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The Return of the King Extended Edition Movie Script

Compiled by beleriel, for LOTRUK

Scenes 1 to 4

Title Music

Scene 1 ~ The Finding of the Ring

Return of the King Scene 1

Music plays and wiggly worm appears on the screen pans back to include Smeagol’s face.

Shows two hobbits fishing in a boat.

   
DEAGOL: Oh Smeagol Ive got one! (laughs) Ive got a fish Smeagol, Smeagol! (laughs hysterically)
 
SMEAGOL: Pull it in! Go on, go on, go on, pull it in!
 
DEAGOL: Arrghh! (falls in the water)
 
SMEAGOL: Deagol!
 
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.
 

SMEAGOL: Deagol!
 
Smeagol runs up to him laughing
 
SMEAGOL: Deagol!
 
Smeagol spots the ring in Deagol’s hand and his happy expression changes and he also becomes mesmerised by it.
 
SMEAGOL: Give us that! Deagol my love
 
Deagol turns around and looks at him.
 
DEAGOL: Why?
 
SMEAGOL: Because… (he puts his arm around Deagol) it’s my birthday and I wants it.
 
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.
 
SMEAGOL:  My precious.
 
Smeagol vanishes and the scene changes to one amongst rocks he is grimacing, dirty and ragged.
 
SMEAGOL: They cursed us
 
(GOLLUM: Murderer)
 
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.)
 
SMEAGOL: Gollum… Gollum… Gollum… (holds his throat crying) and we wept precious. We wept to be so alone.
 
He grabs a fish out of the water…
 
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.
 
Fades out and back in showing Smeagol much deteriorated looking mad. Shows him crawling into a dark cave.
 
SMEAGOL: And we forgot the taste of bread, the sound of trees and the softness of the wind. We even forgot our own name.
 
Smeagol closes his eyes and when he opens them again he has changed into Gollum.
 
GOLLUM: My precious!

 

 

   

Scene 2 ~ Journey to the Cross-roads

Return of the King Scene 2

   
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.
 

GOLLUM: Wake up! (he jumps down) Wake up! (he prods Sam) Wake up sleepies! We must go, yes, we must go at once.
 
He scampers away and Sam sits up.
 
SAM: Haven’t you had any sleep Mr Frodo?
 
Frodo shakes his head looking at him.
 
SAM: And I’ve gone and had too much. (He stands and looks out of the culvert) It must be getting late.
 
FRODO: No, it isn’t. It isn’t midday yet. (He peers around) The days are growing darker.
 
The ground shakes and the Volcano spurts fire in the distance.
 
GOLLUM: Come on! Must go! No time!
 
SAM: Not before Mr Frodo’s had something to eat.
 
GOLLUM: No time to lose silly!
 
Sam ignores Gollum and turns back into the culvert. He goes into his bag for food. He offers a lembas wrapping to Frodo.
 
SAM: Here.
 
Frodo takes it eagerly.
 
FRODO: What about you?
 
SAM: Oh no, I’m not hungry, leastways not for lembas bread.
 
FRODO: Sam!
 
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.
 
Frodo eats.
 
FRODO: For what?
 
SAM: The journey home.
 
Scene changes and shows the Hobbits walking, following Gollum into the trees.
 
GOLLUM: Come Hobbitses, very close now. Very close to Mordor. No safe places here. Hurry.
 
They follow him through the dreary landscape.

 

 

   

Scene 3 ~ The Road to Isengard

Return of the King Scene 3

   
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.
 

MERRY: It’s good. Definitely from the Shire. (Shows Merry smoking a pipe.) Longbottom leaf eh?
 
PIPPIN: uhh huh (nods in agreement, very happy and smoking himself) I feel like I’m back at the Green Dragon.
 
MERRY: Mmmm (eating) Green Dragon!
 
PIPPIN: A mug of ale in my hand. Putting my feet up on a settle after a hard day’s work.
 
MERRY: Only, (looking very glassy eyed) you’ve never done a hard day’s work.
 
Pippin nods and laughs agreeing with him.
Sounds of horses attract their attention.
They see Gandalf riding out of the trees
.
 
PIPPIN: Ahaha! (he salutes them with his mug)
 
Merry Stands.
 
MERRY: Welcome, my lords to Isengard!
 
GIMLI: You young rascals. A merry hunt you’ve led us on and now we find you feasting and … and smoking!
 
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.
 
GIMLI: Salted pork…
 
GANDALF: Hobbits!
 
MERRY: We’re under orders from Treebeard who’s taken over management of Isengard.

 

 

   

Scene 4 ~ The Voice of Saruman

Return of the King Scene 4

   
Scene changes to the riders approaching Orthanc with the Hobbits on board with them.
 
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
 
ARAGORN:  (looking up at the tower) Show yourself.
 
GANDALF: Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous.
 
GIMLI: Well then let’s just have his head and be done with it.
 
GANDALF: No, we need him alive. We need him to talk.
 
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?
 
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!
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
GIMLI: I’ve heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!
 
Legolas reaches for an arrow.
 
GANDALF: No! Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!
 
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)
 
 GANDALF: Saruman….. your staff is broken!
 
Saruman’s staff bursts asunder!
Grima Wormtongue appears behind Saruman.
 
THEODEN: Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down.
 
Grima looks like he going to come down.
 
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!
 
THEODEN: Grima…. Come down! Be free of him!
 
SARUMAN: Free? He will never be free!
 
GRIMA: No!
 
Saruman turns around to Grima!
 
SARUMAN: Get down cur! (slaps him to the ground)
 
GRIMA: Ah!
 
GANDALF: Saruman! You were deep in the enemy’s counsel. Tell us what you know!
 
Saruman turns around to face Gandalf.
Grima pulls a knife out behind Saruman.
 
SARUMAN: You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!
 
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.
 
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.
 
The water wheel turns and Saruman disappears beneath the water head first. The Palantir drops from his hand into the water.
 
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.
 
ARAGORN: Pippin! (as Pippin moves towards the Palantir)
 
Pippin looks into the Palantir and it holds his gaze for a minute.
 
TREEBEARD: Bless my bark!
 
GANDALF: Peregrin Took. I’ll take that my lad! Quickly now!
 
Pippin hands the Palantir to him and he wraps it up. He looks sheepish at Gandalf and watches him intently as he turns away.

1 to 4   5 to 8  9 to 12  13 to 16 17 to 20  21 to 24 25 to 28 29 to 32 33 to 36 37 to 40
41 to 44 45 to 48 49 to 52 53 to 56 57 to 60 61 to 64 65 to 68 69 to 72 73 to 76 END


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