Transcribed from "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers".
Screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens.
Based on "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien.







New Line Cinema Presents...
A Wingnut Films Production


{{TITLE: THE LORD OF THE RINGS}}


{Camera pans over the Misty Mountains as voices drift in from the
background.}
Gandalf : You cannot pass!
Frodo: Gandalf!
Gandalf: I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor!
{Camera pans closer to the mountain side.}
Gandalf: Argh! Go back to the shadow. The Dark Fire will not avail you,
Flame of Udun! {Camera zooms in through the mountain and focuses on Gandalf
and the Balrog on the bridge of Khazad-d?m. The Balrog strikes down on
Gandalf with its flaming sword. Gandalf parries the blow with Glamdring,
shattering the Balrog’s sword.} YOU… SHALL NOT... PASS!!!
{Gandalf strikes his staff onto the bridge. As the Balrog steps forward, the
bridge collapses from under it and the demon plunges backward into the
chasm. Gandalf, exhausted, leans on his staff and watches the Balrog fall
then turns to follow the others. At the last minute, the flaming whip lashes
up from the depths of the abyss and winds around Gandalf’s ankle, dragging
him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but is straining to keep his
grip.}
Gandalf: Argh!
{Frodo rushes forward but Boromir restrains him.}
Boromir: No! No!
Frodo: Gandalf!
Gandalf: Fly, you fools!
{Gandalf loses his grip and falls into the chasm}
Frodo: 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. Just then Frodo awakens as if from a nightmare.}
Frodo: Gandalf!
Sam: What is it, Mr. Frodo?
Frodo: Nothing. Just a dream. {Lies back down.}


{{TITLE: THE TWO TOWERS}}



{Frodo and Sam climbs over the rocky terrain Emyn Muil. They look into the
distance at the Mountain of Fire.}
Sam: Mordor. The one place in Middle-earth we don’t want to see any closer,
and the one place we’re trying to get to. And it’s just where we can’t get.
Let’s face it, Mr. Frodo, we’re lost. I don’t think Gandalf meant for us to
come this way.
Frodo: He didn’t mean for a lot of things to happen, Sam... but they did.
{Suddenly Frodo feels and sees the Eye zooming in on him. He gasps and pants
as he backs away.}
Sam: Mr. Frodo? It’s the Ring, isn’t it?
Frodo: It’s getting heavier. {Clutches the Ring by his chest and sits down,
still panting. He then fumbles for his water bottle and takes a sip.}
Frodo: What food have we got left?
Sam: Well, let me see. {He takes out a package of lembas bread from his
pack} Oh yes, lovely - Lembas bread. And look! {He digs deeper into his
pack} More lembas bread.
{Sam shows another package. He then breaks off a piece and tosses it to
Frodo, and munches on a piece himself.}
Sam: I don't usually hold to foreign food, but this Elvish stuff is not bad.
Frodo: {smiles} Nothing ever dampens your spirits, does it Sam?
{Sam smiles back, and then looks ominously towards Mordor.}
Sam: Those rain clouds might.
{They continue trekking through difficult terrain, often huddling underneath
their cloaks.}
Sam: {Looks around}This looks strangely familiar.
Frodo: {Exasperated}It’s because we’ve been here before! We’re going in
circles.
Sam: Ah! What's that 'orrid stink? I'll warrant there's a nasty bog nearby.
Can you smell it?
Frodo: Yes. I can smell it. {Drops to a whisper} We’re not alone.
{Nighttime: Frodo and Sam are sleeping. 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. Suddenly the hobbits
spring up, grab hold of Gollum’s arms and pull him down. Amidst the
struggle, Gollum wriggles loose and leaps onto Frodo. As Frodo falls back,
the chain and Ring around his neck is revealed and Gollum jumps straight for
the Ring. Sam tries to grab at him but is knocked away. Gollum now jumps on
top of Frodo and tries to reach for the Ring even as Frodo grabs his hands
and tries to push him away. Gollum’s cheeks puff with exertion as he
struggles with Frodo, his enormous eyes fixed on the Ring. Sam grabs hold of
Gollum again and tears him away from Frodo. Gollum then turns around and
bites Sam on the shoulder, wriggles around and clasps his arms around Sam’s
neck and legs around his waist in a death grip. Frodo unsheathes Sting and
holds it to Gollum's throat.}
Frodo: {menancingly} This is Sting. You’ve seen it before, haven’t you...
Gollum! Release him or I’ll cut your throat!
{Slowly, Gollum loosens his grip on Sam and as the latter disentangles
himself, Gollum wails. In the next scene, Gollum is being dragged with Sam's
Elvish rope around his neck, wailing and writhing in pain.}
Gollum: It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty Elves twisted it. Take it
off us!
Sam: Quiet you!
{Sam tugs fiercely at the rope. Gollum cries some more and collapses onto
his back. Sam turns to Frodo in dismay.}
Sam: It’s hopeless! Every orc in Mordor’s going to hear this racket! Let’s
just tie him up and leave him.
Gollum: No! That would kill us! Kill us!
Sam: It’s no more than you deserve!
Frodo: Maybe he does deserve to die, but now that I see him, I do pity him.
Gollum: {Begging}We be nice to them if they be nice to us. Take it off us.
We swears to do what you wants. We swears.
Frodo: There’s no promise you can make that I can trust.
Gollum: We swears to serve the master of the preciousss. We swears on the...
on the precious. *Gollum. Gollum.*
Frodo: The Ring is treacherous. It will hold you to your word.
Gollum: Yes... on the preciousss. On the preciousss.
Sam: I don’t believe you! {Gollum backs away, frightened, and climbs onto a
boulder} Get down! Get down!
{Sam jerks strongly at the rope as Gollum tries to get away from him. He
crashes onto the ground, choking.}
Frodo: Sam!
Sam: He’s trying to trick us! We let him go he’ll throttle us in our sleep!
{Gollum lies panting and holding his throat. He backs away, frightened, as
Frodo approaches him.}
Frodo: You know the way to Mordor?
Gollum: {nods warily} Yes...
Frodo: You’ve been there before?
Gollum: {nods again} Yes...
{Frodo reaches out and takes the rope noose off Gollum’s neck. Gollum seems
surprised and relieved.}
Frodo: You will lead us to the Black Gate.
{Gollum scrambles off in the direction of Morannon and the hobbits follow in
his wake.}

{A band of Uruk-hai marches across the plain, with two hobbits bound to the
backs of two Uruk-hai. Pippin tries to call to Merry, who is unconscious
with a gash on his right brow.}
Pippin: Merry. Merry! {He receives no response.}
{Suddenly, an Uruk-hai puts up his hand and signals a stop.}
Uglúk: What is it? What do you smell?
Maúhur: {sniffs the air} Man-flesh.
Pippin: {quietly to himself} Aragorn!
Uglúk: They've picked up our trail! Let's go!
{The Uruk-hai quicken their pace. Pippin struggles to reach his Elven brooch
with his teeth. He then tears it off his cloak and drops it onto the ground.
A foot stomps onto the brooch but it remains unbroken and visible on the
grass.}
{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! {He runs off.}
Legolas: Come on, Gimli! {Looks back at Gimli and 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. {Runs
after his companions.}
{The Three Hunters 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. Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an
Elven brooch from the ground.}
Aragorn: Not idly do the leaves of Lorien 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} I am wasted on cross-country! We dwarves are natural
sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!
{The trackers 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.

{The tower of Orthanc stands amidst the smoking caverns of Isengard. Saruman
stands in his chamber, communicating with the Dark Lord through the
Palantir.}
Saruman (V.O.): The world is changing. {View changes to the tower of
Barad-dur, with its huge orc armies on a bridge.} 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?
{Camera pans upwards along the height of the tower of Barad-dur until the
flaming Eye is in view.}
Saruman (V.O.): 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 (V.O.): 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.
{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!!
{They stomp off to destroy the villages of Rohan as Saruman stands coldly
still among the stampede. A Rohan village is in pandemonium as people try to
escape the on-coming pillage.}
Saruman (V.O.): It will begin in Rohan. Too long have these peasants stood
against you. But no more.
{A woman with her hand on a horse calls out to her children.}
Morwen: Eothain! Eothain! 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 Eothain must not ride Garold, he is too big for him!
Mother: Listen to me. You must ride to Edoras and raise the alarm. Do you
understand me?
Eothain: Yes, Ma!
Freda: {starts to cry} I don’t wanna leave!I don't wanna go, Mama!
Mother: Freda, I will find you there.
{A woman screams}
Morwen: Quickly!
{The children ride off.}
Mother: {Looks after them} Go child!
{Dunlanders and Uruk-hai enter the village, burning everything in sights as
the Rohirrim scream and run in all directions. Eothain and Freda weep as
they look back from a distance.}
Saruman (V.O.): Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall.
{A group of horsemen ride to Edoras. Eomer is in the lead, carrying a
gravely wounded Theodred.}
{Eowyn runs hastily up the stairs to the Golden Hall and enters a
bedchamber. She runs to the bed.}
Eowyn: Theodred!
{Theodred seems to hear her call but is unable to respond. He has a bloody
gash on the side of his head. Eomer nods to Eowyn in the direction of
Theodred’s torso. Eowyn draws back the covers and upon seeing Theodred’s
fatal wound, her lips tighten and eyes close. She looks up to catch Eomer’s
eye.}
{Eomer and Eowyn are speaking to Theoden-king who sits motionless on his
throne, wizened, and aged beyond his years.}
Eowyn: Your son is badly wounded, my lord.
Eomer: He was ambushed by orcs. If we don’t defend our country, Saruman will
take it by force.
Grima: That is a lie! {Appears from the shadows.} Saruman the White has ever
been our friend and ally.
Theoden: {mumbles feebly} Grima… Grima… {Grima leans down close to the
King.}My son...? Grima...?
Eomer: Orcs are running freely across our lands. Unchecked. Unchallenged.
Killing at will. Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman. {He drops a helmet
onto the ground, which topples over to reveal the white hand of Saruman.}
Grima: Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind. Can you
not see? Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your war-mongering.
Eomer: War-mongering?
{Eomer grabs Grima and pins him against a pillar.}
Eomer: How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price,
Grima? When all the men are dead you will take your share of the treasure?
{Grima’s eyes flicks to right, watching Eowyn as she walks by. Eowyn stops
to stare back for a moment before departing form the hall. Eomer jerks Grima
again and clutches his hand around Grima’s jaw.}
Eomer: Too long have you watched my sister, too long have you haunted her
steps.
{Grima's eyes look to the left and relax as Eomer is suddenly pulled off
Grima by his thugs.}
Grima: You see much Eomer, Son of Eomund. Too much. {The thugs punch Eomer n
the stomach} You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan. Under
pain of death!
Eomer: {Being dragged away} Argh!!

{Uruk-hai and orcs continue to march across the plains with their hobbit
captives, with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli hot on their pursuits.}
Gimli: Keep breathing! That’s the key! Breathe! Ho!
Legolas: They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.
{They continue running over vast distances. The Uruk-hai and orcs halt at
nightfall, many panting with exertion.}
Orc: We’re not going no further till we’ve had a breather!
Uglúk: Get a fire going!
{As the orcs and Uruk-hai take their rest, Pippin crawls over towards
Merry.}
Pippin: Merry! Merry!
Merry: {opens his eyes}I think... we might have made a mistake leaving the
Shire, Pippin.
{A group of orc chops down the trees nearby for firewood. Low groans and
rumbles start to emerge from the forest.}
Pippin: What’s making that noise?
Merry: {looks towards the forest} It’s the trees.
Pippin: What?
Merry : Do you remember the Old Forest? On the borders of Buckland? Folk
used to say that there was something in the water that made the trees grow
tall... and come alive.
Pippin: Alive?
Merry: Trees that could whisper. Talk to each other. Even move.
Uruk-hai: I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but maggoty bread for three
stinkin' days!
Orc: Yeah. Why can’t we have some meat? {His eyes rest on the hobbits.} What
about them? They’re fresh.
Uglúk: They are not for eating!
Grishnakh: What about their legs? They don't need those. Ooh… They look
tasty!
Uglúk: {Shoves at the orcs} Get back, scum!
{The other orcs are getting restless.}
Orc: {Moves towards the hobbits with his blade drawn} Just a mouth full.
{Pippin and Merry recoil in fright. Uglúk jumps on the orc and cuts off his
head, which bounces off the hobbit's shoulders.}
Uglúk: Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys!!
{The Uruk-hai and orcs cheer and started tearing into the fresh meat,
intestines flying, taking their eyes off the hobbits for a while.}
Merry: Pippin, let’s go.
{Their hands still bound, the hobbits try to crawl away. Suddenly a foot
comes down on Merry and Pippin is turned onto his back.}
Grishnakh: {Brandishing a blade in front of Pippin’s face} Go on, call for
help. Squeal! No one’s gonna save you now!
{Suddenly, a spear pierces the orc's back. Mayhem ensues as Riders of Rohan
burst out from their hiding places and ambush the orcs.}
Merry: Pippin! {gestures for them to make their escape.}
{The hobbits try to escape from the pandemonium to the forest, dodging
bodies and stomping feet. Suddenly Pippin turns onto his face and looks up
to a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on him.}
Pippin: ARGH!!!

{The Three Hunters 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.
{Camera pans over the rock and plains, alternating between the band of
Uruk-hai and the Three Hunters giving chase. The trackers hear the sound of
horses. Aragorn and company hide behind some boulders. A large group of
horse-men appears, galloping quickly with their banners flying. Aragorn
comes out of hiding as they pass, followed by Legolas and Gimli.}
Aragorn: Rider of Rohan, what news from the Mark?
{At a signal from Eomer at the lead, the riders make a quick turn and head
towards them, surrounding them in ever-tightening circles. As they stop,
they point their long spears menacingly at them.}
Eomer: What business does an Elf, a man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?
Speak quickly!
Gimli : Give me your name, Horsemaster, and I shall give you mine.
{Eomer hands his staff to another rider, and gets off his horse. Aragorn
puts a hand on Gimli’s shoulder.}
Eomer: 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 Eomer.}
Legolas: You would die before your stroke fell!
{The riders all point their spears closer at the travelers. After a tense
moment, Aragorn pushes down Legolas’ arm.}
Aragorn: I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin and
Legolas of the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your
king.
Eomer: Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. {Takes off helmet} Not
even his own kin.
{The spears are withdrawn.}
Eomer: 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.
Eomer: The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night.
Gimli: But there were two hobbits? Did you see two hobbits with them?
Aragorn: They would be small - only children to your eyes.
Eomer: We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them. {Points
to a smoking pile in the distance.}
Gimli: Dead?
Eomer: {nods} I am sorry.
{Legolas puts a hand on Gimli’s shoulder in grief. Eomer turns and
whistles.}
Eomer: Hasufel! Arod! {Two horses move up.} May these horses bear you to
better fortune than their former masters. Farewell.
{Eomer puts on his helmet and gets back on his horse}
Eomer: 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. They 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} Hiro îth… ab 'wanath...
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. {Flashback: Pippin yells as he
looks up at a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on him. He rolls over,
avoiding the hooves.} They crawled.
{Aragorn starts to follow the tracks, with Legolas and Gimli behind him.
Flashback: Merry and Pippin crawl frantically away from the battle.}
Aragorn: Their hands were bound. {Flashback: Merry rubs his bonds furiously
against the sharp edge of a weapon.} Their bonds were cut. {Aragorn holds up
a broken length of thick rope.}
Aragorn: They ran over here and were followed.
{Flashback: Their hands freed, the hobbits run away from the battle scene,
dodging under a horse and trying to stay out of harms way. As they flee,
Grishnakh grabs Pippin by his belt and clings on.}
Merry: The belt!
{Pippin undoes his belt and Grishnakh is left holding it.}
Merry: Run!
Aragorn: The tracks lead away from the battle... {They break into a run and
then stop} into Fangorn Forest.
{The Three looks up into a dense and dark forest}
Gimli: Fangorn. What madness drove them in there?

{Scene moves from the trackers into the nighttime chase of Merry and Pippin.
The hobbits run into the Fangorn, seeking to lose the pursuing orc. They
collapse onto the ground, out of breath.}
Pippin: Did we lose him? {Looks around} I think we lost him.
{Suddenly, Grishnakh appears from behind the trees, brandishing a blade.}
Grishnakh: I’m gonna rip out your filthy little innards! Come here!
{Merry and Pippin run and hide behind a tree.}
Merry: Trees! Climb a tree!
{Pippin and Merry quickly scramble up a tree each.}
Merry: {Looks around and then sighs in relief.} He's gone.
{Suddenly, Merry is pulled by his legs and falls to the ground. Grishnakh
leans over him with his menacing blade. Merry tries to kick him off but to
no avail.}
Pippin: Merry!
{Pippin looks down in horror but as he turns his head, he spots a pair of
gleaming yellow eyes blinking in the tree he’s clinging to. The tree starts
to move and groan.}
Treebeard: Hooooo...
Pippin: Argh!!
{Pippin loses his grip in fright and grabs at the air futilely as he falls.
The tree catches him before he hits the ground.}
Grishnakh: Let’s put a maggot-hole in your belly. {Suddenly he senses
something behind him and as he looks up, the tree stomps and squashes him
onto the forest floor.}
Pippin: Run, Merry!
{Merry tries to run away but is scooped by the tree.}
Treebeard: {Looks at the creatures in his hands} Little orcs! Burárum...
Pippin: It’s talking, Merry. The tree is talking!
Treebeard: Tree?! I am no tree. I am an Ent. {Stomps slowly through the
forest.}
Merry: A treeherder! A shepard of the forest.
Pippin: Don’t talk to it, Merry. Don’t encourage it.
Treebeard: Treebeard, some call me.
Pippin: And whose side are you on?
Treebeard: Side? I am on nobody’s side because nobody’s on my side, little
orc. Nobody cares for the woods anymore.
Merry: We’re not orcs. We’re Hobbits!
Treebeard: Hobbits? Never heard of a hobbit before. Sounds like orc mischief
to me! {Tightens his hold on the hobbits and squeezes them. Merry and Pippin
whimpers in pain} They come with fire, they come with axes. Gnawing, biting,
breaking, hacking, burning! Destroyers and usurpers, curse them!
Merry: No, you don’t understand. We’re Hobbits... Haflings! Shirefolk!
Treebeard: Maybe you are and maybe you aren’t. The White Wizard will know.
Pippin: The White Wizard?
Merry: Saruman.
{Treebeard drops them on the ground and the hobbits look up at the White
Wizard.}

{Following Gollum, Frodo and Sam 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. Frodo walks past, Gollum shrinks as Sam draws
near.}
Gollum: Nice hobbit. {Leaps after Frodo, putting a wide berth between him
and Sam.}
{Sam’s foot slipped into muck.}
Sam: Whoa, it’s a bog! He’s led us into a swamp!
Gollum: A swamp, yes, yes. Come, master. We will take you on safe paths
through the mist. Come, hobbits, come. We move quickly.
{Gollums 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. The
hobbits and Gollum appear as little specks. 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.}
Sam: There are dead things! Dead faces in the water!
Gollum : All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and orcses. A great battle long
ago. {Turns to face the hobbits.} The Dead Marshes. Yes, yes that is the
name. This way. Don’t follow the lights.
{Sam’s foot slips again into the water.}
Sam: Ohh!
Gollum: Careful now, or hobbits go down to join the dead ones and light
little candles of their own.
{Frodo is drawn to one of the faces in Elven armour. He stares at it
intently, until suddenly its eyes open and Frodo falls face-down into the
water.}
Sam: Frodo!
{Frodo 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 him. Suddenly he is grabbed
from behind. Frodo sputters and gasps for air as Gollum pulls him out of the
water.}
Frodo: {Looks at Gollum in perplexed gratitude and disbelief.} Gollum...
Gollum: Don’t follow the lights!{Crawls away}
Sam: {Runs to Frodo’s side.} Mr. Frodo! Are you alright?
{Frodo lies panting, staring after Gollum}

{Nightfall: Sam is asleep but Frodo is still awake. He is holding the Ring
in the palm of his hand and stroking it, mezmerised. Suddenly he hears
Gollum.}
Gollum: Sooo bright. Sooo beautiful. {Frodo quickly puts the Ring back
inside his shirt. He looks up to see Gollum crouching away from him,
stroking the centre of his palm} our preciousss...
Frodo: What did you say?
Gollum: Master should be resting. Master needs to keep up his strength.
Frodo: {Moves over and crouches in front of Gollum} Who are you?
Gollum: Mustn’t ask us. Not its business. *Gollum, Gollum*
Frodo: Gandalf told me you were one of the River Folk.
Gollum: Cold be heart and hand and bone. Cold be travellers far from home.
Frodo: He said your life was a sad story.
Gollum: They do not see what lies ahead, when sun has failed and moon is
dead.
Frodo: You were not so very different from a hobbit once, were you...
Smeagol?
Gollum: {Looks up slowly.} What did you call me?
Frodo: That was your name once, wasn’t it? A long time ago.
Gollum: My... My name... S... S...Smeagol…
{Suddenly, the piercing cries of the Nazgul is heard overhead}
Gollum: Argh!!
Sam: Black Riders!
Gollum: Hide! Hide!
Frodo: Argh!
{Suddenly Frodo feels the pain of the Nazgul's sword piercing him and the
call of the Ring. Images of the Ringwraiths come to him in flashes.}
Frodo: Argh!!
Sam: C’mon Frodo! C'mon!
{Frodo continues to clutch at the Ring on his chest, immobilized. Sam drags
Frodo across to hide beneath some bramble bushes. The Nazgul appears,
tightening his hold on the reins. Camera then shows him riding a Fell Beast,
swopping down across the marsh lands. Chilling screams of the nazgul fill
the air.}
Gollum: They will see us! They will see us!
Sam: I thought they were dead!
Gollum: Dead? No, you cannot kill them. No.
{A loud screech from the nazgul flying high above the marshes.}
Gollum: {cowering}Wraiths! Wraiths on wings! They are calling for it. They
are calling for the preciousss.
{Frodo feels the call of the Ring and gropes for his necklace. Sam sees this
and grabs hold of Frodo’s hand.}
Sam: Mr. Frodo! It’s alright.
{The nazgul continues to circle overhead and then flies off towards Mordor.}
Gollum : Hurry, hobbits. The Black Gate is very close.

{Scene returns to Fangorn forest. Gimli fingers a dark stain on a leaf and
brings it to his mouth.}
Gimli: {Spits}Ptui! Orc blood.
Aragorn: These are strange tracks.
Gimli : 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?
Aragorn: {Gestures} Lower your axe.
Gimli: {Lowering his axe slowly} Oh.
Legolas: Aragorn, nad nâ ennas! (Something is out there.)
Aragorn: Man cenich? (What do you see?)
{Close-up of Legolas’ eyes}
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, and 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’
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
emenating from the White Wizard.}
White Wizard: You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits.
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.}
Aragorn: It cannot be. You fell.
Gandalf: Through fire and water. {Flashback: Gandalf is battling the Balrog
atop Durin’s Tower.} 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: 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: Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. {Camera
zooms in Gandalf’s eye and enters an amorphous realm of stars and galaxies,
ending in a blinding white light} 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.
{Camera zooms out from Gandalf’s eye, lying 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}
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. {He smiles}
Gimli: Gandalf!
Gandalf: {With a twinkle in his eye} I am Gandalf the White. {Aragorn grins}
And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.
{They 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.
{Outside the forest, Gandalf whistles piercingly. Soon an answering neigh is
heard and a white horse appears from the plain, answering the call.}
Legolas: That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some
spell.
{The horse comes round to stop in front of Gandalf.}
Gandalf: Shadowfax. {Gimli bows in the background.} He's the lord of all
horses and he's been my friend through many dangers.
{The Three Hunters and Gandalf ride across the plains to Edoras.}

{Back at Fangorn, Treebeard is walking through the forest with Merry and
Pippin 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 tree
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.

{Frodo and Sam are climbing a high rock overlooking Morannon.}
Gollum: The Black Gate of Mordor.
{The enormous Black Gate comes into view with orcs patrolling and standing
guard on the towers and atop the walls. From the right, an army of
Easterling soldiers is marching to the Black Gate.}
Sam: God save us. My ol' Gaffer'd have a thing or two to say if he could see
us now.
Gollum: Master says to show him the way into Mordor, so good Smeagol does.
Master says so.
Frodo: I did.
{Orcs are patrolling the Black Gate.}
Sam: Well, that’s it then. We cannot get past that.
{A command is heard and an orc sounds a horn, signalling for the Gate to be
opened. Two enormous cave trolls stretch and growl and then pull the mighty
Gate open.}
Sam: Look! The gate, it's opening! I can see a way down.
{He moves closer to the edge. Suddenly, the rock underneath him gives way
and he falls.}
Frodo: Sam, no!
Sam: Argh!!
{Frodo goes after Sam.}
Gollum: Master!
{Two Easterling soldiers see streams of dust coming down the cliff made by
Sam and Frodo. They move away from the troop to investigate. Frodo reaches
Sam who is stuck in the scree. As the Easterlings move closer and closer,
Frodo throws his Elvish cloak over himself and Sam. The soldiers are now
directly in front of Sam, but their eyes see nothing but rock. Frodo and Sam
peer from underneath the cloak. The soldiers soon leave and after a moment,
Frodo throws back the cloak and pulls Sam out.}
Frodo: I do not ask you to come with me, Sam.
Sam: I know, Mr Frodo. I doubt even these Elvish cloaks will hide us in
there.
{They prepare to make a run for the Gate.}
Frodo: 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.
{Frodo tries to make a run for it.}
Gollum: No! {Pulls Frodo back again.} There’s another way. More secret and
dark way.
Sam: Why haven’t you spoken of this before?!
Gollum: Because Master did not ask!
Sam: He’s up to something.
Frodo: Are you saying there’s another way into Mordor?
Gollum: Yes. There is a path, and some stairs, and then a tunnel.
{Frodo and Sam watch as the Black Gate closes. Gollum is stroking Frodo’s
arm and burying his face in his cloak.}
Frodo: He’s led us this far, Sam.
Sam: Mr. Frodo, no.
Frodo: He’s been true to his word.
Sam: {Whispers} No!
Frodo: Lead the way, Smeagol.
Gollum: Good Smeagol always helps.
{Frodo follows Gollum as Sam stares after him in disbelief.}
{On the plains of Rohan. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stop as Edoras
comes into view.}
Gandalf: Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King
of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman’s hold over King Theoden is now
very strong.
{In the Hall, Éowyn is kneeling before Théodon, holding his hand in hers.}
Eowyn: My lord, your son, he is dead. My lord? Uncle?
{Théoden just sits and stares ahead, his eyes clouded and unseeing.}
Eowyn: Will you not go to him? {She weeps.} Will you do nothing?
{Scene returns to Gandalf and company.}
Gandalf: Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here.
{They ride on towards Edoras.}

{At Edoras, Éowyn is weeping at the dead Théodred's bed. She kisses his
hand. Grima appears at the door.}
Grima: Oh, he… he must have died sometime in the night. What a tragedy for
the king to lose his only son and heir.
{He sits on the bed and puts a hand on Eowyn’s shoulder.}
Grima: I understand his passing is hard to accept, especially now that your
brother has deserted you.
Eowyn: {jumps back and throws off Grima’s hand} Leave me alone you snake!
Grima: {Rises from the bed and moves ever closer to Eowyn} 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.
{He puts a hand on her cheek and moves down to her throat.}
Grima: So fair, so cold, like a morning pale spring still clinging to
winter's chill.
{Eowyn and Grima stare at each other intently.}
Eowyn: Your words are poison!
{Eowyn runs out of the hall. Weeping, she looks away into the distance. A
flag comes off its pole and is carried by the breeze. Eowyn sees riders
coming 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. He looks
around at more 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 Hama} Ah.
Hama: I cannot allow you before Theoden-King so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By
order of Grima 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.}
Hama: {gestures to Gandalf} Your staff.
Gandalf: Hmm? {Glances at his staff.} Oh. No, you would not part an old man
from his walking stick? {Looks at Hama innocently.}
{Hama 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’ arm.}
Grima: {Leaning down and whispering to Theoden.} My lord, Gandalf the Grey
is coming. He’s a herald of woe.
Gandalf: The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden
King.
{As Gandalf approaches Theoden, 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.}
Grima: {Whispering to Theoden.} He’s not welcome.
Theoden: Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow? {Looks to Grima for
affirmation.}
Grima: A just question, my liege. {He walks towards Gandalf.} 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!
{Raises his staff against Grima.}
Grima: 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 Theoden. Gamling tries to go
forward but Hama holds him back.}
Gandalf: Theoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows.
{Grima tries to crawl away unnoticed, but Gimli catches him and pins him to
the floor.}
Gimli: {Growls}I would stay still, if I were you.
Gandalf: Harken to me! I release you from the spell. {Gestures with his
hand}
Theoden: {Manacingly}Hahahhhahahahah! {Gandalf opens his eyes in surprise.}
You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!
{Gandalf throws back his grey cloak, exuding blinding white light. Theoden
is thrown back against his seat.}
Theoden: Argh!
Gandalf: {Points his staff towards Theoden.} I shall draw you, Saruman, as
poison is drawn from a wound.
{Eowyn rushes in. Seeing her uncle threatened, she tries to go to him but is
held back by Aragorn.}
Aragorn: Wait.
Theoden: {In Saruman’s voice.} If I go. . . Theoden dies.
{Gandalf moves his staff sharply and Theoden flies back against the chair
again.}
Gandalf: You did not kill me, you will not kill him!
Theoden: {in Saruman's voice} Rohan is mine!
Gandalf: Be gone!!
{Gandalf smites Theoden as he lunges at him. Theoden is thrown back into the
chair and the shot changes to Saruman flying backwards from the Palantir
which he used to manipulate Theoden. He lands landing hard on the floor of
Orthanc, bleeding from a gash in his forehead. In the hall, Theoden lets out
a moan and slumps forward in the chair. Eowyn runs to her uncle’s side as he
falls. Theoden’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.}
Theoden: {Looks closely at Eowyn} I know your face. Eowyn… Eowyn. {Eowyn
weeps with joy.}
Gandalf: Breathe the free air again, my friend.
{The hall is shown to be filled with light again, as everyone marvels at the
rejuvenation of the king.}
Theoden: {Standing up and looking around him.} Dark have been my dreams of
late. {He looks down at his trembling hands.}
Gandalf: Your fingers would remember their old strenth better... if they
grasped your sword.
{Hama runs up with his sword. Theoden 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, Grima trembles and tries to escape but is pulled
back by Gimli. Suddenly, Theoden’s gaze turns to Grima. Grima is thrown out
of the hall and down the stairs.}
Grima: Argh! {Beseechingly to Theoden} I've only ever served you, my lord!
Theoden: {Advancing towards Grima, holding the sword firmly in his hand}
Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!
Grima: {Grovelling} Send me not from your side.
{Theoden raises his sword to kill Grima. Aragorn holds him back.}
Aragorn: No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled
on his account.
{Grima scrambles to his feet and pushes through the crowd}
Grima: Get out of my way!
Hama: Hail, Theoden king!
{The crowd kneels in homage before Theoden. Aragorn kneels also. Grima rides
out of Edoras. As Theoden turns to go back into the hall, he looks up.}
Theoden: Where is Theodred? Where is my son?

{A white flower comes into view, held up by a hand. It is released and
spirals down to land among similar flowers, in front of a tomb.}
Theoden: Simbelmyne. 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: Theodred’s death was not of your making.
Theoden: No parent should have to bury their child.
{Theoden starts to weep}
Gandalf: His was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the halls
of your fathers. Westu hál. Fer?u, Théodred, Fer?u. (Be-thou well. Go-thou,
Théodred, go-thou.)
{Gandalf turns to go back to the hall and leaves Theoden to grieve in
private. He spots two children on horseback. The boy collapses and falls off
the horse. Later, inside the Golden Hall, the two children are eating at a
table, and Eowyn is with them.}
Eowyn: The 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?
Eowyn: 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. {Leans forward and
puts a hand on Theoden’s chair. Theoden looks at his hand warily.} You must
fight.
Aragorn: You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is
loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king.
Theoden: They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer 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 Theoden.}
Aragorn: Open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not.
Theoden: When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.
{Gimli takes a drink and burps.}
Gandalf: Then what is the king’s decision?
{Scene shifts to outside Meduseld}
Hama: 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. Theoden is walking into a trap.
He thinks he’s leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre.
Theoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of
Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will
need you. The defences HAVE to hold.
Aragorn: They will hold.
Gandalf: {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.}

{Eowyn opens a chest in which lies a sword. She unsheathes it and begins to
practice. She swings around and is met by Aragorn, who blocks her parry.}
Aragorn: You have some skill with a blade.
{With a swift move, Eowyn swings her sword and renders Aragorn vulnerable,
gaining the upperhand.}
Eowyn: {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?
Eowyn: 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. {He sheaths
his knife.} I do not think that will be your fate.
{He bows and Eowyn gazes after him as he walks away.}

{The people of Rohan are moving out of Edoras towards Helm’s Deep, with
Theoden leading the way. At Isengard, Grima confers with Saruman, holding a
cloth to his mouth.}
Grima: Theoden 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 rises in response. He 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.}

{Gollum is trying to catch a fish in the river. He slips and falls, grasping
at a slippery fish as he goes. Frodo and Sam follows behind.}
Sam: Hey Stinker! Don’t go getting too far ahead!
Frodo: Why do you do that?
Sam: What?
Frodo: Call him names; run him down all the time.
Sam: Because… because that's what he is, Mr. Frodo. There's naught left in
'im but lies and deceit. It's the Ring he wants. It's all he cares about.
Frodo: {Glaring at Sam} You have no idea what it did to him. What it’s still
doing to him. {He walks past Sam and stops.} I want to help him, Sam..
Sam: Why?
Frodo: Because I have to believe he can come back.
Sam: You can’t save him, Mr. Frodo.
Frodo: {Snapping at Sam}What do you know about it? Nothing!
{Sam walks away slowly.}
Frodo: {With remorse} I'm sorry, Sam. I don't know why I said that.
Sam: {Looks back at Frodo with tears in his eyes.} I do. It's the Ring. You
can't take your eyes off it. I've seen you. You're not eating. You barely
sleep. It's taking a hold of you, Mr Frodo. You have to fight it!
Frodo: {Grows angry again} I know what I have to do Sam. The Ring was
entrusted to me! It's my task! Mine! My own! {He walks away}
Sam: Can’t you hear yourself? Don’t you know who you sound like?
{Frodo continues to walk away without looking back.}

{Nighttime, Frodo and Sam 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!
Smeagol: No! Not Master.
Gollum: Yes, precious. False. They will cheat you, hurt you, lie.
Smeagol: Master’s my friend.
Gollum: {Tauntingly} You don’t have any friends. Nobody likes YOU...
Smeagol: {Covers his ears} Not listening. Not listening.
Gollum: You’re a liar and a thief.
Smeagol: {Shaking his head} Nope.
Gollum: Mur…derer…!
Smeagol: {Starts to weep and whimper} Go away.
Gollum: Go away! {Cackles} HAHAHAHA!!
Smeagol: {Weeping and in a small voice} I hate you. I hate you!
Gollum: {Fiercely} Where would you be without me? *Gollum, gollum*. I saved
us. It was me. We survived because of me!
Smeagol: {Resolute} Not anymore.
Gollum: {Startled} What did you say?
Smeagol: Master looks after us now. We don’t need you.
Gollum: What?
Smeagol: Leave now and never come back.
Gollum: No!!
Smeagol: {Louder} Leave now and never come back!
Gollum: {Growls and bares his teeth} Arrrgh!!!
Smeagol: LEAVE. NOW. AND. NEVER. COME. BACK!
{Smeagol pants and then looks around.}
Smeagol: 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! Smeagol is
free!
{The next day, while the hobbits were resting, Smeagol comes back with two
rabbits and drops them onto Frodo’s lap.}
Smeagol: Look! Look! See what Smeagol finds! Hehehe! Hahaha!
{Frodo looks at up him with bloodshot eyes. He smiles at Smeagol and looks
at Sam. Smeagol raises a fist in self-congratulation and dances around. He
then picks up one of the rabbits and snaps the rabbit's back in front of
Frodo.}
Smeagol: They are young, tender. They are nice. Yes they are! Eat them! Eat
them!
{He bites and tears into the raw meat. Sam rushes over and snatches the
rabbit out of Gollum’s hands}
Sam: You’ll make him sick, you will, behaving like 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.}
Smeagol: {Looking into the pot} Argh!! What’s he doing! Stupid fat hobbit!
You ruins it!
Sam: What’s to ruin? There’s hardly any meat on ‘em.
{A faint calling sound catches the attention of Frodo.}
Sam: What we need is a few good taters.
Gollum: What’s taters, preciousss? What’s taters uh?
Sam: PO-TAY-TOES! Boil ‘em. Mash ‘em. Stick ‘em in a stew. Lovely big golden
chips with a nice piece of fried fish....
Smeagol: {Sticks out his tongue in disgust} Pbbbttt!!
Sam: Even you couldn’t say no to that. {He takes a sip of the stew}
Smeagol: Oh yes we could! Spoiling nice fish... {scrambles up close to Sam}
Give it to usss rrraw... and wrrriggling! {Makes sickeningly happy face.}
You keep nasty chips. {Hops away}
Sam: You’re hopeless.
{Frodo follows the source of the sound. Sam suddenly notices that Frodo is
no longer in his sight.}
Sam: Mr. Frodo?
{He goes in search of Frodo and finds him lying down near some bushes
looking at a Haradrim army marching across the land. He moves to lie low
beside Frodo. Smeagol also moves in beside Frodo.}
Sam: Who 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.
Sam: Ready to do what?
Gollum: To make his war. The last war that will cover all the world in
shadow.
Frodo: We’ve got to get moving. Come on, Sam.
Sam: {Suddenly grabs Frodo’s arm} Mr Frodo! Look! It’s an Oliphaunt!
{Gigantic Oliphaunts appear, carrying soldiers and supplies on their backs.}
Sam: No one at home will believe this...
{Smeagol slips away unnoticed.}
Frodo: {Looking around} Smeagol?
{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. One of the Oliphaunts starts trumpeting and
stomping towards Frodo and Sam, swinging his huge trunk and tusks. Faramir
takes aim and shoots a soldier. He falls from the Oliphaunt and lands right
behind Frodo and Sam, dead.}
Frodo: We’ve lingered here for too long. Come on, Sam!
{Frodo runs right into a Gondorian Ranger, who grabs hold of him and throws
him onto his back. Sam sees Frodo in danger and grapples for his sword}
Sam: Ah!
{He charges at Faramir but is grabbed by another ranger and thrown down. A
sword appears at his throat. Faramir appears.}
Faramir: Bind their hands.

{Meanwhile, the Rohirrim refugees are heading towards Helm’s Deep. Gimli is
on a horse, chatting with Eowyn 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 appearence, haha that they’re often mistaken for Dwarf
men.
{Eowyn 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!
Eowyn: {Laughs gaily} Hahahaha!!
Gimli: Hehehe! Which is of course ridiculous… Whoa!!
{The horse suddenly rears up and gallops away as Eowyn loses her hold on the
reins. Gimli falls off after a short distance and lands with a loud thump.}
Eowyn: Ooh! {She rushes forward to Gimli}
Gimli: {Struggling to get up} It’s alright, it’s alright. Nobody panic. That
was deliberate. It was deliberate.
{Eowyn helps Gimli up. She 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 Eowyn’s light-hearted image. That night.
Aragorn could not sleep and smokes his pipe as he thinks of Arwen.}
Arwen (V.O.): 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...
{Flashback: Aragorn is lying on a chaise in Rivendell. He 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: Min l? pennich nin i aur hen telitha. (You told me once that this
day would come.)
Arwen: {Turns to look at Aragorn} Ú i vethed... nâ i onnad. Boe bedich go
Frodo. Han bâd lîn. (This is not the end... it is the beginning. You must go
with Frodo. That is your path.)
Aragorn: {Walks over to Arwen} Dolen i vâd o nin. (My path is hidden from
me.)
Arwen: Si peliannen i vâd na dail lîn. Si boe ú-dhannathach. (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, he clasps her hand in
his and they gaze into each other’s eyes.}
Arwen: Ae ú-esteliach nad... estelio han. Estelio ammen. (If you trust
nothing else... trust this. Trust us.)
{They kiss.}

{The next day, on the journey to Helm’s Deep. Eowyn is walking alongside
Aragorn.}
Eowyn: Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel.
{Aragorn smiles and says nothing. 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 and Arwen are together before the Fellowship departs.}
Aragorn: Idhren emmen menna gui ethwel. Hae o auth a nîr a naeth. (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.
{He takes Arwen’s hand to return the Evenstar necklace to her.}
Aragorn: This belongs to you.
Arwen: {Closes Aragorn’s hand over the Evenstar} It was a gift. Keep it.
{Scene shifts back to Aragorn and Eowyn}
Eowyn: My lord?
Aragorn: She is sailing to the Undying Lands, with all that is left of her
kin.
{Gamling and Hame ride to the front. Legolas watches them as they pass.}
Gamling: What is it? Hama?
{Their horses become restless.}
Hama: {Looking around} I’m not sure.
{A warg scout appears on a slope above and charges at them. The warg attacks
Hama and kills him. Just as it starts to turn on Gamling, Legolas runs over
and kills the warg with an arrow. He then draws his knife and kills the
orc.}
Legolas: Argh! {Shouts to Aragorn} A scout!
Theoden: What is it? What do you see?
Aragorn: {Running back to Theoden} Wargs! We are under attack!
{Hearing the alarm, the villagers begin to cry and panic.}
Theoden: 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.}
Theoden: {To Eowyn} You must lead the people to Helm’s Deep. And make haste!
Eowyn: I can fight!
Theoden: No! You must do this... for me.
{Eowyn holds Theoden’s gaze for a moment and then turn to attend to the
villagers.}
Theoden: {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.} That’s it!
Eowyn: {To the villagers} Make for the lower ground! Stick together!
{She looks back at the Rohirrim and sees Aragorn on Hasufel. They hold each
other’s gaze for a moment before Aragorn turns to join Theoden. Eowyn
departs with the villagers in the opposite direction.}
{Legolas takes aim at the distant target and fells a warg rider. He draws
another arrow and kills another. Just as he reaches for a third arrow, he
sees Theoden and company approaching. He quickly runs and mounts Arod with a
smooth leap and joins in the fray with Gimli behind him on horseback.}
Warg-riders: Argh!!
Theoden: CHARGE!!
{The Rohirrim and warg riders crash head on and the battle begins. Theoden
and company hack away at the warg riders. In the midst of fighting, Gimli
falls off Arod. He turns to find a warg growling at him.}
Gimli: Bring your pretty face to my axe!
{Just as the warg leaps at Gimli, Legolas kills it with one shot.}
Gimli: {Jumping back as the warg falls, outraged} Argh! That one counts as
mine!
{As Gimli swings his axe at another warg, it dies and falls onto Gimli,
pinning him under.}
Gimli: Argh! Stinking creature. Argh!
{As he 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. Gimlie
sniffs at the orc and makes a face. He tries to lift both the warg and orc
off him. Just then, another warg comes upon him and bares its teeth, ready
to strike. }
Gimli: {Eyes widening} Ooh..!
{Aragorn plucks a spear as he passes on horseback and throws it at the warg.
It dies, landing on Gimli and adding to the pile on top of him.}
Gimli: {As the warg lands on him} Oooh!!
{Theoden 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, while the latter is half-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. He 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 come near to the cliff and hear Sharku wheezing and laughing}
Gimli: {Standing over the dying orc} Tell me what happened and I will ease
your passing.
Sharku: He’s {cough}dead. {Laughs evilly}Took a little tumble off the cliff.
Legolas: {Looks towards the edge of the cliff, and grabs Sharku} You lie!
{Sharku chortles and dies. Legolas looks down at Sharku’s fist and finds the
Evenstar pendant. He takes it, runs to the edge of the cliff and looks down
to see the great drop and rushing waters below, with no sign of Aragorn.
Gimli comes to stand beside him.}
Theoden: {To his men} Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will
return. Leave the dead.
{Legolas turns to Theoden, an expression of perplexed anger on his face.}
Theoden: {Puts a hand on Legolas' shoulder} Come.
{He leaves Legolas and Gimli to stare down at the river.}

{The Rohan villagers are drawing close to Helm’s Deep. Cries of relief are
heard as the refuge is within sight.}
Refugees: Helm’s Deep! At last! There it is!
Old Woman: {To Eowyn} We’re safe, my lady! Thank you!
{Eowyn embraces the woman 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. Eothain and Freda run towards their mother.}
Freda: Mama!
{The three hug and cry with joy. Theoden and company returns from the battle
with warg riders}
Guard: Make way for Theoden!
Soldiers: Sire!
Guard: Make way for the king!
{Eowyn rushes down to meet them}
Eowyn: {Looking about} So few. So few of you have returned.
Theoden: {Dismounting} Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many
lives.
Gimli: {Going up to Eowyn} My lady...
Eowyn: Lord Aragorn, where is he?
Gimli: He fell...
{Eowyn is shaken and raises teary eyes to Theoden. The latter looks down and
then walks away, confirming her unasked question.}

{At the battlements}
Theoden: 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?
Theoden: 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.
{Camera zooms in on the gate}
Grima(V.O.): Helm’s Deep has one weakness. It’s outer wall is solid rock but
for a small culvert at its base which is little more than a drain.
{Camera turns to Grima and Saruman at Orthanc. Saruman is pouring some dark
dry substances into a vessel. Grima is holding a lit candle in his hand.}
Grima: How? How can fire undo stone? What kind of device could bring down
the wall?
{As he steps closer to the vessel, Saruman takes hold of Grima’s hand and
pushes the candle away from the vessel firmly.}
Saruman: If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall.
{He walks away towards the balcony.}
Grima: {Following Saruman} Even if it is breached, it would take a number
beyond reckoning, thousands to storm the keep.
Saruman: Tens of thousands.
Grima: But, my lord, there is no such force.
{Both of them came onto the balcony of the tower. Grima suddenly sees and
hears the enormous armies laid out below in neat rows and is astounded and
awed. He 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 camera keeps zooming out from the balcony over the incredible size of
Saruman’s army, past Uruk-hai, spears, and banners and yet more Uruk-hai.
The camera focuses back on 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 Grima’s cheek. The Uruk-hai army began their march to
Helm’s Deep.}

{Merry and Pippin are traveling through the forest, carried by Treebeard.}
Pippin: Look! There’s smoke to the south!
Treebeard: There is always smoke rising from Isengard these days.
Merry: Isengard?
{The two hobbits 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.
{Pippin and Merry are now on top of Treebeard and they see a massive army
moving across the land}
Pippin: What is it?
Merry: It’s Saruman’s army! The war has started.

{Aragorn is floating in the river, unconscious. He 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… {He grabs hold of Brego’s mane, pulls himself onto
the horse and rides slowly to Helms Deep.}
{Arwen is lying on her bed, deep in thought.}
Elrond: {Coming into her room} Arwen.
{Arwen hears him and sits up.}
Elrond: Tollen i l?. I chair gwannar na Valannor. Si bado, no círar. (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 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. She is dressed as a
queen in mourning garb and looking down upon Aragorn, a crown on his brow,
Anduril in his hand, and dead. Mourners are walking around the altar, paying
their final respects. Arwen is weeping.}
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
Lothlorien.}
Elrond: {Tuning 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: A im, ú-'erin veleth lîn? (Do I not also have your love?)
Arwen: {Crying and moving into her father’s embrace} Gerich meleth nîn, ada.
(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.}
{Elrond is standing by a window. He hears Galadriel speaking.}
Galadriel: I amar prestar aen... han mathon ne nen, han mathon ne chae a han
nostan ned gwilith. (The world has changed... I feel it in the water, I feel
it in the earth, I smell it in the air.) The power of the enemy is growing.
{Saruman is communicating with Sauron via the Palantir.} Sauron will use his
puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed.
{View of Saruman's marching army} The eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor, the
last free kingdom of men. {View of Osgiliath} His war on this country will
come swiftly. He senses the Ring is close. The strength of the Ringbearer is
failing. In his heart, Frodo begins to understand. {Close-up of Galadriel}
The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is
the risk we all took.
{Close-up of the Ring spinning in slow motion}
Galadriel (V.O.): 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.
{We see Faramir and Gondorian rangers with the captured Frodo and Sam.}
Galadriel (V.O.): 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.
{Faramir and company have reached Henneth Anun. Frodo and Sam and being
carries, blinded-folded into the cave.}
Galadriel (V.O.): 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.
{Close-up of Galadriel's luminous eyes with their deep pools of wisdom. We
then see Elrond in his library, looking at the painting of Isildiur facing
down Sauron with the broken blade of Narsil.}
Galadriel (V.O.): Do we leave Middle-earth to its fate? Do we let them stand
alone?

{Scene returns to Henneth Annun. Faramir is conferring with his man. They
unroll a map.}
Faramir: What news?
Madril: Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Theoden’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 500 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. The 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.
Sam: Spies?! Now wait just a minute!
Faramir: Well if you’re not spies, then who are you?
{Frodo and Sam remain silent.}
Faramir: Speak.
Frodo: We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name and this is
Samwise Gamgee.
Faramir: Your bodyguard?
Sam: His gardener.
Faramir: And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He had an
ill-favoured look.
Frodo: {The merest hesitation.} There was no other.
{Sam looks shifty-eyed and uncomfortable.}
Frodo: We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in
Moria. Two were my kin. A Dwarf there was also, and an Elf. And two men,
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor.
Faramir: {Intently} You were a friend of Boromir?
Frodo:Yes... for my part.
Faramir: It would grieve you then to learn that he was dead.
Frodo: {Shocked} Dead? How? When?
Faramir: As one of his companions, I hoped you would tell me. {Pause} He was
my brother.

{Faramir is sitting alone, deep in thought. Suddenly someone comes up to
him.}
Madril: Captain Faramir. {whispers} The third one has been found.
{Frodo and Sam are sleeping. Frodo awakens as Faramir stands before him.}
Faramir: You must come with me. Now.
{Frodo gets up and follow. They come to the edge of the waterfall,
overlooking the Forbidden Pool.}
Faramir: {Pointing down} Down there.
{Frodo looks down and sees Gollum diving into the water.}
Faramir : To enter the forbidden pool bears the penalty of death. {He
gestures to archers hidden in the bushes.} They wait for my command.
{The Rangers notch their arrows}
Faramir: Shall they shoot?
{Frodo looks stricken. Gollum emerges from the pool onto a rock. He holds a
fish in his hand and starts singing, slapping the fish on 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 on 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,
Frodo calls out.}
Frodo: 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. Frodo descends to the Forbidden Pool and approaches Gollum
who is gorging on the raw fish.}
Frodo: Smeagol. {Gollum turns round at Frodo’s voice.} Master is here. Come,
Smeagol. Trust master. Come!
{Frodo gestures for Gollum to follow him.}
Gollum: We must go now?
Frodo: Smeagol, you must trust master. Follow me, come on. Come. Come,
Smeagol. Nice Smeagol. That’s it. Come on.
{With the fish between his teeth, Gollum follows Frodo warily. Suddenly he
looks up in alarm and is caught by Rangers.}
Frodo: Don’t hurt him! Smeagol don’t struggle! Smeagol listen to me!
Gollum: {wails} Master!!
{A black cloth is brought over Gollum's head. Frodo stares after them with a
stricken expression as Faramir leads Gollum and his men away. Back in the
cave, Gollum is thrown down to the ground. Crying, he crawls into a corner
and curls up into ball.}
Faramir: Where are you leading them? Answer me!
Gollum: {Cooing, his hand stroking his shoulder} Smea…gol... Why do you cry,
Smeagol?
Smeagol: {Sobbing} Cruel men hurts us. Master trickst us.
Gollum: Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was
false.
Smeagol: {Sobbing} Master is our friend... our friend.
Gollum: Master betrayed us.
Smeagol: No, not it’s business. Leave us alone!
Gollum: {Hits his fist against the wall}Filthy little hobbites. They stole
it from us.
Smeagol: {Whimpers} No... No!
Faramir: What did they steal?
Gollum: {Turns to Faramir with a ferocious expression} Myyy… PRECIOUSSS!!
{He bares his teeth and growls} Aaaarrrggghhh!!!

{Back in their holding area, Sam and Frodo are alone.}
Sam: We have to get out of here. You go. Go, now! You can do it. Use the
Ring, Mr. Frodo. Just this once. Put it on. Disappear.
Frodo: I can’t. You were right, Sam. You tried to tell me. I’m sorry. The
Ring’s taking me Sam. If I put it on, he’ll find me. He’ll see.
Sam: Mr. Frodo...
{They both stand as Faramir enters.}
Faramir: {Unsheathes his sword}So... this is the answer to all the riddles.
Here in the wild I have you. Two haflings and a host of men at my call. The
Ring of power within my grasp.
{Faramir lifts the Ring from Frodo's neck with the tip of his sword.}
Faramir: A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality.
{Frodo is backed up fearfully against the wall. The Ring whispers and Frodo
falls into a trance. Suddenly, he grabs the Ring in his hand and jerks
himself away.}
Frodo: No!! {He runs away from Faramir}
Sam: Stop it! Leave him alone! Don’t you understand? He’s got to destroy it.
That’s where we’re going. To Mordor. To the mountain of fire.
{Faramir stares at Frodo. Just then Madril enters.}
Madril: Osgiliath is under attack. They call for reinforcements.
Sam: Please. It’s such a burden. Will you not help him?
Madril: Captain?
Faramir: Prepare to leave. The Ring will go to Gondor. {He turns to leave.}
{Sam looks after Faramir sadly.}

{Aragorn is riding towards Helm’s Deep. On the way, he sees a enormous
Uruk-hai army marching with great speed. He quickly makes haste towards Helm
’s Deep and soon sees the refuge.}
Aragorn: {Patting Brego on the neck} Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn. (Well
done, Brego, my friend)
{He rides into Helm’s Deep to the amazement of all.}
Refugees: He’s alive!
Gimli: {Pushing his way through the crowd.} 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 reckless 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: Le ab-dollen. (You’re late.) {They smile. Legolas pauses and looks
at Aragorn’s wounds.} You look terrible.
{To the side, Eowyn sees Aragorn and a 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: Hannon le. (Thank you.)
{Eowyn looks on and smiles even as tears fill her eyes.}
{Aragorn is in the keep, conferring with Theoden}
Theoden: A great host, you say?
Aragorn: All of Isengard is emptied
Theoden: How many?
Aragorn: Ten thousand strong at least.
Theoden: Ten thousand?!
Aragorn: It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of
men. They will be here by nightfall.
Theoden: Let them come! {Walks away resolutely}
{Along the passage behind the Deeping Wall.}
Theoden: {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. Theoden stands at the gate of Helm’s Deep,
speaking to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli.}
Theoden: 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.
Theoden: I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own
keep.
{Gimli seems miffed. Legolas claps a hand on Gimli’s shoulder as he follows
Aragorn and Theoden back in.}
Theoden: 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.
Theoden: {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.
Theoden: 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.
Theoden: 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. {He walks away, calling out orders} Get the women and children
into the caves.
Gamling: We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord -
Theoden: {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.}

{Treebeard walks through the forest carrying Merry and Pippin. He 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.
Merry: What’s that?
Treebeard:'Tis a gathering.
Merry: A gathering of what?
{Merry and Pippin turns round as they hear movement from the forest around
them. They see many more Ents like Treebeard gathering.}
Treebeard: Beech, oak, chestnut, ash... Good, good, good. Many have come.
Now we must decide if the Ents will go to war.
{Merry licks his lips in anticipation.}

{Back at Helm’s Deep, the women and children are being led into the caves.}
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 armoury, 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 speaks to Aragorn.} Boe a
h?n: neled herain dan caer menig! (And they should be... Three hundred
against ten thousand!)
Aragorn: Si beriathar hýn. Amar nâ ned Edoras. (They have more hope of
defending themselves here than at Edoras.)
Legolas: Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú-... ortheri. Natha daged aen!
(Aragorn, We are warriors. They cannot win this fight. They are all going to
die!)
Aragorn: Then I shall die as one them! {He pauses and then walks away.
Legolas makes as if to go after him.}
Gimli: {Puts a hand on 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?
Theoden: Who am I, Gamling?
Gamling: You are our king, sire.
Theoden: And do you trust your king?
Gamling: {Puts armour onto Theoden} 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.
Theoden stands inside the main hall of the keep, his back to the entrance
where a bright white light is streaming through.}
Theoden: 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. He sees a young lad in armour holding a sword looking around
nervously.}
Aragorn: Give me your sword. What is your name?
Haleth: Haleth, son of Hama, 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 Hama.
{He hands the sword back to Haleth and leans close to him, putting a hand on
his shoulder.}
Aragorn: There is always hope.

{Back at the armoury, Aragorn dons his battle gear. His sword is handed to
him as he reaches for it. He 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: Ú-moe edhored, Legolas. (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: If I have time I’ll get this adjusted. {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 Lothlorien 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.}
Theoden: 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. {He looks up to
see Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli running down the steps, and smiles} We come
to honor that allegiance.
Aragorn: {He bows} Mae govannen, Haldir. (Welcome, Haldir) {He grabs Haldir
in a huge embrace. Initially stunned, Haldir hugs him back lightly.}
Aragorn: You are most welcome!
{Legolas and Haldir claps each other on the shoulder.}
Haldir: {Turning to Theoden} We are proud to fight alongside men, once more.
{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 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. The Uruk-hai are now right before the Deeping Walls, roaring
and thumping their spears feriously. An Uruk-hai leader stands on a rock
outcrop.}
{Aragorn is giving commands to the Elf warriors.}
Aragorn: A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas! (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}Hehehehe!!
{The Uruk-hai continue to roar their battle cries. The women and children in
the caves huddle together in fear. Suddenly, Aldor, the old man next to
Haleth, loses his grip and releases his arrow prematurely, shooting an
Uruk-hai in the neck.}
Aragorn: Dartho! (Hold!)
{The Uruk-hai army stop their roaring and thumping. With a hollow groan, the
Uruk that was shot collapsed to the ground. 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.}
Theoden: So it begins.
Aragorn: Tangado halad! (Prepare to fire!)
{The Elves notch their arrow and aim.}
Legolas: Faeg i-varv dîn na lanc a nu ranc. (Their armor is weak at the neck
and underneath the arms.)
Aragorn: Leithio i philinn! (Release the arrows!)
{Arrows rain down on the Uruk-hai below, killing many.}
Gimli: Did they hit anything?
Theoden: Give them a volley.
Gamling: {to the men} Fire!
{More arrows are released. But the Uruk-hai army keep advancing, with more
replacing those fallen.}
Aragorn: Fire!
Gimli: {Impatiently} Send them coming! C’mon!
{The Uruk-hai start to load ladders onto the walls, pushing them up with
their long spears.}
Aragorn: Pendraid! (Ladders!)
{The Elves draw their blades in preparation for combat.}
Gimli: Good!
{Close combat begins as the Uruk-hai climb over the wall.}
Gimli: Legolas, two already! {Holding up two fingers}
Legolas: I’m on seventeen!
Gimli: {Outraged} Argh! I’ll have no pointy-ear outscoring me! {He 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!

{The Ent Moot is still in progress. The Ents sway a little as they continue
to deliberate. Merry and Pippin are sitting a distance away. Suddenly,
Treebeard nods and turns to the hobbits.}
Pippin: {Gesturing} Merry!
Treebeard: We have just agreed. {Long pause with his eyes closed.}
Merry: {Angles his head in query} Yes?
Treebeard: I have told your names to the Ent moot and we have agreed - you
are not orcs.
Pippin: Well, that’s good news.
Merry: {impatiently} And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision
about HIM?
Treebeard: {Waving a hand} Now don’t be hasty, Master Meriadoc.
Merry: Hasty? Our friends are out there! They need our help! They cannot
fight this war on their own.
Treebeard: War, yes… It affects us all. But you must understand, young
hobbit. It takes a loong time to say anything in ooold… Entish. {Merry and
Pippin roll their eyes in disgruntlement.} And we never say anything… unless
it is worth taking a looong… time to say.

{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!
{Camera pans over the Uruk-hai below and 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: Na fennas! (Causeway!) {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 fall down the Causeway. But the column keeps advancing.}
Theoden: 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: Togo hon dad, Legolas! (Bring him down, Legolas!) {Legolas shoots
the Uruk-hai in the shoulder but the latter keeps going} Dago hon! Dago hon!
(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.
Theoden looks on in shock as the Uruk-hai streams in past the Deeping
Walls.}
Theoden: 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!! Argh!
{He is soon overpowered. Aragorn gets up and sees Gimli falling.}
Aragorn: Gimli! {He yells to the Elves behind him} Hado i philinn! (Hurl the
arrows!)
{The arrows take out the first group of Uruk-hai coming through the hole in
the wall.}
Aragorn: Herio! (Charge!)
{Aragorn leds the Elves in a charge towards the Uruk-hai streaming in. He
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. He 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.}

{At the Ent Moot}
Treebeard: The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things
as we have always done.
Merry: How can that be your decision?!
Treebeard: This is not our war.
Merry: But you're part of this world! Aren’t you?! {The Ents look at one
another, taken back} You must help, please! You must do something!
Treebeard: You are young and brave, Master Merry. But your part in this tale
is over. Go back to your home.
{Merry is putting on his jacket. Pippins approaches him slowly}
Pippin: Maybe Treebeard’s right. We don’t belong here, Merry. It's too big
for us. What can we do in the end? We've got the Shire. Maybe we should go
home.
Merry: {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 Pippin and puts a hand on his
shoulder} There won't be a Shire, Pippin.
{Pippin looks after Merry as he walks away.}

Theoden: Aragorn! Fall back to the Keep! Get your men out of there!
Aragorn: Am Marad! Am Marad! Haldir, am Marad! (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 he goes}
Gimli: {Protesting} What are you doing? Argh! Stop it!
{Haldir hacks at a few Uruk as he turns towards the gate. Suddenly, he is
stabbed in his arm. Slow motion: with a grimace, he kills the Uruk-hai and
look s down as his wound in seeming disbelief. An 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!! {He runs up the steps to Haldir’s
side and catches him and 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!
Theoden: {Drawing his sword} To the gate! Draw your swords!
{Theoden 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.
Theoden stabs at an Uruk-hai and receives a lance in his shoulder, blocked
by his armour. Grimacing in pain, Theoden continues to stab at the Uruk
until led away by Gamling.}
Gamling: Make way for the king! We can’t hold much longer.
Theoden: 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!
Theoden: 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: Come on! We can take ‘em!
Aragorn: It’s a long way.
{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 nods slowly and then turns to grab the Dwarf.}
Gimli: Oh! {Gimli stays Aragorn’s hand} Don’t tell the Elf.
Aragorn: Not a word.
{He tosses Gimli to the head of the Causeway and then leaps over.}
Gimli: {Making quick work of killing the Uruk-hai} ARGH!!
{On the other side of the gate}
Theoden: Shore up the door!
Soldier 1: Make way! (??) lead to the barricade!
Soldier 2: We need one over there!
Theoden: Higher!
{Men are bracing the gate with wood and nails. Aragorn and Gimli continue to
fight off the Uruk-hai just outside.}
Theoden: {Through a crack in the gate} Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!
{Legolas calls to them from the top of the battlements}
Legolas: Aragorn! {He 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 and shoots away one of the ropes. The
ladder falls back onto the Uruk-hai army.}
Theoden: Pull everybody back! Pull them back!
Gamling: Pull back! Pull back!
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.}

{Treebeard is walking through the forest, carrying Merry and Pippin. The
hobbits look dejected.}
Treebeard: I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can
make your way north to your homeland from there.
{Pippin suddenly looks up with a gleam in his eyes.}
Pippin: Wait! Stop! Stop! {Treebeard comes to a stop.} Turn around. Turn
around. Take us south!
Treebeard: South? But that will lead you past Isengard.
Pippin: Yes. Exactly. If we go south we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The
closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It’s the last thing
he’ll expect.
Treebeard: 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 Shirelings. I
always like going south. Somehow it feels like going down hill.
Merry: Are you mad? We’ll be caught!
Pippin: No we won’t. Not this time.

{Faramir and company draws close to Osgiliath.}
Madril: Look! Osgiliath burns!
Ranger: Mordor has come.
Frodo: {With tears in his eyes} The Ring will not save Gondor. It has only
the power to destroy. Please, let me go.
{Faramir hesitates for a moment.}
Faramir: Hurry. {He presses them on}
Frodo: Faramir, you must let me go!
{Frodo and Sam are pushed on towards Osgiliath}

{Treebeard, Merry and Pippin comes 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!! {He
sees the desolated landscape of treestumps that used to be forested grounds}
Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut and
acorn.
Pippin: I’m 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!
{He 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.
{Merry and Pippin turn around as they hear rumbles from the forest. They see
many Ents emerging and marching towards them}
Treebeard: My business is with Isengard tonight. With rock and stone!
Merry: Yes!
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!

{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.
{Frodo suddenly seems stricken}
Sam: Frodo!
Frodo: It’s calling to him, Sam. His eye is almost on me.
Sam: Hold on, Mr. Frodo… We'll be alright...
{Frodo sees that Sam is speaking to him but he hears nothing. His 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.
{Sam breaks away as they are being led away.}
Sam: You want to know what happened to Boromir? You want to know why your
brother died? He tried to take the Ring from Frodo! After swearing an oath
to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother mad!
Ranger: Watch out!
{A boulder crashes into a tower overhead and shatters it. Suddenly, Frodo’s
eyes roll up and he stares at Faramir strangely.}
Sam: Mr Frodo?
Frodo: {In a faraway voice} They’re here. They’ve come.
Faramir: {Looking up} NAZGUL!! {He grabs the hobbits and thrusts them into a
corner.} Stay here. Keep out of sight. Take cover!

{Banners of the White Hand are flying from the battlements of Helm’s Deep.
The Hornburg is overrun with Uruk-hai. Theoden and company are in the hall
of the keep.}
Theoden: 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!
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.
Theoden: So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?
Aragorn: {Pause} Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.
Theoden: {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. He
recalls Gandalf's words.}
Gandalf (V.O.): Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn,
look to the east.
Theoden: 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}
Theoden: Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deed awake.
Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!
{He mounts his horse and puts on his helmet. The sound of the horn rumbles
through Helm's Deep as Gimli blows with gusto.}
Theoden: FORTH EORLINGAS!!
{Theoden 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: Theoden king stands alone.
Eomer: {Coming up from behind} Not alone. {He raises a hand} Rohirrim!!
{Riders move up behind Eomer.}
Theoden: {Looking to the east} Eomer!
Eomer: 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 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. Merry and Pippin also throws
stones at orcs, their aims true.}
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. }
Merry: Pippin, hold on! {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.}

{Frodo walks slowly away from the safe corner. Gondorian Rangers are still
running about, defending their stations.}
Sam: What are you doing? Where are you going?!
{Slow motion: Frodo walks up some stairs and stands on a bridge. A Nazgul on
a Fell beast emerges in front of him. Frodo stares at the Nazgul, fixated.
Feeling the call of the Ring, he holds it up. Faramir watches the unfolding
tableau from below. As Frodo moves to put the Ring on his finger and the
Nazgul flies closer and closer, Sam runs up and knocks Frodo over. Faramir
releases an arrow and shoots the Fell Beast. Frodo and Sam roll down the
stairs. As they come to a stop at the bottom, Frodo holds Sam in a death
grip, yells and points Sting at his throat, his eyes livid with madness and
anger that someone would try to take the Ring away.}
Frodo: Aaarrgghh!!!
Sam: {With tears running down his face} It’s me. It’s your Sam. Don’t you
know your Sam?
{The madness fades and recognition returns to Frodo’s eyes. He realises what
he nearly did and is overcome. Stumbling backwards, he collapses against a
wall and Sting falls to the ground with a clang. Sam gets up slowly.}
Frodo: {Slowly and with despair} I can’t do this, Sam.
Sam: {Getting up slowly} I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even
be here. But we are. {He stands and leans against a wall, looking out into
the distance.} It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that
really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. {Images of the
riders winning the battle against the Uruk-hai at Helm’s Deep} And sometimes
you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How
could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?
Theoden: Victory! We have victory! {He raises his sword with a victorious
cry}
Sam: But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. {The women and
children welcome the men as they return. Eowyn runs up to Aragorn and
embraces him, crying tears of relief.} Even darkness must pass. A new day
will come. {Isengard is flooded. Merry and Pippin looks on from their perch
on Treebeard. On the balcony, Saruman stumbles back into his chamber} And
when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories
that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to
understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in
those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because
they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding on to, Sam?
Sam: There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting
for.
{Standing in a corner, even Gollum seems moved. Faramir walks over and comes
to kneel in front of Frodo}
Faramir: I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins.
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.
{Sam shakes the ranger’s hand from his shoulder. Frodo looks up at Faramir
with gladness. Over in the realm of Rohan, Gandalf, Theoden and company ride
to the top of a slope, looking towards the Mountain of Fire in the
distance.}
Gandalf: Sauron’s wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle
for Helm’s Deep is over. The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin. All
our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness.
{Frodo and Sam are walking through the woods, away from Osgiliath.}
Sam: I wonder if we’ll ever be put into songs or tales.
Frodo: What?
Sam: I wonder if people will ever say, ‘let’s hear about Frodo and the Ring.
’ And they’ll say ‘yes, that’s one of my favorite stories. Frodo was really
courageous, wasn’t he, dad.’ ‘Yes, my boy, the most famousest of hobbits.
And that’s saying alot.’
Frodo: You left out one of the chief characters - Samwise the Brave. I want
to hear more about Sam.
{Frodo turns to look at Sam.}
Frodo: Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam.
Sam: Now Mr. Frodo, you shouldn’t make fun. I was being serious.
Frodo: {smiling} So was I. {He turns to walk on}
Sam: {Dreamily} Samwise the Brave. {He gives his backpack a heave and
follows Frodo}
{Gollum is crouching a short distance away}
Frodo: Smeagol!
Sam: We’re not gonna wait for you. Come on!
Smeagol: Master... Master looks after us. Master wouldn’t hurt us.
Gollum: Master broke his promise.
Smeagol: Don’t ask Smeagol. Poor Smeagol.
Gollum: Master betrayed us! Wicked, tricksy, false. We ought to wring his
filthy little neck. {Twists the branch of a tree} Kill him! Kill him! Kill
them both. And then we take the precious and we be the master.
Smeagol: {Scuttles and hides behind a tree} The fat hobbit, he knows. He’s
always watching.
Gollum: Then we stabs them out. Put out his eyes. And then make HIM crawl.
Smeagol: {Bites on his finger and nods eagerly} Yes! Yes! Yes!
Gollum: Kill them both.
Smeagol: Yes! No no! {Backs away against a tree} It’s too risky, it’s too
risky.
{He looks in the direction of the hobbits}
Sam: Where’s he gone? Hey Gollum, where are you?
Frodo:Smeagol?
Gollum: {Softly and sinisterly} We could let HER do it.
Smeagol: Yes. She could do it.
Gollum: Yes, precious she could. And then we takes it once they’re dead.
Smeagol: Once they’re dead…
Gollum: Shh… {He pops out from hiding in front of the hobbits.}
Smeagol: Come on, hobbits. Long ways to go yet. Smeagol will show you the
way.
{He turns to walk on, with Frodo and Sam following behind.}
Gollum: Follow me.
{ Camera pans up over forest and Ephel Duath to reveal the desolation of
Mordor. To the left of the frame is the glowing Eye of Sauron atop
Barad-Dur, and to the right of the frame is the fiery Mount Doom. Three Fell
Beasts circle the dark skies. Lightning flashes as the scene fades to
black.}

{{CREDITS}}
Songs and poem:
The Abyss [Gandalf’s fight with the Balrog]
(Dwarvish)
Irkat-lukhud ma
katabrikihu
Ulfat-atam ma
tanakhi uduhu
bin-nât aznân tarsisi
Bazar udu agânî-furkhîn
Gurd!
Ma nîd sakhu!
Ma satf unkhai!
Atkât zatagrafizu
Zatablugi sulluzu

No shaft of light
Can breach it
No breath of air
Comes from it
Only an endless dark rises
Deep from the beginnings
Of the world.
Have fear.
Do not look down
Nor step too close
The Silence will take you.
It will swallow you whole.

Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


The Call [Theoden Dresses For Battle]
(Old English)
Hwaer cwóm helm? hwaer cwóm byrne?
Hwaer cwóm feax flówende?
Hwaer cwóm hand on hearpestrenge?
Hw?r cwóm scír fyyr scínende?
Hwaer cwóm lencten and h?rfest?
Hwaer cwóm héah corn weaxende?
Hwá gegaderath wuduréc of
wealdholte byrnende?
Oththe gesiehth of gársecge
thá gear gewendende?
Where is the helm and the hauberk,
and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harp string,
and the red fire glowing?
where is the spring and the harvest
and the tall corn growing?
Who shall gather the smoke of
the dead wood burning?
Or behold the flowing years
from the Sea returning?
Music by Howard Shore
Words by J.R.R. Tolkien
Translation by David Salo


Entmoot
(Sindarin)
Naur vi eryn,
lanc I dalaf
Mathach vi geven?
Nostach vi wilith?
Mâb le i nagor,
Bâd gurth vi ngalad firiel.
Dorthach vi mar han?
Dagrathach go hain?
The woods are burning,
the ground lies bare
Do you feel it in the earth?
Can you smell it in the air?
The war is upon you,
Death moves in the fading light.
Are you part of this world?
Will you join their fight?

Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


The Ents
(Sindarin)
rithannen i geven
thangen i harn
na fennas i daur
ôl d?r ristannen
Eryn echuiannen
i ngelaidh dagrar
ristar thynd, cúa tawar
Dambedir enyd i ganed
Si linna i waew trin ylf
Isto i dur i chuiyl
i ngelaidh dagrar
Earth shakes,
Stone breaks
The forest is at your door
The dark sleep is broken
The woods have awoken
The trees have gone to war
Roots rend, wood bends
The Ents have answered the call
Through branches now the wind sings
Feel the power of living things
The trees have gone to war
Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


The Fallen [Theoden Grieves for his Son]
(Old English)
Hé laered hine rídan
And wealdan méce
And standan f?st
And féond ne forhtian.
Nú hé sceal leornian
Th?t hearde sóth:
Hé raerede his cnapa
Of cilde tó menn
Th?t hé his death geséo
Sé féond w?s simble mid heom.
Sé féond ne recede ege.
He taught him to ride,
To wield a sword.
To stand strong and
Show his enemy no fear.
Now he must learn
The hard truth.
That he had brought his boy
From childhood.
So that he might face his death
Like a man.
The enemy was always with them.
The enemy did not care about fear.

Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


The Fight
(Quenya)
Cuiva Olórin
Nárendur
Tira nottolya
Tulta tuolya
An mauya mahtie
Ter oiomornie
Ter ondicilyar
Mettanna.
Nurunna!
Awake Olórin
Servant of fire
face your foe
Summon forth your strength
For you must fight
Through endless dark
Through chasms of stone.
To the end.
To the death!
Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


Gollum’s Song
Where once was light
Now darkness falls
Where once was love
Love is no more
Don’t say - goodbye
Don’t say - I didn’t try
These tears we cry
Are falling rain
For all the lies
You told us
The hurt, the blame!
And we will weep
To be so alone
We are lost!
We can never go home.
So in the end
I will be what I will be
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me.
Now we say goodbye
We say you didn’t try
These tears you cry
Have come too late
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame!
And you will weep
When you face the end alone
You are lost!
You can never go home.
Words & Music by Fran Walsh & Howard Shore
Performed by Emiliana Torrini


The King [Theoden is transfromed by Gandalf]
(Old English)
Lim-strang w?s geboren
Bearn léod-cyninga
Magorinc Mearces.
Bunden in byrde Tó laedenne
Bunden in lufe Tó thegnunge
Lang beadugear cyythath
Líc onginneth búgan.
Swift déadlic géar Stieppath geond willan.
Ac éagan gíet lóciath Beorhtre gesihthe.
Heorte gíet béateth.
Strong-limbed he was born
This son of Kings;
This warrior of Rohan.
Bound by birth to lead.
Bound by love to serve.
Long years of war begin to show.
The body has begun to bend.
Swift mortal years outpace the will.
But the eyes still watch clear-sighted.
The great heart is beating still.
Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


The Missing
(Old English)
Héo naefre wacode d?gréd
Tó bisig mid d?geweorcum
Ac oft héo wacode sunnanwanung
Thonne nihtciele créap geond móras
And on thaere hwíle
Héo dréga thá losinga
Ealra thinga the héo forléas.
Héo swá oft dréag hire sáwle sincende
Héo ne cúthe hire heortan lust.
She never watched
the morning rising,
Too busy with the
days first chores.
But oft she would watch
the sun’s fading
As the cold of night crept
across the moors.
And in that moment
She felt the loss
Of everything that
Had been missed.
So used to feeling
the spirit sink
She had not felt
her own heart’s wish.
Music by Howard Shore
Words by Philippa Boyens
Translation by David Salo


Transcript Credits:
from www.the-concil-of-elrond.com
Accela, Aina, Bad burn, Bridget Chubb, Brionn Equus (Lochrann), Drusilia,
Elf Lady, Eowyn Unquendor, Feanari, Finafyr, Flourish, Galadriel, Heri,
Julamb, JustinsIce(Mdjasrie), Kazren, Krystal, LadyEowynKenobi, Lady
Evenstar, Legolas’Bow, Lithorose, Melody, Mormegil, Nilmandra, Padfoot,
Penwiper, Pilgrim Grey, Primula Baggins, Randy Savage, Samwise the Brave,
Sirius Black, Tethra, The Lidless Eye, Turnar, Xyla, Yaksha