The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Page #2

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IMAGE:
SILT SWIRLS...A THIN WHITE HAND reaches

down...grasping the RING...

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

Until, when chance came, it ensnared a

new bearer!

IMAGE:
THE THIN WHITE HAND opens to reveal one ring.

GOLLUM (V.O.)

My Precious...

5.

IMAGE:
MIST SHROUDED MOUNTAINS...

GALADRIEL (V.O.)

The Ring came to the creature Gollum, who

took it deep into the tunnels of the

Misty Mountains.

IMAGE:
THE GLOOM of a MOUNTAIN CAVERN..a MURKY POOL of

WATER...in the DARKNESS the SHADOWY OUTLINE of an EMACIATED

FIGURE.

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

And there, it consumed him. A RASPY VOICE

mutters in the half light...

GOLLUM:

It came to me. My own. My love...

(ecstatic whisper)

My preciousness.

GALADRIEL (V.O.)

The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long

life. For five hundred years it poisoned

his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's

cave...

FADE TO BLACK:

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

It waited.

FADE UP:
Bathed in COLD MOONLIGHT, the WORLD lies DARK and

STILL...the unsettled quiet before the storm...

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

Darkness crept back into the forests of

the world. Rumor grew of a Shadow in the

East...whispers of a nameless fear. And

the Ring of Power perceived...its time

had now come. It abandoned Gollum.

SLOW MOTION:
unseen by its KEEPER..THE RING falls to the

MUDDY FLOOR of a MOUNTAIN TUNNEL...

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

But something happened then the Ring did

not intend...

FADE TO BLACK:

IMAGE:
FUMBLING in the dark, a SMALL HAND closes over the

6.

RING.

GALADRIEL:

It was picked up by the most unlikely

creature imaginable...

BILBO:

(to himself)

What's this?

A YOUNGISH LOOKING BILBO BAGGINS peers down at what lies in

his hand...PERPLEXED by what he has found.

GALADRIEL (V.O.)

A Hobbit....Bilbo Baggins of the Shire.

BILBO:

(surprised)

A Ring.

SUDDENLY! A VOICE SCREAMS...ITS ANGUISH RINGING through the

COLD, DANK TUNNELS...

GOLLUM (V.O.)

Lost! Lost! My Precious is lost!!

Frightened Bilbo quickly POCKETS the ONE RING and hurries on.

DISSOLVE TO:

WIDE ON:
THE CAMERA SOARS AWAY FROM THE MOUNTAINS. MOVING

FASTER AND FASTER...THEIR DARK GREEN FORESTS AND JAGGED

WHITE PEAKS RECEDING INTO THE SHROUD OF MIST

GALADRIEL (V.O.)

For the time will soon come when Hobbits

will shape the fortunes of all.

FADE TO BLACK:

FADE IN:

EXT. HOBBITON WOODS -- DAY

ANGLE ON:
TWO HOBBIT FEET

resting on a small rock...rising out of the LONG, OVERGROWN

GRASSES SUPER:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING SUPER: THE

SHIRE....60 YEARS LATER CAMERA TRACKS TO: a Figure lies

beneath the dappled sunlight of an old tree.

(CONTINUED)

7.

CONTINUED:

White flowers are scattered among the Well seeded grasses.

An idyllic setting at the end of a long hot summer... the

figure is reading a book. ON THE SOUNDTRACK: In the distance,

growing louder..over the Gentle clip clop of an approaching

cart and horse can be heard the HUMMING OF A DEEP VOICE to

the tune of "The Road Goes Ever On and On..."

SUDDENLY! The figure in the grass sits up...looking straight

at camera is a handsome young HOBBIT, with dark curly hair

and deep blue eyes. This is FRODO BAGGINS...his EYES alight

with EXCITEMENT! Tossing away the long stem of grass in his

mouth, Frodo runs off.

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIRE LANE -- DAY

The cart rattles along a leafy lane, driven by a stooped

figure in Grey.

INTERCUT WITH; SHOTS OF FRODO RUNNING... CAREERING DOWN A

HILL. . .JUMPING OVER LOGS... DODGING TREE BRANCHES.

ANGLE ON:

The shambling OLD PONY snorts and rears as... SUDDENLY FRODO

appears on a bank above the cart.

FRODO:

You're late.

CLOSE ON:
GANDALF glowers at the young Hobbit...

GANDALF:

A Wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins,

nor is he early. He arrives precisely

when he means to.

They look at each other a moment..then both start laughing as

FRODO'S face breaks into a smile and he leaps on to the front

seat of the cart.

FRODO:

It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!

Next to Gandalf, we see how small Hobbits are...Frodo is 3

foot 6 inches tall.

GANDALF:

You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle

Bilbo's birthday?

CUT TO:

8.

EXT. HOBBITON FIELDS -- DAY

Wide on:
The cart rattles past a FIELD LUPIN being tended by

HOBBITS.

FRODO:

What news of the outside world? Tell me

everything!

ANGLE ON:

Gandalf looks down at Frodo, a twinkle in his eye.

GANDALF:

What, everything? Far too eager and

curious for a Hobbit. Most unnatural...

Wide on:
The cart rattles over a Stone bridge towards a Busy

Hobbit Marketplace.

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

Well, what can I tell you? Life in the

wide world goes on much as if it has past

age. Full of its own comings and goings,

scarcely even aware of the existence of

Hobbits...

Close on:
Gandalf as he surveys the peaceful scene before

him.

GANDALF (CONT'D)

...for which I am very thankful.

ANGLE ON:

Hobbits look up exclaiming in wonder and excitement as the

cart bearing Gandalf and Frodo rolls past the Green Dragon

Inn...towards... Wide on: The party field. Where scOrcs of

Hobbits are busy preparing for the big night.

GANDALF (CONT'D)

Ah, the long expected party. So, how is

the old rascal? I hear it's going to be

a Party of Special Magnificence.

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