The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Page #11

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GA ND ALF (c on t'd )

Faramir? ... This is not the first halfling

to have crossed your path ...

FARAMIR shakes his head.

FARAMIR:

No.

PIPPIN:

(disbelief)

You've seen Frodo and Sam?

FARAMIR NODS.

GANDALF:

Where? When?

(CONTINUED)

Final Revision - October, 2003 49.

CONTINUED:
( 2 )

FARAMIR:

In Ithilien, not two days ago. Gandalf -

they are taking the road to the Morgul

Vale.

GANDALF:

(shocked realisation)

. . . And then the Pass of Cirith Ungol.

CLOSE ON:
GANDALF, deeply troubled.

PIPPIN:

What does that mean? What's wrong?

GANDALF:

(urgent)

Faramir . . . Tell me everything.

EXT. CIRITH UNGOL STAIRS - NIGHT

ANGLE ON:
FRODO and SAM following GOLLUM up the dizzying

STAIRWAY, carved into the SHEER CLIFF.

The STEPS are NARROW, UNEVENLY SPACED, and many are BROKEN.

They are so STEEP that FRODO and SAM climb as if on a LADDER ·

their desperate FINGERS clinging to the STEPS ABOVE - trying

not to look at the LONG BLACK FALL below them.

ANGLE ON:
FRODO'S foot slips and for a brief moment he is

HANGING PRECARIOUSLY from the ROCK-FACE.

GOLLUM:

Careful, Master - careful! Very far to

fall. Very dangerous on the stairs.

EXT. CIRITH UNGOL LEDGE - NIGHT

ANGLE ON:
GOLLUM peering down from ABOVE . . . he has reached a

SMALL LEDGE.

GOLLUM:

Come, Master.

(CONTINUED)

Final Revision - October, 2003 50.

CONTINUED:

CLOSE ON:
FRODO tries to CLAMBER UP onto the LEDGE . . . as he

does, the RING slips out of his SHIRT and DANGLES in FULL

VIEW of GOLLUM!

CLOSE ON:
GOLLUM rears back in shock . . . tenses like a CAT,

EYES WIDENING.

GOLLUM (cont'd)

(dreamlike)

Come to Smeagol.

ANGLE ON:
FRODO, head bowed, trying to pull himself up. He

doesn't notice GOLLUM'S HAND reaching for the RING !

CLOSE ON:
GOLLUM'S FINGERS . . . closing in on the RING ...

ANGLE ON:
SAM, still TEETERING on the PRECIPITOUS STAIRS

DRAWS HIS SWORD!

SAM:

(alarmed yell)

Mr Frodo!

STARTLED, FRODO looks down at SAM, losing his footing in the

process . . .

SAM (cont'd)

Get back, you. Don't touch him!

ANGLE ON:
SAM'S horrified face as . . .

GOLLUM'S out-stretched HAND suddenly GRASPS FRODO'S ARM

pulling him SAFELY onto the LEDGE.

GOLLUM glares down at SAM.

GOLLUM:

Why does he hates poor Smeagol? What has

Smeagol ever done to him? Master?

CLOSE ON:
GOLLUM blinks, masking the MALICE of his EYES with

their heavy pale lids.

(CONTINUED)

Final Revision - October, 2003 51.

CONTINUED:
(2)

GOLLUM (cont'd)

Master carries heavy burden . . . Smeagol

knows . . . Heavy, heavy burden. Fat one

cannot know. Smeagol look after Master.

CLOSE ON:
GOLLUM creeps CLOSE to FRODO and WHISPERS in his

ear:

GOLLUM (cont'd)

(rasping whisper)

He wants it - he needs it. Smeagol sees it

in his eye. Very soon he will ask you for

it - you will see . . . the Fat One will take

it from you.

CLOSE ON:
FRODO looking at SAM . . . his hand strays to his

NECK, closing tight around the RING.

CUT TO:

EXT. OSGILIATH - DAY

HIGH ABOVE OSGILIATH, the SINISTER PROFILE of the WITCH KING

seated on a FELL BEAST as GOTHMOG stands, awaiting his

orders.

WITCH KING:

(clinical)

Send forth all legions. Do not stop the

attack until the city is taken. Slay them

all.

GOTHMOG:

What of the Wizard?

SLOWLY the WITCH KING' S HEAD turns . . .

WITCH KING:

I shall break him.

EXT. MINAS TIRITH BATTLEMENTS - DAY

REACTIONS:
OF GONDORIAN SOLDIERS upon the MINAS TIRITH

BATTLEMENTS . . . AWE . . . FEAR . . . TERROR!

(CONTINUED)

Final Revision - October, 2003 52,

CONTINUED:

ANXIOUS SOLDIERS crowd around GANDALF.

SOLDIER 1

(worried)

Where are Theoden's riders?

SOLDIER 2

Will Rohan's army come?

SOLDIER 1

Mithrandir?

G AN DA LF:

(grim)

Courage is the best defence that you have

now.

CUT TO:

INT. MINAS TIRITH TOWER HALL - DAY

CLOSE ON:
PIPPIN . . . DRESSED in OVER-SIZED ARMOUR . . . kneels

before DENETHOR . . .

PIPPIN:

(nervous)

Here do I swear fealty and service to

Gondor, in peace or war, in living or

dying, from this hour henceforth, until my

lord release me, or death take me.

DENETHOR:

And I shall not forget it, nor fail to

reward that which is given ...

ANGLE ON:
DENETHOR proffers his RING which PIPPIN kisses . . .

DENETHOR (cont'd)

... fealty with love ...

DENETHOR gently raises PIPPIN'S head . . . DENETHOR'S eyes meet

FARAMIR' S.

DENETHOR (cont'd)

... valour with honour ...

(CONTINUED)

Final Revision - October, 2003 53.

CONTINUED:

DENETHOR crosses to a table ... Attendants BEGIN SERVING him

a ME L . . .

A:

DENETHOR (cont'd)

... disloyalty with vengeance.

DENETHOR addresses his meal . . .

DENETHOR (cont'd)

(reasonable)

I do not think we should so lightly abandon

the outer defences; defences that your

brother long held intact.

FARAMIR:

What would you have me do?

DENETHOR:

I will not yield the River and Pelennor

unfought - Osgiliath must be retaken.

FARAMIR:

My Lord, Osgiliath is overrun.

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