A Hobbit's Tale

:: Illustrated Movie Script ::

Gandalf and Pippin are riding towards Minas Tirith.

Gandalf : We've just passed into the realm of Gondor.

They see the White City in the distance as they cross over a hill.

Gandalf : Minas Tirith. City of Kings.

The ride through the seven levels of the city. People jump out of their way.

Gandalf : Make way !

They enter the courtyard of the Citadel.

Pippin : It's the tree. Gandalf, Gandalf !

Gandalf : Yes, the White Tree of Gondor. The Tree of the King. Lord Denethor is not the king. He is a steward, only. A caretaker of the throne.

Gandalf stops before he enters 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 and walk towards Denethor, sitting on a chair, at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the deserted throne.

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. (He helds up Boromir's horn that is broken into two pieces) Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead.

In a flashback, we see how Boromir was shot by the Uruk-Hai.

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

Gandalf : Pippin !

Pippin : (kneeling down in front of Denethor) I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt.

Gandalf : Get up ! 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 : 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 Théoden 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 : The rule of Gondor is mine, and no other's !

Gandalf hesitates a moment, but then turns around and leaves.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In their room, Pippin is watching the new armor that he is supposed to wear as a soldier of the Citadel.

Pippin : So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position. I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any fighting, do they ?

Gandalf : You're in the service of the steward now. You're going to have to do as you're told, Peregrin Took, Guard of the Citadel.

Gandalf is standing on the balcony, his haze in Mordor's direction. Pippin joins him now.

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. 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. 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 the 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 : 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 Nazgûl, the greatest of the Nine. Minas Morgul is his lair.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Frodo, Sam and Gollum reach Minas Morgul

Gollum : The dead city. Very nasty place. Full of enemies.

They cross the road.

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. Climb !

Frodo turns around and looks again at the statues. Against his will he is forced to walk towards the city.

Sam : No ! Mister Frodo !

Gollum : Not that way ! What's it doing ?

Sam : No !

Frodo : They're calling me...

Sam and Gollum pull him back to the hidden staircase. The ground shakes, and then a large beam of light fills the sky above Minas Morgul. Gandalf and Pippin in Minas Tirith see it, as does Faramir in Osgiliath.

Sméagol : Hide, hide !

The Witch-King on his fellbeast rises above the city. The sound of the Nazgûl can be heard and the Hobbits press their hands over their ears.

Frodo : I can feel his blade !

The gates of Minas Morgul opens, and Orc troops begin marching out.

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

The Witch-King flies over Sam's and Frodo's head and over his troops.

Gollum : Come away, Hobbits. We climb, we must climb.

They start climbing the stairs.

Gandalf : The board is set. The pieces are moving.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

The scene turns to Minas Tirith again, where Gandalf and Pippin are walking through the city.

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 runs off in the direction of the beacon tower.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

The scene switches to Osgiliath, where Faramir and his men are awaiting the arrival of the Orcs.

Faramir : (To his men) To the river. Quick...

Faramir and the soldiers run to the river shore and hide behind walls. Low voices give orders.

Gothmog : (In the boats) Faster. Draw swords !

The Orcs reach the shore. Faramir and his men let the first Orcs pass by and then attack from behind. A big fight starts.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In Minas Tirith, we see Pippin climbing the beacon tower. He manages to start the beacon fire.

Guard : The beacon ! The beacon of Amon Dîn is lit !

Denethor peers out a window and sneers.

Gandalf : Hope is kindled.

We see how the beacons between Minas Tirith and Edoras are lit one after another. In Edoras, Aragorn finally sees them, too. He runs to Meduseld.

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

Théoden : And Rohan will answer ! Muster the Rohirrim ! 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 : Sir.

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

Gamling : I will.

Aragorn watches Éowyn leading out her horse.

Aragorn : You ride with us ?

Éowyn : Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the Women of the Court to farewell the Men.

Aragorn notices the sword that Éowyn had hidden under the saddle blanket.

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

Théoden : (Talking to himself) So, it is before the walls of Minas Tirith, the doom of our time will be decided.

Éomer : Now is the hour ! Riders of Rohan ! Oaths you have taken, now fulfill them all ! For lord and land !

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In Osgiliath, the battle continues. Faramir's men are far too few to beat the Orcs. They are obviously loosing the battle.

Madril : We cannot hold them ! The city is lost !

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

In this moment, the Nazgûl arrive.

Soldier : Nazgûl !

Soldier : Take cover !

Faramir : Fall back ! Fall back to Minas Tirith ! Retreat ! Retreat !

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 !

Under the attack of the Nazgûl, Faramir and what is left of his men ride towards Minas Tirith. They are saved by Gandalf, who chases away the Nazgûl by a white light that raises off his staff.

Soldier : It's the White Rider !

The group including Gandalf and Pippin enter the town.

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 !

Faramir suddenly notices Pippin and stares at him.

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

Faramir : No...

Pippin : You've seen Frodo and Sam ?

Gandalf : Where ? When ?

Faramir : In Ithilien, not two days ago. Gandalf, they've taken the road to the Morgul Vale.

Gandalf : And then the Pass of Cirith Ungol ?

Faramir nods silently.

Pippin : What does that mean ? What's wrong ?

Gandalf : Faramir, tell me everything.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Gollum, Sam and Frodo are climbing the hidden stairs. Frodo struggles and is near to fall.

Gollum : Careful, master ! Careful ! Very far too fall. Very dangerous on the stairs. Come master !

Gollum sees the Ring hanging out of Frodo's shirt.

Gollum : Come to Sméagol...

Gollum extends his hand to the Ring. Sam sees it and draws his sword.

Sam : Mr. Frodo ! Get back you! Don't touch him !

Gollum reaches out for Frodo's hand and helps him.

Gollum : Why does he hates poor Sméagol ? What has Sméagol ever done to him ? (To Frodo) Master ? Master carries heavy burden, Sméagol knows. Heavy, heavy burden. The fat one cannot know. Sméagol will look after master. He wants it. He needs it! Sméagol sees it in his eyes. Very soon, he will ask you for it. You will see. The fat one will take it from you.

Frodo looks at Sam with doubt in his eyes.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In Osgiliath, we see the Witch-King talking to Gothmog.

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.

Gondorian Soldier : What of Théoden's Riders ? Will Rohan come ? Mithrandir ?

Gandalf : Courage is the best defense you have now.

Pippin is kneeling before Denethor's throne, swearing his oath of 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 : (With an amused smile on his face) And I shall not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given. Fealty with love, valor with honor, (looking at Faramir) disloyalty with vengeance.

Denethor takes place at a table that is filled with food.

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 ?

Faramir : You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived.

Denethor : Yes, I wish that.

Faramir looks at his father, tears is 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 before he crosses the door and turns.

Faramir : If I should return, think better of me, father.

Denethor : That will depend on the manner of your return.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Sam, Frodo and Gollum are having a rest. Sam tries not to fall alseep but he fails. As soon as he is sleeping, Gollum opens his eyes. He stands up and takes the lembas bread out of Sam's bag. He sprinkles some crumbs on Sam's cloak and throws the rest of the bread down the stairs. Sam wakes up.

Sam : What are you up to ? Sneaking off are we ?

Gollum : S-sneaking ? Fat Hobbit is always so polite. Sméagol shows them secret ways that nobody else can find, and they say sneak ! Sneak ! Very nice friend, oh yes, my precious, very nice, very...

Sam : Alright, alright ! You just startled me is all. What were you doing ?

Gollum : Sneaking.

Sam : Fine, have it your own way.

He wakes up Frodo.

Sam : I'm sorry to wake you, Mister Frodo. We have to be moving on.

Frodo : It's dark still.

Sam : It's always dark here.

Sam takes his bag and searches for the lembas bread.

Sam : It's gone ! The Elven-bread !

Frodo : What ? That's all we have left !

Sam : He took it ! He must have !

Gollum : Sméagol ? No, no, not poor Sméagol. Sméagol hates nasty Elf-bread !

Sam : You're a lying wretch ! What did you do with it ?

Frodo : He doesn't eat it. He can't have taken it.

Gollum points at the crumbs on Sam's cloak.

Gollum : Look ! What's this ? Crumbs on his jacketses ! 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 hits Gollum and they start fighting.

Sam : You stinking two-faced sneak !

Frodo : Sam ! Stop it ! Sam !

Frodo grabbs Sam and pushes him back.

Sam : I'll kill him !

Frodo : Sam, no !

Frodo suddenly turns tired and sits down.

Sam : Oh no, I'm sorry ! I didn't mean it to go so far. I was just so... just so angry. Here... just... let's just rest a bit.

Frodo : I'm alright.

Sam : No, no, you're not alright. You're exhausted. It's that Gollum ! It's this place. It's that thing around your neck ! I could help a bit. I could carry it for a while.

Frodo : Get away !

Sam : I don't want to keep it ! I just want to help.

Gollum : See ? See ? He wants it for himself.

Sam : 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 : You don't mean that.

Frodo : Go home.

Sam falls to the ground and cries, while Gollum and Frodo continue without him.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In Minas Tirith, Faramir and his men ride through the streets, ready to attempt to retake Osgiliath. The people of Minas Tirith are watching them, women throwing flowers on the ground. Gandalf makes his way through the crowd.

Gandalf : Faramir ! Faramir ! Your father's will has turned to madness ! Do not throw away your life so rashly !

Faramir : Where does my allegiance lie, if not here ?

Gandalf stops and watches Faramir riding away.

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

Outside the city, we see the soldiers riding towards Osgiliath, where some Orcs raise their heads and watch the coming riders.

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

Pippin:

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 changes between Pippin, Denethor and Faramir. When he finishes his song, Pippin starts crying.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In Dunharrow, we see Théoden gathering his men.

Théoden : Grimbold, how many ?

Grimbold : I bring five hundred Men from the Westfold, My Lord.

Soldier : We have three hundred more from Fenmarch, Théoden King.

Théoden : Where are the riders from Snowbourn ?

Soldier : None have come, My Lord.

From above, Théoden and Aragorn look at the gathered men.

Théoden : 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.

Théoden : More will come.

Aragorn : Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have till dawn, then we must ride.

A horse gets nervous and refuses to obey his master.

Legolas : The horses are restless and the Men are quiet.

Éomer : 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.

Éomer : None who venture there ever return.

Aragorn watches the path into the mountains, and in his mind he sees faces of the Dead.

Gimli : Aragorn!

Aragorn looses his vision

Gimli : Let's find some food.