Title Music
Scene 1 ~ The Finding of the Ring

Music plays and wiggly worm appears on the screen pans back to include
Smeagol’s face.
Shows two hobbits fishing in a boat.
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DEAGOL: |
Oh Smeagol Ive got one! (laughs) Ive got a fish Smeagol, Smeagol!
(laughs hysterically)
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SMEAGOL: |
Pull it in! Go on, go on, go on, pull it in!
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DEAGOL: |
Arrghh! (falls in the water)
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SMEAGOL: |
Deagol!
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Deagol gets pulled along the bottom of the river by a fish on his hook. He
lets go of the rod and spots something shiny buried in the silt and grabs it. He
crawls up onto the grassy bank spluttering and coughing.
When he recovers he opens his hand and stares mesmerised at the shiny ring,
which lies there covered in mud. He fingers the ring and ominous music plays.
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SMEAGOL: |
Deagol!
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Smeagol runs up to him laughing
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SMEAGOL: |
Deagol!
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Smeagol spots the ring in Deagol’s hand and his happy expression changes and
he also becomes mesmerised by it.
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SMEAGOL: |
Give us that! Deagol my love
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Deagol turns around and looks at him.
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DEAGOL: |
Why?
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SMEAGOL: |
Because… (he puts his arm around Deagol) it’s my birthday and I
wants it.
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Smeagol grabs for the ring but Deagol snatches it away. They look closely at
each other and Smeagol smiles at Deagol but tries to snatch the ring again. They
circle with faces close to each other. Deagol holds the ring behind him. Smeagol
tries to snatch it and pry it from his fingers. They begin to struggle Smeagol
trying to get the ring away from Deagol. He pushes Smeagol on the chin, forcing
him away. Smeagol retaliates and bites Deagol on the wrist. Deagol turns and
runs away from him and Smeagol jumps onto his back making him fall over and drop
the ring. They both scrabble for the fallen ring, but Deagol manages to get hold
of it. He turns around and attacks Smeagol, grabbing him by the throat with one
hand. Smeagol struggles but manages to push him off, grabbing Deagol with both
hands by the throat. He forces him to the ground and holds him tightly by the
throat strangling him. Deagol dies.
Smeagol reaches over and takes the ring from his hand. He holds it in his own
hands admiring its beauty.
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SMEAGOL: |
My precious.
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Smeagol vanishes and the scene changes to one amongst rocks he is grimacing,
dirty and ragged.
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SMEAGOL: |
They cursed us
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(GOLLUM: |
Murderer)
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SMEAGOL: |
“Murderer” they called us. They cursed us and drove us away.
(hugs
himself biting his thumb. He opens his filthy hand to show the ring.)
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SMEAGOL: |
Gollum… Gollum… Gollum… (holds his throat crying) and we wept
precious. We wept to be so alone.
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He grabs a fish out of the water…
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SMEAGOL: |
and cool, so nice for feet… and we only wish to catch a fish
(he
bites the fish in his filthy teeth) so juicy sweet.
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Fades out and back in showing Smeagol much deteriorated looking mad. Shows
him crawling into a dark cave.
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SMEAGOL: |
And we forgot the taste of bread, the sound of trees and the softness of
the wind. We even forgot our own name.
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Smeagol closes his eyes and when he opens them again he has changed into
Gollum.
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GOLLUM: |
My precious!
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Scene 2 ~ Journey to the Cross-roads
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Change to a grey morning with barren trees. Picture pans back to include a
concrete culvert with Sam asleep and Frodo sitting up looking into nothing with
staring eyes. He fiddles with the chain around his neck and grimaces. He pulls
the ring out surreptitiously watching Sam making sure he doesn’t see. He admires
the ring turning it in his fingers. He hears a sound and glances up, tucking the
ring away quickly in his clothes.
Gollum appears from above hanging upside down and looking at them.
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GOLLUM: |
Wake up! (he jumps down) Wake up!
(he prods Sam) Wake up sleepies! We
must go, yes, we must go at once.
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He scampers away and Sam sits up.
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SAM: |
Haven’t you had any sleep Mr Frodo?
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Frodo shakes his head looking at him.
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SAM: |
And I’ve gone and had too much. (He stands and looks out of the culvert)
It must be getting late.
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FRODO: |
No, it isn’t. It isn’t midday yet. (He peers around) The days are
growing darker.
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The ground shakes and the Volcano spurts fire in the distance.
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GOLLUM: |
Come on! Must go! No time!
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SAM: |
Not before Mr Frodo’s had something to eat.
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GOLLUM: |
No time to lose silly!
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Sam ignores Gollum and turns back into the culvert. He goes into his bag for
food. He offers a lembas wrapping to Frodo.
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SAM: |
Here.
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Frodo takes it eagerly.
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FRODO: |
What about you?
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SAM: |
Oh no, I’m not hungry, leastways not for lembas bread.
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FRODO: |
Sam!
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SAM: |
Oh alright, but we don’t have that much left. We have to be careful or
we are going to run out. You go ahead and eat that Mr Frodo. I’ve rationed
it, there should be enough.
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Frodo eats.
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FRODO: |
For what?
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SAM: |
The journey home.
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Scene changes and shows the Hobbits walking, following Gollum into the trees.
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GOLLUM: |
Come Hobbitses, very close now. Very close to Mordor. No safe places
here. Hurry.
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They follow him through the dreary landscape.
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Scene 3 ~ The Road to Isengard
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Scene cuts to Gandalf, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Theoden all riding
through the forest. Looking warily around.
RETURN OF THE KING TITLES
Picture pans away from the forest to the ruins of Isengard. Distant laughter
is heard.
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MERRY: |
It’s good. Definitely from the Shire. (Shows Merry smoking a pipe.)
Longbottom leaf eh?
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PIPPIN: |
uhh huh (nods in agreement, very happy and smoking himself) I feel
like I’m back at the Green Dragon.
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MERRY: |
Mmmm (eating) Green Dragon!
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PIPPIN: |
A mug of ale in my hand. Putting my feet up on a settle after a hard
day’s work.
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MERRY: |
Only, (looking very glassy eyed) you’ve never done a hard day’s work.
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Pippin nods and laughs agreeing with him.
Sounds of horses attract their attention.
They see Gandalf riding out of the trees.
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PIPPIN: |
Ahaha! (he salutes them with his mug)
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Merry Stands.
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MERRY: |
Welcome, my lords to Isengard!
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GIMLI: |
You young rascals. A merry hunt you’ve led us on and now we find you
feasting and … and smoking!
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PIPPIN: |
(slurred) We are sitting on a field of
victory enjoying a few well earned comforts (whilst
eating a sandwich.) The salted pork is particularly good.
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GIMLI: |
Salted pork…
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GANDALF: |
Hobbits!
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MERRY: |
We’re under orders from Treebeard who’s taken over management of
Isengard.
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Scene 4 ~ The Voice of Saruman
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Scene changes to the riders approaching Orthanc with the Hobbits on board
with them.
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TREEBEARD: |
Hoooom, young master Gandalf, I’m glad you’ve come. Wood and water,
stock and stone I can master, but there is a Wizard to manage here locked in
his tower
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ARAGORN: |
(looking up at the tower) Show yourself.
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GANDALF: |
Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous.
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GIMLI: |
Well then let’s just have his head and be done with it.
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GANDALF: |
No, we need him alive. We need him to talk.
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SARUMAN: |
You have fought many wars and slain many men Theoden King and made
peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old
friend?
Can we not have peace you and I?
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THEODEN: |
We shall have peace…. We shall have peace when you answer for the
burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have
peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay
dead against the gates of the Hornburg… are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet
for the sport of your own crows… we shall have peace!
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SARUMAN: |
Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me
guess… the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dûr itself? Along with
the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!
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GANDALF: |
Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at
risk. But you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy’s counsel.
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SARUMAN: |
So you have come here for information. I have some for you.
(Holds
up the palantir and looks into it)
Something festers in the heart of Middle
Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the great eye has seen it!
Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon.
(Gandalf rides
forward)
You are all going to die! But you know this don’t you Gandalf? You
cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This
exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King.
(Aragorn looks at him)
Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him… those he
professes to love! Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling
before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead
to death.
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GIMLI: |
I’ve heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!
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Legolas reaches for an arrow.
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GANDALF: |
No! Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!
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SARUMAN: |
Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!
(Directs a bolt
of fire at Gandalf which he survives with no ill effects)
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GANDALF: |
Saruman….. your staff is broken!
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Saruman’s staff bursts asunder!
Grima Wormtongue appears behind Saruman.
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THEODEN: |
Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now.
You were once a man of Rohan. Come down.
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Grima looks like he going to come down.
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SARUMAN: |
A man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where
brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The
victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you Theoden Horse Master. You are a
lesser son of greater sires!
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THEODEN: |
Grima…. Come down! Be free of him!
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SARUMAN: |
Free? He will never be free!
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GRIMA: |
No!
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Saruman turns around to Grima!
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SARUMAN: |
Get down cur! (slaps him to the ground)
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GRIMA: |
Ah!
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GANDALF: |
Saruman! You were deep in the enemy’s counsel. Tell us what you
know!
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Saruman turns around to face Gandalf.
Grima pulls a knife out behind Saruman.
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SARUMAN: |
You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be
decided. I will not be held prisoner here!
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Grima rises up behind Saruman and attacks him with the knife, stabbing him
twice in the back. Legolas aims an arrow at Grima who falls shot in the heart.
Saruman falls from the tower and is impaled on a great wheel below.
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GANDALF: |
Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that
still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will
strike.
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The water wheel turns and Saruman disappears beneath the water head first.
The Palantir drops from his hand into the water.
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TREEBEARD: |
The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live
here.
(Pippin sees the Palantir and dismounts)
Young trees. Wild trees.
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ARAGORN: |
Pippin! (as Pippin moves towards the Palantir)
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Pippin looks into the Palantir and it holds his gaze for a minute.
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TREEBEARD: |
Bless my bark!
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GANDALF: |
Peregrin Took. I’ll take that my lad! Quickly now!
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Pippin hands the Palantir to him and he wraps it up. He looks sheepish at
Gandalf and watches him intently as he turns away. |