A Hobbit's Tale

:: Illustrated Movie Script ::

In Minas Tirith, Faramir is placed by the guards on a pyre of wood. Denethor bends over him and touches his face.

Denethor : The house of his spirit crumbles. He is burning. Already burning.

Pippin : (Hysterically) He's not dead ! He's not dead !

Denethor grabbs Pippin and carries him out.

Denethor : Hear now, Peregrin, son of Paladin, I release you from my service. Go now and die in what way seems best to you.

Denethor shuts the doors. From inside we can hear him giving orders.

Denethor : Pour oil on the wood !

Pippin runs down into the city, searching for Gandalf

Pippin : Gandalf ! Where is Gandalf ? Gandalf !

Orcs enter the city, the people of Gondor start fleeing.

Gandalf : Retreat ! The city is breached. Fall back ! To the second level ! Get the women and children out. Get them out !

Gothmog : Move into the city. Kill all in your path.

Gandalf : Fight ! Fight to the last man ! Fight for your lives !

Suddenly the sound of horns can be heard. Outside the city, the Rohirrim arrived. Théoden looks down at the thousands of Orcs, realizing that this battle cannot be won.

Éowyn : Courage, Merry. Courage for our friends.

Gothmog : Form ranks, you maggots. Form ranks. Pikes in front, archers behind.

Théoden gives orders to his captains.

Théoden : Éomer, take your Éored down the left flank. Gamling, follow the King's banner down the center. Grimbold, take your company right, after you pass the wall. Forth, and fear no darkness!

He now rides along the line of his soldiers

Théoden : Arise! Arise, Riders of Théoden!

As Théoden passes by, Éowyn hides her face.

Théoden : Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered ! A sword day ! A red day ! Ere the sun rises !

Éowyn : (To Merry) Whatever happens, stay with me. I'll look after you.

Théoden : Ride now! Ride now ! Ride ! Ride for ruin, and the world's ending ! Death !

Rohirrim : Death !

Théoden : Death !

Rohirrim : Death !

Théoden : Death !

Merry and Éowyn : Death !

Théoden : Forth, Eorlingas !!

The Rohirrim ride towards the Orcs.

Gothmog : Fire !

The arrows are fired and many riders fall.

Merry : Death !

More arrows are fired, and more Rohirrim fall.

Théoden : Death !

Gothmog: Fire at will !

More riders fall, but at the same time the Orcs begin to back off. The Rohirrim ride directly into the Orcs.

Meanwhile, Pippin finally finds Gandalf.

Pippin : Gandalf ! Gandalf ! Gandalf, Denethor's lost his mind. He's burning Faramir alive !

Gandalf : Come !

He pulls Pippin onto Shadowfax.

Denethor stands atop the pyre pouring oil over his head. He looks down at Faramir who is covered in oil.

Denethor : Set a fire in our flesh.

Denethor stands on the pyre with his arms outstretched. The attending soldiers move closely to the pyre with their torches. Just as they are about to lit the wood, Gandalf enters the room.

Gandalf : Stay this madness !

The guards stop. Denethor grabs a torche from one of them and sets the wood on fire himself. Gandalf takes up a spear and charges at Denethor, knocking him off the pyre. Pippin leaps from Shadowfax onto the pyre and rolls Faramir down of it. A burning Denethor rises and attacks Pippin.

Denethor : No ! You will not take my son from me !

Gandalf knocks Denethor into the pyre, which now roars with flame. Denethor looks through the fire at Faramir, who has opened his eyes.

Denethor : Faramir.

Mad with pain, Denethor runs out of the house and falls from the edge of Minas Tirith.

Gandalf : So passes Denethor, son of Ecthelion.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Outside of the City, the Rohirrim are fighting against the Orcs.

Éomer : Drive them to the river !

Théoden : Make safe the city !

Suddenly silence spreads over the battle field. A group of enormous Mûmakil is marching towards the Rohirrim.

Théoden : Reform the line ! Reform the line ! Sound the charge !

Gamling blows his horn.

Théoden : Charge !

The Rohirrim charge against the Mûmakil. Many are killed. Éomer manages to kill, with his spear, the driver of one of the beasts. The dead rider falls down from the animal and accidentally stabs it in its ear. The Mûmakil falls down, taking another beast in the process.

Meanwhile, Éowyn and Merry are riding in between the legs of the beasts.

Éowyn : Take the reins ! Pull to the left ! Left !

She wounds the Mûmakil with her swords, bringing it to the ground.

Éomer : Aim for the head !

Théoden : Bring it down ! Bring it down ! Bring it down !

As the Mûmakil falls, the horse Merry and Éowyn were riding falls as well. Éowyn is able to roll away, but Merry is not in sight anymore.

Éowyn : Merry !

Meanwhile in Minas Tirith, the Orcs are attacking the city's next level. Gandalf and Pippin are sitting behind a low wall, waiting for what's to come.

Pippin : I didn't think it would end this way.

Gandalf : End ? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.

Pippin : What ? Gandalf ? See what ?

Gandalf : White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.

Pippin : Well, that isn't so bad.

Gandalf : No. No, it isn't.

They smile at each other. Outside, the Rohirrim continue to fight.

Théoden : Rally to me ! To me !

As Théoden turns around, he becomes aware of the Witch-King who knocks him down in the next moment. Snowmane lands on top of the King, the fellbeast lands just next to him. Éowyn watches the scene.

Witch-king : Feast on his flesh.

Éowyn : I will kill you if you touch him!

Witch-king : Do not come between a Nazgûl and his prey.

The fellbeast tries to bite Éowyn, but she is able to cut off its head. The Witch-king now stands in front of her and tries to hit her with a flail. She manages to dodge it several times, but is all the same struck, when the flail hits her shield. She falls and cries out.

At the havens, black ships are arriving.

Head Orc : Late as usual, pirate scum ! There's knife work here that needs doing. Come on, ya sea rats ! Get off your ships !

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli jump off one of the ships.

Gimli : (To Legolas) There's plenty for the both of us, may the best Dwarf win !

They start running towards the Orcs, followed by the army of the Dead.

Merry crawls out from under the fallen Mûmakil and sees Eówyn and the Witch-King.

Witch-king : You fool, no man can kill me ! Die now...

Merry sneaks up on the Witch-King and stabs him on the leg. When his sword touches the Nazgûl, Merry falls down in pain, but his attack brought the Nazgul to his knees. Éowyn now stands up and takes off her helmet, revealing her long hair.

Éowyn : I am no man !

She stabs her blade in the face of the Nazgûl, who crumples into nothing with a shrilling cry.

The scene shifts to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Legolas is shooting some arrows on his enemies.

Legolas : 15, 16...

Gimli : 17...

Gimli : ... 29...

Aragorn : Legolas !

Legolas turns around and sees a Mûmakil running towards him. He manages to jump on it and climbs onto the top. He shoots the soldiers that are sitting on the animal.

Legolas : 33, 34...

He then manages to cut the rope that is holding the platform on the beast. While the platform falls down, Legolas runs to the head of the creature and shoots three arrows into it's skull. He slides off the trunk, landing softly on the ground right in front of Gimli.

Gimli : That still only counts as one !

Aragorn looks over the battlefield, realizing that most of the enemies are dead. The Dead overrun the city, killing all the Orcs... Meanwhile, Éowyn crawls to Théoden's side.

Théoden : I know your face... Éowyn. My eyes darken.

Éowyn : No. No, I am going to save you.

Théoden : You already did. Éowyn, my body is broken. You have to let me go. I go to my fathers in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed. Éowyn...

Théoden dies and Éowyn cries out bitterly.

At another place of the battlefield, the army of the Dead is now standing in front of Aragorn.

King of the Dead : Release us.

Gimli : Bad idea. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead.

King of the Dead : You gave us your word.

Aragorn : I hold your oath fulfilled. Go, be at peace.

The Dead army starts shimmering and vanishes with the wind. We see Pippin walking over the battlefield and finally finding Merry.

Pippin : Merry ! Merry, it's me. It's Pippin.

Merry : I knew you'd find me.

Pippin : Yes.

Merry : Are you going to leave me ?

Pippin : No, Merry. I'm going to look after you.

Pippin grabs a cloak and covers Merry with it.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

In Cirith Ungol, we see Frodo lying on the ground, with bound hands, half naked and asleep. The Orcs are looking at his clothes, one finds the Mithril shirt.

Shagrat : Hands off ! That shiny shirt, that's mine !

Gorbag : It's going to the Great Eye, along with everything else.

Frodo touches his neck, realizing that he hasn't got the Ring anymore.

Shagrat : I don't take orders from stinking Morgul rats !

Gorbag : You touch it, and I'll stick this blade in your gut.

They wrestle and Shagart pushes Gorbag down a ladder to where another group of Orcs are eating.

Shagrat : The scum tried to knife me. Kill him !

Sam reaches the Tower and sees that all the Orcs are dead. He begins to climb up the stairs. When he realizes that there are some more Orcs coming down towards him, he starts grunting and growling. The Orcs see his reflected shadow, large on the wall, and believe him to be a giant, powerful warrior. they start to back away, but as Sam avances, the illusion is broken, and the Orcs, realizing he is nothing but a small Hobbit, attack him. But Sam, holding Sting, fights and kills them one by one.

Sam : That's for Frodo ! And for the Shire ! And that's for my old Gaffer !

Sam continues to run upwards through the tower while Frodo tries to get rid of his restraints.

Gorbag : Stop your squealing, you dung hill rat. I'm going to bleed you like a stuck pig!

He cries out when Sam kills him from behind.

Sam : Not if I stick you first.

Frodo : Sam ! Oh, Sam, I'm so sorry. Sorry for everything.

Sam : Let's get you out of here.

Frodo : It's too late. It's over. They've taken it. Sam, they took the Ring.

Sam : Beggin', your pardon, but they haven't. (He pulls the Ring out of his pocket.) I thought I'd lost you, so I took it. Only for safekeeping.

Frodo : Give it to me. Give me the Ring, Sam. (The Ring speaks to Sam, and he seems uncertain as to what to do). Sam ! Give me the Ring !

Sam slowly holds out the ring and Frodo grabs it eagerly.

Frodo : You must understand, the Ring is my burden. It will destroy you, Sam

Sam : Come on, Mister Frodo. We'd best find you some clothes. You can't go walking through Mordor in naught but your skin.

When the two Hobbits leave the Tower, they are both wearing Orc armor.

Sam : We did it, Mister Frodo. We made it to Mordor.

Frodo : (Looking at the legions of Orcs standing between them and Mount Doom) There's so many of them. We'll never get through unseen. (The Eye of Sauron sweeps the plain in front of them) It's him... the Eye !

Sam : We have to go in there, Mister Frodo. There's nothing for it. Come on, let's just make it down the hill for starters.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Éomer, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf stand in the hall at Minas Tirith

Gandalf : Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening.

Aragorn : If Sauron had the Ring we would know it.

Gandalf : It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping.

Gimli : Let him stay there. Let him rot ! Why should we care ?

Gandalf : Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom. I've sent him to his death.

Aragorn : No. There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time, and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that.

Gimli : How ?

Aragorn: Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate.

Éomer : We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.

Aragorn : Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves.

Legolas : A diversion.

Gandalf : Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait.

Gimli : Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for ?

An army, led by Aragorn, rides towards Mordor.

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

Orc : To the gate, you slugs! Move out! To the gate !

Frodo and Sam look down on the plains of Gorgoroth. The Orcs are moving, and the Great Eye is watching the land of Mordor.

Sam : Look, the Orcs ! They're moving off. You see, Mister Frodo, some luck at last.

We see briefly Aragorn and his army arriving at the Black Gate. Then we see Frodo trying to wring the last drops of water from his water skin.

Sam : Take mine, there's a few drops left.

Frodo drinks what is in it

Frodo : There'll be none left for the return journey.

Sam : I don't think there will be a return journey, Mister Frodo.

Aragorn's troops stand outside the Black Gate. Sam and Frodo move on, but as Frodo stops, the Great Eye suddenly turns towards them. Sam hides behind a rock, but Frodo does not move at all.

Sam : Frodo ! Get down ! Hide !

Frodo turns around slowly and meets the gaze of the Eye. He falls to the ground.

Sam : Frodo !

Cut back to Aragorn and the army.

Pippin : Where are they ?

Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Éomer spur their horses forward towards the Gate.

Aragorn : Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth. Let justice be done upon him.

The Black Gate begins to open, and on Barad-dûr, the Eye swings its gaze towards the North.

Aragorn : Fall back! Fall back !

They ride back to the rest of the army.

The scene shows Frodo and Sam again.

Sam : It's gone, Mister Frodo. The light's passed on, away towards the North. Something's drawn its gaze.

They go on walking towards Mount Doom

Orcs are marching towards the Host of the West. The soldiers look fearful.

Aragorn : Hold your ground! Hold your ground.

Aragorn rides back and forth in front of them, trying to shore up their courage.

Aragorn : Sons of Gondor ! Of Rohan ! My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day ! This day we fight ! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West !

The Men draw their swords.

Cut back to Frodo and Sam. Frodo slips and falls, and Sam stumbles to a halt beside him.

Back at the battle, Aragorn and the others watch as they are surrounded by Sauron's forces.

Frodo looks up at the fiery peak above him, looking utterly defeated. He begins pulling himself slowly and painfully up the mountainside with his bare fingers. His strength finally gives out, and he collapses.

Gimli : Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf.

Legolas : What about side by side with a friend ?

Gimli : Aye, I could do that.

Sam climbs up to Frodo and takes him in his arms.

Sam : Do you remember the Shire, Mister Frodo ? It'll be spring soon, and the Orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket and they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields. And eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries ?

Frodo : No, Sam, I can't recall the taste of food. Nor the sound of water. Or the touch of grass. I'm naked in the dark. There's nothing... no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I can see him with my waking eyes !

Sam : Then let us be rid of it, once and for all ! Come on, Mister Frodo. I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you ! Come on !

Sam moves on, carrying Frodo on his shoulders.

Sauron's voice : Aragorn... Elessar...

Aragorn is motionless and stares off at the Eye in the distance. He then turns to the army behind him.

Aragorn : For Frodo...

Aragorn runs towards the Orcs, with Merry and Pippin right behind him, the rest of the army behind them.

Sam reaches the top of the mountain, still carrying Frodo. He sees the entrance to the Crack of Doom.

Sam : Look, Mister Frodo. A doorway ! We're almost there.

Gollum appears on top of a rock above the Hobbits.

Gollum : Clever Hobbits, to climb so high !

He jumps on Frodo, and pulls him off of Sam's back. He starts to reach for the Ring. Sam grabs Gollum from behind and pulls him off, but Gollum attacks again. Sam picks up a rock and throws it at Gollum, knocking him off of Frodo. Gollum gets up again, and goes for Frodo, but Sam dives and rolls him away.

The battle at the Black Gate continues, with the Nazgûl now joining the fight as well.

Gollum and Sam keep on fighting, with Gollum trying to bite sam and the larger Hobbit trying to defend himself from his attacks. Sam pulls out his sword, and cuts Gollum in the chest.

Sam : Frodo !

Frodo starts to run up the mountains and enters the Crack of Doom.

At the battle, Gandalf suddenly sees a moth flying in front of his face. In the sky, the Eagles' cries can be heard as several of the beings appear.

Pippin : Eagles ! The Eagles are coming !

The Eagles attack the Nazgûl.