The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Page #8

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GANDALF (V.O.)

I don't know how long they tortured

him...but amidst the endless screams and

inane babble, they discerned two words.

GOLLUM:

(screaming)

S...Shire! Baggins!

CUT TO:

INT. BAG END LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

CLOSE ON:
FRODO'S HORRIFIED FACE!

FRODO:

Shire! Baggins! That will lead them

here!

CUT TO:

EXT. SHIRE LANE, SOUTH FARTHING -- NIGHT

IMAGE:
On a dark country lane, a Hobbit bounder lifts his

watch lantern in alarm.

HOBBIT BOUNDER:

Halt! Who goes there?

Out of the darkness thunder two BLACK RIDERS...A LETHAL SWORD

swings down at the small Hobbit bounder.

CUT TO:

INT. BAG END LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

FRODO thrusts the ring at Gandalf.

FRODO:

Take it! Take it!

(CONTINUED)

30.

CONTINUED:

GANDALF:

No, Frodo...

FRODO:

You must take it.

GANDALF:

You cannot offer me this ring.

FRODO:

I'm giving it to you!

GANDALF:

Don't tempt me, Frodo. I dare not take

it, not even to keep it safe.

CLOSE ON:
THE RING IN FRODO'S HAND...

GANDALF:

Understand, Frodo...I would use this Ring

from a desire to do good...but through

me, it would wield a power too great and

terrible to imagine.

FRODO:

But it cannot stay in the Shire!

GANDALF:

No, no it can't.

CLOSE ON:
THE RING IN FRODO'S CLENCHED HAND.

FRODO:

What must I do?

CUT TO:

INT. FRODO'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

ANGLE ON:
FRODO

throwing clothes into a knapsack...Gandalf watches him,

making plans...

GANDALF:

You must leave, and leave quickly. Get

out of the Shire.

FRODO:

Where? Where shall I go?

GANDALF:

Make for the village of Bree.

(CONTINUED)

31.

CONTINUED:

FRODO:

Bree? What about you?

GANDALF:

I will, be waiting for you at the Inn of

the Prancing Pony. Frodo packs his food

into his knapsack.

FRODO:

And the ring will be safe there?

GANDALF:

I don't know, Frodo. I don't have any

answers. I must see the Head of my

Order. He is both wise and powerful.

Trust me, Frodo. He'll know what to go.

CUT TO:

INT. BAG END LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

Frodo is preparing to leave.

GANDALF:

You'll have to leave the name of Baggins

behind you...for that name is not safe

outside the Shire. GANDALF helps FRODO

into his coat.

GANDALF (CONT'D)

Travel only by day and stay off the road.

FRODO:

(thinking)

I can cut across country easily enough.

Gandalf looks at the young Hobbit, moved by his courage.

GANDALF:

My dear Frodo, Hobbits really are amazing

creatures. You can learn all that there

is to know about their ways in a month,

and yet, after a hundred years, they can

still surprise you.

SUDDENLY! A SOUND from outside.

GANDALF (CONT'D)

Get down!

GANDALF FREEZES... he moves quietly towards the window, eyes

wide with tension. He raises his staff above the window, and

slams it down on the intruder. THERE IS A YELP OF PAIN!

(CONTINUED)

32.

CONTINUED:

Gandalf hauls a small figure into the room...SAM GAMGEE

sprawls across the floor! He looks up in terror as Gandalf

looms over him.

GANDALF (CONT'D)

(angry)

Confound it all! Samwise Gamgee, have

you been eavesdropping?

SAM:

I ain't been dropping no eaves, sir!

Honest. I was just cutting the grass

under the window there, if you follow

me...

GANDALF:

It's a little late for trimming the

hedges, don't you think?

SAM:

I heard raised voices...

GANDALF:

What did you hear? Speak!

SAM:

(panicked)

Nothing important...that is, I heard a

good deal about a ring...and a Dark Lord.

And something about the end of the world,

but...Please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't

hurt me! Don't turn me into anything

unnatural!

GANDALF:

No?

FRODO SMILES:

GANDALF:

Perhaps not. I've thought of a better

use for you.

CUT TO:

EXT. HOBBITON FIELDS -- PRE DAWN

Wide on:
HOBBITON...shrouded in a white veil of MIST. WIDER:

To reveal Gandalf, Frodo and Sam hurrying across a ploughed

field, away from Hobbiton! Gandalf leads his Horse...Frodo

and Sam are carrying knapsacks.

(CONTINUED)

33.

CONTINUED:

GANDALF (V.O.)

Come along, Samwise...keep up...

CUT TO:

EXT. HOBBITON WOODS -- DAY

Gandalf leads Frodo and Sam under the cover of Woods.

GANDALF (V.O.)

Be careful, both of you. The Enemy has

many spies in his service, many ways of

hearing...birds, beasts...

Gandalf takes Frodo to one side...

GANDALF (CONT'D)

(low voice)

Is it safe?

FRODO NODS...he pats his pocket.

GANDALF (CONT'D)

Never put it on, for then the agents of

the Dark Lord will be drawn to its

power...Always remember, Frodo, the ring

is trying to get back to its master...it

wants to be found. Gandalf wheels his

horse and gallops away.

CUT TO:

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