| GANDALF: |
(The Ring sits on the table)
This is the One Ring. (he smokes his pipe whilst Frodo
makes a pot of tea) 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 is
stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. Its heard its master's call.
|
| FRODO: |
But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed
(he looks at Gandalf for confirmation of this)
|
Whispers are
heard from the Ring
|
| 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 at Barad-Dûr is rebuilt in the land of
Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands of 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: |
(takes hold of the Ring)
Alright. (he walks out of the room with it and looks
around) We put it away. (Gandalf gets up and
follows him) We must never speak of it again. No one knows its
here. Do they ? (he turns to look at Gandalf)
|
| GANDALF: |
There is one other who knew Bilbo had the Ring. I looked
everywhere for the creature Gollum but the enemy found him first.
(Gollum is lying on a rack in Mordor surrounded by
Orcs. He screams)
Admist the endless screams and inane babble they discerned two words.
|
| GOLLUM'S VOICE: |
Shire! Baggins!
|
| FRODO: |
Shire! Baggins! But that will lead them here!
|
Black Riders
race through the mists towards a hobbit holding up a lantern.
|
| HOBBIT: |
Who goes there ? (he looks shocked as
one of the riders holds out a sword and swipes at him)
|
| FRODO: |
Take it Gandalf! (he holds out the
Ring to him. Gandalf backs off)
|
| 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 Frodo (Frodo takes
back the Ring) 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: |
(rolls the Ring into his hand and
looks resigned) What must I do ?
|
| GANDALF: |
(Frodo hurridely takes some clothes
from a wardrobe) You must leave, and leave quickly.
|
| FRODO: |
Where ? Where do I go ?
|
| GANDALF: |
Get out of The Shire. (he helps
him to pack) 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: |
(packing some food) and the
Ring will be safe there ?
|
| GANDALF: |
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 (Frodo puts on his coat) You'll
have to leave the name of Baggins behind you. For that name is not safe
outside The Shire. (he helps Frodo put on his cloak)
Travel by day and stay off the road
|
| FRODO: |
I can cut across country (he slips the
Ring in his pocket and takes his walking stick) easily enough
|
| GANDALF: |
My dear Frodo. (he smiles)
Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all there is to
know about them in a month and yet after a hundred years they can still
surprise you. (Frodo smiles)
|
They hear a
noise outside the window
|
| GANDALF: |
Get down!
|
Gandalf moves
slowly to the window, staff outstretched before him. He quickly jabs
it into the flower beds, Where a grunt is heard. He throws the staff
aside and reaches out to pull Sam from the outside, and throws him onto the
table
|
| GANDALF: |
Confound you Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping ?
|
| SAM: |
I haven't been dropping no eaves. (he
shakes his head) 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 ?
|
| SAM: |
I 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 Mr
Gandalf Sir, please don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything... unnatural
|
| GANDALF: |
No ? (he glances at Frodo who smiles)
Perhaps not. I've thought of a better use for you.
|
Gandalf is
now leading a horse at a rapid pace, away from The Shire
|
| GANDALF: |
Come along Samwise, keep up!
|
Samwise is
hurrying after him. They walk through a woodland
|
| GANDALF: |
Be careful, both of you. The enemy has many spies in
his service. Birds, Beasts (he stops and looks
at Frodo) Is it safe ? (Frodo clutches his
chest. Gandalf kneels down to him) Never put it on for the
agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember Frodo
the Ring is trying to get back to its Master. It wants to be found.
(he pats Frodo on the shoulder)
|
Gandalf
mounts his horse and rides off leaving Sam and Frodo alone to the calling of
birds. Frodo looks worried and Sam steps up behind him. He smiles and
they set off, across fields, past a farmhouse, a waterfall, over a hill
until they reach a cornfield with a scarecrow in it.
|
| SAM: |
(suddenly stopping) This is it
|
| FRODO: |
(turning back to face Sam) This
is what ?
|
| SAM: |
If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from
home I've ever been.
|
| FRODO: |
(walking back towards him)
Come on Sam (Sam hesitates and takes another step.
Frodo pats him on the back) Remember what Bilbo used to say. Its a
dangerous business
|
| BILBO VOICE: |
Going out your door. You step onto the road and if you
don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to
(Frodo and Sam reach a woodland)
|
|
|
|
Scene 11 ~ The Passing of the Elves
|
Sam is cooking a fried dinner,
smoking his pipe. Frodo is relaxing in a tree when he hears an etheral
music in the distance.
|
| FRODO: |
Sam!
|
They both listen to the singing,
which is increasing in volume
|
| FRODO: |
(smiling) Wood elves!
|
They run up the hill together and
peer over a fallen tree trunk to see many elves in procession, both on foot
and on horse
|
| FRODO: |
They're going to the harbour beyond the white towers To the
Grey Havens
|
| SAM: |
They're leaving Middle Earth
|
| FRODO: |
Never to return
|
| SAM: |
I don't know why.... It makes me sad
|
Back at camp Sam and Frodo are
settling down to sleep
|
| SAM: |
Everywhere I lie there's a dirty great root sticking into my
back
|
| FRODO: |
(his eyes shut) Just shut your eyes and imagine you're back
in your own bed, with a soft matress and a lovely feather pillow
|
Sam lies back
|
| SAM: |
Its not working Mr Frodo Oh! I'm never going to be able to
sleep out here (he fidgets around)
|
| FRODO: |
(with a smile on his face) Me neither Sam
|
Dawn is rising over the fields.
A black horse walks into view, ridden by a Black Rider
|
|
|
|
Scene 12 ~ Saruman the White
|
Gandalf rides
swiftly to Isengard.
|
| SARUMAN VOICE: |
Smoke rises from the Mountain of Doom The hour grows late
and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my Council
(Saruman walks down the steps of Isengard to meet
Gandalf as he dismounts his horse)
|
| SARUMAN: |
For that is why you have come, is it not ? My old friend
|
| GANDALF: |
Saruman (he bows)
|
They walk
together in the grounds of 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 wits to see it. Your love
of the Halflings leaf has clearly slowed your mind
|
| GANDALF: |
But we still have time. Time enough to counter Sauron
if we act quickly
|
| SARUMAN: |
Time! What time do you think we have ?
|
Inside
Isengard Tower they talk
|
| 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
have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle Earth
|
| GANDALF: |
You know this ? How ?
|
| SARUMAN: |
I have seen it.
|
They walk
through to a larger room, in which a pedestal stands and upon which a black
cloth is laid covering something up
|
| GANDALF: |
A palantir is a dangerous tool Saruman.
|
| SARUMAN: |
Why ? Why should we fear to use it ?
(he removes the cloth and underneath sits a black
cloudy glass globe)
|
| GANDALF: |
They are not all accounted for. The lost seeing
stones. We do not know who else maybe watching.
(He covers the palantir back up as he does he sees a
flash gljmpse of Sauron's Eye)
|
| SARUMAN: |
The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are
already moving. (he sits down on his throne)
The Nine have left Minas Morgul
|
| GANDALF: |
The Nine!
|
| SARUMAN: |
The 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 (he turns to leave hastily but
as he reaches each door in turn it is slammed shut. He turns to face
Saruman)
|
| 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. (Gandalf looks at him in
disbelief) 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 ? (Saruman looks at him enraged)
|
Saruman lifts
his staff and flings Gandalf against the opposite wall, holding him against
it high in the air. He advances upon him and lets Gandalf drop to the
ground. Gandalf lifts his staff and send Saruman on his back to the
floor. They fight using their staffs, flinging each other across the room in
turn. Saruman turns Gandalf over and over. Gandalf lifts his staff and
flings Saruman across the room onto one of the doorways which opens with the
force of the throw. Saruman gets up, and reaches out his hand into which
Gandalf's staff flies. He advances on him with both staffs outstretched,
turning Gandalf around and around in circles on the floor
|
| SARUMAN: |
I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly. But
you.. have elected.. the way of pain!
|
He lifts both
staffs and sends Gandalf circling high into the roof of Isengard
|
