire to do good, but through me, it would wield a power too
great and terrible to imagine.
FRODO
But it cannot stay in the
Shire!
GANDALF
No! No, it can't.
FRODO
What must I
do?
GANDALF
You must leave, and leave quickly.
FRODO
Where?
Where do I go?
GANDALF
Get out of the Shire. Make for the village of
Bree.
FRODO
Bree. What about you?
GANDALF
I'll be waiting
for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.
FRODO
And the Ring will be
safe there?
GANDALF
I don't know, Frodo. I don't have any answers. I
must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo,
he'll know what to do. You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you, for
that name is not safe outside the Shire. Travel only by day, and stay off the
road.
FRODO
I can cut across country easily enough.
GANDALF
stops, looking at FRODO, who is within minutes packed, cloaked, and ready for a
long and dangerous journey.
GANDALF
My dear Frodo. Hobbits really are
amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a
month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you.
There's
a noise outside the window.
GANDALF
Get down!
FRODO drops to
the floor, GANDALF reaches out the window with his staff, hits something. Hauls
SAM in by the scruff of his neck.
GANDALF
Confound it all, Samwise
Gamgee, have you been eavesdropping?
SAM
I haven't been dropping no
eaves, sir, honest, I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you
follow me.
GANDALF
A little late for trimming the verge, don't you
think?
SAMI heard raised voices.
GANDALF
What did you hear?
Speak!
SAM
Nothing important. That is, I heard a good deal about a
ring, and a dark lord, and something about the end of the world, but please
don't hurt me, sir, don't turn me into anything unnatural.
GANDALF
No?
Perhaps not. I've thought of a better use for you.
GANDALF and FRODO
walking oustide in the morning, GANDALF leading his
horse.
GANDALF
Come along, Samwise, keep up!
SAM runs to catch
up. The three stop under the trees.
GANDALF
Be careful, both of you.
The enemy has many spies in his service. Birds, beasts. Is it safe?
FRODO
pats his pocket, where the RING is hidden.
GANDALF
Never put it on.
For the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, the
Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found.
GANDALF
leaves. FRODO and SAM cross fields, going towards Bree. SAM suddenly
stops.
SAM
This is it.
FRODO
This is what?
SAM
If
I take one more step, it will be the farthest away from home I've ever
been.
FRODO
Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say. It's a
dangerous business, Frodo,
BILBO (voiceover)
going out your door. You
step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where
you'll be swept off to.
GANDALF rides to
Isengard.
SARUMAN
Smoke rises from the mountain of Doom. The hour
grows late, and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my council. For that
is why you have come, is it not, my old
friend?
GANDALF
Saruman.
GANDALF and SARUMAN walking outside
Isengard.
SARUMAN
You are sure of this?
GANDALF
Beyond any
doubt.
SARUMAN
So the Ring of Power has been
found.
GANDALF
All these long years it was in the Shire, under my very
nose.
SARUMAN
And yet you did not have the wit to see it. Your love of
the halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind.
GANDALF
But we still
have time, time to counter Sauron, if we act quickly.
SARUMAN
Time?
What time do you think we have?
SARUMAN and GANDALF inside
Isengard.
SARUMAN
Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He
cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency.
Concealed within his fortress the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces
cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf. A great eye,
lidless, wreathed in flame.
GANDALF
The Eye of
Sauron.
SARUMAN
He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will
summon an army great enough to launch an assault upon
Middle-earth.
GANDALF
You know this? How?
SARUMAN
I have
seen it.
They enter another room, where a stone sphere lies
covered.
GANDALF
A palantir is a dangerous tool,
Saruman.
SARUMAN uncovers the stone.
SARUMAN
Why? Why should we
fear to use it?
GANDALF
They are not all accounted for, the lost
seeing stones. We do not know who else may be watching.
As he re-covers
the stone, GANDALF sees the EYE
SARUMAN
The hour is later than you
think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas
Morgul.
GANDALF
The Nine?
SARUMAN
They crossed the river
Isen on midsummer's eve, disguised as riders in black.
GANDALF
They've
reached the Shire?!
SARUMAN
They will find the Ring, and kill the one
who carries it.
GANDALF
Frodo!
GANDALF tries to leave, but the
doors slam, one by one.
SARUMAN
You did not seriously think that a
hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can. Against
the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join with him, Gandalf. We
must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend.
GANDALF
Tell me,
friend, when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?
The two wizards begin to battle
each other using the power of thier staffs. After a back and forth slug match,
GANDALF loses his staff, and is spun around on the floor by SAURMON.
SARUMAN
I
offered you the choice of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of
pain!
GANDALF rises toward the roof of Isengard. Darkness follows.
SAM
emerges from a corn patch, alone.
SAM
Mr. Frodo? Frodo?
Frodo!
FRODO reappears from the path ahead.
SAM
I thought I'd
lost you.
FRODO
What are you talking about?
SAM
It's just
something Gandalf said.
FRODO
What did he say?
SAM
Don't you
lose him, Samwise Gamgee. And I don't mean to.
FRODO
We're still in
the Shire, Sam, what could possibly happen?
They get knocked over by
MERRY and PIPPIN.
PIPPIN
Frodo! Merry, it's Frodo
Baggins!
MERRY
Hello, Frodo!
SAM
Get off him! Frodo, are you
alight?
PIPPIN
What's the meaning of this?
MERRY hands SAM an
armful of vegetables. MERRY
Hold these.
SAM
You've been into Farmer
Maggot's crops!
FARMER MAGGOT's outraged voice
Hey! You get out of my
fields! You'd better watch out when I catch up with you!
MERRY
I don't
why he's so upset, it's only a few carrots.
PIPPIN
And some cabbages.
And those three bags of potatoes we lifted last week. And then mushrooms the
week before that.
MERRY
Yes, Pippin! My point is, he's clearly
overreacting. Run!
They all fall over a cliff, land in a
heap.
PIPPIN lands inches away from a pile of
manure.
PIPPIN
Ooh! That was close.
MERRY
I think I've
broken something.
MERRY pulls out a broken carrot.
SAM
Trust a
Brandybuck and a Took!
MERRY
What? That was just a detour! A
shortcut!
SAM
Shortcut to
what?
PIPPIN
Mushrooms!
Three start gathering mushrooms into a
bag.
FRODO looks down the road.
FRODO
I think we should get off
the road.
Something dark approaches.
FRODO
Get off the road,
quick!
They hide under the roots of a tree. The Black Rider comes, on his
horse. Gets off the horse, sniffing as though he can smell that the RING is
close. A spider crawls out, and a centipede, and a lot of worms. For the first
time, the Ring tries to impose its will on FRODO, pushing him to put it on so
they will be found. SAM stops him. MERRY throws a bag to distract the Black
Rider, and they run away.
MERRY
What was that?
It is dark, they
have been running for some time, watching for the
RIDER.
MERRY
Anything?
FRODO
Nothing.
PIPPIN
What
is going on?
MERRY
That black rider was looking for something or
someone. Frodo?
BLACK RIDER appears, in the
distance.
PIPPIN
Get down!
They hide again.
FRODO
I
have to leave the Shire. Sam and I must get to Bree.
MERRY
Right.
Bucklebury ferry. Follow me.
They run, but the horse is right behind
them. FRODO gets separated from the rest, who get to the ferry ahead of
him.
MERRY
Get the rope, Sam!
They untie the
ferry.
HOBBITS
Run, Frodo!
The RIDER is right behind
FRODO.
FRODO
Go!
HOBBITS
Hurry!
SAM
Frodo!
PIPPIN
Jump!
FRODO
jumps off the dock, and just makes it onto the ferry. The BLACK RIDER stops at
the water's edge.
FRODO
How far to the nearest
crossing?
MERRY
The Brandywine bridge. Twenty miles.
They look
back to see three BLACK RIDERS now, heading for the bridge.
Four HOBBITS
arrive at BREE, in the pouring rain, knock on the gate. the GATEKEEPER answers.
Seeing no one at the window, he opens the lower
window.
GATEKEEPER
What do you want?
FRODO
We're heading for
the Prancing Pony.
GATEKEEPER
Hobbits. Four hobbits! What business
brings you to Bree?
FRODO
We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is
our own.
GATEKEEPER
Alright, young sir, I meant no offence. It's my
job to ask questions after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't
be too careful.
Arrival at the Prancing Pony.
FRODO
Excuse
me?
BARLIMAN
Good evening, little masters. If you're seeking
accommodation, we've got some cozy hobbit-size rooms available,
Mr...?
FRODO
Underhill. My name's
Underhill.
BARLIMAN
Underhill. Hmm
FRODO
We're friends of
Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?
BARLIMAN
Gandalf?
Gandalf? Ohhh, yes! I remember. Elderly chap, big grey beard, pointy hat. Not
seen him for six months.
SAM
What do we do now?
The hobbits are
sitting at a table
FRODO
Sam, he'll be here. He'll come
MERRY
sits down.
PIPPIN
What's that?
MERRY
This, my friend, is a
pint.
PIPPIN
It comes in pints? I'm going to get
one.
SAM
you've had a whole half already.
PIPPIN goes to the
bar.
SAM
That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we
arrived.
FRODO stops the innkeeper.
FRODO
Excuse me, that man
in the corner, who is he?
BARLIMAN
He's one of them rangers. Their
dangerous folk, they are, wandering the wild. What his right name is I've never
heard, but around here he's known as
Strider.
FRODO
Strider.
RING tries again to get FRODO to put it
on, whispering Baggins, Baggins...
PIPPIN
Baggins? Sure I know a
Baggins. He's over there. Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin, once removed on
his Mother's side. And my fourth cousin twice removed on...
FRODO runs
toward PIPPIN, at the bar.
FRODO
Pippin!
PIPPIN
Steady
on!
FRODO trips, the ring falls on his finger. The Nine turn towards
BREE. FRODO sees the EYE for the first time.
SAURON
You cannot hide. I
see you. There is no life in the void. Only death.
FRODO takes off the
ring and is dragged off to a room by STRIDER.
STRIDER
You draw far too
much attention to yourself, "Mr. Underhill".
FRODO
What do you
want?
STRIDER
A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you
carry.
FRODO
I carry nothing.
STRIDER
Indeed? I can avoid
being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely - that is a rare
gift.
FRODO
Who are you?
STRIDER
Are you
frightened?
FRODO
Yes.
STRIDER
Not nearly frightened enough.
I know what hunts you.
The three HOBBITS come in, threatening
STRIDER
SAM
Let him go, or I'll have you,
Longshanks!
STRIDER
You have a stout heart, little hobbit, but that
will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They are
coming.
Four of the Nine arrive at BREE, break down the gate and kill the
gatekeeper. They find the room where HOBBITS appear to be sleeping, stab the
empty mattresses, and become angry when they find they have been tricked. FRODO
is awake already, watching STRIDER look out the window. The others wake at the
noise.
FRODO
What are they?
STRIDER
They were once men.
Great kings of men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power.
Blinded by their greed, they took them without question, one by one falling into
darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths,
neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring, drawn
to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you.
The party
leaves BREE, avoiding the roads.
FRODO
Where are you taking
us?
STRIDER
Into the wild.
They walk for a
while.
MERRY
How do we know this Strider is a friend of
Gandalf?
FRODO
We have no choice but to trust him.
SAM
But
where is he leading us?
STRIDER
To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, to the
house of Elrond.
SAM
Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see
the elves!
Later, the hobbits stop.
STRIDER
Gentlemen, we do
not stop 'til nightfall.
PIPPIN
What about
breakfast?
STRIDER
You've already had it.
PIPPIN
We've had
one, yes. What about second breakfast?
STRIDER walks
away
MERRY
I don't think he knows about second breakfast,
Pip.
PIPPIN
What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner?
Supper? Do you think he knows about them, doesn't he?
MERRY
I wouldn't
count on it.
STRIDER throws an apple to MERRY, who catches it, and
PIPPIN, who gets hit in the head.
MERRY
Pippin!
SARUMAN using
Palantir.
SARUMAN
The power of Isengard is at your command, Sauron,
Lord of the Earth.
SAURON
Build me an army worthy of
Mordor.
Orcs enter
ORC
What orders from Mordor, my lord? What
does the Eye command?
SARUMAN
We have work to do.
ORCS begin
pulling down trees. GANDALF observes from his prison atop the
tower.
ORC
The trees are strong, my lord. Their roots go
deep.
SARUMAN
Rip them all down.
FRODO and company cross harsh
lands.
STRIDER
This was the great watchtower of Amon Sul. We shall
rest here tonight.
STRIDER unwraps four swords and passes them out to
HOBBITS.
STRIDER
These are for you. Keep them close. I'm going to have
a look around. Stay here.
FRODO is napping.
MERRY
Oh, my
tomato's burst.
SAM
Could I have some bacon?
MERRY
Okay,
want a tomato, Sam?
FRODO (awaking)
What are you
doing?
MERRY
Tomatoes, sausages, nice crispy bacon.
SAM
We
saved some for you, Mr. Frodo
FRODO
Put it out, you fools, put it
out!
FRODO stamps out the fire.
PIPPIN
That's nice, ash on my
tomatoes.
They look over the edge to find BLACK RIDERS
approaching.
FRODO pulls out his
sword.
FRODO
Go!
Hobbits retreat to the center of the ruin,
stand back to back, not knowing where the BLACK RIDERS will come from. Five
BLACK RIDERS enter the ruin.
SAM
Back, you devils!
SAM tries to
fight them, gets tossed aside. MERRY and PIPPIN step in front, get pushed away.
FRODO drops his sword, backs away. Falls down. The BLACK RIDERS seem to know he
has the RING. He pulls it out of his pocket, and they all focus on it. BLACK
RIDERS close in, and he puts on the ring. The BLACK RIDER leader tries to take
the ring. It takes all FRODO'S strength to pull it away. The Wraith seems angry
that FRODO has denied him and stabs him in the shoulder. STRIDER apears out of no where and
attacks the BLACK RIDERS, FRODO takes the ring off.
SAM
Frodo! Frodo!
SAM runs to
FRODO, now that he can see him.
FRODO
Oh, Sam!
STRIDER stabs
and sets fire to the BLACK RIDERS and drives them away.
SAM
Strider! Help
him, Strider.
STRIDER picks up the sword, but the blade dissolves into
dust.
STRIDER
He's been stabbed with a Morgul blade. This is beyond my
skill to heal. He needs elvish medicine.
STRIDER picks up FRODO, who is
in a lot of pain.
STRIDER
Hurry.
SAM
We're six days from
Rivendell! He'll never make it!
STRIDER
Hang on,
Frodo.
FRODO
Gandalf!!!!!
GANDALF is still imprisoned on top of
Isengard, which is now barren, with deep holes in the ground where ORCS mine and
forge weapons and armor. A moth flutters by, and GANDALF catches it, speaks to
it, and lets it go. SARUMAN oversees his latest project - a new type of creature
is being bred. Lurtz awakens, and immediately kills the ORC tending him. SARUMAN
seems pleased.
STRIDER carries FRODO, they stop at the three stone
trolls.
SAM
Mr. Frodo? He's going cold!
PIPPIN
Is he going
to die?
STRIDER
He is passing into the shadow world. He will soon
become a wraith like them.
MERRY
They're close!
STRIDER
Sam,
do you know the Athelas
plant?
SAM
Athelas?
STRIDER
Kingsfoil.
SAM
Kingsfoil?
Aye, it's a weed.
STRIDER
It may help to slow the poison.
SAM
and STRIDER search for plant, STRIDER finds it.
ARWEN
What's this? A
Ranger caught off his guard?
FRODO sees ARWEN as she is from the shadow
world- a beautiful, glowing elf-maiden in white robes.
ARWEN
Frodo, Im
Arwen. Telin le thaed
(I'm Arwen. I've come to help you.)
Lasto beth nin,
tolo dan na ngalad
(Hear my voice. Return to the light.)
A black stain
is spreading across FRODO'S eyes as the poison takes over.
MERRY
Who
is she?
ARWEN
Frodo.
SAM
She's an elf!
ARWEN
He's
fading. He's not going to last. We must get him to my father.
STRIDER
chews up some of the Kingsfoil and presses it into the
wound.
ARWEN
I've been looking for you for two days. There are five
wraiths behind you. Where the other four are I do not know.
STRIDER lifts
FRODO onto ARWEN'S horse.
STRIDER
Dartho guin berian. Rych le ad
tolthathon.
(Stay with the hobbits. I will send horses for
you.)
ARWEN
Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im.
(I am the faster rider.
I will take him.)
STRIDER
Andelu i ven.
(The road is too
dangerous.)
PIPPIN
What are they saying?
ARWEN
Frodo fir. Ae
athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon.
(If I can get across the river,
the power of my people will protect him.)
I do not fear
them.
STRIDER
Beyest lin
(As you wish)
ARWEN gets on her
horse, behind FRODO.
STRIDER
Arwen, ride hard. Don't look
back.
ARWEN
Noro lim, Asfaloth, noro lim!
(Ride fast, Asfaloth,
ride fast!)
SAM
What are you doing? The wraiths are still out
there!
ARWEN and FRODO ride, chased by some Black
Riders.
ARWEN
Noro lim, Asfaloth!
(Ride fast Asfaloth!)
They
get to the river, ARWEN stops partway across. The Black Riders do not want to
enter the river.
Black Rider
Give up the halfling,
she-elf!
ARWEN draws her sword.
ARWEN
If you want him, come and
claim him!
The Black Riders draw their swords and start to cross
river.
ARWEN
Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan
in Ulaer!
Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in
Ulaer!
(Waters of the Misty Mountains listen to the great word; flow waters
of Loudwater against the Ringwraiths!)
A flood of water washes down the
riverbed, led by white horse-shapes. The Black Riders are washed away. FRODO is
losing his battle. ARWEN gets off her horse, lays him on the
ground.
ARWEN
No, Frodo! Mo! Frodo, don't give in! Not
now!
ARWEN
What grace is given me let it pass to him. Let him be
spared. Save him.
FRODO'S world dissolves into
light.
ELROND
Lasto beth nin. Tolo dan nan galad.
(Hear my voice.
Come back to the light.)
FRODO wakes up, in bed.
FRODO
Where am
I?
GANDALF
You are in the House of Elrond, and it is ten o'clock in
the morning, on October the 24th, if you want to
know.
FRODO
Gandalf?
GANDALF
Yes, I'm here. And you're lucky
to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But
you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit.
FRODO
What happened,
Gandalf? Why didn't you meet us?
GANDALF
Oh, I'm sorry, Frodo. I was
delayed.
(Flashback: Isengard)
SARUMAN
The friendship of
Saruman is not lightly thrown aside. One ill turn deserves
another.
SARUMAN holding GANDALF out over the edge of the
tower.
SARUMAN
It is over. Embrace the power of the Ring or embrace
your own destruction.
GANDALF
There is only one Lord of the Ring. Only
one who can bend it to his will, and he does not share power.
GANDALF
jumps off the edge of the tower, and lands on the back of Gwaihir the
eagle.
SARUMAN
So you have chosen death.
(End of
Flashback)
FRODO
Gandalf, what is it?
GANDALF
Nothing,
Frodo.
SAM comes in, and ELROND.
SAM
Frodo,
Frodo!
FRODO
Sam!
SAM
Bless you, you're
awake!
GANDALF
Sam has hardly left your side.
SAM
We were
that worried about you, weren't we, Mr. Gandalf?
GANDALF
By the skills
of Master Elrond, you're beginning to mend.
ELROND
Welcome to
Rivendell, Frodo Baggins.
FRODO meets MERRY and PIPPIN again, and BILBO,
looking older.
FRODO
Bilbo!
BILBO
Hello, Frodo, my
lad!
FRODO
Bilbo!
BILBO and FRODO hug
Next scene: FRODO
looks at BILBO'S book.
FRODO
There and back again, a hobbit's tale, by
Bilbo Baggins. This is wonderful!
BILBO
I meant to go back, wander the
paths of the Mirkwood, visit Laketown, see the Lonely Mountain again, but age,
it seems, has finally caught up with me.
FRODO
I miss the Shire. I
spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else, off with you on one
of your adventures. But my own adventure turned out to be quite different. I'm
not like you, Bilbo.
BILBO
My dear boy.
Scene goes to SAM
packing.
SAM
Now what have I forgotten?
FRODO
Packed
already?
SAM
No harm in being prepared.
FRODO
I thought you
wanted to see the elves, Sam.
SAM
I do.
FRODO
More than
anything.
SAM
I did, it's just... we did what Gandalf wanted, didn't
we? We got the ring this far, to Rivendell, and I thought seeing as how you're
on the mend, we'd be off soon. Off home.
FRODO
You're right, Sam. We
did what we set out to do. The Ring will be safe in Rivendell. I am ready to go
home.
GANDALF and ELROND, watching FRODO and SAM.
ELROND
His
strength returns.
GANDALF
That wound will never fully heal. He will
carry it for the rest of his life.
ELROND
And yet to have come so far
still bearing the Ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its
evil.
GANDALF
It is a burden he should never have had to bear. We can
ask no more of Frodo.
ELROND
Gandalf, the Enemy is moving. Sauron's
forces are massing in the East. His Eye is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you
tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of our allies grows
thin.
GANDALF
His treachery runs deeper than you know. By foul craft,
Saruman has crossed orcs with goblin-men. He's breeding an army in the caverns
of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight, and cover great distances at
speed. Saruman is coming for the Ring.
ELROND
This evil cannot be
concealed by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both
Mordor and Isengard. Gandalf, the Ring cannot stay here.
BOROMIR arrives,
and LEGOLAS, and a group of DWARVES.
ELROND
This peril belongs to all
Middle-Earth, and they must decide now how to end it. The time of elves is over.
My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we're gone? The
dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches. They care not for the
troubles of others.
GANDALF
It is in men that we must place our
hope.
ELROND
Men? Men are weak. The race of men is fading. The blood
of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of
men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf. I was there, three thousand years
ago, when Isildur took the ring. I was there when the day the strength of men
failed.
(Flashback: ISILDUR takes the RING.)
ELROND
Isildur,
hurry! Follow me.
ELROND (V.O.)
I led Isildur into the heart of Mount
Doom, where the Ring was forged, the one place it could be
destroyed.
ELROND
Cast it in the fire! Destroy
it!
ISILDUR
No.
ELROND
Isildur!
(End of
Flashback)
ELROND
It should have ended that day, but evil was allowed
to endure. Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There is no
strength left in the world of men. They are scattered, divided,
leaderless.
GANDALF
There is one who could unite them. Who could
reclaim the throne of Gondor.
ELROND
He turned from that path a long
time ago. He has chosen exile.
Interior shot of Rivendell- a museum.
STRIDER reads a book. Boromir enters.
BOROMIR
The shards of Narsil!
The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand.
He runs his fingers along
the blade and cuts himself.
BOROMIR
Uh! Still sharp.
BOROMIR
turns to STRIDER who is watching him
BOROMIR
No more than a broken
heirloom
BOROMIR tries to replace it on the statue carelessly and it
falls away. BOROMIR leaves the room flustered. STRIDER picks up the sword and returns it to its place of rest. ARWEN enters
behind
ARWEN
Why do you fear the past? You are Isildur's heir, not
Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate.
STRIDER
The same blood
flows in my veins, the same weakness.
ARWEN
Your time will come. You
will face the same evil, and you will defeat it. A si i-Dhuath u-orthor. U or le
a u or nin.
(The Shadow does not hold sway yet, not over you and not over
me.)
Scene switches to ARWEN and STRIDER on a bridge in a
garden.
ARWEN
Renech i lu i erui govannem?
(Do you remember when we
first met?)
STRIDER
Nauthannem i ned ol reniannen.
(I thought I had
strayed into a dream.)
ARWEN
Gwenwin in enninath...U-arnech in naeth i
si celich.
(Long years have passed since then. You did not have the cares you
carry now. Do you remember what I told you?
STRIDER
You said you'd
bind yourself to me, foresaking the immortal life of your
people.
ARWEN
And to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime
with you than face all the ages of this world alone. I choose a mortal
life.
ARWEN gives STRIDER her pendant, the
Evenstar.
STRIDER
You cannot give me this.
ARWEN
It is mine
to give to whom I will. Like my heart.
STRIDER and ARWEN kiss
A
council is gathered of MEN and ELVES and DWARVES and
FRODO.
ELROND
Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You've
been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth stands upon the
brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each
race is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the ring,
Frodo.
FRODO puts the RING on the stand in the center of the council, and
seems much relieved to be rid of it. People start
whispering.
BOROMIR
So it is true.
MAN
The doom of
man.
BOROMIR
It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use
this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor
at bay. By the blood of my people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the
weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him.
STRIDER
You cannot
wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other
master.
BOROMIR
And what would a ranger know of this
matter?
LEGOLAS
This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of
Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance.
BOROMIR
Aragorn? This is
Isildur's heir?
LEGOLAS
And heir to the throne of
Gondor.
ARAGORN
Havo dad, Legolas
(Sit down,
Legolas.)
BOROMIR
Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no
king.
GANDALF
Aragorn is right. We cannot use it.
ELROND
You
have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed.
GIMLI
Then what are
we waiting for?
GIMLI picks up his axe and hits the Ring. FRODO sees the
eye, and the axe is shattered. GIMLI is knocked to the ground. The Ring whispers
in the Black Speech.
ELROND
The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son
of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of
Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor, and
cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do
this.
Silence
BOROMIR
One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its
black gates are guarded by more than orcs. There is evil there that does not
sleep, and the great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled
with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not
with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly.
LEGOLAS
Have you
heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be
destroyed!
GIMLI
And I suppose you think you're the one to do
it?
BOROMIR
And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes
back what is his?
GIMLI
I will be dead before I see the Ring in the
hands of an elf! Never trust an elf! (Gimli spits)
RING
Ash Nazg
Durbatuluk! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg Gimbatul! Ash Nazg
Gimbatul!
FRODO
I will take it!
Arguing
continues.
FRODO
I will take it!
Silence
returns.
FRODO
I will take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know
the way.
GANDALF
I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, for
as long as it is yours to bear.
ARAGORN
If by my life or death I can
protect you, I will.
ARAGORN kneels in front of
FRODO.
ARAGORN
You have my sword.
LEGOLAS
And you have my
bow.
GIMLI
And MY axe.
BOROMIR
You carry the fate of us all,
little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it
done.
SAM runs in.
SAM
Heh! Mr. Frodo's not goin anywhere
without me.
SAM takes his place beside FRODO.
ELROND
No,
indeed, it is hardly possible to separate the two of you, even when he is
summoned to a secret council and you are not.
MERRY and PIPPIN
enter.
MERRY
Wait! We're coming, too! You'd have to send us home tied
up in a sack to stop us.
PIPPIN
Anyway, you need people of
intelligence on this sort of mission... quest... thing.
MERRY
Well,
that rules you out, Pip.
ELROND
Nine companions. So be it. You shall
be the Fellowship of the Ring.
PIPPIN
Great. Where are we
going?
Back in Frodo's room
BILBO
My old sword, Sting. Here,
take it, take it!
FRODO
It's so light!
BILBO
Yes. Made by
the elves, you know. The blade glows blue when orcs are close. And it's times
like that, my lad, when you have to be extra careful.
BILBO holds up a
chainmail vest
BILBO
Here's a pretty thing. Mithril! As light as a
feather, and as hard as dragon scales. Let me see you put it on. Come
on.
FRODO starts to take off his shirt.
BILBO
Oh, my old ring.
I should very much like to hold it again, one last time.
FRODO knows
better, and buttons up his shirt again. BILBO lashes out for it, then recovers
and begins weeping.
BILBO
I'm sorry I brought this upon you, my boy.
I'm sorry that you must carry this burden. I'm sorry for
everything!
FRODO comforts him.
The company leaves Rivendell,
wanders past ruins, over mountains, through fields.
GANDALF
We must
hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds,
the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there our road turns east to
Mordor.
They stop for lunch, MERRY and PIPPIN practice swordfighting with
BOROMIR.
BOROMIR
Two, one, five, good! Very
good.
ARAGORN
Move your feet!
MERRY
That's good,
Pippin.
PIPPIN
Thanks!
BOROMIR
Faster!
GIMLI
'Anyone
was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the
long way 'round! Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin
Balin would give us a royal welcome.
GANDALF
No, Gimli, I would not
take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice.
BOROMIR
Come
on, good!
BOROMIR accidentally cuts
PIPPIN.
PIPPIN
Ow!
BOROMIR
Sorry!
PIPPIN drops his
sword, kicks BOROMIR in the shins and tackles him.
PIPPIN
Get
him!
MERRY joins in, and the two of them wrestle BOROMIR to the
ground.
MERRY
For the Shire!
PIPPIN
Hold him down,
Merry!
MERRY
Hey! You've got my arm!
LEGOLAS notices something
on the horizon.
SAM
What is that?
GIMLI
Nothing, it's just a
wisp of cloud.
Everyone looks.
BOROMIR
It's moving fast,
against the wind.
LEGOLAS
Crebain from
Dunland!
ARAGORN
Hide!
BOROMIR
Merry, Frodo!
Everyone
hides under rock outcroppings. crebain fly overhead
GANDALF
Spies of
Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of
Caradhras.
Climbing a snowy mountain, FRODO falls and rolls
down.
ARAGORN
Frodo?
ARAGORN helps him, but the RING is
missing. BOROMIR picks it up.
ARAGORN
Boromir.
BOROMIR
It is
a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a
thing. Such a little thing.
ARAGORN
Boromir! Give the ring to
Frodo.
BOROMIR
As you wish. I care not.
He ruffles Frodo's
hair, and when he turns away, ARAGORN takes his hand off his sword.
The
crebain return to Isengard and report to SARUMAN.
SARUMAN
So, Gandalf,
you try to lead them over Caradhras. And if that fails? Where then will you go?
If the mountain defeats you, will you risk a more dangerous road?
LEGOLAS
runs atop the snow while the others struggle through it. He stands at the edge
of a cliff, listening.
SARUMAN
Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea
rasselya!
(Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be
bloodstained!)
LEGOLAS
There is a fell voice on the
air!
GANDALF
It's Saruman!
Rocks fall from the side of the
mountain, followed by snow.
ARAGORN
He's trying to bring down the
mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!
GANDALF
No! Losto Caradhras,
sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!
(Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold
your wrath!)
GANDALF tries to stop the storm, but SARUMAN is reinforcing
it from Isengard.
SARUMAN
Cuiva nwalca Carnirasse; nai yarvaxea
rasselya; talhira notto-carinnar!
(Wake up cruel Redhorn! May your horn be
bloodstained!)
Lightning strikes the mountain, and LEGOLAS pulls GANDALF
back from the edge just before snow falls and buries them all. One by one, they
dig out or shake the snow off.
BOROMIR
We must get off the mountain!
Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my
city!
ARAGORN
The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to
Isengard!
GIMLI
If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under
it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria.
SARUMAN (At Isengard)
Moria.
You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep.
You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-Dum. Shadow and
flame.
GANDALF
Let the Ringbearer decide! Frodo?
FRODO
We
will go through the mines!
GANDALF
So be it.
Scene: Outside
Moria
GIMLI
The Walls of Moria.
They walk next to a dark lake.
FRODO'S foot slips in the water, and he scrambles back. They reach a wall framed
by two great trees. GANDALF scrubs away dirt to find a pattern on the
wall.
GANDALF
Now let's see... Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and
moonlight.
Moon comes out, showing the shape of a door, with writing
above in elvish.
GANDALF
It reads, The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria.
Speak friend and enter.
MERRY
What do you suppose that
means?
GANDALF
Oh, it's quite simple! If you are a friend, you speak
the password, and the doors will open.
GANDALF tries a number of
passwords, but none of them work. ARAGORN and SAM unload the pony and let him
go.
ARAGORN
The mines are no place for a pony. Even one so brave as
Bill.
SAM
Bye bye, Bill.
ARAGORN
Go on, Bill, go on. Don't
worry, Sam, he knows the way home.
MERRY and PIPPIN are throwing rocks in
the water, ARAGORN stops them.
ARAGORN
Do not disturb the
water!
GANDALF
Oh, it's useless!
Having tried any number of
passwords, GANDALF sits down in disgust.
FRODO
It's a riddle. Speak
"friend" and enter! What's the Elvish word for
friend?
GANDALF
Mellon.
The doors open. The Fellowship enters
Moria.
GIMLI
Soon, Master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality
of the dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone! This, my
friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A
mine!
BOROMIR
This is no mine, it's a tomb.
Light reveals
skeletons all over
GIMLI
No!
LEGOLAS pulls an arrow out of one
of the skeletons.
LEGOLAS
Goblins!
BOROMIR
We make for the
Gap of Rohan! We should never have come here! Now, get out! Get
out!
FRODO is grabbed by a tentacle from the water.
SAM, MERRY,
and PIPPIN
Frodo!
SAM cuts off the tentacle
SAM
Get off
him!
A dozen more push the HOBBITS away while one grabs
FRODO.
SAM
Strider!
ARAGORN chops off the tentacle holding
FRODO, and BOROMIR catches him when he falls.
GANDALF
Into the
Mines!
Boromir
Legolas! Into the cave!
LEGOLAS puts an arrow in
one of the KRAKEN'S eyes, giving ARAGORN and BOROMIR time to get out of the
water.
BOROMIR
Run!
They retreat to the Mine. KRAKEN crumbles
the gate behind them.
GANDALF
We now have but one choice. We must face
the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard! There are older and fouler things than
orcs in the deep places of the world. Quietly now. It is a four day journey to
the other side. Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed.
PIPPIN almost
falls down the stairs, which are steep and cluttered with
debris.
MERRY
Pippin!
They come to the top of the
stairs.
GANDALF
I have no memory of this place.
The Fellowship
rests
PIPPIN
Are we lost?
MERRY
No.
PIPPIN
I think
we're lost.
MERRY
Shh, Gandalf's
thinking.
PIPPIN
Merry?
MERRY
What?
PIPPIN
I'm
hungry.
FRODO sees something behind them.
FRODO
There's
something down there.
GANDALF
It's
Gollum.
FRODO
Gollum?
GANDALF
He's been following us for
three days.
FRODO
He escaped from the dungeons of Barad
Dur!
GANDALF
Escaped? Or set loose? He hates and loves the Ring, as he
hates and loves himself. He will never be rid of his need for
it.
FRODO
It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the
chance.
GANDALF
Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that
live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them,
Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise
cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum still has a part to play yet,
for good or ill. Before this is over, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of
many.
FRODO
I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this
had happened.
GANDALF
So do all who live to see such times, but that
is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time
that is given to us. There are other forces at work in the world, Frodo, besides
the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you also were
meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.
GANDALF
Ah! It's
that way.
MERRY
He's remembered!
GANDALF
No, but the air
smells less foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose. Let
me risk a little more light.
His brightened staff shows a grandiose hall
of stone, lined with tall pillars and arched ceilings as far as the eye can see.
Members of the Fellowship, including Gimli, react in
awe
GANDALF
Behold! The great realm of the dwarf city of
Dwarrowdelf.
SAM
Well, there's an eye-opener and no
mistake
GIMLI sees a brightened door, runs through
it.
GIMLI
Haugh!
GANDALF
Gimli!
The others follow,
find GIMLI grieving over a tomb. GANDALF reads the dwarven runes on the top of
the tomb.
GANDALF
Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is
dead then. It's as I feared.
GANDALF finds a book held by a skeleton
leaning against the tomb.
LEGOLAS (to ARAGORN)
We must move on. We
cannot linger.
GANDALF (reading)
They have taken the bridge, and the
second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground
shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark.
We cannot get out. They are coming.
PIPPIN knocks a skeleton into the
well, which echos throughout the tomb that they have entered. There will be no hiding from the
sounds that have been made by this curious hobbit.
GANDALF
Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in, next time, and rid us
of your stupidity!
There is a pause where it seems they might not have
been heard, then drums start pounding. FRODO'S sword is glowing
blue.
SAM
Mr. Frodo!
LEGOLAS
Orcs!
BOROMIR checks out
the door, almost gets hit by two arrows, shuts the door.
ARAGORN (to the
hobbits)
Get back! Stay close to Gandalf
BOROMIR
They have a cave
troll.
They bar the door with the weapons of the
dead.
GIMLI
Argh! Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who
still draws breath!
ORCS break holes in the door. LEGOLAS and ARAGORN
shoot arrows through the holes and kill the ORCS on the other side. Finally, the
doors break open and ORCS flood in. All the companions join in the fighting,
even the HOBBITS. Then the CAVETROLL comes through the door and part of the
wall. SAM slips under him. Many ORCS killed. The CAVETROLL smashes the tomb
GIMLI is standing on top of, but misses GIMLI, then kills several of the ORCS in
its attempt to get the dwarf. The TROLL uses its chain like a whip, trying to
hit LEGOLAS, who dodges. The chain becomes momentarily caught around a pillar,
and LEGOLAS runs up it to stand on top of the CAVETROLL and gets a shot at its
head, but jumps off when the CAVETROLL grabs for his ankles.
SAM hits
ORCS with his frying pan.
SAM
I think I'm getting the hang of
this!
CAVETROLL catches sight of the three HOBBITS. They all dodge, but
FRODO goes one way and MERRY and PIPPIN the other. The CAVETROLL follows FRODO,
who manages to stay on the opposite side of the pillar from the CAVETROLL for a
while, but then he is surprised, falls down, and the CAVETROLL grabs his
foot.
FRODO
Aragorn! Aragorn!
FRODO cuts the CAVETROLL'S hand
with Sting, and it lets go. CAVETROLL reaches for FRODO again, but ARAGORN runs
over and stabs it with a spear, prompting the TROLL to smash him into the wall.
FRODO shakes ARAGORN, but he doesn't get up. CAVETROLL stabs at ARAGORN, but
renews its interest in FRODO when he moves. FRODO dodges the spear, then runs
into it and gets thrown against the wall. Before he can move, the CAVETROLL
stabs him with the spear. FRODO falls, with the spear in his
side.
SAM
Frodo? Frodo!
MERRY and PIPPIN jump on the TROLL'S
back and stab it wildly. TROLL grabs MERRY and throws him off, PIPPIN stabs it
again, when it opens its mouth to scream LEGOLAS kills the CAVETROLL with an
arrow through the mouth through the brain. PIPPIN has a hard landing, still
being on top of the CAVETROLL when it falls. All the orcs have fled or are
dead
ARAGORN
Oh, no!
Thinking he's dead, ARAGORN rolls FRODO
over, but he sits up.
SAM
Frodo! He's alive.
FRODO
I'm all
right, I'm not hurt.
ARAGORN
You should be dead! That spear would have
skewered a wild boar!
GANDALF
I think there is more to this hobbit
than meets the eye.
FRODO pulls open his shirt to reveal the mithril
shirt.
GIMLI
Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master
Baggins!
More ORCS approach.
GANDALF
To the bridge of
Khazad-Dum!
They run through the cavern, but become surrounded by ORCS.
There is a roar in the distance and the Orcs flee in terror.
BOROMIR
What
is this new devilry?
GANDALF
A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world.
This foe is beyond any of you. Run!
They run. BOROMIR abruptly comes to
the edge of the path, drops his torch and teeters on the edge of a very long
drop. LEGOLAS pulls him back from the
edge.
ARAGORN
Gandalf.
GANDALF
Lead them on, Aragorn! The
bridge is near. Do as I say! Swords are no more use here!
They come to a
gap in the apparently endless staircase, which LEGOLAS jumps across
easily.
LEOGLAS
Gandalf!
GANDALF follows after a moment's
hesitation.
BOROMIR
Merry, Pippin! Hoo ahh!
BOROMIR grabs MERRY
and PIPPIN, jumps across as the edge
crumbles.
ARAGORN
Sam!
ARAGORN throws SAM across, but GIMLI
holds up a hand.
GIMLI
Nobody tosses a dwarf!
GIMLI jumps, but
doesn't quite make it, and LEGOLAS grabs his beard to keep him from
falling.
GIMLI
Not the beard!
More breaks off the edge, FRODO
and ARAGORN scramble back. The gap is now too far to jump. Part of roof breaks.
The section FRODO and ARAGORN are on breaks loose from the rest of the stair. It
starts to tilt.
ARAGORN
Steady. Hold on! Hang on! Lean forward!
Steady.
BOROMIR
Come on!
The section falls forward into the
rest of the stair, allowing FRODO and STRIDER to rejoin the party. They keep
running as the enormous section of stair falls into the
abyss.
GANDALF
Over the bridge! Fly!
The BALROG emerges from
the chasm behind them.
In the center of the bridge, GANDALF turns to face
the demon, staff and sword in hand.
GANDALF
You cannot
pass.
FRODO
Gandalf!
A wave of flame spreads across the
BALROG.
GANDALF
I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the
flame of Arnor! Dark fire shall not avail you, Flame of Udun!
BALROG
draws a flaming sword and swings at GANDALF, but he parries the
blow.
GANDALF
Go back to the shadow! You... SHALL NOT...
PASS!!!!!!!
GANDALF slams his staff on the bridge, and a flash of white light
drives the BALROG back. The demon draws a whip of fire, steps onto the bridge,
and it gives way, dropping the BALROG into the chasm. It seems they have won,
but as he turns away, the tail of the whip catches GANDALF'S ankle and pulls him
down. He gets a brief grasp on the edge of the bridge.
BOROMIR (holding
back Frodo)
No, no!
FRODO
Gandalf!
GANDALF
Fly, you
fools!
And GANDALF follows his enemy into the
abyss.
FRODO
Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!
BOROMIR
Aragorn!
BOROMIR
carries FRODO away. ARAGORN pauses, looking back until ORC arrows drive him
away. The diminished group escapes into the sunlight before most collapse with
grief.
ARAGORN
Legolas, get them up.
BOROMIR
Give them a
moment, for pity's sake!
ARAGORN
By nightfall these hills will be
swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Come Boromir,
Legolas, Gimli, get them up! On your feet, Sam. Frodo? FRODO has drawn away from
the rest. Tears spill down his face.
ARAGORN jogs across a very cold
stream to see LOTHLORIEN in the distance. After some travel, they enter
LOTHLORIEN, a wood of silver trees.
GIMLI
Stay close, young hobbits.
They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible
power. All those who look upon her fall under her spell
GALADRIEL'S
VOICE
Frodo
GIMLI
and are never seen again.
GALADRIEL'S
VOICE
Your coming to us is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil
here, Ringbearer.
SAM
Mr. Frodo?
GIMLI
Well, here's one
dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk, and the ears of a
fox!
Suddenly, they are all surrounded by ELVES with drawn
bows.
HALDIR
The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the
dark.
ARAGORN
Haldir o Lorien. Henion aniron, boe ammen i dulu lin.
Boe ammen veriad lin.
(Haldir of Lorien. We have come for help. We need your
protection.)
GIMLI
Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go
back!
HALDIR
You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You
cannot go back. Come. She is waiting.
They enter the elf city in the
trees, and are brought before CELEBORN and GALADRIEL.
CELEBORN
Eight
there are here, yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is
Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him.
GALADRIEL
He has fallen
into shadow. The quest stands upon the edge of a knife, stray but a little and
it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the company is true. Do
not let your hearts be troubled. Go now, and rest, for you are weary with sorrow
and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace...
GALADRIEL
(telepathically to only Frodo)
Welcome, Frodo of the Shire, one who has seen
the Eye.
There is singing in the background while they camp, more
comfortable on the ground than in the trees.
ELVES
A Olorin i
yaresse
(Olorin, who once was...)
Mentaner i Numeherui
(sent by the
Lords of the West…)
LEGOLAS
A lament for Gandalf.
MERRY
What
do they say about him?
LEGOLAS
I have not the heart to tell you. For
me the grief is still too near.
ELVES
Tirien i Romenori (to guard the
lands of the East...)
Maiarion i Oiosaila...(wisest of all Maiar...)
Mana elye
etevanne...(what drove you to leave...)
Norie i melanelye? (that which you
loved?)
ARAGORN (to BOROMIR)
Take some rest. These borders are well
protected.
BOROMIR
I will find no rest here. I heard a voice inside my
head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, even now,
there is hope left, but I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope. My
father is a noble man, but his rule is failing, and now our... our people lose
faith. He looks to me to make things right, and I would do it, I would see the
glory of Gondor restored. Have you ever seen it, Aragorn? The White Tower of
Ecthelion glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, its banners caught high
in the morning breeze? Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of
silver trumpets?
ARAGORN
I have seen the White City, long
ago.
BOROMIR
One day, our paths will lead us there, and the tower
guard shall take up the call, 'the lords of Gondor have returned!'
The
company sleeps, and when GALADRIEL passes, only FRODO wakes. He follows her to a
basin set in stone, which she fills with water from a silver
urn.
GALADRIEL
Will you look into the mirror?
FRODO
What
will I see?
GALADRIEL
Even the wisest cannot tell, for the mirror
shows many things. Things that were, things that are, and some things that have
not yet come to pass.
FRODO looks into the mirror, and sees LEGOLAS,
MERRY and PIPPIN, then SAM. The Shire as it was, then the Shire ravaged, overrun
with ORCS, and SAM in chains. Then the EYE appears, and the RING grows heavier,
trying to pull itself down into the mirror. FRODO snatches it away, falls
backward onto the ground.
GALADRIEL
I know what it is you saw, for it
is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The
Fellowship is breaking. It has already begun. He will try to take the Ring. You
know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all.
FRODO
If
you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring.
GALADRIEL
You offer it
to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this.
A
dark light falls over her.
GALADRIEL
In place of a Dark Lord, you will
have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as
the sea. Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me and
despair!
GALADRIEL backs away from the Ring, but for a moment, she looks
old, and it seems to bring her no joy to have done the right
thing.
GALADRIEL
I passed the test. I will diminish, and go into the
west, and remain Galadriel.
FRODO
I cannot do this
alone.
GALADRIEL
You are a Ringbearer, Frodo. To bear a ring of power
is to be alone. This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no
one will.
FRODO
Then, I know what I must do. It's just... I am afraid
to do it.
GALADRIEL
Even the smallest person can change the course of
the future.
SARUMAN (to LURTZ)
Do you know how orcs first came into
being? They were elves once, taken by the dark powers, tortured, and mutilated.
A ruined and terrible form of life. And now perfected, my fighting Uruk- Hai.
Whom do you serve?
LURTZ
Saruman.
SARUMAN addresses the army of
equipped URUK-HAI.
SARUMAN
Hunt them down. Do not stop until they are
found. You do not know pain, you do not know fear, you will taste
man-flesh!
SARUMAN (to LURTZ)
One of the halflings carries something
of great value. Bring them to me alive, and unspoiled, Kill the
others.
The company departs in three small
boats.
GALADRIEL
Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of
Earendil, our most beloved star. Numarie. May it be a light for you in dark
places, where all other lights go out.
Cut to URUK-HAI on the
march.
The company comes to a bend in the river and ARAGORN taps FRODO'S
shoulder.
ARAGORN
Frodo, the Argonath. Long have I desired to look
upon the kings of old, my kin.
There are two enormous statues of MEN in
armor flanking the river, their left hands outstretched in a gesture of warding.
The company goes past them, into a lake, where they find an old moorage and
beach their boats.
ARAGORN
We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the
boats, and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the
north.
GIMLI
Oh yes? Just a simple matter of finding our way through
Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks?! And after that, it
gets even better! Festering, stinking marshlands as far as the eye can
see!
ARAGORN
That is our road. I suggest take some rest, and recover
your strength, Master Dwarf
GIMLI
Recover my...?! Phrrr
LEGOLAS
(to ARAGORN)
We should leave now.
ARAGORN
No. Orcs patrol the
eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness.
LEGOLAS
It is not
the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my
mind. Something draws near, I can feel it.
GIMLI
No dwarf need recover
strength! Pay no heed to that, young hobbit.
MERRY returns from gathering
firewood.
MERRY
Where is Frodo?
ARAGORN looks around and
realizes BOROMIR is also missing.
FRODO walks in the forest, BOROMIR
finds him.
BOROMIR
None of us should wander alone, you least of all.
So much depends on you. Frodo? I know why you seek solitude. You suffer, I see
it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways,
Frodo, other paths that we might take.
FRODO
I know what you would
say, and it would seem like wisdom, but for the warning in my
heart.
BOROMIR
Warning? Against what? We are all afraid, Frodo, but to
let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have... Don't you see? It's
madness.
FRODO
There is no other way.
BOROMIR
I only ask for
the strength to defend my people! If you would but lend me the
Ring.
FRODO
No!
BOROMIR
Why do you recoil? I am no
thief.
FRODO
You are not yourself.
BOROMIR
What chance do
you think you have? They will find you, they will take the ring, and you will
beg for death before the end! Fool! It is not yours save by unhappy chance. It
could have been mine. It should be mine! Give it to
me!
FRODO
No!
They struggle, FRODO puts on the Ring and
disappears.
BOROMIR
I see your mind! You would take the Ring to
Sauron! You will betray us! You go to your death, and the death of us all! Curse
you! Curse you and all the halflings!
BOROMIR trips, and seems to recover
himself.
BOROMIR
Frodo? Frodo? What have I done? Please, frodo, I'm
sorry! Frodo!.
FRODO runs away, with the ring on. He hides atop a stone
platform in the woods, looks east and sees Barad Dur, an army of ORCS, and the
EYE. He falls off the platform and takes off the
Ring.
ARAGORN
Frodo?
FRODO
It has taken
Boromir.
ARAGORN
Where is the Ring?
FRODO backs
away.
FRODO
Stay away!
ARAGORN
Frodo! I swore to protect
you.
FRODO
Can you protect me from yourself? Would you destroy
it?
THE RING
Aragorn... Aragorn... Elessar
ARAGORN
I would
have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor.
FRODO
I
know. Look after the others. Especially Sam, he will not
understand.
ARAGORN sees Sting glowing blue
ARAGORN
Go on,
Frodo! Run! Run!
LURTZ
Find the halfling! Find the
halfling!
ARAGORN fights a lot of ORCS. When the ORCS return to hunting
halflings, he jumps off the platform onto them. LEGOLAS and GIMLI join him. When
one ORC gets too close to shoot, LEGOLAS stabs him in the eye with the arrow he
is holding, then puts it in his bow to kill the next one, too. FRODO runs away,
sees MERRY and PIPPIN hiding.
MERRY
Frodo!
PIPPIN
Hide here,
quick! Come on!
FRODO shakes his head.
PIPPIN
What's he
doing?
MERRY
He's
leaving.
PIPPIN
No!
MERRY
Pippin!
MERRY and PIPPIN
come out into the open. Several Uruk-Hais are approaching.
MERRY
Run,
Frodo. Go on.
MERRY waves his arms at the approaching
ORCS.
MERRY
Hey, you, over
here!
PIPPIN
Hey!
MERRY
Over here!
PIPPIN
This
way!
MERRY and PIPPIN run, leading a pack of ORCS. FRODO runs the other
way.
PIPPIN
It's working!
MERRY
I know it's working,
run!
The Orcs are about to get MERRY and PIPPIN, but then BOROMIR appears
and starts slaughtering the enemy. He winds his horn, but it only brings more
enemies. BOROMIR gets shot three times before he stops killing ORCS. MERRY and
PIPPIN get kidnapped, and all but one of the ORCS leave. Lurtz is going to
finish him off, but ARAGORN arrives and kills him.
BOROMIR
They took
the little ones!
ARAGORN
Be still.
BOROMIR
Frodo. Where is
Frodo?
ARAGORN
I let Frodo go.
BOROMIR
Then you did what I
could not. I tried to take the Ring from him.
ARAGORN
The Ring is
beyond our reach now.
BOROMIR
Forgive me. I did not see it. I have
failed you all.
ARAGORN
No, Boromir. You fought bravely. You have kept
your honor.
ARAGORN reaches to pull out one of the arrows, but BOROMIR
stops him.
BOROMIR
Leave it. It is over. The world of men will fall.
And all will come to darkness, and my city to ruin.
ARAGORN
I do not
know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White
City fall, nor our people fail.
BOROMIR
Our people? Our
people.
ARAGORN gives BOROMIR back his sword.
BOROMIR
I would
have followed you, my brother, my captain, my king!
BOROMIR
dies.
ARAGORN
Be at peace, son of Gondor.
FRODO at the boats,
holding the Ring in his hand. SAM searching for
him.
SAM
Frodo!
(Voiceover Flashback)
FRODO
I wish
the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had
happened.
GANDALF
So do all who live to see such times, but that is
not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that
is given to you.
(End of flashback)
FRODO regains his resolution,
tucks the Ring in his pocket and jumps in a boat. SAM arrives on
shore.
SAM
Frodo, no! Frodo! Frodo!
FRODO
No,
Sam.
SAM starts wading in.
FRODO
Go back, Sam. I'm going to
Mordor alone!
SAM
Of course you are, and I'm coming with
you!
SAM keeps going, well into the lake.
FRODO
You can't swim!
Sam! Sam!
SAM gets in over his head, FRODO turns around and pulls him
into the boat.
SAM
I made a promise, Mr. Frodo. A promise! Don't you
leave him, Samwise Gamgee, and I don't mean to. I don't mean
to.
FRODO
Oh, Sam. Come on.
BOROMIR'S body, in one of the
boats, floats over the waterfall. LEGOLAS pushes the last boat to the
water.
LEGOLAS
Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern
shore!
ARAGORN finishes putting on BOROMIR'S vambraces, with the white
tree of Gondor. LEGOLAS realizes that ARAGORN isn't
coming.
LEGOLAS
You mean not to follow them.
ARAGORN
Frodo's
fate is no longer in our hands.
GIMLI
Then it was all in vain. The
Fellowship has failed.
ARAGORN
Not if we hold true to each other. We
will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have
strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let's hunt
some orc.
GIMLI, LEGOLAS, and ARAGORN set off in pursuit.
FRODO
and SAM reach a height from which they can see the path
ahead.
FRODO
Mordor. I hope the others find a safer
road.
SAM
Strider will look after them.
FRODO
I don't
suppose we'll ever see them again.
SAM
We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We
may.
FRODO
Sam, I'm glad you're with me.
The End
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