The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Page #13

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Strider is grimly listening to the sounds from his room.

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

Wide on:
the RINGWRAITHS step back from the slashed beds in

triumph. CLOSE ON: a hacked blanket is pulled back to reveal

nothing but a shredded pillow. The RINGWRAITHS SHRIEK WITH

RAGE!! INSERTS:
Sam sits up with a start! Close on: Another

shredded pillow is revealed! More Shrieks of rage. INSERT:

PIPPIN AND MERRY wake with a start.

CUT TO:

INT. STRIDER'S ROOM -- NIGHT

WIDE ON:
Sam, Merry, and Pippin have been sleeping on

Strider's bed. Frodo stands next to Strider by the window,

peering out nervously as furious Ringwraith screeches echo

across the courtyard from the Hobbits room.

FRODO:

Where are they?

STRIDER:

They were once men. Strider glances

quickly at Frodo, then looks away...

(CONTINUED)

51.

CONTINUED:

STRIDER (V.O.) (CONT'D)

(quietly)

Great Kings of men. Then Sauron the

deceiver gave to them Nine Rings of

Power. Blinded by their greed they took

them without question, one by one falling

into darkness and now they are slaves to

his will.

Strider looks from the window as the Ringwraiths gallop down

the Bree Streets. CLOSE ON: Strider turns back to the

Hobbits, his face lit faintly by the Glowing Embers of the

Fire.

STRIDER (CONT'D)

They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths, neither

living or dead. At all times they feel

the presence of the ring...drawn to the

power of the one..they will never stop

hunting you.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHETWOOD FOREST -- DAY

ANGLE ON:

STRIDER, MERRY, PIPPIN, AND FRODO march through a gloomy,

overgrown forest. Sam follows at the read leading "Bill", a

scrawny pony, who is laden with supplies.

FRODO:

Where are you taking us?

STRIDER:

Into the wild.

Frodo watches uneasily as Strider moves off into the cover of

the trees...

MERRY:

(whispered aside)

How do, we know this Strider is a friend

of Gandalf?

FRODO:

We have no choice but to trust him.

STRIDER:

But where is he leading us?

ANGLE ON:

(CONTINUED)

52.

CONTINUED:

Strider stops, casts a glance back at Sam.

STRIDER (CONT'D)

To Rivendell, Master Gamgee...to the

house of Elrond.

SAM looks excited.

SAM:

Did you hear that, Bill? Rivendell!

We're going to see the Elves!

Strider leads the Hobbits through the gloom of the forest.

CUT TO:

EXT. MIDGEWATER MOORS -- DAY

Aerial on:
Strider leading Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin

across the windswept moors. The hobbits suddenly stop and

unstrap their knapsacks.

STRIDER:

Gentlemen, we do not stop until

nightfall.

PIPPIN:

What about breakfast?

STRIDER:

You've already had it.

PIPPIN:

We've had one, yes...but what about

Second Breakfast?

Strider stares at Pippin blankly, then turns away, shaking

his head.

MERRY:

I don't think he knows about second

breakfast, Pip.

PIPPIN:

What about Elvenses, Luncheon, Afternoon

Tea, dinner...he knows about them,

doesn't he?

MERRY:

I wouldn't count on it.

An apple is thrown to Merry, who deftly catches it. Another,

aimed at Pippin, catches him on the forehead.

(CONTINUED)

53.

CONTINUED:

MERRY (CONT'D)

(exasperated)

Pippin!

The hobbits trudge through rain, looking tired, hungry, and

miserable.

CUT TO:

INT. ORTHANC ANTE-CHAMBER -- NIGHT

Saruman stands over the Palantir, his hands cupping the

massive eye.

SARUMAN:

(whisper)

The power of Isengard is at your command,

Sauron, Lord of the Earth.

ON THE SOUNDTRACK: BLACK SPEECH FILLS THE ROOM...ADMIST THE

HARSH, GUTTURAL WORDS THE VOICE OF SARUMAN EMERGES.

SARUMAN:

Build me an army worth of Mordor.

INT. ORTHANC ANTE-CHAMBER -- NIGHT

Saruman is seated as his ORC OVERSEER approaches.

ORC OVERSEER:

What orders from Mordor, my Lord. What

does the eye command?

SARUMAN:

We have work to do.

CUT TO:

INT. ISENGARD -- NIGHT

CLOSE ON:
GANDALF...lying unconscious on a cold obsidian

floor. He wakes to the sound of ripping and tearing...rising

onto his knees...lifting his head... Gandalf stands as the

camera pulls back to reveal him stranded on the summit of

Orthanc. He is marooned on the tiny, flat peak, surrounded

on all sides by a sheer 500 FOOT DROP. Another whispering

wail rends the air. Gandalf crosses quickly to the edge and

peers down:
POV: One of the beautiful Isengard trees is being

ripped from the ground by the ORCS. Gandalf looks on in

Horror as ORCS hack into the trunk with axes.

ANGLE ON:

(CONTINUED)

54.

CONTINUED:

SARUMAN stands in Rain looking out into the dark night...the

ORC overseer sidles up to him, axe in hand, sweating with

exertion.

ORC OVERSEER:

The trees are strong, my Lord. Their

roots go deep.

SARUMAN:

Rip them all down.

CAMERA CIRCLES SUMMIT: MORE AND MORE TREES are hauled down

and killed...as Gandalf looks on in helpless despair.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WEATHERHILLS -- DAY

Wide on:
The rugged countryside as the hobbits journey on,

lead by Strider. Strider stops before a distant hill, topped

by an Ancient Ruin.

SARUMAN:

This was once the great Watchtower of

Amon Sul. We shall rest here tonight.

CUT TO:

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