Voices are heard from the
Misty Mountains
GANDALF
You cannot
pass!
FRODO
Gandalf!
GANDALF
I am a servant of the secret
fire, wielder of the flame of Anor! Go back to the shadow! Dark fire shall not
avail you, Flame of Udun! 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!
GANDALF
loses his grip and falls into the
chasm
FRODO
Nooooooooo!
GANDALF falls after the BALROG and
grabs hold of his sword Glamdring on his way down. As they continue to plunge
into the depths, GANDALF hacks away at the BALROG even as it crashes and bounces
off the walls. They continue to plunge at great speed, sometimes with GANDALF
clinging to the horn of the demon. The battling pair then falls into an enormous
cavern and plunges into the water. Just then FRODO wakens from the
nightmare
FRODO
Gandalf!
SAM
What is it, Mr.
Frodo?
FRODO
Nothing. Just a dream.
[TITLE: THE TWO
TOWERS]
FRODO and SAM climb over rocky terrain. They look into the
distance at the Mountain of Fire.
SAM
Mordor. The one place in Middle
Earth we don't want to see any closer. And it's the one place we are trying to
get to. It's just where we cant get. Let's face it Mr. Frodo, we're lost. I
don't think Gandalf meant for us to come this way.
FRODO
He didn't
mean for a lot of things to happen Sam. But they did.
Suddenly FRODO
feels and spies the EYE zooming in on him. He gasps and pants as he backs
away
SAM
Mr. Frodo? It's the Ring isn't it?
FRODO
It's
getting heavier. What food have we got left?
SAM
Well, let me see. Oh
yes, lovely. Lembas bread. And look! More lembas bread. I don't usually hold
with foreign food, but this Elvish stuff, it's not bad.
FRODO
Nothing
ever dampens your spirits, does it Sam?
SAM
Those rain clouds
might.
They continue trekking through difficult terrain, often huddling
underneath their cloaks.
SAM
This looks strangely
familiar.
FRODO
It's because we've been here before. We're going in
circles.
SAM
Ah. What is that 'orrid stink? I warrant there's a nasty
bog nearby. Can you smell it?
FRODO
Yes. I can smell it. We're not
alone.
GOLLUM
(sneaking up on the hobbits) The thieves. The thieves.
The filthy little thieves! Wheeere isssit? Wheeere isssit? They stole it from
us. My preciousssss. Curse them, we hates them! It's ours, it is, and we wants
it!
Suddenly the hobbits spring up, grab hold of Gollum’s arms and pull
him down. Amidst the struggle, Gollum wriggles loose and leaps onto Frodo. As
Frodo falls back, the Ring is revealed and Gollum jumps for it. Sam tries to
grab at him but is knocked away. Gollum now jumps on top of Frodo, his eyes
fixed on his precious. Sam grabs hold of Gollum again and tears him away from
Frodo. Gollum then turns around and bites Sam on the shoulder, wriggles around
and clasps his arms around Sam’s neck and legs around his waist in a death grip.
Frodo then unsheathes Sting and holds it to Gollum's
throat.
FRODO
This is Sting. You've seen it before, haven't you,
Gollum? Release him or I'll cut your throat!
Slowly, Gollum loosens his
grip on Sam and as the latter disentangles himself, Gollum wails. He is then
tied at the neck with Sam's elvish rope and half-dragged along even as he cries
and wails.
GOLLUM
It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty Elves
twisted it. Take it off us!
SAM
Quiet you! It's hopeless! Every orc in
Mordor's going to hear this racket! Let's just tie him up and leave
him!
GOLLUM
No! Thats would kill us, kill us!
SAM
It's no
more than you deserve!
FRODO
Maybe he does deserve to die. But now
that I see him, I do pity him.
GOLLUM
We be nice to them if they be
nice to us. Take it off us. We swears to do what you wants. We
swears.
FRODO
There's no promise you make that I can
trust.
GOLLUM
We swears to serve the master of the precious. We will
swear on... on the precious! Gollum gollum
FRODO
The ring is
treacherous. It will hold you to your word.
GOLLUM
Yes... on the
precious. On the precious.
SAM
I don't believe you! Get
down!
FRODO
Sam!
SAM
I said down!
SAM jerks strongly
at the rope as Gollum tries to get away and Gollum falls to the
ground
FRODO
Sam!
SAM
He was trying to trick us! If we let
him go, he'll throttle us into our sleep!
FRODO (to GOLLUM)
You know
the way to Mordor.
GOLLUM
Yes
FRODO
You've been there
before.
GOLLUM
Yes
FRODO
(taking the rope off GOLLUM) You
will lead us to the Black Gate.
GOLLUM scrambles off with the hobbits
following
The Uruk-hai are carrying MERRY and PIPPIN over the fields of
Rohan
PIPPIN
Merry!
The group pauses
MAUHUR
What is
it? What do you smell?
UGLUK
Man-flesh.
PIPPIN
(to himself)
Aragorn!
MAUHUR
They've picked up our trail! Let's move!
The
Uruk-hai quicken their pace. Pippin struggles to reach his Elven brooch with his
teeth. He then tears it off his cloak and drops it onto the
ground.
ARAGORN is lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the
ground, listening for the sound of footsteps
ARAGORN
Their pace has
quickened. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!
LEGOLAS
Come on
Gimli!
GIMLI
Three days and nights pursuit.. no food... no rest... and
no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell.
The Three Hunters run
across rocks and plains, with Aragorn in the lead, and Legolas and Gimli
trailing behind. Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an Elven brooch from the
ground.
ARAGORN
Not idly do the leaves of Lorien
fall.
LEGOLAS
They may yet be alive.
ARAGORN
Less than a day
ahead of us, come!
LEGOLAS
Come Gimli! We are gaining on
them.
GIMLI
I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural
sprinters. Very dangerous we are over short distances.
The trackers come
over a hill and pause as they gaze across the plains
below
ARAGORN
Rohan, home of the horse-lords. There's something
strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets it's will
against us. Legolas! What do your Elf eyes see?
LEGOLAS
The Orcs turn
Northeast. They are taking the hobbits to
Isengard!
ARAGORN
Saruman
The tower of Orthanc stands amidst
the smoking caverns of Isengard. Saruman stands in his chamber, communicating
with the Dark Lord through the Palantir
SARUMAN
The world is changing.
Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor. To
stand against the might of Sauron and Saruman and the union of the two towers?
Together, my Lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-Earth.
The caverns of
Isengard glow with the fires of industry, sounds of hammering fill the air and
molten iron is poured into casts
SARUMAN (Voiceover)
The old world
will burn in the fires of industry. The forests will fall. A new order will
rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron
fist of the Orc. We have only to remove those who oppose us.
Saruman
stands in the midst of a gathering of Wildmen, who are holding torches and crude
weapons
SARUMAN
The horsemen took your lands. They drove your people
into the hills to scratch a living off
rocks.
CROWD
Murderers!
SARUMAN
Take back the lands they
stole from you. Burn every village! It will begin in Rohan. Too long have these
peasants stood against you. But no more.
The wildmen and orcs attack a
village. A woman with her hand on a horse calls out to her
children
MORWEN
Eothain, Eothain! You take your sister. You'll go
faster with just two.
FREDA
But Papa says Eothain must not ride
Garuif. He is too big for him!
MORWEN
Listen to me! You must ride to
Edoras and raise the alarm. Do you understand me?
EOTHAIN
Yes
mama.
FREDA
I don't wanna leave! I don't wanna go,
Mama.
MORWEN
Freda, I will find you there.
Screams are
increasing in volume as the army draws closer
MORWEN
Quickly! (to
herself) Go child.
The army slaughters at will and sets fire to the
village. Eothain and Freda weep as they look back from a distance
SARUMAN
(V.O.)
Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall.
A group of horsemen ride to
Edoras. EOMER is in the lead, carrying a gravely wounded THEODRED in front of
him
EOWYN runs hastily up the stairs to the Golden Hall and enters a
bedchamber. She runs to the bed
EOWYN
Theodred!
THEODRED seems
to hear her call but is unable to respond. He has a bloody gash on the side of
his head. EOMER nods to EOWYN in the direction of THEODRED's torso. EOWYN draws
back the covers and upon seeing THEODRED'S fatal wound, her lips tighten and her
eyes close. She looks up to catch EOMER'S eye
EOMER and EOWYN are
speaking to KING THEODEN who sits motionless on his throne, wizened and aged
beyond his years
EOWYN (To Theoden)
Your son is badly wounded my
lord.
EOMER
He was ambushed by orcs. If we don't defend our country,
Saruman will take it by force.
GRIMA
That is a lie! Saruman the White
has ever been our friend and ally.
THEODEN (mumbling)
Grima...
Grima
EOMER
Orcs are roaming freely across our lands, unchecked,
unchallenged, killing at will. Orcs bearing the White Hand of
Saruman.
EOMER drops a helmet onto the ground, which topples over to
reveal the White Hand
GRIMA
Why do you lay these troubles on an
already troubled mind? Can you not see? Your uncle is wearied by your
malcontent, your warmongering.
EOMER
Warmongering? How long is it
since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Grima? When all the men
are dead you will take a share of the treasure? Too long have you watched my
sister, too long have you haunted her steps.
GRIMA
You see much, Eomer
son of Eomund. Too much. You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan,
under pain of death.
The Three Hunters continue the
chase
GIMLI
Keep breathing, that's the key! Breathe!
Ho!
LEGOLAS
They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind
them.
They continue running over vast distances. The Uruk-hai and orcs
halt at nightfall, many panting.
BAGLOR
We ain't goin' no further till
we've 'ad a breather.
UGLUK
Get a fire going!
PIPPIN
Merry!
Merry!
MERRY
I think, we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire,
Pippin.
A rumbling sound is heard
PIPPIN
What's making that
noise?
MERRY
It's the
trees.
PIPPIN
What?
MERRY
You remember the Old Forest on the
borders of Buckland? Folk used to say that there was something in the water that
made the trees grow tall, and come
alive.
PIPPIN
Alive?
MERRY
Trees that could whisper, talk to
each other, even move.
BAGLOR
I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but
maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!
SNAGA
Yeah! Why can't we have
some meat? (looking at the hobbits) What about them? They're
fresh!
UGLUK
They are not for eating!
GRISHNAKH
What about
their legs? They don't need those. Ooh! They look tasty!
UGLUK
Get
back, scum!
ROC
Carve them up!
SNAGA
Just a
mouthful?
UGLUK
No!
UGLUK kills SNAGA
UGLUK
Looks
like meat's back on the menu boys!
The Uruk-hai and orcs cheer and
started tearing into SNAGA, taking their eyes off the hobbits for a
while
MERRY
Pippin, let's go!
Their hands still bound, the
hobbits try to crawl away. Suddenly a foot comes down onto Pippin and flips him
over
GRISHNAKH
Go on, call for help. Squeal! No one's gonna save you
now!
Suddenly, a spear hits GRISNAKH. Mayhem ensues as Riders of Rohan
burst out from their hiding places and ambush the
orcs
MERRY
Pippin!
Suddenly Pippin turns and looks up at a pair
of thrashing hooves bearing down on him
PIPPIN
Ahh!
The Three
Hunters are still chasing after the Uruk-Hai. Dawn has
broken
LEGOLAS
A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this
night.
The sound of horses comes to their ears. Aragorn quickly gets them
to hide behind some boulders. A large group of horse-men appears, galloping
quickly with their banners flying. ARAGORN comes out of hiding as they pass,
followed by LEGOLAS and GIMLI
ARAGORN
Riders of Rohan! What news from
the Mark?
At a signal from Eomer at the lead, the riders make a quick
turn and head towards them, surrounding them in an ever-tightening circle. As
they stop, they point their long spears menacingly at them
EOMER
What
business does an Elf, a Man, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak
quickly!
GIMLI
Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you
mine.
EOMER
I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little
higher from the ground.
LEGOLAS
You would die before your stroke
fell!
The riders all point their spears closer to the
travelers.
ARAGORN
I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of
Gloin, and Legolas of the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan and of
Theoden, your King.
EOMER
Theoden no longer recognizes friend from
foe. (He takes helmet off.) Not even his own kin.
The spears are
withdrawn
EOMER
Saruman has poisoned the mind of the King and claimed
lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we
are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as
an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our
nets.
ARAGORN
We are no spies. We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward
across the plain. They have taken two of our friends
captive.
EOMER
The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the
night.
GIMLI
But there were two Hobbits, did you see two Hobbits with
them?
ARAGORN
They will be small, only children to your
eyes.
EOMER
We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned
them.
GIMLI
They are dead?
EOMER
I am sorry. Hasufel!
Arod!
Two horses are brought forth
EOMER
May these horses bear
you to better fortune than the former masters. Farewell. Look for your friends,
but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands. (to the riders) We ride
north!
ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI ride towards the burning carcasses and
GIMLI starts to shift through the smouldering pile and finds something of
PIPPIN'S
GIMLI
It’s one of their wee belts.
LEGOLAS
Hiro ith
ab 'wanath. (May they find peace after
death)
ARAGORN
AAAHHH!!!
GIMLI
We failed
them.
ARAGORN looks to the side
ARAGORN
A Hobbit lay here, and
the other.
Flashback: PIPPIN yells as he looks up at a pair of thrashing
hooves bearing down on him. He rolls over.
ARAGORN
They
crawled.
Flashback: Merry and Pippin crawl frantically away from the
battle.
ARAGORN
Their hands were bound.
Flashback: Merry rubs
his bonds furiously against the sharp edge of an upturned
blade.
ARAGORN
Their bonds were cut. They ran over here. They were
followed.
Flashback: Their hands freed, the hobbits run away from the
battle scene, dodging under a horse and trying to stay out of harms way. As they
flee, GRISHNAKH grabs PIPPIN by his belt and clings on
MERRY
The belt!
Run!
PIPPIN undoes his belt and GRISHNAKH is left holding the belt and
the hobbits run off
ARAGORN
Tracks lead away from the battle, into
Fangorn Forest.
GIMLI
Fangorn. What madness drove them in
there?
The hobbits are in Fangorn Forest
PIPPIN
Did we lose
him? I think we lost him.
Suddenly, GRISHNAKH bursts through the
branches, brandishing a blade
GRISHNAKH
I'm gonna rip out your filthy
little innards! Come here!
MERRY
Trees! Climb a tree!
PIPPIN
and MERRY quickly scramble up a tree
MERRY
He's gone.
Suddenly,
MERRY is pulled by his legs and falls to the ground. GRISHNAKH leans over him
with his menacing blade.
PIPPIN
Merry!
PIPPIN looks down in
horror but as he turns his head, he spots a pair of gleaming yellow eyes
blinking in the tree he’s clinging to.
PIPPIN
Ah!
PIPPIN loses
his grip in fright and falls. The tree catches him.
GRISHNAKH
(to
MERRY) Let’s put a maggot-hole in your belly.
Suddenly GRISHNAKH senses
something behind him and as he looks up, the tree squashes
him
PIPPIN
Run, Merry!
The Tree scoops up
MERRY
TREEBEARD
Little orcs!
PIPPIN
It's talking Merry. The
tree is talking.
TREEBEARD
Tree? I am no tree! I am an
Ent.
MERRY
A treeherder! A shepherd of the
forest.
PIPPIN
Don't talk to it Merry. Don't encourage
it.
TREEBEARD
Treebeard some call me.
PIPPIN
And whose side
are you on?
TREEBEARD
Side? I am on nobody's side. Because nobody is
on my side, little orc. Nobody cares for the woods
anymore.
MERRY
We're not orcs! We're
Hobbits!
TREEBEARD
Hobbits? Never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds
like orc mischief to me. They come with fire, they come with axes. Gnawing,
Biting, breaking, hacking, burning. Destroyers and usurpers. Curse
them!
MERRY
No! You don't understand. We're Hobbits, halflings.
Shirefolk!
TREEBEARD
Maybe you are, and maybe you aren't. The White
Wizard will know.
PIPPIN
The White
Wizard
MERRY
Saruman!
TREEBEARD drops MERRY and PIPPIN on the
ground and the Hobbits look up at the White Wizard
FRODO and SAM follow
GOLLUM to the end of the rocky terrain. GOLLUM looks back
GOLLUM
See,
see? We've led you out! Hurry, hobbitses, hurry! Very lucky we find you. Nice
hobbit.
SAM
Whoa! It's a bog! He's led us into a
swamp!
GOLLUM
A swamp, yes, yes. Come, master. We will take you on
safe paths through the mist. Come Hobbits, come! We go quickly. I found it. I
did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go
round for miles and miles. Come quickly. Soft and quick as shadows we must
be.
SAM
There are dead things! Dead faces in the
water!
GOLLUM
All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and orcses. A great
battle long ago. The Dead Marshes. Yes, yes! That is their name. This way. Don't
follow the lights.
SAM
Ohh!
GOLLUM
Careful now! Or hobbits
go down to join the dead ones, and light little candles of their
own.
FRODO falls face-down into the
water
SAM
Frodo!
FRODO sees many faces of the dead in the
water. Their hands reach for him, seeking to draw him into their realm. Suddenly
he is grabbed from behind and pulled
ashore.
FRODO
Gollum?
GOLLUM
Don't follow the
lights.
FRODO
Gollum...
SAM
Mr. Frodo! are you
alright?
Nightfall: SAM is asleep but FRODO is still awake. He holds the
Ring in the palm of his hand, staring at it and stroking it. Suddenly he hears a
voice
GOLLUM
So bright, so beautiful. Ah
precious.
FRODO
What did you say?
GOLLUM
Master should be
resting. Master need to keep up his strength.
FRODO
Who are
you?
GOLLUM
Musn't ask us. Not his business. Gollum!
Gollum!
FRODO
Gandalf told me you were one of the
river-folk.
GOLLUM
Cold be heart and hand and bone. Cold be travellers
far from home.
FRODO
He said your life was was a sad
story.
GOLLUM
They do not see what lies ahead when sun has failed and
moon is dead.
FRODO
You were not so different from a Hobbit once, were
you... Smeagol?
GOLLUM
What did you call me?
FRODO
That was
your name once, wasn't it? A long time ago.
GOLLUM
My... My name...
Smeagol. Ahh!
SAM
Black Riders!
GOLLUM
Hide!
Hide!
FRODO feels a sharp pain in his shoulder
SAM
C'mon Frodo,
C'mon!
GOLLUM
Quick! They will see us! They will see
us!
SAM
I thought they were dead!
GOLLUM
Dead? No, you
cannot kill them. No.
RINGWRAITH
(screeches)
GOLLUM
Wraiths!
Wraiths on wings! They are calling for it. They are calling for the
precious.
FRODO reaches for the Ring. SAM holds FRODO's
hand
SAM
Mr. Frodo! It's alright.
The Ringwraith circles
overhead and flies off into the distance
GOLLUM
Hurry, hobbits. The
Black Gate is very close.
Meanwhile, ARAGORN and company go into Fangorn
Forest to look for MERRY and PIPPIN
GIMLI
Orc
blood!
ARAGORN
These are strange tracks.
GIMLI
The air is so
close here.
LEGOLAS
This forest is old. Very old. Full of memories...
and anger. The trees are speaking to each
other.
ARAGORN
Gimli!
GIMLI
Huh?
ARAGORN
Lower
your axe.
GIMLI
Oh!
LEGOLAS
Aragorn, nad na
ennas!
(Something is out there!)
ARAGORN
Man cenich?
(What do
you see?)
LEGOLAS
The White Wizard approaches.
ARAGORN
Do
not let him speak. He will put a spell on us. We must be quick.
With a
yell, the three swing round to attack in accord. They are suddenly blinded by a
bright light emanating from the White Wizard. GIMLI's axe and LEGOLAS' arrow are
deflected. ARAGORN's sword becomes to hot to hold.
WIZARD
You are
tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits
ARAGORN
Where are
they?
WIZARD
They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met
someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?
ARAGORN
Who are
you? Show yourself!
The light dims, revealing GANDALF, dressed in
white.
ARAGORN
It cannot be! You fell!
GANDALF
Through fire
and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog
of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the
mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars
wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was
not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is
done.
ARAGORN
Gandalf
GANDALF
Gandalf? Oh yes. That was what
they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my
name.
GIMLI
Gandalf!
GANDALF
I am Gandalf the White. And I
come back to you now at the turn of the tide.
They start to walk through
the forest, with GANDALF leading the way
GANDALF
One stage of the
journey is over another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras
with all speed.
Outside the forest, Gandalf whistles piercingly. Soon an
answering neigh is heard and a white horse appears from the plain, answering the
call
LEGOLAS
That is one of the mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by
some spell.
GANDALF
Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses and he's
been my friend through many dangers.
The four ride off
TREEBEARD
walks through the forest, carrying MERRY and PIPPIN
TREEBEARD
My home
lies deep in the forest near the roots of the mountain. I told Gandalf I would
keep you safe, and safe is where I'll keep you. The trees have grown wild and
dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. They will harm you if they can. There
are too few of us now. Too few of us Ents are left to manage them.
FRODO
and SAM are led to the edge of a cliff
GOLLUM
The Black Gate of
Mordor.
SAM
Oh, save us! My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to
say if he could see us now.
GOLLUM
Master says to show him the way
into Mordor so good Smeagol does, master says so.
FRODO
I
did.
Orcs are patrolling the Gate
SAM
That's it then. We cannot
get past them.
A command is heard and an orc sounds a horn. Two enormous
cave trolls stretch and growl and then pull the mighty Gate
open
SAM
Look! The gate, it's opening! I can see a way
down.
SAM moves closer to the edge. Suddenly, the rock underneath him
gives way and he falls
FRODO
Sam! No!
SAM
Ah!!
FRODO
goes after SAM
GOLLUM
Master!
Two Easterling soldiers see
streams of dust coming down the cliff and investigate. FRODO reaches SAM who is
stuck. As the Easterlings move closer and closer, FRODO throws his elvish cloak
over himself and SAM. The soldiers can't see them and leave
FRODO
I do
not ask you to come with me, Sam.
SAM
I know, Mr. Frodo. I doubt even
these elvish cloaks will hide us in
there.
FRODO
Now!
GOLLUM
No! No! No master! They catch you!
They catch you. Don't take it to Him. He wants the precioussss. Always he's
looking for it. And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him, but we musn't
let him have it.
FRODO tries to go, but GOLLUM won't let
him
GOLLUM
No! There's another way. More secret. A dark
way.
SAM
Why haven't you spoke of this
before?!
GOLLUM
Because master did not ask!
SAM
He's up to
something.
FRODO
Are you saying there's another way into
Mordor?
GOLLUM
Yes. There's a path, and some stairs and then a
tunnel.
FRODO
He has led us this far, Sam.
SAM
Mr. Frodo,
no!
FRODO
He's been true to his
word.
SAM
No!
FRODO
Lead the way,
Smeagol.
GOLLUM
Good Smeagol always helps.
GANDALF, ARAGORN,
GIMLI and LEGOLAS approach a Kingdom
GANDALF
Edoras and the Golden
Hall of Meduseld, There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown.
Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong.
Interior: EOWYN
speaks to THEODEN
EOWYN
My lord, your son... he is dead. My lord?
Uncle? Will you not go to him? Will you do
nothing.
Exterior
GANDALF
Be careful what you say. Do not look
for welcome here.
EOWYN mourns the loss of the kings's son in a separate
chamber. Another enters.
GRIMA
Ohh he, he must have died sometime in
the night. What a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir. I
understand his passing is hard to accept, especially now that your brother has
deserted you.
EOWYN
Leave me alone, snake!
GRIMA
Oh, but you
are alone. Who knows what you've spoken to the darkness, in the bitter watches
of the night. When all your life seems to shrink. The walls of your bower
closing in about you. A hutch to trammel some wild thing in. So fair, so cold,
like a morning pale spring still clinging to winter's
chill.
EOWYN
Your words are poison.
EOWYN exits. GANDALF,
GIMLI, ARAGORN, and LEGOLAS approach
GIMLI
You'll find more cheer in a
graveyard.
Guards approach
GANDALF
Ah.
HAMA
I cannot
allow you before Theoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of Grima
Wormtongue.
They give up their weapons.
HAMA
Your
staff.
GANDALF
Hmm? Oh. No, you would not part an old man from his
walking stick?
Hama relents, and allows them to enter
GRIMA
My
Lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming. He's a herald of woe.
GANDALF
The
courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late,
Theoden-King.
GRIMA
He's not welcome.
THEODEN
Why should I
welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?
GRIMA
A just question, my liege. Late
is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill
news is an ill guest.
GANDALF
Be silent! Keep your forked tongue
behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked
words with a witless worm.
GRIMA
His staff. I told you to take the
wizard's staff!
GANDALF
Theoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat
in the shadows.
GIMLI (to Grima)
I would stay still if I were
you.
GANDALF
Hearken to me! I release you from the
spell.
THEODEN
Hahaha! You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey. Haha!
Ah!!
GANDALF
I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a
wound.
EOWYN rushes in, tries to go to THEODEN, but ARAGORN stops
her
ARAGORN
Wait.
THEODEN (in SARUMAN'S voice)
If I go,
Theoden dies.
GANDALF
You did not kill me. You will not kill
him.
THEODEN (in SARUMAN'S voice)
Rohan is mine!
GANDALF
Be
gone!
SARUMAN'S spell is broken. THEODEN'S face begins to change, into a
much younger-looking man. EOWYN rushes up to him.
THEODEN
I know your
face. Eowyn... Eowyn. Gandalf?
GANDALF
Breathe the free air again, my
friend.
THEODEN
Dark have been my dreams of
late.
GANDALF
Your fingers would remember their old strength better...
if they grasped your sword.
HAMA runs up with his sword. THEODEN draws it
out, then his gaze turns to GRIMA
The guards throw GRIMA out of the hall
and down the stairs
GRIMA
Ah! I've only ever served you, my
lord
THEODEN
Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours
like a beast!
GRIMA
Send me not from your side!
THEODEN raises
sword to kill GRIMA
ARAGORN
No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go.
Enough blood has been spilled on his account.
GRIMA
Get out of my
way!
GRIMA exits
ARAGORN
Hail, Theoden,
King!
THEODEN
Where is Theodred? Where is my son?
THEODEN
visits his THEODRED'S grave
THEODEN
Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on
the tombs of my forebearers. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that
these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I
should live to see the last days of my house.
GANDALF
Theodred's death
was not of your making.
THEODEN
No parent should have to bury their
child.
GANDALF
He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to
the halls of your fathers. Westu hal. Ferau, Theodred, Ferau. (Be-thou well.
Go-thou, Theodred, go-thou.)
EOTHAIN and FREDA appear on the hill on
horseback. EOTHAIN falls off the horse.
Inside the Golden Hall, the two
children eat under the care of EOWYN
EOWYN
They had no warning. They
were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through westfold, burning as they go.
Rick, cot, and tree.
FREDA
Where is
momma?
EOWYN
Shh.
GANDALF
This is but a taste of the terror
that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of
Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and
children. You must fight.
ARAGORN
You have two thousand good men
riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight
for their king.
THEODEN
They will be three hundred leagues from here
by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what is you want of me, but I will not
bring further death to my people. I will not risk open
war.
ARAGORN
Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or
not.
THEODEN
When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of
Rohan.
GAMDALF
Then what is the king's decision?
Cut to
Exterior: HAMA shouts to the people of Rohan
HAMA
By order of the
king, The city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden
yourself with treasures. Take only what provisions you
need.
GIMLI
Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should
stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?
ARAGORN
He is
only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in
the past.
GANDALF
There is no way out of that of ravine. Theoden is
walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading them to safety. What they will get
is a massacre. Theoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the
survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan
will need you. The defenses have to hold.
ARAGORN
They will
hold.
GANDALF
The Grey Pilgrim. That's what they used to call me.
Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. Good
luck. My search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light of the
fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.
ARAGORN
Go.
GANDALF exits
on SHADOWFAX
EOWYN opens a chest to reveal a sword. She swings it around
and is parried by ARAGORN
ARAGORN
You have some skill with a
blade.
EOWYN
The women of this country learned long ago that those
without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor
pain.
ARAGORN
What do you fear, my lady?
EOWYN
A cage. To
stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has
gone beyond recall or desire.
ARAGORN
You are a daughter of kings. A
shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.
Meanwhile,
at Isengard:
GRIMA
Theoden will not stay at Edoras. It's vulnerable.
He knows this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helm's
Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road to take through the
mountains. They will be slow. They will have women and children with
them.
SARUMAN walks through the depths of Isengard. He approaches an
orc
SARUMAN
Send out your warg-riders.
GOLLUM is still leading
SAM and FRODO
SAM
Hey Stinker! Don't go getting too far
ahead!
FRODO
Why do you do
that?
SAM
What?
FRODO
Call him names? Run him down all the
time.
SAM
Because. 'Cause that's what he is, Mr. Frodo. There's naught
left in 'im but lies and deceit. It's the Ring he wants. It's all he cares
about.
FRODO
You have no idea what it did to him. What it's still
doing to him. I want to help him Sam.
SAM
Why?
FRODO
Because
I have to believe he can come back.
SAM
You can't save him, Mr.
Frodo.
FRODO
What do you know about it? Nothing! I'm sorry, Sam. I
don't know why I said that.
SAM
I do. It's the Ring. You can't take
your eyes off it. I've seen you. You're not eating. You barely sleep. It's
takien a hold of you, Mr Frodo. You have to fight it.
FRODO
I know
what I have to do, Sam. The Ring was entrusted to me. It's my task! Mine! My
own!
SAM
Can't you hear yourself? Don't you know who you sound
like?
GOLLUM is off by himself at night
GOLLUM
We wants it, we
needs it. Must have the Preciousss. They stole it from us. Sneaky little
hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!
SMEAGOL
No! Not
Master!
GOLLUM
Yess, Preciousss, false!. They will cheat you, hurt
you, lie!
SMEAGOL
Master's my friend.
GOLLUM
You don't have
any friends. Nobody likes you.
SMEAGOL
Not listening. Not
listening.
GOLLUM
You´re a liar, and a
thief.
SMEAGOL
No.
GOLLUM
Murderer!
SMEAGOL
Go
away.
GOLLUM
Go away?! Ahahhaa!
SMEAGOL
I hate you, I hate
you.
GOLLUM
Where would you be without me? Gollum. Gollum. I saved us.
It was me. We survived because of me.
SMEAGOL
Not
anymore.
GOLLUM
What did you say?
SMEAGOL
Master looks after
us now. We don't need you.
GOLLUM
What?
SMEAGOL
Leave now
and never come back.
GOLLUM
No!
SMEAGOL
Leave now and never
come back!
GOLLUM
Ahh!
SMEAGOL
LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME
BACK!
Silence
SMEAGOL
We told him to go away! And away he goes,
preciousss. Gone, gone, gone, Smeagol is free!
The next day SMEAGOL comes
back with two rabbits and puts them to Frodo's lap.
SMEAGOL
Look!
Look! See what Smeagol finds! Ehehe! Hohohhooo! They are young! They are tender.
They are nice! Yes they are. Eat them. Eat them.
SAM
You'll make him
sick you will, behaving like that. There's only one way to eat a brace of
coneys.
SAM cooks the rabbits in a pot.
SMEAGOL
Argh!! Whats it
doing! Stupid, fat hobbit. It ruins it!
SAM
Whats to ruin? There's
hardly any meat on them. What we need is a few good
taters.
SMEAGOL
What's taters, Preciousss, what's taters?
Eh?
SAM
Po-ta-toes! Boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew. Lovely
big golden chips with a nice piece of fried
fish.
SMEAGOL
Phooh!
SAM
Even you couldn't say no to
that.
SMEAGOL
Oh yes we could. Ssspoil nice fish! Give it to ussss raw
and wwwriggling. You keep nasty chips!
SAM
You're hopeless. Mr
Frodo?
FRODO sees an army of the Southrons soldiers marching
nearby.
SAM
Who are they?
SMEAGOL
Wicked men, servants of
Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him.
It won't be long now. He will soon be ready.
SAM
Ready to do
what?
SMEAGOL
To make his war. The last war that will cover all the
world in Shadow.
FRODO
We've got to get moving. C'mon
Sam.
SAM
Mr. Frodo! Look! It's an oliphant! No one at home will
believe this.
SMEAGOL sneaks away
FRODO
Smeagol?
Chaos
breaks out when the Southrons are attacked from the
bushes.
FRODO
We've lingered here too long. C'mon Sam!
FRODO
and SAM are caught by Men.
SAM
Ah!
FARAMIR
Bind their
hands.
The villagers or Rohan are heading towards Helm's
Deep
GIMLI
It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they
are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're are often mistaken for dwarf
men.
ARAGORN
It's the beards.
GIMLI
And this in turn has
given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women. And the dwarves just
spring out of holes in the ground! Which is of course ridiculous.
Whoa!
GIMLI falls from the horse
GIMLI
It's alright! It's
alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate.
At night
and Aragorn drifts into a dream
ARWEN
The light of the Evenstar does
not wax and wane. It is mine to give to whom I will. Like my heart. Go to
sleep.
ARAGORN
I am asleep. This is a dream.
ARWEN
Then it
is a good dream. Sleep.
ARAGORN
Min lu pennich nin, i aur hen
telitha.
(You told me once, this day would come.)
ARWEN
U i
vethed...na i onnad. Boe bedich go Frodo. Han bad lin.
(This is not the end.
It is the beginning. You must go with Frodo. That is your
path.)
ARAGORN
Dolen i vad o nin.
(My path is hidden from
me.)
ARWEN
Si peliannen i vad na dail lin. Si boe
u-dhannathach.
(It is already laid before your feet, you cannot falter
now.)
ARAGORN
Arwen.
ARWEN
Ae u-esteliach nad... estelio
han. Estelio ammen.
(If you trust nothing else, trust this. Trust
us.)
ARAGORN and the Rohirrim continue their
journey
EOWYN
Where is she? The woman who gave you that
jewel?
Flashback to Elrond conversing with ARAGORN at
Rivendell:
ELROND
Our time here is ending. Arwen's time is ending. Let
her go. Let her take the ship into the west. Let her bear away her love for you
to the Undying Lands. There it will be ever green.
ARAGORN
But never
more than memory.
ELROND
I will not leave my daughter here to
die.
ARAGORN
She stays because she still has
hope.
ELROND
She stays for you. She belongs with her
people.
ARAGORN meets ARWEN before the departure of the
Fellowship
ARAGORN
Idhren emmen menna gui ethwel...Hae o auth a nir a
naeth.
(You have a chance for another life ...away from war... grief...
despair.)
ARWEN
Why are you saying this?
ARAGORN
I'm mortal.
You are elfkind. It was a dream Arwen, nothing more.
ARAGORN
This
belongs to you.
ARAGORN tries to give the Evenstar back to
ARWEN
ARWEN
It was a gift. Keep it.
Flashback
ends
EOWYN
My lord?
ARAGORN
She is sailing to the Undying
Lands with all that is left of her kin.
GAMLING
What is it?
Hama?
HAMA
I'm not sure.
A warg scout appears above them and
attacks Hama, killing him.
GAMLING
Wargs!
Legolas immediately
comes to the rescue, shooting with his bow.
LEGOLAS
A
scout!
THEODEN
What is it? What do you see?
ARAGORN
Wargs!
We're under attack! Get them out of here!
THEODEN
All riders to the
head of the column!
GIMLI
C'mon get me up here, I'm a rider. Come
on!
THEODEN (to EOWYN)
You must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and
make haste.
EOWYN
I can fight!
THEODEN
No! You must do this
for me.
THEODEN (to the men)
Follow me!
GIMLI
Forward! I
mean, charge forward.
EOWYN (to the villagers)
Make for the lower
ground. Stay together!
GIMLI
That's it! Go on!
The warg riders
and the Rohirrim crash at full speed. They fight like men (and orcs). GIMLI
falls of the horse and a riderless warg heads towards him.
GIMLI
Bring
your pretty face to my axe!
LEGOLAS shoots the warg
GIMLI
That
one counts as mine!
A dead warg lands on GIMLI
GIMLI
Argh!
Stinking creature!
ARAGORN catches his hand in the harness of a warg, and
fights with the orc rider, who finally falls off. ARAGORN and the warg tumble
over the
cliff.
LEGOLAS
Aragorn?
GIMLI
Aragorn?
LEGOLAS and
GIMLI spot an orc on the ground laughing
GIMLI
Tell me what happened
and I will ease your passing.
SHARKU
He's... dead. He took a little tumble
off the cliff.
LEGOLAS
You lie!
SHARKU dies, and LEGOLAS sees
that he is holding Evenstar in his hand. He takes it.
THEODEN
Get the
wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead.
Come.
The riders enter Helm's Deep after the battle
REFUGEES
At
last! Helm’s Deep! There it is! Helm's Deep. We're safe!
OLD WOMAN (to
EOWYN)
We’re safe, my lady! Thank you!
FREDA
Mama!
The
children find their mother once again and run to her
arms.
MORWEN
Eothain! Freda!
GUARD
Make way for Theoden!
Make way for the King!
EOWYN
So few. So few of you have
returned.
THEODEN
Our people are safe. We have paid for it with my
many lives.
GIMLI
My lady...
EOWYN
Lord Aragorn, where is
he?
GIMLI
He fell.
THEODEN
Draw all our forces behind the
wall. Bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround.
GUARD
What of
those who cannot fight, my lord? The women and children?
THEODEN
Get
them into the caves. Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he
can reach us here.
At Isengard:
GRIMA
Helm's Deep has one
weakness. Its outer wall is solid rock but for a small culvert at its base which
is little more than a drain.
SARUMAN pours explosives into a metallic
ball.
GRIMA
How? How can fire undo stone? What kind of device can
break down the wall?
SARUMAN
If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will
fall.
GRIMA
Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond
reckoning, thousands to storm the keep.
SARUMAN
Tens of
thousands.
GRIMA
But, my lord, there is no such force.
They
walk to the balcony of the tower Orthanc and GRIMA looks in awe at tens of
thousands of orcs
SARUMAN
A new power is rising. It's victory is at
hand. This night the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to
Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! To war! There will be no dawn for
Men.
MERRY and PIPPIN are walking towards ISENGARD
PIPPIN
Look!
There's smoke to the south.
TREEBEARD
There is always smoke rising up
from Isengard these days.
MERRY
Isengard?
TREEBEARD
There
was a time, when Saruman would walk in my woods, but now he has a mind of metal
and wheels.
TREEBEARD
He no longer cares for growing things.
A
horn sounds and an army marches off
PIPPIN
What is
it?
MERRY
It's Saruman's army! The war has started.
ARAGORN
floats down the river and washes ashore. He dreams of ARWEN.
ARWEN
May
the grace of the Valar protect you.
BREGO the horse arrives and Aragorn
comes to and mounts him
At Rivendell:
ELROND
Arwen. Tollen i
lu. I chair gwannar na Valannor. Si bado, no cirar.
(Arwen. It is time. The
ships are leaving for Valinor. Go now before it is too late.)
ARWEN
I
have made my choice.
ELROND
He is not coming back. Why do you linger
here when there is no hope?
ARWEN
There is still
hope.
ELROND
If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted.
If Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes
true, you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the
sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort
for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death. An
image of the splendor of the kings of men in glory, undimmed before the breaking
of the world. But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt.
As nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Here you will dwell, bound to
your grief, under the fading trees, until all the world has changed and the long
years of your life are utterly spent. Arwen... there is nothing for you here,
only death. A im, u-'erin veleth lin?
(Do I not also have your
love?)
ARWEN
Gerich meleth nin, ada.
(You have my love
father.)
The Elves (including ARWEN) depart
Rivendell
GALADRIEL
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, han mathon
ne chae a han noston ned 'wilith. (The world is changed; I can feel it in the
water, I can feel it in the earth, I can smell it in the air.) The power of the
enemy is growing. Sauron will use his puppet Saruman to destroy the people of
Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The Eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor, the
last free kingdom of men. His war on this country will come swiftly. He senses
the Ring is close. The strength of the Ring-bearer is failing. In his heart,
Frodo begins to understand the quest will claim his life. You know this. You
have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took. In the gathering dark, the will of
the Ring grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of
men. Men, who are so easily seduced by its power. The young captain of Gondor
has but to extend his hand to take the Ring for his own, and the world will
fall. It is close now, so close to achieving its goal. For Sauron will have
dominion over all life on this Earth, even unto the ending of the world. The
time of the Elves is over. Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate? Do we let them
stand alone?
FARAMIR and his men look over a map
FARAMIR
What
news?
MADRIL
Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Theoden's
people have fled to Helm's Deep. But we must look to our own borders. Faramir,
Orcs are on the move. Sauron is marshalling an army. Easterlings and Southrons
are passing through the Black Gate.
FARAMIR
How
many?
MADRIL
Some thousands. More come every
day.
FARAMIR
Who’s covering the river to the
north?
MADRIL
We pulled five hundred men out of Osgiliath. If their
city is attacked, we won't hold it.
FARAMIR
Saruman attacks from
Isengard. Sauron from Mordor. The fight will come to men on both fronts. Gondor
is weak. Sauron will strike us soon. And he will strike hard. He knows now we do
not have the strength to repel him.
FARAMIR (to SAM and FRODO)
My men
tell me that you are Orc spies.
SAM
Spies? Now wait just a
minute.
FARAMIR
Well if you're not spies, then who are you?
Speak!
FRODO
We are Hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name,
and this is Samwise Gamgee.
FARAMIR
Your bodyguard?
SAM
His
gardener.
FARAMIR
And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel
creature. He had an ill-favoured look.
FRODO
There was no other. We
set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in Moria. Two were my
kin. A dwarf there was also. And an elf. And two men. Aragorn, son of Arathorn,
and Boromir of Gondor.
FARAMIR
You're a friend of
Boromir?
FRODO
Yes, for my part.
FARAMIR
It will grieve you
then to learn that he is dead?
FRODO
Dead? How?
When?
FARAMIR
As one of his companions, I had hoped you would tell me.
He was my brother.
PARN
Captain Faramir. We found the third
one.
FARAMIR
You must come with me. Now.
FRODO is led
outside
FARAMIR
Down there.
FRODO looks down to the Forbidden
Pool and sees SMEAGOL dive in it.
FARAMIR
To enter the Forbidden Pool
bears the penalty of death.
Archers step out from the bushes, ready to
shoot
FARAMIR
They wait for my command. Shall I
shoot?
SMEAGOL
The rock and pool is nice and cool, so juicy sweeeet.
Our only wish, to catch a fish, so juicy sweeeeet!
FRODO
Wait! This
creature is bound to me. And I to him. He is our guide. Please, let me go down
to him.
FARAMIR allows FRODO to go to SMEAGOL, who is eating the
fish.
FRODO
Smeagol. Master is here. Come, Smeagol. Trust master.
Come.
SMEAGOL
We must... go now?
FRODO
Smeagol, you must
trust master. Follow me, come on. Come. Come, Smeagol. Nice Smeagol. That's it.
Come on.
FARAMIR'S men jump SMEAGOL and wrestle him
down
FRODO
Don’t hurt him! Smeagol, don’t struggle! Smeagol, listen to
me!
SMEAGOL
Master! No! No!
FARAMIR
Where are you leading
them? Answer me!
GOLLUM
Smeagol... Why do you cry,
Smeagol?
SMEAGOL
Cruel men hurts us. Master tricksed
us.
GOLLUM
Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he
was false.
SMEAGOL
Master is our friend... our
friend.
GOLLUM
Master betrayed ussss!
SMEAGOL
No, not it’s
business. Leave us alone.
GOLLUM
Filthy little hobbitsesss! They stole
it from usss!
SMEAGOL
No... no
FARAMIR
What did they
steal?
GOLLUM
My PRECIOUS!!!!
SAM and FRODO are huddled in a
room
SAM
We have to get out of here. You go. Go now. You can do it.
Use the Ring, Mr. Frodo. Just this once. Put it on. Disappear.
FRODO
I
can't. You were right, Sam. You tried to tell me. I'm sorry. The Ring's taking
me, Sam. If I put it on, he'll find me. he'll see.
SAM
Mr.
Frodo...
Suddenly FARAMIR enters, and draws his
sword
FARAMIR
So... this is the answer to all the riddles. Here in the
wild I have you. Two Halfings and a host of men at my call. And the Ring of
Power within my grasp. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his
quality.
FRODO
No!
SAM
Stop it! Leave him alone! Don't you
understand?! He's got to destroy it. That's where we're going. Into Mordor. To
the fire.
DAMROD (entering)
Osgiliath is under attack. They call for
reinforcements.
SAM (to FARAMIR)
Please. It's such a burden. Will you
not help him?
DAMROD
Captain?
FARAMIR
Prepare to leave. The
Ring will go to Gondor.
ARAGORN sees the army of Saruman and quickly
rides to Helm's Deep.
ARAGORN
Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nin.
(Well
done, Brego, my friend.)
ARAGORN enters Helm's Deep
WOMAN
He's
alive!
GIMLI
Where is he! Where is he! Get out of the way! I'm gonna
kill him! You are the the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I
ever knew! Bless you, laddie!
ARAGORN
Gimli, where is the
king?
ARAGORN encounters LEGOLAS
LEGOLAS
Le
ab-dollen.
(You’re late.)
You look terrible.
LEGOLAS gives ARAGORN
the Evenstar back
ARAGORN
Hannon le.
(Thank you.)
Inside,
ARAGORN talks to THEODEN
THEODEN
A great host, you
say?
ARAGORN
All Isengard is emptied.
THEODEN
How
many?
ARAGORN
Ten thousand strong at
least.
THEODEN
Ten-thousand?!
ARAGORN
It is an army bred for
a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by
nightfall.
THEODEN
Let them come.
THEODEN walks
outside
THEODEN
I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to
be ready for battle by nightfall. We will cover the causeway and the gate from
above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the
Hornburg.
GIMLI
This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are
Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad.
THEODEN
I have
fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep. They will
break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and
burn. We've seen it before. Crops can be resown. Homes rebuilt. Within these
walls, we will outlast them.
ARAGORN
They do not come to destroy
Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last
child!
THEODEN
What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their
courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make
such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!
ARAGORN
Send out riders,
my lord. You must call for aid.
THEODEN
And who will come. Elves?
Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are
dead.
ARAGORN
Gondor will answer.
THEODEN
Gondor? Where was
Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in
around us? Where was Gon... No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone.
THEODEN
walks away from ARAGORN
THEODEN
Get the women and children into the
caves.
GAMLING
We need more time to lay provisions for a siege,
lord.
THEODEN
There is no time. War is upon
us!
GAMLING
Secure the gate.
Meanwhile, back in
Fangorn
TREEBEARD
We ents have not troubled about the wars of men and
wizards for a very long time. But now something is about to happen that has not
happened for an age: entmoot.
MERRY
What's
that?
TREEBEARD
It is a gathering.
MERRY
A gathering of
what?
Ents begin to surround them
TREEBEARD
Beech, Oak,
Chestnut, Ash. Good, good, good. Many have come. Now we must decide if the Ents
will go to war.
Back at Helm's Deep. We see the people are taken into the
caves. Husbands and sons are taken away from their wives and mothers and are
given weapons.
ARAGORN
Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no
soldiers.
GIMLI
Most have seen too many winters.
LEGOLAS
Or
too few. Look at them. They're frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe a
hun: neled herain dan caer menig?
(And they should be. Three hundred against
ten thousand?)
ARAGORN
Si beriathar hyn. Amar na ned Edoras.
(They
have a better chance defending themselves here than in
Edoras.)
LEGOLAS
Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hyn u- ortheri. Natha daged
aen!"
(They cannot win this fight. They are all going to
die!)
ARAGORN
Then I shall die as one them!
ARAGORN
exits
GIMLI (to LEGOLAS)
Let him go, lad. Let him be.
THEODEN
is preparing to put on his armour
GAMLING
Every villager able to wield
a sword has been sent to the armory. My lord?
THEODEN
Who am I,
Gamling?
GAMLING
You are our king, sire.
THEODEN
And do you
trust your king?
GAMLING
Your men, my lord, will follow you to
whatever end.
THEODEN
To whatever end. Where is the horse and the
rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the
mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west. Behind
the hills, into shadow. How did it come to this?
GUARDS OUTSIDE
Move!
Move to the outer wall.
ARAGORN is sitting alone on stairs. He sees a
confused looking boy with a sword
ARAGORN
Give me your sword. What is
your name?
HALETH
Haleth, son of Hama, my lord. The men are saying
that we will not live out the night. They say that it is
hopeless.
ARAGORN
This is a good sword, Haleth, son of Hama. There is
always hope.
Inside, ARAGORN is putting on his armour. LEGOLAS is
suddenly behind him and hands him his sword
LEGOLAS
We have trusted
you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to
despair.
ARAGORN
U-moe edhored, Legolas
(There is nothing to
forgive, Legolas.)
GIMLI suits up
GIMLI
If we had time, I'd get
this adjusted. It's a little tight across the chest.
A sound of a horn is
heard from outside. It is no orc horn.
LEGOLAS
That is no orc
horn!
They rush outside
GUARD
Send for the king. Open up the
gate!
The gates are opened, and an army of elves march
in.
THEODEN
How is this possible?
HALDIR
I bring word from
Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we
fought and died together. We come to honor that
allegiance.
ARAGORN
Mae govannen, Haldir!
(Welcome Haldir)
You
are most welcome.
HALDIR
We are proud to fight alongside men once
more.
Saruman's army approaches. GIMLI and LEGOLAS stand ready to
fight.
GIMLI
Arg..You could have picked a better spot.
ARAGORN
approaches
GIMLI
Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it
lasts the night.
LEGOLAS
Your friends are with you,
Aragorn.
GIMLI
Let's hope they last the night.
ARAGORN gives a
final pep talk to the Elves
ARAGORN
"Daer u-o chyn, U-danno i failad a
thi; an uben tannatha le failad."
(Show them no mercy! For you shall receive
none!)
GIMLI
What's happening out there?
LEGOLAS
Shall I
describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?
Everything
draws to a halt, and then an old man accidently shoots an
orc
ARAGORN
Dartho!
(Hold!)
The Uruks roar in anger and
charge
THEODEN
So it begins.
ARAGORN
Hado i
philinn!
(Prepare to fire!)
The Elves shoot
LEGOLAS (to the
elves)
Hain 'war di na lanc a nu ranc!"
(Their armor is weak at the neck
and under the arms.)
ARAGORN
Leithio i
philinn!
(Fire!)
GIMLI
Did they hit
anything?
THEODEN
Give them a
volley.
GAMLING
Fire!
GUARD
Fire!
ARAGORN
Leithio
i philinn!
(Fire!)
GIMLI
Send them to them! Come
on!
ARAGORN
Pendraid!
(Ladders!)
GIMLI
Good!
The
Uruk-hai climb ladders and enter Helm's
Deep
ORC
"Wilhelm"
GIMLI
Legolas, two
already!
ARAGORN
Swords! Swords!
LEGOLAS
I'm on
seventeen!
GIMLI
Arg! I'll have no pointy-ear outscoring
me!
LEGOLAS
Nineteen!
Back at
Entmoot:
PIPPIN
Merry!
TREEBEARD
We have just
agreed.
MERRY
Yes?
TREEBEARD
I have told your names to the
Entmoot and we have agreed you are not Orcs.
PIPPIN
Well that's good
news.
MERRY
And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision about
him?
TREEBEARD
Now don't be hasty, Master
Meriadoc.
MERRY
Hasty? Our friends are out there. They need our help!
They cannot fight this war on their own.
TREEBEARD
War, yes. It
affects us all. But you must understand, young hobbit. It takes a long time to
say anything in Old Entish, and we never say anything unless it is worth taking
a long time to say.
At Helm's Deep:
GIMLI
Seventeen. Eighteen.
Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty one. Twenty two.
ARAGORN
Causeway! Na fennas!
(To the gateway)
THEODEN
Is this it? Is this all you can conjure
Saruman?
Below, the Uruks load up the small drain with SARUMAN's
explosives, and a Uruk soldier carrying a torch runs towards it. ARAGORN sees
this and calls for LEGOLAS
ARAGORN
Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dago hon!
Dago hon!
(Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!)
LEGOLAS hits
the Uruk with two arrows, but fails to kill him, and the Uruk-hai lights the
explosives and takes out the wall. The Uruk-hai begin to crowd through the hole
in the wall.
THEODEN
Brace the gates! Hold them! Stand
firm!"
GIMLI
Aragorn!
ARAGORN
Gimli! Hado i philinn!
Herio!
(Fire! Charge!)
At Entmoot:
TREEBEARD
The ents cannot
hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always
done.
MERRY
How can that be your decision?
TREEBEARD
This is
not our war.
MERRY
But your part of this world, aren't you? You must
help, please! You must do something.
TREEBEARD
You are young and
brave, Master Merry, but your part in this tale is over. Go back to your
home.
PIPPIN
Maybe Treebeard's right. We don't belong here, Merry.
It's too big for us. What can we do in the end? We've got the Shire. Maybe we
should go home.
MERRY
The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods
of Tuckburough and Buckland will burn. And... and all that was once green and
good in this world will be gone. There won't be a Shire, Pippin.
Back at
Helm's Deep:
THEODEN
Aragorn, fall back to the keep. Get your men out
of there!
ARAGORN
Nan barad!
(To the Keep!) Nan barad! Haldir! Nan
barad!
HALDIR nods at him and calls for the others. GIMLI is been dragged
away against his will.
GIMLI
What are you doing? Stop
it!
HALDIR
Nan barad!
HALDIR is
killed by a large Orc. The Orc slices HALDIR in the back with a large borad sword and inflicts a fatal wound.
ARAGORN
Haldir!
GAMLING
Brace the
gate!
ARAGORN
Hold them!
THEODEN
To the gate! Draw your
swords!
GAMLING
Make way! We can't hold much
longer.
THEODEN
Hold them!
ARAGORN
approaches
ARAGORN
How long do you need?
THEODEN
As long as
you can give me!
ARAGORN
Gimli!
THEODEN
Timbers! Brace the
gate!
Aragorn and Gimli exit through a secret side
gate
GIMLI
Oh, come on. We can take them!
ARAGORN
It's a
long way.
GIMLI
Toss me.
ARAGORN
What?
GIMLI
I
cannot jump the distance. You'll have to toss me. Ehh.. Don't tell the
elf.
ARAGORN
Not a word.
ARAGORN tosses Gimli and jumps across the pit and
the two battle the orcs at the front gate
THEODEN
Shore up the
door!
GUARDS
Make way! Follow me to the barricade. Watch our backs!
Throw another one over here!
THEODEN
Higher!
GUARD
Hold fast
the gate!
THEODEN
Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!
LEGOLAS
(above)
Aragorn!
LEGOLAS throws down a rope, and ARAGORN and GIMLI are
pulled to safety.
THEODEN
Pull everybody back. Pull them
back!
GAMLING
Fall back! Fall back! They have broken through. The
castle is breached. Retreat! Retreat!
ARAGORN
Hurry! Inside. Get them
inside!
GAMLING
Into the keep!
Meanwhile, back at Fangorn
Forest...
TREEBEARD
I will leave you at the western borders of the
forest. You can make your way north to your homeland from
there.
PIPPIN
Wait! Stop! Stop! Turn around. Turn around. Take us
south!
TREEBEARD
South? But that will lead you past
Isengard.
PIPPIN
Yes. Exactly. If we go south we can slip past Saruman
unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the
last thing he'll expect.
TREEBEARD
Hmmmm. That doesn't make sense to
me. But then you are very small. Perhaps you're right. South it is then. Hold
on, little Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow it feels like going
downhill.
MERRY
Are you mad, we'll be caught.
PIPPIN
No we
won't. Not this time.
FARAMIR and his company arrive approach Osgiliath
with FRODO, SAM, and GOLLUM as captives
DAMROD
Look. Osgiliath burns.
Mordor has come.
FRODO
The Ring will not save Gondor. It has only the
power to destroy. Please, let me go.
FARAMIR looks at FRODO, but then
gestures to his men to move.
FARAMIR
Hurry.
FRODO
Faramir,
you must let me go!
TREEBEARD approaches the edge of Fangorn
Forest
... and those little family of field mice that climb
up sometimes and they tickle me awfully. They're always trying to get somewhere
where they.
TREEBEARD walks into an open area where every tree has been
brutally cut down
TREEBEARD
Many of these trees were my friends.
Creatures I had known from nut and acorn.
PIPPIN
I'm sorry,
Treebeard.
TREEBEARD
They had voices of their own. Saruman. A wizard
should know better!
TREEBEARD lets out a powerfull call that reverberates
throughout Fangorn
TREEBEARD
There is no curse in elvish, entish or
the tongues of men for this treachery. My business is with Isengard tonight.
With rock and stone.
The Ents march out of the
forest
MERRY
Yes!
TREEBEARD
Rarum-rum! Come my friends. The
Ents are going to war. It is likely that we go to our doom. Last march of the
Ents.
The Ents march to Isengard. Meanwhile, back at
Osgiliath...
MADRIL
Faramir, Orcs have taken the eastern shore. Their
numbers are too great. By nightfall we'll be overrun.
FRODO
stumbles
SAM
Mr. Frodo!
FRODO
It's calling to him, Sam. His
eye is almost on me.
SAM
Hold on, Mr. Frodo. You'll be
alright.
FARAMIR (to his men)
Take them to my father. Tell him Faramir
sends a mighty gift. A weapon that will change our fortunes in this
war.
SAM
You wanna know what happened to Boromir? You want to know why
your brother died? He tried to take the Ring from Frodo. After swearing an oath
to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother
mad!
The RINGWRAITHS approach. FRODO knows.
SAM
Mr.
Frodo?
FRODO
They're here. They've
come.
RINGWRAITH
(screeches)
FARAMIR
Nazgul!
A
RINGWRAITH flies over Osgiliath and FARAMIR leads the hobbits to
safety
FARAMIR
Stay here. Keep out of sight. Take cover!
Back
at Helm's Deep:
THEODEN
The fortress is taken. It is
over.
ARAGORN
You said this fortress would never fall while your men
defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it! Is there no other
way for the women and children to get out of the caves? Is there no other
way?
GAMLING
There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But
they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many.
ARAGORN
Send word
for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the
entrance!
THEODEN
So much death. What can men do against such reckless
hate?
ARAGORN
Ride out with me. Ride out and meet
them.
THEODEN
For death and glory?
ARAGORN
For Rohan. For
your people.
GIMLI
The sun is rising.
(Flashback Voiceover)
GANDALF
Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to
the East.
THEODEN
Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in
the Deep one last time.
GIMLI
Yes!
Gimli climbs up to blow the
horn.
THEODEN
Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell
deeds awake. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red
dawn!
THEODEN
Forth Eorlingas!
ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, THEODEN, ride
out and clear a path. Suddenly an old friend appears on the eastern ridge with
the rising sun
ARAGORN
Gandalf
GANDALF
Theoden-king stands
alone.
Another appears
EOMER
Not alone.
Rohirrim!
GUARD
Eomer!
EOMER
To the king!
GANDALF and
the Riders of Rohan ride through the army of orcs.
SARUMAN looks on in
disbelief as Isengard is ripped apart by the
Ents.
PIPPIN
Yes!
TREEBEARD
A hit. A fine hit. Break the dam!
Release the river!
MERRY
Pippin, hold on!
TREEBEARD
Hold on,
little hobbits!
The waters swallow Isengard as Treebeard with the hobbits
and the rest of the Ents stand their ground
Back to Osgiliath, FRODO
walks out into the open
SAM
What are you doing? Where are you
going?
The RINGWRAITH riding a Fell Rider approaches
FRODO is
about to put on the Ring when SAM runs up and tackles him. FARAMIR shoots the
Ringwraith's steed with his bow. The hobbits roll down the stairs, Sam landing
on FRODO who rolls over and draws his sword preparing to kill
SAM.
SAM
It's me. It's your Sam. Don't you know your Sam?
FRODO
comes to his senses
FRODO
I can't do this, Sam.
SAM
I know.
It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in
the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness
and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how
could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so
much bad had happened?
ARAGORN and EOWYN embrace as Rohan is victorious
at Helm's Deep
SAM
But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this
shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it
will shine out the clearer.
The sun shines on Isengard, as MERRY, PIPPIN,
and the Ents celebrate victory
SAM
Those were the stories that stayed
with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why.
But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had
lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they
were holding on to something.
FRODO
What are we holding on to,
Sam?
SAM
That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's
worth fighting for.
FARAMIR
I think at last we understand one another,
Frodo Baggins.
MADRIL
You know the laws of our country. The laws of
your father. If you let them go, your life will be
forfeit.
FARAMIR
Then it is forfeit. Release them.
GANDALF and
company look towards Mordor
GANDALF
Sauron's wrath will be terrible,
his retribution swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for
Middle-earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits
somewhere in the wilderness.
FRODO and SAM are once again in the
wilderness, led by Gollum.
SAM
I wonder if we’ll ever be put into
songs or tales.
FRODO
What?
SAM
I wonder if people will ever
say, let's hear about Frodo and the Ring. And they'll say yes, that's one of
my favorite stories. Frodo was really courageous, wasn't he, dad? yes, my boy,
the most famousest of hobbits. And that's saying a lot.
FRODO
You
left out one of the chief characters. Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more
about Sam. Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam.
SAM
Now Mr. Frodo,
you shouldn't make fun. I was being serious.
FRODO
So was
I.
SAM
Samwise the Brave.
FRODO
Smeagol?
SAM
We're
not gonna wait for you. Come on.
SMEAGOL is a bit
ahead
SMEAGOL
Master... Master looks after us. Master wouldn't hurt
us.
GOLLUM
Master broke his promise!
SMEAGOL
Don't ask
Smeagol. Poor, poor Smeagol.
GOLLUM
Master betrayed us! Wicked,
tricksy, false! We ought to ring his filthy little neck! Kill him! Kill him!
Kill them both. And then we take the Preciousss and we be the
master.
SMEAGOL
But the fat hobbit. He knows. Eyes always
watching.
GOLLUM
Then we stabs them out. Put out his eyses and make
him crawl.
SMEAGOL
Yes! Yes! Yes!
GOLLUM
Kill them
both.
SMEAGOL
Yes! No. No. It's too risky, it's too
risky.
SAM
Where's he gone? Oi! Gollum, where are
you?
FRODO
Smeagol?
GOLLUM
We could let her do
it.
SMEAGOL
Yes. She could do it.
GOLLUM
Yes, Precious she
could. And then we takes it once they're dead.
SMEAGOL
Once they're
dead. Shh! Come on, hobbits. Long ways to go yet. Smeagol will show you way.
Follow me.
THE END
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