Chapter Text
[2000s:]
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN–– DAY.
A broad, sunny grassland, cut by unpaved roads, with mountains in the distance.
CRANE DOWN TO: A BAND OF URUK-HAI runs across ROHAN. Two HOBBITS, MERRY and PIPPIN, on the backs of two URUK-HAI, their hands bound around the URUK-HAI’S necks.
The URUK-HAI carry MERRY & PIPPIN at a forced march across the plain.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN tries to call to MERRY, who is unconscious, with a gash on his brow.
PIPPIN
Merry! Merry!
MERRY does not respond.
ANGLE ON: The URUK-HAI MAÚHUR signals a stop. He sniffs the air.
ANGLE ON: Several Orcs from the North emerge from behind some rocks. They are led by a short, crook-legged Orc, very broad, with long arms that hang almost to the ground, called GRISHNÁKH.
GRISHNÁKH
You’re late. Our master grows impatient. He wants the Shire-rats now.
ANGLE ON: UGLÚK, chief of the uruk-hai, looks at MAÚHUR, amused.
UGLÚK
I don’t take orders from Orthanc-maggots.
ANGLE ON: GRISHNÁKH’S face falls.
UGLÚK (CONT’D)
Saruman will have his prize. We will deliver them.
UGLÚK turns away from the Northern Orcs.
ANGLE ON: GRISHNÁKH mocks him as he walks away, but they make no move.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN tries again to rouse MERRY.
Pippin:
Merry? Merry! Wake up!
[to the Uruks]
My friend is sick. He needs water. Please!
Uglúk:
Sick, is he? Give him some medicine, boys!
[The Uruks pour raw spirit down Merry's throat; he coughs and spits]
Uglúk:
Can't take his draught!
[laughs cruelly]
Pippin:
Leave him alone!
Uglúk:
Why? You want some? Huh? Then keep your mouth shut.
UGLÚK turns away.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN turns to MERRY.
Pippin:
Merry!
Merry:
Hello, Pip.
Pippin:
You're hurt.
Merry:
I'm fine. It was just an act.
Pippin:
An act?
Merry:
[smiles]
See? Fooled you too. Don't worry about me, Pippin.
ANGLE ON: MAÚHUR sniffs the air again. UGLÚK appears behind him.
UGLÚK
What is it? What do you smell?
MAÚHUR
Man-flesh.
UGLÚK
They've picked up our trail.
PIPPIN
(sotto voce)
Aragorn!
UGLÚK
(loudly, to the other uruks)
Let's move!
The URUK-HAI break into a run. The NORTHERN ORCS follow.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN struggles to remove his ELVEN BROOCH from his LÓRIEN cloak with his teeth. Once he has it, he spits it to the ground.
CLOSE ON: The brooch lands in the grass. The URUK-HAI trample it, but it remains unbroken and visible.
Chapter Text
EXT. WESTERN EMYN MUIL - DAY
ARAGORN lies on the ground with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the ground, listening. Suddenly, he opens his eyes.
ARAGORN
(softly)
Their pace has quickened.
He stands.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
They must have caught our scent. Hurry!
ANGLE ON: LEGOLAS is running up the hill behind him. He stops and turns.
LEGOLAS
Come on, Gimli!
He runs on. GIMLI struggles up the hill behind him.
GIMLI
Three days and nights pursuit. No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell.
He runs after his companions.
EXT. EAST WALL OF ROHAN - DAY
HIGH AERIAL: The THREE HUNTERS run along the edge of the cliff over a trickling stream at least twenty leagues below.
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY
CLOSE ON: PIPPIN’S ELVEN BROOCH is still visible in the mud. A HAND suddenly reaches down to pick it up. ARAGORN draws it to his face, and then looks ahead.
ARAGORN
Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall.
ANGLE ON: LEGOLAS stops and turns to ARAGORN.
LEGOLAS
They may yet be alive.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN briefly studies the ground, and starts to run again.
ARAGORN
Less than a day ahead of us. Come.
ANGLE ON: GIMLI stumbles from behind some rocks and rolls to the ground. LEGOLAS stops and turns to him.
LEGOLAS
Come, Gimli! We are gaining on them!
GIMLI
(panting)
I am wasted across country. We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances.
ANGLE ON: The HUNTERS come over a hill and pause as they gaze across the open fields of ROHAN.
ARAGORN
Rohan. Home of the Horse-lords. [Pauses]. There’s something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets its will against us.
ANGLE ON: LEGOLAS runs ahead and looks to the horizon.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
Legolas! What do your Elf-eyes see?
WIDE ON: A distant cloud of dust stirs.
LEGOLAS
The Uruks turn northeast. They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard!
ARAGORN
Saruman.
Chapter Text
EXT. ISENGARD - NIGHT
WIDE ON: The TOWER OF ORTHANC stands amidst the smoking CAVERNS OF ISENGARD. Smoke issues forth from amidst the now ash-colored land within the mountains of the RING OF ISENGARD.
INT. ISENGARD, PALANTÍR CHAMBER-NIGHT
ANGLE ON: SARUMAN stands in his chamber, his hand hovering over the PALANTÍR. Within the dark orb are swirls of fire.
SARUMAN (V.O.)
The world is changing.
CLOSE ON: The view within the PALANTÍR changes to that of BARAD-DÛR: a mountainous, mechanical-looking fortress.
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor?
INSERT IMAGE: ARMIES OF ORCS march out of BARAD-DÛR.
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
To stand against the might of Sauron and Saruman, and the union of the two towers?
CRANE UP the height of the TOWER OF BARAD-DÛR, -dark and menacing.
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Together, my Lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-earth.
ANGLE ON: The FLAMING EYE OF SAURON atop the tower, gazing in all directions.
EXT. ISENGARD - NIGHT
ANGLES ON: The beautiful trees of ISENGARD hacked down by ORCS and thrown into the PITS.
INT. CAVERNS OF ISENGARD - NIGHT
SERIES OF CUTS: SARUMAN walks through his domain...ORCS hack into the tree trunks...ORCS throw logs into furnaces…
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
The Old World will burn in the fires of industry. The forests will fall.
SERIES OF CUTS: MOLTEN METAL is poured into sword molds...finished swords are cooled...helmets are created...swords are pounded into shape...ORCS add the completed swords to a large pile… new URUK-HAI are drawn from pits…an ORC inspects the finished URUK-HAI.
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
A new order will rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fists of the Orc.
EXT. ISENGARD - DAY
WIDE ON: SARUMAN stands on a scaffold high above the CAVERNS. Far below, hundreds of ORCS go about their duties. SARUMAN turns to an ORC OVERSEER.
SARUMAN (CONT’D)
I want them armed and ready to march within two weeks!
EXT. ISENGARD - NIGHT
SARUMAN addresses a mob of DUNLENDINGS: fierce-looking men with spears.
SARUMAN (CONT’D)
The Horsemen took your land! Hunted you like beasts! Now is the time to avenge yourselves!
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY
ANGLE ON: DUNLENDINGS charge across ROHAN, toward a small village.
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
It will begin in Rohan.
INT. ROHAN VILLAGE - DAY
The VILLAGERS quickly gather their things.
SARUMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Too long have these peasants stood against you. But no more.
SERIES OF CUTS: DUNLENDINGS and URUK-HAI overrun the village... the VILLAGERS try in vain to escape...they are cut down...the village burns in their wake. WIDE ON: The village burns. Smoke billows into the air. Two VILLAGE CHILDREN escape atop a HORSE, pause to look back at the burning village, and reluctantly urge their horse onward.
Chapter Text
INT. HALL OF MEDUSELD–– NIGHT.
A broad open hall, its walls and pillars intricately carved with knot-designs and the likeness of horses, but sparely furnished.
On a throne on a dais opposite the door sits THEODEN, KING OF ROHAN. An old man, once tall and strong, but now wasted and distracted by some unidentifiable sickness, so his hair is tangled, his eyes half blind, and his face seamed with many more lines than accounted for by his age. At his feet kneels his niece EOWYN: a tall, straight, slender, golden-haired young lady, clad all in white. Behind her stands her brother EOMER: a robust young man, long-haired and fierce-faced, clad in armour.
At the foot of the throne is GRIMA WORMTONGUE: a little man dressed in black, with a pale, shrivelled face and wide eyes.
Éowyn
Your son is badly wounded, my lord.
Éomer:
He was ambushed by Orcs. If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force.
Gríma Wormtongue:
That is a lie. Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally.
Théoden:
Gríma... Gríma... Grima…
Éomer:
Orcs are roaming freely across our lands. Unchecked, unchallenged, killing at will. Orcs bearing the White Hand of Saruman.
[drops an Orc helmet at Théoden's feet, to reveal it is indeed painted with the sign of a white hand]
Gríma Wormtongue:
Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Can you not see your uncle is wearied by your malcontent? Your warmongering?
Éomer:
Warmongering?!
[grabs Gríma by the throat]
How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Gríma? When all the Men are dead, you'll take your share of the treasure?
[Gríma glances at Éowyn]
Éomer:
Too long have you watched my sister! Too long have you haunted her steps!
[Guards seize Éomer from behind, forcing him to release Gríma]
Gríma Wormtongue:
You see much, Éomer, son of Éomund. Too much.
[guards begin to drag Éomer out]
Gríma Wormtongue:
You are henceforth banished from the Kingdom of Rohan and all its domains, on pain of death.
Éomer:
You have no authority here! Your orders mean nothing!
Gríma Wormtongue:
This order does not come from me. It comes from the King.
[holds up a decree bearing Théoden's signature and seal]
He signed it this morning.
[GUARDS seize Éomer and carry him out].
Chapter Text
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY
The URUK-HAI and ORCS continue across the open plains with their HOBBIT captives.
INTERCUT WITH: ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI in pursuit.
GIMLI
Keep breathing. That’s the key. Breathe.
LEGOLAS
They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them.
The TWO PARTIES continue running over the vastness of ROHAN from day through to sunset. Neither the URUK-HAI nor the THREE HUNTERS stop for rest or breath.
EXT. BORDERS OF FANGORN - NIGHT
MERRY and PIPPIN are suddenly thrown to the ground.
ANGLES ON: The ORCS collapse with exhaustion beneath the boughs of the trees, on the very brink of the Fangorn Forest.
ORC
We’re not going no further till we’ve had a breather.
UGLÚK
Get a fire going!
WIDE ON: Several URUK-HAI break off and run into FANGORN FOREST.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN, hands still bound, crawls over to MERRY.
EXT. FANGORN FOREST - NIGHT
ANGLES ON: ORCS chop down trees for firewood.
ON THE SOUNDTRACK: Low GROANS issue from the forest.
EXT. BORDERS OF FANGORN - NIGHT
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN turns to MERRY.
PIPPIN
What’s making that noise?
MERRY looks toward the forest. He smiles.
MERRY
It’s the trees.
PIPPIN
What?
MERRY
Do you remember the Old Forest, on the borders of Buckland? Folk used to say there was something in the water that made the trees grow tall...and come alive.
PIPPIN
Alive?
ON THE SOUNDTRACK: Another groan from the Forest.
MERRY
Trees that could whisper, talk to each other, even move.
ANGLE ON: An URUK-HAI stares at a piece of bread, and throws it to the ground.
Uruk soldier:
I'm starving! We ain't had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days!
Snaga, an ORC SOLDIER:
Yeah! Why can't we have some meats?
[staring at Merry and Pippin]
What about them? They're fresh!
Uglúk:
They are not for eating!
Grishnákh:
What about their legs? They don't need those. Ooh, they look tasty…!
Uglúk:
Get back, scum! The prisoners go to Saruman, alive and unspoiled!
Grishnákh:
Alive? Why alive? Do they give good sport?!
[gnashes teeth]
Uglúk:
They have something. An Elvish weapon. The Master wants it for the War.
Pippin Took:
[whispering to Merry]
They think we have the Ring.
Merry Brandybuck:
Shh! As soon as they find out we don't, we're dead.
Snaga:
[approaching the Hobbits with a blade]
Carve them up! Just a mouthful! A bit off the flank!
Uglúk:
No!
[with one swing of his own blade, Uglúk cuts off Snaga's head, and his body collapses to the ground]
Uglúk:
Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!
[The Orcs and Uruks devour Snaga's body]
MERRY
Pippin. Let’s go.
Their hands still bound, the HOBBITS crawl away.
ANGLES ON: The ORCS look into the darkness to find…
ANGLES ON: ...Hundreds of HORSEMEN burst onto the camp, throw spears and kill the orcs.
ANGLE ON: MERRY starts crawling again.
MERRY
Pippin!
SERIES OF CUTS: The ORCS and URUKS make a feeble charge on the ROHIRRIM. The ROHIRRIM slaughter them with swords, arrows, and spears, all from horseback. The ORCS and URUKS run for their lives!
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN looks around quickly in the ensuing pandemonium...he rolls onto his back and looks up to find…
POV: ...A HORSE REARING ABOVE HIM! THE HOOVES CRASH DOWN.
Chapter Text
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY
The sun rises as the THREE HUNTERS continue their trek across the fields at high speed.
ANGLE ON: LEGOLAS pauses and looks up.
LEGOLAS
A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night.
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY
At the top of a rise, ARAGORN stops again to examine the ground.
ON THE SOUNDTRACK: The SOUNDS OF HORSES NEIGHING Fills THE AIR!
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN looks up warily. He gestures LEGOLAS and GIMLI behind a nearby rock formation to hide.
WIDE ON: ÉOMER AND HIS RIDERS OF ROHAN ride over the hill.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN looks up at them passing. He walks calmly out of hiding.
Aragorn:
Riders of Rohan! What news from the north?!
The horsemen volte-face and surround the Three Hunters, with spears in fewter.
Éomer:
What business does an Elf, a Man, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!
Gimli:
Give me your name, Horse-master, and I shall give you mine.
Éomer:
[dismounts]
For that, I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground.
Legolas:
[quickly draws his bow and nocks an arrow]
You would die before your stroke fell!
[Rohirrim point spears at Legolas. Aragorn signals for Legolas to lower his weapon]
Aragorn:
I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Glóin, and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. We are friends of Rohan, and of Théoden, your King.
Éomer:
Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe. Not even his own kin.
[removes helmet]
Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. 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 no spies. We track a party of Uruk-Hai, westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive.
Éomer:
The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night.
Gimli:
But there were two Hobbits! Did you see two Hobbits with ‘em?
Aragorn:
They would be small. Only children to your eyes.
Éomer:
We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them.
Gimli:
Dead?
Éomer:
[nods]
I am sorry.
[whistles]
Hasufel! Arod!
[two riderless horses approach]
Éomer:
May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell. Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands.
[to the other Rohirrim]
We ride North!
Exeunt Rohirrim.
Chapter Text
EXT. PLAINS OF ROHAN - DAY
WIDE ON: ARAGORN on HASUFEL, and GIMLI riding behind LEGOLAS on AROD, they ride across the Plains toward the edge of the FANGORN FOREST, where the pile of dead Orcs smolders.
EXT. BORDERS OF FANGORN - DAY
ANGLE ON: THE THREE HUNTERS halt their steeds beside the pile and dismount. They look upon the pile with dismay.
Center stage, a towering pile, still smouldering, of half-incinerated bodies of the uruk-hai. ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, & GIMLI inspect the pyre, but find no sign of the hobbits, dead or alive.
GIMLI half-heartedly shifts through the smoldering ORCS with his axe. He reaches down to retrieve one of the HOBBITS’ scabbards. He turns mournfully to ARAGORN and LEGOLAS.
GIMLI
It’s one of their wee belts.
ANGLE ON: LEGOLAS bows his head and closes his eyes.
LEGOLAS
(in ELVISH)
Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath.
May they find peace in death.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN kicks an Uruk helmet, SCREAMS IN ANGUISH, and falls to his knees, hanging his head.
GIMLI
We failed them.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN turns. Something on the ground catches his attention. A glimmer of hope flickers across his visage as he notes some marks on the ground.
ARAGORN
A hobbit lay here… And the other.
He sits back to ponder.
INTERCUT WITH: PIPPIN screams as the HORSE rears over him. He rolls out of the way as it CRASHES DOWN.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN’S eyes shift to a new set of markings off to one side.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
They crawled.
INTERCUT WITH: PIPPIN crawls across the battlefield, while ROHIRRIM ON HORSES massacre the URUK-HAI.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN tracks the HOBBITS with LEGOLAS and GIMLI following. He points out the marks.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
Their hands were bound.
INTERCUT WITH: PIPPIN reaches a fallen blade. He rubs his bonds against its sharp edge.
[1978]
Merry & Pippin struggle against their ropes. Grishnákh enters; tries to search them.
Grishnákh:
If the stinking wizard doesn’t get you, the Whiteskins will!
PIPPIN
You won’t get it that way. It isn’t easy to find.
Grishnákh:
Get it? Get what?
PIPPIN
Nothing, my precious.
Grishnákh searches again.
MERRY
It’s no good groping in the dark. Uglúk’ll be back any minute. Nothing for Mordor. Nothing for poor Grishnákh (gollum!). Untie us, my precious!
Grishnákh:
I’ll make you be quiet!
PIPPIN
Wait! You can’t find it without our help!
Grishnákh:
You? Help me?!
Grishnákh raises his knife; a ROHIRRIM ARCHER shoots him down. MERRY & PIPPIN cut their ropes with his knife and escape.
[2000s]
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN comes upon a short length of rope buried in the trampled grass.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
Their bonds were cut.
He continues tracking across the grass.
INTERCUT WITH: PIPPIN frantically releases MERRY and pulls him to his feet. They make their way to safety outside the ring of battle.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN continues to follow their tracks.
INTERCUT WITH: MERRY and PIPPIN narrowly avoid horse, spear, and falling ORC to make their way to safety.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN points out their tracks in the ground.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
They ran over here.
As he follows the prints, he notes another set alongside them.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
They were followed.
INTERCUT WITH: As they flee, GRISHNÁKH, wounded on the ground, grabs PIPPIN by his sword-belt and clings on.
MERRY
The belt!
PIPPIN unbuckles his belt, leaving it with GRISHNÁKH. GRISHNÁKH throws it to the ground and crawls after them. The HOBBITS continue running at their top speed across the plain.
MERRY (CONT’D)
Run!
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN runs after their tracks, imagining them.
ARAGORN
The tracks lead away from the battle…
INTERCUT WITH: MERRY and PIPPIN run right into FANGORN FOREST and disappear in the trees.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI are running and stop short of entering FANGORN.
ARAGORN (CONT’D)
...into Fangorn Forest.
WIDE ON: The THREE HUNTERS look into a dense, dark forest of gnarled trees.
GIMLI
Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?
ANGLE ON: The THREE HUNTERS continue to look into the forest, uncertain.
Chapter Text
[1978]
EXT. FANGORN FOREST INTERIOR–– NIGHT. A shadowy forest of ancient trees. No visible undergrowth; the trees are vast, crooked, gnarled, twisted, knotted, mossy, and shaped like bent old men in a variety of strange attitudes. Their branches form an almost solid roof overhead, and admit no breeze; the atmosphere within is very still and close. MERRY & PIPPIN stroll along a narrow path.
PIPPIN
I don’t know what to do now. I don’t even know where we are!
MERRY
You should have studied maps more and played less in Rivendell. This is Fangorn Forest!
PIPPIN
We’re no safer than we were with the orcs! No blankets and almost no food, and nothing to eat for a hundred miles. We don’t even know where we’re trying to get to!
MERRY
Let’s climb up there! Maybe we can find out where we are, at least!
They climb the hill.
MERRY
Well, it’s nice here. The Forest looks so different in the sunlight!
PIPPIN
I know! It’s funny, but, well, I almost felt I liked the place!
A DEEP VOICE
“Almost felt you liked the Forest”! That’s uncommonly kind of you.
[2000s]
A LAST ORC SOLDIER enters, with drawn sword. Merry & Pippin flee, dodge around the trees, hide behind a trunk, and climb what seems to be a tall stump or snag.
Merry & Pippin look around, but do not see the ORC SOLDIER.
PIPPIN
I think we lost him.
Abruptly, the ORC SOLDIER seizes Merry and pulls him off the ‘stump’. They fight.
PIPPIN CRIES OUT, and the ‘stump’ abruptly opens two large dark eyes. This is TREEBEARD, THE OLD ENT, SPIRIT OF THE FOREST. Pippin stares in shock at him, and falls; Treebeard catches him in one hand.
The ORC SOLDIER advances on Merry, axe raised. Treebeard stamps on the ORC SOLDIER; he dies.
Treebeard picks up Merry in his other hand, glances from one hobbit to the other, and marches deeper into the forest.
Treebeard:
Little Orcs! Bur-ra-room!
Pippin:
It's talking, Merry! The tree is talking!
Treebeard:
Tree?! I am no tree! I am an Ent.
Merry:
An Ent! A tree-herd! A 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.
[1978]
Treebeard:
But I am no friend of these tree-killing Orcs and their master Sauron!
[2000s]
Merry:
We're not Orcs! We're Hobbits!
Treebeard:
Hobbits? Mmm... never heard of a Hobbit before. Sounds like Orc mischief to me! They come with fire, they come with axes! Gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning! Destroyers and usurpers, curse them!
Merry:
No! You don't understand! We're Hobbits! Halflings! Shire-folk!
Treebeard:
Maybe you are, and maybe you aren't. The White Wizard will know.
Pippin:
The White Wizard?
Merry:
Saruman.
Treebeard drops them at the feet of a WHITE WIZARD; they look up in astonishment.
Chapter Text
EXT. FANGORN FOREST–– DAY.
The THREE HUNTERS follow MERRY & PIPPIN’S tracks to Treebeard’s look-out point, then examine Treebeard’s own footmarks.
ANGLE ON: ARAGORN scours the forest floor, following the tracks of the HOBBITS. LEGOLAS follows closely, and GIMLI joins them. ARAGORN halts.
Aragorn:
These are strange tracks.
Gimli:
The air is so close in here!
Legolas:
This forest is old. Very old... full of memory... and anger.
[the trees GROAN; Gimli holds up his axe]
Legolas:
The trees are speaking to each other.
Aragorn:
Gimli! Lower your axe.
Legolas:
They have feelings, my friend.
[Gimli lowers his axe]
Legolas:
The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak.
Gimli:
Talking trees? What do trees have to talk about, hm?
[1978]
LEGOLAS
(examines Merry & Pippin’s tracks)
They were here, but where they went, I can’t tell.
ARAGORN
(examines Treebeard’s footprints)
I don’t understand these other marks.
[2000s:]
Legolas:
[in Elvish]
Aragorn, something's out there.
Aragorn:
[in Elvish]
What do you see?
Legolas:
[in common tongue]
The White Wizard approaches.
Aragorn:
Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us.
[Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli raise their weapons]
Aragorn:
We must be quick.
[1978:]
Enter Gandalf, disguised.
GIMLI
Look! Your bow, Legolas! It’s Saruman! Shoot, before he puts a spell on us! Quick!
GANDALF
(voice disguised)
Elf, Man, and Dwarf together! A rare sight in these times!
GIMLI
Now! Stop him, Legolas!
[2000s]
[Gimli hurls his axe; Legolas shoots an arrow; the White Wizard deflects both with his staff. Aragorn holds up his sword; it grows hot and scorches his hand. He drops it.]
GANDALF
(voice disguised)
You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits.
Aragorn:
Where are they?
GANDALF
(voice disguised)
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!
Gandalf unmasks, to reveal he looks much the same, but simultaneously younger and older, and dressed all in white.
LEGOLAS
Forgive me! I mistook you for Saruman…
GANDALF
(cheerfully)
I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been!
[1978]
ARAGORN
Gandalf! Beyond all hope! Gandalf!
GANDALF
(normal voice)
Yes. Yes, that was my name!
[2000s:]
ARAGORN
You fell.
GANDALF
Through fire and water.
[1978]
All sit down together.
ARAGORN
What happened?
START FLASHBACK.
GANDALF and the BALROG plummet down a chasm in the form of a fireball.
GANDALF
(V.O.)
Long time I fell. Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned! Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him, far under the living Earth…
[2000s]
SLOW-MOTION: the combatants, in the form of a fireball, plunge into a cavern at the bottom of the chasm, and fall into a BLACK LAKE.
[1978]
MONTAGE: images of the ancient ruins of the dwarf city, rising from bottom to top until we see the peak of Mount Silvertine against a stormy sky.
GANDALF
(V.O.)
…until at last he fled back, up the secret ways of Moria. There, we fought, above the mists of the earth, and the peak of the mountain was wreathed with lightning.
LIGHTNING flashes. ROCKS FALL.
[2000s]
EXT. PEAK OF SILVERTINE–– DAY.
A snowcapped mountaintop, above a thick grey fog which conceals most of the lower slopes. GANDALF and the BALROG circle each other and fight at the top of this peak. Their fight kicks up snow and fills the air with steam.
GANDALF
(V.O.)
From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth.
Gandalf raises his sword Glamdring; lightning flashes on/from the blade, and he pierces the heart of the Balrog. The Balrog rears back, then plunges over the edge of the mountain to the ledge below, and lies still, his fire extinguished. Gandalf lies down and loses consciousness.
GANDALF
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 every day was as long as a life-age of the earth.
FAST-FORWARD: stars flash past.
[1978]
GANDALF
I wandered far, along roads I will not tell. Naked I was sent back, and naked I lay upon the mountaintop.
[2000s]
GANDALF
(V.O.)
But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done.
Gandalf wakes.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. FANGORN FOREST - DAY
WIDE ON: GANDALF leads ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, and GIMLI through the forest. He wears a grey ELVEN CLOAK over his white robes.
GANDALF (CONT’D)
One stage of the journey is over, another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed.
GIMLI
Edoras? That is no short distance!
ARAGORN
We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king.
GANDALF
Yes, and it will not be easily cured.
Gimli:
Are we going to leave those poor little Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested…
[the trees murmur; Gimli startles]
I mean...charming, quite charming forest?
Gandalf:
It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains.
Aragorn:
And one thing you have not changed, my friend. You still speak in riddles.
Gandalf:
A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the elder days. The Ents are going to wake up...and find that they are strong.
Gimli:
Strong?!
[reacts to the sound of trees again; nervous]
Oh, that's good.
Gandalf:
So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf! Merry and Pippin are quite safe! In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be!
Gimli:
[to himself]
This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one.
EXT. BORDERS OF FANGORN FOREST –– DAY.
GANDALF & THREE HUNTERS emerge from the forest; GANDALF now wrapped in a grey cloak over his white robes. He WHISTLES, and a MAGNIFICENT WHITE STALLION enters, followed by HASUFEL & AROD.
LEGOLAS
(in awe)
That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell!
GANDALF
(caressing the stallion)
SHADOWFAX. He is the king of all horses! and has been my friend through many dangers.
All four mount and ride away.
Chapter Text
EXT. FANGORN FOREST –– DAY.
Treebeard strides grandly through the forest, with Merry & Pippin on his shoulders.
TREEBEARD
(sings)
“O Rowan mine
I saw you shine
Upon a summer’s day
Upon your head
How golden-red
The crown you bore aloft”…
Such a beautiful verse.
MERRY
Is it much further?
TREEBEARD
Bu-ra-hroom. Don’t be hasty. You might call it far, perhaps. My home lies deep in the forest, near the roots of the mountain. I told Gandalf I would keep you safe. And safe, is where I’ll keep you. I believe you will enjoy this next one too. It’s one of my own compositions. Right.
TREEBEARD clears his throat.
ANGLE ON: PIPPIN settles TREEBEARD and closes his eyes. (CONTINUED)
AERIAL: Over the mist-covered trees as the sun sets, TREEBEARD plods along to his destination.
TREEBEARD (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves
And the dreams of trees unfold
When woodland halls are green and cool
And the wind is in the West
Come back to me
Come back to me
And say my land is best…
ANGLE ON: TREEBEARD looks to the HOBBITS to find them asleep.
CUT TO:
EXT. FANGORN FOREST - NIGHT
ANGLE ON: TREEBEARD carefully lays the sleeping HOBBITS on the ground, at the end of a splendid colonnade of trees.
TREEBEARD (CONT’D)
Sleep, little Shirelings. Heed no nightly noise. Sleep till morning light.
ANGLE ON: TREEBEARD stands back up and walks away through the forest.
TREEBEARD (CONT’D)
I have business in the forest. There are many to call. Many that must come. The Shadow lies on Fangorn. The withering of all woods is drawing near.
WIDE ON: TREEBEARD slowly walks away.