Aragorn is lying on the ground, listening to the sound of the Uruk-Hai's footsteps.

Aragorn : "Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent. Hurry !"

Legolas : "Come on, Gimli !"

Legolas looks back at Gimli and then starts to run after Aragorn who has already start to run fastly again.

Gimli : "Three days' and nights' pursuit. No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell."

He runs after Legolas and Aragorn.

The three hunters run across the plain until Aragorn stops and finds Pippin's elven brooch.

Aragorn : "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall."

Legolas : "They may yet be alive."

Aragorn : "Less than a day ahead of us. Come !"

He starts to run again. Behind Legolas and Aragorn, Gimil falls over some rocks.

Legolas : "Come, Gimli! We are gaining on them !"

Gimli : "I am wasted on cross-country ! We dwarves are natural sprinters ! Very dangerous over short distances !"

They run across a hill and now have a good view over the plains of Rohan.

Aragorn : "Rohan. Home of the horse-lords. There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us."

Legolas goes on a hill and looks to the horizon.

Aragorn : "Legolas, what do your elf eyes see ?"

Legolas : "The Uruks turn northeast. They're taking the hobbits to Isengard !"

Aragorn : "Saruman."

The scene changes and we see Orthanc and the smoking caverns of Isengard. Inside, Saruman is speaking with the Dark Lord, using 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 ?"

Mordor is shown, with the dark tower Barad-dur and the Lidless Eye watching over the land.

Saruman : "Together, my lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle Earth."

The caverns of Isengard are shown where all the arms of the Orcs and Uruk-Hai are produced.

Saruman : "The old world will burn in the fires of industry. 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 is now standing in the middle of a group of wild and angry Dunlanders.

Saruman : "The horsemen took your land. They drove your people into the hills to scratch a living off rocks."

Dunland Man : "Murderers !"

Saruman : "Take back the lands they stole from you! Burn every village !"

The Dunlanders leave Isengard.

Saruman : "It will begin in the Rohan. Too long have these peasants stood against you. But no more."

A village in Rohan is shown. A woman places her tow children on a horse.

Morwen :"Eothain ! Eothain ! You'll take your sister. You'll go faster with just two."

Freda : "But Papa says Eothain must not ride Kettles, 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, Ma !"

Freda : "I don’t wanna leave!I don't wanna go, Mama !"

Morwen : "Freda, I will find you there. Quickly !"

The children leave the village. Morwen looks after them.

Morwen : "Go child !"

The Dunlanders and Uruk-Hai run into the village.

Saruman : "Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall."

In the next scene, we see a group of riders arriving in Edoras. Eomer leads the group, he carries Theodred who has been wounded badly.

Eowyn runs into the bedchamber of Theodred. She kneels down next to the bed and sees how badly Theodred is wounded.

After that, Eomer and Eowyn go to Meduseld where they speak to the King. But Theoden doesn't show any emotions, he looks much older than he really is.

Eowyn : "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 appears from the shadow behind the throne.

Grima : "That is a lie ! Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally."

Eomer : "Orcs are running freely across our lands. Unchecked. Unchallenged. Killing at will. Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman."

He throws a helmet with the sign of Saruman to the ground in front of the throne.

Grima : "Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind. Can you not see ? Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your war-mongering."

Eomer : "War-mongering ? How long is it since Saruman bought you ? What was the promised price, Grima ? When all the men are dead you will take your share of the treasure ?"

Grima looks at Eowyn as she walks by. Eowyn looks at Grima and then leaves the hall quickly.

Eomer : "Too long have you watched my sister, too long have you haunted her steps."

Suddenly Eomer is surrounded by Grima's guards.

Grima : "You see much Eomer, Son of Eomund. Too much. You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan. Under pain of death !"

The scene turns back to the three hunters.

Gimli : "Keep breathing ! That's the key ! Breathe !"

Legolas : "They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them."

When the night comes the Uruk-Hai stop at the border of Fangorn Forest.

Orc : "We're not going no further till we've had a breather !"

Uglúk : "Get a fire going !"

While the Orcs and Uruks talk to each other Pippin crawls towards Merry.

Pippin : "Merry! Merry !"

Merry : "I think we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pippin."

As a group of Orcs starts to chop the trees at the border of the forest some strange noise arraise from the forest.

Pippin : "What's making that noise ?"

Merry : "It’s the trees."

Pippin : "What ?"

Merry : "Do 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."

Uruk-hai : "I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days !"

Orc : "Yeah. Why can’t we have some meat ?"

The Orc looks to the Hobbits.

Orc : "What about them ? They're fresh."

Uglúk : "They are not for eating !"

Grishnak : "What about their legs ? They don't need those. Ooh… They look tasty !"

Uglúk : "Get back, scum !"

Orc : "Just a mouth full."

Uglúk jumps at the Orc and cuts off his head.

Uglúk : "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys !!"

The Uruks start the meal and forget the Hobbits for a while.

Merry : "Pippin, let's go."

But they are followed by Grishnak. The Orc puts his blade in front of Pippin's face.

Grishnak : "Go on, call for help. Squeal! No one's gonna save you now !"

Suddenly Grishnak is slain by a spear. The Riders of Rohan burst into the group of Orcs and Uruks and kill them all. Merry and Pippin try to escape but suddenly Pippin looks back and sees a pair of trashing hooves bearing down on him.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are still runing over the plain.

Legolas : "The red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night."

Suddenly they hear a group of riders coming closer to them. First they hide but then the group turns out to be the Riders of Rohan. Aragorn leaves their hiding place and starts to shout.

Aragorn : "Rider of Rohan, what news from the Mark ?"

The group of riders turns around and surrounds the three hunters.

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 points an arrow on Eomer.

Legolas : "You would die before your stroke fell !"

The riders point their spears at the three hunters, but Aragorn pushes down Legolas' arm.

Aragorn : "I am 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.Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claim lordship over his 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 not spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They've 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 would be small – only children to your eyes."

Eomer : "We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them."

Gimli : "They’re dead ?"

Eomer : "I am sorry."

Eomer whistles and two horses appear.

Eomer : "Hasufel ! Arod ! May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell. Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope, it has forsaken these lands. We ride north !"

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli look after the riders for a while and then ride towards a burning carcasses. Gimli starts to search in what is left of the Uruks and suddenly pulls out a small belt.

Gimli : "It's one of them little belts."

Legolas : "Hiro îth… ab 'wanath..."

Aragorn cries out and falls down on his knees.

Gimli : "We failed them."

Something on the ground catches Aragorn's attention.

Aragorn : "A hobbit lay here, and the other. They crawled."

Aragorn starts to follow the tracks, flashbacks are shown and we see what happened to Merry and Pippin.

Aragorn : "Their hands were bound Their bonds were cut. They ran over here and were followed. The tracks lead away from the battle into Fangorn Forest."

Gimli : "Fangorn. What madness drove them in there ?"

~~~~~¤¤¤~~~~~

We now see Merry and Pippin running into the forest, being followed by an Orc.

Pippin : "Did we lose him ? I think we lost him."

But suddenly Grishnak appears again.

Grishnak : "I’m gonna rip out your filthy little innards ! Come here !"

Merry and Pippin hide behind a tree.

Merry : "Trees ! Climb a tree !"

They climb a tree, Merry watches out for Grishnak.

Merry : "He's gone."

Suddenly Merry is pulled down to the ground by Grishnak. Pippin looks down at Merry, who is fighting with the Orc, but when he turns his head he sees that the tree on which he just climbed has eyes and starts to move. Pippin loose his grip, but Treebeard catches him as he falls. Then Treebeard stomps on the Orc and grabs Merry.

Treebeard : "Little orcs ! Hooraroooom..."

Pippin : "It's talking, Merry. The tree is talking !"

Treebeard : "Tree ?! I am no tree. I am an ent."

Merry : "A treeherder ! A shepard 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's 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 mischeif 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... Haflings ! Shirefolk !"

Treebeard : "Maybe you are and maybe you aren't. The White Wizard will know."

Pippin : "The White Wizard ?"

Merry : "Saruman."

Treebeard drops them on the ground. When the Hobbits turn around they see the White Wizard, standing in a white light.

Sam and Frodo follow Gollum and reach the borders of the Emyn Muil.

Gollum : "See, see, we have led you out ! Hurry hurry, says hurry. Very lucky we find you."

Gollum jumps on a rock and when Sam walks by he says :

Gollum : "Nice hobbit."

Sam's foot slipps into muck.

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 move 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. Swift and quick as shadows we must be."

When the Hobbits looks into the water they see faces of dead people swimming in there.

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 the name. This way. Don't follow the lights. Careful now, or hobbits go down to join the dead ones and light little candles of their own."

Frodo looks into the face of one of the Dead. As he stares at it, he suddenly falls into the water.

Sam : "Frodo !"

In the water Frodo sees more and more faces and hands which grab for him. Suddenly he is pulled out of the water by Gollum.

Frodo : "Gollum."

Gollum : "Don't follow the lights !"

Sam : "Mr. Frodo! Are you alright ?"

In the night, Sam is sleeping, Frodo hears Gollum talking to himself.

Gollum : "Sooo bright. Sooo beautiful. Our preciousss..."

Frodo : "What did you say ?"

Gollum : "Master should be resting. Master needs to keep up his strength."

Frodo : "Who are you ?"

Gollum : "Mustn't ask us. Not its 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 a sad story."

Gollum : "They do not see what lies ahead, when sun has failed and moon is dead."

Frodo : "You were not so very 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... S... S...Smeagol…"

Suddenly the cry of a Nazgul is heard. Sam wakes up.

Sam : "Black Riders !"

Gollum : "Hide ! Hide !"

But Frodo is not able to move. He feels the influence of the Ring and of the Nazgul. Sam drags Frodo behinds some bushes. A flying Nazgul appears.

Gollum : "They will see us! They will see us !"

Sam : "I thought they were dead !"

Gollum : "Dead ? No, you cannot kill them. No. Wraiths ! Wraiths on wings ! They are calling for it. They are calling for the preciousss."

Frodo grabs for the Ring, but Sam sees it and grabs Frodo's hand.

Sam : "Mr. Frodo ! It's alright."

The Nazgul fly back to Mordor again.

Gollum : "Hurry, hobbits. The black gate is very close."

In Fangorn Forest, the Three Hunters are searching for the Hobbits.

Aragorn : "These are strange tracks."

Gimli : "The air is so close in here."

Legolas : "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger."

Strange noises are heard.

Legolas : "The trees are speaking to each other."

Aragorn : "Gimli ! Lower your axe."

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."

They turn around and try to attack the Whitw Wizard who is now standing in front of them. But Gimli's axe and Legolas' arrow are deflected and Aragorn is forced to let his sword fall down as it becomes very hot.

White Wizard : "You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits."

Aragorn : "Where are they ?"

White 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 of the Wizard disappears and Gandalf is seen.

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."

In a flashback Gandalf is shown, fighting with the Balrog.

Gandalf : "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 light in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."

Aragorn : "Gandalf !"

Gandalf : "Gandalf ? Yes... That's 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."

Gandalf leads them out of the forest.

Gandalf : "One stage of the journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."

He whistles and a white horse appears.

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."

Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ride towards Edoras.

Treebeard walks through the forest, Merry and Pippin sitting on his shoulders.

Treebeard : "My home. I sleep 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 tree 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 left to manage them."

Frodo and Sam reach, led by Gollum, the Black Gate of Mordor which is closed and guarded by many Orcs.

Gollum : "The Black Gate of Mordor."

Sam : "God save us. Well, Gaffer'd 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."

Sam : "Well, that’s it then. We cannot get past that."

Suddently the Gate starts to open.

Sam : "Look ! The gate, it's opening ! I can see a way down."

Sam moves closer to the edge of the rock on which he is laying but suddenly the rock breaks aways and Sam falls down.

Frodo : "Sam, no !"

Frodo follows Sam.

Two soldiers walk into the direction of Frodo and Sam. Frodo puts his elven cloak over Sam and himself. The soldiers stops right in front of them but don't see them. The two soldiers leave again and walk with the other soldiers through the Balck Gate which already starts to close again. Frodo prepares to run after the soldiers through the Gates.

Frodo : "I do not ask you to come with me, Sam."

Sam : "I know, Mr Frodo. I doubt even these elvish cloaks will help us in there."

Frodo : "Now !"

In the moment they want to start running, Gollum pulls them back.

Gollum : "No ! No, no master ! They'd catch you ! They'd catch you! Don't take it to him ! He wants the preciousss. Always he's looking for it ! And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him. But we mustn't let him have it. There's another way. More secret and dark way."

Sam : "Why haven't you spoken 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 is a path, and some stairs, and then a tunnel."

Frodo : "He's 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."