TTT Script

Anyone is allowed to use this script, like for entertainment (that's what I do!). You can print it out but it'll take a lot of paper. ENJOY! If you think that there are any mistakes in it, please tell me, and I will make the necessary changes. If you have any questions, requests, etc, please email me.

Thanks loads to- J.W's LOTR Fansite, for all scripts!

Voices are heard from the Misty Mountains

GANDALF
You cannot pass!

FRODO
Gandalf!

GANDALF
I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor! Dark fire shall not avail you, Flame of Udun!

BALROG draws a flaming sword and swings at GANDALF, but the wizard parries the blow.

GANDALF
Go back to the shadow! You... SHALL NOT... PASS!

GANDALF slams his staff on the bridge, and a flash of white light drives the BALROG back. The demon draws a whip of fire, steps onto the bridge, and it gives way, dropping the BALROG into the chasm. It seems they have won, but as he turns away, the tail of the whip catches GANDALF'S ankle and pulls him down. He gets a brief grasp on the edge of the bridge.

BOROMIR (holding back FRODO)
No, no!

GANDALF
Fly you fools!

GANDALF loses his grip and falls into the chasm

FRODO
Nooooooooo!

GANDALF falls after the BALROG and grabs hold of his sword Glamdring on his way down. As they continue to plunge into the depths, GANDALF hacks away at the BALROG even as it crashes and bounces off the walls. They continue to plunge at great speed, sometimes with GANDALF clinging to the horn of the demon. The battling pair then falls into an enormous cavern and plunges into the water. Just then FRODO wakens from the nightmare

FRODO
Gandalf!

SAM
What is it Mr. Frodo?

FRODO
Nothing. Just a dream.

[TITLE: THE TWO TOWERS]

FRODO and SAM climb over rocky terrain. They look into the distance at the Mountain of Fire.

SAM
Mordor. The one place in Middle Earth we don't want to see any closer. It's the one place we are trying to get to. It's just where we cant get. Let's face it Mr. Frodo. We're lost. I don't think Gandalf meant for us to come this way.

FRODO
He didn't mean for a lot of things to happen Sam. But they did.

Suddenly FRODO feels and spies the EYE zooming in on him. He gasps and pants as he backs away

SAM
Frodo? It's the ring isnt it?

FRODO
It's getting heavier. What food have we got left?

SAM
Well, let me see. Oh yes, lovely. Lembas bread. And look! More lembas bread. I don't usually hold to foreign food, but this elvish stuff is not bad.

FRODO
Nothing ever dampens your spirits does it Sam?

SAM
Those rainclouds might.

They continue trekking through difficult terrain, often huddling underneath their cloaks.

SAM
This looks strangely familiar.

FRODO
Cause we've been here before. We are going in circles.

SAM
Ah! What's that 'orrid stink? I'll warrant there's a nasty bog nearby. Can you smell it?

FRODO
Yes I can smell it. We are not alone.

GOLLUM
(sneaking up on the hobbits) Those thieves! Those filthy little thieves! Wheeere is ssit? Wheeere is ssit? They stole it from us. My preciousssss.

Suddenly the hobbits spring up, grab hold of Gollum’s arms and pull him down. Amidst the struggle, Gollum wriggles loose and leaps onto Frodo. As Frodo falls back, the chain and ring around his neck is revealed and Gollum jumps straight for the ring. Sam tries to grab at him but is knocked away. Gollum now jumps on top of Frodo and tries to reach for the ring even as Frodo grabs his hands and tries to push him away. Gollum’s cheeks puff with exertion as he struggles with Frodo, his huge eyes fixed on the ring. Sam grabs hold of Gollum again and tears him away from Frodo. Gollum then turns around and bits Sam on the shoulder, wriggles around and clasps his arms around Sam’s neck and legs around his waist in a death grip. Frodo then unsheathes Sting and holds it to Gollum's throat.

FRODO
This is Sting. You've seen it before, haven't you, Gollum! Release him or I'll cut your throat!

Slowly, Gollum loosens his grip on Sam and as the latter disentangles himself, Gollum wails. He is then tied at the neck with Sam’s elvish rope and half-dragged along even as he cries and wails.

GOLLUM
It burns! It burns us! Elves twisted it! Take it off!

SAM
Quiet you! It's hopeless! Every orc in Mordor will hear this racket! Let's tie him up and leave him!

GOLLUM
No! Thats will kill us, kill us!

SAM
It's nothing more than you deserve!

FRODO
Maybe he does deserve to die. Now that I've seen him, I do pity him.

GOLLUM
We be very nice to hobbits, you be nice to us. We swears to do what you wants. We swears!

FRODO
There is no promise you make that I can trust.

GOLLUM
We swears to serve the master of the precioussss. We swears on, on the precioussss! Gollum gollum

FRODO
The ring is treacherous. It will hold you to your word.

GOLLUM
Yes... on the preciouss... on the preciousss.

SAM
I don't believe you! Get down! Get down!

SAM jerks strongly at the rope as Gollum tries to get away and Gollum falls to the ground

FRODO
Sam!

SAM
He was trying to trick us! We let him go he'll throttle us into our sleep!

FRODO (to GOLLUM)
Do you know the way to Mordor?

GOLLUM
Yes

FRODO
You've been there before?

GOLLUM
Yes

FRODO
(taking the rope off GOLLUM) You will lead us to the Black Gate.

GOLLUM scrambles off with the hobbits following

The Uruk-hai are carrying MERRY and PIPPIN over the fields of Rohan

PIPPIN
Merry! Merry!

The group pauses

MAUHUR
What is it? What do you smell?

UGLUK
Man-flesh.

PIPPIN
(to himself) Aragorn!

MAUHUR
They've picked up our trail! Let's go!

The Uruk-hai quicken their pace. Pippin struggles to reach his Elven brooch with his teeth. He then tears it off his cloak and drops it onto the ground.

ARAGORN is lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the ground, listening for the sound of footsteps

ARAGORN
Their pace quickens. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!

LEGOLAS
Come on Gimli!

GIMLI
Three day's and night's pursuit.. no food... no rest... and no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell.

The Three Hunters run across rocks and plains, with Aragorn in the lead, and Legolas and Gimli trailing behind. Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an Elven brooch from the ground.

ARAGORN
Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.

LEGOLAS
They may yet be alive.

ARAGORN
Less than a day ahead of us, come!

LEGOLAS
Come Gimli! We are gaining on them.

GIMLI
I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous we are over short distances.

Camera pans over the orcs running across the plains, and then swings to the Three Hunters giving chase. The trackers come over a hill and pause as they gaze across the plains below

ARAGORN
Rohan, home of the horse-lords. There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets it's will against us. Legolas! What do your elf eyes see?

LEGOLAS
The Orcs turn Northeast. They are taking the hobbits to Isengard!

ARAGORN
Saruman

The tower of Orthanc stands amidst the smoking caverns of Isengard. Saruman stands in his chamber, communicating with the Dark Lord through the Palantir

SARUMAN
The world is changing. Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor. To stand against the might of Sauron and Saruman and the union of the two towers. Together, Lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-Earth.

The caverns of Isengard glow with the fires of industry, sounds of hammering fill the air and molten iron is poured into casts

SARUMAN (Voiceover)
The old world will burn in the fires of industry. Forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machinery of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the orcs. We now have only to remove those who oppose us.

Saruman stands in the midst of a gathering of Wildmen, who are holding torches and crude weapons

SARUMAN
The horsemen have taken your lands. They drove your people into the hills to scratch the living of rocks.

CROWD
Murderers!

SARUMAN
Take back the lands they stole from you. Burn every village! It will begin in the Rohan. Too long have these peasants stood against you. But no more.

The wildmen and orcs attack a village. A woman with her hand on a horse calls out to her children

MORWEN
Eothain, take your sister. You'll go faster with just two.

FREDA
But Papa says Eothain must not ride. He's too big for him!

MORWEN
Listen to me! You must ride to Edoras and raise the alarm. Do you understand me?

EOTHAIN
Yes mum.

FREDA
I don't wanna go! I don't wanna go!

MORWEN
Listen to me. I will find you there.

Screams are increasing in volume as the army draws closer

MORWEN
Quickly! (to herself) Oh child.

The army slaughters at will and sets fire to the village. Eothain and Freya weep as they look back from a distance

SARUMAN (V.O.)
Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall.

A group of horsemen ride to Edoras. EOMER is in the lead, carrying a gravely wounded THEODRED in front of him

EOWYN runs hastily up the stairs to the Golden Hall and enters a bedchamber. She runs to the bed

EOWYN
Theodred!

THEODRED seems to hear her call but is unable to respond. He has a bloody gash on the side of his head. EOMER nods to EOWYN in the direction of THEODRED’s torso. EOWYN draws back the covers and upon seeing THEODRED’S fatal wound, her lips tighten and her eyes close. She looks up to catch EOMER’S eye

EOMER and EOWYN are speaking to KING THEODEN who sits motionless on his throne, wizened and aged beyond his years

EOWYN (To Theoden)
Your son is badly wounded my lord.

EOMER
He was ambushed by orcs. If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force.

GRIMA
That is a lie! Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally.

THEODEN (mumbling)
Grima… Grima

EOMER
Orcs are roaming freely across our lands. Unchecked, unchallenged, killing at will. Orcs bearing the White Hand of Saruman.

EOMER drops a helmet onto the ground, which topples over to reveal the White Hand

GRIMA
Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Can you not see? Your uncle is weary of your malcontent, your warmongering.

EOMER
Warmongering? How long has it been since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Grima? When all the men are dead you would take a share of the treasure? Too long have you watched my sister, too long have you haunted her steps.

GRIMA
You see much, Eomer son of Eomund. Too much. You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan, under pain of death.

The Three Hunters continue the chase

GIMLI
Keep breathing, that's the key! Breathe! Ho!

LEGOLAS
They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.

They continue running over vast distances. The Uruk-hai and orcs halt at nightfall, many panting.

BAGLOR
We ain't goin' no further till we've 'ad a breather.

UGLUK
Get the fire going!

PIPPIN
Merry! Merry!

MERRY
I think, we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pippin.

A rumbling sound is heard

PIPPIN
What's making that noise?

MERRY
It's the trees.

PIPPIN
What?

MERRY
You remember the Old Forest? On the borders of Buckland? Folks used to say that there was something in the water that made the trees tall, and come alive.

PIPPIN
Alive?

MERRY
Trees that could whisper, talk to each other, even move.

BAGLOR
I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!

SNAGA
Yeah! Why can't we have some meat? (looking at the hobbits) What about them? They're fresh!

UGLUK
They are not for eating!

GRISHNAKH
What about their legs? They don't need those. Ooh! They look tasty!

UGLUK
Get back!

SNAGA
Just a mouthful?

UGLUK kills SNAGA

UGLUK
Looks like meat's back on the menu boys!

The Uruk-hai and orcs cheer and started tearing into SNAGA, intestines flying, taking their eyes off the hobbits for a while

MERRY
Pippin, let's go!

Their hands still bound, the hobbits try to crawl away. Suddenly a foot comes down onto Pippin and flips him over

GRISHNAKH
Go on, call for help. Squeal! No one's gonna save you now!

Suddenly, hits GRISNAKH. Mayhem ensues as Riders of Rohan burst out from their hiding places and ambush the orcs

MERRY
Pippin!

The hobbits try to escape from the pandemonium to the forest, dodging bodies and stomping feet. Suddenly Pippin turns and looks up at a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on him

Pippin
Ahh!

The Three Hunters are still chasing after the Uruk-Hai. Dawn has broken

LEGOLAS
A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night.

The sound of horses comes to their ears. Aragorn quickly gets them to hide behind some boulders. A large group of horse-men appears, galloping quickly with their banners flying. ARAGORN comes out of hiding as they pass, followed by LEGOLAS and GIMLI

ARAGORN
Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?

At a signal from Eomer at the lead, the riders make a quick turn and head towards them, surrounding them in an ever-tightening circle. As they stop, they point their long spears menacingly at them

EOMER
What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!

GIMLI
Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine.

EOMER
I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground.

LEGOLAS, in a lightning fast move, points an arrow at EOMER

LEGOLAS
You would die before your stroke fell!

The riders all point their spears closer to the travelers. Aragorn pushes down Legolas’ arm.

ARAGORN
I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Legolas, from the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, its King.

EOMER
Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. (He takes helmet off.) Not even his own kin.

The spears are withdrawn

EOMER
Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claim lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets.

ARAGORN
We are not spies. We track a band of Uruk-Hai westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friends captive.

EOMER
The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night.

GIMLI
But there were two Hobbits, do you see two Hobbits with them?

ARAGORN
They will be small, only children to your eyes.

EOMER
We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them.

GIMLI
They are dead?

EOMER
I am sorry. Hasufel! Arod! May these horses bear you to better fortune than the former masters. Farewell. Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands. (to the riders) We ride north!

ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI ride towards the burning carcasses and GIMLI starts to shift through the smouldering pile and finds something of MERRY'S

GIMLI
It’s one of their little belts.

LEGOLAS
Hiro îth ab 'wanath. (May they find peace after death)

ARAGORN
AAAHHH!!!

GIMLI
We failed them.

ARAGORN looks to the side

ARAGORN
A Hobbit lay here, and the other.

Flashback: PIPPIN yells as he looks up at a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on him. He rolls over.

ARAGORN
They crawled.

Flashback: Merry and Pippin crawl frantically away from the battle.

ARAGORN
Their hands were bound.

Flashback: Merry rubs his bonds furiously against the sharp edge of an upturned blade.

ARAGORN
Their bonds were cut. They ran over here and were followed.

Flashback: Their hands freed, the hobbits run away from the battle scene, dodging under a horse and trying to stay out of harms way. As they flee, GRISHNAKH grabs PIPPIN by his belt and clings on

MERRY
The belt! Run!

PIPPIN undoes his belt and GRISHNAKH is left holding the belt and the hobbits run off

ARAGORN
Tracks lead away from the battle, into... Fangorn Forest.

GIMLI
Fangorn! What madness drew them there?

The hobbits are in Fangorn Forest

PIPPIN
Did we lose him? I think we lost him.

Suddenly, GRISHNAKH bursts through the branches, brandishing a blade

GRISHNAKH
I'm gonna rip off both your little heads! Come here!

MERRY
Trees! Climb a tree!

PIPPIN and MERRY quickly scramble up a tree each

MERRY
He's gone.

Suddenly, MERRY is pulled by his legs and falls to the ground. GRISHNAKH leans over him with his menacing blade.

PIPPIN
Merry!

PIPPIN looks down in horror but as he turns his head, he spots a pair of gleaming yellow eyes blinking in the tree he’s clinging to.

PIPPIN
Ah!

PIPPIN loses his grip in fright and falls. The tree catches him.

GRISHNAKH
(to MERRY) Let’s put a maggot-hole in your belly.

Suddenly GRISHNAKH senses something behind him and as he looks up, the tree squashes him

PIPPIN
Run, Merry!

The Tree scoops up MERRY

TREEBEARD
Little orcs!

PIPPIN
It's talking Merry. The tree is talking.

TREEBEARD
Tree? I am no tree! I am an Ent.

MERRY
Treeherder! Shepherd of the forest.

PIPPIN
Don't talk to it Merry. Don't encourage it.

TREEBEARD
Treebeard some call me.

PIPPIN
And whose side are you on?

TREEBEARD
Side? I am on nobody's side. Because nobody is on my side, little orc. Nobody cares for the woods anymore.

MERRY
We are not orcs. We are Hobbits!

TREEBEARD
Hobbits? Never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds like orc mischief to me. They come with fire, they come with axes. Biting, breaking, hacking, burning. Destroyers and usurpers. Curse them!

MERRY
No! You don't understand. We are Hobbits, halflings. Shirefolk!

TREEBEARD
Maybe you are, and maybe you aren't. The White Wizard will know.

MERRY
White Wizard? Saruman!

TREEBEARD drops MERRY and PIPPIN on the ground and the Hobbits look up at the White Wizard

FRODO and SAM follow GOLLUM to the end of the rocky terrain. GOLLUM looks back

GOLLUM
See, see, we have led you out! Hurry, hurry! Very lucky we find you. Nice hobbit.

SAM
Whoa! It's a bog! He's led us into a swamp!

GOLLUM
Swamp, yes. Come master. We will take you to safe paths, through the mist. Come Hobbits, come. We move quickly. I found it. I did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go round for miles and miles. Come quickly. Swift and quickly.

SAM
There are dead things! Dead faces in the water!

GOLLUM
All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and orcs. A great battle long ago. The Dead Marshes. Yes, yes! That is the name. This way. Don't follow the lights.

SAM
Ohh!

GOLLUM
Careful now! Or hobbits go down to join the dead ones, and light little candles of their own.

FRODO falls face-down into the water

SAM
Frodo!

FRODO sees many faces of the dead in the water. Their hands reach for him, seeking to draw him into their realm. Suddenly he is grabbed from behind and pulled ashore.

FRODO
Gollum?

GOLLUM
Don't follow the lights!

SAM
Frodo! are you alright?

Nightfall: SAM is asleep but FRODO is still awake. He holds the Ring in the palm of his hand, staring at it and stroking it. Suddenly he hears a voice

GOLLUM
So bright, so beautiful. Ah precious.

FRODO
What did you say?

GOLLUM
Master should be resting. Master need to keep up his strength.

FRODO
Who are you?

GOLLUM
Musn't ask us it's name not his business.

FRODO
Gandalf told me you were one of the River Folk.

GOLLUM
Cold be heart and rock and bone. And call every traveller far from home.

FRODO
He said your life was was a sad story.

GOLLUM
They do not see what lies ahead when sun has faded and moon is dead.

FRODO
You were not so different from a Hobbit once were you... Smeagol?

GOLLUM
What did you call me?

FRODO
That was your name once, wasn't it? A long time ago.

GOLLUM
My... My name... Smeagol. Ahh!

SAM
Black Riders!

GOLLUM
Hide! Hide!

FRODO feels a sharp pain in his shoulder

SAM
C'mon Frodo, C'mon!

GOLLUM
They will see us! They will see us. Wraiths! Wraiths on wings!

SAM
I thought they were dead!

GOLLUM
Dead? No, you cannot kill them. No.

RINGWRAITH
(screeches)

GOLLUM
They are calling for the precious. They are calling for the preciousssss.

FRODO reaches for the Ring. SAM holds FRODO's hand

SAM
It's alright.

The Ringwraith circles overhead and flies off into the distance

GOLLUM
Hurry, hobbits. The Black Gate is very close.

Meanwhile, ARAGORN and company go into Fangorn Forest to look for MERRY and PIPPIN

GIMLI
Orc blood!

ARAGORN
These are strange tracks.

GIMLI
The air is so close here.

LEGOLAS
This forest is old. Very old. Full of memories...and anger. The trees are speaking to each other.

ARAGORN
Gimli!

GIMLI
Huh?

ARAGORN
Lower your axe.

GIMLI
Oh!

LEGOLAS
Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!
(Something is out there!)

ARAGORN
Man cenich?
(What do you see?)

LEGOLAS
The White Wizard approaches.

ARAGORN
Do not let him speak. He will out a spell on us! We must be quick.

With a yell, the three swing round to attack in accord. They are suddenly blinded by a bright light emanating from the White Wizard. GIMLI’s axe and LEGOLAS’ arrow are deflected. ARAGORN's sword becomes to hot to hold

WIZARD
You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits

ARAGORN
Where are they?

WIZARD
They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?

ARAGORN
Who are you? Show yourself!

The light dims, revealing GANDALF, dressed in white

ARAGORN
It cannot be! You fell!

GANDALF
Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and each day was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done.

ARAGORN
Gandalf

GANDALF
Gandalf? Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.

GIMLI
Gandalf!

GANDALF
I am Gandalf the White now. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.

They start to walk through the forest, with GANDALF leading the way

GANDALF
One stage of the journey is over another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed.

Outside the forest, Gandalf whistles piercingly. Soon an answering neigh is heard and a white horse appears from the plain, answering the call

LEGOLAS
That is one of the mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell.

GANDALF
Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers.

The four ride off

TREEBEARD walks through the forest, carrying MERRY and PIPPIN

TREEBEARD
My home. I sleep in the forest here. The roots of the mountains. I told Gandalf I would keep you safe and safe is where I'll keep you. The trees have gone wild and dangerous. Anger is in their hearts. They will harm you if they can. There are too few of us now. Too few of us that are left to manage them.

FRODO and SAM are led to the edge of a cliff

GOLLUM
The Black Gate of Mordor.

SAM
My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he saw this.

GOLLUM
Master says show him the way into Mordor so good Smeagol does what master says so.

FRODO
I did.

Orcs are patrolling the Black Gate

SAM
We cannot get past them.

A command is heard and an orc sounds a horn. Two enormous cave trolls stretch and growl and then pull the mighty Gate open

SAM
Look! The gate, it's opening! I can see a way down.

SAM moves closer to the edge. Suddenly, the rock underneath him gives way and he falls

FRODO
Sam! No!

SAM
Ah!!

FRODO goes after SAM

GOLLUM
Master!

Two Easterling soldiers see streams of dust coming down the cliff and investigate. FRODO reaches SAM who is stuck. As the Easterlings move closer and closer, FRODO throws his elvish cloak over himself and SAM. The soldiers can't see them and leave

FRODO
I do not ask you to come with me, Sam.

SAM
I know, Mr. Frodo. I doubt these elvish cloaks will help us in there.

FRODO
Now!

GOLLUM
No! No! No master! They catch you! They catch you. Don't take it to Him. He wants the precioussss. Always he's looking for it. And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him, but we musn't let him have it.

FRODO tries to go, but GOLLUM won't let him

GOLLUM
No! There is another way. More secret, and dark way.

SAM
Why haven't you spoke of this before?!

GOLLUM
Because master did not ask!

SAM
He is up to something.

FRODO
Are you saying that there is another way to Mordor?

GOLLUM
Yes. There is a path, and some stairs and then a tunnel.

FRODO
He has led us this far, Sam.

SAM
Mr. Frodo, no!

FRODO
He's been true to his word.

SAM
No!

FRODO
Lead the way, Smeagol.

GOLLUM
Good Smeagol always help.

GANDALF, ARAGORN, GIMLI and LEGOLAS approach a Kingdom

GANDALF
Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong.

Interior: EOWYN speaks to THEODEN

EOWYN
My lord, your son is dead. My lord? Uncle? Will you not go to him? Will you do nothing.

Exterior

GANDALF
Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here.

EOWYN mourns the loss of the kings's son in a separate chamber

GRIMA
Ohh he, he must have died sometime in the night. What a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir. I understand his passing is hard to accept, especially now that your brother has deserted you.

EOWYN
Leave me alone, you snake!

GRIMA
Oh, but you are alone. Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness, the bitter watches of the night. When all your life seems to shrink. The walls of your bower closing in about you. So fair, so cold, like a morning pale spring still clinging to winter's chill.

EOWYN
Your words are poison.

EOWYN exits. GANDALF, GIMLI, ARAGORN, and LEGOLAS approach

GIMLI
This place is as cheerful as a graveyard.

Guards approach

GANDALF
Ah.

HAMA
I cannot allow you before Theoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue.

They give up their weapons.

HAMA
Your staff.

GANDALF
Hmm? Oh. No, you would not part an old man from his walking stick.

Interior

GRIMA
My Lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming. A herald of woe.

GANDALF
The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden-King.

GRIMA
He is not welcome.

THEODEN
Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?

GRIMA
A just question my lord. Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest.

GANDALF
Silence! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I did not come through fire and death to bandy words with a witless worm.

GRIMA
Your staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff!

GANDALF
Theoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in shadows.

GIMLI (to Grima)
I would stay still if I were you.

GANDALF
I will release you from the spell.

THEODEN
Hahaha! You have no powers here Gandalf the Grey. Haha! Ah!!

GANDALF
I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.

EOWYN rushes in, tries to go to THEODEN, but ARAGORN stops her

ARAGORN
Wait.

THEODEN (in SARUMAN'S voice)
If I go, Theoden dies.

GANDALF
You did not kill me you will not kill him.

THEODEN (in SARUMAN'S voice)
Rohan is mine!

GANDALF
Be gone!

SARUMAN'S spell is broken. THEODEN'S face begins to change, into a much younger-looking man. EOWYN rushes up to him.

THEODEN
I know your face. Eowyn... Eowyn.

GANDALF
Breathe the free air again, my friend.

THEODEN
Dark my dreams have been of late.

GANDALF
Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.

HAMA runs up with his sword. THEODEN draws it out, then his gaze turns to GRIMA

The guards throws GRIMA out of the hall and down the stairs

GRIMA
Ah! I've only ever served you my lord

THEODEN
Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!

GRIMA
Send me not from your side!

THEODEN raises sword to kill GRIMA

ARAGORN
No my lord! Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account.

GRIMA
Get out of my way!

GRIMA exits

ARAGORN
Hail, Theoden, King!

THEODEN
Where is Theodred? Where is my son?

THEODEN visits his THEODRED'S grave

THEODEN
Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days shall be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see the last days of my house.

GANDALF
Theodred's death was not of your making.

THEODEN
No parent should have to bury their child.

GANDALF
He was strong in life. His spirits will find his way to the halls of your fathers.

EOTHAIN and FREDA appear on the hill on horseback. EOTHAIN falls off the horse.

Inside the Golden Hall, the two children eat under the care of EOWYN

EOWYN
They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through westfold, burning as they go, every rick and cot.

FREDA
Where's momma?

EOWYN
Shh.

GANDALF
This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from the women and children. You must fight.

ARAGORN
You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king.

THEODEN
They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what is that you want of me. But I would not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war.

ARAGORN
Open war is upon you, whether would risk it or not.

THEODEN
When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.

GAMDALF
Then what is the king's decision?

Cut to Exterior: HAMA shouts to the people of Rohan

HAMA
By order of the king, The city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourself with treasures. Take only what provisions you need.

GIMLI
Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?

ARAGORN
He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past.

GANDALF
There is no way out of that of ravine. Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading them to safety but what he'll get is a massacre. Theoden has a strong hold but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end there, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold.

ARAGORN
They will hold.

GANDALF
The Grey Pilgrim. That is what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men have walked this earth and now, I have no time. Good luck. My search will not be in vain. Look to my coming. At first light of the fifth day at dawn, look to the East.

ARAGORN
Go.

GANDALF exits on SHADOWFAX

EOWYN opens a chest to reveal a sword. She swings it around and is parried by ARAGORN

ARAGORN
You have some skill with a blade.

EOWYN
Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.

ARAGORN
What do you fear my lady?

EOWYN
A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.

ARAGORN
You are a daughter of kings. A shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.

Meanwhile, at Isengard:

GRIMA
Theoden will not stay at Edoras. It is vulnerable. He knows this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road to take through the mountains. It will be slow. They will have women and children with them.

SARUMAN walks through the depths of Isengard. He approaches an orc

SARUMAN
Send out your warg riders.

GOLLUM is still leading SAM and FRODO

SAM
Hey Stinker! Don't go getting too far ahead!

FRODO
Why do you do that?

SAM
What?

FRODO
Call him names? Run him down all the time.

SAM
Because. 'Cause that's what he is, Mr. Frodo. There's naught left in 'im but lies and deceit. It's the Ring he wants. It's all he cares about.

FRODO
You have no idea what it did to him. What is still doing to him. I want to help him Sam.

SAM
Why?

FRODO
Because I have to believe he could come back.

SAM
You can't save him, Mr. Frodo.

FRODO
What do you know about it? Nothing! I'm sorry Sam. I don't know why I said that.

SAM
I do. It's the Ring. You can't take your eyes off it. I've seen you. You're not eating. You barely sleep. It's taking a hold of you Mr Frodo. You have to fight it.

FRODO
I know what I have to do Sam. The Ring was entrusted to me. It's my task! Mine! My own!

SAM
Can't you hear yourself? Don't you know who you sound like?

GOLLUM is off by himself at night

GOLLUM
We wants it, we needs it. Must have the Preciousss. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, filthsss!

SMEAGOL
No! No! Master!

GOLLUM
Yess. Preciousss first. They will cheat you, hurt you, lie!

SMEAGOL
Master's my friend.

GOLLUM
You don't have any friends. Nobody likes you.

SMEAGOL
Not listening. Not listening.

GOLLUM
You´re a liar, and a thief.

SMEAGOL
No.

GOLLUM
Murderer!

SMEAGOL
Go away.

GOLLUM
Go away?! Ahahhaa!

SMEAGOL
I hate you, I hate you.

GOLLUM
Where would you be without me? Gollum. Gollum. I saved us. It was me. We survived because of me.

SMEAGOL
Not anymore.

GOLLUM
What did you say?

SMEAGOL
Master looks after us now. We don't need you.

GOLLUM
What?

SMEAGOL
Leave now and never come back.

GOLLUM
No!

SMEAGOL
Leave now and never come back!

GOLLUM
Ahh!

SMEAGOL
LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!

Silence

SMEAGOL
We told him to go away! And away he goes, preciousss. Gone, gone, gone, Sméagol is free!

The next day SMEAGOL comes back with two rabbits and puts them to Frodo's lap.

SMEAGOL
Look! Look! See what Sméagol finds! Ehehe! Hohohhooo! They are young! They are tender and nice. Yes they are! Eat them. Eat them.

SAM
Make him sick you will, behaving like that. There's only one way to eat a brace of coneys.

SAM cooks the rabbits in a pot.

SMEAGOL
Argh!! Whats he doing! Stupid fat hobbit. You ruins it!

SAM
Whats to ruin? There's hardly any meat on them. What we need it a few good taters.

SMEAGOL
What's taters? Preciousss, what's taters? Huh?

SAM
Po-ta-toes!! Boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew. Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish.

SMEAGOL
Phooh!

SAM
Even you couldn't say no to that.

SMEAGOL
Oh yes we could. Ssspoiling nice fish! Give it to ussss raw. and wwwriggling. You keep nasty chips!

SAM
You're hopeless. Mr Frodo?

FRODO sees an army of the Easterling soldiers marching nearby.

SAM
Who are they?

SMEAGOL
Wicked men, servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. It will soon be ready.

SAM
Ready to do what?

SMEAGOL
To make His war. The last war that will cover all the world in shadow.

FRODO
We've got to keep moving. C'mon Sam.

SAM
Mr. Frodo! Look! It's an Oliphant! No one at home will believe this.

SMEAGOL sneaks away

FRODO
Smeagol?

Chaos breaks out when the Easterlings are attacked from the bushes.

FRODO
We've lingered here for too long. C'mon Sam!

FRODO and SAM are caught by Men.

SAM
Ah!

FARAMIR
Bind their hands.

The villagers or Rohan are heading towards Helm's Deep

GIMLI
It's true you don't see many dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, they are often mistaken for dwarf men.

ARAGORN
It's the beards.

GIMLI
And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women. And the dwarves just, spring out of holes in the ground! Which is of course ridiculous. Whoa!

GIMLI falls from the horse

GIMLI
It's alright! It's alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate.

At night and Aragorn drifts off to sleep

ARWEN
The light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane. It is mine to give to whom I will. Like my heart. Go to sleep."

ARAGORN
I am asleep. This is a dream.

ARWEN
Then it is a good dream. Sleep.

ARAGORN
Sleep. Min lû pennich nin, i aur hen telitha.
(You told me once, this day would come.)

ARWEN
Ú i vethed...nâ i onnad. Boe bedich go Frodo. Han bâd lîn.
(This is not the end. It is the beginning. You must go with Frodo. That is your path.)

ARAGORN
Dolen i vâd o nin.
(My path is hidden from me.)

ARWEN
Si peliannen i vâd na dail lîn. Si boe ú-dhannathach.
(It is already laid before your feet, you cannot falter now.)

ARAGORN
Arwen.

ARWEN
Ae ú-esteliach nad... estelio han. Estelio ammen.
(If you trust nothing else, trust this. Trust us.)

ARAGORN and the Rohirrim continue their journey

ÈOWYN
Where is she? The woman who gave you that jewel?

Flashback to Elrond conversing with ARAGORN at Rivendell:

ELROND
Our time here is ending. Arwen's time is ending. Let her go. Let her take the ship into the West. Let her bear away her love for you to the undying lands, there to be ever green.

ARAGORN
But never more than a memory.

ELROND
I will not leave my daughter here to die.

ARAGORN
She stays because she still has hope.

ELROND
She stays for you. She belongs with her people.

ARAGORN meets ARWEN before the departure of the Fellowship

ARAGORN
Idhren emmen menna gui ethwel...Hae o auth a nîr a naeth.
(You have a chance for another life ...away from war... grief... despair.)

ARWEN
Why are you saying this?

ARAGORN
I'm mortal. You are elfkind. It was a dream Arwen, nothing more.

ARAGORN tries to give the Evenstar back to ARWEN

ARAGORN
This belongs to you.

ARWEN
It was a gift. Keep it.

Flashback ends

ÈOWYN
My lord?

ARAGORN
She is sailing to the undying lands, with all that is left of her kin.

GAMLING
What is it? Hama?

HAMA
I'm not sure.

A warg scout appears above them and attacks Hama, killing him. Legolas immediately comes to the rescue, shooting with his bow.

LEGOLAS
A scout!

THEODEN
What is it? What do you see?

ARAGORN
Wargs! We are under attack!

THEODEN
All riders to the head of the column!

GIMLI
C'mon get me up here, I'm a rider. Agh!

THEODEN
You must lead the people to Helm's Deep and make haste.

ÈOWYN
I can fight!

THEODEN
No! You must do this for me.

THEODEN
Follow me!

GIMLI
Forward, forward, march forward.

EOWYN (to the villagers)
Make for the lower ground. Stick together!

The warg riders and the Rohirrim crash at full speed. They fight like men (and orcs). GIMLI falls of the horse and a riderless warg heads towards him.

GIMLI
Bring your pretty face to my axe!

LEGOLAS shoots the warg

GIMLI
That one counts as mine!

A dead warg lands on GIMLI

GIMLI
Argh! Stinking creature!

ARAGORN catches his hand in the harness of a warg, and fights with the orc rider, who finally falls off. ARAGORN and the warg tumble off the cliff.

GIMLI
Where is Aragorn?

LEGOLAS
Aragorn?

LEGOLAS spots an ORC on the ground, laughing

LEGOLAS
Where is he? Speak up!

SHARKU
Ghehehe, seems like your friend took a little tumble off the cliff.

LEGOLAS
You lie!

SHARKU dies, and LEGOLAS sees that he is holding Evenstar in his hand. He takes it.

THEODEN
Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead. Come.

The riders enter Helm's Deep after the battle

REFUGEES
Helm’s Deep! At last! There it is!

OLD WOMAN (to EOWYN)
We’re safe, my lady! Thank you!

FREDA
Mama!

The children find their mother once again and run to her arms.

MORWEN
Freda! Freda!

GUARD
Make way for Théoden! Make way for the King!

EOWYN
So few. So few of you have returned.

THEODEN
Our people are safe. We have paid for it with my many lives.

GIMLI
My lady...

EOWYN
Lord Aragorn, where is he?

GIMLI
He fell...

THEODEN
Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround.

GUARD
What of those who cannot fight my lord? The women and children?

THEODEN
Get them into the caves. Saruman's arm would have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here.

At Isengard:

GRIMA
Helm's Deep has but one weakness. It's outer wall is solid rock for except for a small culvert in space which is little more than a drain.

SARUMAN pours explosives into a metallic ball.

GRIMA
How? How can fire undo stone? What kind of device can break down a wall?

SARUMAN
If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall.

GRIMA
Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands to storm the keep.

SARUMAN
Tens of thousands.

GRIMA
But, my lord, there is no such force.

They walk to the balcony of the tower Orthanc and GRIMA looks in awe at tens of thousands of orcs

SARUMAN
A new power is rising. It's victory is at hand. This night the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! To war! There will be no dawn for Men.

MERRY and PIPPIN are walking towards ISENGARD

PIPPIN
Look! The smoke to the south!

TREEBEARD
There is always smoke rising up from Isengard these days.

MERRY
Isengard?

TREEBEARD
There was a time, when Saruman would walk in my woods, but now, he has a mind of metal and wheels.

TREEBEARD
He no longer cares for growing things.

MERRY spots something

PIPPIN
What is it?

MERRY
It's Saruman's army! The war has started.

ARAGORN floats down the river and washes ashore. He dreams of ARWEN.

ARWEN
May the grace of the Valar protect you.

BREGO the horse arrives and Aragorn comes to and mounts him

At Rivendell:

ELROND
Arwen. Tollen i lû. I chair gwannar na Valannor. Si bado, no círar.
(Arwen. It is time. The ships are leaving for Valinor. Go now before it is too late.)

ARWEN
I've made my choice.

ELROND
He is not coming back. Why do you linger when there is no hope?

ARWEN
There is still hope.

ELROND
If Aragorn survives this war, You will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all that you hoped for comes true... you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death. An image of the splendor of the kings of men in glory, undimmed before the breaking of the world. But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt. As night falling winter has come without a star. Here you will dwell, bound to you grief, under the fading trees, until all the world has changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent. Arwen... there is nothing for you here, only death. A im, ú-'erin veleth lîn?
(Do I not also have your love?)

ARWEN
Gerich meleth nîn, ada.
(You have my love father.)

The Elves (including ARWEN) depart Rivendell

GALADRIEL
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, han mathon ne chae a han noston ned 'wilith. (The world is changed; I can feel it in the water, I can feel it in the earth, I can smell it in the air.) The power of the enemy is growing. Sauron will use his puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. The Eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor. The last free kingdom of men. His war on this country will come swiftly. He senses the Ring is close. The strength of the Ringbearer is failing. In his heart, Frodo begins to understand. The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took. In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of men. Men, who are so easily seduced by its power. The young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hand to take the Ring for his own and the world will fall. He is close now, so close to achieving his goal. For Sauron will have dominion over all life on this Earth, even until the ending of the world. The time of the elves is over. Do we leave Middle-Earth to this fate? Do we let them stand alone?

FARAMIR and his men look over a map

FARAMIR
What news?

MADRIL
Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Théoden’s people have fled to Helm’s Deep. But we must look to our own borders. Faramir, orcs are on the move. Sauron is marshalling an army. Easterlings and Southrons are passing through the Black Gate.

FARAMIR
How many?

MADRIL
Some thousands. More come every day.

FARAMIR
Who’s covering the river to the north?

MADRIL
We pulled five hundred men out of Osgiliath, but if the city is attacked, we won’t hold it.

FARAMIR
Saruman attacks from Isengard. Sauron from Mordor. The fight will come to men on both fronts. Gondor is weak. Sauron will strike us soon. And he will strike hard. He knows now we do not have the strength to repel him."

FARAMIR (to SAM and FRODO)
My men tell me that you are orc spies.

SAM
Spies! Now wait just a minute.

FARAMIR
Well if you’re not spies, then who are you?

FARAMIR
Speak!

FRODO
We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name and this is Samwise Gamgee.

FARAMIR
Your bodyguard?

SAM
His gardener.

FARAMIR
And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favoured look.

FRODO
There was no other. We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in Moria. Two were my kin. A dwarf there was also. And an elf. And two men. Aragorn, son of Arathorn and Boromir of Gondor.

FARAMIR
You were friend of Boromir?

FRODO
Yes, for my part.

FARAMIR
It would grieve you then to learn that he is dead?

FRODO
Dead? How? When?

FARAMIR
As one of his companions, I had hoped you would tell me. He was my brother.

MADRIL
Captain Faramir. We found it.

FARAMIR
You must come with me. Now.

FRODO is led outside

FARAMIR
Down there.

FRODO looks down to the Forbidden Pool and sees SMEAGOL dive in it.

FARAMIR
To enter the Forbidden Pool bears the penalty of death.

Archers step out from the bushes, ready to shoot

FARAMIR
They wait for my command. Shall they shoot?

SMEAGOL
Rock and pool is nice and cool, so juicy sweeeet. I only wish to catch a fish, so juicy sweeeeet!

FRODO
Wait. This creature is bound to me. And I to him. He is our guide. Please, let me go down to him.

FARAMIR allows FRODO to go to SMEAGOL, who is eating a fish.

FRODO
Sméagol. Master is here. Come, Sméagol. Trust master. Come.

SMEAGOL
We must... go now?

FRODO
Sméagol, you must trust master. Follow me, come on. Come. Come, Sméagol. Nice Sméagol. That’s it. Come on.

FARAMIR'S men jump SMEAGOL and wrestle him down

FRODO
Don’t hurt him! Sméagol don’t struggle! Sméagol listen to me!

SMEAGOL
Master!

FARAMIR
Where are you leading them? Answer me!

GOLLUM
Sméagol... Why do you cry, Sméagol?

SMEAGOL
Cruel men hurts us. Master tricksed us.

GOLLUM
Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was false.

SMEAGOL
Master is our friend... our friend.

GOLLUM
Master betrayed ussss!

SMEAGOL
No, not it’s business. Leave us alone.

GOLLUM
Filthy little hobbitsesss! They stole it from usss!

SMEAGOL
No... no

FARAMIR
What did they steal?

GOLLUM
My PRECIOUS!!!!

SAM and FRODO are huddled in a room

SAM
We have to get out of here. You go. Go now. You can do it. Use the Ring, Mr. Frodo. Just this once. Put it on. Disappear.

FRODO
I can’t. You were right, Sam. You tried to tell me. I’m sorry. The Ring’s taking me, Sam. If I put it on, He’ll find me. He’ll see.

SAM
Mr. Frodo...

Suddenly FARAMIR enters, and draws his sword

FARAMIR
So... this is the answer to all the riddles. Here in the wild I have you. Two haflings and a host of men at my call. And the Ring of power within my grasp. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality.

FRODO
No!

SAM
Stop it! Leave him alone! Don’t you understand?! He’s got to destroy it. That’s where we’re going. To Mordor. To the Mountain of Fire.

DAMROD (entering)
Osgiliath is under attack. They call for reinforcements.

SAM (to FARAMIR)
Please. It’s such a burden. Will you not help him?

DAMROD
Captain?

FARAMIR
Prepare to leave. The Ring will go to Gondor.

ARAGORN sees the army of Saruman and quickly rides to Helm's Deep.

ARAGORN
Mae carnen, Brego, mellon nîn.
(Well done, Brego, my friend.)

ARAGORN enters Helm's Deep

GIMLI
Where is he! Where is he! Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him! You are the the luckiest, the cunningest, and most reckless man I ever knew! Bless you, laddie!

ARAGORN
Gimli, where is the king?

ARAGORN encounter LEGOLAS

LEGOLAS
Le ab-dollen.
(You’re late.)
You look terrible.

LEGOLAS gives ARAGORN the Evenstar back

ARAGORN
Hannon le.
(Thank you.)

Inside, ARAGORN talks to THEODEN

THEODEN
A great host, you say?

ARAGORN
All Isengard is emptied.

THEODEN
How many?

ARAGORN
Ten thousand strong at least.

THEODEN
Ten-thousand?!

ARAGORN
It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall.

THEODEN
Let them come.

THEODEN walks outside

THEODEN
I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms, to be ready for battle by nightfall. We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the deeping wall or set foot inside the Hornburg.

GIMLI
This is no rabble of mindless orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad.

THEODEN
I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep. They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman’s hordes will pillage and burn. We’ve seen it before. Crops can be resown. Homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them.

ARAGORN
They do not come to destroy Rohan’s crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child!

THEODEN
What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance!

ARAGORN
Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid.

THEODEN
And who will come. Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead.

ARAGORN
Gondor will answer.

THEODEN
Gondor? Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us? Where was Gon.. No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone.

THEODEN walks away from ARAGORN

THEODEN
Get the women and children into the caves.

GAMLING
We need more time to lay provisions for a siege, lord.

THEODEN
There is no time. War is upon us!

GAMLING
Secure the gate.

Meanwhile, back in Fangorn

TREEBEARD
The ents have not troubled about the wars of men and wizards for a very long time. But now something is about to happen that has not happened for an age: ent moot.

MERRY
What’s that?

TREEBEARD
It is a gathering.

MERRY
A gathering of what?

Ents begin to surround them

TREEBEARD
Beech, Oak, Chestnut, Ash. Good, good, good many have come. Now we must decide if the Ents will go to war.

Back at Helm's Deep. We see the people are taken into the caves. Husbands and sons are taken away from their wives and mothers and are given weapons.

ARAGORN
Farmers, farriers, stable boys. These are no soldiers.

GIMLI
Most have seen too many winters.

LEGOLAS
Or too few. Look at them. They’re frightened. I can see it in their eyes. Boe a hûn: neled herain dan caer menig.
(And they should be. 300 against 10 000.)

ARAGORN
Si beriathar hýn. Amar nâ ned Edoras.
(They have a better chance defending themselves here than in Edoras.)

LEGOLAS
Aragorn, men i ndagor. Hýn ú- ortheri. Natha daged aen."
(They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!)

ARAGORN
Then I shall die as one them!

ARAGORN exits

GIMLI (to LEGOLAS)
Let him go, lad. Let him be.

THEODEN is preparing to put on his armour

GAMLING
Every villager able to wield a sword has been sent to the armory. My lord?

THEODEN
Who am I, Gamling?

GAMLING
You are our king, sire.

THEODEN
And do you trust your king?

GAMLING
Your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end.

THEODEN
To whatever end. Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west. Behind the hills, into shadow. How did it come to this?

ARAGORN is sitting alone on stairs. He sees a confused looking boy with a sword

ARAGORN
Give me your sword. What is your name?

HALETH
Háleth, son of Háma, my lord. The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless.

ARAGORN stands up and wields the sword

ARAGORN
This is a good sword, Háleth, son of Háma. There is always hope.

Inside, ARAGORN is putting on his armour. LEGOLAS is suddenly behind him and hands him his sword

LEGOLAS
We have trusted you this far and you have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair.

ARAGORN
Ú-moe edhored, Legolas
(There is nothing to forgive, Legolas.)

GIMLI suits up

GIMLI
If we had time, I'd get this adjusted. It’s a little tight across the chest.

A sound of a horn is heard from outside. It is no orc horn.

LEGOLAS
That is no orc horn!

They rush outside

HASSLEBAK
Send for the king. Open the gate!

The gates are opened, and an army of elves march in.

THEODEN
How is this possible?

HALDIR
I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance.

ARAGORN
Mae govannen, Haldir!
(Welcome Haldir)
You are most welcome.

HALDIR
We are proud to fight alongside men, once more.

Saruman's army approaches. GIMLI and LEGOLAS stand ready to fight.

GIMLI
Arg..You could have picked a better spot.

ARAGORN approaches

GIMLI
Well lad, the luck you live by, let’s hope it lasts the night.

LEGOLAS
Your friends are with you, Aragorn.

GIMLI
Let’s hope they last the night.

ARAGORN gives a final pep talk to the Elves

ARAGORN
"Daer ú-o chyn, Ú-danno i failad a thi; an úben tannatha le failad."
(Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!)

GIMLI
What’s happening out there?

LEGOLAS
Shall I describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?

Everything draws to a halt, and then an old man accidently shoots an orc

ARAGORN
Dartho!
(Hold!)

The Uruks roar in anger and charge

THEODEN
So it begins.

LEGOLAS (to the elves)
Hain 'war di na lanc a nu ranc!"
(Their armor is weak at the neck and under the arms.)

ARAGORN
Leithio i philinn!
(Fire!)

The Elves shoot

GIMLI
Anybody hit anything?

THEODEN
Give them a volley.

GAMLING
Fire!

ARAGORN
Keep firing!

GIMLI
Come on! Send them to them!

ARAGORN
Pendraid!
(Ladders!)

GIMLI
Good!

The Uruk-hai climb ladders and enter and battle the heroes

GIMLI
Legolas, two already!

LEGOLAS
I’m on seventeen!

GIMLI
Arg! I’ll have no pointy-ear outscoring me!

LEGOLAS
Nineteen!

Back at Entmoot:

PIPPIN
Merry!

TREEBEARD
We have just agreed.

Pause

MERRY
Yes?

TREEBEARD
I have told your names to the ent moot and we have agreed: you are not orcs.

PIPPIN
Well that’s good news.

MERRY
And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision about him?

TREEBEARD
Now don’t be hasty, Master Meriadoc.

MERRY
Hasty? Our friends are out there. They need our help! They cannot fight this war on their own.

TREEBEARD
War, yes. It affects us all. But you must understand, young hobbit. It takes a long time to say anything in old entish, and we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.

At Helm's Deep:

GIMLI
Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty one. Twenty two.

ARAGORN
Northway! Nauthannen!

THEODEN
Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman.

Below, a Uruk soldier carrying a torch is running towards the hole. ARAGORN sees this and calls for LEGOLAS

ARAGORN
Dago han! Dago han, Legolas! Dago han!!!
[Legolas, stop him! Kill him!)

LEGOLAS hits the Uruk with two arrows, but fails to kill it, and the Uruk-hai takes out the wall with its explosives. Saruman's army start to crowd through the hole in the wall.

THEODEN
Brace the gates! Hold them! Stand fast!"

ARAGORN
Gimli! Prepare to charge! Hado i philinn! Herio!
(Hurl the arrows! Charge!)

At Entmoot:

TREEBEARD
The ents cannot hold back this war. We must weather such things as we have always done.

MERRY
How can that be your decision?

TREEBEARD
This is not our war.

MERRY
But your part of this world! Aren’t you. You must help. Please. You must do something.

TREEBEARD
You are young and brave, master Merry. But your part in this tale is over. Go back to your home.

PIPPIN
Maybe Treebeard’s right. We don’t belong here, Merry. It’s too big for us. What can we do in the end? We’ve got the Shire. Maybe we should go home.

MERRY
The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods of Tuckburough and Buckland will burn. And all that was once green and good in this world will be gone. There won’t be a Shire, Pippin.

Back at Helm's Deep:

THEODEN
Aragorn, pull back to the gate!

ARAGORN
Am Marad!
(To the Keep!) Am Marad! Haldir! Am Marad!"

HALDIR nods at him and calls for the others. GIMLI is been dragged away against his will.

GIMLI
What are you doing? Stop it!

HALDIR is killed

ARAGORN
Haldir!

GAMLING
Brace the gate!

THEODEN
To the gate! Draw your swords!

GAMLING
We can’t hold much longer.

THEODEN
Hold them!

ARAGORN approaches

ARAGORN
How long do you need?

THEODEN
As long as you can give me!

ARAGORN
Gimli!

Aragorn and Gimli exit through a secret side gate

GIMLI
Come on. We can take them!

ARAGORN
It’s a long way.

GIMLI
Toss me.

ARAGORN
What?

GIMLI
I cannot jump the distance so you have to toss me. Ehh.. Don’t tell the elf.

ARAGORN
Not a word.

ARAGORN tosses Gimli and jumps, and the two battle the orcs at the front gate

THEODEN
Shore up the door!

THEODEN
Gimli! Aragorn! Get out of there!

LEGOLAS (above)
Aragorn!

LEGOLAS throws down a rope, and ARAGORN and GIMLI are pulled to safety

THEODEN
Pull everybody back. Pull them back!

GAMLING
Pull back! Pull back! Retreat! Retreat!

ARAGORN
Hurry! Get them inside! Come, to the keep!

Meanwhile, back at Fangorn Forest...

TREEBEARD
I will leave you at the western borders of the forest. You can make your way north to your homeland from there.

PIPPIN
Wait! Stop! Stop! Turn around. Turn around. Take us south!

TREEBEARD
South? But that will lead you past Isengard.

PIPPIN
Yes. Exactly. If we go south we can slip past Saruman unnoticed. The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It’s the last thing he’ll expect.

TREEBEARD
Hmmmm. That doesn’t make sense to me. But then, you are very small. Perhaps your right. South it is then. Hold on, little Shirelings. I always like going south. Somehow it feels like going downhill.

MERRY
Are you mad, we’ll be caught.

PIPPIN
No we won’t. Not this time.

FARAMIR and his company arrive approach Osgiliath with FRODO, SAM, and GOLLUM as captives

PARN
Look. Osgiliath burns. Mordor has come.

FRODO
The Ring will not save Gondor. It has only the power to destroy. Please, let me go.

FARAMIR looks at FRODO, but then gestures to his men to move.

FARAMIR
Hurry.

FRODO
Faramir, you must let me go!

TREEBEARD approaches the edge of Fangorn Forest

TREEBEARD
... and a little family of field mice that climb up sometimes and it tickles me awfully. They’re always trying to get somewhere.

TREEBEARD walks into an open area where every tree has been brutally cut down

TREEBEARD
Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut and acorn.

PIPPIN
I’m sorry, Treebeard.

TREEBEARD
They had voices of their own. Saruman. A wizard should know better!

TREEBEARD lets out a powerfull call that reverberates throughout Fangorn

TREEBEARD
There is no curse in elvish, entish or the tongues of men for this treachery. My business is with Isengard tonight. With a rock and stone.

The Ents march out of the forest

MERRY
Yes!

TREEBEARD
Rárum-rum! Come my friends. The ents are going to war. It is likely that we go to our doom. The last march of the ents.

The Ents march to Isengard, and back at Osgiliath...

MADRIL
Faramir, orcs have taken the eastern shore. Their numbers are too great. By nightfall we’ll be overrun.

FRODO stumbles

SAM
Mr. Frodo!

FRODO
It’s calling to him, Sam. His eye is almost on me.

SAM
Hold on, Mr. Frodo.

FARAMIR (to his men)
Take them to my father. Tell him Faramir sends a mighty gift. A weapon that will change our fortunes in this war.

SAM
You wanna know what happened to Boromir? You waanna know why your brother died? He tried to take the Ring from Frodo. After swearing an oath to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother mad!

The RINGWRAITHS approach. FRODO knows.

SAM
Mr. Frodo?

FRODO
They’re here. They’ve come.

RINGWRAITH
(screeches)

FARAMIR
Nazgûl!

A RINGWRAITH flies over Osgiliath and FARAMIR leads the hobbits to safety

FARAMIR
Stay here. Keep out of sight. Take cover!

Back at Helm's Deep:

THEODEN
The fortress is taken. It is over.

ARAGORN
You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it. They still defend it. They have died defending it! Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves? Is there no other way?

GAMLING
There is one passage. It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many.

ARAGORN
Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass. And barricade the entrance!

THEODEN
So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?

ARAGORN
Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them.

THEODEN
For death and glory?

ARAGORN
For Rohan. For your people.

GIMLI
The sun is rising.

(Flashback Voiceover) GANDALF
Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn look to the East.

THEODEN
Yes. Yes! The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time.

GIMLI
Yes!

Gimli climbs up to blow the Horn.

THEODEN
Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awate. Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn!

THEODEN
Forth Eorlingas!

ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, THEODEN, ride out and clear a path. Suddenly an old friend appears on the eastern ridge with the rising sun

ARAGORN
Gandalf

GANDALF
Theoden-king stands alone.

Another appears

EOMER
Not alone. Rohirrim!

THEODEN
Èomer!

EOMER
To the Keep!

GANDALF and the Riders of Rohan ride through the army of orcs

SARUMAN looks on in disbelief as Isengard is ripped apart by the Ents

TREEBEARD
A hit. A fine hit. Break the dam! Release the river!

MERRY
Pippin, hold on!

TREEBEARD
Hold on, little hobbits!

The waters swallow Isengard as Treebeard with the hobbits and the rest of the Ents stand their ground

Back to Osgiliath, FRODO walks out into the open

SAM
What are you doing? Where are you going?

The RINGWRAITH riding the Fell Rider approaches

FRODO is about to put on the Ring when SAM runs up and tackles him. FARAMIR shoots the Ringwraith's steed with his bow. The hobbits roll down the stairs, Sam landing on FRODO who rolls over and draws his sword preparing to kill SAM.

SAM
It’s me. It’s your Sam. Don’t you know your Sam?

FRODO comes to his senses

FRODO
I can’t do this, Sam.

SAM
I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened.

ARAGORN and EOWYN embrace as Rohan is victorious at Helm's Deep

SAM
But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.

The sun shines on Isengard, as MERRY, PIPPIN, and the Ents celebrate victory

SAM
Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.

FRODO
What are we holding on to, Sam?

SAM
That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

FARAMIR
I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins.

MADRIL
You know the laws of our country. The laws of your father. If you let them go, your life will be forfeit.

FARAMIR
Then it is forfeit. Release them.

GANDALF and company look towards Mordor

GANDALF
Sauron’s wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for Helm’s Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness.

FRODO and SAM are once again in the wilderness, led by Gollum.

SAM
I wonder if we’ll ever be put into songs or tales.

FRODO
What?

SAM
I wonder if people will ever say, ‘let’s hear about Frodo and the Ring.’ And they’ll say ‘yes, that’s one of my favorite stories. Frodo was really courageous, wasn’t he, dad.’ ‘yes, my boy, the most famousest of hobbits. And that’s saying alot.’

FRODO
You left out one of the chief characters. Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more about Sam. Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam.

SAM
Now Mr. Frodo, you shouldn’t make fun. I was being serious.

FRODO
So was I.

SAM
Samwise the Brave.

FRODO
Sméagol!

SAM
We’re not gonna wait for you. Come on.

SMEAGOL is a bit ahead

SMEAGOL
Master... Master looks after us. Master wouldn’t hurt us.

GOLLUM
Master broke his promise!

SMEAGOL
Don’t ask Sméagol. Poor, poor Sméagol.

GOLLUM
Master betrayed us! Wicked, tricksy, filth! We ought to ring his filthy little neck! Kill him! Kill him! Kill them both. Then we take the Preciousss and we be the master.

SMEAGOL
But the fat hobbit. He knows. Eyes always watching.

GOLLUM
Then we stabs them out. Put out his eyses. And make him crawl.

SMEAGOL
Yes! Yes! Yes!

GOLLUM
Kill them both.

SMEAGOL
Yes! No. No. It’s too risky, it’s too risky.

SAM
Where’s he gone? Oi! Gollum, where are you?

FRODO
Sméagol?

GOLLUM
We could let her do it.

SMEAGOL
Yes. She could do it.

GOLLUM
Yes, Precious she could. And then we takes it once they’re dead.

SMEAGOL
Once they’re dead. Hush! Come on, hobbits. Long ways to go yet. Sméagol will show you the way. Follow me.

THE END