The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Page #12

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MERRY:

This, my friend, is a pint.

PIPPIN:

It comes in pints? I'm getting one!

Sam watches Pippin rise unsteadily to his feet and head to

the bar.

SAM:

You've had a whole half already. Merry

watches Pippin go.

A COUPLE OF SWARTHY MEN leaning against the bar glance at

Frodo, then quickly look away.

SAM (CONT'D)

(tense)

That fellow's done nothing but stare at

you since we've arrived.

Sam indicates a BROODING STRANGER who sits alone at a table

in the far corner, smoking a curiously carved long stemmed

pipe, peering from beneath a travel stained cowl with

gleaming eyes. Frodo gestures to Butterbur...

FRODO:

Excuse me, that man in the corner, who is

he?

BUTTERBUR:

He's one of them Rangers; they're

dangerous folk they are, wandering the

wilds. What his right name is, I never

heard, but round here he's known as

Strider.

FRODO:

(to himself)

Strider.

BENEATH TABLE:
FRODO'S fingers are nervously TOYING WITH THE

RING.

47.

CLOSE ON:
FRODO

Sweat runs down his brow. The Strange hum of the Ring spills

into the Soundtrack.

"Baggins...Baggins..." a creepy whisper seems to fill Frodo's

head...sound that dissolves into Pippin's loud voice:

PIPPIN:

Baggins? Sure, I know a Baggins...he's

over there...

ANGLE ON:
PIPPIN

sitting at the bar, chatting with Locals. Frodo leaps to his

feet and pushes his way towards the bar.

PIPPIN:

(loudly)

Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin

once removed, on his mother's side and my

third cousin twice removed on his

father's side...if you follow me.

Frodo grabs Pippin's sleeve, spilling his beer.

FRODO:

Pippin!

PIPPIN:

Steady on, Frodo!

Pippin pushes Frodo away...he stumbles backwards, and falls

to the floor. At that instant, the Inn goes silent and all

the attention turns to Frodo...

CLOSE ON:

The ring...in agonizing Slow motion we watch as it seems to

hang in the air for a split second...then crashes down onto

his out stretched finger. FRODO VANISHES! There is a sharp

intake of breath...followed by total silence.

CUT TO:

EXT. BREE COUNTRYSIDE -- NIGHT

The RINGWRAITHS turn sharply in their saddles...Instantly

aware that the ring is being worn. They spur their horses

towards the distant lights of Bree.

48.

INT. "PRANCING PONY" INN -- NIGHT

Sam looks sick; Pippin instantly sobers, realizing his folly;

the brooding stranger frowns...and the inn erupts into

excited babble.

IN THE TWILIGHT WORLD:

ANGLE ON:

FRODO:
as he finds himself in the TWILIGHT WORLD of the ring:

THE EXCITED CROWD ARE suddenly moving in slow

motion...distorted voices...a weird photographic negative

quality. FRODO is moving in real time; against the slow

motion background. He suddenly clutches his head as he is

hit with quick images...of a GREAT EYE! AN EVIL CAT-LIKE

EYE, wreathed in flames.

VOICE OF SAURON:

There is no life here in the void...only cold...only death...

FRODO is terrified! He rolls under a table, desperately

pulling the ring from his finger. FRODO MATERIALIZES into the

real world. AT THAT MOMENT: A LARGE HAND reaches under the

table and Grabs Frodo by the collar, and DRAGS HIM AWAY!

CUT TO:

INT. PRANCING PONY--CORRIDOR -- NIGHT

Frodo is roughly pushed against the wall. The Brooding

stranger looms over him.

STRIDER:

You draw far too much attention to

yourself...Mr. Underhill

CUT TO:

INT. HOBBIT'S ROOM, PRANCING PONY -- NIGHT

Frodo is pushed into the Hobbit's room by Strider.

FRODO:

What do you want?

STRIDER:

A little more caution from you...that is

no trinket you carry.

FRODO:

I carry nothing.

(CONTINUED)

49.

CONTINUED:

STRIDER:

Indeed? I can usually avoid being seen

if I wish, but to disappear entirely...

that is a rare gift.

FRODO:

Who are you?

STRIDER:

Are you frightened?

FRODO:

Yes.

STRIDER:

Not nearly frightened enough. I know

what hunts you. Frodo jumps at the sound

of a noise in the corridor. Strider

deftly draws his sword.

The door bursts open and Sam, Merry and Pippin appear on the

doorway. Sam is Squaring off with is fists, Merry brandishes

a candlestick, and Pippin a chair.

SAM:

(angry)

Let him go or I'll have you, Longshanks!

STRIDER SHEATHS his sword, a slight smile playing on his

lips.

STRIDER:

You have a stout heart, little Hobbit,

but that alone won't save you...You can

no longer wait for the Wizard, Frodo.

They're coming.

CUT TO:

EXT. GATEHOUSE, BREE -- NIGHT

The gate keeper comes out of his Lodgings with a lantern...a

look of fear on his face. He approaches the closed gate with

great apprehension. CLOSE ON: The Gatekeeper peers out of his

Peephole.

CRASH!!

The gate crashed down on the gatekeeper...as four RINGWRAITHS

ride into Bree!

50.

EXT. BREE STREETS -- NIGHT

The four RINGWRAITHS fly done the empty streets, like

horsemen of the apocalypse.

INT. PRANCING PONY INN -- NIGHT

LOW ANGLE:
the front door FLIES OPEN. The FOUR RINGWRAITHS

rush into the PRANCING PONY with WICKED SWORDS DRAWN. CLOSE

ON:
BUTTERBUR hiding behind his bar... trembling and sweating

in TERROR.

INT. HOBBIT'S ROOM, PRANCING PONY -- NIGHT

INSERT:
MERRY SNORING SOFTLY ON HIS PILLOW.

INSERT:
PIPPIN stirs slightly, then settles back to sleep.

WIDE ON:
the door creaks open...THE FOUR RINGWRAITHS silently

slide into the Hobbit's room. The LOOM above each bed,

raising their SHINING SWORDS ABOVE THE SLEEPING HOBBITS.

QUICK INSERT:
Sam's eyes open wide. In unison, the RINGWRAITS

STAB THE HOBBITS, in a Slashing, hacking frenzy.

INT. STRIDER'S ROOM -- NIGHT

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