A Hobbit's Tale

:: Illustrated Movie Script ::

In a tent, Éowyn dresses Merry with the armor of the Rohirrim.

Éowyn : There, a true squire of Rohan.

Merry : I'm ready !

Merry draws his blade and almost hits Éowyn.

Merry : Sorry, it isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp.

Éowyn : Well, that's no good, you won't kill many Orcs with a blunt blade. Come on.

They leave the tent. In front of it, Éomer and Gamling are sitting around a fire.

Éowyn : To the smithy. Go !

Éomer : You should not encourage him.

Éowyn : You should not doubt him.

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

Éowyn : 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 ?

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

We see a man, dressed in a black cloak and riding on a white horse, arriving in Dunharrow. In his tent, Aragorn is sleeping restlessly, dreaming of Arwen.

Arwen : I choose a mortal life.

A tear drops in yer eyes.

Arwen : I wish I could've seen him... one last time.

As Arwen closes her eyes, the Evenstar falls down to the ground and breaks into a thousand pieces. At that moment, Aragorn awakes from his dream. A guard has entered his tent.

Guard : Sir ? King Théoden awaits you, My Lord.

Aragorn follows the guard and enters Théoden's tent.

Théoden : I take my leave.

Aragorn slowly moves towards the man who now turns around. It is Elrond.

Aragorn : 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 secret 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 in two days. You're outnumbered. You need more Men.

Aragorn : There are none.

Elrond : There are those who dwell in the mountain.

Aragorn again sees the faces 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.

Elrond : Andúril, Flame of the West, forged from the Shards of Narsil.

Aragorn takes the sword.

Aragorn : Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil. 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 : Ónen i-Estel Edain (I give hope to Men).

Aragorn : Ú-chebin estel anim (I keep none for myself).

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

As Aragorn is preparing to leave, he is joined by Éowyn.

Éowyn : 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 : Éowyn.

Éowyn : We need you here.

Aragorn : Why have you come ?

Éowyn : Do you not know ?

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

Aragorn parts, leaving behind a shocked Éowyn. Gimli and Legolas appear.

Gimli : Just where do you think you're off to ?

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

Legolas : Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves ?

Gimli : You might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie.

The three companions leave to take the Path of the Dead. Théoden comforts the confused soldiers.

Soldiers : 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.

Théoden : He leaves because he must.

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

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

The scene changes to Éowyn standing alone and looking into the distance. Théoden joins her.

Théoden : 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.

Éowyn : What other duty would you have me do, My Lord ?

Théoden : Duty ? No... I would have you smile again. Not grieve for those whose time has come.You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ride on the road to the Dimholt.

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. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their oath.

They reach an opening in the rocks. Paintings are above it.

Gimli : The very warmth of my blood seems drawn away.

Legolas : The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and The Dead keep it. The way is shut.

Their horses are nervous and finally run away.

Aragorn : Brego !

He looks at the opening.

Aragorn : I do not fear death !

He enters the hole and Legolas follows him. Gimli hesitates.

Gimli : Well, this is a thing unheard of. An Elf will go underground where a Dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!

He finally follows his friends.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Théoden and his men prepare to leave the camp at Dunharrow. Théoden and Éomer leave a tent.

Théoden : We must ride light and swift. It's a long road ahead, and Man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight.

They pass by Merry.

Théoden : Little Hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc.

Merry : All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind !

Théoden : It's a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith, and none of my Riders can bear you as a burden.

Merry : I want to fight !

Théoden : I will say no more.

Théoden rides off and leaves Merry behind. While the Hobbit is still watching them, a rider comes from behind, grabbs Merry and pulls him onto his horse.

Éowyn : Ride with me.

Merry : My Lady !

Éomer : Form up ! Move out !

Théoden : Ride ! Ride now to Gondor !

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

The scene shortly shifts to Orc troops that are fastly approaching Minas Tirith. A shot later we see Aragorn , Legolas and Gimli reaching a huge hall under the mountains. The King of the Dead appears.

King of the Dead : Who enters my domain ?

Aragorn : One who will have your allegiance.

King of the Dead : The Dead do not suffer the living to pass.

Aragorn : You will suffer me.

The Dead appear and surround Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli.

King of the Dead : The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead and The Dead keep it. The way is shut. Now you must die.

Legolas releases an arrow. It goes through one of the Dead without hurting him.

Aragorn : I summon you to fulfill your oath.

King of the Dead : None but the King of Gondor may command me.

Aragorn raises Andúril. The King of the Dead attacks him with a sword but Aragorn grabbs him by his throat.

King of the Dead : That blade was broken !

Aragorn : It has been remade. Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you ?

The army of Dead looks uncertain.

Aragorn : What say you ?

Gimli : You waste your time, Aragorn ! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death.

Aragorn : I am Isildur's heir ! Fight for me, and I will hold your oaths fulfilled ! What say you ?!

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

The orcs are getting closer and closer to Minas Tirith.

Soldier : Open the gate, quick !

The gate opens and a horse enters, pulling an unconscious Faramir. Faramir is carried to the top of Minas Tirith.

Soldier : Quick, hurry !

Denethor enters the courtyard.

Denethor : Faramir ! Say not that he has fallen !

Soldier : They were outnumbered. None survived.

Shot of Gothmog and his soldiers.

Gothmog : Fear. The city is rank with it. Let us ease their pain. Release the prisoners !

Orc : Catapults !

The catapults throw the heads of Faramir's soldiers into the town. Shot back to Denethor.

Denethor : My sons are spent...

Denethor struggles away and Pippin kneels down beside Faramir.

Denethor : My line has ended !

Pippin : He's alive !

Denethor : The House of Stewards has failed !

Pippin : He needs medicine, My Lord !

Denethor ignores Pippin.

Denethor : My line has ended !

Pippin : My Lord.

Denethor's eyes grow wide as he reaches the border of the courtyard and looks upon the massive army that stands at his gates. He gets mad.

Denethor : Rohan has deserted us. Théoden's betrayed me. (Calls to soldiers) Abandon your posts ! Flee ! Flee for your lives!

The soldiers look uncertain, not knowing what to do. Gandalf knocks out Denethor with his staff.

Gandalf : Prepare for battle !

Gandalf rides towards the outer defenses.

Gandalf : Come on, Men. To the wall ! Defend the wall. Return to your posts !

He reaches the outer wall, and sees the oncoming army.

Gandalf : Send these foul beasts into the abyss.

The Gondorian soldiers start to fire large rocks and pieces of buildings towards the Orcs.

Gothmog : Stay where you are.

Soldier : Watch out !

A rock, fired by the Orcs, hits the outer wall.

Soldier : Down to the lower level. Quick !

A rock flies to where Gothmog is standing. At the last minute he steps aside and looks at the rock that landed exactly where he has just been standing. The Nazgûl arrive and let out their cries.

Gandalf : Hold them back. Do not give into fear! Stay at your posts !

The siege towers of the Orcs now are nearly at the wall.

Gandalf : (To some archers) Not at the towers. Aim for the Trolls ! Kill the Trolls !

The siege towers connect with the walls, and Orcs enter the town. Gandalf sees Pippin coming down the stairs towards him.

Gandalf : Peregrin Took, go back to the Citadel !

Pippin : They called us out to fight.

Gandalf : This is no place for a Hobbit !

Taking advantage of Gandalf's distraction fighting the first wave of Orcs that attack the city, one creeps behind him, intented to kill the Wizard. Pippin rescues Gandalf and kills the Orc.

Gandalf : Guard of the Citadel indeed. Now, back ! Up the hill ! Quickly ! Quick !

Huge monsters pull Grond towards Minas Tirith.

Armies of Sauron : Grond ! Grond ! Grond !

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Gollum and Frodo are climbing the stairs of Cirith Ungol. They reach the tunnel.

Gollum : In there.

Frodo : What is this place ?

Gollum : Master must go inside the tunnel.

Frodo : Now that I'm here, I don't think I want to.

Gollum : It's the only way. Go in, or go back.

Frodo : I can't go back. (He enters the tunnel) What's that smell ?

Gollum : Orcses filth. Orcses come in here sometimes Hurry ! This way !

Gollum runs out of Frodo's sight.

Frodo : Sméagol ?

Gollum : Over here !

Frodo falls against a wall, and touches some webbing.

Frodo : It's sticky ! What is it ?

Gollum : You will see ! Oh, yes ! You will see.

Frodo : Sméagol ? Sméagol ! Sméagol ! (Now he realizes that Gollum has led him into a trap. He is near to cry) Sam...

Frodo steps on a skeleton, and when he looks around he sees more spiderwebs and dead animals. He hears a noise and begins to run.

The scenes now shows Sam, who is sobbing while he makes his way down the stairs. He slips and falls, landing right beside the lembas bread. When he sees the bread, he crushes it in his hand angrily, then looks back up the stairs.

Frodo frodo is still running, looking back. He trips and falls into the surrounding spiderwebs, skeletons hanging from them. In his mind he hears Galadriel.

Galadriel : And you, Frodo Baggins, I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star.

Frodo pulls out Galadriel's phial.

Galadriel : May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.

Frodo : Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima ! (Hail Eärendil brightest of the Stars !)

In the light, we can see Shelob standing beside Frodo. He crawls back, trying to keep her away using the light from the phial, but she attacks. Frodo starts running but stops for a second to see if she's following. When he turns around again, he runs into a bunch of very sticky webs, and is caught.

Gollum : Naughty little fly, why does it cry ? Caught in her web, soon you'll be... eaten.

Very slowly, Frodo cuts the spiderwebs around him, all the while shelob gets closer and closer. Sting gets stuck in the webs, and Frodo has no other option but to leave it behind, as he finally frees himself and escapes the hole. But Gollum is already waiting for him.

Gollum : Got away, did it, Precious ? Not this time ! Not this time !

They start fighting and roll around on the ground.

Gollum : It wasn't us ! It wasn't us ! Sméagol wouldn't hurt master. We promised. You must believe us. It was the Precious ! The Precious made us do it !

Frodo : I have to destroy it, Sméagol. I have to destroy it for both our sakes.

Gollum now jumps on Frodo, but Frodo manages to throw him into a deep hole in the ground. We hear Gollum screaming as he falls.

Frodo : I'm so sorry, Sam. So sorry.

He collapes and in a vision he finds himself laying on the ground in the woods of Lórien. Galadriel stands in front of him.

Galadriel : This task was appointed to you, Frodo of the Shire. If you do not find a way, no one will.

Galadriel reaches out her hand to him and helps him to stand up. Now Frodo finds himself back in Shelob's lair.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

The Orcs are still attacking Minas Tirith. Grond is pushed by the Orcs against the town's first gate.

Gandalf : Back to the gate ! Hurry !

Pippin wanders up to the courtyard. He sees Denethor carrying a lit torch. Behind him follow guards who carry a litter, upon which lies the unconscious Faramir. Denethor pushes open the doors to the House of the Stewards and enters.

Denethor : No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No long, slow, sleep of death embalmed. We shall burn, like the heathen kings of old. Bring wood and oil!

Grond is still pushed against the gate.

Gandalf : Steady, steady !

Grond's nose breaks through and the soldiers step back in fear.

Gandalf : You are soldiers of Gondor. No matter what comes through that gate, you will stand your ground.

Trolls and Orcs now start entering the town.

Gandalf : Volley ! Fire !

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Back at Cirith Ungol, Frodo sees the Great Eye on its tower in the distance. While looking at it, he doesn't notice Shelob creeping up from above him. When he turns back around, Shelob's stinger stabs him in the chest and he collapses. She picks him up and begins cocooning him. Suddenly Sam appears, holding up high Sting and Galadriel's phial.

Sam: Let him go, you filth !

Shelob looks at Sam and shrieks.

Sam : Let him go !

Shelob drops Frodo and moves towards Sam.

Sam : You will not touch him again !

Shelob moves closer.

Sam : Come on and finish it !

Shelob attacks Sam. She knocks the Light of Eärendil from his hand and kicks it away. Shelob pushes Sam up against the rock wall and tries to bite him. Sam fights back, kicking Shelob in the head. They both fall to the ground, and Sam picks up Sting again. Sam stabs Shelob in the eyes but she grabs the sword and throws it behind Sam. Shelob tries to sting Sam, but misses him. Finally, Sam is abale to reach the blade again and, just as Shelob aims her spike on him, he raises Sting... and the sword rams itself deep into the spider's belly. She falls back, wounded and defeated.

Sam : Back !

Shelob retreats into her tunnel. Sam now turns to Frodo.

Sam : Mister Frodo !

Sam tears the web from Frodo's face but Frodo does not move nor react.

Sam : Oh no ! Frodo ! Mister Frodo !

Sam takes Frodo into his arms, and begins to cry.

Sam : Wake up ! Don't leave me here alone ! Don't go where I can't follow ! Wake up !

Sam realizes Frodo won't wake up.

Sam : Not asleep... dead !

Suddenly Sting glows blue. Sam takes it and hides behind a rock. Orcs come down the stairs and see Frodo.

Shagrat : What's this ? Looks like old Shelob's been having a bit of fun.

Gorbag : Killed another one, has she ?

Shagrat : No, this fellow ain't dead.

Sam : (Whispers) Not dead !

Shagrat : She jabs him with her stinger and he goes as limp as a boned fish. Then she has her way with them. That's how she likes to feed... fresh blood. Get him to the tower !

The Orcs carry Frodo away.

Sam : Samwise, you fool !

Gorbag : This scum will be awake in a couple of hours.

Shagrat : Then he'll wish he'd never been born !