Voices are heard from the Misty Mountains
GANDALF
You cannot pass!
FRODO
Gandalf!
GANDALF
I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor! Go back to the
shadow! Dark fire shall not avail you, Flame of Udun! YOU... SHALL NOT... PASS!
GANDALF slams his staff on the bridge, and a flash of white light drives the
BALROG back. The demon draws a whip of fire, steps onto the bridge, and it gives
way, dropping the BALROG into the chasm. It seems they have won, but as he turns
away, the tail of the whip catches GANDALF'S ankle and pulls him down. He gets a
brief grasp on the edge of the bridge.
BOROMIR (holding back FRODO)
No, no!
FRODO
Gandalf!
GANDALF
Fly you fools!
GANDALF loses his grip and falls into the chasm
FRODO
Nooooooooo!
GANDALF falls after the BALROG and grabs hold of his sword Glamdring on his way
down. As they continue to plunge into the depths, GANDALF hacks away at the
BALROG even as it crashes and bounces off the walls. They continue to 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 wakens from the nightmare
FRODO
Gandalf!
SAM
What is it, Mr. Frodo?
FRODO
Nothing. Just a dream.
[TITLE: THE TWO TOWERS]
FRODO and SAM climb over rocky terrain. They look into the distance at the
Mountain of Fire.
SAM
Mordor. The one place in Middle Earth we don't want to see any closer. And it's
the one place we are trying to get to. It's just where we cant get. Let's face
it Mr. Frodo, we're lost. I don't think Gandalf meant for us to come this way.
FRODO
He didn't mean for a lot of things to happen Sam. But they did.
Suddenly FRODO feels and spies the EYE zooming in on him. He gasps and pants as
he backs away
SAM
Mr. Frodo? It's the Ring isn't it?
FRODO
It's getting heavier. What food have we got left?
SAM
Well, let me see. Oh yes, lovely. Lembas bread. And look! More lembas bread. I
don't usually hold with foreign food, but this Elvish stuff, it's not bad.
FRODO
Nothing ever dampens your spirits, does it Sam?
SAM
Those rain clouds might.
They continue trekking through difficult terrain, often huddling underneath
their cloaks.
SAM
This looks strangely familiar.
FRODO
It's because we've been here before. We're going in circles.
SAM
Ah. What is that 'orrid stink? I warrant there's a nasty bog nearby. Can you
smell it?
FRODO
Yes. I can smell it. We're not alone.
GOLLUM
(sneaking up on the hobbits) The thieves. The thieves. The filthy little
thieves! Wheeere isssit? Wheeere isssit? They stole it from us. My preciousssss.
Curse them, we hates them! It's ours, it is, and we wants it!
Suddenly the hobbits spring up, grab hold of Gollum’s arms and pull him down.
Amidst the struggle, Gollum wriggles loose and leaps onto Frodo. As Frodo falls
back, the Ring is revealed and Gollum jumps for it. Sam tries to grab at him but
is knocked away. Gollum now jumps on top of Frodo, his eyes fixed on his
precious. Sam grabs hold of Gollum again and tears him away from Frodo. Gollum
then turns around and bites Sam on the shoulder, wriggles around and clasps his
arms around Sam’s neck and legs around his waist in a death grip. Frodo then
unsheathes Sting and holds it to Gollum's throat.
FRODO
This is Sting. You've seen it before, haven't you, Gollum? Release him or I'll
cut your throat!
Slowly, Gollum loosens his grip on Sam and as the latter disentangles himself,
Gollum wails. He is then tied at the neck with Sam’s elvish rope and
half-dragged along even as he cries and wails.
GOLLUM
It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty Elves twisted it. Take it off us!
SAM
Quiet you! It's hopeless! Every orc in Mordor's going to hear this racket! Let's
just tie him up and leave him!
GOLLUM
No! Thats 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
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 make that I can trust.
GOLLUM
We swears to serve the master of the precious. We will swear on... on the
precious! Gollum gollum
FRODO
The ring is treacherous. It will hold you to your word.
GOLLUM
Yes... on the precious. On the precious.
SAM
I don't believe you! Get down!
FRODO
Sam!
SAM
I said down!
SAM jerks strongly at the rope as Gollum tries to get away and Gollum falls to
the ground
FRODO
Sam!
SAM
He was trying to trick us! If we let him go, he'll throttle us into our sleep!
FRODO (to GOLLUM)
You know the way to Mordor.
GOLLUM
Yes
FRODO
You've been there before.
GOLLUM
Yes
FRODO
(taking the rope off GOLLUM) You will lead us to the Black Gate.
GOLLUM scrambles off with the hobbits following
The Uruk-hai are carrying MERRY and PIPPIN over the fields of Rohan
PIPPIN
Merry!
The group pauses
MAUHUR
What is it? What do you smell?
UGLUK
Man-flesh.
PIPPIN
(to himself) Aragorn!
MAUHUR
They've picked up our trail! Let's move!
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.
ARAGORN is lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the ground, listening
for the sound of footsteps
ARAGORN
Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!
LEGOLAS
Come on Gimli!
GIMLI
Three days and nights pursuit.. no food... no rest... and no sign of our quarry
but what bare rock can tell.
The Three Hunters run across rocks and plains, with Aragorn in the lead, and
Legolas and Gimli trailing behind. Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an
Elven brooch from the ground.
ARAGORN
Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
LEGOLAS
They may yet be alive.
ARAGORN
Less than a day ahead of us, come!
LEGOLAS
Come Gimli! We are gaining on them.
GIMLI
I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous we
are 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's something strange at work here. Some
evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets it's will against us. Legolas! What do
your Elf eyes see?
LEGOLAS
The Orcs turn Northeast. They are taking the hobbits to Isengard!
ARAGORN
Saruman
The tower of Orthanc stands amidst the smoking caverns of Isengard. Saruman
stands in his chamber, communicating with the Dark Lord through the Palantir
SARUMAN
The world is changing. Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of
Isengard and Mordor. To stand against the might of Sauron and Saruman and the
union of the two towers? Together, my Lord Sauron, we shall rule this
Middle-Earth.
The caverns of Isengard glow with the fires of industry, sounds of hammering
fill the air and molten iron is poured into casts
SARUMAN (Voiceover)
The old world will burn in the fires of industry. The 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 Wildmen, who are holding torches
and crude weapons
SARUMAN
The horsemen took your lands. They drove your people into the hills to scratch a
living off rocks.
CROWD
Murderers!
SARUMAN
Take back the lands they stole from you. Burn every village! It will begin in
Rohan. Too long have these peasants stood against you. But no more.
The wildmen and orcs attack a village. A woman with her hand on a horse calls
out to her children
MORWEN
Eothain, Eothain! You take your sister. You'll go faster with just two.
FREDA
But Papa says Eothain must not ride Garuif. He is too big for him!
MORWEN
Listen to me! You must ride to Edoras and raise the alarm. Do you understand me?
EOTHAIN
Yes mama.
FREDA
I don't wanna leave! I don't wanna go, Mama.
MORWEN
Freda, I will find you there.
Screams are increasing in volume as the army draws closer
MORWEN
Quickly! (to herself) Go child.
The army slaughters at will and sets fire to the village. 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 in front of him
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 her eyes close. She looks up to catch EOMER’S eye
EOMER and EOWYN are speaking to KING THEODEN who sits motionless on his throne,
wizened and aged beyond his years
EOWYN (To Theoden)
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! Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally.
THEODEN (mumbling)
Grima… Grima
EOMER
Orcs are roaming freely across our lands, unchecked, unchallenged, killing at
will. Orcs bearing the White Hand of Saruman.
EOMER drops a helmet onto the ground, which topples over to reveal the White
Hand
GRIMA
Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Can you not see? Your
uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your warmongering.
EOMER
Warmongering? How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised
price, Grima? When all the men are dead you will take a share of the treasure?
Too long have you watched my sister, too long have you haunted her steps.
GRIMA
You see much, Eomer son of Eomund. Too much. You are banished forthwith from the
kingdom of Rohan, under pain of death.
The Three Hunters continue the chase
GIMLI
Keep breathing, that's the key! Breathe! Ho!
LEGOLAS
They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.
They continue running over vast distances. The Uruk-hai and orcs halt at
nightfall, many panting.
BAGLOR
We ain't goin' no further till we've 'ad a breather.
UGLUK
Get a fire going!
PIPPIN
Merry! Merry!
MERRY
I think, we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pippin.
A rumbling sound is heard
PIPPIN
What's making that noise?
MERRY
It's the trees.
PIPPIN
What?
MERRY
You remember the Old Forest on the borders of Buckland? Folk used to say that
there was something in the water that made the trees grow tall, and come alive.
PIPPIN
Alive?
MERRY
Trees that could whisper, talk to each other, even move.
BAGLOR
I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!
SNAGA
Yeah! Why can't we have some meat? (looking at the hobbits) What about them?
They're fresh!
UGLUK
They are not for eating!
GRISHNAKH
What about their legs? They don't need those. Ooh! They look tasty!
UGLUK
Get back, scum!
ROC
Carve them up!
SNAGA
Just a mouthful?
UGLUK
No!
UGLUK kills SNAGA
UGLUK
Looks like meat's back on the menu boys!
The Uruk-hai and orcs cheer and started tearing into SNAGA, 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 onto Pippin and flips him over
GRISHNAKH
Go on, call for help. Squeal! No one's gonna save you now!
Suddenly, a spear hits GRISNAKH. Mayhem ensues as Riders of Rohan burst out from
their hiding places and ambush the orcs
MERRY
Pippin!
Suddenly Pippin turns and looks up at a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on
him
PIPPIN
Ahh!
The Three Hunters are still chasing after the Uruk-Hai. Dawn has broken
LEGOLAS
A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night.
The sound of horses comes to their ears. Aragorn quickly gets them to hide
behind some boulders. A large group of horse-men appears, galloping quickly with
their banners flying. ARAGORN comes out of hiding as they pass, followed by
LEGOLAS and GIMLI
ARAGORN
Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?
At a signal from Eomer at the lead, the riders make a quick turn and head
towards them, surrounding them in an ever-tightening circle. As they stop, they
point their long spears menacingly at them
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
I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the
ground.
LEGOLAS
You would die before your stroke fell!
The riders all point their spears closer to the travelers.
ARAGORN
I'm 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. (He takes helmet off.) Not even
his own kin.
The spears are withdrawn
EOMER
Saruman has poisoned the mind of the King and claimed lordship over these 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 no spies. We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain. They
have 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 will be small, only children to your eyes.
EOMER
We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them.
GIMLI
They are dead?
EOMER
I am sorry. Hasufel! Arod
Two horses are brought forth
EOMER
May these horses bear you to better fortune than the former masters. Farewell.
Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands.
(to the riders) We ride north!
ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI ride towards the burning carcasses and GIMLI starts
to shift through the smouldering pile and finds something of PIPPIN'S
GIMLI
It’s one of their wee belts.
LEGOLAS
Hiro îth ab 'wanath. (May they find peace after death)
ARAGORN
AAAHHH!!!
GIMLI
We failed them.
ARAGORN looks to the side
ARAGORN
A Hobbit lay here, and the other.
Flashback: PIPPIN yells as he looks up at a pair of thrashing hooves bearing
down on him. He rolls over.
ARAGORN
They crawled.
Flashback: Merry and Pippin crawl frantically away from the battle.
ARAGORN
Their hands were bound.
Flashback: Merry rubs his bonds furiously against the sharp edge of an upturned
blade.
ARAGORN
Their bonds were cut. They ran over here. They were followed.
Flashback: Their hands freed, the hobbits run away from the battle scene,
dodging under a horse and trying to stay out of harms way. As they flee,
GRISHNAKH grabs PIPPIN by his belt and clings on
MERRY
The belt! Run!
PIPPIN undoes his belt and GRISHNAKH is left holding the belt and the hobbits
run off
ARAGORN
Tracks lead away from the battle, into Fangorn Forest.
GIMLI
Fangorn. What madness drove them in there?
The hobbits are in Fangorn Forest
PIPPIN
Did we lose him? I think we lost him.
Suddenly, GRISHNAKH bursts through the branches, brandishing a blade
GRISHNAKH
I'm gonna rip out your filthy little innards! Come here!
MERRY
Trees! Climb a tree!
PIPPIN and MERRY quickly scramble up a tree
MERRY
He's gone.
Suddenly, MERRY is pulled by his legs and falls to the ground. GRISHNAKH leans
over him with his menacing blade.
PIPPIN
Merry!
PIPPIN looks down in horror but as he turns his head, he spots a pair of
gleaming yellow eyes blinking in the tree he’s clinging to.
PIPPIN
Ah!
PIPPIN loses his grip in fright and falls. The tree catches him.
GRISHNAKH
(to MERRY) Let’s put a maggot-hole in your belly.
Suddenly GRISHNAKH senses something behind him and as he looks up, the tree
squashes him
PIPPIN
Run, Merry!
The Tree scoops up MERRY
TREEBEARD
Little orcs!
PIPPIN
It's talking Merry. The tree is talking.
TREEBEARD
Tree? I am no tree! I am an Ent.
MERRY
A treeherder! A shepherd of the forest.
PIPPIN
Don't talk to it Merry. Don't encourage it.
TREEBEARD
Treebeard some call me.
PIPPIN
And whose side are you on?
TREEBEARD
Side? I am on nobody's side. Because nobody is on my side, little orc. Nobody
cares for the woods anymore.
MERRY
We're not orcs! We're Hobbits!
TREEBEARD
Hobbits? Never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds like orc mischief to me. They
come with fire, they come with axes. Gnawing, Biting, breaking, hacking,
burning. Destroyers and usurpers. Curse them!
MERRY
No! You don't understand. We're Hobbits, halflings. Shirefolk!
TREEBEARD
Maybe you are, and maybe you aren't. The White Wizard will know.
PIPPIN
The White Wizard
MERRY
Saruman!
TREEBEARD drops MERRY and PIPPIN on the ground and the Hobbits look up at the
White Wizard
FRODO and SAM follow GOLLUM to the end of the rocky terrain. GOLLUM looks back
GOLLUM
See, see? We've led you out! Hurry, hobbitses, hurry! Very lucky we find you.
Nice hobbit.
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 go quickly. I found it. I did. The way through the
marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go round for miles and
miles. Come quickly. Soft and quick as shadows we must be.
SAM
There are dead things! Dead faces in the water!
GOLLUM
All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and orcses. A great battle long ago. The
Dead Marshes. Yes, yes! That is their name. This way. Don't follow the lights.
SAM
Ohh!
GOLLUM
Careful now! Or hobbits go down to join the dead ones, and light little candles
of their own.
FRODO falls face-down into the water
SAM
Frodo!
FRODO sees many faces of the dead in the water. Their hands reach for him,
seeking to draw him into their realm. Suddenly he is grabbed from behind and
pulled ashore.
FRODO
Gollum?
GOLLUM
Don't follow the lights.
FRODO
Gollum...
SAM
Mr. Frodo! are you alright?
Nightfall: SAM is asleep but FRODO is still awake. He holds the Ring in the palm
of his hand, staring at it and stroking it. Suddenly he hears a voice
GOLLUM
So bright, so beautiful. Ah precious.
FRODO
What did you say?
GOLLUM
Master should be resting. Master need to keep up his strength.
FRODO
Who are you?
GOLLUM
Musn't ask us. Not his 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 was a sad story.
GOLLUM
They do not see what lies ahead when sun has failed and moon is dead.
FRODO
You were not so different from a Hobbit once, were you... Smeagol?
GOLLUM
What did you call me?
FRODO
That was your name once, wasn't it? A long time ago.
GOLLUM
My... My name... Smeagol. Ahh!
SAM
Black Riders!
GOLLUM
Hide! Hide!
FRODO feels a sharp pain in his shoulder
SAM
C'mon Frodo, C'mon!
GOLLUM
Quick! They will see us! They will see us!
SAM
I thought they were dead!
GOLLUM
Dead? No, you cannot kill them. No.
RINGWRAITH
(screeches)
GOLLUM
Wraiths! Wraiths on wings! They are calling for it. They are calling for the
precious.
FRODO reaches for the Ring. SAM holds FRODO's hand
SAM
Mr. Frodo! It's alright.
The Ringwraith circles overhead and flies off into the distance
GOLLUM
Hurry, hobbits. The Black Gate is very close.
Meanwhile, ARAGORN and company go into Fangorn Forest to look for MERRY and
PIPPIN
GIMLI
Orc blood!
ARAGORN
These are strange tracks.
GIMLI
The air is so close here.
LEGOLAS
This forest is old. Very old. Full of memories... and anger. The trees are
speaking to each other.
ARAGORN
Gimli!
GIMLI
Huh?
ARAGORN
Lower your axe.
GIMLI
Oh!
LEGOLAS
Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!
(Something is out there!)
ARAGORN
Man cenich?
(What do you see?)
LEGOLAS
The White Wizard approaches.
ARAGORN
Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us. We must be quick.
With a yell, the three swing round to attack in accord. They are suddenly
blinded by a bright light emanating from the White Wizard. GIMLI’s axe and
LEGOLAS’ arrow are deflected. ARAGORN's sword becomes to hot to hold
WIZARD
You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits
ARAGORN
Where are they?
WIZARD
They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not
expect. Does that comfort you?
ARAGORN
Who are you? Show yourself!
The light dims, revealing GANDALF, dressed in white
ARAGORN
It cannot be! You fell!
GANDALF
Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought
him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his
ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and
time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life age of the
earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back
until my task is done.
ARAGORN
Gandalf
GANDALF
Gandalf? Oh yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was
my name.
GIMLI
Gandalf!
GANDALF
I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.
They start to walk through the forest, with GANDALF leading the way
GANDALF
One stage of 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.
GANDALF
Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many
dangers.
The four ride off
TREEBEARD walks through the forest, carrying MERRY and PIPPIN
TREEBEARD
My home lies deep in the forest near the roots of the mountain. I told Gandalf I
would keep you safe, and safe is where I'll keep you. The trees have grown wild
and dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. They will harm you if they can.
There are too few of us now. Too few of us Ents are left to manage them.
FRODO and SAM are led to the edge of a cliff
GOLLUM
The Black Gate of Mordor.
SAM
Oh, save us! My old Gaffer would 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 Gate
SAM
That's it then. We cannot get past them.
A command is heard and an orc sounds a horn. 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.
SAM moves closer to the edge. Suddenly, the rock underneath him gives way and he
falls
FRODO
Sam! No!
SAM
Ah!!
FRODO goes after SAM
GOLLUM
Master!
Two Easterling soldiers see streams of dust coming down the cliff and
investigate. FRODO reaches SAM who is stuck. As the Easterlings move closer and
closer, FRODO throws his elvish cloak over himself and SAM. The soldiers can't
see them and leave
FRODO
I do not ask you to come with me, Sam.
SAM
I know, Mr. Frodo. I doubt even these elvish cloaks will hide us in there.
FRODO
Now!
GOLLUM
No! No! No master! They catch you! They catch you. Don't take it to Him. He
wants the precioussss. Always he's looking for it. And the preciousss is wanting
to go back to him, but we musn't let him have it.
FRODO tries to go, but GOLLUM won't let him
GOLLUM
No! There's another way. More secret. A dark way.
SAM
Why haven't you spoke 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's a path, and some stairs and then a tunnel.
FRODO
He has led us this far, Sam.
SAM
Mr. Frodo, no!
FRODO
He's been true to his word.
SAM
No!
FRODO
Lead the way, Smeagol.
GOLLUM
Good Smeagol always helps.
GANDALF, ARAGORN, GIMLI and LEGOLAS approach a Kingdom
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.
Interior: EOWYN speaks to THEODEN
EOWYN
My lord, your son... he is dead. My lord? Uncle? Will you not go to him? Will
you do nothing.
Exterior
GANDALF
Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here.
EOWYN mourns the loss of the kings's son in a separate chamber. Another enters.
GRIMA
Ohh he, he must have died sometime in the night. What a tragedy for the king to
lose his only son and heir. I understand his passing is hard to accept,
especially now that your brother has deserted you.
EOWYN
Leave me alone, snake!
GRIMA
Oh, but you are alone. Who knows what you've spoken to the darkness, in the
bitter watches of the night. When all your life seems to shrink. The walls of
your bower closing in about you. A hutch to trammel some wild thing in. So fair,
so cold, like a morning pale spring still clinging to winter's chill.
EOWYN
Your words are poison.
EOWYN exits. GANDALF, GIMLI, ARAGORN, and LEGOLAS approach
GIMLI
You'll find more cheer in a graveyard.
Guards approach
GANDALF
Ah.
HAMA
I cannot allow you before Theoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of
Grima Wormtongue.
They give up their weapons.
HAMA
Your staff.
GANDALF
Hmm? Oh. No, you would not part an old man from his walking stick?
Hama relents, and allows them to enter
GRIMA
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.
GRIMA
He's not welcome.
THEODEN
Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?
GRIMA
A just question, my liege. Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to
appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest.
GANDALF
Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through
fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm.
GRIMA
His staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff!
GANDALF
Theoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows.
GIMLI (to Grima)
I would stay still if I were you.
GANDALF
Hearken to me! I release you from the spell.
THEODEN
Hahaha! You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey. Haha! Ah!!
GANDALF
I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.
EOWYN rushes in, tries to go to THEODEN, but ARAGORN stops her
ARAGORN
Wait.
THEODEN (in SARUMAN'S voice)
If I go, Theoden dies.
GANDALF
You did not kill me. You will not kill him.
THEODEN (in SARUMAN'S voice)
Rohan is mine!
GANDALF
Be gone!
SARUMAN'S spell is broken. THEODEN'S face begins to change, into a much
younger-looking man. EOWYN rushes up to him.
THEODEN
I know your face. Eowyn... Eowyn. Gandalf?
GANDALF
Breathe the free air again, my friend.
THEODEN
Dark have been my dreams of late.
GANDALF
Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your
sword.
HAMA runs up with his sword. THEODEN draws it out, then his gaze turns to GRIMA
The guards throw GRIMA out of the hall and down the stairs
GRIMA
Ah! I've only ever served you, my lord
THEODEN
Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!
GRIMA
Send me not from your side!
THEODEN raises sword to kill GRIMA
ARAGORN
No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his
account.
GRIMA
Get out of my way!
GRIMA exits
ARAGORN
Hail, Theoden, King!
THEODEN
Where is Theodred? Where is my son?
THEODEN visits his THEODRED'S grave
THEODEN
Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebearers. 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.
GANDALF
He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the halls of your
fathers. Westu hál. Ferðu, Théodred, Ferðu. (Be-thou well. Go-thou, Théodred,
go-thou.)
EOTHAIN and FREDA appear on the hill on horseback. EOTHAIN falls off the horse.
Inside the Golden Hall, the two children eat under the care of EOWYN
EOWYN
They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through
westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot, and tree.
FREDA
Where is momma?
EOWYN
Shh.
GANDALF
This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent
for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him
away from your women and children. You must fight.
ARAGORN
You have 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 is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I
will not risk open war.
ARAGORN
Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.
THEODEN
When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.
GAMDALF
Then what is the king's decision?
Cut to Exterior: HAMA shouts to the people of Rohan
HAMA
By order of the king, The city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's
Deep. Do not burden yourself with treasures. Take only what provisions you need.
GIMLI
Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who
will defend them if not their king?
ARAGORN
He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved
them in the past.
GANDALF
There is no way out of that of ravine. Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks
he is 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 defenses
have to hold.
ARAGORN
They will hold.
GANDALF
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 of the fifth day. At dawn, look to the
east.
ARAGORN
Go.
GANDALF exits on SHADOWFAX
EOWYN opens a chest to reveal a sword. She swings it around and is parried by
ARAGORN
ARAGORN
You have some skill with a blade.
EOWYN
The women of this country learned long ago that those without swords can 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. I do not think that will
be your fate.
Meanwhile, at Isengard:
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 walks through the depths of Isengard. He approaches an orc
SARUMAN
Send out your warg-riders.
GOLLUM is still leading SAM and FRODO
SAM
Hey Stinker! Don't go getting too far ahead!
FRODO
Why do you do that?
SAM
What?
FRODO
Call him names? Run him down all the time.
SAM
Because. 'Cause that's what he is, Mr. Frodo. There's naught left in 'im but
lies and deceit. It's the Ring he wants. It's all he cares about.
FRODO
You have no idea what it did to him. What it's still doing to him. I want to
help him Sam.
SAM
Why?
FRODO
Because I have to believe he can come back.
SAM
You can't save him, Mr. Frodo.
FRODO
What do you know about it? Nothing! I'm sorry, Sam. I don't know why I said
that.
SAM
I do. It's the Ring. You can't take your eyes off it. I've seen you. You're not
eating. You barely sleep. It's takien a hold of you, Mr Frodo. You have to fight
it.
FRODO
I know what I have to do, Sam. The Ring was entrusted to me. It's my task! Mine!
My own!
SAM
Can't you hear yourself? Don't you know who you sound like?
GOLLUM is off by himself at night
GOLLUM
We wants it, we needs it. Must have the Preciousss. They stole it from us.
Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!
SMEAGOL
No! Not Master!
GOLLUM
Yess, Preciousss, false!. They will cheat you, hurt you, lie!
SMEAGOL
Master's my friend.
GOLLUM
You don't have any friends. Nobody likes you.
SMEAGOL
Not listening. Not listening.
GOLLUM
You´re a liar, and a thief.
SMEAGOL
No.
GOLLUM
Murderer!
SMEAGOL
Go away.
GOLLUM
Go away?! Ahahhaa!
SMEAGOL
I hate you, I hate you.
GOLLUM
Where would you be without me? Gollum. Gollum. I saved us. It was me. We
survived because of me.
SMEAGOL
Not anymore.
GOLLUM
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
Leave now and never come back!
GOLLUM
Ahh!
SMEAGOL
LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!
Silence
SMEAGOL
We told him to go away! And away he goes, preciousss. Gone, gone, gone, Sméagol
is free!
The next day SMEAGOL comes back with two rabbits and puts them to Frodo's lap.
SMEAGOL
Look! Look! See what Sméagol finds! Ehehe! Hohohhooo! They are young! They are
tender. They are nice! Yes they are. Eat them. Eat them.
SAM
You'll make him sick you will, behaving like that. There's only one way to eat a
brace of coneys.
SAM cooks the rabbits in a pot.
SMEAGOL
Argh!! Whats it doing! Stupid, fat hobbit. It ruins it!
SAM
Whats to ruin? There's hardly any meat on them. What we need is a few good
taters.
SMEAGOL
What's taters, Preciousss, what's taters? Eh?
SAM
Po-ta-toes! Boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew. Lovely big golden chips
with a nice piece of fried fish.
SMEAGOL
Phooh!
SAM
Even you couldn't say no to that.
SMEAGOL
Oh yes we could. Ssspoil nice fish! Give it to ussss raw and wwwriggling. You
keep nasty chips!
SAM
You're hopeless. Mr Frodo?
FRODO sees an army of the Southrons soldiers marching nearby.
SAM
Who are they?
SMEAGOL
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?
SMEAGOL
To make his war. The last war that will cover all the world in Shadow.
FRODO
We've got to get moving. C'mon Sam.
SAM
Mr. Frodo! Look! It's an oliphant! No one at home will believe this.
SMEAGOL sneaks away
FRODO
Smeagol?
Chaos breaks out when the Southrons are attacked from the bushes.
FRODO
We've lingered here too long. C'mon Sam!
FRODO and SAM are caught by Men.
SAM
Ah!
FARAMIR
Bind their hands.
The villagers or Rohan are heading towards Helm's Deep
GIMLI
It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in
voice and appearance, that they're are often mistaken for dwarf men.
ARAGORN
It's the beards.
GIMLI
And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women. And
the dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground! Which is of course
ridiculous. Whoa!
GIMLI falls from the horse
GIMLI
It's alright! It's alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was
deliberate.
At night and Aragorn drifts into a dream
ARWEN
The light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane. It is mine to give to whom I
will. Like my heart. Go to sleep.
ARAGORN
I am asleep. This is a dream.
ARWEN
Then it is a good dream. Sleep.
ARAGORN
Min lû pennich nin, i aur hen telitha.
(You told me once, this day would come.)
ARWEN
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
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
Ae ú-esteliach nad... estelio han. Estelio ammen.
(If you trust nothing else, trust this. Trust us.)
ARAGORN and the Rohirrim continue their journey
ÈOWYN
Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel?
Flashback to Elrond conversing with ARAGORN at Rivendell:
ELROND
Our time here is ending. Arwen's time is ending. Let her go. Let her take the
ship into the west. Let her bear away her love for you to the Undying Lands.
There it will be ever green.
ARAGORN
But never more than memory.
ELROND
I will not leave my daughter here to die.
ARAGORN
She stays because she still has hope.
ELROND
She stays for you. She belongs with her people.
ARAGORN meets ARWEN before the departure of the Fellowship
ARAGORN
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'm mortal. You are elfkind. It was a dream Arwen, nothing more.
ARAGORN
This belongs to you.
ARAGORN tries to give the Evenstar back to ARWEN
ARWEN
It was a gift. Keep it.
Flashback ends
ÈOWYN
My lord?
ARAGORN
She is sailing to the Undying Lands with all that is left of her kin.
GAMLING
What is it? Hama?
HAMA
I'm not sure.
A warg scout appears above them and attacks Hama, killing him.
GAMLING
Wargs!
Legolas immediately comes to the rescue, shooting with his bow.
LEGOLAS
A scout!
THEODEN
What is it? What do you see?
ARAGORN
Wargs! We're under attack! Get them out of here!
THEODEN
All riders to the head of the column!
GIMLI
C'mon get me up here, I'm a rider. Come on!
THEODEN (to EOWYN)
You must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and make haste.
ÈOWYN
I can fight!
THEODEN
No! You must do this for me.
THEODEN (to the men)
Follow me!
GIMLI
Forward! I mean, charge forward.
EOWYN (to the villagers)
Make for the lower ground. Stay together!
GIMLI
That's it! Go on!
The warg riders and the Rohirrim crash at full speed. They fight like men (and
orcs). GIMLI falls of the horse and a riderless warg heads towards him.
GIMLI
Bring your pretty face to my axe!
LEGOLAS shoots the warg
GIMLI
That one counts as mine!
A dead warg lands on GIMLI
GIMLI
Argh! Stinking creature!
ARAGORN catches his hand in the harness of a warg, and fights with the orc
rider, who finally falls off. ARAGORN and the warg tumble over the cliff.
LEGOLAS
Aragorn?
GIMLI
Aragorn?
LEGOLAS and GIMLI spot an orc on the ground laughing
GIMLI
Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing. SHARKU
He's... dead. He took a little tumble off the cliff.
LEGOLAS
You lie!
SHARKU dies, and LEGOLAS sees that he is holding Evenstar in his hand. He takes
it.
THEODEN
Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead.
Come.
The riders enter Helm's Deep after the battle
REFUGEES
At last! Helm’s Deep! There it is! Helm's Deep. We're safe!
OLD WOMAN (to EOWYN)
We’re safe, my lady! Thank you!
FREDA
Mama!
The children find their mother once again and run to her arms.
MORWEN
Eothain! Freda!
GUARD
Make way for Théoden! Make way for the King!
EOWYN
So few. So few of you have returned.
THEODEN
Our people are safe. We have paid for it with my many lives.
GIMLI
My lady...
EOWYN
Lord Aragorn, where is he?
GIMLI
He fell.
THEODEN
Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set a watch on the
surround.
GUARD
What of those who cannot fight, my lord? The women and children?
THEODEN
Get them into the caves. Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks
he can reach us here.
At Isengard:
GRIMA
Helm's Deep has one weakness. Its outer wall is solid rock but for a small
culvert at its base which is little more than a drain.
SARUMAN pours explosives into a metallic ball.
GRIMA
How? How can fire undo stone? What kind of device can break down the wall?
SARUMAN
If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall.
GRIMA
Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands to
storm the keep.
SARUMAN
Tens of thousands.
GRIMA
But, my lord, there is no such force.
They walk to the balcony of the tower Orthanc and GRIMA looks in awe at tens of
thousands of orcs
SARUMAN
A new power is rising. It's victory is at hand. This night the land will be
stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! To war!
There will be no dawn for Men.
MERRY and PIPPIN are walking towards ISENGARD
PIPPIN
Look! There's smoke to the south.
TREEBEARD
There is always smoke rising up from Isengard these days.
MERRY
Isengard?
TREEBEARD
There was a time, when Saruman would walk in my woods, but now he has a mind of
metal and wheels.
TREEBEARD
He no longer cares for growing things.
A horn sounds and an army marches off
PIPPIN
What is it?
MERRY
It's Saruman's army! The war has started.
ARAGORN floats down the river and washes ashore. He dreams of ARWEN.
ARWEN
May the grace of the Valar protect you.
BREGO the horse arrives and Aragorn comes to and mounts him
At Rivendell:
ELROND
Arwen. Tollen i lû. 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
If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated
and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes true, you will still have
to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of
time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease
the pain of his passing. He will come to death. An image of the splendor of the
kings of men in glory, undimmed before the breaking of the world. But you, my
daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt. As nightfall 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. Arwen... there is nothing for you here, only death. A im, ú-'erin
veleth lîn?
(Do I not also have your love?)
ARWEN
Gerich meleth nîn, ada.
(You have my love father.)
The Elves (including ARWEN) depart Rivendell
GALADRIEL
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, han mathon ne chae a han noston ned 'wilith.
(The world is changed; I can feel it in the water, I can feel it in the earth, I
can smell it in the air.) The power of the enemy is growing. Sauron will use his
puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The
Eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor, the last free kingdom of men. His war on this
country will come swiftly. He senses the Ring is close. The strength of the
Ring-bearer is failing. In his heart, Frodo begins to understand the quest will
claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took.
In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring grows strong. It works hard now to
find its way back into the hands of men. Men, who are so easily seduced by its
power. The young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hand to take the Ring
for his own, and the world will fall. It is close now, so close to achieving its
goal. For Sauron will have dominion over all life on this Earth, even unto the
ending of the world. The time of the Elves is over. Do we leave Middle-Earth to
its fate? Do we let them stand alone?
FARAMIR and his men look over a map
FARAMIR
What news?
MADRIL
Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Théoden’s people have fled to
Helm’s Deep. But we must look to our own borders. Faramir, Orcs are on the
move. Sauron is marshalling an army. Easterlings and Southrons are passing
through the Black Gate.
FARAMIR
How many?
MADRIL
Some thousands. More come every day.
FARAMIR
Who’s covering the river to the north?
MADRIL
We pulled five hundred men out of Osgiliath. If their city is attacked, we
won’t hold it.
FARAMIR
Saruman attacks from Isengard. Sauron from Mordor. The fight will come to men on
both fronts. Gondor is weak. Sauron will strike us soon. And he will strike
hard. He knows now we do not have the strength to repel him.
FARAMIR (to SAM and FRODO)
My men tell me that you are Orc spies.
SAM
Spies? Now wait just a minute.
FARAMIR
Well if you’re not spies, then who are you? Speak!
FRODO
We are Hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name, and this is Samwise
Gamgee.
FARAMIR
Your bodyguard?
SAM
His gardener.
FARAMIR
And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favoured
look.
FRODO
There was no other. We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost
in Moria. Two were my kin. A dwarf there was also. And an elf. And two men.
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor.
FARAMIR
You're a friend of Boromir?
FRODO
Yes, for my part.
FARAMIR
It will grieve you then to learn that he is dead?
FRODO
Dead? How? When?
FARAMIR
As one of his companions, I had hoped you would tell me. He was my brother.
PARN
Captain Faramir. We found the third one.
FARAMIR
You must come with me. Now.
FRODO is led outside
FARAMIR
Down there.
FRODO looks down to the Forbidden Pool and sees SMEAGOL dive in it.
FARAMIR
To enter the Forbidden Pool bears the penalty of death.
Archers step out from the bushes, ready to shoot
FARAMIR
They wait for my command. Shall I shoot?
SMEAGOL
The rock and pool is nice and cool, so juicy sweeeet. Our only wish, to catch a
fish, so juicy sweeeeet!
FRODO
Wait. This creature is bound to me. And I to him. He is our guide. Please, let
me go down to him.
FARAMIR allows FRODO to go to SMEAGOL, who is eating the fish.
FRODO
Sméagol. Master is here. Come, Sméagol. Trust master. Come.
SMEAGOL
We must... go now?
FRODO
Sméagol, you must trust master. Follow me, come on. Come. Come, Sméagol. Nice
Sméagol. That’s it. Come on.
FARAMIR'S men jump SMEAGOL and wrestle him down
FRODO
Don’t hurt him! Sméagol, don’t struggle! Sméagol, listen to me!
SMEAGOL
Master! No! No!
FARAMIR
Where are you leading them? Answer me!
GOLLUM
Sméagol... Why do you cry, Sméagol?
SMEAGOL
Cruel men hurts us. Master tricksed us.
GOLLUM
Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was false.
SMEAGOL
Master is our friend... our friend.
GOLLUM
Master betrayed ussss!
SMEAGOL
No, not it’s business. Leave us alone.
GOLLUM
Filthy little hobbitsesss! They stole it from usss!
SMEAGOL
No... no
FARAMIR
What did they steal?
GOLLUM
My PRECIOUS!!!!
SAM and FRODO are huddled in a room
SAM
We have to get out of here. You go. Go now. You can do it. Use the Ring, Mr.
Frodo. Just this once. Put it on. Disappear.
FRODO
I can’t. You were right, Sam. You tried to tell me. I’m sorry. The Ring’s
taking me, Sam. If I put it on, he’ll find me. he’ll see.
SAM
Mr. Frodo...
Suddenly FARAMIR enters, and draws his sword
FARAMIR
So... this is the answer to all the riddles. Here in the wild I have you. Two
Halfings and a host of men at my call. And the Ring of Power within my grasp. A
chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality.
FRODO
No!
SAM
Stop it! Leave him alone! Don’t you understand?! He’s got to destroy it.
That’s where we’re going. Into Mordor. To the fire.
DAMROD (entering)
Osgiliath is under attack. They call for reinforcements.
SAM (to FARAMIR)
Please. It’s such a burden. Will you not help him?
DAMROD
Captain?
FARAMIR
Prepare to leave. The Ring will go to Gondor.
ARAGORN sees the army of Saruman and quickly rides to Helm's Deep.
ARAGORN
Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn.
(Well done, Brego, my friend.)
ARAGORN enters Helm's Deep
WOMAN
He's alive!
GIMLI
Where is he! Where is he! Get out of the way! I'm gonna kill him! You are the
the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew! Bless you,
laddie!
ARAGORN
Gimli, where is the king?
ARAGORN encounters LEGOLAS
LEGOLAS
Le ab-dollen.
(You’re late.)
You look terrible.
LEGOLAS gives ARAGORN the Evenstar back
ARAGORN
Hannon le.
(Thank you.)
Inside, ARAGORN talks to THEODEN
THEODEN
A great host, you say?
ARAGORN
All 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.
THEODEN walks outside
THEODEN
I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by
nightfall. We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever
breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg.
GIMLI
This is 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. 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
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.
THEODEN walks away from ARAGORN
THEODEN
Get the women and children into the caves.
GAMLING
We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord.
THEODEN
There is no time. War is upon us!
GAMLING
Secure the gate.
Meanwhile, back in Fangorn
TREEBEARD
We 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:
entmoot.
MERRY
What’s that?
TREEBEARD
It is a gathering.
MERRY
A gathering of what?
Ents begin to surround them
TREEBEARD
Beech, Oak, Chestnut, Ash. Good, good, good. Many have come. Now we must decide
if the Ents will go to war.
Back at Helm's Deep. We see the people are taken into the caves. Husbands and
sons are taken away from their wives and mothers and are given weapons.
ARAGORN
Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers.
GIMLI
Most have seen too many winters.
LEGOLAS
Or too few. Look at them. They’re frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe
a hûn: neled herain dan caer menig?
(And they should be. Three hundred against ten thousand?)
ARAGORN
Si beriathar hýn. Amar nâ ned Edoras.
(They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras.)
LEGOLAS
Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú- ortheri. Natha daged aen!"
(They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!)
ARAGORN
Then I shall die as one them!
ARAGORN exits
GIMLI (to LEGOLAS)
Let him go, lad. Let him be.
THEODEN is preparing to put on his armour
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
Your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end.
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?
GUARDS OUTSIDE
Move! Move to the outer wall.
ARAGORN is sitting alone on stairs. He sees a confused looking boy with a sword
ARAGORN
Give me your sword. What is your name?
HALETH
Háleth, son of Háma, my lord. The men are saying that we will not live out the
night. They say that it is hopeless.
ARAGORN
This is a good sword, Háleth, son of Háma. There is always hope.
Inside, ARAGORN is putting on his armour. LEGOLAS is suddenly behind him and
hands him his sword
LEGOLAS
We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was
wrong to despair.
ARAGORN
Ú-moe edhored, Legolas
(There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.)
GIMLI suits up
GIMLI
If we had time, I'd get this adjusted. It’s a little tight across the chest.
A sound of a horn is heard from outside. It is no orc horn.
LEGOLAS
That is no orc horn!
They rush outside
GUARD
Send for the king. Open up the gate!
The gates are opened, and an army of elves march in.
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. We come to honor that allegiance.
ARAGORN
Mae govannen, Haldir!
(Welcome Haldir)
You are most welcome.
HALDIR
We are proud to fight alongside men once more.
Saruman's army approaches. GIMLI and LEGOLAS stand ready to fight.
GIMLI
Arg..You could have picked a better spot.
ARAGORN approaches
GIMLI
Well lad, whatever luck you live by, let’s hope it lasts the night.
LEGOLAS
Your friends are with you, Aragorn.
GIMLI
Let’s hope they last the night.
ARAGORN gives a final pep talk to the Elves
ARAGORN
"Daer ú-o chyn, Ú-danno i failad a thi; an úben tannatha le failad."
(Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!)
GIMLI
What’s happening out there?
LEGOLAS
Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?
Everything draws to a halt, and then an old man accidently shoots an orc
ARAGORN
Dartho!
(Hold!)
The Uruks roar in anger and charge
THEODEN
So it begins.
ARAGORN
Hado i philinn!
(Prepare to fire!)
The Elves shoot
LEGOLAS (to the elves)
Hain 'war di na lanc a nu ranc!"
(Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arms.)
ARAGORN
Leithio i philinn!
(Fire!)
GIMLI
Did they hit anything?
THEODEN
Give them a volley.
GAMLING
Fire!
GUARD
Fire!
ARAGORN
Leithio i philinn!
(Fire!)
GIMLI
Send them to them! Come on!
ARAGORN
Pendraid!
(Ladders!)
GIMLI
Good!
The Uruk-hai climb ladders and enter Helm's Deep
ORC
"Wilhelm"
GIMLI
Legolas, two already!
ARAGORN
Swords! Swords!
LEGOLAS
I’m on seventeen!
GIMLI
Arg! I’ll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!
LEGOLAS
Nineteen!
Back at Entmoot:
PIPPIN
Merry!
TREEBEARD
We have just agreed.
MERRY
Yes?
TREEBEARD
I have told your names to the Entmoot and we have agreed you are not Orcs.
PIPPIN
Well that’s good news.
MERRY
And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision about him?
TREEBEARD
Now don’t be hasty, Master Meriadoc.
MERRY
Hasty? Our friends are out there. They need our help! They cannot fight this war
on their own.
TREEBEARD
War, yes. It affects us all. But you must understand, young hobbit. It takes a
long time to say anything in Old Entish, and we never say anything unless it is
worth taking a long time to say.
At Helm's Deep:
GIMLI
Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty one. Twenty two.
ARAGORN
Causeway! Na fennas! (To the gateway)
THEODEN
Is this it? Is this all you can conjure Saruman?
Below, the Uruks load up the small drain with SARUMAN's explosives, and a Uruk
soldier carrying a torch runs towards it. ARAGORN sees this and calls for
LEGOLAS
ARAGORN
Togo hon dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon!
[Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!)
LEGOLAS hits the Uruk with two arrows, but fails to kill him, and the Uruk-hai
lights the explosives and takes out the wall. The Uruk-hai begin to crowd
through the hole in the wall.
THEODEN
Brace the gates! Hold them! Stand firm!"
GIMLI
Aragorn!
ARAGORN
Gimli! Hado i philinn! Herio!
(Fire! Charge!)
At Entmoot:
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 your part of this world, aren’t you? You must help, please! You must do
something.
TREEBEARD
You are young and brave, Master Merry, but your part in this tale is over. Go
back to your home.
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
The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods of Tuckburough and Buckland
will burn. And... and all that was once green and good in this world will be
gone. There won’t be a Shire, Pippin.
Back at Helm's Deep:
THEODEN
Aragorn, fall back to the keep. Get your men out of there!
ARAGORN
Nan barad!
(To the Keep!) Nan barad! Haldir! Nan barad!
HALDIR nods at him and calls for the others. GIMLI is been dragged away against
his will.
GIMLI
What are you doing? Stop it!
HALDIR
Nan barad!
HALDIR is killed
ARAGORN
Haldir!
GAMLING
Brace the gate!
ARAGORN
Hold them!
THEODEN
To the gate! Draw your swords!
GAMLING
Make way! We can’t hold much longer.
THEODEN
Hold them!
ARAGORN approaches
ARAGORN
How long do you need?
THEODEN
As long as you can give me!
ARAGORN
Gimli!
THEODEN
Timbers! Brace the gate!
Aragorn and Gimli exit through a secret side gate
GIMLI
Oh, come on. We can take them!
ARAGORN
It’s a long way.
GIMLI
Toss me.
ARAGORN
What?
GIMLI
I cannot jump the distance. You'll have to toss me. Ehh.. Don’t tell the elf.
ARAGORN
Not a word.
ARAGORN tosses Gimli and jumps, and the two battle the orcs at the front gate
THEODEN
Shore up the door!
GUARDS
Make way! Follow me to the barricade. Watch our backs! Throw another one over
here!
THEODEN
Higher!
GUARD
Hold fast the gate!
THEODEN
Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!
LEGOLAS (above)
Aragorn!
LEGOLAS throws down a rope, and ARAGORN and GIMLI are pulled to safety
THEODEN
Pull everybody back. Pull them back!
GAMLING
Fall back! Fall back! They have broken through. The castle is breached. Retreat!
Retreat!
ARAGORN
Hurry! Inside. Get them inside!
GAMLING
Into the keep!
Meanwhile, back at Fangorn Forest...
TREEBEARD
I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can make your way
north to your homeland from there.
PIPPIN
Wait! Stop! Stop! Turn around. Turn around. Take us south!
TREEBEARD
South? But that will lead you past Isengard.
PIPPIN
Yes. Exactly. If we go south we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we
are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It’s the last thing he’ll
expect.
TREEBEARD
Hmmmm. That doesn’t make sense to me. But then you are very small. Perhaps
you're right. South it is then. Hold on, little Shirelings. I always like going
south. Somehow it feels like going downhill.
MERRY
Are you mad, we’ll be caught.
PIPPIN
No we won’t. Not this time.
FARAMIR and his company arrive approach Osgiliath with FRODO, SAM, and GOLLUM as
captives
DAMROD
Look. Osgiliath burns. Mordor has come.
FRODO
The Ring will not save Gondor. It has only the power to destroy. Please, let me
go.
FARAMIR looks at FRODO, but then gestures to his men to move.
FARAMIR
Hurry.
FRODO
Faramir, you must let me go!
TREEBEARD approaches the edge of Fangorn Forest
TREEBEARD
... and those little family of field mice that climb up sometimes and they
tickle me awfully. They’re always trying to get somewhere where they.
TREEBEARD walks into an open area where every tree has been brutally cut down
TREEBEARD
Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut and acorn.
PIPPIN
I’m sorry, Treebeard.
TREEBEARD
They had voices of their own. Saruman. A wizard should know better!
TREEBEARD lets out a powerfull call that reverberates throughout Fangorn
TREEBEARD
There is no curse in elvish, entish or the tongues of men for this treachery. My
business is with Isengard tonight. With rock and stone.
The Ents march out of the forest
MERRY
Yes!
TREEBEARD
Rárum-rum! Come my friends. The Ents are going to war. It is likely that we go
to our doom. Last march of the Ents.
The Ents march to Isengard. Meanwhile, back at Osgiliath...
MADRIL
Faramir, Orcs have taken the eastern shore. Their numbers are too great. By
nightfall we’ll be overrun.
FRODO stumbles
SAM
Mr. Frodo!
FRODO
It’s calling to him, Sam. His eye is almost on me.
SAM
Hold on, Mr. Frodo. You'll be alright.
FARAMIR (to his men)
Take them to my father. Tell him Faramir sends a mighty gift. A weapon that will
change our fortunes in this war.
SAM
You wanna 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!
The RINGWRAITHS approach. FRODO knows.
SAM
Mr. Frodo?
FRODO
They’re here. They’ve come.
RINGWRAITH
(screeches)
FARAMIR
Nazgûl!
A RINGWRAITH flies over Osgiliath and FARAMIR leads the hobbits to safety
FARAMIR
Stay here. Keep out of sight. Take cover!
Back at Helm's Deep:
THEODEN
The fortress is taken. It is over.
ARAGORN
You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still
defend it. They have died defending it! Is there no other way for the women and
children to get out of the caves? 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
Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.
THEODEN
For death and glory?
ARAGORN
For Rohan. For your people.
GIMLI
The sun is rising.
(Flashback Voiceover) GANDALF
Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.
THEODEN
Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the Deep one last time.
GIMLI
Yes!
Gimli climbs up to blow the horn.
THEODEN
Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for
wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn!
THEODEN
Forth Eorlingas!
ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, THEODEN, ride out and clear a path. Suddenly an old friend
appears on the eastern ridge with the rising sun
ARAGORN
Gandalf
GANDALF
Theoden-king stands alone.
Another appears
EOMER
Not alone. Rohirrim!
GUARD
Èomer!
EOMER
To the king!
GANDALF and the Riders of Rohan ride through the army of orcs
SARUMAN looks on in disbelief as Isengard is ripped apart by the Ents
PIPPIN
Yes!
TREEBEARD
A hit. A fine hit. Break the dam! Release the river!
MERRY
Pippin, hold on!
TREEBEARD
Hold on, little hobbits!
The waters swallow Isengard as Treebeard with the hobbits and the rest of the
Ents stand their ground
Back to Osgiliath, FRODO walks out into the open
SAM
What are you doing? Where are you going?
The RINGWRAITH riding a Fell Rider approaches
FRODO is about to put on the Ring when SAM runs up and tackles him. FARAMIR
shoots the Ringwraith's steed with his bow. The hobbits roll down the stairs,
Sam landing on FRODO who rolls over and draws his sword preparing to kill SAM.
SAM
It’s me. It’s your Sam. Don’t you know your Sam?
FRODO comes to his senses
FRODO
I can’t do this, Sam.
SAM
I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are.
It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full
of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the
end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way
it was when so much bad had happened?
ARAGORN and EOWYN embrace as Rohan is victorious at Helm's Deep
SAM
But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must
pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the
clearer.
The sun shines on Isengard, as MERRY, PIPPIN, and the Ents celebrate victory
SAM
Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you
were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I
know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they
didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
FRODO
What are we holding on to, Sam?
SAM
That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting
for.
FARAMIR
I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins.
MADRIL
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.
GANDALF and company look towards Mordor
GANDALF
Sauron’s wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for
Helm’s Deep is over. The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin. All our
hopes now lie with two little hobbits somewhere in the wilderness.
FRODO and SAM are once again in the wilderness, led by Gollum.
SAM
I wonder if we’ll ever be put into songs or tales.
FRODO
What?
SAM
I wonder if people will ever say, ‘let’s hear about Frodo and the Ring.’
And they’ll say ‘yes, that’s one of my favorite stories. Frodo was really
courageous, wasn’t he, dad?’ ‘yes, my boy, the most famousest of hobbits.
And that’s saying a lot.’
FRODO
You left out one of the chief characters. Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more
about Sam. Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam.
SAM
Now Mr. Frodo, you shouldn’t make fun. I was being serious.
FRODO
So was I.
SAM
Samwise the Brave.
FRODO
Sméagol?
SAM
We’re not gonna wait for you. Come on.
SMEAGOL is a bit ahead
SMEAGOL
Master... Master looks after us. Master wouldn’t hurt us.
GOLLUM
Master broke his promise!
SMEAGOL
Don’t ask Sméagol. Poor, poor Sméagol.
GOLLUM
Master betrayed us! Wicked, tricksy, false! We ought to ring his filthy little
neck! Kill him! Kill him! Kill them both. And then we take the Preciousss and we
be the master.
SMEAGOL
But the fat hobbit. He knows. Eyes always watching.
GOLLUM
Then we stabs them out. Put out his eyses and make him crawl.
SMEAGOL
Yes! Yes! Yes!
GOLLUM
Kill them both.
SMEAGOL
Yes! No. No. It’s too risky, it’s too risky.
SAM
Where’s he gone? Oi! Gollum, where are you?
FRODO
Sméagol?
GOLLUM
We could let her do it.
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. Shh! Come on, hobbits. Long ways to go yet. Sméagol will
show you way. Follow me.