"THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING" Screenplay By Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson Based on the Book by J.R.R. Tolkien Final Revision - October, 2003 BLACK SCREEN... SUPER: New Line Cinema Presents SUPER: A WingNut Films Production BLACK SCREEN: EXT. RIVER ANDUIN - DAY ANGLE ON: SMEAGOL and his cousin, DEAGOL, sit in a SMALL CORACLE, their FISHING LINES draped over the side... SUNSHINE glinting off the surface of the water. An idyllic image. SUDDENLY... DEAGOL's FISHING ROD BENDS under the weight of a LARGE FISH. DEAGOL (excited) Smeagol, I've got one! (he laughs) I've got a fish, Smeagol! SMEAGOL (excitedly) Go on, pull it in. DEAGOL pulls on his ROD, but is HAULED OVERBOARD and disappears underwater with a SPLASH! ANGLE ON: SMEAGOL leaning over the BOAT... CONCERNED. SMEAGOL (worried) Deagol! EXT. UNDERWATER, RIVER ANDUIN - DAY ANGLE ON: DEAGOL is towed to the RIVER BED by a LARGE FISH... he suddenly lets go of the line... eyes fixed on a SHINING GOLD RING, lying in the SILT. EXT. RIVER ANDUIN, GLADDEN FIELDS - DAY CLOSE ON: DEAGOL climbs out of the WATER, onto the RIVER BANK. CLOSE ON: the RING revealed in DEAGOL'S PALM... ANGLE ON: SMEAGOL peers over his shoulder... the GOLD reflects in SMEAGOL'S EYES! ON SOUNDTRACK: The HUM of the RING growing LOUDER... SMEAGOL Give us that, Deagol, my love! DEAGOL turns to look at him, a smirk on his face. DEAGOL Why? CLOSE ON: SMEAGOL moves towards DEAGOL... SMEAGOL Because its my birthday, and I wants it. ANGLE ON: SMEAGOL jumps on DEAGOL...STRANGLING HIM! SMEAGOL rips the GLITTERING RING from DEAGOL'S LIMP HAND. SMEAGOL My precious! CLOSE ON: SMEAGOL slips the RING onto his FINGER and DISAPPEARS. DISSOLVE TO: INT. MISTY MOUNTAINS CAVES - DAY IMAGES: SMEAGOL descending into madness. His body TWISTS and DISTORTS... he becomes a CREEPY, SHRIVELLED wretch... finally crawling into a DARK CAVE beneath the MISTY MOUNTAINS. SMEAGOL (V.O.) They cursed us. Murderer. Murderer they called us. They cursed us and drove us away. And we wept, Precious, we wept to be so alone. And we forgot the taste of bread, the sound of trees, the softness of the wind... We even forgot our own name. (in a choking cough) Gollum! Gollum! ANGLE ON: GOLLUM in the CAVE staring at the RING in his hand. GOLLUM It's mine! My own. It came to me. SMEAGOL (ecstatic) My Precious. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. CULVERT, VALE OF MORGUL - DAWN ANGLE ON: A GRIM LANDSCAPE, covered in THORN BUSHES and the scars of RECENT FIRES. The DARK MORGUL VALLEY disappears up towards the MOUNTAINS. SETTLE ON: FRODO and SAM in a FILTHY CULVERT. SAM twitches in a RESTLESS SLEEP. But FRODO is awake... His hand trails down to the CHAIN around his NECK... A SUDDEN HISS! FRODO quickly hides the RING as GOLLUM peers at them with GLEAMING EYES. GOLLUM Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies! We must go, yes, we must go at once! SAM STIRS, looks at FRODO... SAM Haven't you had any sleep, Mr. Frodo? FRODO shakes his HEAD. SAM I've gone and had too much! SAM looks at the dead, BROWN TWILIGHT, below the LOWERING CLOUD. SAM It must be getting late. FRODO No... no it isn't. It isn't midday yet. The days are growing darker. The GROUND suddenly QUIVERS, as a ROLLING, RUMBLING NOISE ECHOES down the VALLEY. GOLLUM Come on, must go, no time... SAM Not before Mr. Frodo's had something to eat. GOLLUM ...no time to lose, silly. SAM shoots GOLLUM a HOSTILE LOOK and turns back to rummage in his KNAPSACK. He holds up a piece of dried LEMBAS BREAD to FRODO. SAM Here. FRODO What about you? SAM (lying badly) I'm not hungry -- leastways, not for lembas bread. FRODO Sam. SAM (confessing) Alright. We don't have that much left. We have to be careful or we're going to run out. You go ahead and eat that, Mr. Frodo. I've rationed it. There should be enough. FRODO looks at SAM questioningly. FRODO For what? SAM The journey home. FRODO says nothing. EXT. CULVERT, VALE OF MORGUL - DAY WIDE: FRODO and SAM follow GOLLUM as he leads them on the wining, torturous path... clambering through BRACKEN and over JAGGED ROCKS. GOLLUM Come, Hobbitses. Very close now. Very close to Mordor! No safe places here. Hurry! Shhh. EXT. THE FOREST OF ISENGARD - DAY GANDALF leads ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, THEODEN and GIMLI through dark woodland... The MOVING FOREST of FANGORN... opens before them... creating an AVENUE of TREES, which allows them access along the old ISENGARD ROAD. A THICK, HUMID MIST fills the forest. SUPER: The Return of the King ANGLE ON: The FOEST SEPARATES ahead, REVEALING: the RUINS of ISENGARD. EXT. ISENGARED GATE - DAY WIDE ON: All about, the GREAT STONE WALL is cracked and splintered into countless jagged shards. Far off, half veiled int he swirling STEAM, the TOWER of ORTHANC stands... Unbroken by the storm. Pale waters lap about its feet. ANGLE ON: TWO SMALL HOBBITS are sitting on the SMASHED WALL ...MERRY and PIPPIN! SPREAD before them is a feast of BREADS, MEATS and WINE. They PUFF on long pipes as they lie back in the SUN. PIPPIN I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon, after a hard days work. MERRY Only, you've never done a hard days work. MERRY cuts PIPPIN off before he can respond in kind. MERRY Welcome, my Lords, to Isengard. ANGLE ON: GANDALF, ARAGORN, LEGOLAS and GIMLI stare at the SIGHT before them... GIMLI You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting and smoking. PIPPIN (mouth full) We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good. GIMLI (suddenly interested) Salted pork? GANDALF (shaking his head) Hobbits! MERRY We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard. WIDE: GANDALF leads the company through the flotsam and jetsam which floats upon the muddied waters surrounding the TOWER... TREEBEARD, the GIANT ENT, strides towards them, ALARMING all but GANDALF. TREEBEARD Huraroom... Young Master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a wizard to be managed here... Locked in his tower. GANDALF And there Saruman must remain, under your guard, Treebeard. GIMLI Let's just have his head and be done with it. GANDALF stares up the long length of the DARK TOWER... GANDALF (quietly) No. He has no power any more. THE OLD ENT nods his head wisely... TREEBEARD The filth of Saruman is washing away... Trees will come back to live here, young trees... wild trees. CLOSE ON: PIPPIN, his eye caught by something lying in the WATER ANGLE ON: The MUDDY waters GLOWING wit a golden light... ARAGORN turns as, quick as a FLASH, PIPPIN has jumped off his horse and picked up -- the PALANTIR! TREEBEARD Well bless my bark! GANDALF (urgent) Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad! PIPPIN doesn't move, his eyes staring in wonder at the smooth black stone... GANDALF Quickly, now! RELUCTANTLY, PIPPIN hands the PALANTIR to GANDALF... who immediately smothers it in his cloak. ANGLE ON: GANDALF looks back at PIPPIN... troubled. EXT. EDORAS - DAY WIDE: BACK SHOT - a GROUP OF RIDERS gallop towards the ROHAN CITY of EDORAS... PUSH IN: EOWYN standing alone outside the GOLDEN HALL, waiting... CUT TO: INT. EDORAS, GOLDEN HALL - EVENING WIDE: A ROARING FIRE; a LAMB ROASTING on SPIT; LONG TABLES laden with FOOD; BARRELS of WINE; a banquet is-laid ready for the returning soldiers. THEODEN Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead! ANGLE ON: Amidst the cheering crowd, EOWYN moves towards ARAGORN... As she proffers the CHALICE their eyes meet. EOWYN Westu Aragorn hal. EOWYN watches as ARAGORN moves away... a voice speaks in her ear. THEODEN I am happy for you. EOWYN looks at her UNCLE, as THEODEN follows her gaze. THEODEN He is an honourable man. EOWYN (smiling) You are both honourable men. THEODEN It was not Theoden of Rohan who led our people to victory. EOWYN looks at him questioningly, disturbed by his tone. THEODEN Don't listen to me -- you are young, and tonight is for you. ANGLE ON: EOWYN watches concerned as her UNCLE moves away. ANGLE ON: MERRY & PIPPIN are in full voice, on top of one of the TABLES... both hold very large mugs of ALE in their hands. MERRY & PIPPIN (singing) Oh, you can search -- up and down As many lands as can be found But you'll never find a beer so brown As the one we drink in our home town You can keep your fancy ales You can drink them by the flagon But the only brew, for the brave and true Comes from the Green Dragon! ANGLE ON: GANDALF laughing and clapping the HOBBITS. ARAGORN steps up beside him, SMILING at the floorshow. ARAGORN No news of Frodo? GANDALF No word... nothing. ARAGORN We will have time. GANDALF turns quickly to ARAGORN. ARAGORN Every day Frodo moves closer to Mordor. GANDALF watches his friend's face... seeking reassurance. GANDALF Do we know that? ARAGORN (gently) What does your heart tell you? GANDALF (with a small smile) That Frodo is alive. (to himself) Yes -- yes, he is alive. EXT. MORGUL VALLEY - NIGHT ANGLE ON: FRODO and SAM lie asleep amidst scrubby bushes near a stagnant pool. SMEAGOL lies nearby, muttering in his sleep. SMEAGOL Too risky, too risky. The thieves! They stole it from us. Kill them... kill them... kill them both! SMEAGOL wakes suddenly, shaking, his face drenched in SWEAT, eyes wide in horror. SMEAGOL No! GOLLUM (hissed whisper) Shhh! Quiet! SMEAGOL'S features suddenly transform into the MALEVOLENT face of GOLLUM! GOLLUM Mustn't wake them, mustn't ruin it now! SMEAGOL casts a quick glance over his SHOULDER to the SLEEPING figures of FRODO and SAM as he clambers off his ROCK... silently sidling towards the EDGE of a STAGNANT POOL. SMEAGOL They knows, they knows, they suspects us. SMEAGOL stares into the MURKY depths of the WATER. The SURFACE RIPPLES as the face of GOLLUM appears as SMEAGOL'S REFLECTION. GOLLUM What is it saying, my Precious, my love? Is Smeagol losing his nerve?? SMEAGOL No! Not! Never!! Smeagol hates nasty Hobbitses! Smeagol wants to see them dead! GOLLUM And we will -- Smeagol did it once... (sly) ...He can do it again. FLASH INSERT: SMEAGOL choking DEAGOL... Fingers locked tight around his THROAT. GOLLUM It's ours -- ours! SMEAGOL We must get the Precious. We must get it back. GOLLUM Patience, patience, my love. First we must lead them to her. SMEAGOL We lead them to the windy stairs. GOLLUM (prompting) Yes, the stairs... and then? SMEAGOL Up, up, up, up the stairs we go... until we come to... (naughty excitement) ...the Tunnel! GOLLUM (quiet) And when they go in, there's no coming out. She's always hungry, she always needs to feed. She must eat, all She gets is filthy Orcses. SMEAGOL And they doesn't taste very nice, does they, Precious? GOLLUM (sinister) No... not very nice at all, my love. She hungers for sweeter meats... CLOSE ON: SAM... his EYES flicker OPEN... GOLLUM "Hobbit meat." And when She throws away the bones and the empty clothes, then we will find it... SMEAGOL And take it for Me! GOLLUM (correcting) For us... SMEAGOL Yes, we, we meant for us... (choking cough) Go Hum! Go Hum! GOLLUM (sly) The Precious will be ours once the Hobbitses are dead! SUDDEN ANGLE ON: SAM image mirrored in the water as he SMACKS GOLLUM on the HEAD with his POT! SAM (yelling) You treacherous little toad! SAM drops the POT and FLINGS himself ON TOP of GOLLUM! GOLLUM SCREAMS... his ARMS and LEGS FLAILING WILDLY! GOLLUM (crying) No! Not! Help! Master! ANGLE ON: FRODO staggers over to SAM and PULLS HIM OFF GOLLUM. FRODO No, Sam! Leave him alone! CLOSE ON: GOLLUM, huddled on the ground SOBBING and WHIMPERING. SAM (fuming) I heard it from his own mouth he means to murder us! SMEAGOL Never! Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly! He's a horrid, fat Hobbit who hates Smeagol and who makes up nasty lies! SAM makes for SMEAGOL again... with a look of MURDEROUS RAGE. SAM You miserable little maggot! I'll stove your head in! FRODO grabs SAM'S ARM. FRODO Sam... SAM Call me a liar! You're a liar! FRODO Sam! If you scare him off, we're lost. SAM pulls away from FRODO... SAM I don't care! I can't do it, Mr. Frodo. I won' t wait around for him to kill us! FRODO (fierce whisper) I'm not sending him away. SAM stares at FRODO... at a loss. SAM You don't see it, do you? He's a villain! FRODO (lowers voice) We can't do this by ourselves, Sam. Not without a guide. I need you on my side. ANGLE ON: SAM, his face softening. SAM (taken aback) I'm on your side, Mr. Frodo. FRODO I know, Sam, I know. (whisper) You must trust me. FRODO beckons to GOLLUM. FRODO Come, Smeagol. GOLLUM turns slowly, staring at SAM through hooded, HATE- FILLED EYES... and SMILES. CUT TO: EXT. EDORAS, GOLDEN HALL - EARLY DAWN ARAGORN joins LEGOLAS on the STEPS to the GOLDEN HALL, oblivious to the CHILL WIND... they look out across the SLEEPING CITY to the LOOMING MOUNTAIN RANGE BEYOND... DARK CLOUDS mark the sky. LEGOLAS The stars are veiled, something stirs in the east... A sleepless malice. LEGOLAS looks at ARAGORN... realisation in his face. LEGOLAS The eye of the enemy is moving. INT. EDORAS, SLEEPING QUARTERS - EARLY DAWN CLOSE ON: PIPPIN... he is AWAKE! He sits up... ANXIOUS, FIDGETY... Suddenly he hops out of bed and creeps towards the SLEEPING FORM of GANDALF. MERRY (whispers) What you doing? PIPPIN gasps with FRIGHT! MERRY is sitting up, wiping sleep from his eyes. He moves on... ANGLE ON: A sleeping GANDALF lies with eyes wide open! But PIPPIN is undeterred... MERRY sits up, a worried look on his face. MERRY Pippin? Pippin? Pippin! What are you doing? With quick stealth, PIPPIN lifts the WRAPPED PALANTIR from GANDALF'S grasp... MERRY Pippin, are you mad? PIPPIN I just want to look at it. Just one more time. MERRY Put it back! Put -- it -- back! PIPPIN unwraps the PALANTIR and as MERRY looks on HORRIFIED, he gazes INTENTLY into it. MERRY Pippin! As PIPPIN lays his hands on the CRYSTAL, a SICKLY PALE light slowly spreads from the GLASS BALL onto PIPPIN'S FACE... his EYES WIDEN. MERRY Pippin! EXT. EDORAS GOLDEN HALL - EARLY DAWN On the STEPS of the GOLDEN HALL, LEGOLAS turns to ARAGORN. LEGOLAS (urgent) He is here. INT. EDORAS, SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT PIPPIN suddenly starts to HYPERVENTILATE... He STAGGERS BACKWARDS, PALANTIR held rigidly before him... THE GREAT EYE OF SAURON seems to LEAP from the FIRE... PIPPIN is bathed in the FIERY RED LIGHT. PIPPIN sinks to his KNEES, his mouth open in a soundless SCREAM... He FALLS BACKWARDS, powerless to release the FIERY GLOBE. MERRY Help! Someone help him! GANDALF wakes with a start! Just as ARAGORN enters, and wrenches the PALANTIR from PIPPIN'S HANDS... PIPPIN FALLS to the FLOOR!... ARAGORN spins away, reeling backwards, the PALANTIR falling from his HANDS... The PALANTIR rolls across the FLOOR, causing EVERYONE in the room to COWER BACK. ANGLE ON: GANDALF throws a BLANKET over it, ANGRY DISBELIEF on his face! He rounds on PIPPIN. GANDALF Fool of a Took! GANDALF lifts the HOBBIT'S SLUMPED HEAD. MERRY Pippin! PIPPIN is trembling... GANDALF calms him... PIPPIN Gandalf! Forgive me. GANDALF Look at me! What did you see? PIPPIN (disjointed) A tree... There was a white tree... in a courtyard of stone... It was dead! FLASH INSERT: A lone white tree silhouetted by flames. PIPPIN The city was burning... GANDALF Minas Tirith??? (to PIPPIN) Is that what you saw? PIPPIN (terrified) I saw... I saw him... I could hear his voice in my head. GANDALF And what did you tell him? Speak! PIPPIN He asked me my name, I didn't answer... he hurt me... CLOSE ON: GANDALF stares at PIPPIN with a FRIGHTENING INTENSITY... GANDALF What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring? INT. EDORAS, GOLDEN HALL - DAY THEODEN stands in the GOLDEN HALL, gravely listening to GANDALF... ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI look on... GANDALF There was no lie in Pippin's eyes; a fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. ANGLE ON: GIMLI lets out a sigh of relief. GANDALF turns to look at THEODEN. GANDALF We've been strangely fortunate. What Pippin saw in the Palantir was a glimpse of our enemy's plan. GANDALF looks from on to the other of the, gathered company. GANDALF Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. The WIZARD turns towards ARAGORN... GANDALF The heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still -- strength enough left to challenge him. THEODEN listens intently, saying nothing. GANDALF (warningly) Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner. He will raise Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees the return of the King. CLOSE ON: ARAGORN... he knows GANDALF SPEAKS THE TRUTH. ANGLE ON: GANDALF rounds on THEODEN... GANDALF If the beacons of Condor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war! THEODEN holds GANDALF'S gaze. THEODEN (quietly) Tell me. Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? ANGLE ON: ARAGORN turns to look at THEODEN. THEODEN What do we owe Gondor? ARAGORN (low and urgent) I will go. GANDALF (hurried) No! ARAGORN They must be warned. GANDALF They will be. (low voice, to Aragorn) You must come to Minas Tirith by another road... (cryptic) Follow the river, look to the black ships. (louder, to all) Understand this... things are now in motion that cannot be undone. GANDALF turns on his heel... and stares at a surprised PIPPIN. GANDALF I ride for Minas Tirith! And I won't be going alone! EXT. EDORAS STREETS - DAWN ANGLE ON: GANDALF hurries along the STREETS... PIPPIN and MERRY run alongside trying to KEEP UP... GANDALF Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst. Hurry, hurry! PIPPIN catches up to MERRY. PIPPIN (worried) Where are we going? MERRY Why did you look -- why do you always have to look? PIPPIN (subdued) I don't know... I can't help it. MERRY turns away... MERRY You never can. PIPPIN (lightly) I'm sorry, alright? I won't do it again. This is too much for MERRY. He turns on PIPPIN. MERRY Don't you understand... the Enemy thinks you have the Ring... he's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here! PIPPIN And you. You're coming with me... Merry? MERRY Come on! PUSH IN: PIPPIN'S face as MERRY strides away. CUT TO: INT. EDORAS STABLES - DAWN ANGLE ON: PIPPIN is dumped unceremoniously onto the back of SHADOWFAX as GANDALF hurriedly prepares to leave... PIPPIN (nervous) How far is Minas Tirith? GANDALF Three days ride as the Nazgul flies and you'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail. MERRY thrusts a SMALL PACKAGE into PIPPIN'S HAND... MERRY Here -- something for the road. PIPPIN stares down at the leather-bound bundle of PIPE-WEED. PIPPIN The last of the Longbottom Leaf. MERRY I know you've run out... you smoke too much, Pip. PIPPIN But we'll see each other soon? A WORRIED MERRY exchanges glances with GANDALF. PIPPIN Won't we? MERRY I don't know... I don't know what's going to happen. GANDALF mounts SHADOWFAX. PIPPIN (rising panic) Merry? GANDALF spurs the GREAT HORSE forward. GANDALF Run Shadowfax, show us the meaning of haste. PIPPIN (panicked) Merry! SHADOWFAX thunders out of the STABLES! CLOSE ON: MERRY'S devastated face. EXT. GATES OF EDORAS - DAY ANGLE ON: SHADOWFAX carried GANDALF and PIPPIN out of the GATE and down the WINDING ROAD towards the PLAINS QF ROHAN. EXT. EDORAS GATES LOOK-OUT - DAY ANGLE ON: MERRY clambers up a WATCHTOWER, ARAGORN in pursuit. ANGLE ON: The SMALL FIGURE as he watches his best friend DISAPPEAR into the DISTANCE... CLOSE ON: ARAGORN... he knows what it is to lose someone. EXT. RIVENDELL FOREST - DAY WIDE: ARWEN -- escorted by a SMALL ENTOURAGE of ELVES -- rides through the gathering darkness of a PINE FOREST ... ELROND (V.O.) Take her by the safest road. A ship lies anchored in the Grey Havens. It waits to carry her across the Sea... The last journey of Arwen Undomiel. SLOW MOTION: As ARWEN rides through the FOREST the FIGURE of a SMALL BOY of about 5 SUDDENLY runs across the path in front of her. ARWEN reigns in ASFALOTH... something about the BOY intrigues her -- but she does not know why... As ARWEN watches the BOY moves away, the TREES begin to thin... the BOY continues running. One by one the TREES TRANSFORM into TALL WHITE PILLARS... ARWEN'S POV: The BOY now stands within a VISION of the majestic architecture of the great Gondorian city of MINAS TIRITH. A SILHOUETTED FIGURE appears in the distance and moves towards the CHILD... the BOY runs to the FIGURE. ARWEN watches as the FIGURE holds out its arms -- swinging the LAUGHING CHILD into the AIR... The figure turns to reveal... ARAGORN, a little older, dressed in the casual finery of a GONDORIAN NOBLE. CLOSE ON: The CHILD, now in ARAGORN'S ARMS looks directly at ARWEN... it is a QUIET LOOK filled with INFINITE SADNESS. ARWEN'S eyes drop to the CHILD'S CHEST... around the CHILD'S neck hangs the EVENSTAR... CLOSE ON: ARWEN as she realizes she is staring at a future that can never be, the CHILD she and ARAGORN will never have. INSERT: ELROND speaking to his daughter... ELROND (V.O.) Arwen, there is nothing for you here... only death. ARWEN shuts her eyes... when she opens them again the VISION is gone... she is staring at DARK TREES once more. ELF ESCORT (O.S.) Lady Arwen? ARWEN turns towards her COMPANION who stares at her, concerned. ELF ESCORT We cannot delay. SUDDENLY: ARWEN wheels ASFALOTH around... riding away. ELF ESCORT (calling) My Lady! EXT. RIVENDELL - DAY WIDE SHOT: ARWEN'S HORSE gallops over the BRIDGE and through the GATES into RIVENDELL. EXT. ELROND'S BALCONY, RIVENDELL - DAY ANGLE ON: ELROND seated alone... ARWEN runs up the STEPS towards him... ARWEN What did you see? CLOSE ON: ELROND stands -- stunned. ELROND Arwen? ANGLE ON: ARWEN breathing hard, walking towards ELROND with a fierce light in her eyes... ARWEN You have the gift of foresight -- tell me what you have seen. CLOSE ON: ELROND his face grim. ELROND I looked into your future and I saw death. ARWEN There is also life. Her father turns away ... ARWEN You saw there was a child... you saw my son. ELROND stares into space, the fight seems to go out of him. He won't look at her... ELROND (quietly) That future is almost gone. ARWEN But it is not lost... ELROND Nothing is certain. ANGLE ON: ARWEN gently takes her FATHER'S face in her hands and turns him toward her... ARWEN Some things are certain. If I leave him now I will regret it forever. (whisper) Ada, it is time. INSERT IMAGE: A HOODED FIGURE ascends a CURVED STAIRCASE towards a GALLERY... The FIGURE stops before a STATUE that holds the BROKEN SHARDS of an ancient sword in its arms. ARWEN From the ashes of fire shall be woken, a light from the shadow shall spring, renewed shall be blade that was broken... INSERT IMAGE: The BLADE shattering in several fragments as ISLIDUR brandishes NARSIL at SAURON. ARWEN The crownless again shall be King... CLOSE ON: The HOODED FIGURE looks up into the sorrowful face of the STATUE... The figure is ARWEN... ARWEN (V.O.) Reforge the sword. INT. ARWEN'S CHAMBER, RIVENDELL - NIGHT ANGLE ON: ELROND stares at his daughter, unwavering... ARWEN Ada... ANGLE ON: ELROND turns away... ANGLE ON: ARWEN in ANGUISH, sits on her bed, the book falls to the FLOOR... CLOSE ON: ELROND picks up her JOURNAL and takes one of her hands in his... ELROND Your hands are cold. (distressed) The life of the Eldar is leaving you. CLOSE ON: ELROND'S despair is plain... ELROND It has begun. ARWEN This was my choice. Ada... Whether by your will or not, there is no ship now that can bear me hence. ANGLE ON: ELROND, he understands now that to protect his daughter, he must trust her... INSERT IMAGES: A BROKEN SWORD GLOWS with RED HEAT... It's BLADE in SEVERAL FRAGMENTS. IMAGE: A HEAVY HAMMER pounds the RED-HOT BLADE on an ANVIL... As ELVEN-SMITHS TEMPER the STEEL. IMAGE: ELROND'S FACE lit by FLICKERING FIRE as SPARKS fly in. the RIVENDELL FORGE. CLOSE ON: The SWORD is withdrawn from a POOL OF STEAMING WATER... LIGHT SHIMMERS as the WATER DROPS slide down the BLADE of NARSIL, the SWORD that was broken has been remade. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. FOOTHILLS OF WHITE MOUNTAINS - NIGHT CLOSE ON: PIPPIN asleep... GANDALF'S PROTECTIVE ARM around him... ...as SHADOWFAX THUNDERS through the NIGHT. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. FOOTHILLS OF WHITE MOUNTAINS - DAY ANGLE ON: SHADOWFAX powers along the COUNTRYSIDE. ANGLE ON: PIPPIN, huddled in front of GANDALF, the WIND sailing through his hair. GANDALF We have just passed into the realm of Condor! EXT. MINAS TIRITH - DAWN ANGLE ON: SHADOWFAX gallops up onto a LOW RIDGE... ANGLE ON: Before them is the DARK MASS of Mount Mindolluin, its tall WHITE FACE whitening in the RISING SUN. Upon its outthrust knee is the Guarded City: MINAS TIRITH. With SEVEN WALLS OF WHITE STONE, so strong and old that it seems to have been not built, MINAS TIRITH looks carven by giants out of the bones of the earth. GANDALF Minas Tirith... City of the Kings. Suddenly the SUN climbs over the eastern hills, and sends forth a SHAFT OF SUNLIGHT that GLEAMS against the face of the CITY. The TOWER OF ECTHELION stands high within the topmost walls. WHITE BANNERS break and FLUTTER from the BATTLEMENTS in the morning breeze. EXT. MINAS TIRITH STREETS - DAY GANDALF steering SHADOWFAX up the STEEP STREETS of MINAS TIRITH. ANGLE ON: The stares of frightened GONDORIANS as GANDALF and PIPPIN gallop through the WINDING STREETS... AERIAL SHOT: SHADOWFAX, carrying GANDALF and PIPPIN up towards the 7th LEVEL. MINAS TIRITH is built in 7 LEVELS -- each behind a CIRCULAR DEFENSIVE WALL. Each level rises -- the city reaches a height of nearly 1000 FEET on its TOPMOST LEVEL. A towering BASTION of NATURAL ROCK -- shaped like a sharp ship's prow -- bisects the city from the 2nd LEVEL to the TOP. EXT. MINAS TIRITH, COURT OF THE KINGS - DAY SHADOWFAX arrives at a GREAT CITADEL on the SUMMIT of the CITY -- 1000 FEET above the PELENNOR FIELDS. GANDALF and PIPPIN dismount, leaving the GUARDS of the CITADEL to tend to SHADOWFAX. GANDALF hurries off... CLOSE ON: PIPPIN as he takes in his surroundings, his eye caught by a DEAD TREE that stands in the middle of the COURT, FOUR SOLEMN CITADEL GUARDS standing sentry around it. PIPPIN (whisper) It's the tree. (hurrying after GANDALF) Gandalf! Gandalf! GANDALF Yes, the white tree of Gondor. The tree of the King. GANDALF leads PIPPIN across a FLAT COURT of WHITE STONES, surrounded by GREEN LAWNS... towards a GREAT HALL beneath THE GLEAMING TOWER. GANDALF Lord Denethor, however, is not the King. He is a steward only. A caretaker of the throne. GANDALF lowers his voice, as they approach the TOWER HALL. GANDALF (quietly) Now, listen carefully. Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise... And do not mention Frodo... Or the Ring... And say nothing of Aragorn either. (hesitates) In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all, Pippin Took. CLOSE ON: PIPPIN, suitably chastened, nods. INT. MINAS TIRITH TOWER HALL - DAY ANGLE ON: A LONG SOLEMN HALL... with ROWS OF BLACK MARBLE PILLARS. Between the pillars stand a silent company of TALL KINGS carved in cold STONE. GANDALF strides down the HALL, with PIPPIN following obediently behind. At the FAR END, upon a DAIS OF MANY STEPS, sits a LARGE, EMPTY THRONE... and on the wall behind is the IMAGE of a FLOWERING WHITE TREE set in GEMS. At the FOOT of the DAIS, in a small STONE CHAIR, sits an OLD MAN, gazing at his lap: DENETHOR -- the Lord Steward of CONDOR. GANDALF Hail, Denethor, Son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor. DENETHOR does not look up as GANDALF and PIPPIN approach. GANDALF I come with tidings in this dark hour -- and with counsel. DENETHOR slowly raises COLD EYES... DENETHOR (bitter) Perhaps you come to explain this? DENETHOR holds up BOROMIR'S BROKEN HORN... DENETHOR Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead? CLOSE ON: PIPPIN remembering... INSERT IMAGE: BOROMIR, as URUK-HAI arrows thud into his body, he falls to his KNEES... PIPPIN starts forward unable to say nothing... PIPPIN Boromir died to save us... my kinsman and me... he fell, defending us from many foes. CLOSE ON: DENETHOR pain flickers in his eyes. GANDALF (hurried whisper) Pippin! PIPPIN drops to his knee offering DENETHOR his SWORD... PIPPIN I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt. DENETHOR looks at PIPPIN blankly, overcome with grief. GANDALF (to PIPPIN) Get up! (addressing DENETHOR) My Lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming... the Enemy is on your doorstep. As Steward, you are charged with the defence of this city. Where are Condor's armies? DENETHOR gaze turns slowly on GANDALF... GANDALF You still have friends -- you are not alone in this fight. Send word to Theoden of Rohan. Light the beacons. DENETHOR smiles at GANDALF, as if amused by something. DENETHOR (softly) You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor and with your right you would seek to supplant me. CLOSE ON: GANDALF looks shocked, DENETHOR'S eyes NARROW. DENETHOR (contemptuous) I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan. Oh, yes. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North -- last of a ragged house, long bereft of Lordship. GANDALF (stung) Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King -- Steward! DENETHOR (explosive) The rule of Condor is mine, and no others! CLOSE ON: PIPPIN, horrified. GANDALF looks at Denethor closely for a moment, then turns on his heel to leave, PIPPIN follows. GANDALF Come. GANDALF and PIPPIN stride from the TOWER HALL... DENETHOR slumps back into his SEAT. INT. MINAS TIRITH, PIPPIN'S QUARTERS - NIGHT ANGLE ON: PIPPIN is carefully laying out a SMALL UNIFORM of the ROYAL GUARD on a bed. PIPPIN So, I imagine this is just a ceremonial position... I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any fighting... do they? WIDE: GANDALF STANDING QUIETLY on a BALCONY that overlooks the GREAT CITY. GANDALF You're in the service of the Steward now -- you're going to have to do as you're told, Peregrin Took... (under his breath) Guard of the Citadel! EXT. MINAS TIRITH BALCONY - NIGHT ANGLE ON: PIPPIN as he stares up at the vast NIGHT SKY. PIPPIN It's so quiet. GANDALF watches the young HOBBIT. GANDALF It's the deep breath before the plunge. PIPPIN I don't want to be in a battle... but waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse. (tense) Is there any hope, Gandalf -- for Frodo and Sam? GANDALF joins PIPPIN as they look towards the distant, jagged MOUNTAINS of MORDOR... GANDALF There never was much hope. PIPPIN looks up at him, unnerved. GANDALF gives him a small self-deprecating smile... GANDALF Just a fool's hope. GANDALF and PIPPIN share a quiet moment as they stare out towards the FIERY SKY over MORDOR... GANDALF (V.O.) (grim) Our enemy is almost ready, his full strength gathered. Not only Orcs, but men as well. INSERT IMAGE: GIANT MUMAKIL carrying ARMIES upon their backs GANDALF (V.O.) Legions of Haradrim from the South...... INSERT IMAGE: CORSAIR SHIPS sail up the RIVER... GANDALF (V.O.) Mercenaries from the coast... All will answer Mordor' s call. ANGLE ON: GANDALF... he is almost talking to himself now... like a man unable to prevent a sure disaster. GANDALF This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammerstroke will fall hardest. INSERT IMAGE: The BATTLE-SCARRED CITY of OSGILIATH -- last bastion between MINAS TIRITH and MORDOR... GANDALF (V.O.) If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defence of this city will be gone. CLOSE ON: PIPPIN... desperately seeking reassurance. PIPPIN But we have the White Wizard. That's got to count for something. GANDALF looks down at PIPPIN, he says nothing... PIPPIN (nervous) Gandalf? GANDALF stares into the distance as if seeing something in his mind's eye. INSERT IMAGE: A TOWERING, HOODED FIGURE, DRESSED in BLACK, is being dressed in ARMOUR by attendant ORCS... GANDALF (V.O.) Sauron has yet to reveal his deadliest servant... The one who will lead Mordor's armies in war, the one they say no living man can kill. CLOSE ON: GANDALF still staring intently as if facing his enemy in person. GANDALF The Witchking of Angmar... (he looks down at a startled PIPPIN) You've met him before... ANGLE ON: PIPPIN looks up at GANDALF, afraid to ask... GANDALF He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop. INSERT IMAGE: FRODO screaming as the MORGUL BLADE is driven into his SHOULDER... PIPPIN blanches at the MEMORY... GANDALF He is the Lord of the Nazgul -- the greatest of the nine... EXT. MINAS MORGUL - NIGHT GANDALF (V.O.) And Minas Morgul is his lair. ANGLE ON: FRODO and SAM clamber into a SMALL GULLY beside a ROUGH-HEWN ROAD... GOLLUM CAREFULLY peers OVER the lip of the GULLY. ANGLE ON: MINAS MORGUL, a MASSIVE DEAD CITY, set upon a ROCKY KNEE at the HEAD OF THE morgul valley. CORRUPT and LOATHSOME, it glows with a SICKLY LUMINOUS LIGHT -- like a CORPSE CANDLE. TWO HUGE, BESTIAL STONE STATUES guard the BRIDGE that leads to the CITY... GOLLUM (whisper) The Dead City, very nasty place, full of... enemies. GOLLUM, FRODO and SAM hurry from their COVER scampering in the SHADOWS towards MINAS MORGUL... GOLLUM (hissed whisper) Quick! Quick! They will see, they will see. CLOSE ON: FRODO... he LOOKS UP at the HIDEOUS STATUES. His SENSES START REELING. GOLLUM Come away, come away. Look! We have found it. FRODO and SAM look AGHAST at the sight of a NARROW, NEARVERTICAL STAIRCASE, cut into the ROCK-FACE... Directly in FRONT of the MINAS MORGUL GATES. GOLLUM The way into Mordor! ANGLE ON: Following the STAIRS... HIGHER and HIGHER up the sheer western side of the MORGUL VALLEY -- to the HIGH PEAKS of the razor-like MOUNTAINS OF MORDOR. GOLLUM The secret stairs... climb! SUDDENLY! FRODO staggers across the ROAD... as if some FORCE, other than his own will, is at work! He lurches towards the BRIDGE... towards MINAS MORGUL! SAM No, Mr. Frodo! GOLLUM (desperate) Not that way! SAM runs after FRODO, catching him in his arms as he STUMBLES. GOLLUM What's it doing? SAM No! SAM and GOLLUM pull FRODO from the BRIDGE. FRODO (disorientated) They're calling me! FRODO falls to the GROUND. AT THAT MOMENT: the GROUND QUIVERS, and a great RUMBLING NOISE rolls across the ground and ECHOES in the mountains. The cold, dull MORGUL VALLEY is suddenly VIOLENT and FIERCE, as UPRUSHING FLAME springs from MOUNT DOOM. MINAS MORGUL ANSWERS: A FLARE of LIVID LIGHTNING, FORKS of BLUE FLAME, SPRING UP from the TOWER into the SULLEN CLOUD. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS TIRITH BALCONY - NIGHT ANGLE ON: VIOLENT FIERY FLASHES light the CLOUD above MORDOR... SHARP THUNDER rolls across 40 MILES to MINAS TIRITH. CLOSE ON: PIPPIN looking on in FRIGHTENED AWE. GANDALF'S comforting HAND rests on his shoulder. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS MORGUL - NIGHT SAM and GOLLUM lead FRODO to the STAIRS... ABOVE MINAS MORGUL the SKY is BRIGHT with LIGHT as the CITY, erupts... GOLLUM Hide! Hide! INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS TIRITH BATTLEMENTS - NIGHT ANGLES ON: FACES of SOLDIERS and CIVILIANS of MINAS TIRITH as they watch from the PARAPETS of the CITY. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS MORGUL - NIGHT FRODO and SAM sink to the ground, holding their hands against their ears, as out of the CITY comes a RENDING SCREECH... SHIVERING, rising swiftly to a PIERCING PITCH beyond the range of hearing. The terrible CRY ends, falling back through a long sickening WAIL, to SILENCE. ANGLE ON: FRODO slowly RAISES HIS HEAD... across the NARROW VALLEY, directly opposite the HOBBITS, the LORD OF THE NAZGUL -- the WITCH KING -- suddenly RISES UP out of the DEAD CITY on his FELL-BEAST! ...as the WITCH KING settles on the BATTLEMENTS of MINAS MORGUL. His DARK HEAD turns this way and that, sweeping the shadows with unseen eyes -- as if SENSING the RING! ANGLE ON: FRODO breaking out into a COLD SWEAT. He squeezes his eyes shut, clutching at his SHIRT as if it's on FIRE! FRODO (gasping) I can feel his blade! THE CAVERNOUS GATE of MINAS MORGUL swings OPEN... ...and a HUGE ARMY MARCHES OUT! RANK upon RANK of ARMOUR CLAD ORCS, moving SWIFTLY and SILENTLY, pass close to FRODO and SAM in an ENDLESS STREAM of RAGGED COLUMNS! EXT. MINAS TIRITH BALCONY - NIGHT CLOSE ON: GANDALF... GANDALF (quiet) We come to it at last... the great battle of our time. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS MORGUL - NIGHT ANGLE ON: 75,000 ORCS MARCHING TO WAR, just below FRODO and SAM. GANDALF (V.O.) This war is long planned. Sauron has hated the west through many ages... It is a hatred that flows from the depths of time, across the deeps of the Sea. The WITCH KING SWOOPS down the VALLEY to join the HEAD of his ARMY. He vanishes into the GLOOM -- a shadow into shadow. CLOSE ON: GOLLUM peers out from his stony hiding place. GOLLUM (urgent) Come, hobbits. We climb -- we must climb! ANGLE ON: FRODO, SAM and GOLLUM climb the STONY STAIRS high above the MARCHING ARMY. EXT. MINAS TIRITH BALCONY - NIGHT ANGLE ON: GANDALF... thinking, calculating... GANDALF (to himself) The board is set, the pieces are moving. EXT. MINAS TIRITH SIXTH LEVEL - NIGHT ANGLE ON: GANDALF striding BACK STREETS of the CITY... so DETERMINED and PURPOSEFUL is he, that PIPPIN has to RUN to keep up. GANDALF suddenly stops and looks down at PIPPIN... GANDALF Peregrin Took, my lad, there is a task to be done. Another opportunity for one of the Shire-folk to prove their great worth! GANDALF kneels down and looks at PIPPIN earnestly, his hand on PIPPIN'S shoulder. GANDALF You must not fail me. GANDALF watches as PIPPIN hurries away. EXT. WEST OSGILIATH, RIVER ANDUIN - NIGHT WIDE ON: An ANCIENT STONE BRIDGE which spans the RUINS of EAST and WEST OSGILIATH -- a once MIGHTY GONDORIAN CITY. WIDE ON: ITHILIEN RANGERS patrolling the BRIDGE and the RIVERBANK. WEST OSGILIATH has fallen into disrepair, but the DESOLATION of EAST OSGILIATH is more pronounced -- it is held by the FORCES of MORDOR. CAMERA tracks down beneath the BRIDGE to the DARK WATERS... catching a STEALTHY MOVEMENT... ANGLE ON: MANY BOATS, carrying MURDEROUS-LOOKING ORCS, are quietly tracking down the RIVER. On board several HUNCHED FIGURES steer with LONG OARS. GOTHMOG (to his oarsmen) Quiet! EXT. WEST OSGILIATH, RIVER ANDUIN - NIGHT CLOSE ON: FARAMIR, CAPTAIN OF CONDOR, as he issues orders to his SOLDIERS. FARAMIR (urgent) To the river -- quick! ANGLE ON: ITHILIEN RANGERS take position; they are all WEATHERED, HARDENED, PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS... Watchful, ready, waiting... GOTHMOG Faster! ON THE RIVER the BOATS quietly advance. ORC COMMANDER Draw swords! ANGLE ON: FARAMIR and his SOLDIERS lie in wait. As the BOATS arrive HUNDREDS of ORCS race ashore. FARAMIR steps out, his SWORD drawn. A FIERCE BATTLE ensues, but FARAMIR is unable to stop the advance as HUNDREDS OF ORCS cross the WIDE BRIDGE into WEST OSGILIATH. EXT. MOUNT MINDOLLUIN - DAWN HIGH ANGLE ON: A DIZZYING VIEW... Looking down on MINAS TIRITH, 1000 FEET BELOW, as PIPPIN desperately scrambles up the ROCKY MOUNTAINSIDE. EXT. MINAS TIRITH BEACON - DAWN PIPPIN clambers over a ROCKY LEDGE and ducks behind a STONE WALL... panting HEAVILY. ANGLE ON: An ancient STONE LEDGE holds a GREAT PILE of FIREWOOD, secured in stacked bundles... The MINAS TIRITH BEACON! TWO bored CITADEL GUARDS sit chatting... passing the long hours. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS TIRITH STREETS - DAWN ANGLE ON: GANDALF as he waits tensely below... INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS TIRITH BEACON - DAWN ANGLES ON: PIPPIN as he stealthily manages to POUR OIL on the WOOD and set a FLAME to it! Within SECONDS, the GREAT PYRE is alight! The GUARDS look on in TOTAL SURPRISE as the FLAMES ERUPT into the TWILIGHT SKY. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. MINAS TIRITH STREETS ANGLE ON: GANDALF as the BEACONS burst into FLAMES... His eyes flash briefly with TRIUMPH before he hurries off... EXT. MINAS TIRITH BATTLEMENTS - DUSK ANGLE ON: The BEACON glows BRIGHTLY on the slopes of MOUNT MINDOLLUIN, high above MINAS TIRITH... PULL BACK: GANDALF hurries to the BATTLEMENT, looking further west along the WHITE MOUNTAINS. GANDALF (to himself) Amon Din... come on... ANGLE ON: a bright FIRE ignites on a DISTANT MOUNTAIN PEAK. NOISY COMMOTION in the city as PEOPLE realise the BEACONS have been lit! SOLDIER (yelling) The beacon! The beacon at Amon Din is lit! FLASH INSERT: DENETHOR staring at the BEACON from the CITADEL WINDOW... a look of BLACK FURY on his face. ANGLE ON: GANDALF, a strange smile plays on his face... GANDALF (to himself) Hope is kindled. CUT TO: EXT. WHITE MOUNTAINS AERIAL - NIGHT AERIAL SHOT: MOVING over the WHITE MOUNTAINS... as the TRAIL of GREAT FIRES slowly winds from PEAK TO PEAK. EXT. EDORAS COURTYARD - DAWN ANGLE ON: A ROCKY PEAK high above EDORAS... a GREAT BEACON FIRE is IGNITED. ON THE SOUNDTRACK: A BELL TOLLS urgently! CLOSE ON: ARAGORN looks tensely out across the MOUNTAINS... PULL BACK: ARAGORN runs towards the GOLDEN HALL. INT. EDORAS, GOLDEN HALL - DAWN CLOSE ON: ARAGORN bursts into the GOLDEN HALL. ARAGORN The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit! Condor calls for aid! ANGLE ON: THEODEN looks up startled. CLOSE ON: EOWYN, EOMER turn to look at their UNCLE... tension builds. CLOSE ON: THEODEN his head lowered... Slowly it rises -- he looks ARAGORN in the EYE. THEODEN Then Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim! EXT. EDORAS COURTYARD - DAWN WIDE ON: EDORAS LOOKOUT... A SOLDIER RINGING the GREAT BELL in alarm as below, in the COURTYARD, SOLDIERS mount their STEEDS amid great activity. ANGLE ON: THEODEN striding purposefully outside, flanked by EOMER and his SOLDIERS... THEODEN Assemble the army at Dunharrow -- as many men as can be found. You have two days... On the third, we ride for Condor... and war! ANGLE ON: THEODEN strides onto the PARAPETS... THEODEN Gamling, make haste across the Riddermark... Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow! ANGLE ON: THEODEN watches as below the SOLDIERS prepare. ANGLE ON: EOWYN hurriedly pulling on RIDING GLOVES, preparing to mount her HORSE. ARAGORN You ride with us? EOWYN turns and runs SMACK into ARAGORN... EOWYN Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the women of the Court to farewell the men. ARAGORN smiles... reaching past her, he lifts a cover to reveal a SWORD, strapped to the side of the saddle of her HORSE. EOWYN deftly pulls the cover back down. She looks at ARAGORN. EOWYN (softly) The Men have found their Captain -- they will follow you into battle, even to death. (quietly) You have given us hope. PULL BACK: to reveal THEODEN stares around at the STREETS and PEOPLE of EDORAS... it is as if he knows he will not see this place again. THEODEN (V.O.) So... It is before the walls of Minas Tirith that the doom of our time will be decided. ANGLE ON: EOMER astride his horse, calls to the assembled SOLDIERS... EOMER Now is the hour! Riders of Rohan -- oaths you have taken. Now, fulfil them all -- to Lord and land! EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY ANGLE ON: THEODEN astride SNOWMANE, as he, EOMER, ARAGORN & MERRY and LEGOLAS & GIMLI ride out AMID a GREAT COLUMN of ROHIRRIM, THUNDERING towards DUNHARROW in the MOUNTAINS. EXT. WEST OSGILIATH, RIVER ANDUIN - DAY ANGLE ON: FARAMIR and his MEN are fighting a losing BATTLE against the MORDOR invasion. MADRIL We can't hold them. The city is lost! FARAMIR Tell the men to break up. We ride for Minas Tirith. ON THE SOUNDTRACK: OMINOUS SOUNDS of WIND RISING... HUGE WINGS BEATING... RANGER Nazgul! SPINNING ANGLE: FARAMIR looks up at the SKY... ITHILIEN RANGERS are suddenly nervous, frightened... A HUGE SHADOW passes overhead! FARAMIR Take cover! A SUDDEN TERRIFYING SHRIEK rends the AIR! FARAMIR Pull back! Pull back to Minas Tirith! ANGLE ON: SOLDIERS RETREATING through the RUINS of the CITY as, high in the sky above, the NAZGUL swoop... ANGLE ON: MADRIL as he is cut down by an ORC... CLOSE ON: MADRIL... his breathing quick and shallow... footsteps approach... ANGLE ON: The HIDEOUSLY deformed features of GOTHMOG standing over the prone figure of the INJURED RANGER. Grabbing a spear from a nearby underling, GOTHMOG drives the shaft into MADRIL'S chest... CLOSE ON: GOTHMOG surveys the carnage with satisfaction. GOTHMOG The age of men is over. The time of the Orc has come. EXT. PELENNOR FIELDS - DAY FARAMIR and a few survivors flee WEST OSGILIATH, desperately riding toward MINAS TIRITH... in the SKY above DARK SHAPES pursue them... ANGLE ON: SUDDENLY, from on HIGH, the NAZGUL strike! TILT DOWN: following the NAZGUL as it SWOOPS out of LOWLYING, MURKY CLOUDS tossing MEN in the AIR like LIMP RAG-DOLLS! AT THAT MOMENT: Across the PLAIN, a FIGURE clothed in WHITE rides towards them! From the BATTLEMENTS of MINAS TIRITH, a call... "The White Rider!" EXT. PELENNOR FIELDS - DAY WIDE ON: GANDALF as he spurs SHADOWFAX forward! PIPPIN clings tightly to the great horses MANE. ANGLE ON: FARAMIR, SWORD in hand, remains at the REAR, trying desperately to fend off the DEADLY ASSAULT... AGAIN the FELL-BEASTS DIVE low... GANDALF thunders into view, raising his STAFF... A SHAFT OF WHITE LIGHT suddenly stabs upwards! The NAZGUL SWERVES AWAY from the LIGHT, as it pierces the LOW CLOUD! For a BRIEF MOMENT, SUNLIGHT streams through the hole onto PELENNOR FIELDS... The NAZGUL circle away from the SUN RAYS, swiftly spiralling higher and higher. The NAZGUL defeated, GANDALF and the RANGERS ride towards the safety of MINAS TIRITH. EXT. MINAS TIRITH GATES - DAY ANGLE ON: IORLAS runs towards the GATES, yelling... IORLAS Open the Gates! Pull! The GREAT GATES OPEN, allowing GANDALF, PIPPIN, FARAMIR and the OSGILIATH SURVIVORS to RIDE IN... Nearly 100 WOUNDED AND SHOCKED MEN. AS GANDALF pulls SHADOWFAX up... FARAMIR Mithrandir! ANGLE ON: FARAMIR STEERS HIS HORSE through the CROWD towards GANDALF... FARAMIR They broke through our defences. They have taken the bridge and the West Bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the River. IORLAS It is as the Lord Denethor predicted -- long has he foreseen this doom! GANDALF Foreseen and done nothing! FARAMIR suddenly STARES at PIPPIN. GANDALF reads the surprise in his eyes. GANDALF 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? 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. 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 (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 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. GOLLUM 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 (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! ANXIOUS SOLDIERS crowd around GANDALF. SOLDIER 1 (worried) Where are Theoden's riders? SOLDIER 2 Will Rohan's army come? SOLDIER 1 Mithrandir? GANDALF (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 ...fealty with love... DENETHOR gently raises PIPPIN'S head... DENETHOR'S eyes meet FARAMIR'S. DENETHOR ...valour with honour... DENETHOR crosses to a table... Attendants BEGIN SERVING him a MEAL... DENETHOR ...disloyalty with vengeance. DENETHOR addresses his meal... DENETHOR (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. DENETHOR Much must be risked in war. Is there a Captain here who still has the courage to do his Lord's will? CLOSE ON: FARAMIR as he finally realises the truth. FARAMIR (quietly) You wish now that our places had been exchanged, that I had died and Boromir had lived? CLOSE ON: For a brief second, DENETHOR seems to hesitate, then... DENETHOR (coldly) Yes, I wish that. FARAMIR Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead. ANGLE ON: FARAMIR bows low to DENETHOR, then turns to leave, stops, turns back... FARAMIR If I should return... think better of me, father. DENETHOR That will depend on the manner of your return. DENETHOR continues with his meal. FARAMIR exits. CUT TO: EXT. CIRITH UNGOL LEDGE - DAWN AERIAL SHOT: HIGH above MINAS MORGUL, on the SMALL LEDGE next to the STAIRS, LIE the FIGURES of FRODO, SAM and GOLLUM. SAM watches a sleeping GOLLUM suspiciously as he desperately tries to stay awake. SLOWLY, INEVITABLY, SAM, falls asleep. CLOSE ON: GOLLUM'S EYES SNAP OPEN... he sits up and quietly crawls towards SAM'S KNAPSACK. SAM breathes deeply now, heavily asleep. GOLLUM grimaces in DISTASTE as he pulls out the LEMBAS BREAD... Quietly he SPRINKLES CRUMBS over the sleeping SAM. ANGLE ON: GOLLUM as he throws the remaining LEMBAS BREAD over the cliff. CLOSE ON: SAM'S EYES flick open... GOLLUM spins around, caught off guard... SAM What are you up to? Sneaking off, are we? SMEAGOL (prevaricating) Sneaking? Sneaking? Fat Hobbit is always so polite. Smeagol shows them secret ways that nobody else could find and they say "Sneak!", "Sneak!" Very nice friends, oh yes, my Precious, very nice. SAM Alright, alright -- you just startled me is all. (peering over the cliff's edge) What were you doing? SMEAGOL (sly) Sneaking! Too exhausted to argue, SAM turns away. SAM Fine, have it your own way. SAM gently shakes FRODO'S shoulder. SAM Sorry to wake you, Mr. Frodo. We have to be moving on. SAM rummages through his KNAPSACK, looking for a bite to eat. FRODO sits up slowly. FRODO It's dark still. SAM It's always dark here -- CLOSE ON: SAM stops rummaging... SHOCK on his face. SAM It's gone... the Elven bread! FRODO (alarmed) What? That's all we have left! SAM slowly turns to GOLLUM... SAM (dawning realisation) He took it! He must have! GOLLUM (shocked) Smeagol? No, no, not poor Smeagol. Smeagol hates nasty Elf bread! SAM You're a lying wretch! What did you do with it? FRODO He doesn't eat it... he can't have taken it. CLOSE ON: GOLLUM slaps his hand against SAM'S JACKET... sending LEMBAS CRUMBS RAINING DOWN! GOLLUM What's this? Crumbs on his jacketses! (fake outrage) He took it! He took it! I seen him, he's always stuffing himself when Master's not looking! SAM (angry) That's a filthy lie! SAM is ENRAGED... he throws himself at GOLLUM... punching him! SAM (yelling) You stinking two-faced sneak! Call me a thief... FRODO (yelling) Sam! Stop it! FRODO pulls SAM off GOLLUM... SAM (yelling) I'll kill him! I'll kill him! FRODO No, Sam! FRODO COLLAPSES on the GROUND! CLOSE ON: SAM'S horrified face! SAM Alight, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to go so far, I was so angry... Here, let's rest up a bit. SAM attempts to fuss around FRODO... FRODO (exhausted) I'm alright. SAM No, no, you're not alright! You're exhausted! It's that Gollum; it's this place; it's that thing around your neck. I could help a bit... I could carry it for a while -- share the load. CLOSE ON: A terrible light comes into FRODO'S eyes as he STARES into the EARNEST eyes of SAM. FRODO Get away! FRODO pushes SAM away, clutching at the RING beneath his shirt SAM (confused) I don't want to keep it... I just want to help! FRODO rises to his FEET, as if empowered with a frightening intense ENERGY. GOLLUM See! See! He wants it for himself. SAM (beside himself) Shut up, you! Go away. Get out of here. CLOSE ON: FRODO... FRODO (quietly) No, Sam... it's you. SAM stares at FRODO with DISBELIEF. FRODO I'm sorry, Sam... CLOSE ON: TEARS WELL in SAM'S eyes... SAM (hopelessly) But... he's a liar... he's poisoned you against me. FRODO You can't help me anymore. SAM You don't mean that. FRODO (eerie calm) Go home. CLOSE ON: TEARS spill down SAM'S cheeks... as FRODO TURNS AWAY! ANGLE ON: FRODO and GOLLUM leave... SAM is in complete MISERY. EXT. MINAS TIRITH STREETS - DAY ANGLE ON: FARAMIR leading a COLUMN of 200 KNIGHTS through the STREETS towards the CITY GATE... PEOPLE are rushing forward, THROWING FLOWERS over the KNIGHTS. CLOSE ON: GANDALF hurries alongside FARAMIR'S HORSE. GANDALF Faramir! Your father's will has turned to madness! Do not throw away your life so rashly! FARAMIR (deadened) Where does my allegiance lie if not here? GANDALF reads the PAIN in FARAMIR'S eyes... he calls after him, trying one more time to stop the YOUNG MAN. GANDALF Your father loves you, Faramir! (quietly) And will remember it before the end. EXT. MINAS TIRITH BATTLEMENTS - DAY HIGH ANGLE: FARAMIR leads the 200 MOUNTED KNIGHTS through the GATES OF MINAS TIRITH and across the PELENNOR FIELDS towards the RUINS of OSGILIATH. ANGLE ON: The people of MINAS TIRITH watch from the BATTLEMENTS. HIGH WIDE: FARAMIR'S KNIGHTS FAN OUT... to form one straight line of 200 HORSEMEN. EXT. WEST OSGILIATH - DAY GOTHMOG and his MEN watch as the KNIGHTS approach. INT. TOWER HALL, MINAS TIRITH - DAY FAST PUSH IN... to PIPPIN looking on as DENETHOR eats. DENETHOR Can you sing, Master Hobbit? PIPPIN (uneasy) Well... yes, at least, well enough for my own people... but we have no songs for great halls and evil times... we seldom sing of anything more terrible than wind or rain. DENETHOR And why should your songs be unfit for my halls, or for hours such as these. Come -- sing me a song! PIPPIN'S simple, clear voice echoes through the VAST HALL. PIPPIN (V.O.) Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread. Through shadow to the edge of night Until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade: All shall fade, all shall fade. INTERCUT WITH: EXT. PELENNOR FIELDS/OSGILIATH RUINS - DAY ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION... TRACKING WITH THE 200 MOUNTED KNIGHTS. ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION... GOTHMOG rises amidst the RUINS of OSGILIATH. ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION... FARAMIR'S KNIGHTS -- 75 yards away -- thundering towards camera. PULL BACK... to GOTHMOG... he turns to CAMERA and RAISES HIS BOW. ANGLE ON: SLOW MOTION... Behind GOTHMOG -- all over the RUINED CITY -- 5000 ORC ARCHERS rise to their feet... BLACK ARROWS already strung on their BOWS! CLOSE ON: SLOW MOTION... FARAMIR YELLING defiantly. WIDE PROFILE: SLOW MOTION... FARAMIR'S 200 KNIGHTS ride straight into a BLACK WALL of FLYING ARROWS... AS ONE, the HORSES and HORSEMEN collapse into a CARTWHEELING, TUMBLING HEAP... within seconds all are MOTIONLESS. CLOSE ON: NORMAL SPEED... FAST CUTS of SCREAMING ORCS... INT. TOWER HALL, MINAS TIRITH - DAY THROUGHOUT the above sequence DENETHOR has continued to EAT. ANGLE ON: PIPPIN finishes his bittersweet song... he looks up at DENETHOR who continues as if he has not sent his son to his death. ANGLE ON: PIPPIN turns away, his SORROW etched on his YOUNG FACE... EXT. MINAS TIRITH COURTYARD - DAY GANDALF sits quietly in a COURTYARD, alone, defeated. EXT. OSGILIATH BRIDGE - DAY GREAT SIEGE TOWERS and CATAPULTS are ROLL along the REPARIED BRIDGE which spans both sides of OSGILIATH... They head straight towards MINAS TIRITH... EX. DUNHARROW ENCAMPMENT - DUSK ANGLES ON: ARAGORN, THEODEN, EOMER, MERRY, LEGOLAS and GIMLI GALLOP into a VAST CAMP beneath the COVER OF TREES... TEEMING with MEN, HORSES and TENTS. ANGLE ON: THEODEN acknowledges GRIMBOLD, a MARSHALL OF ROHAN, as he passes by a GROUP of SOLDIERS. THEODEN Grimbold, how many? GRIMBOLD I bring five hundred men from the Westfold, my Lord. ROHAN MARSHALL (O.S.) We have three hundred more from Fenmarch, Theoden, King. THEODEN smiles grimly as he rides on. DENETHOR (quietly) Where are the riders from Snowbourne? GAMLING (O.S.) None have come, My Lord. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - DUSK ARAGORN joins THEODEN on a BLUFF overlooking the ENCAMPMENT BELOW... CAMERA CRANES to REVEAL: THOUSANDS of MEN and HORSES! Smoke from many small CAMP-FIRES has filled the VALLEY with a TWILIGHT HAZE. THEODEN (quietly) Six thousand spears... less than half of what I had hoped for... ANGLE ON: ARAGORN turns to THEODEN... ARAGORN Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor. THEODEN More will come. ARAGORN Every hour lost hastens Condor's defeat. We have till dawn. Then we must ride. CLOSE ON: THEODEN realising what ARAGORN is saying -- no matter the numbers he must commit to war by the morning. THEODEN nods. The HORSES whinny loudly in the distance... THEODEN looks up at the MOUNTAIN which looms behind them... EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - DUSK ANGLE ON: HORSES rearing in terror as ROHAN SOLDIERS try to quieten them... ANGLE ON: LEGOLAS and GIMLI move through the CAMP... CLOSE ON: LEGOLAS looking at a group of ROHAN SOLDIERS... they sit quiet and hunched... no-one speaking... LEGOLAS looking toward EOMER who is unsaddling his HORSE... LEGOLAS (uneasy) The horses are restless... And the men are quiet? EOMER They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain... GIMLI'S eyes travel to a ROW of ANCIENT STANDING STONES that mark the ENTRANCE to a ROAD leading away from the ENCAMPMENT and INTO the MOUNTAIN. GIMLI That road there -- where does that lead? LEGOLAS It is the road to the Dimholt... The door under the mountain. EOMER None who venture there ever return. (under his breath) That mountain is evil... ANGLE ON: ARAGORN stands before the road as though transfixed... before him a HORSE whinnies and pulls at his ropes nervously... ARAGORN POV: A GHOSTLY FIGURE seems to emerge from the gloom... ARAGORN starts in fright as... GIMLI (O.S.) Aragorn! ANGLE ON: ARAGORN stares down at the LITTLE DWARF... GIMLI Let's find some food. ARAGORN casts another look back at the ANCIENT STANDING STONES before following GIMLI. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - DUSK ANGLE ON: All is quiet in the ENCAMPMENT... INT. EOWYN'S TENT, DUNHARROW - NIGHT ANGLE ON: EOWYN kneels before MERRY, adjusting his HELMET STRAP. EOWYN There! A true Esquire of Rohan. MERRY exhales -- excited and terrified in equal measure. In his EXCITEMENT, he draws his SWORD... EOWYN steps back, laughing... MERRY Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. (despondent) It isn't even sharp. EOWYN Well, that's no good. You won't kill many Orcs with a blunt blade. Come on. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - NIGHT As EOWYN and MERRY leave the tent, EOMER and GAMLING are sitting nearby, finishing a meal... EOWYN ushers MERRY off. EOWYN To the Smithy -- go! MERRY hurries off... EOMER watches the YOUNG HOBBIT leave. EOMER You should not encourage him. EOWYN And you should not doubt him. EOMER I do not doubt his heart... Only the reach of his arm. CLOSE ON: GAMLING stifles a laugh... EOWYN turns on both of them... EOWYN Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause to go to war as you. (to herself) Why can he not fight for those he loves? ANGLE ON: At the PLATEAU edge, a GUARD looks down the STEEP PRECIPICE as a HORSE and RIDER move along the RIDGE... EXT. DUNHARROW TRACK - NIGHT ANGLES ON: The HOODED FIGURE slowly RIDES up the NARROW ZIGZAG TRACK leading up to the PLATEAU... INT. ARAGORN'S TENT, DUNHARROW - NIGHT ANGLE ON: ARAGORN tosses in his SLEEP, disturbed by images and voices... GANDALF (V.O.) Look to the Black Ships... In ARAGORN'S dream ARWEN suddenly WAKES... ARWEN (V.O.) I choose a mortal life... I wish I could have seen him, one last time... As ARWEN lies dying, the EVENSTAR falls from her fingers... At that moment, ARAGORN wakes, his SWORD quickly in his HAND... A GUARD stands in the DOORWAY... GUARD King Theoden awaits you, my Lord. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - NIGHT ARAGORN hurries towards THEODEN'S TENT... INT. THEODEN'S TENT, DUNHARROW PLATEAU - NIGHT ANGLE ON: THEODEN looks up as ARAGORN enters. THEODEN I take my leave. ANGLE ON: THEODEN bows slightly to the HOODED FIGURE and LEAVES, shooting ARAGORN a strange look as he goes... CLOSE ON: The FIGURE stands and pulls back the HOOD... to reveal... ELROND. ARAGORN My Lord, Elrond. ELROND I come on behalf of one whom I love. ELROND'S face is ETCHED with PAIN... ELROND Arwen is dying. ANGLE ON: ARAGORN receiving this news... ASHEN-FACED. ARAGORN She stayed? ELROND She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. ELROND'S eyes fall to the EVENSTAR which hangs around ARAGORN'S neck... ELROND The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The Shadow is upon us, Aragorn, the end has come. ARAGORN It will not be our end, but his. ELROND You ride to war, but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith -- this you know -- but in secret he sends another force which will attack from the river... CLOSE ON: ARAGORN looks at ELROND in shock. ELROND A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. FLASH INSERT: A FLEET of BLACK SAILS moving along a SILVER RIBBON of WATER. ELROND They will be in the city in two days... You're out-numbered, Aragorn. You need more men. ARAGORN There are none. ELROND hesitates a BEAT... ELROND (quietly) There are those who dwell in the mountain. A SUDDEN WIND rushes through the TENT, lifting HANGINGS, scattering MAPS, knocking over GOBLETS... As ARAGORN looks at ELROND, an IMAGE FLASHES in his MIND'S EYE... The GHOSTLY FIGURE on the DIMHOLT ROAD... ARAGORN looks at ELROND in shock... ARAGORN Murderers, traitors -- you would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no-one. ELROND They will answer to the King of Condor. ARAGORN'S eyes fall to a PLAIN BLACK SCABBARD, which ELROND draws from beneath his robes. CLOSE ON: ELROND'S long white fingers draw the hilt of a SWORD from the scabbard to reveal... a ELVEN SWORD glints in the firelight! ELROND Anduril, flame of the West... forged from the shards of Narsil. ARAGORN takes the sword... staring at it in wonder. ARAGORN Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil... ARAGORN draws the long blade from its sheath... ARAGORN ...the blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith. ELROND The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. ELROND stares hard at ARAGORN... ELROND Put aside the Ranger -- become who you were born to be -- take the Dimhplt Road. A HEAVY SILENCE hangs in the room. ELROND (ELVISH: with subtitles) Onen i-estel Edain. ARAGORN (ELVISH: with subtitles) U-chebin estel anim. ANGLE ON: ARAGORN re-sheathes the SWORD. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - NIGHT ANGLE ON: As ARAGORN readies BREGO for leaving EOWYN approaches... her temper barely held in check. EOWYN Why are you doing this? ARAGORN looks over his shoulder at her... EOWYN The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle. You cannot abandon the men. ARAGORN Eowyn... EOWYN We need you here -- ARAGORN rounds on her ... ARAGORN Why have you come? EOWYN (hesitant) Do you not know? ARAGORN looks at her sadly, not wanting to hurt her. ARAGORN (gentle) It is but a shadow and a thought that you love... I cannot give you what you seek. EOWYN steps back at though STRUCK... she watches stricken as ARAGORN leaves... EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - NIGHT ANGLE ON: ARAGORN leads his horse through the TENTS towards the DIMHOLT ROAD. A LIGHT FLARES ahead of him... ANGLE ON: A SHORT FIGURE steps out of the SHADOWS... PIPE in hand. GIMLI And just where do you think you're off to? ARAGORN looks at GIMLI -- GRATEFUL for his COURAGE but determined to go ALONE. ARAGORN Not this time... This time you must stay, my friend. LEGOLAS (O.S.) Have you learnt nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves? ANGLE ON: ARAGORN looks at LEGOLAS as he appears, leading his HORSE -- already SADDLED. GIMLI steps closer to ARAGORN. GIMLI You might as well accept it -- we're going with you, laddie. ARAGORN shakes his head, smiling his acceptance. ANGLE ON: ARAGORN, LEGOLAS and GIMLI as they slowly ride towards the BACK of the PLATEAU... Past the ANCIENT STANDING STONES that lead to the NARROW PASS. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - NIGHT ANGLE ON: THEODEN and GAMLING watch the RETREATING FIGURES of ARAGORN, LEGOLAS and GIMLI... ROHAN SOLDIERS emerge from their tents, crestfallen to see ARAGORN leave. ARAGORN, LEGOLAS and GIMLI disappear into the SHADOWS of the MOUNTAINS. The ROHAN SOLDIERS murmur among themselves, "What's happening?", "Where's he going?" GAMLING Lord Aragorn! ROHAN SOLDIER (O.S.) Why does he leave on the eve of battle? GAMLING He leaves because there is no hope. CLOSE ON: THEODEN as he moves forward. THEODEN He leaves because he must. GAMLING Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor. THEODEN No, we cannot... (surveying his frightened Men) But we will meet them in battle, nonetheless. EXT. THEODEN'S TENT, DUNHARROW PLATEAU - DAWN ANGLE ON: THEODEN looks at EOWYN who stands as if turned to stone... she is looking up at a LIGHTENING SKY... The QUIET before the MEN depart for WAR... THEODEN (gentle) I have left instruction: the people are to follow your rule in my stead... take up my seat in the Golden Hall... long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill. ANGLE ON: EOWYN turns to the KING... her FACE a BLANK... She speaks without emotion. EOWYN What other duty would you have me do, my Lord? THEODEN moves towards her, taking up her HAND... THEODEN (quiet) Duty? ...No, I would have you smile again -- not grieve for those whose time has come. EOWYN slowly lifts her head... THEODEN You shall live to see these days renewed. CLOSE ON: THEODEN lifts EOWYN faces to look into her EYES... THEODEN (whisper) No more despair. EXT. DIMHOLT ROAD - DAY ANGLE ON: ARAGORN, LEGOLAS and GIMLI make their way up a GLOOMY CANYON, shadowed by BLACK FIR TREES. The shadowed ridges of the DWIMORBERG MOUNTAIN rise BEFORE THEM. It is a SPOOKY PLACE. GIMLI What kind of an army would linger in such a place? LEGOLAS One that is cursed... Long ago the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last King of Condor -- to come to his aid, to fight, but when the time came, when Condor's need was dire, they fled... Vanishing into the darkness of the mountain... And so Isildur cursed them -- never to rest until they had fulfilled their pledge. SILENCE surrounds them, there are no birds, no wind. Only the OMINOUSLY MUFFLED THUD of their horses hooves on the dank FIRNEEDLES. EXT. DIMHOLT GLEN - DAY ANGLE ON: Before them, at the ROOT OF THE MOUNTAIN, a SHEER WALL of ROCK towers... GIMLI (terrified whisper) The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away. Within the walls, a creepy DARK DOOR gapes like a mouth of night. SIGNS and FIGURES are carved above its WIDE ARCH. LEGOLAS (translating) The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the Dead keep it. The way is shut. AT THAT MOMENT: A CHILL WIND seems to rush out of the DOORWAY... ARAGORN stares into the BLACKNESS, his HAIR BLOWING WILDLY. The HORSES REAR and BUCK in terror, turning and GALLOPING AWAY. ARAGORN Brego! The three HORSES DISAPPEAR... ARAGORN turns resolutely towards the DOORWAY... ARAGORN (steely resolve) I do not fear death... ANGLE ON: ARAGORN WALKING into the BLACKNESS. LEGOLAS quickly follows... swallowed by the DARKNESS. CLOSE ON: GIMLI left ALONE... He hesitates, struggling with his FEAR. GIMLI Well, this is a thing unheard of... An Elf will go underground when a Dwarf dare not. (gritting his teeth) Oh! I'd never hear the end of it! GIMLI plunges into the TUNNEL behind the OTHERS! EXT. DUNHARROW ENCAMPMENT - DAWN MUCH ACTIVITY... HORNS SOUND... the ENTIRE CAMP is on the MOVE... fires are DOUSED, TENTS pulled down, HORSES saddled. EXT. DUNHARROW PLATEAU - DAWN ANGLE ON: THEODEN strides through the CAMP, EOMER at his SIDE. THEODEN We must ride light and swift. It's a long road ahead... and man and beast must reach the end with the strength to fight. ANGLE ON: MERRY... preparing a LITTLE PONY with a SADDLE and SUPPLIES. He is wearing an OVERSIZED HELMET and ROHIRRIM CLOTHING... he looks at once NERVOUS and EXCITED. KING THEODEN breaks away from a COLUMN and rides up to MERRY. THEODEN (gently) Little Hobbits do not belong in war, Master Meriadoc! MERRY All my friends have gone to battle. I would be ashamed to be left behind! THEODEN It is a three day gallop to Minas Tirith. None of my Riders can bear you as a burden. MERRY But... I want to fight! THEODEN I will say no more. KING THEODEN wheels his HORSE away... MERRY is bitterly DISAPPOINTED. He stands, head down -- a TINY DEJECTED FIGURE -- as the MIGHTY ROHIRRIM on their LARGE HORSES ride by... a jangling sea of HELMETS, SHIELDS and BANNERS. SUDDENLY... MERRY is plucked off the ground! A SOLDIER has snatched him by the collar... and plonked him down on their SADDLE! CLOSE ON: MERRY twists around, looking up at the SOLDIER... Beneath a HELMET and MAIL HOOD is... ...EOWYN, disguised as a MAN! EOWYN (grimly) Ride with me. MERRY My Lady! CLOSE ON: MERRY'S face visible under the CAPE... looking EXCITED! EOMER (shouting above the din) Move out -- move out! THEODEN Ride! Ride now, for Gondor! EXT. DUNHARROW VALLEY - DAWN HIGH WIDE: The VALLEY FLOOR as THOUSANDS of HORSEMEN ride out after their KING. EXT. PELENNOR FIELDS/MINAS TIRITH - DAY ANGLE ON: GREAT SIEGE TOWERS and CATAPULTS are ROLLING across the PELENNOR FIELDS... Thousands of FLAMING TORCHES light the snarling, slathering MORGUL ORCS... marching in RAGGED RANKS.