DENETHOR The City of Gondor is under siege. The Steward of the city, Lord Denethor, argues bitterly with the Wizard Gandalf over the fate of his son Boromir and over the wisdom of the Council of Elrond in entrusting the One Ring to a small Hobbit. Beneath Denethor's bitterness lurks a growing paranoia. DENETHOR Boromir was loyal to me, and no wizard's pupil. He would have remembered his father's need and not have squandered what fortune gave. He would have brought me a kingly gift! GANDALF In no case would Boromir have brought it to you. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing, and taking it, he would have fallen. When he returned, you would not have known your son. DENETHOR You found Boromir less apt to your hand, did you not? Less impressed with your conjuring than younger minds? DENETHOR looks pointedly at his youngest son FARAMIR who stands at GANDALF'S side. DENETHOR (cont'd) You are wise, maybe, yet with all your subtleties you have not wisdom. There are other counsels than the words of wizards and the haste of fools. I have in this matter, more lore wisdom than you deem. GANDALF What then is your wisdom? DENETHOR Enough to perceive that there are two follies to avoid. To use this thing is perilous. To send it, in the hands of a witless halfing, into the land of the Enemy himself - that, Gandalf the Grey - is madness! (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: GANDALF And the Lord Denethor? What would he have done? DENETHOR Most surely I would not have sent this thing beyond a fool's hope, risking our utter ruin. (grave) It should be kept. Kept and hidden, dark and deep. Not to be used - unless in utmost need - but set beyond the Enemy's grasp so that only by a victory so final that none of us be left alive, might he reclaim it. GANDALF You think, my Lord, of Gondor only. Yet there are other men, and other lives. DENETHOR Where will these men look for help if Gondor falls? If I had this thing now in the deep vaults of the citadel, we should not now shake with dread. But no! You have taken it upon yourself not to trust me in this. GANDALF You are strong, yet the Ring would overthrow you. Even if it were buried beneath the roots of Mindolluin. Still it would burn your mind away. DENETHOR reflects on GANDALF'S words. Tension crackles between them before DENETHOR answers. DENETHOR If I had! If you had! Such words and ifs are in vain. It has gone into the Shadow, and only time will show what doom awaits us. DENETHOR crosses to the balcony and looks out towards the East. DENETHOR (cont'd) That time will not be long. ------------------------------------------------------------------ LORD OF THE RINGS - (c) Three Foot Six Ltd. ELROND ELROND, the ageless Elf-Lord of Imladris (Rivendell), stands before the gathered envoys of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth; Elves, Dwarves, Men and Hobbits. With great sadness he recounts the tale of how the One Ring was first lost, recalling a time, three thousand years before, when he stood, a young Elvish-warrior, amidst the bloody field of battle. ELROND stands as if in a trance, shrouded in far-off thoughts. ELROND Well I remember the splendour of the banners ... the call to arms; the shouts of victory; the screams of the dying ... it was deemed that evil was banished for ever ... ELROND looks once again at the anxious faces around him. ELROND (cont'd) ... but it was not so. Sauron was diminished, but not destroyed. His Ring was lost, but not unmade. The Dark Tower was broken, yet its foundations remained. The blood of the Numenoreans became mingled with that of lesser men. Then the watch on the walls of Mordor slept and evil crept back to Gorgoroth. BOROMIR of Gondor looks doubtfully at ELROND. BOROMIR You say the One Ring was lost. How can you know this? How can you know it was not defeated and banished into the darkness with its Master? ELROND knows what he is about to say will pain ARAGORN, but it must be said. ELROND Because Isildur took it. Isildur, Elendil's son, cut the Ring from Sauron's hand and took it for his own. He was slain as he fled yet death was better than what might have befallen him. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: ELROND And so it was the great Ring past out of all knowledge. But now, in this late hour, we are in peril once more, for to our sorrow, the One has been found. -END- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LORD OF THE RINGS - (c) Three Foot Six Ltd. EOWYN The LADY EOWYN of Rohan has suffered years of frustrated misery, a prisoner to the evil spell cast over her uncle, KING THEODEN. Denied romance or even adventure, she has now tasted battle and proved her valour by defeating a RINGWRAITH. As she recovers from her injuries, EOWYN carries a worse ache. She now knows her feeling for the LORD ARAGORN can never be returned. Gripped with the belief that she has nothing left to live for, she has yet to realise her destiny has just entered the room in the shape of FARAMIR, youngest son of the dead Steward of Gondor, DENETHOR. The Warden of the House of Healing has come across her struggling to dress. WARDEN My lady! This is a house of rest - you should be abed. EOWYN I cannot lie around like this. It is too much. I must have something to do. WARDEN You are not yet healed, it will be seven days or more (before you can ...)- EOWYN No! It is impossible. Seven more days, I might as well be dead. I have to move. (frustrated) Please? (softens) At least give me news. The women will tell me nothing. WARDEN (hesitates) This dawn the Lords rode forth to Morgul Vale. The Captain from out of the North leads them. EOWYN winces at this reference to ARAGORN. The WARDEN continues, oblivious. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: WARDEN A great Lord is he, and a healer. (shakes his head) It is passing strange. EOWYN What is? WARDEN That hands like his, hands that carry a sword, can also heal. I can't figure him. EOWYN He is hard to know, he has many parts. WARDEN The work of healers is busy enough without wars adding to our labours. EOWYN Would you have your people gather only herbs when the Dark Lord gathers armies? Those without swords can still die upon them. (bitter) I'd rather find death in battle, even pain, than heal and linger on in bitter sorrow. The WARDEN looks at her standing there - proud, defiant. EOWYN Who is left in charge here? WARDEN The Lord Faramir. He is now Steward of Gondor. EOWYN Then where can I find him? WARDEN I don't know about that, he is - EOWYN I want to see him! EOWYN spins around as a quiet voice sounds behind her. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: FARAMIR He is also a prisoner of the healers. FARAMIR bows to her. FARAMIR I am Faramir. What is it you wish? If it lies in my power, I will do it. EOWYN I would have you command this Warden to let me go. FARAMIR frowns, confused. EOWYN (cont'd) Please - do not misunderstand me. It is not lack of care that grieves me. No house could be fairer, nor attendants more kind. But I cannot lie idle - useless and caged. FARAMIR I have not yet taken up my authority in the city. (pause) But even if I had, I should listen to the counsel of the Warden. I hesitate to cross his advice, unless in great need. EOWYN My need is great. I want to ride to war, like my brother Eomer - or better, like Theoden the King. FARAMIR But he is dead. EOWYN Yes, and not has both honour and peace. FARAMIR looks at her keenly. FARAMIR Such honour may yet come to us all, willing or unwilling. EOWYN'S defiance begins to slowly drain away in the face of his quiet reason. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: EOWYN I cannot be penned up - (sighs) If only my window looked east ... FARAMIR That can be arranged. (pause) If you can stand to stay within its walls you may have free passage of the citadel, my Lady. From the pinnacle you may look east where all our hopes have gone. EOWYN turns and looks at him. FARAMIR (CONT'D) You and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow. The same hand drew us back. EOWYN No, lord. The Shadow lies on me still. (pause) But thank you at least for not confining me. She leaves him -END- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LORD OF THE RINGS - (c) Three Foot Six Ltd. FARAMIR FARAMIR, the younger son of DENETHOR, Steward of GONDOR, and brother of BOROMIR, previously of the Fellowship of the Ring, has come across FRODO and SAM whilst on patrol with a company of his men in Ithilien, which lies on the borders of Mordor. FARAMIR is naturally suspicious of two Hobbits walking alone in the dangerous land. He also has his own personal reasons for mistrusting the Halflings. FARAMIR You were a friend of Boromir? FRODO pauses a moment too long. FRODO Yes, I was his friend, for my part. FARAMIR (grimly) Then it would grieve you to learn that he is dead? FRODO (startled) Dead? You know this? But how? When? FARAMIR As one of his companions I had hoped you would tell me. FRODO He was alive and strong when we parted, and he lives still for all I know. (pause) Though our journey has been beset by many dangers. FARAMIR (dryly) Indeed - treachery not the least. SAM has heard enough and fronts up to FARAMIR. SAM See here, Captain. If you think we murdered Boromir and then ran off, you've got no sense; but say it and have done! Do not try and trap us with words. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: FARAMIR Sit down! You think this is idle chatter to snare you? I seek the truth. FRODO (quietly) As do we. FARAMIR looks at FRODO keenly, he relents slightly. FARAMIR Very well. You ask how I know Boromir is dead. His horn washed up upon the riverbank, not six days past. It was cloven in two. (pause) But more than this - I know it in my heart. (pause) He was my brother. FRODO I'm sorry. He was a good man. SAM Aye - it were the Ring that turned his mind. FRODO Sam! SAM looks stricken, realising what he has said. FARAMIR Ring? What ring? SAM (hurriedly) It's nothing. I spoken out of turn ... FARAMIR ignores SAM and moves closer to FRODO. FARAMIR (to himself) No - it is not possible. And yet ... there is something about you ... something I cannot name. FARAMIR draws his sword and raises its point to FRODO's chest. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: With a quick flick he cuts the clasp on the leather jerkin FRODO wears to reveal the Ring hanging on a chain about the Hobbit's neck. FARAMIR (cont'd) So, this is the answer to all the riddles! The One Ring that was though to have perished from the world. You say my brother tried to take it? And yet you escaped? And ran all the way - to me! Here in the wild I have you: two halflings, and a host of men at my call, and the Ring of Rings! FRODO and SAM back away in fright, fumbling for their sword hilts. FARAMIR (cont'd) (to FRODO) You have carried this all the way from Imladris? FRODO nods nervously. FARAMIR looks at the valiant little Hobbits and drops his sword. FARAMIR (cont'd) Then you are to be commended. It is a heavy burden. FRODO and SAM are overcome with relief as they realise that FARAMIR understands their plight. -END- ------------------------------------------------------------------ LORD OF THE RINGS - (c) Three Foot Six Ltd FRODO & GANDALF Some time after BILBO has disappeared leaving FRODO alone Bag End, GANDALF pays a visit. It is more than just a social call as it turns out, in fact, FRODO'S life will never be the same after he hears what the Wizard has to say. GANDALF If you don't let me in, Frodo, I shall blow your door right your hallway and out through the hill. FRODO (surprised) Gandalf? There's no need for violence - come in. I thought you were Lobelia. GANDALF Then I forgive you. She passed me on the way here, with a face that would have curdled new milk. FRODO She nearly curdled me. Honestly. I almost tried on Bilbo's ring I was that keen to disappear. GANDALF Don't do that. You will be careful, won't you? (pause) In fact, it's partly about the ring that I've come. FRODO What about it? GANDALF What do you know already? FRODO Only what Bilbo's told me. I've heard his story ... how he found it and used it - on his journey I mean. (putting on Bilbo's voice) "No secrets between us, Frodo my lad, but what I'm about to tell you is not to go any further." (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: GANDALF You may well laugh but odd things can happen to people who hold such treasures ... if they use them. FRODO You're not telling me everything - as usual. GANDALF When I'm certain, I'll say more - but right now I have to leave. FRODO That'll please the locals, at any rate. You been officially labelled a disturber of the peace. GANDALF And what would that make you I wonder? FRODO (glint in his eye) Me? I'm respectable. -END-