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Scene 1 ~ Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them
All...
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
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.)
Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.
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Lord of
the Rings titles.
A forge appears where someone is casting some rings.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
It began with the forging of the Great Rings.
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Three
hands are shown.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
Three were given to the elves.
(Galadriel looks at her ring Gil-Galad and Cirdan are behind her looking at
theirs.) Immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings.
(seven rings are shown on a table and picked up by
dwarves who admire them and hold them up in the air.) Seven to the
dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.
(The camera moves back and focuses in on nine men all
holding one ring each and looking at them.) And nine, nine rings were
gifted to the race of men. (They drop their arms to
their sides) Who above all else, desire power.
(They fade away to a black screen.)
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Changes
to show a map of Middle Earth.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
For within these rings was bound the strength and will
to govern each race. (The map moves towards Mordor.)
But they were all of them deceived. (Black screen.)
For another ring was made. (Map reappears
showing Mordor.) In the land of Mordor, (Mount
Doom appears on the screen.) in the fires of Mount Doom (Changes
to show Sauron wreathed in flames.) the dark Lord Sauron forged in
secret a master Ring (Shows Sauron in full armour
holding the Ring.) to control all others and into this Ring he poured
all his cruelty, his malice (fire moves across the
screen and the Ring appears spinning over and over.) and his will to
dominate all life. (Shows Sauron’s finger with the one
Ring on it.) One Ring to rule them all.
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The
scene changes to show the map of Middle Earth again. Scenes of strife and
war fade in behind the map…
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
One by one the free lands of Middle Earth fell to the
power of the Ring. But there were some who resisted.
(Changes to show soldiers advancing on a battlefield.) A last
alliance of Elves and Men marched against the armies of Mordor. And on the
slopes of Mount Doom they fought for the freedom of Middle Earth.
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We see
the armies of Orcs battling with the armies of Elves and Men.
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| ELROND: |
Tangado haid! (Hold positions!)
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The
Elves bring up their shields.
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| ELROND: |
Leithio i philinn! (Fire arrows!)
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The
Elves fire arrows into the Orc ranks. The Orcs advance and the Elves bring
up their swords to slash into the front line. The battle ensues and is very
fierce. We see Gil-Galad spear an Orc on the ground. Elendil brandishes his
sword.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
Victory was near. (Elrond stops
fighting, Elendil stops fighting, they look up in fear.) But the
power of the Ring (Sauron steps onto the battlefield
with the Ring on his finger.) could not be undone.
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The
Elves and Men back off looking fearful. Sauron comes forward. He swings his
mace scattering Men and Elves all over the field. Elendil moves forward to
try to engage him, but he is thrown away by the mace. He crumples against
the rock, dropping his sword.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
It was in this moment, (Isildur
moves towards his father, takes his helmet off and holds Elendil to him.)
that Isildur, son of the King, took up his father’s sword.
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Isildur
looks up at Sauron and dives for his father’s sword. Sauron stamps on it
breaking it. He makes a grab for Isildur who swipes at his hand with the
broken sword, severing the finger with the Ring on it. It falls to the
ground. Elendil opens his eyes and looks at it in astonishment. Isildur
looks up at Sauron who begins to glow brighter and brighter. There is a
massive explosion sending a shock wave all across the armies, knocking the
soldiers from their feet. Sauron’s helmet crashes to the ground.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
Sauron, the enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth
was defeated. (Isildur picks up the finger with the
Ring on it and looks at it.) The Ring passed to Isildur.
(The finger disintegrates leaving just the Ring and
some ash in his hand.) Who had this one chance to destroy evil
forever. (The scene changes to Isildur riding through
some woods on a horse.) But the hearts of Men are easily corrupted.
(The Ring is shown on a chain around Isildur’s neck.)
And the Ring of Power has a will of its own.
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Isildur
and his men are ambushed by some Orcs. Isildur is knocked off his horse. His
men are being slaughtered. He pulls the Ring off its chain and puts it on.
He disappears instantly. As the battle continues he runs and dives into the
river, but as he is swimming the Ring falls off his finger revealing him to
his enemies. He grabs for it but misses it.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
It betrayed Isildur (he gets shot
in the back by arrows.) to his death. (He
floats off down the river and the Ring sinks to the riverbed. As it sinks…)
And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost.
(Black screen.) History became legend, legend
became myth, (the screen shows the river wreathed in
mist.) and for two and a half thousand years the Ring passed out of
all knowledge. (Changes to show the Ring partly buried
in the silt at the bottom of the River.) Until, when chance came
(a hand appears and grabs the Ring.) It
ensnared a new bearer. (A dirty hand opens to reveal
the Ring.)
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| GOLLUM: |
My Precious!
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
The Ring came to the creature Gollum who took it deep
into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. (Mountains
are shown.) And there it consumed him.
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Scene
changes to the underground passages of the mountains, showing bones of fish
all around the ground. The camera moves up to show Gollum crouched on a rock
in the centre of a lake.
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| GOLLUM: |
It came to me, my own, my love, my own, my Precious.
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He hears
a sound and grabs the Ring to him looking around.
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
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. (Black screen. A silver full moon appears.)
Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumour grew of a shadow
in the East, whispers of a nameless fear. (The river
is shown again with ripples moving outwards as Galadriel speaks.) And
the Ring of Power perceived. (A sunrise is shown.)
Its time had now come. (The Ring is falling down a
rock tinkling as it falls.) It abandoned Gollum.
(Black screen.) But something happened then
that the Ring did not intend, it was picked up by the most unlikely creature
imaginable. (The Ring is on the ground a hand gropes
and picks it up.)
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| BILBO: |
What’s this?
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| GALADRIEL VOICE OVER: |
A Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins of the Shire.
(He picks the Ring up and looks at it.)
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| BILBO: |
A Ring! (He smiles).
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| GOLLUM: |
(Wailing) Lost!
(Bilbo stands up and listens. He puts the Ring in his
pocket.) My Precious is lost.
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The
scene changes to show clouds over the mountains.
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| GALADRIEL: |
For the time will soon come when Hobbits will shape the
fortunes of all.
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Scene 2 ~ Concerning Hobbits
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A map of
Middle Earth is shown. It is moving over the screen.
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| BILBO: |
The 22nd day of September in the year 1400
(The map stops at the Shire.) by Shire
reckoning. (The map moves back) Bag End,
Bagshot Row, Hobbiton, West Farthing, The Shire, Middle Earth.
(The camera continues to move back to show the
interior of Bag End.) The Third Age of this world.
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Titles
to The Fellowship of the Ring.
The camera moves around the corner to show a cosy fire with Bilbo sitting
with his back to us at his writing desk.
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| BILBO: |
There and back again, A Hobbit’s tale, by Bilbo
Baggins. (The camera shows us he has written as he has
spoken on a book in front of him. He puts his pen down, turns to an empty
page, puts his pipe in his mouth and sits back.) Now, where to begin?
Ah, yes. (He picks up his pen and wipes it on the side
of the inkwell.) Concerning Hobbits. (He is
writing it.)
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The
scene changes to show Hobbits leading and following cows that are pulling a
plough.
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| BILBO VOICEOVER: |
Hobbits have been living and farming in the four
Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years. (A
Hobbit struggles to pull a stubborn pig on a rope.) quite content to
ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk.
(Hobbits are shown going about their daily life.) Middle Earth being,
after all, full of strange creatures beyond count. Hobbits must seem of
little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors, nor counted
amongst the very wise. (Shows a Hobbit with his finger
in his ear, and then trying to shake off whatever is on there! Bilbo stops
writing, sits back and laughs. A knock comes at the door.)
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| BILBO: |
(shouts) Frodo, someone at
the door. (He continues to write.) In fact, it
has been remarked by some that Hobbits’ only real passion is for food.
(Shows a Hobbit girl trying to kiss a Hobbit man who
becomes distracted by a tray of buns passing by. Rather than kiss her he
takes a bun and eats it.) A rather unfair observation
(shows Hobbits stacking and moving barrels.) As
we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales
(a Hobbit drinks from the barrel on his shoulder.)
and the smoking of pipeweed. (shows some
Hobbits wreathed in smoke sitting around a table together.) But where
our hearts truly lie (shows Hobbits tending and
growing things.) is in peace and quiet (Two
Hobbits sit quietly playing a board game in the sunshine.) and good
tilled earth. (Shows Hobbits tending their crops.)
For all Hobbits share a love of all things that grow.
(Shows Sam planting pots of flowers and admiring
them.) And yes, no doubt to others, our ways seem quaint
(Moves to the party field and the preparations for
Bilbo’s party.) But today of all days, it is brought home to me it is
no bad thing to celebrate a simple life. (We see the
party banner going up saying Happy Birthday Bilbo Baggins. A knock comes at
the door again.)
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| BILBO: |
Frodo, the door! (Knocks again)
sticklebacks, where is that boy! FRODO! (He shouts.)
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Scene 3 ~ The Shire
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Frodo
sits quietly reading underneath a tree. A humming is heard from off camera.
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| GANDALF: |
Hmm hmm hmm hmm, Down from the door where it began, hmm
hmm hmm hmm
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Frodo
jumps up and listens, smiling, he begins to run.
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| GANDALF: |
And I must follow if I can.
(There is a wagon with Gandalf in it. He is singing) 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.
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Frodo
runs up and looks down at Gandalf from a bank. Gandalf stops.
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| FRODO: |
You’re late!
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| GANDALF: |
A wizard is never late! Frodo Baggins.
(Gandalf speaks from beneath his hat and looks up into
Frodo’s eyes.) Nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means
to.
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There is
a pause where the camera moves back and forth between Gandalf and Frodo,
first they look very serious, then they smile, and then they burst into
laughter.
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| FRODO: |
Its wonderful to see you Gandalf.
(He jumps down onto the cart to give Gandalf a hug. They embrace laughing.
Gandalf looks at Frodo with twinkling eyes.)
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| GANDALF: |
You didn’t think Id miss your Uncle Bilbo’s birthday?
(He laughs)
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The
camera watches them entering the Shire in the cart.
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| GANDALF:
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So how is the old rascal? I hear it is going to be a
party of special significance?
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| FRODO: |
You know Bilbo he’s got the whole place in an uproar.
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| GANDALF: |
Well that should please him. (He
laughs)
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| FRODO: |
Half the Shire’s been invited.
(The camera shows Hobbits working in the fields as they drive past.)
And the rest of them are turning up anyway. (They
laugh merrily together.)
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The
scene changes to the pond in the Shire.
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| BILBO VOICEOVER: |
And so life in the Shire goes on, very much as it has
this past age. (Frodo and Gandalf drive over the
bridge.) Full of its own comings and goings with change coming
slowly, if it comes at all. (They drive up through
Hobbiton past all the Hobbit holes.) For things are made to endure in
the Shire, passing from one generation to the next. There’s always been a
Baggins living here under the Hill, in Bag End (shows
Bilbo writing his book)
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| BILBO: |
And there always will be.
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Scene
moves back to Frodo and Gandalf again.
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| FRODO: |
To tell you the truth, Bilbo has been acting a bit odd
lately. (He looks at Gandalf concerned.) I
mean, more than usual. He’s taken to locking himself in his study.
(Shows Bilbo looking at a map) He spends hours
and hours poring over old maps when he thinks I’m not looking.
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Bilbo
puts the map down and starts to panic. He searches his pockets for
something, turning them out.
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| BILBO: |
Where’s it gone?
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He
searches his Hobbit hole, lifting cushions and coats, becoming more and more
anxious. He throws down his bag and coat, and then he touches his waistcoat
pocket, puts his hand inside and takes something out relieved.
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| BILBO: |
Aaaaah. (He closes his hand and
brings it up to his mouth with his eyes closed.)
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Scene
changes back to Frodo and Gandalf.
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| FRODO: |
He’s up to something. (Gandalf
looks at Frodo mysteriously. Frodo looks up at him.) All right then,
keep your secrets!
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| GANDALF: |
What? (He tries to look as if he
doesn’t know what Frodo is on about.)
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| FRODO: |
But I know you have something to do with it.
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| GANDALF:
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Good gracious me!
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| FRODO: |
Before you came along we Bagginses were very well
thought of.
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| GANDALF: |
Indeed?
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| FRODO:
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We never had any adventures, or did anything
unexpected.
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| GANDALF: |
If you’re referring to the incident with the dragon, I
was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the
door.
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| FRODO: |
Whatever you did, you’ve been officially labelled as a
‘disturber of the peace.’
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| GANDALF: |
Oh really?
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He looks
about smoking his pipe and sees a Everard Proudfoot in his garden who glares
at Gandalf
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| CHILDREN HOBBITS: |
Gandalf! Gandalf!
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They run
after the cart past the Hobbits in the garden.
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| CHILDREN HOBBITS: |
Fireworks Gandalf! Gandalf! Fireworks Gandalf!
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They
become disappointed as the cart pulls away from them. Frodo looks at
Gandalf. The children stand dejected. Suddenly some fireworks fly from the
back of the cart and explode in the air.
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| CHILDREN HOBBITS: |
Hooooraaaay! (They cheer loudly
and jump up and down excitedly. Frodo smiles at Gandalf who laughs. Everard
laughs, but his wife glares at him disapproving. His smile fades)
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Frodo
stands up in the cart.
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| FRODO: |
Gandalf, I’m glad you’re back.
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| GANDALF: |
So am I dear boy. (Frodo jumps
off the cart and waves goodbye to him.) So am I.
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There is
a panoramic view of the Shire; Gandalf drives around from the back of the
hill into view as he pulls up towards Bag End. He stops, pauses and smiles
as he looks at Bag End. He kicks open the gate, which has a sign on it… NO
ADMITTANCE, EXCEPT ON PARTY BUSINESS.
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Scene 4 ~ Very Old Friends
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Gandalf
knocks on the door with the end of his staff.
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| BILBO:
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(from inside) No thank
you! We don’t want any more visitors, well wishers or distant relations!
(Gandalf laughs)
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| GANDALF: |
And what about very old friends?
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The door
opens and Bilbo stands there surprised.
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| BILBO: |
Gandalf?
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| GANDALF: |
Bilbo Baggins. (He smiles at
him.)
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| BILBO: |
My dear Gandalf! (He runs to
Gandalf who kneels down and hugs him.)
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| GANDALF: |
It’s good to see you. One hundred and eleven years old
who would believe it. (He looks closely at Bilbo)
You haven’t aged a day! (They pause and look at each
other then begin to laugh. Bilbo runs into the Hobbit hole.)
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| BILBO: |
Come on, come in! Welcome, welcome. Oh, here we are.
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He
closes the door. Gandalf looks huge in the little Hobbit hole. He hands his
hat and staff to Bilbo, who takes it from him.
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| BILBO: |
Tea or maybe something a little stronger? I’ve got a
few bottles of the Old Winyard left, 1296, a very good year, almost as old
as I am.
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He runs
and puts Gandalf’s things on the hat stand. Gandalf ducks to avoid the
chandelier. Bilbo runs off up a corridor shouting back to Gandalf.
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| BILBO: |
It was laid down by my father, what say we open one eh?
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| GANDALF: |
Just tea, thank you.
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He backs
up a little and crashes into the chandelier; he ducks under it, turns around
suddenly and hits his head on the top of the doorjamb.
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| GANDALF: |
Owwwh! (He holds his head and
chuckles.)
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| 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.
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Gandalf
surveys the cosy parlour with a fire burning in the fireplace.
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| BILBO:
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You’ve caught me a bit unprepared I’m afraid urm we’ve
only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle oh and there’s some cheese here,
oh no that wont do! Urm we’ve got raspberry jam, an apple tart
(Gandalf picks up a map off the table, he looks at it
there is the Lonely Mountain and a picture of Smaug the Dragon over it.)
but we’ve not much for afters. Oh no we’re all right, I’ve found some sponge
cake! (Bilbo comes into the room) I can make
you some eggs if you … oh…. Gandalf? (He looks around
unable to see Gandalf. Gandalf leans down through the door behind him.)
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| GANDALF: |
Just tea, thank you.
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Bilbo
turns and looks at him.
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| BILBO:
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Oh right. (He smiles at him.)
You don’t mind if I do, do you? (Bilbo puts some
cheese into his mouth.)
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| GANDALF: |
Oh not at all!
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Comes a
knock at the door. Bilbo jumps back against the wall hiding.
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| VOICE: |
Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins! (Knocks
again.)
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| BILBO: |
(whispering) I’m not at
home! (He cowers back against the wall and then sneaks
to the window to look out.) It’s the Sackville-Bagginses.
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| VOICE: |
I know you’re in there!
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| BILBO: |
They’re after the house! (He
tiptoes back to Gandalf.) They’ve never forgiven me for living this
long. I’ve got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the
bell all day, never giving me a moment’s peace. (He
looks out of the kitchen window then turns back.) I want to see
mountains again, mountains Gandalf. (Gandalf is
struggling to sit at the low table, trying to get comfortable.) And
then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, tea!
(He moves over to remove the kettle from the fire.)
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| GANDALF: |
So you mean to go through with your plan then?
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| BILBO: |
Yes, yes, it’s all in hand. All the arrangements are
made. (He pours water into the pot; Gandalf lifts the
lid for him.) Oh, thank you.
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| GANDALF:
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Frodo suspects something.
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| BILBO: |
Of course he does, he’s a Baggins, not some blockheaded
Bracegirdle from Hardbottle. (He returns the kettle to
the fireplace.)
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| GANDALF: |
You will tell him wont you?
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| BILBO: |
Yes, yes.
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| GANDALF: |
He’s very fond of you.
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| BILBO: |
I know, he’d probably come with me if I asked him to. I
think in his heart Frodo’s still in love with the Shire, the woods, the
fields and the little rivers. I am old Gandalf. I know I don’t look it, but
I’m beginning to feel it in my heart. (Gandalf looks
at him concerned, Bilbo fingers something in his waistcoat pocket, Gandalf
watches him carefully. Bilbo sits at the table with Gandalf.) 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 that I shall return. In
fact, I mean not to.
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The
scene changes to show Gandalf and Bilbo sitting on a bench outside Bag End
smoking their pipes. It is dark and we can see the party field below all lit
up with lights.
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| BILBO: |
Old Toby, the finest weed in the Southfarthing.
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He blows
a smoke ring, as it spreads and becomes bigger and bigger Gandalf sends his
own smoke ship through the centre of it. Bilbo watches it.
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| BILBO: |
Gandalf my old friend, this will be a night to
remember.
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