Descriptions, editing, formatting, and transcription by Rachel Lee, "Arwen Undómiel", and those listed below. Countless hours typing, formatting, and correcting went into this transcript, so please respect our work by observing the conditions of use below.
Many thanks to all those who have helped me, either in the transcription process, or by sending corrections: Accela, Aina, Amanda, Alice Wiley, Bad burn, Bridget Chubb, Brionn Equus (Lochrann), Drusilia, Elf Lady, Eowyn Unquendor, Feanari, Finafyr, Flourish, Galadriel, Heri, Julamb, Justins Ice(Mdjasrie), Kazren, Krystal, Kyle, Lady Eowyn Kenobi, Lady Evenstar, Legolas’Bow, Lithorose, Melody, Mormegil, Nilmandra, Padfoot, Penwiper, Pilgrim Grey, Primula Baggins, Randy Savage, Samwise the Brave, Sirius Black, Sophie, Tethra, The Lidless Eye, Turnar, Xyla, Yaksha. Also, thanks to Elvish.org for their assitance with Elvish lines
This transcript is based on the original script by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Phillipa Boyens.
Conditions of Use: You are welcome to use this script for things like entertainment (that's what it's here for ^-^), but you may not use it around the internet (eg. upload it onto websites/forums/message boards), or distribute it in any way without my permission. Modifying this transcript in any way is also strictly prohibited. If you believe that there are any mistakes in it, please tell me, and I will make the necessary changes. If you have any questions, requests, etc, please email Rachel.
Key:
Title of chapter of corresponding part in book
[Descriptions are written like this]
Names are written like this,
What are said by the characters are written like this
[Voices are heard from the Misty Mountains.]
Gandalf:
You cannot pass!
Frodo:
Gandalf!
Gandalf:
I'm the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of
Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!
[We track in through the mountain and see Gandalf and the
Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.]
Gandalf:
Go back to the shadow! YOU… SHALL NOT... PASS!!!
[Gandalf slams his staff on the bridge, and a flash of
white light drives the Balrog back. The demon draws a whip of
fire, steps onto the bridge, and it gives way, dropping the Balrog
into the chasm. It seems they have won, but as he turns away, the
tail of the whip catches Gandalf's ankle and pulls him down. He
gets a brief grasp on the edge of the bridge.]
BOROMIR:
[Holding Frodo back.] No! Frodo!
Frodo:
Gandalf!
Gandalf:
Fly you fools!
[Gandalf loses his grip and falls into the
chasm.]
Frodo:
Nooooooooo!
[Gandalf falls after the Balrog and grabs hold of his
sword, Glamdring, on his way down. As they continue to plunge into
the depths, Gandalf hacks away at the Balrog even as it crashes
and bounces off the walls. They continue to fall at great speed,
sometimes with Gandalf clinging to a horn of the demon. The
battling pair then falls into an enormous cavern and plunges into
the water. Just then Frodo awakens from the nightmare.]
Frodo:
Gandalf!
Sam:
What is it, Mr. Frodo?
Frodo:
Nothing. Just a dream.
[TITLE: THE TWO TOWERS]
[Frodo and Sam climb over rocky terrain. They look into
the distance at the Mountain of Fire.]
Sam:
Mordor. The one place in Middle Earth we don't want to see any
closer. It's the one place we are trying to get to. It's just
where we cant get. Let's face it Mr. Frodo. We're lost. I don't
think Gandalf meant for us to come this way.
Frodo:
He didn't mean for a lot of things to happen, Sam. But they
did.
[Suddenly Frodo feels and spies the Eye zooming in on
him. He gasps and pants as he backs away.]
Sam:
Frodo? It's the Ring isn't it?
Frodo:
It's getting heavier. What food have we got left?
Sam:
Well, let me see. Oh yes, lovely. Lembas bread. And look! More
lembas bread. I don't usually hold with foreign food, but this
elvish stuff is not bad.
Frodo:
Nothing ever dampens your spirits does it Sam?
Sam:
Those rainclouds might.
[They continue trekking through difficult terrain, often
huddling underneath their cloaks.]
Sam:
This looks strangely familiar.
Frodo:
[In frustration]: That's because we've been here
before! We are going in circles!
Sam:
Ah! What's that 'orrid stink? I'll warrant there's a nasty bog
nearby. Can you smell it?
Frodo:
Yes, I can smell it. We are not alone.
Gollum:
[Sneaking up on the hobbits.] The thieves! The
thieves! The filthy little thieves! Wheeere isssit? Wheeere
isssit? They stole it from us. My preciousssss. Curse them! We
hates them. It's ours, it is, and we wants it!
[Suddenly the hobbits spring up, grab hold of Gollum’s
arms and pull him down. Amidst the struggle, Gollum wriggles loose
and leaps onto Frodo. As Frodo falls back, the chain and ring
around his neck are revealed and Gollum jumps straight for the
Ring. Sam tries to grab at him but is knocked away. Gollum now
jumps on top of Frodo and tries to reach for the Ring even as
Frodo grabs his hands and tries to push him away. Gollum’s cheeks
puff with exertion as he struggles with Frodo, his huge eyes fixed
on the Ring. Sam grabs hold of Gollum again and tears him away
from Frodo. Gollum then turns around and bites Sam on the
shoulder, wriggles around and clasps his arms around Sam’s neck
and legs around his waist in a death grip. Frodo then unsheathes
Sting and holds it to Gollum's throat.]
Frodo:
This is Sting. You've seen it before, haven't you... Gollum!
Release him or I'll cut your throat!
[Slowly, Gollum loosens his grip on Sam and as the latter
disentangles himself, Gollum wails. He is then tied at the neck
with Sam’s elvish rope and half-dragged along even as he cries and
wails.]
Gollum:
It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty elves twisting it!
Sam:
Quiet you! It's hopeless! Every Orc in Mordor will hear this
racket! Let's tie him up and leave him!
Gollum:
No! Thats will kill us, kill us!
Sam:
It's nothing more than you deserve!
Frodo:
Maybe he does deserve to die. Now that I've seen him, I do
pity him.
Gollum:
[Begging]: We be nice to them, if they be nice to
us. Take it off us. We swears to do what you wants. We
swears!
Frodo:
There is no promise you can make that I can trust.
Gollum:
We swears to serve the master of the precioussss. We swears
on, on the precioussss! Gollum Gollum
Frodo:
The Ring is treacherous. It will hold you to your word.
Gollum:
Yes... on the preciouss... on the preciousss.
Sam:
[Suddenly, Sam shouts out loudly]:
I don't believe you! Get down! Get down!
[Sam jerks strongly at the rope as Gollum tries to get
away and Gollum falls to the ground.]
Frodo:
[In horror]: Sam!
Sam:
He is trying to trick us! We let him go, he'll throttle us
into our sleep!
Frodo:
[To Gollum, almost as a statement rather than question]:
You know the way to Mordor?
Gollum:
[Nodding warily]: Yes.
Frodo:
You've been there before?
Gollum:
[Nodding again]: Yes.
Frodo:
[Taking the rope off Gollum]: You will lead us to
the Black Gate.
[Gollum looks up at Frodo in wonder, amazed to have been
showed such kindness and trust. He scrambles off quickly, the
Hobbits hurrying on after him.]
[The Uruk-hai carry Merry and Pippin over the fields
Rohan.]
Pippin:
Merry! Merry!
[We see that Merry is unconscious, with large, nasty
gash about his right brow.]
[Suddenly, an Uruk-hai raises his hand, signalling for
the group to stop.]
Uglúk:
What is it? What do you smell?
Maúhur:
Man-flesh.
Uglúk:
They've picked up our trail! Let's go!
Pippin:
[To himself]: Aragorn!
[The Uruk-hai quicken their pace. Pippin struggles to
reach his Elven brooch with his teeth. He then tears it off his
cloak and drops it onto the ground. The Uruks don't notice the
brooch, but some trample it, setting it more firmly into the
soil.]
[Aragorn is lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to
the ground, listening for the sound of footsteps.]
Aragorn:
Their pace quickens. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!
Legolas:
Come on Gimli!
Gimli:
Three day's and night's pursuit.. no food... no rest... and no
sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell.
[The Three Hunters run across rocks and plains, with
Aragorn in the lead, and Legolas and Gimli trailing behind.
Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an Elven brooch from the
ground.]
Aragorn:
Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
Legolas:
They may yet be alive.
Aragorn:
Less than a day ahead of us, come!
Legolas:
Come Gimli! We are gaining on them.
Gimli:
I wish that on cross-country We dwarves were natural
sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances.
[Camera pans over the Orcs running across the plains,
and then swings to the Three Hunters giving chase. The trackers
come over a hill and pause as they gaze across the plains
below.]
Aragorn:
Rohan, home of the horse-lords. There's something strange at
work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets its will
against us. Legolas! What do your elf eyes see?
Legolas:
The Uruks turn Northeast. They are taking the hobbits to
Isengard!
Aragorn:
Saruman.
[The tower of Orthanc stands amidst the smoking caverns
of Isengard. Saruman stands in his chamber, communicating with the
Dark Lord through the Palantir.]
Saruman: (Voiceover)
The world is changing. Who now has the strength to
stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor? To stand against
the might of Sauron and Saruman and the union of the two towers?
Together, Lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-Earth.
[The caverns of Isengard glow with the fires of
industry, sounds of hammering fill the air and molten iron is
poured into casts.]
Saruman: (Voiceover)
The old world will burn in the fires of industry.
Forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the
machinery of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of
the Orc. We have only to remove those who oppose us.
[Saruman stands in the midst of a gathering of Wildmen,
who are holding tOrches and crude weapons.]
Saruman:
The horsemen have taken your lands. They drove your people
into the hills to scratch a living of rocks.
CROWD
Murderers!
Saruman:
Take back the lands they stole from you. Burn every village!
Saruman: (Voiceover)
It will begin in the Rohan. Too long have these
peasants stood against you. But no more.
[The wildmen and Orcs attack a village. A woman with her
hand on a horse calls out to her children.]
Mother:
Eothain, take your sister. You'll go faster with just two.
Freda:
But Papa says Eothain must not ride Gerolt. He's too big for
him!
Mother:
Listen to me! You must ride to Edoras and raise the alarm. Do
you understand?
Eothain:
Yes mum.
Freda:
I don't wanna leave! I don't wanna go!
Mother:
Listen to me. I will find you there.
[Screams are increasing in volume as the army draws
closer.]
Mother:
Quickly!
[To herself]: Go, child.
[The army slaughters at will and sets fire to the
village. Freda weeps as they look back from a distance.]
Saruman: (V.O.)
Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall.
[A group of horsemen ride to Edoras. Éomer is in the
lead, carrying a gravely wounded Théodred in front of him. Éowyn
runs hastily up the stairs to the Golden Hall and enters a
bedchamber. She runs to the bed.]
Éowyn:
Théodred!
[Théodred seems to hear her call but is unable to
respond. He has a bloody gash on the side of his head. Éomer nods
to Éowyn in the direction of Théodred’s torso. Éowyn draws back
the covers and upon seeing Théodred’s fatal wound, her lips
tighten and her eyes close. She looks up to catch Éomer’s
eye.]
[Éomer and Éowyn are speaking to King Théoden who sits
motionless on his throne, wizened and aged beyond his
years.]
Éowyn:
[To Théoden]: Your son is badly wounded, my lord.
Éomer:
He was ambushed by Orcs. If we don't defend our country,
Saruman will take it by force.
Grima:
That is a lie! Saruman the White has ever been our friend and
ally.
Théoden:
[Mumbling]: Grima... Grima
Éomer:
Orcs are roaming freely across our lands. Unchecked,
unchallenged, killing at will. Orcs bearing the white hand of
Saruman.
[Éomer drops a helmet onto the ground, which topples
over to reveal the white hand of Saruman.]
Grima:
Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Can
you not see? Your uncle is weary of your malcontent, your
warmongering.
Éomer:
Warmongering? How long has it been since Saruman bought you?
What was the promised price, Grima? When all the men are dead you
would take a share of the treasure?
[Éomer watches Grima, whose eyes fall on Éowyn's figure
in the background.]
Too long have you watched my sister, too long have you haunted
her steps.
Grima:
You see much, Éomer son of Éomund. Too much. You are banished
forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan, under pain of death.
[The Uruk-hai and Orcs continue to march across the
plains with their hobbit captives. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are
in pursuit.]
Gimli:
Keep breathing, that's the key! Breathe! Ho!
Legolas:
They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind
them.
[They continue running over vast distances. The Uruk-hai
and Orcs halt at nightfall, many panting.]
BAGLOR
We ain't goin' no further till we've 'ad a breather.
Uglúk:
Get a fire going!
[The Uruk-hai and orcs begin to hack away at the trees
with their axes.]
Pippin:
Merry! Merry!
Merry:
I think we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire,
Pippin.
[A rumbling sound is heard.]
Pippin:
What's making that noise?
Merry:
It's the trees.
Pippin:
What?
Merry:
You remember the Old Forest? On the borders of Buckland? Folk
used to say that there was something in the water that made the
trees grow tall, and come alive.
Pippin:
Alive?
Merry:
Trees that could whisper, talk to each other, even move.
BAGLOR
I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but maggoty bread for three
stinkin' days!
Roc:
Yeah! Why can't we have some meat?
[Looking at the hobbits]: What about them?
They're freshshsh!
Uglúk:
They are not for eating!
Grishnákh:
What about their legs? They don't need those. Ooh! They look
tasty!
Uglúk:
Get back!
Roc:
Just a mouthful?
[Uglúk kills Roc.]
Uglúk:
Looks like meat's back on the menu boys!
[The Uruk-hai and Orcs cheer and started tearing into
Roc, intestines flying, taking their eyes off the hobbits for a
while.]
Merry:
Pippin, let's go!
[Their hands still bound, the hobbits crawl away.
Suddenly a foot comes down onto Merry, pinning him to the ground.
Pippin flips over.]
Grishnákh:
Go? Call for help. Squeal! No-one's gonna save you now!
[Suddenly, a spear hits Grishnákh. Mayhem ensues as the
Rohirrim burst out from their hiding places and ambush the
Orcs.]
Merry:
Pippin!
[The hobbits try to escape from the pandemonium to the
forest, dodging bodies and stomping feet, falling and stumbling.
Suddenly, while flat on his back, Pippin looks up at a pair of
thrashing hooves bearing down on him.]
Pippin:
Ahh!
[The Three Hunters are still chasing after the Uruk-Hai.
Dawn has broken.]
Legolas:
A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night.
[The sound of horses comes to their ears. Aragorn
quickly gets them to hide behind some boulders. A large group of
horse-men appears, galloping quickly with their banners flying.
Aragorn comes out of hiding as they pass, followed by Legolas and
Gimli.]
Aragorn:
Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?
[At a signal from Éomer at the lead, the riders make a
quick turn and head towards them, surrounding them in an
ever-tightening circle. As they stop, they point their long spears
menacingly at them.]
Éomer:
What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the
Riddermark? Speak quickly!
Gimli:
Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine.
Éomer:
[He dismounts his horse, and steps towards
Gimli.]
I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little
higher from the ground.
[Legolas, in a lightning fast move, points an arrow at
Éomer.]
Legolas:
You would die before your stroke fell!
[The riders all point their spears closer to the
travelers. Aragorn pushes down Legolas’ arm.]
Aragorn:
I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and
Legolas, from the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan and of
Théoden, your King.
Éomer:
Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe.
[He takes helmet off.]
Not even his own kin.
[The spears are withdrawn.]
Éomer:
Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship
over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that,
we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and
there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere
his spies slip past our nets.
Aragorn:
We are not spies. We track a band of Uruk-Hai westward across
the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive.
Éomer:
The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night.
Gimli:
[Distraught, despairingly]: But there were two
Hobbits, did you see two Hobbits with them?
Aragorn:
They would be small, only children to your eyes.
Éomer:
We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them.
[He points off in the distance, where we see the
Uruk-hai pile, still smoking.]
Gimli:
[Disbelievingly]: Dead?
Éomer:
[He pauses briefly - then nods.] I am sorry.
Hasufel! Arod! [Two riderless horses come forth.]
May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former
masters. Farewell. Look for your friends, but do not trust to
hope. It has forsaken these lands.
[To the riders]: We ride north!
[Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli ride towards the burning
carcasses, and Gimli starts to shift through the smouldering pile,
from which he retrieves a charred belt and dagger sheath.]
Gimli:
[Sadly]: It’s one of their wee belts.
Legolas:
[With closed eyes]:
Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath.
[Translation: "May they find peace after death."]
Aragorn: [Kicking an Orc helmet.]
AAAHHH!!!
Gimli:
[In disbelief]: We failed them.
[Aragorn away, off to the side, but as he does so,
something catches his eye.]
Aragorn:
A Hobbit lay here... and the other.
[Flashback: Pippin yells as he looks up at a pair of
thrashing hooves bearing down on him. He rolls over.]
Aragorn:
They crawled.
[Flashback: Merry and Pippin crawl frantically away from
the battle.]
Aragorn:
Their hands were bound.
[Flashback: Pippin rubs his bonds furiously against the
sharp edge of an upturned blade.]
Aragorn:
Their bonds were cut. They ran over here... they were
followed.
[Flashback: Their hands freed, the hobbits run away from
the battle scene, dodging under a horse and trying to stay out of
harms way. As they flee, Grishnákh grabs Pippin by his belt and
clings on.]
Pippin:
The belt!
[Merry undoes his belt and Grishnákh is left holding the
belt and the hobbits run off.]
Pippin:
Run!
Aragorn:
The tracks lead away from the battle, into... Fangorn Forest.
Gimli:
Fangorn! What madness drew them there?
[The hobbits are in Fangorn Forest.]
Pippin:
Did we lose him? I think we lost him.
[Suddenly, Grishnákh bursts through the branches,
brandishing a blade.]
Grishnákh:
I'm gonna rip out your filthy little innards! Come here!
Merry:
Trees! Climb a tree!
[Pippin and Merry each scramble up a tree.]
Merry:
He's gone.
[Suddenly, Merry is pulled by his legs and falls to the
ground. Grishnákh leans over him with his menacing blade.]
Pippin:
Merry!
[Pippin looks down in horror but as he turns his head,
he spots a pair of gleaming yellow eyes blinking in the tree he’s
clinging to.]
Pippin:
Ah!
[Pippin loses his grip in fright and falls. The tree
catches him.]
Grishnákh:
[To Merry]: Let’s put a maggot-hole in your
belly.
[Suddenly Grishnákh senses something behind him and as
he looks up, the tree squashes him.]
Pippin:
Run, Merry!
[The Tree scoops up Merry.]
Treebeard:
Little Orcs, burarum!
Pippin:
It's talking Merry. The tree is talking.
Treebeard:
Tree? I am no tree! I am an Ent.
Merry:
A Treeherder! A shepherd of the forest.
Pippin:
Don't talk to it Merry. Don't encourage it.
Treebeard:
Treebeard some call me.
Pippin:
And whose side are you on?
Treebeard:
Side? I am on nobody's side. Because nobody is on my side,
little Orc. Nobody cares for the woods anymore.
Merry:
We are not Orcs. We are Hobbits!
Treebeard:
Hobbits? Never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds like Orc
mischief to me. They come with fire, they come with axes. Gnawing,
biting, breaking, hacking, burning. Destroyers and usurpers. Curse
them!
Merry:
No! You don't understand. We are Hobbits, Halflings.
Shirefolk!
Treebeard:
Maybe you are, and maybe you aren't. The White Wizard will
know.
Pippin:
The White Wizard?
Merry:
Saruman!
[Treebeard drops Merry and Pippin on the ground and the
Hobbits look up in wonder at the White Wizard.]
[Frodo and Sam follow Gollum to the end of the rocky
terrain. Gollum looks back.]
Gollum:
See, see, we've led you out! Hurry, hobbitses, hurry! Very
lucky we find you.
Gollum: [To Samwise, with a grin]
Nice hobbit.
Sam:
Whoa! It's a bog! He's led us into a swamp!
Gollum:
Swamp, yes, yes. Come master. We will take you on safe paths,
through the mist. Come Hobbits, come. Real quickly. I found it, I
did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't
know it. They go round for miles and miles. Come quickly. Swift
and quick as shadows we must be.
Sam:
There are dead things! Dead faces in the water!
Gollum:
All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and Orcses. A great battle
long ago. The Dead Marshes. Yes, yes! That is the name. This way.
Don't follow the lights.
Sam:
Ohh!
Gollum:
Careful now! Or hobbits go down to join the dead ones, and
light little candles of their own. [Frodo continues straight
on where Gollum and Sam veered off to the right. Sam turns around
and spots him, standing on the edge of a strech of water with a
dead elf in it.]
Sam:
Frodo!
[Frodo falls face-down into the water.]
[Frodo sees many faces of the dead in the water. Their
hands reach for him, seeking to draw him into their realm.
Suddenly he is grabbed from behind and pulled ashore.]
Frodo:
Gollum?
Gollum:
Don't follow the lights!
Frodo:
Gollum?
Sam:
Frodo! are you alright?
[Nightfall: Sam is asleep but Frodo is still awake. He
holds the Ring in the palm of his hand, staring at it and stroking
it. Suddenly he hears a voice.]
Gollum:
So bright, so beautiful. Ah precious.
Frodo:
What did you say?
Gollum:
Master should be resting. Master need to keep up his strength.
Frodo:
Who are you?
Gollum:
Mustn't ask us, not it's business. Gollum, gollum.
Frodo:
Gandalf told me you were one of the River Folk.
Gollum:
Cold be heart and hand and bone. And cold be travellers far
from home.
Frodo:
He said your life was a sad story.
Gollum:
They do not see what lies ahead when sun has failed and moon
is dead.
Frodo:
You were not so different from a Hobbit once, were you...
Sméagol?
Gollum:
What did you call me?
Frodo:
That was your name once, wasn't it? A long time ago.
Gollum:
My... My name... Sméagol.
[As he speaks, he notices something in the sky,
screeching is heard, and he draws back in fear.]
Ahh!
Sam:
Black Riders!
Gollum:
Hide! Hide!
[Frodo feels a sharp pain in his shoulder.]
Sam:
C'mon Frodo, C'mon!
Gollum:
They will see us! They will see us. Wraiths! Wraiths on wings!
Sam:
I thought they were dead!
Gollum:
Dead? No, you cannot kill them. No.
Ringwraith:
[Screeches]
Gollum:
They are calling for it. They are calling for the
preciousssss.
[Frodo reaches for the Ring. Sam grabs Frodo's hand and
holds it.]
Sam:
It's alright.
[The Ringwraith circles overhead and flies off into the
distance.]
Gollum:
Hurry, hobbits. The Black Gate is very close.
[Meanwhile, Aragorn and company go into Fangorn Forest
to look for Merry and Pippin.]
Gimli:
Orc blood!
Aragorn:
These are strange tracks.
Gimli:
The air is so close in here.
Legolas:
This forest is old. Very old. Full of memories...and anger.
The trees are speaking to each other.
Aragorn:
Gimli!
Gimli:
Huh?
Aragorn:
Lower your axe.
Gimli:
Oh!
Legolas:
Aragorn, nad no ennas!
[Translation: "Something is out there!"]
Aragorn:
Man cenich?
[Translation: "What do you see?"]
Legolas:
The White Wizard approaches.
Aragorn:
Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us! We must be
quick.
[With a yell, the three swing round to attack in accord.
They are suddenly blinded by a bright light from behind the White
Wizard. Gimli’s axe and Legolas’ arrow are deflected. Aragorn's
sword becomes to hot to hold.]
Wizard:
You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits
Aragorn:
Where are they?
Wizard:
They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met
someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?
Aragorn:
Who are you? Show yourself!
[The wizard steps forward, and it is Gandalf, dressed in
white.]
Aragorn:
It cannot be! You fell!
Gandalf:
Through fire and water.
[Flashback: Gandalf is battling the Balrog on a
peak.]
Gandalf: (V.O.)
From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I
fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth.
[Gandalf holds up Glamdring and a flash of lightning
strikes it before he plunges the sword into the Balrog. With a
final cry, the Balrog falls from the peak and lands, smoking, onto
the icy mountainside.]
Gandalf: (V.O.)
Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his
ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. And I strayed out of
thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and each day was as long
as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in
me again. I've been sent back until my task is done.
[End Flashback.]
Aragorn:
Gandalf.
Gandalf:
Gandalf? Yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the
Grey. That was my name.
Gimli:
Gandalf!
Gandalf:
I am Gandalf the White now. And I come back to you now at the
turn of the tide.
[They start to walk through the forest, with Gandalf
leading the way.]
Gandalf:
One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has
come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed.
[Outside the forest, Gandalf whistles piercingly. Soon
an answering neigh is heard and a white horse appears from the
plain, answering the call.]
Legolas:
That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some
spell.
Gandalf:
Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend
through many dangers.
[The four ride off.]
[Treebeard walks through the forest, carrying Merry and
Pippin.]
Treebeard:
My home lies deep in the forest, near the roots of the
mountains. I told Gandalf I would keep you safe and safe is where
I'll keep you. The trees have grown wild and dangerous. Anger is
in their hearts. They will harm you if they can. There are too few
of us now. Too few of us Ents left to manage them.
[Frodo and Sam are led to the edge of a cliff.]
Gollum:
The Black Gate of Mordor.
Sam:
Save us... My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if
he saw us now.
Gollum:
Master says to show him the way into Mordor so good Sméagol
does. Master said so.
Frodo:
I did.
[Orcs are patrolling the Black Gate.]
Sam:
We cannot get past them.
[Below, an Easterling army approaches. A command is
heard and an Orc sounds a horn. Two enormous cave trolls stretch
and growl and then pull and push the mighty Gate open.]
Sam:
Look! The gate, it's opening! I can see a way down.
[Sam moves closer to the edge. Suddenly, the rock
underneath him gives way and he falls.]
Frodo:
Sam! No!
Sam:
Ah!!
[Frodo goes after Sam.]
Gollum:
Master!
[Two Easterling soldiers see streams of dust coming down
the cliff and investigate. Frodo reaches Sam who is stuck. As the
Easterlings move closer and closer, Frodo throws his elvish cloak
over himself and Sam. The soldiers can't see them and
leave.]
Frodo:
I do not ask you to come with me, Sam.
Sam:
I know, Mr. Frodo. I doubt even these elvish cloaks will help
us in there.
Frodo:
Now!
Gollum:
No! No! No master! They catch you! They catch you. Don't take
it to Him. He wants the precioussss. Always he's looking for it.
And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him, but we musn't let
him have it.
[Frodo tries to go, but Gollum won't let him.]
Gollum:
No! There is another way. More secret, a dark way.
Sam:
Why haven't you spoken of this before?!
Gollum:
Because master did not ask!
Sam:
He is up to something.
Frodo:
Are you saying that there is another way to Mordor?
Gollum:
Yes. There is a path, and some stairs and then a tunnel.
Frodo:
He has led us this far, Sam.
Sam:
Mr. Frodo, no!
Frodo:
He's been true to his word.
Sam:
No!
Frodo:
Lead the way, Sméagol.
Gollum:
Good Sméagol always helps.
[Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas approach a great
city, built on a hill.]
Gandalf:
Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden,
King of Rohan,
Gandalf: (V.O.)
whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong.
[Interior: Éowyn speaks to Théoden]
Éowyn:
Your son, my lord, he is dead. My lord? Uncle? Will you not go
to him?
[Without hope]: Will you do nothing?
[Exterior]
Gandalf:
Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here.
[Éowyn weeps at Theodred's bedside.]
Grima:
Ohh he, he must have died ss-sometime in the night. What a
tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir. I
understand... his passing is hard to accept, especially now that
your brother has deserted you.
[He places his hand on Éowyn's shoulder, and she looks
at it with revulsion. She gets up hastily, and draws back.]
Éowyn:
Leave me alone, you snake!
Grima:
[Unabashed, he walks towards Éowyn, circling her as he
speaks.]
Oh, but you are alone. Who knows what you've spoken to the
darkness, in the bitter watches of the night, When all your life
seems to shrink. The walls of your bower closing in about you. A
hushed, tremmelsome, wild thing.
[He puts his hand to her face.]
So fair, so cold, like a morning of pale spring still clinging
to winter's chill.
Éowyn:
[She closes her eyes, and her face quivers. Then she
opens her eyes, looking into Grima's for some time before she
speaks.]
[Quiveringly, hatefully]: Your words are poison!
[Éowyn sweeps out of the chamber, and walks out onto a
terrace, overlooking the lands surrounding Rohan. She casts her
eye about, first looking out to the great snow-tipped mountains,
and the lands far away. Then something closer catches her
attention, and beneath her, three horses gallop towards the city
of Rohan. Then, on its own accord, a flag of Rohan, to her right,
rips from its pole, and sails out on the wind, across the city.
And as Aragorn and the others approach the city gate, it falls to
the ground, just ahead of them. Puzzled, Aragorn enters Rohan. The
camera pans, and we are treated to grand views of the great
city.]
[Gandalf (dressed once more in grey), Aragorn, Legolas,
and Gimli (behind Legolas on the horse), enter Edoras. It is
quiet, and the people stand still, and silent, mainly clad in
black. As Aragorn looks up to the Golden Hall, he sees Éowyn
standing at the entrance.]
Gimli:
You'll find more cheer in a graveyard.
[Aragorn looks back up to the Golden Hall, and sees
Éowyn gone. They arrive at meduseld and many guards walk out from
the entrance of the Hall, Hama in front. Gandalf greets them
happily.]
Gandalf:
Ah.
Hama:
I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf
Grayhame... By order of - Grima Wormtongue.
[Frowning, Gandalf nods, gesturing to the others to give
up their weapons. Aragorn hands over his sword, then pulls out the
elven knife from its sheat, and hands that over, too. Legolas
hands over his knives and bow, and, rather reluctantly, Gimli
hands over his axe. With this done, they make their way to the
entrance.]
Hama:
[Gesturing to Gandalf]: Your staff.
Gandalf:
Hmm? [He glances at his staff.]
[Innocently]: Mm. Oh. You would not part an old
man from his - walking stick.
[Hama nods, and gestures that they follow him into the
hall. Gandalf winks at Aragorn, and they enter the hall, Gandalf
bent as though with a sudden gain of age. As they enter, Hama bows
to the king, then walks off to the side.]
[Interior]
Grima:
My Lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming. He is a herald of woe.
Gandalf:
The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late,
Théoden-King.
Grima:
He's not welcome.
Théoden:
Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?
Grima:
[In Theoden's ear]: A just question, my liege.
[He rises, and walks out towards Gandalf.]
[Loudly, so all can hear]: Late is the hour in
which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name
him. Ill news is an ill guest.
Gandalf:
Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have
not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a
witless worm! [He points his staff at Grima.]
Grima:
Your staff...
[Slowly yet impatiently, to the guards]:
I told you to take the wizard's staff!
[The guards rush out from the sides, and Aragorn,
Legolas, and Gimli take them on without difficulty. Grima hurries
off to the side, and Gandalf approaches the King.]
Gandalf:
Théoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows.
[Gimli spots Grima cowering on the floor, and holds him
down.]
Gimli:
[To Grima]: I would stay still if I were you!
Gandalf:[coming closer to Théoden and addressing him
directly while extending his hand towards him. Behind him, the
others, including the guard, watch closely.]
Hearken to me! I release you from the spell.
Théoden:[Suddenly with a much stronger voice: Saruman
has taken over completely]
Hahahahahahahaha! You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey.
Haha! Ah!!
Gandalf:[Throws aside his grey cloak to reveal his now
white appearance. Théoden draws back and exclaims in
surprise.]
I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.
[Éowyn rushes in, tries to go to Théoden, but Aragorn
holds her back.]
Aragorn:
Wait.
Théoden: [in Saruman's voice]
If I go, Théoden dies.
Gandalf:
You will not kill me, you will not kill him.
Théoden: [in Saruman's voice]
Rohan is mine!
Gandalf:
Be gone! [Théoden lunges forwards, and Gandalf aims his
staff at him, pushing him back in his seat.]
[In Orthanc, Saruman falls to the ground. Then, now
weary, Théoden folds forward on his seat, as though about to
collapse. Éowyn rushes up to him, and Aragorn releases her from
his grasp. Off to the side, Hama puts his hand on Gamling's
shoulder, as they both watch in wonder. Éowyn supports Théoden by
his shoulders, and sets him back in his seat. Panting, he looks
around the hall in awe. And as he does so, he seems to shed many
years. At last, his gaze falls onto Éowyn.]
Théoden:
I know your face.
[Éowyn smiles, and the King looks at her, as though
trying to recall a distant memory. Then he remembers, and he
smiles.]
Éowyn... Éowyn.
[She smiles, and puts her hand to the King's face, tears
of joy in her eyes.]
[Gandalf steps forward, and Théoden and Éowyn look up at
him.]
Théoden:
Gandalf?
Gandalf:
Breathe the free air again, my friend.
Théoden:
Dark have been my dreams of late.
Gandalf:
Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if
they grasped your sword.
[Hama comes forward with his sword. Théoden draws it
out, then his gaze turns to Grima. The guards throw Grima out of
the hall and down the stairs.]
Grima:
Ah! I've only... ever... served you my lord
Théoden:
Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a
beast!
Grima:
Send me not from your side!
[Théoden raises sword to kill Grima.]
Aragorn:
No my lord! No my lord! Let him go. Enough blood has been
spilled on his account.
Grima:
Get out of my way!
[Grima exits.]
Hama:
Hail, Théoden, King!
Théoden:
Where is Théodred? Where is my son?
[Théoden visits his Théodred's grave.]
Théoden:
Simbelmynë. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears.
Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas that these evil days
should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should
live to see the last days of my house.
Gandalf:
Théodred's death was not of your making.
Théoden:
No parent should have to bury their child.
Gandalf:
He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the
halls of your fathers. Westu hál. Ferðu, Théodred, ferðu.
[Translation (not given on screen): ‘Be thou well. Go-thou,
Théodred, go–thou’]
[Gandalf turns away and as he looks up he sees Eothain
and Freda appear on the hill on horseback. Eothain falls off the
horse.]
[Inside the Golden Hall, the two children eat under the
care of Éowyn.]
Éowyn:
They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are
moving through the westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and
tree.
Freda
Where's momma?
Éowyn:
Shh.
Gandalf:
This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash.
All the more potent for he is driven mad by fear of Sauron. Ride
out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and
children. You must fight.
Aragorn:
You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is
loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king.
Théoden:
They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer
cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me. But I will not
bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war.
Aragorn:
Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.
Théoden:
When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.
Gandalf:
Then what is the king's decision?
[Cut to Exterior: Hama shouts to the people of
Rohan.]
Hama
By order of the king, the city must empty. We make for the
refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourself with treasures. Take
only what provisions you need.
Gimli:
Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand
and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?
Aragorn:
He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's
Deep has saved them in the past.
Gandalf:
There is no way out of that of ravine. Théoden is walking into
a trap. He thinks he is leading them to safety but what he'll get
is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I
fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end,
Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defences have to
hold.
Aragorn:
They will hold.
Gandalf:
[To himself]:The Grey Pilgrim. That's what they
used to call me. Three hundred lives of men have I walked this
earth and now, I have no time.
[To Aragorn]:With luck my search will not be in
vain. Look to my coming at first light of the fifth day. At dawn,
look to the East.
Aragorn:
Go.
[Gandalf exits on Shadowfax.]
[Éowyn opens a chest to reveal a sword. She swings it
around and is parried by Aragorn.]
Aragorn:
You have some skill with the blade.
Éowyn:
The women of this country learned long ago that those without
swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.
Aragorn:
What do you fear my lady?
Éowyn:
A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them.
And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.
Aragorn:
You are a daughter of kings. A shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not
think that will be your fate.
[The people of Edoras leave the town, on their way to
Helm’s Deep. Meanwhile, at Isengard:]
Grima:
Théoden will not stay at Edoras. It is vulnerable. He knows
this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to
Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road
to take through the mountains. It will be slow. They will have
women and children with them.
[Saruman walks through the depths of Isengard. He
approaches an Orc.]
Saruman:
Send out your warg riders.
[Gollum is still leading Sam and Frodo. He splatters
after a fish in a mountain stream.]
Sam:
Hey Stinker! Don't go getting too far ahead!
Frodo:
Why do you do that?
Sam:
What?
Frodo:
Call him names? Run him down all the time.
Sam:
Because. 'Cause that's what he is, Mr. Frodo. There's naught
left in 'im but lies and deceit. It's the Ring he wants. It's all
he cares about.
Frodo:
You have no idea what it did to him. What it's still doing to
him. I want to help him Sam.
Sam:
Why?
Frodo:
Because I have to believe he could come back.
Sam:
You can't save him, Mr. Frodo.
Frodo:
[Savagely]: What do you know about it? Nothing!
[Hurt, Sam walks past Frodo.]
Frodo:
[Apologetically]: I'm sorry Sam. I don't know why
I said that.
Sam:
I do. It's the Ring. You can't take your eyes off it. I've
seen you. You're not eating. You barely sleep. It's taking a hold
of you Mr Frodo. You have to fight it!
Frodo:
[Resentfully]: I know what I have to do Sam. The
Ring was entrusted to ME!
[Angrily]: It's my task! Mine! My own!
Sam:
Can't you hear yourself? Don't you know who you sound like?
[Gollum is off by himself at night.]
Gollum:
We wants it, we needs it. Must have the Preciousss. They stole
it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, falssse!
Sméagol:
No! No! Master!
Gollum:
Yess. Preciousss first. They will cheat you, hurt you, lie!
Sméagol:
Master's my friend.
Gollum:
You don't have any friends. Nobody likes you.
Sméagol:
Not listening. Not listening.
Gollum:
You´re a liar, and a thief.
Sméagol:
No.
Gollum:
Murderer!
Sméagol:
Go away.
Gollum:
Go away?! Ahahhaa!
Sméagol:
I hate you, I hate you.
Gollum:
Where would you be without me? Gollum. Gollum. I saved us. It
was me. We survived because of me.
Sméagol:
Not anymore.
Gollum:
What did you say?
Sméagol:
Master looks after us now. We don't need you.
Gollum:
What?
Sméagol:
Leave now and never come back.
Gollum:
No!
Sméagol:
Leave now and never come back!
Gollum:
Ahh!
Sméagol:
LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!
[Silence]
Sméagol:
We told him to go away! And away he goes, preciousss. Gone,
gone, gone, Sméagol is free!
[The next day Sméagol comes back with two rabbits and
drops them in Frodo's lap.]
Sméagol:
Look! Look! See what Sméagol finds! Ehehe! Hohohhooo! They are
young! They are tender, they are nice. Yes they are! Eat them. Eat
them.
Sam:
Make him sick you will, behaving like that. There's only one
way to eat a brace of coneys.
[Sam cooks the rabbits in a pot.]
Sméagol:
Argh!! What's he doing! Stupid fat hobbit. You ruins it!
[Frodo hears strange whistles and bird-like sounds. He
gets up and goes to investigate.]
Sam:
What's to ruin? There's hardly any meat on them. What we need
it a few good taters.
Sméagol:
What's taters, Preciousss? What's taters? Huh?
Sam:
Po-ta-toes!! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew. Lovely
big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish.
Sméagol:[Spitting]
Phooh!
Sam:
Even you couldn't say no to that.
Sméagol:
Oh yes we could. Ssspoiling nice fish! Give it to us raw and
wwwriggling. You keep nasty chips!
Sam:
You're hopeless.
[Suddenly noticing his master's absence.]
Mr Frodo?
[Frodo, at a little distance, sees an army of Haradrim
soldiers marching nearby.]
Sam:
Who are they?
Sméagol:
Wicked men, servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The
Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. He
will soon be ready.
Sam:
Ready to do what?
Sméagol:
To make His war. The last war that will cover all the world in
shadow.
Frodo:
We've got to get moving. C'mon Sam.
Sam:
Mr. Frodo! Look! It's an Oliphant! No one at home will believe
this.
[Sméagol sneaks away.]
Frodo:
Sméagol?
[Chaos breaks out when the Haradrim are attacked from
the bushes.]
Frodo:
We've lingered here too long. C'mon Sam!
[A man appears behind Frodo and grabs him. Frodo
struggles, Sam charges, drawing his sword, and is caught by
another man.]
Sam:
Ah!
Faramir:
Bind their hands.
[The people of Edoras are heading towards Helm's Deep.
Eowyn walks beside Gimli's horse while he is talking to her about
dwarves]
Gimli:
It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they
are so alike in voice and appearance, they are often mistaken for
dwarf men.
[Eowyn turns around to look at Aragorn, who rides behind
with Théoden.]
Aragorn
[Whispering and gesturing with his hand]
It's the beards.
Gimli:
And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are
no dwarf women. And the dwarves just, spring out of holes in the
ground! Which is of course ridiculous. Whoa!
[Suddenly the horse takes off with Gimli, and he falls
from his horse.]
It's alright! It's alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate.
It was deliberate.
[Eowyn runs after him to help him up]
[It's night and Aragorn sits and smokes his
pipe.]
Arwen
The light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane. It is mine to
give to whom I will. Like my heart. Go to sleep.
Aragorn:
I am asleep. This is a dream.
Arwen:
Then it is a good dream. Sleep.
[Arwen bends over and kisses Aragorn. Then she gets up
and walk over to the pillar of the verandah.]
Aragorn:
Minlû pedich nin, i aur hen telitha.[Translation: "You told me once, this day would
come."]
Arwen:
Ú i vethed...nâ i onnad. Boe bedich go
Frodo. Han bâd lîn.
[Translation: "This is not the end. It is the beginning.
You must go with Frodo. That is your path."]
[Aragorn gets up and walks over to Arwen, puts his arm
loosely around her, and rests his head against her
forehead.]
Aragorn:
Dolen i vâd o nin.
[Translation: "My path is hidden from me."]
Arwen:
Si peliannen i vâd na dail lîn. Si boe
ú-dhannathach.
[Translation: "It is already laid before your feet, you
cannot falter now."]
Aragorn:
Arwen.
Arwen
Ae ú-esteliach nad... estelio han. Estelio
ammen.
[Translation: "If you trust nothing else, trust this.
Trust us."]
[They kiss and flashback ends]
[Aragorn and the people of Rohan continue their
journey.]
Éowyn:
Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel?
[Flashback to Elrond conversing with Aragorn at
Rivendell:]
ELROND
Our time here is ending. Arwen's time is ending. Let her go.
Let her take the ship into the West. Let her bear away her love
for you to the undying lands, there to be ever green.
Aragorn:
But never more than a memory.
ELROND
I will not leave my daughter here to die.
Aragorn:
She stays because she still has hope.
ELROND
She stays for YOU! She belongs with her people.
[Aragorn meets Arwen before the departure of the
Fellowship.]
Aragorn:
Edra le men, men na guil edwen... haer o
auth a nîr a naeth.[Translation: "You have a chance
for another life ...away from war... grief... despair."]
Arwen
Why are you saying this?
Aragorn:
I am mortal. You are elfkind. It was a dream Arwen, nothing
more.
[Aragorn tries to give the Evenstar back to
Arwen.]
Aragorn:
This belongs to you.
Arwen
It was a gift. Keep it.
[Flashback ends.]
Éowyn:
My lord?
Aragorn:
She is sailing to the undying lands, with all that is left of
her kin. [Two riders go on ahead to investigate]
Gamling:
What is it? Hama?
Hama
I'm not sure.
[A warg scout appears above them and attacks Hama,
killing him. Legolas immediately comes to the rescue, shooting
with his bow and finishing him off with a knife.]
Legolas: [to Aragorn:]
A scout!
Théoden:
What is it? What do you see?
Aragorn:
Orcs! We are under attack!
Théoden:
All riders to the head of the column!
Gimli:
[Being lifted onto Arod:] C'mon get me up here,
I'm a rider. Agh!
[He very nearly lands on the other side of the
horse]
Théoden: [to Éowyn]
You must lead the people to Helm's Deep. And make haste.
Éowyn:
I can fight!
Théoden:
No! You must do this. For me.
Théoden: [to the people]
Follow me!
Gimli: [On Arod, who walks backwards]
Forward, forward, march forward.
Éowyn:
[To the villagers]: Make for the lower ground.
Stick together!
[Legolas has been shooting Orcs. When Gimli on Arod
appears behind him, he slings himself up in front of Gimli. The
warg riders and the soldiers crash at full speed. They fight like
men (and Orcs). Gimli falls of the horse and a riderless warg
heads towards him.]
Gimli:
Bring your pretty face to my axe!
[Legolas shoots the warg.]
Gimli:
That one counts as mine!
[A dead warg lands on Gimli.]
Gimli:
Argh! Stinking creature!"
[[An orc appears over the dead warg, threatening Gimli,
who kills him by twisting his neck. Then another warg appears over
the dead orc and growls. Aragorn notices the danger to Gimli and
in passing grabs a spear, which he throws at the warg. Gimli is
safe, but immobile under two wargs and an orc. Aragorn gets thrown
off his horse by another warg, which then ignores him. He gets up
and catches an orc on a warg, swinging himself onto the warg
behind him. In the ensuing struggle Aragorn catches his hand in
the harness of the warg, and fights with the Orc rider, who
finally falls off. Aragorn and the warg tumble off the
cliff.]
Legolas:
Aragorn?
Gimli:
Aragorn?
[Legolas spots an Orc on the ground, laughing.]
Gimli:
Tell me what happened and I’ll ease your passing!
Legolas:
Where is he? Speak up!
Orc
Ghehehe, he's ... grrhhh... dead. He took a little tumble off
the cliff.
Legolas:
You lie!
[The Orc dies, and Legolas sees the Orc is holding
Evenstar in his hand. He takes it, and runs to the edge of the
cliff. As he looks down, we see a long drop to a fast moving river
below, but Aragorn is not to be seen. Gimli comes to stand beside
Legolas.]
Theoden:
[To Gamling]: Get the wounded on horses. The
wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead.
[Legolas turns to look at Théoden, an expression of
perplexed anger on his face.]
Theoden:
[He places his hand on Legolas' shoulder.]
[Gently]: Come.
[Théoden leaves, but Legolas and Gimli remain, still
looking down into the river in disbelief.]
[We see the people of Rohan approaching the refuge of
Helm's Deep. They shout in joy and relief, as it comes into
sight.]
Refugees:
Helm’s Deep! At last! There it is!
Old Woman:
[To Eowyn]: We’re safe, my lady! Thank you!
[Eowyn embraces the woman, as they walk on towards the
refuge. The gate is opened for them, and we are given our first
sight of the inside of Helm's Deep. We see that many people have
already arrived, and they are resting inside, along the corridors
of the great stone refuge. Out of the confusion, Eothain and Freda
run into their mother's arms.]
Freda:
Mama!
Mother:
Freda!
[As the three embrace, King Théoden enters with his
men.]
GUARD:
Make way for Théoden! Make way for the King!
[Éowyn runs out to meet them.]
Éowyn:
So few!
[She watches, as a small and weary crowd of Théoden's
men move past her, and into the refuge.]
[Anxiously]: So few of you have returned!
Théoden:
[As he dismounts]:
Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives.
[Gimli makes his way to Éowyn.]
Gimli:
My lady...
Éowyn:
[Much concerned, as though she has already guessed what
is to come.]
[Slowly]: Lord Aragorn, where is he?
Gimli:
[With bowed head]:
He fell...
[Shaken and teary-eyed, Éowyn raises her gaze to look at
Théoden. Unable to look his niece in the eye, Théoden looks down
and walks away.]
[At the battlements]:
Théoden:
Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set a
watch on the surround.
GUARD
What of those who cannot fight my lord? The women and
children?
Théoden:
Get them into the caves. Saruman's arm will have grown long
indeed if he thinks he can reach us here.
[At Isengard]
Grima: (Voiceover)
Helm's Deep has one weakness. It's outer wall is
solid rock but for a small culvert at its base, which is little
more than a drain.
[Saruman pours explosives into a metal ball.]
Grima:
How? How can fire undo stone? What kind of device could bring
down a wall?
Saruman:
If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall.
Grima:
Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond
reckoning, thousands to storm the keep.
Saruman:
Tens of thousands.
Grima:
But, my lord, there is no such force.
[They walk to the balcony of the tower Orthanc and Grima
looks in awe at tens of thousands of Orcs.]
Orc Army:
Durbgu nazgshu, Durbgu dashshu!
Saruman:
A new power is rising. It's victory is at hand. This night the
land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's
Deep! Leave none alive! To war! There will be no dawn for Men.
[Merry and Pippin, on Treebeard's shoulders, travel
through Fangorn Forest.]
Pippin:
Look! There is smoke to the south!
Treebeard:
There is always smoke rising from Isengard these days.
Merry:
Isengard?
Treebeard:
There was a time, when Saruman would walk in my woods, but
now, he has a mind of metal and wheels. He no longer cares for
growing things.
[Merry spots something.]
Pippin:
What is it?
Merry:
It's Saruman's army! The war has started.
[Aragorn floats down the river and washes ashore. He
dreams of Arwen.]
Arwen
May the grace of the Valar protect you.
[Brego the horse arrives and nudges Aragorn until he is
clear enough to climb onto his back while Brego kneels on the
ground beside him.]
Aragorn
Brego...
[At Rivendell:]
ELROND:
Arwen. Tollen i lû. I chair gwannar na
Valannor. Si bado, no círar.
[Translation: "Arwen. It is time. The ships are leaving
for Valinor. Go now before it is too late."]
Arwen:
I have made my choice.
ELROND:
He is not coming back. Why do you linger here when there is no
hope?"
Arwen:
[Whispers]:There is still hope.
ELROND:
If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If
Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for
comes true... you will still have to taste the bitterness of
mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn
will die. And there will be no comfort for you, no comfort to ease
the pain of his passing. He will come to death. An image of the
splendor of the kings of men in glory, undimmed before the
breaking of the world. But you, my daughter, you will linger on,
in darkness and in doubt. As nightfall winter that comes without a
star. Here you will dwell, bound to you grief, under the fading
trees, until all the world has changed and the long years of your
life are utterly spent. Arwen... there is nothing for you here,
only death.
A im ú-'erin veleth lîn?
[Translation: "Do I not also have your love?"
Arwen
Gerich meleth nîn, ada.
[Translation: "You have my love father."]
[The Elves (including Arwen) depart Rivendell.]
GALADRIEL
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, han
mathon ne chae a han noston ned 'wilith.[Translation: "The world is changed; I can feel it in the
water, I can feel it in the earth, I can smell it in the
air."]
The power of the enemy is growing. Sauron will use his
puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been
unleashed. The Eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor. The last free
kingdom of men. His war on this country will come swiftly. He
senses the Ring is close. The strength of the Ringbearer is
failing.
In his heart, Frodo begins to understand. The quest will
claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the
risk we all took. In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring
grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the
hands of men. Men, who are so easily seduced by its power. The
young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hand to take the
Ring for his own and the world will fall. It is close now, so
close to achieving his goal. For Sauron will have dominion over
all life on this Earth, even until the ending of the world. The
time of the elves is over. Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate?
Do we let them stand alone?
[Faramir and Parn look over a map.]
Faramir:
What news?
Parn:
Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Théoden’s people
have fled to Helm’s Deep. But we must look to our own borders.
Faramir, Orcs are on the move. Sauron is marshalling an army.
Easterlings and Southrons are passing through the Black Gate.
Faramir:
How many?
Parn:
Some thousands. More come every day.
Faramir:
Who’s covering the river to the north?
Parn:
We pulled five hundred men out of Osgiliath, but if the city
is attacked, we won’t hold it.
Faramir:
Saruman attacks from Isengard. Sauron from Mordor. The fight
will come to men on both fronts. Gondor is weak. Sauron will
strike us soon. And he will strike hard. He knows now we do not
have the strength to repel him.
Faramir:
[To Sam and Frodo]: My men tell me that you are
Orc spies.
Sam:
Spies! Now wait just a minute!
Faramir:
Well, if you’re not spies, then who are you?
Faramir:
Speak!
Frodo:
We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name and this
is Samwise Gamgee.
Faramir:
Your bodyguard?
Sam:
His gardener.
Faramir:
And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He
had an ill-favoured look.
Frodo:
There was no other. We set out from Rivendell with seven
companions. One we lost in Moria. Two were my kin. A dwarf there
was also. And an elf. And two men. Aragorn, son of Arathorn and
Boromir of Gondor.
Faramir:
You are a friend of Boromir?
Frodo:
Yes, for my part.
Faramir:
It would grieve you then to learn that he is dead.
Frodo:
Dead? How? When?
Faramir:
As one of his companions, I had hoped you would tell me. He
was my brother.
[That night, Faramir sits alone, deep in thought. One of
his men comes out from behind him.]
Lorne:
Captain Faramir.
[He goes to his side, and, placing his hand on his
shoulder, leans over to whisper something in his ear.]
[Whispers]: We found the...
[Accompanied by his guards, Faramir goes to the chamber
where Frodo and Sam lie. As Faramir approaches, Frodo opens his
eyes wearily.]
Faramir:
You must come with me. Now.
[Frodo is led outside.]
Faramir:
Down there.
[Frodo looks down to the Forbidden Pool and sees Sméagol
dive in.]
Faramir:
To enter the Forbidden Pool bears the penalty of death.
[Archers step out from the cave, arrows on strings,
ready to shoot.]
Faramir:
They wait for my command. Shall they shoot?
Sméagol:
[Singing]:
Rock and pool,
Is nice and cool,
So juicy sweeeet.
I only wish,
To catch a fish,
So juicy sweeeeet!
[Faramir's eye moves from Frodo, to Gollum, and to the
archers, his hand raised, preparing to command the archers. But,
just as he seems about to make the final movement, Frodo
speaks.]
Frodo:
Wait.
[Faramir stops, and turns to Frodo.]
This creature is bound to me. And I to him. He is our guide.
[Faramir raises his eyebrows.]
[Pleadingly]: Please, let me go down to him.
[Faramir nods, and Frodo makes his way down to the
Forbidden Pool. Frodo comes to a tall rock face by the Pool, and
stops behind it.]
Frodo:
Sméagol. Master is here.
[He beckons for Sméagol to come to him.]
Come, Sméagol. Trust master. Come.
Sméagol:
We must... go now?
Frodo:
Sméagol, you must trust master. Follow me, come on. Come.
Come, Sméagol. Nice Sméagol. That’s it. Come on.
[As Sméagol comes to the rock face behind which Frodo
stands, Faramir's men jump on him, wrestling him to the
ground.]
Frodo:
Don’t hurt him! Sméagol, don’t struggle! Sméagol, listen to
me!
Sméagol:
[Wailing]: Master!
[A black cloth is thrown over Sméagol's head. Frodo
stares after them, distraught, as Faramir leads Sméagol and his
men away.]
[Sméagol is brought to the cave, and thrown to the
ground. Crying, he curls up in a corner.]
Faramir:
Where are you leading them? Answer me!
Gollum:
Sméagol... Why are you crying, Sméagol?
Sméagol:
Cruel men hurts us. Master tricksed us.
Gollum:
Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was
false.
Sméagol:
Master is our friend... our friend.
Gollum:
Master betrayed ussss!
Sméagol:
No, not it’s business. Leave us alone.
Gollum:
Filthy little hobbitsesss! They stole it from usss!
Sméagol:
No... no...
Faramir:
What did they steal?
Gollum:
[Shouting, angrily]: My - PRECIOUS!!!!
[Sam and Frodo are huddled in a room.]
Sam:
We have to get out of here. You go. Go now. You can do it. Use
the Ring, Mr. Frodo. Just this once. Put it on. Disappear.
Frodo:
I can’t. You were right, Sam. You tried to tell me. I’m sorry.
The Ring’s taking me, Sam. If I put it on, He’ll find me. He’ll
see.
Sam:
Mr. Frodo...
[Suddenly Faramir enters, draws his sword and with it,
lifts the chain holding the One Ring at Frodo's neck.]
Faramir:
So... this is the answer to all the riddles. Here in the wild
I have two halflings and a host of men at my call. And the Ring of
power within my grasp. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to
show his quality.
Frodo:
No!
Sam:
Stop it! Leave him alone! Don’t you understand?! He’s going to
destroy it. That’s where we’re going. To Mordor. To the Mountain
of Fire.
MALAMIR:
[Entering]: Osgiliath is under attack. They call
for reinforcements.
Sam:
[To Faramir]: Please. It’s such a burden. Will
you not help him?
MALAMIR
Captain?
Faramir:
Prepare to leave. The Ring will go to Gondor.
[Aragorn sees the army of Saruman and quickly rides to
Helm's Deep.]
Aragorn:
Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn.
[Translation: "Well done, Brego, my friend."]
[Aragorn enters Helm's Deep.]
Gimli:
Where is he! Where is he! Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill
him! You are the the luckiest, the canniest, and most reckless man
I ever knew! Bless you, laddie!
Aragorn:
Gimli, where is the king?
[Aragorn encounter Legolas.]
Legolas:
Le ab-dollen.[Translation:
"You’re late."]
You look terrible.
[From a distance, Éowyn watches them talk, and moves as
though meaning to join them. But she stops when Legolas takes out
the Evenstar, and hands it to Aragorn.]
Aragorn:
Hannon le.
[Translation: "Thank you."]
[Inside, Aragorn talks to Théoden.]
Théoden:
A great host, you say?
Aragorn:
All Isengard is emptied.
Théoden:
How many?
Aragorn:
Ten thousand strong at least.
Théoden:
Ten-thousand?!
Aragorn:
It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world
of Men. They will be here by nightfall.
Théoden:
Let them come.
[Théoden walks outside.]
Théoden:
I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready
for battle by nightfall. We will cover the causeway and the gate
from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot
inside the Hornburg.
Gimli:
This is not a rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai.
Their armor is thick and their shields broad.
Théoden:
I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my
own keep. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock.
Saruman’s hordes will pillage and burn. We’ve seen it before.
Crops can be resown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will
outlast them.
Aragorn:
They do not come to destroy Rohan’s crops or villages. They
come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!
Théoden:
What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs
by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make
such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!
Aragorn:
Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid.
Théoden:
And who will come. Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our
friends as you. The old alliances are dead.
Aragorn:
Gondor will answer.
Théoden:
Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was
Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon.. No,
my lord Aragorn, we are alone.
[Théoden walks away from Aragorn.]
Théoden:
Get the women and children into the caves.
Gamling:
We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord.
Théoden:
There is no time. War is upon us!
Gamling:
Secure the gate.
[Meanwhile, back in Fangorn:]
Treebeard:
The ents have not troubled about the wars of men and wizards
for a very long time. But now something is about to happen that
has not happened for an age: an ent moot.
Merry:
What’s that?
Treebeard:
't is a gathering.
Merry:
A gathering of what?
[Ents begin to surround them.]
Treebeard:
Beech, Oak, Chestnut, Ash. Good, good, good. Many have come.
Now we must decide if the ents will go to war.
[Back at Helm's Deep. Voices of guards telling the
people to 'go to the caves!' We see the people are taken into the
caves. Husbands and sons are taken away from their wives and
mothers and are given weapons.]
Aragorn:
Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers.
Gimli:
Most have seen too many winters.
Legolas:
Or too few. Look at them. They’re frightened. I can see it in
their eyes.
Boe a hyn: neled herain... dan caer
menig!?
[Translation: "And they should be... 300 against
10.000!"]
Aragorn:
Si beriathar hýn ammaeg nâ ned
Edoras.
[Translation: "They have a better chance defending
themselves here than in Edoras."]
Legolas:
Aragorn, nedin dagor hen ú-'erir ortheri.
Natha daged dhaer.
[Translation: "They cannot win this fight. They are all
going to die!"]
Aragorn:
Then I shall die as one of them!
[Aragorn exits.]
Gimli:
[To Legolas]: Let him go, lad. Let him be.
[Overview of Helm's Deep, then over to a brightly lit
space where Théoden is preparing to put on his armour.]
Gamling: (Voiceover)
Every villager able to wield a sword has been sent
to the armory. My lord?
Théoden:
Who am I, Gamling?
Gamling:
You are our king, sire.
Théoden:
And you trust your king?
Gamling:
Your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end.
Théoden:
To whatever end.
Théoden (Voiceover):
Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the
horn that was blowing?
[We see an old woman whetting a sword on a
whet-stone. We see the Uruk-hai army march, and old men and
frightened looking young boys of Rohan being kitted out with
swords, spears, helmets and chainmail.]
They have passed like rain on the mountains.
Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west.
Behind the hills, into shadow.
[More Uruk-hai marching, and young boys
getting their arms]
Théoden:
How did it come to this?
[Overview of Helm's Deep being prepared for action. Pan
to Aragorn, who is sitting alone on the stairs outside, watching
the preparations. He sees a confused looking boy with a
sword.]
Aragorn:
Give me your sword. What is your name?
Háleth:
Háleth, son of Háma, my lord. The men are saying that we will
not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless.
[Aragorn stands up and wields the sword.]
Aragorn:
This is a good sword, Háleth, son of Háma. There is always
hope.
[Inside, Aragorn is putting on his armour. Legolas is
suddenly with him and hands him his sword.]
Legolas:
We have trusted you this far, you have not led us astray.
Forgive me. I was wrong to despair.
Aragorn:
Ú-moe edhored, Legolas.
[Translation: "There is nothing to forgive,
Legolas."]
[Gimli gets into his chainmail, then looks down
hopelessly. The mail drags across the floor.]
Gimli:
If we had time, I'd get this adjusted. It’s a little tight
across the chest.
[A fair sounding horn sounds outside the gates.]
Legolas:
That is no Orc horn!
[They rush outside.]
Hasslebak:
Send for the king. Open the gate!
[The gates are opened, and an army of elves march
in.]
Théoden:
How is this possible?
Haldir:
I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once
existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died
together. We come to honour that allegiance.
Aragorn:
Mae govannen, Haldir!
[Translation: "Wel met, Haldir"]
You are most welcome!
Haldir:
We are proud to fight alongside men once more.
[Saruman's army approaches. Legolas stands ready to
fight, but Gimli looks up, frustrated, for his head stands well
below the wall, and he cannot see a thing.]
Gimli:
Arg... You could have picked a better spot.
[Aragorn approaches.]
Gimli:
Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let’s hope it lasts the
night.
Legolas:
Your friends are with you, Aragorn.
Gimli:
Let’s hope they last the night.
[Thunder clashes and it begins to rain heavily. We go
inside, to where the women are anxiously awaiting the battle. Then
back to the armies outside. Aragorn gives a final pep talk to the
Elves.]
Aragorn:
A Eruchin, ú-dano i faelas a hyn, an uben
tanatha le faelas.
[Translation: "Show them no mercy for you shall receive
none!"][The Uruk-hai army stops at a little distance
from the Deeping Wall. Silence falls and the women inside the
caves are seen to be really scared by now. Children are crying.
Outside, the Uruk-Hai growl but don't move]
Gimli:
[Impatiently]: What’s happening out there?
Legolas:
[Smiling] Shall I describe it to you? Or would
you like me to find you a box?
[Gimli gives a hearty laugh.]
[The Uruk-hai start stamping their spears on the ground.
Aragorn draws his sword and the elf-soldiers put their arrows to
their bows. Then an old man accidentally shoots an Orc.]
Aragorn:
Dartho!
[Translation: "Hold!"]
[The Uruks roar in anger and charge.]
Théoden:
So it begins.
Aragorn:
Tangado a chadad!
[Translation: "Prepare to fire"]
[To the Elves]:
Faeg i-varv... dîn na lanc a nu
ranc!
[Translation: "Their armour is weak at the neck and
under the arms.]
Aragorn:
Leithio i philinn!
[Translation: "Fire the arrows!"]
[The Elves shoot.]
Gimli:
Anybody hit anything?
Théoden:
Give them a volley.
Gamling:
Fire!
Aragorn:
Ribed... had!
[No translation given, however "Ribed" and "had"
translate literally to mean "flinging and "hurl"]
Gimli:
Send them to me! Come on!
[Arrows fly, orcs and elves fall. The battle is fierce.
Then Aragorn spots something and shouts a warning.]
Aragorn:
Pendraith!
[Translation: "Ladders!"]
Gimli:
Good!
[The Uruk-hai climb the ladders.]
Aragorn:
Swords! Swords!
[Now there is fierce elf-to-uruk (and dwarf-to-uruk)
fighting on the battlements, with the uruks hurling themselves up
via their ladders]
Gimli:
Legolas, two already!
Legolas:
I’m on seventeen!
Gimli:
Arg! I’ll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!
Legolas:
Nineteen!
[Back at Entmoot:]
Pippin:
Merry!
Treebeard:
We have just agreed.
[Pause]
Merry:
Yes?
Treebeard:
I have told your names to the ent moot and we have agreed: you
are not Orcs.
Pippin:
Well that’s good news.
Merry:
And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision about him?
Treebeard:
Now don’t be hasty, Master Meriadoc.
Merry:
Hasty? Our friends are out there. They need our help! They
cannot fight this war on their own.
Treebeard:
War, yes. It affects us all. But you must understand, young
hobbit. It takes a long time to say anything in old entish, and we
never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.
[Below, an Uruk soldier carrying one of Saruman’s metal
balls, runs towards the culvert beneath the wall. Another Uruk
follows him with a second ball. A great Uruk soldier with a torch
is running towards the hole. Aragorn sees this and calls for
Legolas.]
Aragorn:
Togo han dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago
hon!!!
[Translation: "Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill
him!"]
[Legolas hits the Uruk with two arrows, but fails to
kill it, and the Uruk-hai takes out the wall with the explosives.
The women in the caves look up at the sudden noise of the
explosion. Saruman's army starts to crowd through the hole in the
wall.]
Théoden:
Brace the gates! Hold them! Stand fast!" >DT>Gimli:
Aragorn!
[Gimli jumps right in among the Orc warriors. Aragorn
calls out to him.]
Aragorn:
Gimli!
[To his warriors]:
Hado i philinn! Herio!
[Translation: "Hurl the arrows! Charge!"]
[A terrific fight ensues. Legolas, who is still on top
of the Deeping Wall, sees what's happening, grabs an orc shield
and uses it to 'surf' down the stairs, shooting orcs as he sails
along.]
[At Entmoot:]
Treebeard:
The ents cannot hold back this war. We must weather such
things as we have always done.
Merry:
How can that be your decision?
Treebeard:
This is not our war.
Merry:
But your part of this world! Aren’t you? You must help.
Please. You must do something.
Treebeard:
You are young and brave, master Merry. But your part in this
tale is over. Go back to your home. [Desillusioned, Merry
puts his coat back on. Pippin tries to comfort him.]
Pippin:
Maybe Treebeard’s right. We don’t belong here, Merry. It’s too
big for us. What can we do in the end? We’ve got the Shire. Maybe
we should go home.
Merry:[With sudden insight]
The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods of
Tuckborough and Buckland will burn. And... and all that was once
green and good in this world will be gone. There won’t be a Shire,
Pippin.
[Back at Helm's Deep:]
Théoden:
Aragorn, pull back to the keep! Get your men out of there!
Aragorn:
Nan Barad! Nan Barad! Haldir! Nan
Barad!
[Translation: "To the Keep! To the Keep! Haldir! To the
Keep!"]
[Haldir nods at him and calls to the others. Gimli is
being dragged away against his will.]
Gimli:
What are you doing? Stop it!
[Haldir is mortally wounded]
Aragorn:
Haldir!
[Aragorn runs up the stairs and takes Haldir in his arms
as he dies. Then goes back to the battle with renewed
vigour.]
Gamling:
Brace the gate!
Théoden:
To the gate! Draw your swords!
Gamling:
We can’t hold much longer.
Théoden:
Hold them!
[Aragorn approaches.]
Aragorn:
How long do you need?
Théoden:
As long as you can give me!
Aragorn:
Gimli!
[Aragorn and Gimli exit through a secret side
gate.]
Théoden:
Brace the gate!
Gimli:
Oh, come on. We can take them!
Aragorn:
It’s a long way.
Gimli:
Toss me.
Aragorn:
What?
Gimli:
I cannot jump the distance so you'll have to toss me. Ehh..
Don’t tell the elf.
Aragorn:
Not a word.
[Aragorn tosses Gimli, then jumps the gap himself. The
two of them battle the Orcs at the front gate, slaughtering
many.]
Théoden:
Shore up the door!
[Some men come with long beams and pieces of wood for
the door. The shout things like: 'make way!', 'to the barricade',
'let's go past', another one over here!' Meanwhile, the orcs are
preparing a huge catapult with anchors to shoot ropes over the
battlements. They start pulling up large frames, like giant
ladders, which can carry many more orcs at one time. Legolas sees
what's happening and shoots one of the ropes, so at least one
frame full of orcs fall to the ground. Aragorn and Gimli are still
fighting ferociously just outside the Gate, giving the men a
chance to repare the door. When that is done -]
Théoden:
Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!
[Aragorn looks around him for a way out, and he and
Gimli are picked up by an Orc.]
Legolas:
[From above]: Aragorn!
[Legolas throws down a rope, Aragorn bashes the orc in
his ribs so he lets them go and he and Gimli are pulled to
safety.]
Théoden:[As the uruks finally force the gate]
Pull everybody back. Pull them back!
Gamling:
Pull back! Pull back!
Théoden:
They have broken through! The castle is free! Retreat!
Retreat!
Aragorn:
Hurry! Inside! Get them inside!
Voice:
Into the keep!
[Meanwhile, back at Fangorn Forest...]
Treebeard:
I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can
make your way north to your homeland from there.
Pippin:
Wait! Stop! Stop! Turn around. Turn around. Take us south!
Treebeard:
South? But that will lead you past Isengard.
Pippin:
Yes. Exactly. If we go south we can slip past Saruman
unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from
harm. It’s the last thing he’ll expect.
Treebeard:
Hmmmm. That doesn’t make sense to me. But then, you are very
small. Perhaps you're right. South it is then. Hold on, little
Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow it feels like going
downhill.
Merry:
Are you mad, we’ll be caught.
Pippin:
No we won’t. Not this time.
[Faramir and his company approach Osgiliath with Frodo,
Sam, and Gollum as captives.]
Parn:
Look. Osgiliath burns. Mordor has come.
Frodo:
The Ring will not save Gondor. It has only the power to
destroy. Please, let me go.
[Faramir looks at Frodo, but then gestures to his men to
move.]
Faramir:
Hurry.
Frodo:
[Desperately]: Faramir, you must let me go!
[Treebeard approaches the edge of Fangorn
Forest.]
Treebeard:
... and a little family of field mice that climb up sometimes
and they tickle me awfully. They’re always trying to get
somewhere.
[Treebeard walks into an open area, where every tree has
been brutally cut down.]
Treebeard:
OH! Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I have
known from nut and acorn.
Pippin:
I’m sorry, Treebeard.
Treebeard:
They had voices of their own. Saruman. A wizard should know
better!
[Treebeard lets out a powerful call that reverberates
throughout Fangorn.]
Treebeard:
[With wrath]: There is no curse in elvish, entish
or the tongues of men for this treachery! My business is with
Isengard tonight. With rock and stone.
[The Ents come marching out of the forest, ready to take
Isengard.]
Merry:
Yes!
Treebeard:
Rárum-rum! Come my friends. The ents are going to war. It is
likely that we go to our doom. The last march of the ents.
[meanwhile at Osgiliath...]
Parn:
Faramir, Orcs have taken the eastern shore. Their numbers are
too great. By nightfall we’ll be overrun.
[Frodo sways uneasily.]
Sam:
Mr. Frodo!
Frodo:
[Faintly]:
It’s calling to him, Sam. His Eye is almost on me.
[Sam speaks to him, but to Frodo, his words seem to fade,
and echo.]
Sam:
Hold on, Mr. Frodo. It'll be alright. [Echo]:...
alright...
[We see Sam speaking to Frodo, but Frodo hears nothing,
but strange sounds of grinding stone, and of wings.]
Faramir:
[To his men]: Take them to my father. Tell him
Faramir sends a mighty gift.
[Sam looks at him incredulously.]
A weapon that will change our fortunes in this war.
Sam:
[Suddenly courageous and decisive]
You wanna know what happened to Boromir? You wanna know why
your brother died? He tried to take the Ring from Frodo. After
swearing an oath to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring
drove your brother mad!
[The Ringwraiths approach. Frodo knows.]
Sam:
Mr. Frodo?
Frodo:
They’re here. They’ve come.
Ringwraith:
[Screeches]
Faramir:
Nazgûl!
[A Ringwraith flies over Osgiliath and Faramir leads the
hobbits to safety.]
Faramir:
Stay here. Keep out of sight.
[To his men]Take cover!
[Back at Helm's Deep:]
Théoden:
The fortress is taken. It is over.
Aragorn:
You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend
it. They still defend it. They have died defending it!
[The orcs have now taken the ram to the inner door. The
women hear the resouding booms and one of them screams: 'They're
breaking in!' Others call: 'The door! The door!' Children
cry.]
Aragorn:
Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of
the caves?
[Théoden is dazed and doesn't respond. In the
background, Legolas picks up the laden table, tips off the
crockery and the candles and takes it to shore up the door.
Gamling hesitates and Aragorn does not get an answer.]
Aragorn:
Is there no other way?
Gamling:
There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they
will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many.
[The Uruk-hai ram the door. Aragorn takes the
lead.]
Aragorn:
Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain
pass. And barricade the entrance!
Théoden:
So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?
Aragorn:
Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.
Théoden:
For death and glory.
Aragorn:
For Rohan. For your people.
Gimli:
The sun is rising.
(Flashback Voiceover) Gandalf:
Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day.
At dawn look to the East.
Théoden:
Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep
one last time.
Gimli:
Yes!
[Gimli climbs up to blow the Horn.]
Théoden:
Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds
awake. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn!
[Gimli reaches the Horn and blows it. A resounding blast
gives hope to the people. In the meantime, the orcs break down the
door and are suddenly confronted with a small army on
horseback.]
Théoden:
Forth Eorlingas!
[Aragorn, Legolas, Théoden, ride out and clear a path.
Aragorn stops for a moment and looks up to the east. There he sees
Gandalf, who has just arrived when he had said he would.]
Aragorn:
Gandalf.
[The sudden light which streams down from the eastern
slope alarms the orcs, who are confused, turn towards the light.
They see the danger coming and assemble at the bottom of the
slore, ready to take on the newcomers.]
Gandalf:
Théoden-king stands alone.
[Eomer appears.]
Éomer:
Not alone. Rohirrim!
Théoden:
Éomer!
Éomer:
To the king!
[Gandalf and the Riders of Rohan ride through the army
of Orcs.]
[At Isengard, the Ents are having a field-day. They rip
the place apart. Saruman looks on in disbelief.]
Treebeard:
A hit. A fine hit. Break the dam! Release the river!
Merry:
Pippin, hold on!
Treebeard:
Hold on, little hobbits!
[The waters swallow Isengard as Treebeard with the
hobbits and the rest of the Ents stand their ground.]
[Back to Osgiliath, Frodo walks out into the
open.]
Sam:
What are you doing? Where are you going?
[The Ringwraith riding the Fell Beast approaches. Frodo
is about to put on the Ring when Sam runs up and tackles him.
Faramir shoots the Ringwraith's steed with his bow. The hobbits
roll down the stairs, Sam landing on Frodo who rolls over and
draws his sword preparing to kill Sam.]
Sam:
It’s me. It’s your Sam. Don’t you know your Sam?
[Frodo comes to his senses and drops Sting.]
Frodo:
I can’t do this, Sam.
Sam:
I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here.
But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones
that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And
sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the
end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when
so much bad had happened.
[At Helm's Deep, Aragorn and Éowyn embrace as Rohan,
with the help of the Rohirrim, is victorious.]
Sam:
But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even
darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines
it will shine out the clearer.
[The sun shines on Isengard, as Merry, Pippin, and the
Ents celebrate victory.]
Sam:
Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant
something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I
think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those
stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. They
kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo:
What are we holding on to, Sam?
Sam:
[He helps Frodo up and says:]
That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s
worth fighting for.
[Frodo looks at Sam, a tear in his eye, and as the camera
moves to Gollum, we see that even he is moved by Sam's words, for
a confused sadness comes into his face.]
[We see Faramir watching them from a distance, and he
walks slowly towards the two Hobbits. They turn around, half
fearful, but he faces Frodo sympathetically, and lowers himself
onto his knees.]
Faramir:
I think at last... we understand one another, Frodo Baggins.
[As his friend speaks to him, Faramir turns around
sharply, and rises.]
Parn:
You know the laws of our country. The laws of your father. If
you let them go, your life will be forfeit.
[Alarm comes into the faces of the three companions.
Faramir pauses briefly.]
Faramir:
[Determinedly]:Then it is forfeit.
[Commandingly]: Release them.
[Frodo looks up at him in wonder, while Sam shakes the
hands of his guard off his shoulder.]
[Gandalf and company look East, towards Mordor.]
Gandalf:
Sauron’s wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The
battle for Helm’s Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is
about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits.
Somewhere in the wilderness.
[Frodo and Sam are once again in the wilderness, led by
Gollum.]
Sam:
I wonder if we’ll ever be put into songs or tales.
Frodo:
What?
Sam:
I wonder if people will ever say, ‘let’s hear about Frodo and
the Ring.’
And they’ll say, ‘yes, that’s one of my favorite stories.
Frodo was really courageous, wasn’t he, dad.’
‘Yes, my boy, the most famousest of hobbits. And that’s saying
a lot.’
Frodo:
You left out one of the chief characters. 'Samwise the Brave.
I want to hear more about Sam. Frodo wouldn’t have got far without
Sam.’
Sam:
Now Mr. Frodo, you shouldn’t make fun. I was being serious.
Frodo:
So was I.
Sam:
Samwise the Brave.
Frodo:
Sméagol!
Sam:
We’re not gonna wait for you. Come on.
[Sméagol is a bit ahead.]
Sméagol:
Master... Master looks after us. Master wouldn’t hurt us.
Gollum:
Master broke his promise!
Sméagol:
Don’t ask Sméagol. Poor, poor Sméagol.
Gollum:
Master betrayed us! Wicked, tricksy, false! We ought to wring
his filthy little neck! Kill him! Kill him! Kill them both. And
then we take the Preciousss and we be the master.
Sméagol:
But the fat hobbit. He knows. Eyes always watching.
Gollum:
Then we stabs them out. Put out his eyses. And make him crawl.
Sméagol:
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Gollum:
Kill them both.
Sméagol:
Yes! No. No. It’s too risky, it’s too risky.
Sam:
Where’s he gone? Oi! Gollum, where are you?
Frodo:
Sméagol?
Gollum:
We could let 'Her' do it.
Sméagol:
Yes. She could do it.
Gollum:
Yes, Precious, She could. And then we takes it once they’re
dead.
Sméagol:
Once they’re dead. Hush!
[He comes out from behind the trees, and appears in front of
Frodo and Sam.]
Come on, hobbits. Long ways to go yet. Sméagol will show you
the way.
Gollum:
Follow me.
[Fade to black.]
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