ACT I

SCENE 1

[sharon awakens as if from a nightmare]

sharon- gandalf!
maryann- what is it, sha?
sharon- just a weird dream i just had.

SCENE 2

[sharon and maryann are climbing down a high cliff face using maryann’s rope]

[sharon is below maryann]

maryann- can you see the bottom? cuz this is fuckin’ high!

sharon- no! don't look down, maryann! just keep going!

maryann- shit!

[wallet falls from maryann's pocket]

maryann- oh! catch it! grab it, sharon!

[sharon grabs the keys]

[sharon slips and falls to the bottom]

sharon- [calls up] dude, i think i’ve found the bottom.

maryann- [climbing down] rope and heights, and goodness knows what. it's not natural. none of it.

sharon- [looks at the wallet] your wallet, have any money?

maryann- no…but there’s nothing to buy here that i like!

sharon- no money?!

maryann- no...so drop it!

sharon- maryann? got any pics?

[sharon opens the wallet]

maryann- it's very special, that. it's the pictures we all took back home.

sharon- it is special. it's a little bit of home. [she goes to where the rope is hanging] we can't leave this for someone to follow us down.

maryann- who's gonna follow us down here?…too bad, lady galadriel gave me that. real elvish rope. anyways, there's nothing for it, it's one of my knots. it’s strong it’ll stay!.

[maryann tugs on rope]

[the knot loosens and the rope falls around them]

sharon- real elvish rope?

[later, sharon and maryann walk over rocky terrain emyn muil… they look into the distance they see mount doom]

maryann- dude, i think we’re lost, already...and i don’t think you want to know that. [pointing at the mountian] we’re going there? freaky!!!! i don’t think gandalf meant for us to come this way.
sharon- he didn’t know what was gunna happen. so really, we’re just going where the road takes us...to mount doom.

[sharon feels and sees the eye zooming in on her. she gasps and pants as she backs away]

maryann- what’s wrong? it’s the ring, huh?
sharon- yeah, it’s getting heavier.

[sharon clutches the ring by her chest and sits down, still panting. she then fumbles for her water bottle and takes a drink]

sharon- do we have anymore food left, or did you eat it all?
maryann- why would you say that? to make you feel happy, i didn’t eat all the food that’s left. [she takes out a package of lembas bread from her backpack] see!!!! i told you so. here’s some lembas bread. [she digs deeper into her backpack and laughs] and more lembas bread.

[maryann breaks a piece off for her and sharon. maryann tosses the piece towards sharon]

maryann- even though this food is from a different world, this shit is pretty good.
sharon- [laughs] yeah you’re right, nothing dampens your spirit, does it?

maryann- [smiles] looks who’s talking.

[maryann looks ominously towards mordor]

maryann- maybe that might though, huh?

sharon- yeah, dude can’t believe we made it this far.

maryann- uh huh.

[night falls, sharon and maryann sit huddled in the rain]

[gollum looks down from above]

[sharon looks up, worried]

[they continue walking through difficult terrain, often huddling underneath their cloaks]

maryann- this place looks so familiar, it’s like deja vu or something

sharon- [exasperated] i know, huh? i think we’ve been here before. i think we’re going in circles. damnit!

maryann- what’s that fuckin’ smell?! can we leave...i don’t like it here. let’s go and rest or something.

sharon- i know, let’s move on and rest. and it seems like someone is watching us, we’re not alone.

SCENE 3

[sharon and maryann sleep]

[a dark shape appears on top of the cliff]

[the creature gollum has appeared and is making his way down to the hobbits]

gollum- they’re thieves! they’re thieves! they’re filthy little thieves! where is it? where isss it? they stole it from us. my preciousss. [gollum creeps closer and closer] curse them! we hates them! it’s ours, it is... and we wantssss it!

[gollum reaches out his hand towards the hobbits]

[the hobbits spring up, grab hold of gollum’s arms and pull him down]

[amidst the struggle, gollum wriggles loose and leaps onto sharon]

[sharon falls back, the chain and Ring around her neck is revealed and gollum jumps straight for the ring]

[maryann grabs him but is knocked away]

[gollum now jumps on top of sharon and tries to reach for the Ring. then sharon grabs his hands and pushes him away]

[golumm jumps back on sharon, sharon falls to the ground]

[gollum’s cheeks puff with exertion as he struggles with sharon, his eyes are fixed on the Ring]

[maryann grabs gollum and tears him away from sharon]

[gollum then turns around and bites maryann on the shoulder]

maryann- you fucker!!! that fuckin’ hurts! you’ll pay for that. god damnit! what were you thinking! asshole!

[maryann kicks gollum]

[gollum jumps back on maryann and straggles her neck with a death grip]

[sharon unsheathes sting and holds it towards gollum’s throat]

sharon- [menacingly] this is sting. you’ve seen it before, haven’t you... gollum! release her or i’ll cut your throat!

[slowly, gollum loosens his grip on maryann , then gollum wails]

[gollum is being dragged by maryann’s elvish gift the rope...the rope is tied around gollum’s neck, and he’s in pain]

gollum- it burns! it burns us! it freezes! nasty elves twisted it. take it off us!
maryann- shut up! you deserve it! you bit me!

[maryann tugs fiercely at the rope. gollum cries some more and collapses onto his back. maryann turns to sharon in dismay]

maryann- dude, he can’t shut the fuck up. i betcha everyone could frickin’ hear this major pain in the ass. let’s just leave him...or tie him up and leave him. that would work for me. what do you think?

gollum- no! that would kill us! kill us!

maryann- you deserve it, more than you think. you fuckin bit me! asshole! don’t forget that!

sharon- does he really deserve it, think about it. look at him! i 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.
sharon- are you really sure you can keep it. can i trust you?

gollum- we swears to serve the master of the preciousss. we swears on the... on the precious. [cough] gollum. gollum.
sharon- the ring is treacherous. it will hold you to your word. i hope.
gollum- yes... on the preciousss. on the preciousss.
maryann- i don’t believe you! [gollum backs away, frightened, and climbs onto a boulder] get down! get down!

[maryann jerks strongly at the rope as gollum tries to get away from her. he crashes onto the ground, choking]

sharon- maryann!

maryann- he’s trying to play with our minds! if you untie him he’ll go after the ring, do you want that?!
sharon- well i suppose not...but come on [brings maryann to the side, whispering]...how is he gunna show us the way to the black gate.

[gollum lies panting and holding his throat. he backs away, frightened, as sharon approaches him]

sharon- you know the way to mordor, don’t you?
gollum- [nods warily] yes...
sharon- you’ve been there before?
gollum- [nods again] yes...

[sharon reaches out and takes the rope off of gollum’s neck]

[gollum seems surprised and relieved]

sharon- you will lead us to the black gate.

[gollum scrambles off and the two hobbits follow him]

smeagol- to the gate, to the gate! to the gate, the masters says. yes!

gollum- no! we won't go back. not there. not to him. they can't make us. [coughs] gollum! gollum!

smeagol- but we swore to serve the master of the precious!

gollum- no. ashes and dust and thirst there is, and pits, pits, pits. and orcses, thousands of orcses. and always the great eye watching, watching.

[gollum shrieks at the hobbits and runs off]

maryann- hey! come back now! come back! there, what did i tell you? he's run off, the old bastard who bit me. so much for his promises.

gollum- [peeking out] this way hobbitses! follow me!

[gollum scrambles off in the direction of morannon and they follow him]

ACT II

SCENE 1

[a band of uruk-hai marches across the plain, with two hobbits bound to the backs of two uruk-hai]

[katie tries to call to elysa, who is unconscious with a gash on her right brow]

katie- elysa. elysa! [she receives no response]

[an uruk-hai puts up his hand and signals a stop]

uglúk- what is it?

[the uruk-hai stop]

[grishnahk and a few orcs emerge]

grishnakh- you're late. our master grows impatient. he wants the shire-rats now.

uglúk- i don't take orders from orc-maggots. saruman will have his prize. we will deliver them.

[grishnakh snaps his teeth at the uruks]

katie- elysa! elysa! wake up! [to uruk] my friend is sick! she needs water. please!

uglúk- sick is she? give her some medicine, boys!

[uruks growl, then one pours a sticky liquid into elysa's mouth]

[elysa chokes]

katie- shit, what in the blue hell are you doing? stop it!

uglúk- can't take her draught! [laughs]

katie- leave her alone!

uglúk- why? you want some? huh? then keep your mouth shut.

katie- elysa.

elysa- hello, kate.

katie- you're hurt.

elysa- i'm fine. it was just an act.

katie- an act?

elysa- see? i fooled you too. don't worry about me, katie.

[maúhur sniffs]

uglúk- what do you smell?
maúhur- [sniffs the air] man-flesh.
katie- [quietly to herself] aragorn!
uglúk- they've picked up our trail! let's go!

[the uruk-hai quicken their pace]

[katie struggles to reach her elven brooch with her teeth]

[she then tears it off her cloak and drops it onto the ground]

[a foot stomps onto the brooch but it remains unbroken and visible on the grass]

SCENE 2

[aragorn is lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the ground, listening for the sound of footsteps]

aragorn- their pace has quickened. [he looks up] they must have caught our scent. hurry!

[aragorn runs off]

legolas- [looks back at gimli] come on, gimli! [then runs after aragorn]
gimli- [pauses in his steps and huffs] three days ‘and nights’ pursuit. no food. no rest. and no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell.

[gimli runs after his companions]

[the three run across rocks and plains, with aragorn in the lead, followed by legolas and gimli]

[from time to time, legolas looks back to make sure that gimli is keeping up]

legolas- hurry!!

[aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an elven brooch from the ground]

aragorn- not idly do the leaves of lórien fall.
legolas- [stops and turns to aragorn] they may yet be alive.
aragorn- less than a day ahead of us. come! [runs off again]

[gimli stumbles from behind some rocks and rolls to the ground]

legolas- come, gimli! we are gaining on them!
gimli- [panting] shit, i am wasted on cross-country! we dwarves are natural sprinters! very dangerous over short distances!
legolas- what did you say?!

gimli- i think those hobbits are having an affect on me.

legolas- [thinking] i hope sharon is alright. especially the others.

[the three come over a hill and pause as they gaze across the plains below]

aragorn- rohan. home of the horse-lords. there is something strange at work here. some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us.

[legolas runs ahead and looks out to the horizon]

aragorn- legolas, what do your elf eyes see?
legolas- the uruks turn northeast. they’re taking the hobbits to isengard!
aragorn- saruman.

SCENE 3

[the tower of orthanc stands amidst the smoking caverns of isengard]

[saruman stands in his chamber, communicating with the dark lord through the palantír]

saruman- the world is changing.

[the tower of barad-dûr, with its huge orc armies on a bridge]

saruman - 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?

[along the height of the tower of barad-dûr the flaming eye is at top]

saruman - together, my lord sauron, we shall rule this middle-earth.

[the trees around isengard are being ripped down, chopped up and used to feed huge furnaces]

[the caverns of isengard glow with the fires of industry, sounds of hammering fill the air and molten iron is poured into casts to forge weapons]

saruman- the old world will burn in the fires of industry. forests will fall. a new order will rise. we will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the orc. we have only to remove those who oppose us.

[at the pits of isengard]

saruman- i want them armed and ready to march within two weeks!

orc- but my lord, there are too many! they cannot all be armed in time, we don't have the means.

saruman- build a dam, block the stream, work the furnaces night and day.

orc- we don't have enough fuel to feed the fires.

saruman- the forest of fangorn lies on our doorstep. burn it.

orc- yes.

SCENE 4

[in saruman's chamber]

dunland man- we will fight for you.

saruman- swear it.

[dunland man cuts his hand with a large knife, blood drips out of his fist]

dunland man- we will die for saruman.

[saruman stands in the midst of a gathering of dunlanders]

saruman - the horsemen took your land. they drove your people into the hills to scratch a living off rocks.
dunland man- murderers!
saruman - take back the lands they stole from you! burn every village!
crowd- [roars with approval] argh!!

[saruman stands coldly still among the stampede]

saruman - it will begin in rohan. too long have these peasants stood against you. but no more.

saruman - rohan, my lord, is ready to fall.

SCENE 5

[the dunlanders stomp off to destroy the villages of rohan][a rohan village is in pandemonium as people try to escape the on-coming pillage]

[a woman with her hand on a horse calls out to her children]

morwen- éothain! éothain! you’ll take your sister. you’ll go faster with just two.
freda- [as morwen puts her onto the horse in front of her brother] but papa says éothain must not ride garold, he is too big for him!
morwen- listen to me. you must ride to edoras and raise the alarm. do you understand me?
éothain- yes, mama!
freda- [starts to cry] i don’t wanna leave! i don't wanna go, mama!
morwen- freda, i will find you there.

[a woman screams]

morwen- quickly!

[the two children ride off]

morwen- [looks after them] go child!

[dunlanders and uruk-hai enter the village, burning everything in sight as the rohirrim scream and run in all directions]

[éothain and freda weep as they look back from a distance]

ACT V

SCENE 1

[legolas, gimli, and aragorn are still chasing after the uruk-hai]

[it is dawn]

legolas- [pauses and looks up] the red sun rises. blood has been spilled this night.

[the three hear the sound of horses]

[aragorn and company hide behind some boulders]

[a large group of horse-men appear, 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 u-turn and head towards them, surrounding them in 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- dude, give me your name, horsemaster, and i shall give you mine.

[éomer hands his staff to another rider, and gets off his horse]

legolas- [whispering to gimli] i think you’ve spent too much time with sharon and her friends

gimli- [whispering to legolas] i know, huh?

legolas- [whispering to gimli] yup.

gimli- [whispering to legolas] you’re doing the same. i think you’ve been spending too much time with sharon.

legolas- [whispering to gimli] yeah i know.

[aragorn puts a hand on gimli’s shoulder]

[éomer walks up to gimli]

éomer- 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 at the three]

[after a tense moment, aragorn pushes down legolas’s arm]

aragorn- i am aragorn, son of arathorn. this is gimli, son of glóin, and legolas of the woodland realm. we are friends of rohan and of théoden, your king.
éomer- théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. [takes off helmet] not even his own kin.

[the spears are withdrawn]

éomer- saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claims lordship over his lands. 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 party of uruk-hai westward across the plain. they’ve taken two of our friends captive.
éomer- the uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night.
gimli- but there were two little young ladies? did you see those two?
aragorn- they would be small – only children to your eyes.
éomer- we left none alive. we piled the carcasses and burned them. [points to a smoking pile in the distance]
gimli- dead?
éomer- [nods] i am sorry.

[legolas puts a hand on gimli’s shoulder in grief]

[éomer turns and whistles]

éomer- hasufel! arod! [two horses move up] may these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. farewell.

[éomer puts on his helmet and gets back on his horse]

éomer- 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 look on as the riders go off]

SCENE 2

[katie yells as she looks up at a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on her. she rolls over, avoiding the hooves]

[elysa and katie crawl frantically away from the battle]

[elysa rubs her bonds furiously against a sharp edge of a weapon]

[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 katie by her belt and clings on]

elysa- un-buckle your belt!

[katie undoes her belt and grishnákh is left holding it]

elysa- let’s go!

SCENE 3

[the three, then ride towards the burning carcasses]

[gimli starts to shift through the smoldering pile, and pulls out a charred belt and dagger sheath]

gimli- it’s one of them little belts.
legolas- [with his head bowed and eyes closed, elvish speaking] may they find peace in death...
aragorn- [kicks a helmet and yells] AAARRGGHH!!! [he falls to his knees]
gimli- we failed them.

[aragorn looks to the side as some tracks catch his attention]

aragorn- a hobbit lay here, and the other...[sees more tracks]...they crawled.

[aragorn starts to follow the tracks, with legolas and gimli behind him.]

aragorn- their hands were bound. [holds up a broken length of thick rope] their bonds were cut.

[aragorn follows more tracks]

aragorn- they ran over here and were followed.

[aragorn follows more tracks of the girls and thing that was following them]

aragorn- the tracks lead away from the battle... [they break into a run and then stop] into fangorn forest.

[the three look up into a dense and dark forest]

gimli- fangorn. what madness drove them in there?

SCENE 4

[into the nighttime elysa and katie are being chased]

[they run into the fangorn, seeking to lose the pursuing orc]

[they collapse onto the ground, out of breath]

katie- did we lose him? [looks around] i think we lost him. shit! i’m frakin’ tired.

elysa- likewise.

[grishnákh appears from behind the trees, brandishing a blade]

grishnákh- i’m gonna rip out your filthy little innards! come here!

[katie and elysa are freaked out]

elysa- you said we lost him.

katie- oh, now you listen to me...i wasn’t sure if we did or not.

elysa- [grabs katie] let’s go!

[elysa and katie run and hide behind a tree]

elysa- [pointing at a tree] trees! climb the freakin’ tree!

[katie and elysa quickly scramble up a tree]

elysa- [looks around and then sighs in relief] he's gone.
katie- [looks up at elysa] are you sure?

elysa- of course i’m sure.

[katie is pulled by her legs and falls to the ground]

katie- i thought you said he was gone.

elysa- [shrugs] oops!

[grishnákh leans over katie with his menacing blade]

[katie kicks him off but to no avail]

katie- damnit, that didn’t work. ]yells] elysa!

elysa- katie, i’m coming.

[elysa looks down in horror but as she turns her head, she spots a pair of gleaming yellow eyes blinking in the tree]

[the tree starts to move and groan]

treebeard- hooooo...

[elysa loses her grip in fright and grabs at the air futilely as she falls]

elysa- what the hell!!

[the tree catches her before she hits the ground]

grishnákh- let’s put a maggot-hole in your belly.

[he senses something behind him and as he looks up, the tree stomps and squashes him onto the forest floor]

elysa- katie!!! run for your life!!!

[katie tries to run away but is scooped up by the tree]

treebeard- [looks at the creatures in his hands] little orcs! burárum...
katie- the tree i-i-it’s talking, elysa. t - the tree is talking!
treebeard- tree?! i am no tree. i am an ent.

[treebeard stomps slowly through the forest]

elysa- no....you seem like a tree to me. you’re just one that talks and moves!
katie- shut-up don’t talk to it. don’t even encourage it.
elysa- why not?

katie- cuz....um...i said so.

elysa- yeah right, like i’m really gunna listen to you
treebeard- [yells] quiet! [calms down] treebeard, some call me.
katie- so...well...whose side are you on? if i may ask.
treebeard- side? i am on nobody’s side because nobody’s on my side, little orc. nobody cares for the woods anymore.
elysa- we’re not orcs. we’re people, short people, um...what’s that name?...oh yeah...hobbits!

katie- how can you say that we’re orcs...we’re more good looking than they are.

elysa- no we’re not.
katie- shhh!
treebeard- hobbits? never heard of a hobbit before. sounds like orc mischief to me!

[treebeard tightens his hold on the hobbits and squeezes them]

[elysa and katie whimpers in pain]

elysa- you’re hurting us.

treebeard- they come with fire, they come with axes. gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning! destroyers and usurpers, curse them!
elysa- no, you don’t understand. we’re hobbits... you gotta believe us.
treebeard- maybe you are and maybe you aren’t. the white wizard will know.
katie- um...why does that sound so familiar to me...the white wizard?!
elysa- saruman.

katie- yeah him.

[treebeard drops them on the ground and the hobbits look up at the white wizard]

SCENE 5

[inside fangorn forest, gimli fingers a dark red stain on a leaf and brings it to his mouth]

gimli- [spits] shit! orc blood.

legolas- [talking to gimli] yup, you’ve been spending a lot of time with the sharon and her friends.

gimli- oh shut-up...you’ve been too.

[aragorn looking at some strange tracks]

aragorn- these are strange tracks.
gimli- [looks at aragorn] the air is so close in here.
legolas- this forest is old. very old. full of memory... and anger.

[groans reverberate through the forest and gimli raises his axe]

legolas- the trees are speaking to each other.
aragorn- [whispers] gimli!
gimli- huh? what?
aragorn- [gestures, moving his hand low] lower your axe.
gimli- [lowering his axe slowly] oh, ok.
legolas- [elvish speaking] aragorn, something is out there.
aragorn- [elvish speaking] what do you see?

[legolas’s eyes glow bright when he foresees]

legolas- the white wizard approaches.
aragorn- do not let him speak. he will put a spell on us.

[aragorn wraps his hand around the hilt of his sword]

[gimli tightens his hold on his axes]

[legolas notches an arrow to his bow]

aragorn- we must be quick.

[with a yell, the three swing round to attack]

[gimli’s axe and legolas’s arrow are deflected]

[aragorn drops his sword as it becomes red hot in his grasp]

[they shield their eyes with their hands from the bright light emanating from the white wizard]

white wizard- you are tracking the footsteps of two young ladies.
aragorn- where are they?
white 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 bright light dims, revealing gandalf, all dressed in white]

[the three are astounded]

[legolas and gimli bow on one knee]

aragorn- it cannot be. you fell.
gandalf- through fire and water.

SCENE 6

[FLASHABCK IN MORIA]

gandalf- fly, you fools!

[gandalf loses his grip and falls into the chasm]

sharon- noooooooooooooooo!!!! [calls after gandalf as he falls into the abyss] gaaandaaaaalf!!

[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 thrashes and bounces off the walls]

[they continue to plunge at great speed, sometimes with gandalf clinging to the horn of the demon]

[the battling pair then falls into an enormous cavern and plunges into the water]

[gandalf sees himself battling the balrog atop dúrin’s tower]

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.

[on top of the mountain, gandalf crawls a bit and then collapses]

gandalf- [v.o] darkness took me. and i strayed out of thought and time.

[through gandalf’s eyes and enters an amorphous realm of stars and galaxies, ending in a blinding white light]

gandalf- [v.o] stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth. but it was not the end. i felt light in me again.

[gandalf’s lies naked and very still]

[his hair has turned white and wounds are completely healed]

[he suddenly shudders with a deep gasp and pants as life returns to him]

[back to reality]

gandalf- i've been sent back until my task is done.
aragorn- gandalf!
gandalf- gandalf? yes... that's what they used to call me. gandalf the grey. that was my name.

[gandalf smiles]

gimli- gandalf!
gandalf- [a twinkle in his eye] i am gandalf the white.

[aragorn and legolas grins]

gandalf- and i come back to you now at the turn of the tide.

ACT VI

SCENE 1

[following gollum, sharon and maryann reach the end of emyn muil and see that mordor is now closer]

gollum- see, see, we have led you out! hurry hobbitses, hurry. very lucky we find you.

[gollum jumps on a rock]

[sharon walks past, gollum shrinks as maryann draws near]

gollum- nice hobbit.

[gollum leaps after sharon, putting a wide berth between him and maryann]

SCENE 2

[maryann’s foot slips into muck]

maryann- what the hell?! he’s led us into a frickin’ ass swamp!
gollum- a swamp, yes, yes. come, master. we will take you on safe paths through the mist. come, hobbits, come. we move quickly.

[gollum looks back and gestures for the hobbits to follow]

gollum- 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.

[the marsh lands stretch for miles and miles as far as the eye can see]

[resting in the marshes]

[the hobbits are eating lembas]

maryann- i hate this place. it's too quiet. do you think we could play music, here?

sharon- i don’t think so.

maryann- darn!

gollum- there’s no birdses to eat. no crunchable birdses [flaps arms] we are famished! yes! famished we are, precious.

[gollum finds a large worm and eats it]

sharon- here.

[sharon throws gollum a piece of her lembas]

gollum- what does it eats? is it tasty? [he tries the lembas and chokes] it tries to chokes us!

[maryann looks disgusted]

gollum- we can't eats hobbit food! [gollum poses tragically] we must starve!

maryann- well starve then, and good riddance!

gollum- oh! cruel hobbit! it does not care if we be hungry. it does not care if we should die.

maryann- [angry] you’re the one that started it…you fuckin’ bit me!

gollum- not like master. master cares. master knows. [approaches sharon] yes, precious.

[sharon clutches her chest where the ring lies]

gollum- [echoes his movement] once it takes hold of us it never lets go.

[gollum reaches out to sharon]

sharon- [slaps his hand away] don't touch me.

[gollum turns away, sadly]

[as the three pick their way gingerly though the marshes, they see faces floating in the water, still, rotting and pale, and flickering flames on the swamps]

sharon- wow!

maryann- there are dead things! dead faces in the water!
gollum- all dead. all rotten. elves and men and orcses. a great battle long ago. [turns to face the hobbits] the dead marshes. yes, yes that is the name. this way. don’t follow the lights.

[maryann’s foot slips again into the water]

maryann- ew!

gollum- careful now, or hobbits go down to join the dead ones and light little candles of their own.

[sharon is drawn to one of the faces in elven armour]

[she stares at it intently, until suddenly its eyes open and sharon falls face-down into the water]

maryann- sharon!

[sharon is in the water and sees many faces of the dead, no longer still but screaming and grasping, their rotten robes and hair flowing about their gruesome faces]

[their hands are reaching for her]

[she is grabbed from behind]

[sharon sputters and gasps for air as gollum pulls her out of the water]

sharon- [looks at gollum in perplexed gratitude and disbelief] gollum...
gollum - don’t follow the lights! [crawls away]
maryann- [runs to sharon’s side] sharon! are you alright? shit, why do you end up

doing something that would cause you death, huh?

sharon- i dunno

[sharon lies panting, staring after gollum]

SCENE 3

[nightfall]

[maryann is asleep but sharon is still awake]

[she’s holding the Ring in the palm of her hand and stroking it, mesmerized]

[she hears gollum]

gollum- sooo bright. sooo beautiful.

[sharon quickly puts the Ring back inside her shirt. she looks up to see gollum crouching away from her, stroking the center of his palm]

gollum- our preciousss...
sharon- what did you say?
gollum- master should be resting. master needs to keep up her strength.
sharon- [moves over and crouches in front of gollum] who are you?
gollum- mustn’t ask us. not its business. [cough] gollum. gollum
sharon- gandalf told me you were one of the river folk.
gollum- cold be heart and hand and bone. cold be travelers far from home.
sharon- he said your life was a sad story.
gollum- they do not see what lies ahead, when sun has failed and moon is dead.
sharon- you were not so very different from a hobbit once, were you... sméagol?
gollum- [looks up slowly] what did you call me?
sharon- that was your name once, wasn’t it? a long time ago.
gollum- my... my name... s... s...sméagol…

SCENE 4

[the piercing cries of the nazgûl are heard overhead]

gollum- argh!!
maryann- black riders!
gollum- hide! hide!
sharon- damn!

[sharon feels the pain of the nazgûl's sword piercing her and the call of the ring]

[images of the ringwraiths come to her in flashes]

sharon- shit!!!
maryann- [looking at sharon] c’mon don’t you dare put that on!

[sharon continues to clutch at the Ring on near chest, immobilized]

[maryann drags sharon across to hide beneath some bramble bushes]

[the nazgûl appears, tightening his hold on the reins]

[the nazgûl rides a fell beast, swooping down across the marsh lands]

[chilling screams of the nazgûl fills the air]

gollum- they will see us! they will see us!
maryann- i thought they were dead!
gollum- dead? no, you cannot kill them. no.

[a loud screech from the nazgûl flying high above the marshes]

gollum- [cowering] wraiths! wraiths on wings! they are calling for it. they are calling for the preciousss.

[sharon feels the call of the Ring and gropes for her necklace]

[maryann sees this and grabs hold of sharon’s hand]

maryann- sharon, it’ll be alright.

[the nazgûl continues to circle overhead and then flies off towards mordor]

gollum- hurry, hobbits. the black gate is very close.

sharon- [in pain] that’s good news.

[they leave]

ACT VII

SCENE 1

[the three walk through the forest, with gandalf leading the way, now wearing a grey cloak over his white robes]

gandalf- one stage of the journey is over, another begins. war has come to rohan. we must ride to edoras with all speed.

gimli- edoras? that is no short distance!

aragorn- we hear of trouble in rohan. it goes ill with the king.

gandalf- yes, and it will not be easily cured.

gimli- then we have run all this way for nothing? we can’t just leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested? [the trees rumble.) i mean charming, quite charming forest.

gandalf- it was more than mere chance that brought elysa and katie to fangorn. a great power has been sleeping here for many long years. the coming of elysa and katie will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains.

aragorn- in one thing you have not changed, dear friend.

gandalf- hm?

aragorn- you still speak in riddles.

[they laugh]

gandalf- a thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the elder days. the ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong.

gimli- strong? oh, that's good.

gandalf- so stop your fretting master dwarf. elysa and katie are quite safe. in fact, they are more safer than you are about to be.

gimli- [to himself] this new gandalf's more grumpier than the old one.

[outside of the forest, gandalf whistles piercingly]

[an answering neigh is heard and a white beautiful horse appears from the plain, answering this call]

legolas- that is one of the mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell.

[the horse comes round to stop in front of gandalf]

gandalf- shadowfax.

[gimli bows in the background]

gandalf- he's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers.

[the four ride across the plains to edoras]

[gandalf and aragorn at night in rohan]

gandalf- the veiling shadow that glow in the east takes shape. sauron will suffer no rival. from the summit of barad-dur his eye watches ceaselessly. but he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. doubt ever gnaws at him. the rumor has reached him: the heir of numenor still lives. sauron fears you, aragorn. he fears what you may become. and so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of men. he will use his puppet saruman to destroy rohan. war is coming. rohan must defend itself and therein lies our first challenge, for rohan is weak and ready to fall. the king's mind is enslaved. Ii's an old device of saruman's. his hold over king theoden is now very strong. sauron and saruman are tightening the noose. but for all their cunning, we have one advantage. the ring remains hidden, and that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. and so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards mordor in the hands of a small girl. each day brings it closer to the fires of mount doom. we must trust now in sharon. everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of her quest.. [looks at aragorn] do not regret your decision to leave her. sharon must finish this task alone.

aragorn- she is not alone. maryann went with her.

gandalf- did she? did she indeed? good. yes, very good.

[on the plains of rohan, the four stop as edoras comes into view]

gandalf- edoras and the golden hall of meduseld. there dwells théoden, king of rohan, whose mind is overthrown. saruman’s hold over king théoden is now very strong.

SCENE 2

[in the hall, éowyn is kneeling before théoden, holding his hand in hers]

éowyn- my lord, your son, he is dead. my lord? uncle?

[théoden just sits and stares ahead, his eyes clouded and unseeing]

éowyn- will you not go to him? [she weeps] will you do nothing?

[éowyn walks to théodred's bedchamber]

[at edoras, éowyn is weeping at the dead théodred's bed]

[éowyn kisses his hand and weeps]

[gríma appears at the door]

gríma- oh, he… he must have died sometime in the night. what a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir.

[gríma sits on the bed and puts a hand on éowyn’s shoulder]

gríma- i understand his passing is hard to accept, especially now that your brother has deserted you.
éowyn- [jumps back and throws off gríma’s hand] leave me alone you snake!
gríma- [rises from the bed and moves ever closer to éowyn] oh, but you are alone! who knows what you have spoken to the darkness. in bitter watches of the night, when all your life seems to shrink, the walls of your bower closing in about you, like a hutch to trammel some wild thing in.

[gríma puts a hand on her cheek and moves down to her throat]

gríma- so fair, so cold, like a morning pale spring still clinging to winter's chill.

[éowyn and gríma stare at each other intently]

éowyn: Your words are poison!

[éowyn runs out of the hall]

[weeping, she looks away into the distance]

[a flag comes off its pole and is carried by the breeze]

[éowyn sees riders coming towards edoras]

SCENE 3

gandalf- be careful what you say. do not look for welcome here.

[they ride on towards edoras]

[as aragorn passes the entrance to edoras, the flag floats down to land near him]

[edoras is silent and somber]

[everyone is dressed in black and staring at the newcomers in wary silence]

[aragorn looks up at the hall and sees a lady in white standing on the steps]

[aragorn looks around more at the somber people]

gimli- you’d find more cheer in a graveyard.

[aragorn looks up to the hall again but the lady has disappeared]

[the company climbs up the stairs to the hall and is met by guards]

gandalf- [sees háma] ah.
háma- i cannot allow you before théoden-king so armed, gandalf greyhame. by order of gríma wormtongue.

[gandalf nods in understanding and signals for the others to surrender their weapons]

[aragon hands over his sword and knives]

[legolas gives a little twirl to his knives before handing them over to the guards]

[gimli hands over his axes reluctantly]

háma- [gestures to gandalf] your staff.
gandalf- hmm? [glances at his staff] oh. no, you would not part an old man from his walking stick?

[gandalf looks at háma innocently]

[háma hesitates for a second and then gestures that they follow him into the hall]

[gandalf gives aragorn a tiny wink and enters the hall, leaning on legolas’s arm]

SCENE 4

gríma- [leaning down and whispering to théoden] my lord, gandalf the grey is coming. he’s a herald of woe.

[gandalf and company walk up to king théoden]

gandalf- the courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, théoden king.

[as gandalf approaches théoden, aragorn, legolas and gimli pull back and survey the hall and its hostile occupants]

[a group of men starts to follow their steps with hostility]

gríma- [whispering to théoden] he’s not welcome.
théoden- why should i… welcome you, gandalf… stormcrow?

[théoden looks to gríma for affirmation]

gríma- a just question, my liege.

[gríma walks towards gandalf]

gríma- late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. lathspell spell i name him. ill news is an ill guest.
gandalf- be silent! keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. i have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!

[gandalf raises his staff against gríma]

gríma- his staff! [backing away from gandalf while addressing the guards] i told you to take the wizard’s staff!

[the hostile guards attack]

[aragorn, legolas, and gimli engage them in a fist-fight as gandalf continues to approach théoden]

[gamling tries to go forward but háma holds him back]

gandalf- théoden, son of thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows.

[gríma tries to crawl away unnoticed, but gimli catches him and pins him to the floor with his foot]

gimli- [growls] i would stay still, if i were you.
gandalf- harken to me! i release you from the spell. [gestures with his hand]

[théoden menacingly laughs]

[gandalf opens his eyes in surprise]

théoden- you have no power here, gandalf the grey!

[gandalf throws back his grey cloak, exuding blinding white light]

[théoden is thrown back against his seat by the bright light]

théoden- argh!
gandalf- [points his staff towards théoden] i shall draw you, saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.

[éowyn rushes in, seeing her uncle threatened, she tries to go to him but is held back by aragorn]

aragorn- wait.

[éowyn stops]

théoden- [in saruman’s voice] if i go. . . théoden dies.

[gandalf moves his staff sharply and théoden flies back against the chair again]

gandalf- you did not kill me, you will not kill him!
théoden- [in saruman's voice] rohan is mine!
gandalf- be gone!!

[gandalf smites théoden as he lunges at him]

[théoden is thrown back into the chair ]

[saruman flying backwards from the palantír that he used to manipulate théoden]

[saruman lands landing hard on the floor of orthanc, bleeding from a gash in his forehead]

[in the hall, théoden lets out a moan and slumps forward in the chair]

[éowyn runs to her uncle’s side as he falls]

[théoden’s head rises again and his face begins to change gradually into that of a much younger-looking man]

[clarity and recognition returns to his eyes]

théoden- [looks closely at éowyn] i know your face. éowyn…éowyn.

[éowyn weeps with joy]

gandalf- breathe the free air again, my friend.

[the hall is filled with light again, as everyone marvels at the rejuvenation of the king]

théoden- [standing up and looking around him] dark have been my dreams of late.

[théoden looks down at his trembling hands]

gandalf- your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.

[háma runs up with his sword]

[théoden reaches for it with trembling hands]

[he wraps his fingers around it slowly and then draws it, gazing upon the shiny steel]

[in a corner, gríma trembles and tries to escape but is pulled back by gimli]

[then, théoden’s gaze turns to gríma]

SCENE 5

[gríma is thrown out of the hall and down the stairs]

gríma- argh! [beseechingly to théoden] i've only ever served you, my lord!
théoden- [advancing towards gríma, holding the sword firmly in his hand] your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!
gríma- [groveling] send me not from your side.

[théoden raises his sword to kill gríma]

[aragorn holds him back]

aragorn- no, my lord! no, my lord. let him go. enough blood has been spilled on his account..

[aragorn holds out his hand to grima]

[grima spits on it and scrambles to his feet and runs toward the gates, pushing aside bystanders, then gets on his horse]

gríma- get out of my way!

[aragorn grimaces and wipes his hand on his coat]

háma- hail, théoden king!

[the crowd kneels in homage before théoden]

[aragorn kneels as well]

[gríma rides out of edoras]

[as théoden turns to go back into the hall, he looks up]

théoden- where is théodred? where is my son?

SCENE 6

[théodred's funeral]

[the rohirrim are gathered]

[armored rohirrim bring théodred's body toward the tomb on a bier made of shields and spears]

[éowyn begins to sing. as she does so, the men pass the body to the women, who place it into the tomb]

éowyn- [singing] an evil death has set forth the noble warrior
a song shall sing sorrowing minstrels

in meduseld that he is no more,
that he is nowhere anymore, for his necessary rest.
and that he is the dearest kinsman.
killing took him...

[a white flower is held up by théoden’s hand]

[it is released and spirals down to land among similar flowers, in front of a tomb]

théoden- simbelmynë. ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. [looks at gandalf] 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.

[théoden starts to weep]

gandalf- he was strong in life. his spirit will find its way to the halls of your fathers. be-thou well. go-thou, théodred, go-thou.

[gandalf turns to go back to the hall and leaves théoden to grieve in private]

[he then spots two children on horseback]

[the boy collapses and falls off the horse]

SCENE 7

[inside the golden hall, the two children are eating at a table, and éowyn is with them]

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 mama?
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.

[gandalf leans forward and puts a hand on théoden’s chair]

[théoden looks at his hand warily]

gandalf- you must fight.

[aragorn listening to what gandalf is saying]

aragorn- you have two thousand 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 that you want of me. but i will not bring further death to my people. i will not risk open war.

[gimli takes a bite of his bread as he watches the exchange between aragorn and théoden]

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.

[gimli takes a drink and burps]

gandalf- then what is the king’s decision?

SCENE 8

[outside meduseld]

háma- by order of the king, the city must empty. we make for the refuge of helm’s deep. do not burden yourselves with treasures. take only what provisions you need.

[people are moving about, gathering their belongings and preparing to move]

[gandalf, aragorn, legolas, and gimli walk towards the stables]

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’s only doing what he thinks is best for his people. helm’s deep has saved them in the past.

[they enter the stables]

gandalf- there is no way out of that ravine. théoden is walking into a trap. he thinks he’s leading them to safety. what they will 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 defenses have to hold.
aragorn- they will hold.
gandalf- [turns to shadowfax and strokes him] the grey pilgrim... that’s what they used to call me. three hundred lives of men i’ve walked this earth and now i have no time. good luck. my search will not be in vain. look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. at dawn, look to the east.
aragorn- [opens the stall gates] go.

[legolas jumps back as gandalf rides out of the stable and over the plains of rohan]

[aragorn re-enters the stables]

[a horse rears]

[two men with ropes try to control him]

[aragorn approaches]

rohan man- that horse is half mad, my lord. there's nothing you can do. leave him.

[aragorn speaks to the horse in rohirric and elvish]

[aragorn takes one of the ropes and the horse stops rearing]

[one of the men leaves]

[aragorn unties it from the horse’s bridle]

[aragorn continues speaking softly and the horse becomes gentle]

[the other man leaves the horse with aragorn]

aragorn- fast, quiet now, fast, quiet now.a battle is stirred up, they heard. what is your name?

éowyn- his name is brego. he was my cousin's horse.

aragorn- brego? your name is kingly. what troubles you, brego? what did you see?

éowyn- i've heard of the magic of elves, but i did not look for it in a ranger from the north. you speak as one of their own.

aragorn- i was raised in rivendell for a time. turn this fellow free. he has seen enough of war.

[aragorn leaves brego with éowyn]

ACT VIII

SCENE 1

[the refugees begin streaming out of edoras]

[in theoden's chamber]

theoden- [pulling on his gloves] i am ready, gamling. bring my horse. [turns towards gamling] this is not a defeat. we will return. [to himself] we will return.

[éowyn opens a chest in which lies a sword]

[she unsheathes it and begins to practice]

[she swings it around and is met by aragorn, who blocks her parry]

aragorn- you have some skill with a blade.

[with a swift move, éowyn swings her sword and renders aragorn vulnerable, gaining the upper hand]

éowyn- [stepping back and sheathing her sword] 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. [sheaths his knife] i do not think that will be your fate.

[aragorn bows and éowyn gazes after him as he walks away]

[the people of rohan are moving out of edoras towards helm’s deep, with théoden leading the way]

SCENE 2

[at isengard, gríma confirms with saruman, holding a cloth to his mouth]

saruman- gandalf the white. gandalf the fool! does he seek to humble me with his newfound piety?

grima- there were three who followed the wizard. an elf, a dwarf, and a man.

saruman- [sniffs] you stink of horse. [he looks worried] the man, was he from gondor?

grima- no, from the north. one of the dunedain rangers i thought he was. his cloth was spoor. and yet he bores a strange ring. two serpents with emerald eyes. one devouring, the other crowned with golden flowers.

[saruman flips through a book to an illustration of the ring]

saruman- the ring of barahir. so gandalf greyhame thinks he's found isildur's heir, the lost king of gondor. he is a fool. the line was broken years ago. [he snaps the book shut.] it matters not. the world of men shall fall. It will begin at edoras.

gríma- but, théoden will not stay at edoras. it’s 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. they will be slow. they will have women and children with them.

[saruman’s eyebrows rise in response]

[saruman walks through the depths of isengard and gives orders to an orc]

saruman- send out your warg riders.

[the orc smiles]

[in a pit behind him, ferocious growls are heard and shadows dances]

SCENE 3

[as the rohirrim refugees are heading towards helm’s deep]

[gimli is on a horse, chatting with éowyn who is leading it by the reins]

gimli- it’s true you don’t see many dwarf women. and in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, haha that they’re often mistaken for dwarf men.

[éowyn smiles and looks back at aragorn]

aragorn- [gestures and whispers] it’s the beards....
gimli-: and this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women. and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!

[éowyn laughs gaily]

gimli- [laughs] which is of course ridiculous… whoa!!

[the horse suddenly rears up and gallops away as éowyn loses her hold on the reins]

[gimli falls off after a short distance and lands with a loud thump]

éowyn- ooh!

[éowyn rushes forward to gimli]

gimli- ow, that hurt! [struggling to get up] it’s alright, it’s alright. nobody panic. that was deliberate. it was deliberate.

[éowyn helps gimli up]

théoden- i have not seen my niece smile in a long time. she was a girl when they brought her father back dead. cut down by orcs. she watched her mother succumb to grief. and she was left alone to tend her king in growing fear. doomed to wait upon an old man who should have loved her as a father.

[éowyn laughs as she brushes him off and looks back at aragorn with the sun behind her and the wind in her hair]

[at that particular moment, aragorn seems enchanted by éowyn’s light-hearted image]

[the refugees have camped]

[éowyn brings a pot of stew]

éowyn- gimli?

gimli- no, i couldn't. i really couldn't.

[éowyn approaches aragorn]

éowyn- i made some stew. it isn't much, but it's hot.

[éowyn gives aragorn a bowl and spoon]

aragorn- thank you. [he tastes and looks up at her, trying not to grimace. he nods] mmm. it's good.

éowyn- really?

aragorn- mm.

[éowyn turns away]

[aragorn begins pouring out the stew, but éowyn turns back]

[aragorn recovers, spilling some on his hand]

éowyn- my uncle told lme a strange thing. [aragorn tries not to look scalded] he said that you rode to war with thengel, my grandfather. but he must be mistaken.

aragorn- king theoden has a good memory. he was only a small child at the time.

éowyn- then you must be at least 60. [aragorn nods] seventy? you cannot be 80!

aragorn- 87.

éowyn- you are one of the dunedain. a descendant of numenor, blessed with long life. it was said that your race had passed into legend.

aragorn- there are few of us left. the northern kingdom was destroyed long ago.

éowyn- i'm sorry. please eat!

[aragorn nods, looks grim and eats]

[that night, aragorn could not sleep and smokes his pipe as he thinks of arwen]

[aragorn’s dreaming]

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 is lying on a chaise in rivendell]

[aragorn opens his eyes and sees arwen before him, smiling down at him]

aragorn- i am asleep. this is a dream.
arwen- [bends down to kiss him] then it is a good dream. sleep…

[she kisses him lightly on the lips and then steps away to look out upon rivendell]

[aragorn closes his eyes but for a while, he looks over at arwen]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] you told me once that this day would come.
arwen- [turns to look at aragorn, elvish sspeaking] this is not the end... it is the beginning. you must go with sharon. that is your path
aragorn- [walks over to arwen, elvish speaking] my path is hidden from me
arwen- [elvish speaking] it is already laid before your feet. you cannot falter now.
aragorn- arwen…

[arwen hushes him, resting her fingers on his lips]

[as her hands moves down to rest on the evenstar pendant around aragorn’s neck]

[aragorn clasps her hand in his and they gaze into each other’s eyes]

arwen- [elvish speaking] if you trust nothing else... trust this. trust us

[they kiss]

SCENE 4

[the next day, on the journey to helm’s deep]

[éowyn is walking alongside aragorn]

éowyn- where is she? the woman who gave you that jewel.

[aragorn smiles and says nothing]

[aragorn remembers what happened in rivendell]

[flashback: elrond is speaking to aragorn in rivendell, before he sets out with the fellowship]

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 it will be evergreen.
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 comes down the steps]

[arwen steps out to greet him]

arwen- is this how you would take your leave? did you think you could slip away at first light - unnoticed?

aragorn- i will not be coming back.

arwen- you underestimate your skill in battle. you will come back.

aragorn- it is not of death in battle that i speak.

arwen- what do you speak of?

aragorn- [elvish speaking] 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 takes arwen’s hand and returns the evenstar necklace to her]

aragorn- this belongs to you.
arwen- [closes aragorn’s hand over the evenstar] it was a gift. keep it.

[back to aragorn and éowyn]

éowyn- my lord?
aragorn- she is sailing to the undying lands, with all that is left of her kin.

SCENE 5

[gamling and hamá ride ahead of the others]

[legolas watches them as they pass]

gamling- what is it? háma?

[their horses become restless]

háma- [looking around] i’m not sure.

[a warg scout appears on a slope above and charges at them]

[the warg attacks háma and kills him]

[just as it starts to turn on gamling, legolas runs over and kills the warg with an arrow]

[aragorn runs up the hill and spots legolas]

[legolas is seen killing the orc]

legolas- damn! [shouts to aragorn] a scout!

[aragorn runs down the hill]

théoden- what is it? what do you see?
aragorn- [yelling] wargs! we’re under attack!

[hearing the alarm, the villagers begin to cry and panic]

théoden- all riders to the head of the column!
gimli- [trying to mount arod] come on, get me up here, i’m a rider! argh!

[gimli gets onto the horse with some help]

[legolas gazes into the distance and sees many warg-riders coming fast towards them, kicking up dust trails as they go]

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.

[éowyn holds théoden’s gaze for a moment and then turn to attend to the villagers]

théoden- [to his men] follow me! yah!
gimli- [tries to get arod to move] forward, forward, honey. march forward!

[arod moves off with gimli seated rather unsteadily]

gimli-that’s it!

[éowyn helps the villagers to leave]

éowyn- [to the villagers] make for the lower ground! stick together!

[éowyn looks back at the rohirrim and sees aragorn on hasufel]

[they hold each other’s gaze for a moment before aragorn turns to join théoden]

[éowyn departs with the villagers in the opposite direction]

[legolas takes aim at the distant target and fells a warg rider]

[legolas draws another arrow and kills another]

[just as he reaches for a third arrow, he sees théoden and company approaching]

[legolas quickly runs and mounts arod with a smooth leap and joins in the fray with gimli behind him on horseback]

warg-riders- argh!!
théoden- charge!!

[the rohirrim and warg riders crash head on and the battle begins]

[théoden and company hack away at the warg riders]

[in the midst of fighting, gimli falls off arod]

[gimli turns to find a warg growling at him]

gimli- get over here, so i could kill you with my axe!!!

[just as the warg leaps at gimli, legolas kills it with one shot of an arrow]

gimli- [jumping back as the warg falls, outraged at legolas] shit, man! you cheater, that was mine!
legolas- [shouting at gimli] well, you took too long to kill it, so HAH!

[as gimli swings his axe at another warg, it dies and falls onto gimli, pinning him under]

gimli- argh! stinking creature. argh!

[as gimli tries to lift the warg off him, an orc leans over them both]

[gimli kills him quickly, twisting his neck, and it lands on him also]

gimli- what’s that smell?!

[gimli sniffs the orc and makes a disgusted face]

[gimli tries to lift both, the warg and the orc off him]

gimli- damn, they’re heavy!

[just then, another warg comes upon him and bares its teeth, ready to strike]

gimli- [eyes widening] uh oh!

[aragorn sees what’s going on]

[aragorn makes a “u” turn, he plucks a spear as he passes on horseback and throws it at the warg]

[the warg dies, landing on gimli and adding to the pile on top of him]

gimli- [as the warg lands on him] ow!!

[théoden stabs at a warg rider]

[aragorn is knocked off hasufel and attacked by sharku]

[aragorn tries to kill the warg rider but sharku blocks his attempt and grabs aragorn by the neck, half of his body is being dragged by the warg]

[in the struggle, sharku is thrown off and he rips the Evenstar pendant from aragorn’s neck as he falls]

[aragorn tries to let go of the warg but finds his wrist tangled with the saddle straps]

[aragorn tries unsuccessfully to disentangle himself and is dragged closer and closer to the edge of a cliff at great speed]

[the warg runs right off the cliff and they both disappear over the edge]

[the battle is winding down as the rohirrim finish off the last few wargs and orcs]

legolas- [looking around] aragorn!
gimli- aragorn?

[they hear sharku wheezing and laughing near the cliff]

gimli- [standing over the dying orc] tell me what happened and i will ease your passing.
sharku- he’s [coughs] dead. [laughs evilly] he took a little tumble off the cliff.
legolas- [looks towards the edge of the cliff, then grabs sharku] you lie!

[sharku chortles and dies]

[legolas looks down at sharku’s fist and finds the evenstar pendant, and takes it]

gimli- what did you do? you killed him! he had to tell us more about what happened to aragorn!

legolas- no i didn’t kill him

gimli- oh yes you did! he dead now, he ain’t breathing, dude!

[legolas walks away to the edge of the cliff]

gimli- don’t you ignore me

[legolas looks down to see the great drop and rushing waters below, with no sign of aragorn]

[gimli comes to stand beside legolas looking down the cliff]

théoden- [to his men] get the wounded on horses. the wolves of isengard will return. leave the dead.

[legolas turns to théoden, with an expression of perplexed anger on his face]

théoden- [puts a hand on legolas's shoulder] come.

[théoden leaves legolas and gimli to stare down the cliff]

[and they ride off]

SCENE 6

[the rohan villagers are drawing close to helm’s deep]

[cries of relief are heard as the refuge is within sight]

rohan villager- helm’s deep! at last! there it is!
old woman- [to éowyn] we’re safe, my lady! thank you!

[éowyn embraces the woman and they walk on towards helm’s deep]

[the gate is opened for the villagers]

[many have already taken refuge within and are resting along the passage]

[éothain and freda run towards their mother]

freda- mama!

[the family hugs and cries with joy]

[éowyn looks at the provisions]

éowyn- where is the rest?

man- this is all we could save, my lady.

éowyn- take it to the caves.

[théoden and company returns from the battle with warg riders]

guard- make way for théoden!
soldiers- sire!
guard- make way for the king!

[éowyn rushes down to meet them]

éowyn- [looking about] so few. so few of you have returned.
théoden- [dismounting] our people are safe. we have paid for it with many lives.
gimli- [going up to éowyn] my lady...
éowyn- lord aragorn, where is he?
gimli- he fell...over a damn cliff!

[éowyn is shaken and raises teary eyes to théoden]

[and they walk]

[at the battlements]

théoden- draw our forces behind the wall. bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround.
gamling- what of those who cannot fight, my lord? the women and children?
théoden- get them into the cave. [walks down the steps and past a sewer gate] saruman's arm would have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here.

SCENE 7

gríma- helm’s deep has one weakness. its outer wall is solid rock but for a small culvert at its base which is little more than a drain.

[saruman is pouring some dark dry substances into a vessel]

[gríma is holding a lit candle in his hand]

gríma- how? how can fire undo stone? what kind of device could bring down the wall?

[as gríma steps closer to the vessel, saruman takes hold of gríma’s hand and pushes the candle away from the vessel firmly]

saruman- if the wall is breached, helm's deep will fall.

[saruman walks away towards the balcony]

gríma- [following saruman] even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands to storm the keep.
saruman- tens of thousands.
gríma- but, my lord, there is no such force.

[they both of come onto the balcony of the tower]

[gríma suddenly sees and hears the enormous armies laid out below in neat rows and is astounded and awed]

[gríma continues to hold the extinguished candle aloft as he gapes at the vast army below]

[a horn is sounded, announcing the appearance of saruman]

[a loud cheer is heard from the army]

[saruman raises a hand]

saruman- a new power is rising. its victory is at hand!

[the army cheers and roars]

saruman- this night, the land would be stained with the blood of rohan! march to helms deep! leave none alive!

[the uruk-hai with spears and banners and yet more uruk-hai]

[saruman who then raises his hands in the air]

saruman- to war!!

[the army cheers and roars even louder]

saruman- [sneers] there will be no dawn for men.

[a tear flows down gríma’s cheek]

[the uruk-hai army begin their march to helm’s deep]

ACT IX

SCENE 1

[aragorn is floating in the river, unconscious]

[aragorn is washed ashore and dreams of arwen]

arwen- [kissing him on the lips] may the grace of the valar protect you.

[a horse arrives and nudges aragorn, turning him over and nuzzling him]

aragorn- [mumbles] brego…

[aragorn grabs hold of brego’s mane, pulls himself onto the horse and rides slowly to helm’s deep]

SCENE 2

[arwen is lying on her bed, deep in thought]

elrond- [coming into her room] arwen.

[arwen hears him and sits up]

elrond- [elvish speaking] 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- there is still hope.
elrond- [walks towards a window and looks out] 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.

[arwen sees a vision of her future as elrond speaks]

[arwen is dressed as a queen in mourning garb and looking down upon aragorn, a crown on his brow, andúril in his hand, and dead]

[mourners are walking around the altar, paying their final respects]

[arwen weeps]

elrond- 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.

[the body of aragorn is now cast as a monument in stone]

[arwen stands before the monument, veiled and in black]

elrond- but you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt. as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. here you will dwell, bound to your grief, under the fading trees, until all the world has changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent.

[still veiled in black, arwen is walking alone through the deserted woods of lothlórien]

elrond- [turning to arwen] arwen... there is nothing for you here, only death.

[the vision ends and arwen weeps with sadness and fear]

[elrond comes to sit beside his daughter and raises a hand to her cheek]

elrond- [elvish speaking] do i not also have your love?
arwen- [crying and moving into her father’s embrace, elvish speaking] you have my love, father.

[elves, cloaked and carrying a lantern each, are setting off from rivendell on their journey to the west]

[elrond looks on as arwen leaves with them]

[arwen turns back to look at her father one last time before she departs]

[elrond continues to stare after her with an expression of resigned sadness]

SCENE 3

[elrond is standing by a window]

[elrond hears galadriel speaking]

galadriel- [elvish speaking] the world has changed... i feel it in the water, i feel it in the earth, i smell it in the air.

galadriel- 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 her heart, sharon begins to understand. the quest will claim her 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 hands, take the ring for his own and the world will fall. it is close now, so close to achieving its goal. for sauron will have dominion of 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?

SCENE 4

[aragorn is riding towards helm’s deep]

[on the way, he sees an enormous uruk-hai army marching with great speed]

[aragorn quickly makes haste towards helm’s deep and soon sees the refuge]

aragorn- [patting brego on the neck, elvish speaking] well done, brego, my friend

[aragorn rides into helm’s deep to the amazement of all]

refugees- he’s alive!

[aragorn gets off his horse]

gimli- [pushing his way through the crow] where is he? where is he? get out of the way. i’m gonna kill him! [he sees aragorn] you are the luckiest, the canniest and the most fuckin’ craziest man i ever knew! [he hugs aragorn] bless you, laddie!
aragorn- where is the king?

[gimli gestures to the hall]

[as aragorn makes his way in, he runs into legolas who stands waiting]

legolas- [elvish speaking] you’re late

[they smile]

[legolas pauses and looks at aragorn’s wounds]

legolas- you look freakin’ terrible.

[to the side, éowyn sees aragorn and smiles joyously and with relief]

[legolas takes aragorn’s hand and gives the evenstar pendant]

[aragorn looks at the evenstar and claps legolas on the shoulder]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] thank you

[éowyn looks on and smiles even as tears fill her eyes]

[aragorn is in the keep, conferring with théoden]

théoden- a great host, you say?
aragorn- all of 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- [walks away resolutely] let them come!

SCENE 5

[walking along the passage behind the deeping wall]

théoden- [to gamling] i want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall.

[gamling nods and goes off]

[théoden stands at the gate of helm’s deep, speaking to aragorn, legolas and gimli]

théoden- 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 no 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.

[gimli seems miffed]

gimli- [whispering] dude, i was just trying to help.

[legolas claps a hand on gimli’s shoulder as he follows aragorn and théoden back in]

théoden- 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- [draws close to aragorn] 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, calling out orders]

théoden- get the women and children into the caves.
gamling- we need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord –
théoden- [cutting him off] there is no time. war is upon us!
gamling- [to the soldiers] secure the gate!

[men rush to prepare for battle as flocks of carrion crows circle overhead]

SCENE 6

[at helm’s deep, the women and children are being led into the caves]

rohan man- come on people! quickly, now!

[aragorn and legolas walk among the people of rohan, who are busy preparing for the battle]

aragorn- we'll place the reserves along the wall. they can support the archers from above the gate.

legolas- aragorn, you must rest. you're no use to us half-alive.

éowyn- aragorn! [she runs up] i'm to be sent with the women into the caves.

aragorn- that is an honorable charge.

éowyn- to mind the children, to find food and bedding when the men return. what renown is there in that?

aragorn- my lady, a time may come for valor without renown. who then will your people look to in the last defense?

éowyn- let me stand at your side.

aragorn- it is not in my power to command it.

éowyn- you do not command the others to stay! they fight beside you because they would not be parted from you. because they love you.

[aragorn looks down]

éowyn- i'm sorry.

[éowyn turns and leaves]

soldier 1- move to the caves!
soldier 2- keep moving!
soldier 3- quickly now!

[old men and young lads are being drafted for war]

[the women and children say their tearful and reluctant farewells as their fathers, husbands and sons are led away by soldiers]

[in the armory, weapons are being distributed]

[aragorn picks up a battered sword, looks at it and tosses it back]

aragorn- farmer, 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.

[the men around them fell silent]

legolas- [elvish speaking to aragorn] and they should be... three hundred against ten thousand!
aragorn- [elvish speaking] they have more hope of defending themselves here than at edoras.
legolas- [elvish speaking] aragorn, we are warriors. they cannot win this fight. they are all going to die!
aragorn- then i shall die as one them!

[aragorn pauses and then walks away]

[legolas tries to go after him]

gimli- [stops legolas] let him go, lad. let him be.

[in the hall]

gamling- 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 do you trust your king?
gamling- [puts armour onto théoden] your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end.

[the villagers are handed their weapons]

[an oversized helmet is placed on a wide-eyed boy]

[another stares at the axe that he is handed with frightened eyes]

[another child wearing oversized chain mail takes up a huge shield]

[théoden stands inside the main hall of the keep, his back to the entrance where a bright white light is streaming through]

théoden- to whatever end… where is the horse and the rider? where is the horn that was blowing? 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. how did it come to this?

[everyone is getting ready for war at the battlements]

[aragorn is sitting on the steps]

[aragorn sees a young lad in armour holding a sword looking around nervously]

aragorn- give me your sword.

[the young lad comes forth with the sword]

aragorn- what is your name?
haleth- haleth, son of háma, my lord. the men are saying that we will not live out the night. they say that it is hopeless..

[aragorn gives the battered sword a few swings]

aragorn:- this is a good sword, haleth, son of háma.

[aragorn hands the sword back to haleth and leans close to him, putting a hand on his shoulder]

SCENE 7

aragorn- there is always hope.

[back at the armory, aragorn puts his battle gear on ]

[aragorn’s sword is handed to him as he reaches for it]

[aragorn nods and accepts the sword from legolas]

legolas- we have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray. forgive me. i was wrong to despair.
aragorn- [elvish speaking] there is nothing to forgive, legolas

[they smile and clap one another on the shoulders]

[they look at gimli as he walks up to them, struggling with his chain mail]

gimli- damn i can’t get this thing on! [he drops the bundle and the chain mail lands with its length right to the floor] it’s a little tight across the chest.

[aragorn and legolas bite back smiles]

[just then, a horn sounds in the background]

legolas- that is no orc horn.

[they run out to the battlements]

[the guards look down in wonderment]

guard- [to another guard] send for the king. open the gate!

[an army of lothlórien elves march up the causeway into the hornburg]

[they are led by haldir]

[the rohirrim soldiers look upon them in wonderment and delight as they pass]

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.

[haldir looks up to see aragorn, legolas and gimli running down the steps, and smiles]

selendrile- we come to honor that allegiance.
aragorn- [he bows, elvish speaking] welcome, haldir

[aragorn grabs haldir in a huge embrace]

[initially stunned, haldir hugs him back lightly]

aragorn- you are most welcome!

[legolas and haldir clasp each other on the shoulder]

haldir- [turning to théoden] we are proud to fight alongside men, once more.

SCENE 8

[men and elves are in their positions on the battlements of helm’s deep]

[the sounds of a marching army move closer and closer]

[the women and children in the caves hear the sounds overhead and are frightened]

[mothers draw their children close and try to sooth crying babies]

[the men and elves look out into the darkness, lit by the thousands of torches carried by the huge advancing uruk-hai army and the light bouncing off their armour[

]with a row of elf archers, gimli is standing beside legolas behind a wall, only the top of his helmet visible]

gimli- [grumbling and straining to look above the wall] you could have picked a better spot.

[legolas smirks]

[aragorn approaches and stands beside them]

gimli- well lad, whatever luck you’ve lived by, let’s hope it lasts the night.

[thunder sounds and lightning flashes, revealing the sea of approaching uruk-hai]

legolas- your friends are with you, aragorn.
gimli- let’s hope they last the night.

[the marching and thumping grows louder and louder]

[lightning flashes and it begins to rain]

gimli- shit! rain, why?

legolas- you scared of a little rain?!

gimli – i’m scared of nothing!

legolas- uh huh, sure!

[the uruk-hai are now right before the deeping walls, roaring and thumping their spears furiously]

[an uruk-hai leader stands on a rock outcrop]

[aragorn is giving commands to the elf warriors]

aragorn- [speaking elvish] show them no mercy! for you shall receive none!
gimli- [jumping and straining to see] what’s happening out there?
legolas- shall i describe it to you? [looks at gimli with a grin] or would you like me to find you a box?
gimli- [laughs good-naturedly] good one!!!

[the uruk-hai continue to roar their battle cries]

[the women and children in the caves huddle together in fear]

SCENE 9

[suddenly, aldor, the old man next to haleth, loses his grip and releases his arrow prematurely, shooting an uruk-hai in the neck]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] hold!!!!

[the uruk-hai army stop their roaring and thumping]

[with a hollow groan, the uruk that was shot collapsed to the ground]

gimli- [to legolas] what happened?

legolas- a uruk died.

gimli- [laughs] that’s good, one down....and whole lot of other s to go!

[the other uruk-hai bare their teeth and roar with anger]

[with a cry, the uruk-hai leader thrusts his weapon in the air and the uruk-hai army starts charging]

théoden- so it begins.
aragorn- [elvish speaking] prepare to fire!

[the elves notch their arrow and aim]

legolas- [elvish speaking] their armor is weak at the neck and underneath the arms
aragorn- [elvish speaking] release the arrows!

[arrows rain down on the uruk-hai below, killing many]

gimli- did they hit anything?

legolas- yeah, they did! get ready!!!

gimli- i was born ready!

legolas- [shooting arrows at the opponent] oh, shut-up!

gimli- what’s that suppose to mean!

legolas- [shooting arrows at the opponent] it means...be quiet and get ready, they have ladders, so they’ll be up here anytime!

gimli- [laughs] ladders! let them come!

[legolas looks back at gimli with a look]

gimli- oh yeah, i’m suppose to shut-up!

legolas- yeah, correct!

[théoden gives order]

théoden- give them a volley.
gamling- [to the men] fire!

[more arrows are released]

[the uruk-hai army keep advancing, with more replacing those fallen]

aragorn- fire!
gimli- [impatiently] who cares, i don’t want to shut-up!!!!! let them coming! c’mon!

[the uruk-hai start to load ladders onto the walls, pushing them up with their long spears]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] ladders!!!!

[the elves draw their blades in preparation for combat]

legolas- gimli, the ladders!!!!
gimli- thank god!!!! finally, now i could kill some uruk ass!

[close combat begins as the uruk-hai climb over the wall]

[gimli slides under a uruk-hai and axes is groin]

[gimli gets up and yells at legolas]

gimli- legolas, two already! [holding up two fingers]
legolas- i’m on seventeen!
gimli- [outraged] shit! i’ll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!

[gimli turns to a uruk just climbing over the wall, whacking it in the groin with his axe and killing it as it falls]

legolas- [fires two arrows] nineteen!

[gimli is standing on the wall between two ladders, hacking away at uruk-hai as they come up]

gimli- seventeen! eighteen! nineteen! twenty! twenty-one! twenty-two! HAH! i’m keeping up!!!

[the uruk-hai below turns to the causeway]

[a group of uruk-hai is advancing on the causeway towards the gate in tortoise formation, using their broad shields to block off attacks]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] causeway!

[aragorn directs the elf archers to aim at the uruk-hai column]

[the elf archers release their arrows]

[the uruk-hai at the sides are shot and falls down the causeway]

[but the column keeps advancing]

théoden- is this it? is this all you can conjure, saruman?

[at the bottom of the deeping wall, two spiky bombs are lodge in the sluice gate]

[the rest opens a path and an uruk-hai carrying a torch starts to run towards the sluice gate]

[aragorn spots the uruk-hai]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] bring him down, legolas!

[legolas shoots the uruk-hai in the shoulder but the latter keeps going]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] kill him! kill him!

[legolas shoots the uruk again]

[it stumbles and then throws it self and the torch at the bombs]

[an enormous explosion is set off, blowing away a large part of the wall]

[rock, debris and bodies are thrown up]

[aragorn is also thrown back by the force of the explosion and on the ground, knocked out]

[théoden looks on in shock, as the uruk-hai streams in past the deeping walls]

théoden- brace the gate! hold them! stand fast!

[gimli sees the uruk-hai charging in with aragorn in their path]

[with a cry, he jumps down from the wall and lands on the uruk-hai army, taking them out as he stands]

gimli- aragorn!! shit!

[gimli is soon overpowered]

[aragorn gets up and sees gimli falling]

aragorn- gimli!

[aragorn yells to the elves behind him]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] hurl the arrows!

[gimli fighting his way with the uruk, and he falls]

[the arrows take out the first group of uruk-hai coming through the hole in the wall]

aragorn- [elvish speaking] charge!!!

[aragorn leads the elves in a charge towards the uruk-hai streaming in]

[aragorn rushes to gimli’s side and picks him up]

[at the top of the battlements, legolas grabs a shield and sends it sliding across the ground]

[legolas then hops onto it and surfs down the steps, releasing three arrows as he goes, and kicking the shield to stab an uruk-hai as he lands at the bottom]

théoden- aragorn! fall back to the keep! get your men out of there!
aragorn- [elvish speaking] to the keep! pull back to the keep! haldir, to the keep!

[haldir nods and turns back]

[gimli is being carried away, kicking and struggling as they go]

gimli- [protesting] what are you doing? put me down!!!! stop!!!!

elf- no, we can’t. you need to fall to the keep!

gimli – well, i have my own two legs, i could walk myself!!!

[gimli, still being carried away]

[haldir hacks at a few uruk as he turns towards the gate]

[suddenly, he is stabbed in his arm]

[haldir kills the uruk-hai and look s down as his wound in seeming disbelief]

[another uruk-hai comes up from behind him unnoticed and slices him on the neck]

[as haldir goes down, he looks around him and sees his kin fallen among dead uruk-hai]

aragorn- [sees haldir falling[ HALDIR!!

[aragorn runs up the steps to haldir’s side and catches him as he collapses]

[haldir's head rolls back, his eyes empty and unseeing]

[aragorn bows his head in grief]

[then with a cry, he jumps onto a ladder and swings down to the ground, killing as he goes]

gamling- brace the gate!
théoden- [drawing his sword] to the gate! draw your swords!

[théoden and his commanders come to the gate, which is under heavy attack]

[the uruk-hai are knocking down the gate and hacking through the broken wood]

[théoden stabs at an uruk-hai and receives a lance in his shoulder, blocked by his armour]

[grimacing in pain, théoden continues to stab at the uruk until led away by gamling]

gamling- make way for the king! we can’t hold much longer.
théoden- hold them!
aragorn- [runs up and stabs away at the uruk-hai through the broken gate] how long do you need?
gamling- brace the gate!
théoden- as long as you can give me!
aragorn- gimli!

[aragorn and gimli slip out a side exit and stand on a ledge just to the side of the main gate]

[aragorn peeks over, seeing the large band of uruk-hai storming the gate]

gimli- dude, come on! we can take ‘em!
aragorn- it’s a long way.
gimli – not uh! i could jump it!

aragorn- maybe you could, but i doubt it! look for yourself!

[gimli takes a peek and then steps back]

gimli- [mumbles] toss me.
aragorn- what?
gimli- i cannot jump the distance so you have to toss me!
aragorn- are you sure?!

gimli – nope i’m not! but do it anyways!

[aragorn nods slowly and then turns to grab the dwarf]

gimli- oh, wait! [gimli grabs aragorn’s arm] don’t you dare tell the elf!

aragorn- not a word.

[aragorn tosses gimli to the head of the causeway and then leaps over]

gimli- [making quick work of killing the uruk-hai] come and get me!

[on the other side of the gate]

théoden- shore up the door!
soldier 1- make way! lead to the barricade!
soldier 2- we need one over there!
théoden- higher!

[men are bracing the gate with wood and nails]

[aragorn and gimli continue to fight off the uruk-hai just outside of the gate]

théoden- [yelling through a crack in the gate] gimli! aragorn! get out of there!

[legolas calls to them from the top of the battlements]

legolas- aragorn!

[legolas throws them a rope]

[aragorn grabs gimli in one hand and the rope with the other as they are pulled up the wall]

[just then the uruk-hai load and fires enormous hooks over the battlements]

[hundred of uruk-hai climb onto super-ladders as they are pulled up towards the walls, the super-ladders locking onto the edge of the battlements with their steel grips]

[legolas takes aim as another super-ladder is being pulled up and shoots away one of the ropes]

[the ladder falls back onto the uruk-hai army]

legolas- SUCKER!!!!

[théoden orders to gamling]

théoden- they have broken through. the castle is breached! retreat! pull everybody back! pull them back!
gamling- pull back! pull back! retreat! retreat!
aragorn- they’ve broken through! come, to the keep!
gamling- retreat! retreat!
aragorn- hurry! inside! get them inside!
gamling- into the keep!

[they all run towards the keep, legolas firing two arrows into the uruk-hai army as he goes]

[banners of the white hand are flying from the battlements of helm’s deep]

[the hornburg is overrun with uruk-hai]

[théoden and company are in the hall of the keep]

théoden- the fortress is taken. it is over.
aragorn- [carrying a table with legolas to shore up the door of the hall] you said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it! they still defend it! they have died defending it!

[in the glittering caves, the women and children cry in fear as they hear the battering ram banging on the door]

woman- they are breaking in!

[the men still barricading the door]

soldier- bar the door!
aragorn- is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves? [there is no answer] 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.
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- [pauses] ride out with me. ride out and meet them.
théoden- [a light of determination shines in his eyes] for death and glory.
aragorn- for rohan. for your people.
gimli- the sun is rising.

[aragorn looks up at a window to see faint light streaming through]

[aragorn recalls gandalf's words]

gandalf- look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. at dawn, look to the east.

[théoden answers aragorn]

théoden- yes. yes! the horn of helm hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!
gimli- yes!

[gimli runs up the steps to the horn of helm hammerhand]

théoden- let this be the hour when we draw swords together. fell deed awake. now for wrath! now for ruin! and a red dawn!

[théoden mounts his horse and puts on his helmet]

[the sound of the horn rumbles through helm's deep as gimli blows with gusto]

théoden- FORTH EORLINGAS!!

[théoden leads the charge out of the keep into the hornburg, slashing away at the uruk-hai as they go]

[without pause, they storm out of the gate and down the causeway, right into the column of waiting uruk-hai]

[in the midst of battle, aragorn looks east and sees a white rider against the rising sun]

aragorn- gandalf.
gandalf- théoden king stands alone.
éomer- [coming up from behind] not alone.

[éomer raises his arm]

éomer- rohirrim!!

[riders move up behind éomer]

théoden- [looking to the east] éomer!
éomer- to the king!

[the rohirrim and the white rider charge down the slope]

[half the uruk-hai army turns to face the challenge, bearing their spears down towards the riders]

[as the riders draw closer, the sun rises behind them, momentarily blinding the uruk-hai who raise the hands (and spears) to shield their eyes]

[the riders crash right into the uruk-hai and engage them in battle]

[the riders win the battle against the uruk-hai at helm’s deep]

théoden- victory! we have victory!

[théoden raises his sword with a victorious cry]

[the uruks run from helm's deep and into a line of trees]

éomer- stay out of the forest! keep away from the trees!

[the uruks run into the forest]

[the trees groans and sways, horrible sounds emerge]

[the women and children welcome the men as they return]

[éowyn runs up to aragorn and embraces him, crying tears of relief]

[the rohirrim are clearing uruk carcasses]

[gimli sits on a carcass, smoking his pipe]

legolas- final count: 42.

gimli- 42? that's not bad for a pointy-eared elvish princeling. i myself am sitting pretty on 43.

[legolas frowns]

[legolas draws his bow and shoots gimli's uruk]

legolas- 43.

gimli- he was already dead.

legolas- he was twitching.

gimli- he was twitching because he's got my axe embedded in his nervous system!

[gimli wiggles the axe handle, making the uruk twitch]

legolas- [thinking] is sharon alright? i miss her!

gimli- [looking at legolas] she’ll be alright, don’t worry!

legolas- i hope you’re right!

aragorn- [butts in] her and maryann will do good, just be patient.

ACT X

SCENE 1

[at fangorn, treebeard is walking through the forest with elysa and katie sitting on his shoulders]

treebeard- my home. i sleep in the forest near the roots of the mountain. i told gandalf i would keep you safe and safe is where i’ll keep you. the trees have grown wild and dangerous. anger festers 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. [singing] oh rowan mine i saw you shine upon a summer's day. upon your head how golden-red the crown you bore aloft.

[elysa yawns]

elysa- [thinking] this tree is boring!

treebeard- such a beautiful verse.

elysa- is it much further?

treebeard- bru-ra-hroom. don't be hasty. you might call it far perhaps.

[the hobbits sleep]

[elysa awakes]

[katie is drinking from a stone dish]

elysa- hello? [looks around the small clearing] treebeard?! where is he?

katie- i had the loveliest dream last night. that we were back home, in our own beds sleeping. and then you got sick. [laughs] i’d give anything to go back home.

[groans]

elysa- did you hear that, what was that sound? [hears another groan] there it is again. something's not going on here. and i don’t like it at all.

[katie gives a growling burp]

elysa- did you just say something... treeish.

katie- [attitude] no i didn't. i was just stretching.

[katie stretches and two more groans come from her]

elysa- you're taller.

katie- who?

elysa- you!

katie- what about me…i’m taller than what?

elysa- than me!

katie- i've always been taller than you.

elysa- katie, everyone knows i'm the tall one. you're the short one.

katie- come on, elysa. you're like, three-foot-six, at the most? whereas me, i'm pushing 5'0" [groan] 5'1" .

[katie drinks]

elysa- five-foot-one? what did you do?

[elysa grabs the stone bowl and drinks]

katie- what the… elysa, no! don't drink it. elysa! [she chases elysa] treebeard said that you shouldn't have any.

elysa- [runs and drinks] if you could have some. then i can too!

katie- it could be dangerous! [she chases elysa, the water draught spills] give it back! elysa!

[katie chases elysa over the roots of a tree]

[the roots begin to close in on them]

katie- [confused] what's going on?

elysa- [screams] this thing has my leg! ow!

katie- elysa!

[they moan as the tree roots cover them up]

katie- [muffled] help!

elysa- [muffled] anyone out there?

[treebeard strides up]

treebeard- away with you. you should not be waking. [he shakes a finger at the tree] eat earth. dig deep. drink water. [the tree releases the two] go to sleep. away with you. [to the hobbits] come, the forest is waking up. it isn't safe.

[treebeard is carrying the hobbits through the forest]

treebeard- the trees have grown wild and dangerous. anger festers in their hearts. black are their thoughts. strong is their hate. they will harm you if they can. there are too few of us now, too few of us ents left to manage them.

katie- ok, why are there so few of you when you have lived so long? are their little ent children?

treebeard- bru-ha-hroom. there have been no entings for a terrible long count of years.

elysa- why? what happened?

treebeard- we lost the entwives.

katie- oh, i'm sorry. how did they die?

treebeard- die, no. we lost them. and now we cannot find them.

elysa- [soft laugh] how can you lose them?

treebeard- they have left us. and I don't suppose you've seen entwives in the shire?

elysa- can't say that i have. kate?

katie- what do they look like?

treebeard- [sadly] i don't remember, now.

SCENE 2

[elysa and katie are traveling through the forest, carried by treebeard]

katie- hey look! there’s smoke! do you see it?

elysa- yeah i see it
treebeard- there is always smoke rising from isengard these days.
elysa- isengard?

[the two climb higher up onto treebeard for a better view]

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.

[katie and elysa are now on top of treebeard and they see a massive smoke rising]

katie- what is it?
elysa- it’s saruman’s army! the war has started.

SCENE 3

[treebeard walks through the forest carrying elysa and katie]

[treebeard comes to a clearing and stops]

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... ent moot.
elysa- what hell is that?
treebeard- 'tis a gathering.
katie- a gathering of what?

elysa- ummm.....you should know that answer...

katie- oh....ents....ok

[elysa and katie turns round as they hear movement from the forest around them]

[they see many more ents like treebeard gather around]

treebeard- beech, oak, chestnut, ash... good, good, good. many have come. now we must decide if the ents will go to war.

[elysa licks her lips in anticipation]

SCENE 4

[the ent moot is still in progress]

elysa- geez, they’re taking too long!

katie- calm down!!!! it’ll end eventually.

[the ents sway a little as they continue to deliberate]

[elysa and katie are sitting a distance away]

[katie startles awake]

elysa- it's been going for hours.

katie- they must have decided something by now.

treebeard- decided? no, we've only just finished saying good morning.

elysa- huh? but it's nighttime already! you can't take that long.

treebeard- don't be hasty.

elysa- we're running out of time!

[suddenly, treebeard nods and turns to the hobbits]

katie- [gesturing] elysa, look he’s coming!
treebeard- we have just agreed.

[long pause with his eyes closed]

elysa- [snaps her fingers] dude!!! what are you doing? wake up!
treebeard- [opens eyes] i have told your names to the ent moot and we have agreed – you are not orcs.
katie- umm, yeah! we told you that already!
elysa- [impatiently] and what about saruman? and the army?
treebeard- [waving a hand] now don’t be hasty, little one.

elysa- i ain’t little!

katie- umm....compare to him, you are!

elysa-oh yeah, i forgot all about that! w-wait 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 loong time to say anything in ooold… entish.

[elysa and katie roll their eyes in disgruntlement]

treebeard- and we never say anything… unless it is worth taking a looong… time to say.
elysa- uh huh, sure!
katie- let him talk!

treebeard- the ents cannot hold back this storm. we must weather such things as we have always done.
elysa- [yelling] how can you decide that?!

katie- elysa, calm down!

treebeard- this is not our war.
elysa- but you're part of this world! aren’t you?!

[the ents look at one another, taken back]

katie- you must help, please! you do something!
treebeard- you are young and brave, elysa. but your part in this tale is over. go back to your home.

katie- [whispering] but, we don’t know how!

[elysa is putting on her jacket]

[katie approaches elysa slowly]

katie- maybe that tree is right. we don’t belong here, elysa. it’s not our world. what can we do in the end? we've got our world.
elysa= [looking into the distance] the fires of isengard will spread. and the woods of tuckborough and buckland will burn. and all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. [turns to katie and puts a hand on her shoulder] we need to save this world even though it’s not ours!

[katie looks after elysa as she walks away]

SCENE 5

[treebeard is walking through the forest, carrying elysa and katie]

treebeard- i will leave you at the western borders of the forest. you can make your way north to your homeland from there.

[katie suddenly looks up with a gleam in her eyes]

katie- wait! stop! stop! [treebeard comes to a stop] turn around. turn around. take us south!
treebeard- south? but that will lead you past isengard.
katie- yes. exactly. if we go south we can slip past saruman unnoticed. the closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm.

elysa- it’s the last thing he’ll expect. we’re good!
treebeard- mmmm. that doesn’t make sense to me. but then, you are very small. perhaps you’re right. south it is then. hold on, little people. [turns around going south] i always like going south. somehow it feels like going down hill.
elysa- are you sure about this? Will we be caught?!
katie- i hope not! just pray!

SCENE 6

[treebeard, elysa, and katie come to the southern edge of the 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 – oh!! [treebeard sees the desolated landscape of tree stumps that used to be forested ground] many of these trees were my friends. creatures i had known from nut and acorn.
katie- we’re sorry, treebeard.
treebeard- [with tears in his eyes] they had voices of their own. [his gaze turns to the treeless isengard and its smoking caverns] saruman! a wizard should know better!
elysa- saruman, you bastard! kill him!!!!

[treebeard lets out a ferocious roar that echoes through the forest]

treebeard- there is no curse in elvish, entish or the tongues of men for this treachery.

[elysa and katie turn around as they hear rumbles from the forest]

katie- look at the trees, they're moving!

elysa- where are they going?

treebeard- they have business with the orcs.

[they see many ents emerging and marching towards them]

treebeard- my business is with isengard tonight. with rock and stone!
elysa- alright! we’re gunna kill him

katie- what’ up with you, with killing?

elysa- i dunno! it’s a thing i have!
treebeard- hoorarooom... come my friends. the ents are going to war. it is likely that we go to our doom. the last march of the ents!

[the ents are stomping over isengard, swinging their huge limbs, throwing and stamping on orcs and rolling huge boulders over the ground]

[an ent is pulled down with chains by some orcs, who immediately jump on and hacks away at his wooden limbs]

[saruman rushes out onto the balcony of orthanc and stares at the pandemonium in incredulity]

[elysa and katie also throws stones at orcs, their aims true]

elysa- hey, i’m pretty good at this!

katie- same here! softball is actually paying off!
treebeard- a hit. a fine hit!

[two ents rock a wooden structure and push it over into the caverns below, smashing against the rock]

[some orcs fire flamed-tipped arrows at an ent, setting him on fire]

[saruman continues to look about from his balcony, helpless]

[some ents are now breaking away at a dam]

treebeard- break the dam! release the river!

[the dam is broken and saruman looks up to see the river rushing down the slope towards Isengard, washing away orcs and wooden structures in its path]

elysa- katie, hold on tight!

[the hobbits tighten their hold on top of treebeard]

treebeard- hold on, little hobbits!

[treebeard braces himself against the flood]

[as the water rushes over isengard, an ent rushes in and thrusts his burning body into the water]

[the water rushes into the caverns, washing away the bridges, mechanisms and structures within]

[isengard is flooded]

[katie looks on from their perch on treebeard]

[on the balcony, saruman stumbles back into his chamber]

elysa- that’s what you get for messing with us!!!!!

katie- you freakin’ deserved it!!!!!! [laughs]

[katie stops laughing]

elysa-but we didn’t kill anyone.

katie- umm...yeah we did...we drowned the orcs!

elysa- i wanted to kill saruman...that would’ve been fun!

katie- we’ll get him next time!

elysa- alright! remember you said that!

katie- yeah, i’ll remember

[elysa and katie are waist deep in water, looking up at saruman on the balcony of orthanc]

elysa- he doesn't look too happy, does he?

katie- [shakes head] uh uh.

[saruman and grima stalk along the balcony]

elysa- still, i suppose the view would be quite nice form up there.

katie- oh yes, very nice.

SCENE 7

[katie tries to measure her height against elysa’s to see if she still taller]

[elysa looks back at katie, katie pretends to be picking something out of her hair]

elysa- what are you doing?

katie- nothing.

eltsa- the world's back to normal, that's all.

katie- no it isn't. i'm starving.

elysa- good luck trying to find something good around here. probably nothing besides dead rats and moldy bread.

[katie finds an apple floating in the water]

[katie looks up, then she smiles]

[more apples are floating]

[katie grabs them, then drops them to pick up a roast chicken, then finds a whole basket of apples]

[elysa finds a bottle of wine]

[they enter a storeroom filled with food]

elysa- omigod, saruman's storeroom!

[the two see barrels marked ‘southfarthing']

katie- i don't believe it.

elysa- it can't be.

katie- it is.

[katie opens a barrel]

elysa- longbottom leaf. [sniffs] the finest pipe-weed in south farthing.

katie- it's perfect. [she hands a barrel to elysa] one barrel each. [then looks worried] wait. do you think we should share it with treebeard?

elysa- share it? no. no. dead plant and all that. don't think he'd understand. could be a distant relative.

katie- i get it.

elysa- [whips out her pipe] exactly. bar-hrum.

katie- what about sharon and maryann?

elysa- what about them?

katie- should we safe some for them?

merry- well i think it’ll be gone before we even see them again.

katie- oh ok.

[treebeard peeks into the storeroom as smoke begins to billow out]

ACT XI

SCENE 1

[the enormous black gate is being patrolled by orcs and standing guard on the towers and atop the walls]

[coming the right, an army of easterling soldiers are marching to the black gate]

maryann- god save us.
gollum- master says to show her the way into mordor, so good sméagol does. master says so.
sharon- i did.

[orcs are patrolling the black gate]

maryann- well, that’s it then. we can’t get past them.

[a command is heard and an orc sounds a horn, signaling for the gate to be opened]

[two enormous cave trolls stretch and growl and then pull the mighty gate open]

maryann- hey, look! the gate, it's opening! should we go in now!.

[maryann moves closer to the edge]

[suddenly, the rock underneath her gives way and she falls]

sharon- maryann!
maryann- uh oh!!

[sharon goes after maryann]

gollum- master!

[two easterling soldiers see streams of dust coming down the cliff made by maryann and sharon]

[they move away from the troop to investigate]

[sharon reaches maryann who is stuck in the scree]

[as the easterlings move closer and closer, sharon throws her elvish cloak over herself and maryann]

[the soldiers are now directly in front of maryann, but their eyes see nothing but rock]

[sharon and maryann peer from underneath the cloak]

[the soldiers soon leave and after a moment, sharon throws back the cloak and pulls maryann out]

sharon- you almost gave a heart attack there for a second
maryann – dude, i almost gave myself as well, that was smart with the cloak thing.

sharon- yeah, i know! [looks at the black gate] it’s closing, let’s go!

maryann- right! let’s!

[they prepare to make a run for the gate]

sharon- now!

[gollum pulls them back]

gollum- no! no, no master! they'd catch you! they'd catch you! don’t take it to him! he wants the preciousss. always he’s looking for it! and the preciousss is wanting to go back to him. but we mustn’t let him have it.

[sharon tries to make a run for it]

gollum- no! [pulls sharon back again] there’s another way. more secret and dark way.

maryann- why you tell us this now! [whispering] he fuckin’ lying, err!
gollum- because master did not ask!
maryann- he’s up to something.

sharon- why do you not believe him?

maryann- he fuckin’ bit me...i still don’t trust him

sharon- nevermind! [to gollum] are you saying there’s another way into mordor?
gollum- yes. there is a path, and some stairs, and then a tunnel.

[sharon and maryann watch as the black gate closes]

[gollum is stroking sharon’s arm and burying his face in her cloak]

sharon- he led us this far, maryann.

maryann- sharon, no he’s lying!

sharon- he’s been true to his word.
maryann- [whispers] damn!

sharon- lead the way, sméagol.
gollum- good sméagol always helps.

[sharon follows gollum as maryann stares in disbelief]

SCENE 2

[gollum is trying to catch a fish in the river]

[gollum slips and falls, grasping at a slippery fish as he goes]

[sharon and maryann follow behind]

maryann- hey neck-biter! get me some too, i’m hungry!

sharon- why do you do that?
maryann- do what?

sharon- call him names; run him down all the time.

maryann- because… because that's what he did. there's just left in him but lies and deceit. it's the ring he wants. that’s all he cares about.

sharon- [glaring at maryann] you have no idea what it did to him. what it’s still doing to him. [she walks past maryann and stops] i want to help him...

maryann- why, he bit me?

sharon- because i have to believe in him.
maryann- whatever you say!

sharon- [snapping at maryann] you don’t know shit about it? nothing, nothing at all!

[maryann walks away slowly]

sharon- [with remorse] i’m sorry. i don't know why i said that.
maryann- [looks back at sharon] i do. it’s the fuckin’ ring.....it’s already taking you over. but it’s seems like you can’t control it. you talk in your sleep about it. and it ain’t right! fight it! you just have to!

sharon- [grows angry again] i know what i have to do. the ring was entrusted to me! it's my task! mine! my own!

[she walks away]

SCENE 3

[nighttime, sharon and maryann are asleep]

[gollum is crouching in a corner by himself]

gollum- we wants it. we needs it. must have the precioussss. they stole it from us. sneaky little hobbitsesss. wicked, trickssssy, falssse!
sméagol- no! not master.
gollum- yes, precious. false. they will cheat you, hurt you, lie.
sméagol- master’s my friend.
gollum- [tauntingly] you don’t have any friends. nobody likes YOU...
sméagol- [covers his ears] not listening. not listening.
gollum- you’re a liar and a thief.
sméagol- [shaking his head] nope.
gollum- mur…derer…!
sméagol- [starts to weep and whimper] go away.
gollum- go away! [cackles]
sméagol- [weeping and in a small voice] i hate you. i hate you!
gollum- [fiercely] where would you be without me? [coughs] Gollum, gollum. i saved us. it was me. we survived because of me!
sméagol- [resolute] not anymore.

gollum- [startled] 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- [louder] leave now and never come back!

[gollum growls and bares his teeth]

sméagol- LEAVE. NOW. AND. NEVER. COME. BACK!

[sméagol pants and then looks around]

sméagol- we... we told him to go away! and away he goes, preciousss. [he hops around in joy and does a little dance] gone, gone, gone! sméagol is free!

SCENE 4

[the next day, while the hobbits were resting]

[sméagol comes back with two rabbits and drops them onto sharon’s lap]

sméagol- look! look! see what sméagol finds! [laughs]
sharon- aww...!

[sharon looks up at him with bloodshot eyes]

[she smiles at sméagol and looks at maryann]

[sméagol raises a fist in self-congratulation and dances around]

[gollum then picks up one of the rabbits and snaps the rabbit's back in front of sharon]

sméagol- they are young, tender. they are nice. yes they are! eat them! eat them!

[gollum bites and tears into the raw meat]

[maryann rushes over and snatches the rabbit out of gollum’s hands]

maryann- you’ll make her sick, if you do that! [holding up the two rabbits] there’s only one way to eat a brace of coneys.

[a pot of stew is simmering over a fire]

sméagol- [looking into the pot] what’s he doing! Stupid ugly hobbit! you ruins it!
maryann- don’t you dare call me ugly! and what’s to ruin? there’s hardly any meat on them.

[a faint calling sound catches the attention of sharon]

maryann- what we need is a few good taters.
gollum- what’s taters, preciousss? what’s taters uh?
maryann- PO-TAY-TOES, DUH! boil ‘em. mash ‘em. stick ‘em in a stew. that sounds pretty good!. even you couldn’t say no to that.

[maryann takes a sip of the stew]

sméagol- oh yes we could! spoiling nice coneys... [scrambles up close to maryann] give it to usss rrraw... and wrrriggling! [makes sickeningly happy face] you keep nasty chips.

[gollum hops away]

maryann- you’re hopeless.

[sharon follows the source of the sound]

[maryann finally notices that sharon is no longer in her sight]

maryann- yo, chick! where are you?

[maryann goes in search of sharon and finds her lying down near some bushes looking at a haradrim army marching across the land]

[maryann moves to lie low beside sharon]

[sméagol also moves in beside sharon]

maryann- what are they?
gollum- 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.
maryann- ready to do what?
gollum- to make his war. the last war that will cover all the world in shadow.
sharon- we need to keep moving. come on.
maryann- [grabs sharon’s arm] wait! look! It’s an elephant!

[gigantic oliphaunts appear, carrying soldiers and supplies on their backs]

sharon- isn’t it a little bigger than a elephant

gollum- it’s an oliphaunt!
maryann- oh, no one at home will believe this...
sharon- something bigger than an elephant!

[sméagol slips away unnoticed]

sharon- [looking around] sméagol?

[suddenly, pandemonium breaks out from below; the soldiers are being ambushed]

[cloaked rangers are firing deadly arrows at the soldiers and oliphaunts from behind bushes]

sharon- maryann look! who is that guy? he ‘s kind of cute

maryann- you already have legolas, so stop!

sharon- well, legolas is way cuter than that guy!

maryann- ok, that’s what i want to hear.

[one of the oliphaunts starts trumpeting and stomping towards sharon and maryann, swinging his huge trunk and tusks]

[faramir takes aim and shoots a soldier]

[the soldier falls from the oliphaunt and lands right behind sharon and maryann, dead]

sharon- we stayed here far too long. let’s go!

[sharon runs right into a gondorian ranger, who grabs hold of her and throws her onto her back]

[maryann sees that sharon is in danger and grapples for her sword]

maryann- let go of her!

[maryann charges at the soldier who has sharon but is grabbed by another ranger and thrown down]

[a sword appears at her throat]

maryann- wa…wait! we're innocent, i’ll tell you. we’re innicent!

[faramir appears]

faramir- there are no travelers in this land, only servants of the dark tower.

sharon- we are here in secrecy. if you’re the enemy…you would not hurt us. [scared] wii you?

maryann- oh nice one, sharon.

faramir- the enemy? [he turns over the dead southron] his sense of duty was no less than yours, i deem. you wonder what his name is, where he came from, and if he was really evil at heart. what lies or threats led him on this long march from home. if he would not rather have stayed there in peace. [he turns] war will make corpses of us all. [walks away] bind their hands.

SCENE 5

[at henneth annûn, faramir is conferring with his men]

[they unroll a map]

[gondorian rangers with the captured sharon and maryann.>

[sharon and maryann and being carries, blinded-folded into the cave]

faramir- what news?
madril- our scouts report saruman has attacked rohan. théoden’s people have fled to helm’s deep. [points at the map] 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?
madril- some thousands. more come every day.
faramir- who’s covering the river to the north?
madril- we pulled five hundred men at osgiliath, but if the city is attacked, we won’t hold it.
faramir- [tracing on the map] 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.

[the hobbits are unbound and blindfolds taken off them]

[they find themselves in a cave behind a waterfall]

[faramir comes up to them and sits].

faramir- my men tell me that you are orc spies.
maryann- ORC spies?! now wait just a minute, we ain’t that ugly, sheesh!
faramir- well if you’re not spies, then who are you?

[sharon and maryann remain silent]

faramir- speak.
sharon- we are hobbits of the shire. frodina baggins is my name and this is samantha Gamgee.
faramir- your bodyguard?
maryann- [with an evil look] her best friend.
faramir- and where is your skulking friend? that gangrel creature. he had an ill-favored look.
sharon- [the merest hesitation] who? huh?

[maryann looks shifty-eyed and uncomfortable]

sharon- we set out from rivendell with seven companions. one we lost in mória. two are my other friends. a dwarf as well was with us, and a really cute elf. and two men, aragorn, son of arathorn, and boromir of gondor.
faramir- [intently] you were a friend of boromir?
sharon:- [hand movement] EH!
faramir- it would grieve you then to learn that he was dead.
sharon- [shocked] dead? what? when? how?
faramir- as one of his companions, i hoped you would tell me.

sharon- well, i left them before he passed away! so i really don’t know.

faramir- he was my brother.

sharon- oh gosh! then i’m really sorry! If something has happened to Boromir, we would have you tell us.

faramir- his horn washed up upon the riverbank, about six days past. it was cloven in two. but more than this, i know it in my heart.

SCENE 6

[faramir is sitting alone, deep in thought]

[flashback part 1]

[faramir stands in the mist]

[faramir turns to see a boat approaching]

[he wades into the river]

[the boat floats past him]

[it is filled with water and boromir is lying dead inside]

[flshback ends]

[in the caves of henneth anun, faramir sits alone holding boromir's horn]

[flashback part 2]

crowd- boromir!

[boromir is waving the white flag of the stewards]

crowd- boromir!

[boromir stands upon a high wall in osgiliath]

[boromir lifts his sword and addresses a crowd of gondorian soldiers below]

boromir- this city was once the jewel of our kingdom. a place of light and beauty and music. and so it shall be once more!

[the crowd cheers]

boromir- let the armies of mordor know this: never again will the land of my people fall into enemy hands.

[more cheering]

boromir- the city of osgiliath has been reclaimed. for gondor!

crowd- for gondor!

boromir- for gondor!

crowd- for gondor!

boromir- for gondor!

crowd- for gondor!

[at street level, faramir and boromir meet and embrace]

faramir- [smiling] good speech. nice and short.

boromir- leaves more time for drinking! break out the ale! these men are thirsty!

[boromir gets some ale]

boromir- remember today, little brother. today, life is good.

[they both drink]

[faramir looks past boromir and stops smiling]

boromir- what?

faramir- [sadly] he is here.

boromir- [turns to see denethor approaching] one moment of peace. can he not give us that?

denethor- where is he? where is gondor's finest? where is my first-born?

boromir- father!

[they embrace]

denethor- they say you vanquished the enemy almost single-handedly.

boromir- they exaggerate. the victory belongs to faramir also.

[faramir looks hopeful and approaches]

denethor- but for faramir, this city would still be standing. were you not entrusted to protect it?

faramir- i would have done, but our numbers were too few.

denethor- oh, too few. you let the enemy walk in and take it on a whim. always you cast a poor reflection on me.

faramir- that is not my intent.

boromir- you give him no credit and yet he tries to do your will.

[boromir withdraws to an alcove]

[denethor follows]

boromir- he loves you, father.

denethor- do not trouble me with faramir. i know his uses, and they are few. we have more urgent things to speak of. elrond of rivendell has called a meeting. he will not say why, but i have guessed it's purpose. it is rumored that the weapon of the enemy has been found.

boromir- the one ring. isildur's bane.

denethor- it has fallen into the hands of the elves. everyone will try to claim it: men, dwarves, wizards. we cannot let that happen. this thing must come to gondor.

boromir- gondor.

denethor- it's dangerous, i know. everytime the ring will seek to corrupt the hearts of lesser men. but you, you are strong and our need is great. it is our blood which is being spilled, our people who are dying. sauron is biding his time. he's massing fresh armies. he will return. and when he does, we will be powerless to stop him. you must go. bring me back this mighty gift.

boromir- no. my place is here with my people. not in rivendell

[boromir leaves the alcove]

denethor- would you deny your own father?

faramir- if there is need to go to rivendell, send me in his stead.

denethor- you? oh, i see. a chance for faramir, captain of gondor to show his quality. i think not. i trust this mission only to your brother. the one who will not fail me.

[boromir sits his horse and looks up at the flag of the stewards]

[boromir and faramir look at each other sadly]

boromir- remember today, little brother.

[boromir rides away]

[flashbacks end]

SCENE 7

[suddenly someone comes up to him]

madril- aptain faramir. [whispers] the third one has been found.

[sharon and maryann are sleeping]

[sharon awakens as faramir stands before her]

faramir- you must come with me. now.
sharon- alright. but why?

faramir- don’t ask questions.

[sharon gets up and follow]

[they come to the edge of the waterfall, overlooking the forbidden pool]

faramir- [pointing down] down there.

[sharon looks down and sees gollum diving into the water]

sharon- [thinking] aww, he looks cute diving in the water.
faramir- to enter the forbidden pool bears the penalty of death.

[faramir gestures to archers hidden in the bushes]

faramir- they wait for my command.

[the rangers notch their arrows]

faramir- shall they shoot?

[sharon looks stricken]

[gollum emerges from the pool onto a rock]

[gollum holds a fish in his hand and starts singing]

[gollum is slapping the fish onto the rock as he goes]

gollum- [singing] the rock and pool is nice and cool, so nice for feet! i only wish [whacks the fish onto the rock] to catch a fish [whacks], so juicy sweet!

[the fish almost wriggles out of his grasp and he whacks it some more]

[faramir has his hand raised to order his men to shoot]

[at the last moment, sharon calls out]

sharon- wait! [faramir stops] this creature is bound to me. and i to him. he is our guide. please, let me go down to him.

[faramir nods]

[sharon descends to the forbidden pool]

sharon- [thinking] bastard!

[sharon approaches gollum who is gorging on the raw fish]

sharon- sméagol. [gollum turns round to sharon’s voice] master is here. come, sméagol. trust master. come!

[sharon gestures for gollum to follow him]

gollum- we must go now?
sharon-sméagol, you must trust master. follow me, come on. come. come, sméagol. nice sméagol. that’s it. come on.

[with the fish between his teeth, gollum follows sharon warily]

[suddenly gollum looks up in alarm and is caught by rangers]

sharon- don’t fuckin’ hurt him! sméagol don’t struggle! sméagol listen to me!
gollum- [wails] master!!

[a black cloth is brought over gollum's head]

[sharon stares after them with a stricken expression as faramir leads gollum and his men away]

sharon- [at faramir] you sickening asshole of a guy!

SCENE 8

[one of the rangers kicks gollum]

[gollum tries to scuttle away, but is dragged back by his foot]

[one of the rangers holds him while another punches him]

faramir- that is enough.

[they throw gollum down and he covers in a corner]

faramir- where are you leading them? answer me!
gollum- [cooing, his hand stroking his shoulder] sméa…gol... why do you cry, sméagol?
sméagol- [sobbing] cruel men hurts us. master trickst us.
gollum- of course he did. i told you he was tricksy. i told you she was false.
sméagol- [sobbing] master is our friend... our friend.
gollum- master betrayed us.
sméagol- no, not its business. leave us alone!
gollum- [hits his fist against the wall] filthy little hobbitses. they stole it from us.
sméagol- [whimpers] no... no!
faramir- what did they steal?
gollum- [turns to faramir with a ferocious expression] MYYY… RECIOUSSS!!

[gollum bares his teeth and growls]

SCENE 9

[in maryann and sharon’s holding area, alone]

maryann- we have to get out of here. you go. go, now! you can do it. use the ring. just this once. just put it on. disappear.
sharon- i can’t. you were right, maryann. you tried to tell me. i’m sorry. the ring’s taking me and it hurts. if i put it on, he’ll find me. he’ll see me.
maryann- sharon...

[they both stand as faramir enters]

[faramir unsheathes his sword]

maryann- oh shit, he’s gunna kill us

faramir- so... this is the answer to all the riddles. here in the wild i have you. two halflings and a host of men at my call. the ring of power within my grasp.

[faramir lifts the ring from sharon’s neck with the tip of his sword]

faramir- a chance for faramir, captain of gondor, to show his quality.

[sharon backed away fearfully against the wall]

[the ring whispers and sharon falls into a trance]

[suddenly, sharon grabs the ring in her hand and jerks herself away]

sharon- no!!

[sharon runs away from faramir]

maryann- stop it! leave her alone! don’t you understand? we came to destroy that DAMN ring. that’s where we’re going. to mordor. to mount doom. get it through your thick skull of yours, fuck!

[faramir stares at sharon]

[just then madril enters]

madril- osgiliath is under attack. they call for reinforcements.
maryann- please. it’s such a fuckin’ burden to her. will you not help us?
madril- captain?
faramir- prepare to leave. the ring will go to gondor.

[faramir turns to leave]

maryann- you fuckin’ bastard!!!

[maryann looks after faramir pissed off]

SCENE 10

[faramir and company draws close to osgiliath]

madril- look! osgiliath burns!
ranger- mordor has come.
sharon- [with tears in her eyes] the ring will not save gondor. it will only has the power to destroy. so, please, let me go.

[faramir hesitates for a moment]

faramir- hurry.

[faramir presses them on]

sharon- shit, faramir, you must let me go!

[sharon and maryann are pushed on towards osgiliath]

SCENE 11

[osgiliath is still under siege as faramir and company arrives, dodging arrows and falling rocks]

gondorian ranger- faramir, orcs have taken the eastern shore. their numbers are too great. by nightfall we’ll be overrun.

[sharon suddenly seems stricken]

maryann= sha, what’s wrong!
sharon- it’s calling to him, maryann. his eye is almost on me.
maryann- hold on, chick… you’ll be alright...

[sharon sees that maryann is speaking to her but she hears nothing]

[sharon senses are overcome]

faramir- take them to my father. tell him faramir sends a mighty gift. a weapon that will change our fortunes in this war.

[maryann breaks away as they are being led away]

maryann- you want to know what happened to boromir? you want to know why your brother died? he tried to take the ring from shar - frodina! after swearing an oath to protect her, he tried to kill her! the ring drove your brother mad!
ranger- watch out!

[a boulder crashes into a tower overhead and shatters it]

[suddenly, sharon’s eyes roll up and she stares at faramir strangely]

maryann- sharon?
sharon- [in a faraway voice] they’re here. they’ve come.
faramir- [looking up] NAZGÛL!!

[faramir grabs the hobbits and thrusts them into a corner]

faramir= stay here. keep out of sight. take cover!

[sharon walks slowly away from the safe corner]

[gondorian rangers are still running about, defending their stations]

maryann- what are you doing? where are you going?! gwt your ass back here!

[sharon keeps walking away]

maryann- sharon!!!

[sharon walks up some stairs and stands on a bridge]

[a nazgûl on a fell beast emerges in front of her]

[sharon stares at the nazgûl, fixated]

[feeling the call of the ring, sharon holds it up]

[faramir watches the unfolding tableau from below]

[as sharon moves to put the ring on her finger, the nazgûl flies closer and closer]

[maryann runs up and grabs sharon and tumble over]

[faramir releases an arrow and shoots the fell beast]

[sharon and maryann roll down the stairs]

[as they come to a stop at the bottom, sharon holds maryann in a death grip, yells and points sting at her throat]

[sharon’s eyes livid with madness and anger that someone would try to take the ring away]

sharon- stay away from my ring!!!
maryann- [with tears running down her face] it’s me. It’s your sister, your best friend. don’t you know your best friend?

[the madness fades and recognition returns to sharon’s eyes]

[sharon realizes what she nearly did and is overcome]

sharon- omigod, what have i done!

[stumbling backwards, sharon collapses against a wall and sting falls to the ground with a clang]

[maryann gets up slowly]

sharon= [slowly and with despair] i can’t handle this, i don’t even know if i can do this.
maryann- [getting up slowly] i know. it’s all wrong. by rights we shouldn’t even be here. but we are.

[maryann stands and leans against a wall, looking out into the distance]

maryann- the thing that really matters is that we’re here for a reason. but all this is full of darkness and danger, that they are. but how could the end be happy? how can this world go back to the way it was when so much of this is happening? but in the end, even though darkness must pass. maybe a new day will come. and when that happens, the sun will shine more clearer than ever to these people. i just think it would happen one of these days but like i said, we’re here for a reason. and now i know why they’re fighting it’s because they are holding on to something valuable.
sharon- what are they holding on to?
maryann- there’s some good in this world. and it’s worth fighting for.

[standing in a corner, even gollum seems moved]

[faramir walks over and comes to kneel in front of sharon]

faramir- i think at last we understand one another, frodina baggins.

sharon- oh1 please call me sharon.

faramir- alright, sharon.
gondorian ranger- you know the laws of our country, the laws of your father. if you let them go, your life will be forfeit.
faramir= then it is forfeit. release them.

sharon- thank you

faramir- you’re welcome.

sharon- please forgive my language earlier.

faramir- you are forgiven.

[maryann shakes the ranger’s hand]

[faramir and the hobbits wade through the flooded city to an alcove]

[gollum follows]

faramir- this is the old sewer. runs right under the river through to the edge of the city. you'll find cover in the woods there.

maryann- captain faramir, you have shown your quality, dude. keep it up.

faramir- your world must truly be a great realm, maryann, where a true friend is held in high honor. what road will you take once you reach the woods?

sharon- gollum says there's a path near minas morgul that climbs up into the mountains.

faramir- cirith ungol?

[gollum crawls past faramir]

[faramir grabs gollum and holds him by the neck]

faramir- is that it's name?

gollum- no. no! yes.

faramir- sharon, they say a dark terror dwells in the passes above minas morgul. you cannot go that way.

gollum- it is the only way. master says we must go to mordor, so we must try.

sharon- i must.

[faramir throws gollum down]

faramir- go, sharon. go with the goodwill of all men.

sharon- ok…i ‘ll keep in consideration, thank you.

[sharon and maryann start off]

[the battle for osgiliath resumes]

[faramir catches gollum again]

faramir- may death find you quickly if you bring them to harm.

[faramir flings gollum toward the sewer]

[gollum crawls, limping]

maryann- come on. keep up! sharon didn't mean for those stupid rangers to hurt you. you know that, don't you? she was tryin' to save you, see?

gollum- save me?

maryann- so there's no hard feelings. forgive and forget.

gollum- no, no. no hard feelings.

maryann- very decent of you. very decent indeed, gollum.

SCENE 12

[sharon and maryann walking following gollum]

sharon- dude, that faramir guy was kind of cute with that hood on!

maryann- hey! you told me that, already....and i already told you that you have legolas...okay! for me, i could look at guys, not you, me!...you already have one!

sharon- oh alright! calm down

maryann- this is a long walk. gollum, how far are we now?

gollum- just in a little while!

[sharon and maryann still walking and folllowing gollum]

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ACT XII

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