指环王3国王归来英文台词-全

Return of the King, Extended Edition

(Many thanks to ~Venora~ for typing out this script)

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(Scene opens on a sunny day with Dé

agol and Smé

agol fishing in a boat.)

Dé

agol:

Sméagol! I‘ve got one; I‘ve got a fish, Sméag

-Smé

agol!

Smé

agol:

Pull it in. Go on. Go on. Go on. Pull it in!

(Dé

agol falls in the water and Smé

agol looks over the edge of the boat. Dé

agol is dragged by a fish, still holding onto his

fishing rod. He sees the One Ring, and grabs it from the sand. He climbs onto shore, gasping for breath, and strokes the

Ring in his palm with his finger. Smé

agol comes over and looks at it covetously.)

Smé

agol:

Dé

agol? Dé

agol.

(seeing the Ring)

Give us that Dé

agol my love.

Dé

agol:

Why?

Smé

agol:

Because…it‘s my birthday and I wants it.

(A fight begins and escalates, ending with Smé

agol choking Dé

agol to death.)

Ring:

(quietly, whispering)

…batul. Ash nazg gimbatul…

Smé

agol:

My Precious.

(He puts the Ring on. He is seen deteriorating into Gollum. The scene shifts to Gollum crawling through a cave, wincing

and bawling as if in agony.)

Smé

agol:

(v.o)

They cursed us. ―Murderer‖ they called us. They cursed us and drove us away.

Gollum:

Gollum. Gollum. Gollum.

Smé

agol:

(v.o.) And we wept, precious. We wept to be so alone.

(We see a fish, which Smé

agol proceeds to catch and eat, while his fish song is heard in the background.)

Smé

agol:

—

and cool, So nice for feet, And we only wish, To catch a fish/ So juicy sweet.

(We now see a yet more Gollum-ish Smé

agol crawling into a cave.)

Smé

agol:

And we forgot the taste of bread…the sound of trees…the softness of the wind. We even forgot our own name.

My Precious.

(We see Sam asleep and Frodo sitting uneasily in a small cave. Frodo fingers the Ring, but quickly puts it back inside his

tunic when he hears movement. Gollum pokes his head in from the top.)

Gollum:

Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies. We must go, yes. We must go at once.

Sam:

Haven‘t you had any sleep, Mister Frodo?

(Frodo shakes his head.)

Sam:

I‘ve gone and had too much. It must be getting late.

Frodo:

No. It isn‘t. It isn‘t midday yet. The days are growing darker.

(The ground rumbles and shakes.)

Gollum:

Come on! Must go! No time!

Sam:

Not before Mister Frodo‘s had somethin‘ to eat.

Gollum:

No time to lose, silly.

(Sam hands Frodo some lembas.)

Sam:

Here.

Frodo:

What about you?

Sam:

Oh, no. I‘m not hungry. Leastways not for lembas bread.

Frodo:

Sam…

Sam:

All right. We don‘t have that much left. We have to be careful or we‘re going to run out. You go ahead and eat that,

Mister Frodo. I‘ve rationed it. There should be enough.

Frodo:

For what?

Sam:

The journey home.

(Frodo looks at Sam in surprise. Next we see Frodo and Sam following Gollum.)

Gollum:

Come, Hobbitses. Very close now. Very close to Mordor. No safe places here. Hurry!

(Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, etc. ride towards Isengard, and come upon Merry and Pippin laughing and sitting

upon a broken wall.)

Merry:

It‘s good. Definitely from the Shire. Longbottom L

eaf.

(Merry and Pippin both agree.)

Pippin:

I feel like I‘m back at the Green Dragon.

Merry:

Green Dragon.

Pippin:

A mug of ale in my hand. Putting my feet up on a settle after a hard day‘s work.

Merry:

Only, you‘ve never done a hard day‘s work.

(Both

laugh. A small crew of Helm?s Deep survivors arrive. Pippin chortles like a loon.)

Merry:

Welcome, my lord, to Isengard!

(points to Orthanc)

Gimli:

You young rascals! A merry hunt you‘ve led us on, and now we find you, feasting and… smoking!

Pippin:

We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good.

Gimli:

Salted pork?

Gandalf:

(shakes head in disgust) Hobbits.

Merry:

We‘re under orders, from Treebeard, who‘s taken over management of Isengard.

(The scene shifts to the group riding near Orthanc, while Treebeard greets them.)

Treebeard:

Young Master Gandalf. I‘m glad you‘ve come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there is a

Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower.

Aragorn:

(whispering)

Show yourself.

Gandalf:

Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous.

Gimli:

Well, let‘s just have his head and be done with it.

Gandalf:

No. We need him alive. We need him to talk.

Saruman:

(v.o.)

You have fought many wars and slain many men, Thé

oden King,

(shows himself on the top of the

tower)

and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have

peace, you and I?

Thé

oden:

We shall have peace. We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children

that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead

against the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall

have peace.

Saruman:

Gibbets and crows? Dotard! What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The key of Orthanc. Or

perhaps the Keys of Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!

Gandalf:

Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You

were deep in the enemy‘s counsel.

Saruman:

So you have come here for information. I have some for you.

(Saruman lifts up his Palantí

r and gazes into it.)

Saruman:

Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has

seen it.

(puts the Palantí

r back down)

Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You‘re all going to

die.

(Gandalf approaches the base of Orthanc.)

Saruman:

But you know this, don‘t you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of

Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those

closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him

to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death.

Gimli:

I‘ve heard enough!

(whispers to Legolas)

Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob.

Gandalf:

No. Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared.

Saruman:

Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!

(Saruman sends down a giant fire-ball towards Gandalf. A giant flame surrounds where Gandalf is. Gandalf is now

shown surrounded by a shield as the flames die down.)

Gandalf:

Saruman, your staff is broken.

(Saruman?s staff breaks in his hands into many pieces. Grima shows up behind Saruman.)

Thé

oden:

Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come

down.

Saruman:

A Man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their

brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm‘s Deep does not be

long to you, Thé

oden Horse-master. You are

a lesser son of greater sires.

Thé

oden:

Grima, come down. Be free of him.

Saruman:

Free? He will never be free.

Grima:

No.

Saruman:

Get down, cur!

((Saruman hits Grima, knocking him down.)

Gandalf:

Saruman! You

were deep in the enemy‘s counsel. Tell us what you know!

(Grima is shown getting up slowly as he draws a small dagger.)

Saruman:

You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner

here.

(Grima pounces on Saruman and stabs Saruman several times. Legolas releases an arrow, hitting Grima. Grima winces

in pain and falls back, making Saruman plummet off the tower and towards the ground. He lands on top of a spear on

one of his own devices. Disgust fell over the faces of several of the riders.)

Gandalf:

Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against

us. We need to know where he will strike.

(The wheel spins, sinking Saruman into the waters. The Palantí

r falls out of his robe and into the water.)

Treebeard:

The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees.

(Pippin sees an orange glow in the water. He wades into the water and picks it up, eyeing it curiously.)

Aragorn:

Pippin!

Treebeard:

Bless my bark!

Gandalf:

Peregrin Took! I‘ll take that, my lad. Quickly now.

(Pippin hands the palantí

r to Gandalf, who quickly wraps it in his robe. The riders are next seen traveling towards

Edoras, and ?

owyn stands in front of the Golden Hall. A large crowd is then seen in the Hall. ?

owyn bows to Thé

oden as

she gives him a cup.)

Thé

oden:

Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!

Crowd:

Hail!

(Crowd begins to talk)

?omer:

No pauses. No spills.

(Gives a mug to Legolas.)

Gimli:

And no regurgitation.

Legolas:

So it‘s a drinking game?

(Men “ai!” and raise their mugs.)

Gimli:

Last one standing wins.

Men:

What‘ll we drink to? Let‘s drink to victory! To victory!

(Gimli gulps down his mug as Legolas carefully starts to drink.)

(?

owyn approaches Aragorn with a cup.)

?owyn:

Westu Aragorn há

l.

(She gives it to Aragorn, who drinks some. He walks off with a nod.)

Thé

oden:

I am happy for you. He is an honorable man.

?owyn:

You are both honorable men.

Thé

oden:

It was not Thé

oden of Rohan who led our people to victory. (?

owyn looks at him, not understanding.) Ah,

don‘t listen to me. You are young, and tonight is for you.

(Gimli glups down another mug of beer as Legolas puts down another mug. Someone hands both Legolas and Gimli

another mug.)

Gimli:

Here, here. It‘s the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women.

(he belches)

Legolas:

I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it‘s affecting me.

Gimli:

(in a drunk voice)

What did I say? He can‘t hold his liquor.

(Gimli crosses his eyes and falls back off his chair onto the floor.)

Legolas:

Game over.

(Merry and Pippin are dancing and singing on a table.)

Merry and Pippin:

Oh you can search far and wide,

You can drink the whole town dry,

But you‘ll never find a beer so brown,

As the one we drink in our hometown.

You can drink your fancy ales,

You can drink ?em by the flagon,

But the only brew for the brave and true,

(Pippin stops dancing as he sees that Gandalf is looking at him.)

Merry:

Pippin!

Merry and Pippin:

But the only brew for the brave and true, Comes from The Green Dragon!

(Merry and Pippin start drinking as fast as they can.)

Merry:

Thank you! I win!

Pippin:

Thank you!

(Gandalf laughs and claps, and is joined by Aragorn.)

Aragorn:

No news of Frodo?

Gandalf:

No word. Nothing.

Aragorn:

We have time. Every day, Frodo moves closer to Mordor.

Gandalf:

Do we know that?

Aragorn:

What does your heart tell you?

Gandalf:

That Frodo is alive. Yes. Yes, he‘s

alive.

(The Hobbits are sleeping. Gollum twitches and talks as if having a bad dream.)

Smé

agol:

Too risky. Too risky. Thieves. They stole it from us. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them both!

Gollum:

Shh! Quiet. Mustn‘t wake them. Mustn‘t ruin it now.

Smé

agol:

But they knows. They knows. They suspects us!

Gollum:

What‘s it saying, my precious, my love? Is Sméagol losing his nerve?

Smé

agol:

No. Not. Never. Sméagol hates nasty Hobbitses. Sméagol wants to see them…dead.

Gollum:

And we will. Smé

agol did it once, he can do it again.

(Quick flashback of Dé

agol struggling while Smé

agol

strangles him.)

It‘s ours. Ours!

Smé

agol:

We must get the precious. We must get it back.

Gollum:

Patience. Patience, my love. First we must lead them to her.

Smé

agol:

We lead them to the winding stairs.

Gollum:

Yes. The stairs. And then?

Smé

agol:

Up, up, up, up, up the stairs we go, until we come to…the tunnel.

Gollum:

And when they go in, there‘s no coming out. She‘s always hungry. She always needs…to feed. She must eat.

All she gets is filthy Orcses.

Smé

agol:

And they doesn‘t taste very nice, does they, precious?

Gollum:

No. Not very nice at all, my love. She hungers for sweeter meats, Hobbit-meat.

(Switch to shot of Sam, who

begins to awaken.)

And when she throws away the bones, and empty clothes, then we will find it.

Smé

agol:

And take it for me!

Gollum:

For us.

Smé

agol:

Y-

yes, we meant ―for us‖. *gollum, gollum*

Gollum:

The precious will be ours, once the Hobbitses are dead.

(He picks up a rock, and drops it in the water. The ripples fade to show Sam standing over his shoulder.)

Sam:

You treacherous little toad!

(Sam tackles Smé

agol and then struggles with him as Frodo rushes over.)

Smé

agol:

No! No! Master!

Frodo:

No, Sam! Leave him alone!

(Frodo pulls Sam back from Smé

agol.)

Sam:

I heard it from his own mouth. He means to murder us!

Smé

agol:

Never! Sméagol wouldn‘t hurt a fly! (He touches a small cut on his head, then sees blood on his hand) Argh!

He‘s a horrid, fat Hobbit who hates Sméagol and who makes up nasty lies!

Sam:

You

miserable little maggot! I‘ll stove your head in!

(Sam tries to attack Smé

agol, who hides behind a tree.)

Frodo:

Sam!

Sam:

Call me a liar? You‘re a liar!

Smé

agol:

Argh!

Frodo:

You scare him off, we‘re lost!

Sam:

I don‘t care! I can‘t do it, Mister Frodo; I

won‘t wait around for him to kill us.

Frodo:

I‘m not sending him away!

(Smé

agol shudders.)

Sam:

You don‘t see it, do you? He‘s a villain!

Frodo:

We can‘t do this by ourselves, Sam. Not without a guide. I need you on my side.

Sam:

I‘m on your side, Mr. Fro

do.

Frodo:

I know, Sam, I know. Trust me. Come, Smé

agol.

(Frodo holds out his hand and Smé

agol takes it. Gollum gives Sam an evil grin. The scene shifts to Edoras, at night.

Aragorn walks out of the room where he was sleeping with his pipe. Pippin moves in his bed as if something is really

bothering him. Aragorn walks into a room where ?

owyn is sleeping by a dimmed down fire. He pokes the fire with a stick

and fixes the blanket on ?

owyn.)

?owyn:

What time is it?

Aragorn:

Not yet dawn.

(As Aragorn begins to walk away, ?

owyn grabs his hand.)

?owyn:

I dreamed I saw a great wave, climbing over green lands and above the hills. I stood upon the brink. It was

utterly dark in the abyss before my feet. A light shone behind me, but I could not turn. I could

only stand there, waiting.

Aragorn:

Night changes many thoughts. Sleep, ?owyn. Sleep…while you can.

(Aragorn walks away and walks outside where he sees Legolas.)

Legolas:

The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice.

(Legolas turns to look at Aragorn.)

Legolas:

The Eye of the Enemy is moving.

(Pippin is unable to sleep, and gets up, walking toward Gandalf.)

Merry:

What you doing?

(Pippin is shocked and turns back. He then turns and looks at Gandalf, who is sleeping with his eyes open. He gets

another shock. He waves his hand in front of Gandalf.)

Merry:

Pippin! Pippin?

(Pippin jumps, then exchanges a nearby vase for the wrapped up palantír in Gandalf?s arms.)

Merry:

Pippin. What, are you mad?

Pippin:

I just want to look at it. Just one more time.

Merry:

Put it back!

(Pippin holds the palantí

r in his hands and smiles, but then he starts to see the Eye of Sauron, and is questioned by him.

Pippin?s pain is clearly obvious, as he screeches and writhes on the floor.)

Merry:

Pippin! No! Pippin…

(Switch to the outside where Legolas and Aragorn are standing.)

Legolas:

He is here!

(Pippin is still being tortured/questioned.)

Sauron:

I see you…

Merry:

Pippin! Help! Gandalf, help! Someone help him!

(Gandalf wakes up, and Aragorn and Legolas burst into the room. Aragorn takes the palantí

r away from Pippin and

faints momentarily as the palantí

r rolls away. Legolas holds him. Gandalf grabs a cloak and throws it over the palantí

r.)

Merry:

Pippin!

Gandalf:

Fool of a Took!

(Gandalf pushes Merry away and bends over Pippin. Pippin looks frozen and shocked. Gandalf chants something under

his breath, while touching Pippin?s forehead. Pippin then awakens and starts panting, horrified.)

Gandalf:

Look at me.

Pippin:

(cringing) Gandalf, forgive me.

Gandalf:

Look at me. What did you see?

(Pippin turns away, but Gandalf turns Pippin to face him.)

Pippin:

A tree. There was a white tree. In a courtyard of stone. It was dead.

(Gandalf sees an image of the Court of the Fountain burning.)

Pippin:

The city was burning.

Gandalf:

Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?

Pippin:

I saw…I saw him! I can hear his voice in my head.

Gandalf:

And what did you tell him? Speak!

Pippin:

He asked me my name. I didn‘t answer. He hurt me.

Gandalf:

What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?

(Pippin looks at Gandalf, confusion in his eyes. The scene switches to the Golden Hall, where they are all standing

tensely.)

Gandalf:

There was no lie in Pippin‘s eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and

the Ring. We‘ve

been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the palantír a glimpse of the enemy‘s plan. Sauron moves to

strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm‘s Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has

come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still,strength perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears

this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before

he sees a king return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war.

Thé

oden:

Tell me; why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?

Aragorn:

I will go.

Gandalf:

No!

Aragorn:

They must be warned!

Gandalf:

They will be.

(He speaks quietly to Aragorn alone.)

You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow

the river. Look to the black ships.

(To all.)

Understand this: Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for

Minas Tirith. And I won‘t be going alone.

(His gaze moves in the direction of the two Hobbits.)

(Gandalf walks into the stables followed by Merry and Pippin.)

Gandalf:

Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry, hurry!

Pippin:

Where are we going?

Merry:

(turns to Pippin) Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?

Pippin:

I don‘t know. I can‘t help it.

Merry:

You never can.

Pippin:

I‘m sorry, all right? I won‘t do it again.

Merry:

Don‘t you understand? The Enemy thinks you have the Ring. He‘s going to be looking for

you, Pip. They have to

get you out of here.

Pippin:

And you-

you‘re coming with me?

(Merry turns and goes to the stables.)

Merry?

Merry:

Come on.

Pippin:

How far is Minas Tirith?

Gandalf:

Three days‘ ride, as the Nazg?l flies, and you better hope we don‘t h

ave one of those on our tail.

Merry:

Here, something for the road.

(Merry hands Pippin a small package.)

Pippin:

The last of the Longbottom Leaf.

Merry:

I know you‘ve run out. You smoke too much, Pip.

Pippin:

But

—But we‘ll see each other soon…won‘t we?

Merry:

I don‘t know… I don‘t know what‘s going to happen.

Pippin:

Merry.

Gandalf:

Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste!

Pippin:

Merry!

(Shadowfax gallops off, and Merry runs up to a lookout point to see them off.)

Aragorn:

Merry!

(Aragorn follows him up the stairs, and they sadly watch Gandalf and Pippin ride away.)

Merry:

He‘s always followed me, everywhere I went, since before we were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort

of trouble, but I was always there to get him out. Now he‘s gone. Jus

t like Frodo and Sam.

Aragorn:

One thing I have learned about Hobbits: They‘re a most hardy folk.

Merry:

Foolhardy, maybe. He‘s a Took.

(Merry and Aragorn look at where Gandalf and Pippin are in the distance. Scene changes to a forest where Elves are

traveling towards the Grey Havens, including Arwen.)

Elrond:

(v.o)

Take her by the safest road. A ship lies anchored in the Grey Havens. It waits to carry her across the

sea…the last journey of Arwen Undómiel.

(In a vision, she sees a young boy run past. As he runs into the trees, the surrounding forest changes to become a place

made of grey stone. The boy runs to an aged Aragorn who lifts him up, laughing and smiling. The boy looks directly at

Arwen; she sees the Evenstar around his neck. The boy is her son, Eldarion. Arwen looks on in sorrow and shuts her eyes

as tears roll down her cheeks.)

Elrond:

(v.o.)

There is nothing for you here, only death.

(When she opens her eyes again, the vision leaves her.)

Figwit:

Lady Arwen, we cannot delay.

(Arwen turns around and rides away.)

My Lady!

(Arwen rides into Rivendell. In a pavilion, Elrond sees her running up.)

Arwen:

Tell me what you have seen.

Elrond:

(stands up to meet her)

Arwen.

Arwen:

You have the gift of foresight. What did you see?

Elrond:

I looked into your future, and I saw death.

Arwen:

But there is also life. You saw there was a child! You saw my son!

Elrond:

(gloomily)

That future is almost gone.

Arwen:

But it is not lost.

Elrond:

Nothing is certain.

Arwen:

(kneels down in front of Elrond and touches her

father?s face)

Some things are certain. If I leave him now, I will

regret it forever. It is time.

(Arwen walks into the chamber where the shards of Narsil are kept.)

Arwen:

(v.o.)

From the ashes a fire shall be woken. A light from the shadows shall spring. Renewed shall be blade that

was broken. The crownless again shall be king.

Arwen:

Reforge the sword. Ada.

(Elrond doesn?t answer and walks away. She sits on a bed as if exhausted and drops the book that was in her hands.

Elrond picks it up.)

Elrond:

(feels her hands and lowers them down in front of her)

Your hands are cold. The life of the Eldar is leaving you.

Arwen:

This was my choice. Ada, whether by your will or not, there is no ship now that can bear me hence.

(Elrond is grieved. Scenes interchange between two Elven- smiths reforging Narsil. The scene shifts to Gandalf and

Pippin riding through the countryside on their way to Minas Tirith.)

Gandalf:

We‘ve just passed into the realm of Gondor.

(They crest a hill, and see Minas Tirith in the distance.)

Gandalf:

Minas Tirith. City of kings.

(They ride through the many levels of the city, as people jump out of the way in front of them.)

Gandalf:

Make way!

(They enter the Courtyard of the Citadel, where the White Tree stands.)

Pippin:

It‘s the tree.

Gandalf. Gandalf!

Gandalf:

Yes, the White Tree of Gondor. The tree of the king. Lord Denethor, however, is not king. He is a steward only,

a caretaker of the throne.

(Gandalf pauses before entering the hall.)

Gandalf:

Now listen carefully. Lord Denethor is

Boromir‘s father. To give him news of his beloved son‘s death would be

most unwise. And do not mention Frodo or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either. In fact, it‘s better if you don‘t

speak at all, Peregrin Took.

(They enter the hall. We see a man sitting on a black chair at the end of the grand hall.)

Gandalf:

Hail Denethor, son of Ecthelion, lord and steward of Gondor. I come with tidings in this dark hour and with

counsel.

Denethor:

Perhaps you come to explain this. (Holds up Boromir‘s cloven hor

n.) Perhaps you come to tell me why my

son is dead.

(Gandalf is bewildered. Pippin has a flashback to Boromir being wounded, and then steps forward.)

Pippin:

Boromir died to save us, my kinsman and me. He fell defending us from many foes.

Gandalf:

Pippin!

Pippin:

I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt.

Denethor:

This is my first command to you. How did you escape and my son did not, so mighty a man as he was?

Pippin:

The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow and Boromir was pierced by many.

(Denethor begins to sob.)

Gandalf:

Get up!

(He whacks Pippin with his staff. He turns to Denethor.)

My Lord, there will be a time to grieve for

Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your doorstep. As steward, you are charged with the defense

of this city. Where are Gondor‘s armies? You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of

Rohan. Light the beacons.

Denethor:

(snarling)

You think you are wise, Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think

the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a

shield against Mordor. And with your right you would seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Thé

oden of Rohan. Oh

yes. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn. And I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from

the North, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship.

Gandalf:

Authority is not given you to deny the return of the king, Steward.

Denethor:

(standing)

The rule of Gondor is mine, and no other‘s!

(Denethor sits. Gandalf regards him for a moment, then turns and walks away.)

Gandalf:

(to Pippin)

Come. All has turned to vain ambition. He would even use his grief as a cloak. A thousand years

this city has stood.

(back to the courtyard)

Now, at the whim of a madman, it will fall. And the White Tree, the tree of the

king, will never bloom again.

Pippin:

Why are they still guarding it?

Gandalf:

They guard it because they have hope. A faint and fading hope that one day it will flower. That a king will

come and this city will be as it once was, before it fell into decay. The old wisdom borne out of the West was forsaken.

Kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living, and counted the old names of their descent dearer than the

names of their sons.

(walks to the edge of the wall)

Childless lords sat in aged halls, musing on heraldry or in high, cold

towers, asking questions of the stars. And so the people of Gondor fell into ruin. The line of kings failed. The White Tree

withered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men.

(Pippin walks over towards the edge of the wall as he sees red clouds climbing over mountains towards Gondor.)

Pippin:

Mordor.

Gandalf;

Yes, there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow.

Pippin:

A storm is coming.

Gandalf:

This is not the weather of the world. This is a device of Sauron‘s making. A broil of fume he sends ahead of his

host. The Orcs of Mordor have no love of daylight, so he covers the face of the sun to ease their passage along the road to

war. When the Shadow of Mordor reaches this city it will begin.

Pippin:

Well, Minas Tirith, very impressive. So where are we off to next?

Gandalf:

Oh, it‘s too late for that, Peregrin. There‘s no leaving this city. Help must come to us.

(We now are switched to a forest where Frodo and Sam walking)

Sam:

It must be getting near teatime. Leastways, it would be in decent places where there is still teatime.

Gollum:

(turning around)

We‘re not i

n decent places.

(Frodo stops suddenly)

Sam:

Mr. Frodo? What is it?

Frodo:

It‘s just a feeling. I don‘t think I‘ll be coming back.

Sam:

Yes, you will. Of course you will. That‘s just morbid thinking. We‘re going there and back again just like Mr.

Bilbo.

You‘ll see.

(They begin to walk again and they pass a large statue who?s head has been removed and replaced by a large rock with a

cage-like thing over it.)

Frodo:

I think these lands were once part of the kingdom of Gondor. Long ago, when there was a king.

(They walk past the original head of the statue. The sun begins to peer out of the clouds as Sam turns around.)

Sam:

Mr. Frodo, look. The king has got a crown again.

Gollum:

Come on, Hobbits! Mustn‘t stop now. This way.

(Scene changes and shows Gandalf on a balcony smoking. Pippin is in a room just behind him. The armor of the Guards

of the Citadel is laid upon his bed.)

Pippin:

(looking over his armor)

So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position. I mean, they don‘t actually expect me to

do any fighting, do they?

Gandalf:

(in a scratchy voice)

You‘re in the service of the steward now. You‘re going to have to do as you‘re told,

Peregrin Took.

(he continues to cough)

(Pippin pours a glass of water for Gandalf and brings it to him.)

Gandalf:

Ridiculous Hobbit. Guard of the Citadel.

(his coughs echo around as Pippin gives him the glass.)

Thank you.

Pippin:

(looking towards the sky)

There‘s no more stars. Is it time?

Gandalf:

Yes.

(Pippin walks over to the balcony.)

Pippin:

It‘s so quiet.

Gandalf:

It‘s the

deep breath before the plunge.

Pippin:

I don‘t want to be in a battle, but waiting on the edge of one I can‘t escape is even worse.

(Gandalf walks over to

stand next to him.)

Is there any hope, Gandalf, for Frodo and Sam?

Gandalf:

There never was much hope

. Just a fool‘s hope. Our Enemy is ready. His full strength gathered.

(v.o.)

Not only

Orcs, but Men as well. Legions of Haradrim from the south. Mercenaries from the coast. All will answer Mordor‘s call.

This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammer-stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the

garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defense of this city will be gone.

Pippin:

But we have the White Wizard. That‘s got to count for something. Gandalf?

Gandalf:

(v.o.)

Sauron has yet to release his deadliest servant,

(Switch to shot of the Witch-king preparing for battle.)

the

one who will lead Mordor‘s armies in war. The one they say no living man can kill. The Witch

-

king of Angmar. You‘ve

met him before. He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop.

(Flashback of the Weathertop scene in FotR.)

He is the lord of the

Nazg?

l, the greatest of the Nine. Minas Morgul is his lair.

(The scene switches to Frodo, Sam, and Smé

agol approaching Minas Morgul.)

Gollum:

The Dead City. Very nasty place. Full of enemies.

(He jumps onto the road, and the two Hobbits follow him.)

Gollum:

Quick. Quick! They will see. They will see!

(Frodo stares at the statues guarding the city.)

Gollum:

Come away. Come away. Look, we have found it. The way into Mordor. The secret stair.

(The two Hobbits stare in shock at the steep stairs climbing the cliff face in front of them.)

Gollum:

Climb!

(Frodo turns to look at the statues again, and begins staggering towards the city, as if against his will.)

Sam:

No! Mister Frodo!

Gollum:

Not that way!

(Gollum and Sam chase after Frodo.)

Gollum:

What‘s it doing?

Sam:

No!

Frodo:

They‘re calling me…

Gollum:

No!

(Sam and Gollum pull him back to the hidden staircase. The ground shakes, and then a large pillar of light fills the sky

above Minas Morgul. Gandalf and Pippin in Minas Tirith see it, as does Faramir in Osgiliath.)

Smé

agol:

Hide! Hide!

(They quickly clamber behind a rock wall at the base of the stairs. The Witch- king on his fellbeast rises above the city,

and he shrieks. The Hobbits writhe in pain.)

Frodo:

(Clutches his shoulder, and shudders in pain.)

I can feel his blade!

(The gates of Minas Morgul open, and Orc troops begin marching out.)

Gandalf:

We come to it at last. The great battle of our time.

(The Orc army marches along the path out of Minas Morgul. The Witch-

king flies over Sam and Frodo?s heads.)

Gollum:

Come away, Hobbits. We climb. We must climb.

(Frodo, Sam, and Gollum begin climbing the stairs.)

Gandalf:

The board is set. The pieces are moving.

Gollum:

Up, up, up the stairs we

go. And then it‘s into the tunnel.

Sam:

Hey, what‘s in this tunnel?

(grabs Gollum as he tries to get away)

You listen to me, and you listen good and proper.

Anything happens to him, you have me to answer to. One sniff something‘s not right, one hair stands

up on the back of

my head, it‘s over. No more slinker. No more stinker. You‘re gone. Got it? I‘m watching you.

(climbs up to where Frodo

is.)

Frodo:

What was that about?

Sam:

Nothing. Just clearing something up.

(Scene changes, showing Gandalf is striding swiftly through the city, followed by Pippin.)

Gandalf:

Peregrin Took, my lad, there is a task now to be done. Another opportunity for one of the Shire-folk to prove

their great worth. You must not fail me.

(Pippin has a look of understanding on his face. He runs off in the direction of the beacon tower. The scene shifts to

Osgiliath where the men are eating and talking.)

Madril:

(To Faramir)

It‘s been very quiet across the river. The Orcs are lying low. The garrison may have moved out.

We‘ve sent scouts to

Cair Andros. If the Orcs attack from the north, we‘ll have some warning.

(Orc-boats approaching slowly and quietly. All light is veiled by the growing darkness, though it is day. One Orc makes

too much noise while rowing.)

Gothmog:

Quiet!

(Switches back to Osgiliath.)

Gondorian Soldier:

We need 10 more.

(Men continue to whisper to each other as the Orc boats continue to creep up to the banks. One Gondorian soldier sees

the Orc army and is quickly killed by an arrow.)

Gothmog:

Kill him!

(He falls down stairs, alarming the other soldiers, including Faramir.)

Faramir:

They‘re not coming from the north. To the river! Quick. Quick! Go. Come on!

(Faramir and soldiers are run to the shore, grasping spears, hiding behind walls, keeping out of sight of the boats. Some

have obviously just been woken up and had no time to put on full gear. Low voices give orders.)

Gothmog:

(in the boats)

Faster.

(Swords are drawn. Close-up on Faramir, pressed to a wall, gets ready for battle. The first boats reach the shore.)

Gothmog:

Draw swords!

(Ramps for disembarking are dropped, and the first Orcs step on the shore. Faramir and his Men let them pass. Faramir

takes a deep breath then charges. Fighting begins. Back in Minas Tirith, Pippin climbs to the top of the beacon, and with

so

me effort, dumps some oil on the wood and starts the beacon fire. He quickly realizes it?s not particularly clever to stay

on a lit pile of wood, and begins climbing back down. The soldiers guarding the beacon realize it is lit. Several more

shots show all of the beacons between Gondor and Rohan being lit, one by one.)

Gandalf:

(quietly)

Amon D?

n.

Guard:

The beacon! The beacon of Amon D?

n is lit!

(Denethor peers out a window and sneers.)

Gandalf:

Hope is kindled.

(Aragorn is sitting smoking a pipe in Edoras and notices the beacon in the distance is lit. He runs to the Golden Hall and

throws open the doors.)

Aragorn:

The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!

(Thé

oden looks up from a map. ?

owyn runs to stand next to ?

omer. Everyon

e watches Théoden?s reaction.)

Thé

oden:

(pauses, and then calmly proclaims)

And Rohan will answer!

(?

owyn and ?

omer look relieved.)

Thé

oden:

Muster the Rohirrim!

(A person rings the gong on top of a tower. Thé

oden strides out of the Golden Hall in his

armor.)

Assemble the Men at Dunharrow. As many Men as can be found. You have two days. On the third, we ride for

Gondor and war. Gamling!

Gamling:

My lord.

Thé

oden:

Make haste across the Riddermark. Summon every able- bodied man to Dunharrow.

Gamling:

I will.

(Aragorn sees ?

owyn leading out her horse.)

Aragorn:

Will you ride with us?

?owyn:

Just to the encampment. It‘s tradition for the Women of the Court to farewell the men.

(Aragorn lifts up the saddle blanket of her horse to reveal her sword. ?

owyn snatches it back down, hiding the sword

again.)

?owyn:

The men have found their captain. They will follow you into battle, even to death. You have given us hope.

(She turns away. Aragorn contemplates her words. Merry kneels before Thé

oden.)

Merry:

Excuse me. I have a sword. Please accept it. I offer you my service, Thé

oden King.

Thé

oden:

(Pulling Merry up to his feet)

And gladly I accept it. You shall be Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan.

(A smile runs across the face of Merry as he runs off. Legolas and Gimli are on top of a horse ready to go.)

Gimli:

Horse-master. I wish I could muster a legion of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy.

Legolas:

Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands.

(We see many of the Rohirrim riders riding off as Merry tries to get his pony to go.)

Thé

oden:

(v.o.)

So, it is before the walls of Minas Tirith, the doom of our time will be decided.

?omer:

Now is the hour! Riders of Rohan, oaths you have taken. Now fulfill them all! To lord and land!

(The Rohirrim

ride out of Edoras, including Merry on a small white pony.)

(The fearsome battle at Osgiliath continues. Men and Orcs are locked in a desperate struggle, but the ferocity and

numbers of the Orcs begin to take a toll on the defenders. Men are rushing about in confusion. Faramir, followed closely

by Orcs, runs through an arch.)

Madril:

Faramir!

(Faramir steps aside as Gondorian archers release a hail of arrows into the pursuing Orc troops.)

Madril:

We cannot hold them! The city is lost!

(Faramir surveys the scene in despair.)

Faramir:

Tell the Men to break cover. We ride for Minas Tirith.

(Battle continues to rage as the Nazg?

l and the Fell-beasts circle Osgiliath, darting in to grab Men in their claws.)

Soldier:

Nazg?

l!

Soldier:

Take cover! Nazg?

l!

Faramir:

Fall back! Fall back to Minas Tirith!

(As the soldiers retreat, Madril is gravely wounded and falls to the ground. Faramir and the soldiers reach their horses

and begin to flee from the city.)

Faramir:

Retreat! Retreat!

Soldier:

Run for your lives!

(All grows quiet as Orcs gather around the badly wounded Madril, who looks up with fearful eyes. The leader of the Orcs,

Gothmog, snatches a spear from a lesser Orc and thrusts it into Madril?s chest, killing him.)

Gothmog:

The age of Men is over. The time of the Orc has come.

(The Men of Gondor continue their headlong flight from Osgiliath. The Nazg?

l dart in and out, causing many deaths

among the horses and riders. All looks hopeless for the Men of Gondor, until a white horse gallops from the city gates of

Minas Tirith.)

Soldier:

It‘s Mithrandir! The White Rider!

(Gandalf and Pippin, mounted upon Shadowfax, ride towards the retreating army. As they near the Men of Gondor,

Gandalf raises his staff; and pure, white light issues forth, driving the Nazg?

l back. Gandalf falls in at the head of the

company and they withdraw into Minas Tirith.)

Faramir:

Mithrandir! They broke through our defenses. They‘ve taken the bridge and the west bank. Battalions of Orcs

are crossing the river.

Gondorian Soldier:

It is as the Lord Denethor predicted! Long has he foreseen this doom!

Gandalf:

Foreseen and done nothing!

(Gandalf turns around with Shadowfax, revealing Pippin who is sitting in front of him. As Faramir sees the Hobbit, he

stares at him. Pippin notices he is being stared at and lowers his face.)

Gandalf:

Faramir? This is not the first Halfling to have crossed your path.

Faramir:

No.

(Pippin looks up, the look on his face getting brighter.)

Pippin:

You‘ve seen Frodo and Sam?

(Faramir nods at Pippin.)

Gandalf:

Where? When?

Faramir:

In Ithilien. Not two days ago.

(Pippin turns to look at Gandalf, both look happy and relieved.)

Faramir:

Gandalf, they‘ve taken the road to the Morgul Vale.

(The smile on Gandalf?s face fades and he looks at Faramir, his eyes filling

with worry.)

Gandalf:

And then the Pass of Cirith Ungol.

(Faramir nods silently.)

Pippin:

What does that mean? What‘s wrong?

Gandalf:

Faramir, tell me everything. Tell me all you know.

(Scene changes to Faramir and Denethor talking to each other.)

Denethor:

This is how you would serve your city? You would risk its utter ruin?

Faramir:

I did what I judged to be right.

Denethor:

What you judged to be right. You sent the Ring of Power into Mordor in the hands of a witless Halfling. It

should have been brought back to the Citadel to be kept safe. Hidden. Dark and deep in the vaults not to be used. Unless

at the uttermost end of need.

Faramir:

I would not use the Ring. Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her.

Denethor:

Ever you

desire to appear lordly and gracious as a king of old. Boromir would have remembered his father‘s

need. He would have brought me a kingly gift.

Faramir:

Boromir would not have brought the Ring. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing and taken it. He

would‘ve fallen.

Denethor:

You know nothing of this matter!

Faramir:

He would have kept it for his own. And when he returned you would not have known your son.

Denethor:

Boromir was loyal to me! Not some wizard‘s pupil!

(He trips and falls against his chair.)

Faramir:

Father?

Denethor:

(face is lighting up)

My son.

(Denethor sees a hallucination of Boromir walking towards him with the Ring. Boromir disappears and Denethor?s face

goes from happiness to sadness.)

Denethor:

(to Faramir)

Leave me.

(Gollum, Sam and Frodo are climbing up the stairs. Frodo is struggling heavily, and nearly falls.)

Gollum:

Careful, master! Careful! Very far to fall. Very dangerous are the stairs. Come master!

(Gollum sees the Ring hanging out of Frodo?s shirt. It starts to

take him over.)

Gollum:

Come to Sméagol…

(Gollum extends his hand to the Ring. Sam sees this from lower down.)

Sam:

Mr. Frodo!

(Draws out his sword.)

Get back you! Don‘t touch him!

(Gollum resists the Ring and places his hand on Frodo?s arm, pulling him up

.)

Gollum:

Why does he hates poor Smé

agol? What has Smé

agol ever done to him?

(Sam sheathes his sword.)

Gollum:

Master? Master carries heavy burden. Smé

agol knows. Heavy, heavy burden. The fat one cannot know.

Smé

agol look after master. He wants it. He needs it. Smé

agol sees it in his eye. Very soon he will ask you for it. You will

see. The fat one will take it from you.

(Frodo clutches the Ring protectively and looks at Sam with cold eyes. The scene shifts, and the Witch-king is surveying

Osgiliath laid out before him.)

Witch-king:

Send forth all legions. Do not stop the attack until the city is taken. Slay them all.

Gothmog:

What of the Wizard?

Witch-king:

I will break him.

(Back at Minas Tirith, Gandalf looks out from the city wall.)

Soldier(s):

What o

f Théoden‘s Riders? Will Rohan‘s army come? Mithrandir.

Gandalf:

Courage is the best defense you have now.

(Scene changes to Pippin sitting alone in a room.)

Pippin:

What were you thinking, Peregrin Took? What service can a Hobbit offer such a great lord of Men?

Faramir:

(walking into the room)

It was well-done. A generous deed should not be checked with cold counsel. You are to

join the tower guard.

Pippin:

I didn‘t think they would find any livery that would fit me.

Faramir:

Once belonged to a young boy of the city. A very foolish one who wasted many hours slaying dragons instead

of attending to his studies.

Pippin:

This was yours?

Faramir:

Yes, it was mine. My father had it made for me.

Pippin:

Well, I‘m taller than you were then. Though I‘m not likely to

grow anymore, except sideways.

(They both laugh)

Faramir:

Never fitted me either. Boromir was always the soldier. They were so alike, he and my father. Proud. Stubborn

even. But strong.

Pippin:

I think you have strength of a different kind. And one day your father will see it.

(Pippin is kneeling before Denethor?s throne, swearing his service. Faramir stands and watches.)

Pippin:

Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, in peace or war, in living or dying, from…from this hour

henceforth, until my lord release me, or death take me.

Denethor:

(stands up with an amused smile on his face)

And I shall not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is

given.

(He extends his hand, on which there is a ring; Pippin kisses it reluctantly.)

Fealty with love. Valor with

honor.

(looking at Faramir)

Disloyalty with vengeance.

(Denethor then goes and sits at a table on which there is a platter of fruit and meats. Pippin stands.)

Denethor:

(to Faramir)

I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses, defenses that your brother long

held intact.

Faramir:

What would you have me do?

Denethor:

I will not yield the river and Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken.

Faramir:

My Lord, Osgiliath is overrun.

Denethor:

Much must be risked in war. Is there a

captain here who still has the courage to do his lord‘s will?

(Pippin looks at Denethor, then turns to look at Faramir, confused. Faramir watches his father with a saddened

expression.)

Faramir:

(voice breaking)

You wish now that our places had been exchanged, that I had died and Boromir had lived.

(Denethor is silent before answering, the expression on his face serious.)

Denethor:

(as if to himself)

Yes, I wish that.

(Denethor brings a goblet to his lips and drinks. Faramir looks at his father, tears forming in his eyes.)

Faramir:

Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead.

(Faramir bows to his father and turns to leave. Pippin watches as Faramir limps away. Denethor merely sits with the

wine goblet in his hands and is silent. Faramir stops and turns to look at Denethor.)

Faramir:

If I should return, think better of me, Father.

Denethor:

(coldly and doesn?t look up)

That will depend on the manner of your return.

(A close shot of Gollum apparently asleep. Cut back and forth between

Sam trying not to fall asleep and Gollum?s closed

eyes. Sam finally falls asleep, and as he does, Gollum instantly opens his eyes. Gollum takes the lembas bread out of

Sam?s bag, and looks at it, disgusted. He breaks off a piece of it, and sprinkles the crumbs on Sam?s cloak. Then he

throws the rest of the bread down the stairs. Sam wakes up again and sees Gollum also awake.)

Sam:

What are you up to? Sneaking off, are we?

Gollum:

S-sneaking? Sneaking? Fat Hobbit is always so polite. Smé

agol shows them secret ways that nobody else can

find, and they say ―sneak‖! Sneak? Very nice friend, oh, yes, my precious. Very nice, very nice.

Sam:

All right. All right! You just startled me is all. What were you doing?

Gollum:

(sneering)

Sneaking.

Sam:

Fine. Have it your own way.

(Wakes Frodo.)

I‘m sorry to wake you, Mr. Frodo. We have to be moving on.

Frodo:

It‘s dark still.

Sam:

It‘s always dark here.

(Sam searches in his bag and realizes that the lembas bread has gone missing.)

Sam:

It‘s gone! The Elven

-bread!

Frodo:

What? That‘s all we have left!

(Gollum puts on a childishly innocent face and pretends to be thinking about where the bread might have gone.)

Sam:

(pointing at Gollum)

He took it! He must have!

Gollum:

Smé

agol? No, no, not poor Smé

agol. Smé

agol hates nasty Elf-bread!

Sam:

You‘re a lying rat! What did you do with it!?

Frodo:

(suspiciously)

He doesn‘t eat it. He can‘t have taken it.

(Gollum suddenly spies the crumbs he left on Sam?s cloak.)

Gollum:

Look! What‘s this? Crumbs on his jacketses!

(Gollum brushes them off.)

He took it! He took it! I‘ve seen him.

He‘s always stuffing his face when master‘s not looking!

Sam:

That‘s a filthy lie!

(Sam punches and hits Gollum, and ends up trying to strangle him on the ground.)

Sam:

You stinking, two-faced sneak!

Frodo:

Sam! Stop it! Sam!

(He grabs Sam and pulls him back.)

Sam:

I‘ll kill him!

Frodo:

Sam! No!

(The effort to stop Sam is too much for Frodo, and he sits down heavily.)

Sam:

Oh, my

–

I‘m sorry! I didn‘t mean it to go so far. I was just so–

so angry. Here, just

—

Let‘s just rest a bit.

Frodo:

I‘m all right.

Sam:

No. No, you‘re not all right. You‘re exhausted. It‘s that Gollum. It‘s this place. It‘s that thing around your

neck!

(Frodo starts to look wary of him.)

I could help a bit. I could carry it for a while.

(His words echo.)

Share the load.

Frodo:

Get away!

(Pushes Sam away.)

Sam:

I don‘t want to keep it! I just want to help.

Gollum:

See? See? He wants it for himself.

Sam:

(close to tears)

Shut up, you! Go away! Get out of here!

Frodo:

No, Sam. It‘s you. I‘m

sorry, Sam.

Sam:

But he‘s a liar. He‘s poisoned you against me.

Frodo:

You can‘t help me anymore.

Sam:

(Shaking his head while tears run down his face.)

You don‘t mean that.

Frodo:

(plainly and coldly)

Go home.

(Sam falls to the ground sobbing while Gollum and Frodo continue on without him. The scene shifts to Minas Tirith.

Faramir rides through the streets of the city with a small group of soldiers, on their way to attempt to retake Osgiliath.

The people of the city watch them as they go by, sad looks of despair mirrored on all of their faces. The women throw

flowers at the horses? feet, and hand small bouquets to the soldiers.)

Gandalf:

Faramir! Faramir!

(Gandalf pushes his way through the crowd, and begins walking beside Faramir.)

Gandalf:

Your father‘s w

ill has turned to madness. Do not throw away your life so rashly!

Faramir:

Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the city of the Men of Numenor. I will gladly give my life to

defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom.

(Gandalf watches as Faramir rides away.)

Gandalf:

Your father loves you, Faramir. He will remember it before the end.

(The soldiers form ranks, and ride toward Osgiliath. The people of Minas Tirith line the walls to watch them go. Orcs in

the ruined city raise their heads from behind broken boulders, and watch the oncoming riders. Back in the Great Hall,

Denethor continues to eat.)

Denethor:

Can you sing, Master Hobbit?

Pippin:

Well, yes. At least, well enough for my own people. But we have no songs for great halls and evil times.

Denethor:

(grimly)

And why should your songs be unfit for my halls? Come, sing me a song.

(Pippin seems in thought, as if finding the words, and then sings:)

Home is behind, the world ahead,

And there are many paths to tread.

Through shadow, to the edge of night,

Until the stars are all alight.

Mist and shadow, cloud and shade,

All shall fade! All shall fade…

(While Pippin is singing, the scene flashes back and forth between Pippin singing, Denethor eating, and Faramir riding

to suicide in Osgiliath. Pippin is close to tears. He bravely holds it in, but when he finishes singing he begins to cry. Cut

to Gandalf sitting silently on a rock in a courtyard. We hear one bell ringing. The scene abruptly shifts to Trolls pushing

huge combat towers across the river at Osgiliath. We can hear drums being played to mark the rhythm. Cut to

Dunharrow, where the Rohan soldiers are encamped. Thé

oden and his entourage ride through.)

Soldiers:

Make way for the king. Make way! The king is here. My lord. Hail to you, sire.

Thé

oden:

Grimbold, how many?

Grimbold:

I bring five hundred Men from the Westfold, my lord.

Soldier:

We have three hundred more from Fenmarch, Thé

oden King.

Thé

oden:

Where are the riders from Snowbourn?

Soldier:

None have come, my lord.

(Thé

oden and Aragorn look down on the troops from above.)

Thé

oden:

Six thousand spears. Less than half of what I‘d hoped for.

Aragorn:

Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor.

Thé

oden:

More will come.

Aragorn:

Every hour lost hastens Gondor‘s defea

t. We have till dawn, then we must ride.

(Thé

oden nods. Nearby, a horse begins rearing and neighing.)

Legolas:

The horses are restless and the men are quiet.

?omer:

They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain.

Gimli:

That road there, where does that lead?

Legolas:

It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain.

?omer:

None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil.

(Aragorn watches the Dimholt road from behind a rock and sees something like green smoke forming into faces. His face

is worried.)

Gimli:

Aragorn!

(Aragorn jerks around.)

Gimli:

Let‘s find some food.

(?

owyn and Merry are inside a tent. She dresses him in the armor of the Rohirrim.)

?owyn:

There. A true esquire of Rohan.

Merry:

I‘m ready!

(Merry draws his blade and almost cuts ?

owyn. She laughs.)

Merry:

Sorry. It isn‘t all that dangerous. It‘s not even sharp.

?owyn:

(Grabs the blade.)

Well, that‘s no good. You won‘t kill many Orcs with a blunt blade. Come on.

(Merry runs out of the tent, wielding the sword, and ?

owyn follows. ?

omer and Gamling are sitting in front of a small

campfire.)

?owyn:

(to Merry)

To the smithy. Go!

?omer:

You should not encourage him.

?owyn:

You should not doubt him.

?omer:

I do not doubt his heart, only the reach of his arm.

(Gamling snickers.)

?owyn:

(earnestly)

Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause to go to war as you. Why can he not fight

for those he loves?

?omer:

You know as little of war as that Hobbit. When the fear takes him and the blood and the screams and the horrow

of battle take hold, do you think he would stand and fight? He would flee. And he would be right to do so. War is the

province of Men, ?

owyn.

(Looking down from Dunharrow we see a mysterious figure, cloaked all in black, riding a horse up the winding path. He

rides past the stone Pú

kel-men that squat by the road. Aragorn sleeps restlessly. He dreams of Arwen lying listless in her

bed in Rivendell. Her eyes open and there is a quick shot of the Paths of the Dead.)

Arwen:

(v.o.)

I choose a mortal life.

(A single tear falls from her eye.)

Arwen:

I wish I could‘ve seen him…one last time.

(Arwen closes her eyes. The Evenstar drops and breaks into a thousand pieces. Aragorn snaps awake and draws his elven

knife. A Rohirrim guard stands at the entrance to his tent.)

Guard:

Sir? King Thé

oden awaits you, My Lord.

(Aragorn enters Théoden?s tent. Théoden stands in front of a hooded figure.)

Thé

oden:

I take my leave.

(He leaves.)

(Aragorn slowly approaches, and the figure stands up and removes the hood, revealing Elrond.)

Aragorn:

(Bows, surprised.)

My lord Elrond.

Elrond:

I come on behalf of one whom I love. Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from

Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron‘s power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen‘s life is now tied to the

fate of the Ring. The Shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come.

Aragorn:

It will not be our end, but his.

Elrond:

You ride to war, but not to victory. Sauron‘s armies march on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in s

ecret he

sends another force which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the south. They‘ll be in the city i

n

two days. You‘re outnumbered, Aragorn. You need more Men.

Aragorn:

There are none.

Elrond:

There are those who dwell in the mountain.

(Aragorn ponders this and sees a vision of the King of the Dead.)

Aragorn:

Murderers… traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They answer to no one!

Elrond:

They will answer to the King of Gondor!

(Elrond sweeps aside his cloak and pulls out the reforged sword. He presents it to Aragorn.)

Elrond:

Andú

ril, Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil.

Aragorn:

Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil.

(He looks at the sword before him, and quickly draws

Andú

ril from the sheath. The camera follows the blade to the tip as Aragorn stares at it.)

The blade that was broken shall

return to Minas Tirith.

Elrond:

The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks

this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road.

Elrond

: ?nen i-Estel Edain.

(I give hope to Men)

Aragorn:

?-chebin estel anim.

(I keep none for myself.)

(Aragorn is preparing to leave. ?

owyn comes and confronts him.)

?owyn:

Why are you doing this? The war lies to the east. You cannot leave on the eve of battle. You cannot abandon the

men.

Aragorn:

?owyn…

?owyn:

We need you here.

Aragorn:

(sadly)

Why have you come?

?owyn:

Do you not know?

Aragorn:

It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek.

(?

owyn backs away in disbelief and shock. Aragorn gazes at her for a moment before he walks towards her)

Aragorn:

I have wished you joy since first I saw you.

(He turns and leads Brego away, and ?

owyn stands there in tears, overwhelmed and heartbroken.)

Gimli:

Just where do you think you‘re off to?

Aragorn:

Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli.

(Legolas walks up leading his horse.)

Legolas:

Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?

Gimli:

You might as well accept it. We‘re going with you, laddie.

(Switch to Thé

oden and other Rohirrim soldiers.)

Soldier(s):

What‘s happening? Where is he going? I don‘t understand. Lord Aragorn! Why does he leave on the eve of

battle?

Gamling:

He leaves because there is no hope.

Thé

oden:

He leaves because he must.

Gamling:

Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor.

Thé

oden:

No, we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless.

(?

owyn stands alone with her arms crossed, looking into the distance, her face perfectly still in deep thought. The sun

rises. Thé

oden approaches.)

Thé

oden:

I have left instruction. The people are to follow your rule in my stead. Take up my seat in the Golden Hall.

Long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill.

?owyn:

(blankly)

What other duty would you have me do, my lord?

Thé

oden:

(Turns to ?

owyn and takes her hands.)

Duty? No. I would have you smile again.

(?

owyn forces a tiny smile

onto her face.)

Not grieve for those whose time has come.

(He cups ?owyn?s head in his hands and brings her forehead

to his.)

You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair.

(Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ride on the road to the Dimholt. Sharp grey rocks surround them on a narrow path.)

Gimli:

What kind of an army would linger in such a place?

Legolas:

One that is cursed. Long ago, the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last King of Gondor, to come to his

aid, to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor‘s need was dire, they fled, vanishing i

nto the darkness of the

mountain. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their pledge. Who shall call them from the

great twilight? The forgotten people. The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the north shall he come. Need

shall drive him. He shall pass the door to the Paths of the Dead.

(At the end of the path, a small opening is crafted into a rock. Primitive paintings are above it.)

Gimli:

The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away.