STRIDER
They are only waiting, because they think that their purpose is almost accomplished, and that the Ring cannot fly much further. We must hurry!
HOBBITS LOOKING WORRIED, FRODO IS PALE, HE RATHER STUMBLES THAN WALKS. HE MOANS, WHEN STRIDER PLACES HIM ON THE PONY. HE TREMBLES, CAN’T MOVE HIS ARMS.
SEVERAL SHOTS OF THEIR WAY, SUN AND MOON AND RAIN INDICATING TIME PASSING BY. FRODO TREMBLES, SAM TRIES TO KEEP HIM WARM, TALKING TO HIM SOFTLY. THE ALL BECOME WARY. NAZGUL SCREAMING FAR AWAY. SOMETIMES SWITCHING TO FRODO’S DREAMLIKE, NIGHTMARISH POV.
DAYLIGHT.
STRIDER
We must reach the Bruinen in the south. There is no way over it below its sources in the Ettenmoors, except by the Last Bridge on which the Road crosses.
FRODO – POINTING AT TOWERS FAR AWAY
Who lives in this land? And who built these towers?
STRIDER
Men once dwelt here, ages ago; but none remain now. They became an evil people, as legends tell, for they fell under the shadow of Angmar. But all were destroyed in the war that brought the North Kingdom to its end. But that is now so long ago that the hills have forgotten them, though a shadow still lies on the land.
PIPPIN
Where did you learn such tales, if all the land is empty and forgetful?
STRIDER, SMILING AS RECALLING SWEET MEMORIES
More things than I can tell are remembered in Rivendell.
FRODO, BECOMING CURIOUS
Have you often been to Rivendell?
STRIDER, IN A SOFT VOICE
I have. I dwelt there once, and still I return, when I may. There my heart is; but it is not my fate to sit in peace, even in the fair house of Elrond.
COMPANY IS ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB. FRODO STRUGGLES ALONG ON FOOT FRODO THREW HIMSELF DOWN, AND LAY ON THE GROUND SHIVERING, HOLDING LIFELESS ARMS. VISIONS OF NAZGULS, CALLING FOR HIM, VISIONS SEEMS TO DEEPEN, HE SUDDENLY “WAKES UP” BECAUSE OF MERRY.
MERRY, CALLING
Strider, we cannot go any further! I am afraid this has been too much for Frodo.
SAM, LOW VOICE, BECOMING ANXIOUS
What is the matter with my master? His wound was small, and it is already closed. There’s nothing to be seen but a cold white mark on his shoulder.
STRIDER
Frodo has been touched by the weapons of the Enemy and there is some poison or evil at work that is beyond my skill to drive out.
BROODING, THEN DETERMINED
We must make for the Road again. We cannot hope to find a path through these hills. Whatever danger may beset it, the Road is our only way to the Ford.
THEY GO ON, FRODO ON PONY; PIPPIN AND MERRY AHEAD. SUDDENLY THEY BOTH CAME BACK, RUNNING AND PANTING.
PIPPIN
There are trolls! Down in a clearing in the woods not far below. We got a sight of them through the tree-trunks.
SAM IS SCARRED, THEY ALL FOLLOW MERRY AND PIPPIN.
STRIDER, FACE CLEARING UP
Get up, old stone!
HE BREAKS A STICK AT THE “TROLLS”, NOTHING HAPPENED; THE HOBBITS BURTS OUT IN LAUGHTER, EVEN FRODO SMILES.
FRODO, IN A CRACKING VOICE
We are forgetting our family history!
MERRY, PIPPIN AND SAM MAKING JOKES. WHILE THEIR RETURN TO THE ROAD, SAMS GETS ENCOURAGED TO SING A SILLY SONG, ARAGORN SMILING. FRODO SUDDENLY FROWNS, REMEMBERING HOW BILBO FOUNDS THE RING; THE RING SUDDENLY LAYS IN FRODO'S HAND. HASTILY AND IN SECRET HE PUTS IT AWAY. WIND STARTS TO RISE, THEIR LAUGHTER DIES.
MERRY, SUDDENLY ALARMED
Listen!
NOISES OF A HOVES; THEN: BELLS RINGING.
FRODO
That does not sound like a Black Rider’s horse!
HOBBITS AGREE, BUT STAY SUSPICIOUS. STRIDER LEANING FORWARD, STOOPED TO THE GROUND, WITH A HAND TO HIS EAR, AND A LOOK OF JOY ON HIS FACE. FRODO TURNS HIS FACE TO THE ROAD, HIS POV: SURREAL IMPRESSION...A SHIMMERING FIGURE IN WHITE LEAPS OFF A HORSE. AN ETHEREAL VISION OF GLORFINDEL, THE VISION BECOMES REAL.
GLORFINDEL (Elvish with subtitels)
Ai na vedui Du ́nadan! Mae govannen!
STRIDER
Mae govannen!
TO THE HOBBITS
This is Glorfindel, who dwells in the house of Elrond.
HOBBITS IN AWE.
GLORFINDEL TO FRODO
Hail, and well met at last! I was sent from Rivendell to look for you.
FRODO, JOYFULLY
Then Gandalf has reached Rivendell?
GLORFINDEL
No. He had not when I departed. They said that the Nine were abroad. There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openly against the Nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south.
THE MENTION OF THE NINE IS PAINFUL FOR FRODO. HE CRINGES, HIS EYES GO DARK.
GLORFINDEL
What’s with him?
SAM
My master is sick and wounded. He can’t go on riding after nightfall. He needs rest.
STRIDER DREWS OUT THE HILT OF THE BLADE, WHICH HE HAD KEPT, AND HANDED IT TO THE ELF. GLORFINDEL SHUDDERES AS HE TOOK IT, BUT HE LOOKES INTENTLY AT IT. HIS FACE TURNS GRAVER, WHEN HE EXAMINES FRODO’S WOUND.
GLORFINDEL
There are evil things written on this hilt, though maybe your eyes cannot see them. Keep it, Aragorn, till we reach the house of Elrond! But be wary, and handle it as little as you may! Alas! the wounds of this weapon are beyond my skill to heal. Frodo, I urge you now to go on without rest. You shall ride my horse. He will not let any rider fall that I command him to bear. His pace is light and smooth.
FRODO
No, I shall not ride him, if I am to be carried off to Rivendell or anywhere else, leaving my friends behind in danger.
GLORFINDEL
I doubt very much, if your friends would be in danger if you were not with them! It is you, Frodo, and that which you bear that brings us all in peril.
VISIONS OF THE NAZGUL AND THE RING AGAIN. GLORFINDEL HELPS THE SPEECHLESS FRODO TO SIT ON THE HORSE. THEY PROCEED. THE ROAD PLUNGES INTO A DEEP CUTTING WITH STEEP MOIST WALLS OF RED STONE. STRANGE ECHOES, WIND IS RISING AGAIN.
GLORFINDEL
Our peril will be greatest just ere we reach the river.
THE ECHOES SOUND UNNATURAL NOW, GLORFINDEL TURNES AND LISTENES, THEN HE SPRINGS FORWARD WITH A LOUD CRY.
Fly! Fly! The enemy is upon us!
THE WHITE HORSE LEAPES FORWARD. THEY RUN TO THE OPEN WOODS. ECHO TURNS OUT TO BE A GALLOPING. FIRST NAZGUL APPEARS, CRY. MORE NAZGULS APPEAR, THE STAND STILL, WATCHING FRODO. GLORFINDEL AND STRIDER DRAW THEIR SWORDS.
GLORFINDEL, CALLING FRODO WHO HAS TURNED
Ride forward! Ride!
FRODO IS RELUCTANT. FRODO’S POV, NAZGUL COMMAND HIM TO COME TO THEM IN WHISPERING VOICES. VOICES BECOME LOUDER. FRODO’S FACE BECOMES HATEFUL.
GLORFINDEL, MORE URGENT (in Elvish subtitles)
Ride on! Ride on! noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth!
HORSE SPEEDS LIKE THE WIND ALONG THE LAST LAP OF THE ROAD. AT THE SAME MOMENT THE BLACK HORSES LEAPE DOWN THE HILL IN PURSUIT, A TERRIBLE CRY. CRY IS ANSWERED; AERIAL SHOT. THE LAST FOUR RIDERS COME FROM LEFT AND RIGHT. RACING SCENE.
FRODO LOOKS BACK OVER HIS SHOULDER. HE CAN NO LONGER SEE HIS FRIENDS. NAZGUL DRAW SWORDS, THEY CALL TO HIM WITH FELL VOICES. BELLS STILL RINGING, HORSES PANTING, FRODO SHUTS HIS EYES AND CLINGS TO THE HORSE’S MANE. BRUINEN IN SIGHT, NAZGUL BECOME MAD.
FRODO’S HORSE LEAPS INTO THE WATER, CROSSES BRUINEN. HORSE LEFTS THE RIVER AND STRUGGLES UP THE STONY PATH. NAZGULS’ HORSES HALT AT THE RIVER AND NEIGH FIERCELY. NINE RIDERS UPLIFT THEIR FACES. THEY SAY NOTHING, ONLY SOUND: WATER AND HORSES.
FRODO, WHISPERING DESPERATELY
I can’t flee them.
SUDDENLY THE FOREMOST RIDER SPURS HIS HORSE FORWARD. IT CHECKS THE WATER AND REARES UP. WITH A GREAT EFFORT FRODO SITS UPRIGHT AND BRANDISHES HIS SWORD. WITH THIN AND SHRILL VOICE:
Go back! Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more!
ENEMIES LAUGH AT HIM WITH A HARSH AND CHILLING LAUGHTER. RIDERS.
Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you!
FRODO, NOW WHISPERING
Go back!
RIDERS, LURING HIM:
The Ring! The Ring!
RING IN FRODO'S HAND AGAIN. CLOSE UP: SHOCKED FACE OF FRODO. WITCH KING URGES HIS HORSE FORWARD INTO THE WATER, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY THE OTHERS.
FRODO, DRAWING HIS SWORD:
By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair…
LOUDER
…you shall have neither the Ring nor me!
WITCHKING, HALF ACROSS THE FORD, RAISES HIS HAND. FRODO CHOKES; HEARTBEATING; FRODO’S SWORD BREAKES; FELLS OUT OF HIS SHAKING HANDS, GLIDES DOWN ONTO THE BANK INTO THE WATER, IN THE FRONT OF THE NAZGUL’S STEPPS HOVE. ELF-HORSE SNOARTS.
CLOSE UP: WITCHKINGS HAND MENACINGLY REACHES FOR FRODO.
A ROARING AND A RUSHING. ALL LOOK TO THE RIGHT. BRUINEN RISES, HUGE FLOOD, NAZGUL TRY TO ESCAPE. FRODO’S DISTORTED POV: RIDERS ARE OVERWHELMED: THEY DISAPPEAR, BURIED SUDDENLY UNDER ANGRY FOAM. LOUD CRIES OF THE STEEPS AND RIDERS.
OUTSIDE OF FRODO’S POV: FRODO FELL INTO THE WATER, IT RISES MORE AND MORE, ENGULFS HIM TOGETHER WITH HIS ENEMIES. SCREEN GOING BLANK.
