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Scene 29 ~ Marshalling at Dunharrow
The scene changes again to show the mustering of the
Rohirrim. Aragorn and Theoden ride ahead of the army into camp.
.
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| SOLDIER: |
Make way for the King! Make way, the King is here
|
| SOLDIER: |
My lord! (Theoden waves)
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| SOLDIER: |
Hail to you sire!
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| THEODEN |
Grimbold, how many?
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| GRIMBOLD: |
I bring 500 men from the Westfold my lord.
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| SOLDIER: |
We have 300 more from Fenmarch, Theoden King.
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| THEODEN: |
Where are the riders from Snowbourn?
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| SOLDIER: |
None have come my lord.
|
Aragorn and Theoden look
down on the armies from their high encampment.
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| THEODEN: |
Six thousand spears, less than half of what I had hoped for.
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| ARAGORN: |
Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor.
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| THEODEN: |
(looks at him) More will come
(He goes to walk away)
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| ARAGORN: |
Every hour lost hastens Gondor’s defeat. (He
looks at Theoden) We have until dawn then we must ride.
|
| Theoden nods his head in
agreement. A neighing horse attracts his attention. They both turn and
notice how much difficulty the men have in calming down the horses that seem
to be nervous of something.
Legolas and Gimli walk amongst them. They meet
Eomer who is saddling his horse.
|
| LEGOLAS: |
The horses are restless and the men are quiet.
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| EOMER: |
They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain.
|
The camera moves to show
a small cleft through the rocks.
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| GIMLI: |
That road there where does that lead?
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| LEGOLAS: |
It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain.
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| EOMER: |
None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil.
|
He walks away. The
camera focuses on the cleft, a man struggles to calm down a frightened
horse. Aragorn stares at the pathway looking worried. He sees the King of
the Dead beckoning him.
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| GIMLI: |
Aragorn! (Aragorn jumps and turns around)
Let’s find some food. (When Aragorn looks again the
King has gone. He follows Gimli.)
|
The camera shows their
encampment high on the mountain and the scene changes showing Eowyn talking
to Merry
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| EOWYN: |
There. A true esquire of Rohan.
|
Merry feels his new
helmet looking very pleased. He draws his sword.
|
| MERRY: |
I’m ready! (Eowyn jumps and laughs, holding her
hands out to Merry.) Sorry. It isn’t all that dangerous. It’s not
even sharp. (He looks at the sword.)
|
| EOWYN |
Well that’s no good. You wont kill many Orcs with a blunt blade. Come
on.
|
Merry leaves the tent
swinging the sword to and fro, practising.
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| EOWYN: |
To the smithy, go! (She encourages him, he runs
off)
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| EOMER: |
(sitting around a campfire with Gamling)
You should not encourage him.
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| EOWYN: |
You should not doubt him.
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| EOMER: |
I do not doubt his heart, only the reach of his arm.
(Gamling laughs.)
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| EOWYN: |
Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause to go to war as
you. Why can he not fight for those he loves? (She
becomes very serious and starts to walk away.)
|
| EOMER: |
You know as little of war as that Hobbit. When the fear takes him
(he walks towards her) and the blood and the
screams and the horror of battle take hold. Do you think he would stand and
fight? He would flee. And he would be right to do so.
(He puts his hand on her shoulder) War is the
province of men Eowyn. (He walks away, her left eye
twitches.)
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| |
|
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Scene 30 ~ Andúril - Flame of the West
|
| |
|
| The scene changes to show
the guards looking down, watching a rider approaching along the steep path.
Switches to Aragorn dreaming. He sees Arwen, the
Pukel men and the entrance to the Dimholt.
|
| ARWEN (whispers) |
I choose a mortal life. (A tear falls from her
eye) I wish I could have seen him one last time.
|
She fades and the
evenstar pendent falls onto the ground and shatters. Aragorn wakes suddenly
drawing his sword. A soldier stands in the doorway to his tent.
|
| SOLDIER: |
Sir? King Theoden awaits you my lord. (He
leaves.)
|
Aragorn follows him to
Theoden’s tent. Theoden looks at the hooded figure, then at Aragorn.
|
| THEODEN: |
I take my leave.
|
The figure turns and
removes the hood. It is Elrond.
|
| ARAGORN: |
(bows) My lord Elrond
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| ELROND: |
I come on behalf of one whom I love. Arwen is dying. She will not long
survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the evenstar is
failing. As Sauron’s power grows her strength wanes. Arwen’s life is now
tied to the fate of the Ring. The Shadow is upon us Aragorn. The end has
come.
|
| ARAGORN: |
It will not be our end, but his.
|
| ELROND: |
(Looks at him in mockery) You ride to war
but not to victory. Sauron’s armies ride on Minas Tirith, this you know.
But in secret he sends another force, which will attack, from the river.
(The scene changes to many ships sailing up the
river) A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They will be
in the city in two days. You’re outnumbered Aragorn. You need more men.
|
| ARAGORN: |
There are none.
|
| ELROND: |
There are those that dwell in the mountain.
|
Aragorn sees a vision of
the King of the Dead.
|
| ARAGORN: |
Murderers, traitors. You would call upon them to fight? They believe in
nothing. They answer to no one
|
| ELROND: |
They will answer to the King of Gondor.
(He pulls out a sword from inside his cloak and holds it out in his hands to
him) Andúril, the Flame of the West, forged from the shards of
Narsil.
|
Aragorn takes the blade
from him.
|
| ARAGORN: |
Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil.
|
He draws it from the
scabbard.
|
| ARAGORN: |
The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith.
|
| ELROND: |
The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army
more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become
who you were born to be Ónen i-Estel Edain. (I gave hope to the Dunedain)
|
| ARAGORN: |
Ú-chebin Estel anim. (I have kept no hope for myself.)
|
He sheaths the sword.
|
| |
|
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Scene 31 ~ Aragorn Takes the Paths of the Dead
|
| |
|
Aragorn is preparing his
horse to leave. Eowyn approaches him.
|
| EOWYN: |
Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on
the eve of battle. You cannot abandon the men.
|
| ARAGORN: |
Eowyn…
|
| EOWYN: |
We need you here.
|
| ARAGORN: |
Why have you come?
|
| EOWYN: |
Do you not know?
|
| ARAGORN: |
It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what
you seek.
|
She backs off upset.
|
| ARAGORN: |
I have wished you joy since first I saw you.
|
He touches her face and a
tear springs into her eye. He walks away. She stands alone crying. As
Aragorn walks through the camp…
|
| GIMLI: |
(sitting beside a tent) Just where do you
think you’re off to?
|
| ARAGORN: |
Not this time. This time you must stay Gimli.
|
| GIMLI: |
Hmmmm
|
| LEGOLAS: |
(walking up on the other side of Aragorn,
leading his horse) Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of
dwarves?
|
| GIMLI: |
You might as well accept it. We’re going with you laddie. Aragorn
smiles.
|
The three of them ride
from the camp along the Dimholt road. Theoden and the soldiers see them
leaving.
|
| SOLDIER: |
What’s happening, where is he going? I don’t understand. (They
disappear into the cleft between the rocks) Lord Aragorn! Why does
he leave on the eve of battle?
|
| GAMLING: |
He leaves because there is no hope.
|
| THEODEN: |
He leaves because he must.
|
| GAMLING: |
To few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor.
|
Theoden shakes his head.
|
| THEODEN: |
No, we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless.
(They nod in agreement.)
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Scene 32 ~ "No More Despair"
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| |
|
Eowyn stands alone
looking out into the distance, hugging herself. Theoden approaches her from
behind.
|
| THEODEN: |
I have left instruction. (He walks past her also
looking out into the distance.) The people are to follow your rule in
my stead. (He turns around and looks at her.)
Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras, if the
battle goes ill.
|
| EOWYN: |
What other duty would you have me do my lord?
|
| THEODEN: |
Duty? (He shakes his head and moves towards her)
no. (He takes her hands and looks at her) I
would have you smile again, not grieve for those whose time has come. You
shall live to see these days renewed (He holds her
head and puts his forehead on hers) … and no more despair
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