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At the Green Dragon, a party is evidently in full swing, with cries and shouts of laughter. Inside,
the Hobbits are engaged in the important business of drinking and singing. Tankards in hand on the table-top, Merry and Pippin
indulge in some entertainment>
<<Merry and Pippin (singing):
Hey ho, to the bottle I go!
To heal my heart and drown my woe.
Rain may fall and wind may blow.
But there
still be –
many miles to go!
Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain,
and the stream that falls from
hill to plain.
Better than rain or rippling brook –
(Pippin
finishes off solo) is a mug of beer inside this Took!">>
<<Frodo: <amused> Sam, we're still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?>>
<Suddenly, Pippin
bursts from the cornfield and knocks over Frodo. Merry, close behind, barrels out, knocking over Sam. Both have an armful
of vegetables>
<<Pippin: Frodo? Merry! It's Frodo
Baggins.>>
<<Merry: Hello Frodo!>>
<<Sam: Get off him! <hauls Pippin off Frodo> Frodo? Are you all right?>>
<<Frodo: What's the meaning of this?>>
<<Merry: Hold this. >> <hands vegetables to Sam.>
<<Sam: You've
been into Farmer Maggot's crop!>>
<They hear a dog barking and
an angry, yelling voice. Pippin grabs Frodo and runs, followed by Merry. Sam does a double take on the produce in his hands,
drops them and runs after the others>
<<Farmer Maggot: <brandishing a scythe> Hoi! You get back here! Wait till
I get this through you! … Get out of my fields! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!>>
<<Merry:
‘Dunno why he is so upset. It’s only a couple of carrots!>>
<<Pippin: And some cabbages.
And those few bags of potatoes that we lifted last week and, and the mushrooms the week before!>>
<<Merry:
Yes Pippin! My point is, he is clearly overreactin’. Run!>>
<Pippin, Frodo and Merry
stop just before the edge of a gorge. Sam slams into them from behind and all four hobbits roll down the hill. At the bottom,
they end up in a tangled heap, spitting various bits of forest from their mouths. Pippin has landed just in front of a pile
of droppings.>
<<Pippin: Ooh! That was close.>>
<<Merry: Oowwww! I think I've broken something.<pulls out
a broken carrot.>>>
<<Sam: Trust a Brandybuck and a
Took!>>
<<Merry: What?! That was just a detour, a shortcut.>>
<<Sam:
A shortcut to what?>>
<<Pippin: Mushrooms!!!>>
<Sam and Merry
rush towards the mushrooms, followed by Pippin. Frodo, standing, looks down the road.>
<<Pippin: That’s mine!>>
<Collective
'mmmm's abound as they savour the mushrooms.>
<<Merry: Here
is a nice one Sam.>>
<<Frodo: I think we should get off the road.>>
<Sounds something can be heard, coming up the road.>
<<Frodo:
Get off the road! Quick!>>
<The hobbits grab their things and cross the road, hopping over and then
crawling beneath a large overhanging tree root. Sound of hoof steps are heard.>
<<Sam: Shhh! <to Merry and Pippin>
Stop it! Be quiet!>>
<Merry and Pippin stop jostling each other. Frodo looks up through a small gap and sees a great black horse,
and a Rider, clothed and hooded in black. The Black Rider leaps from his horse. He approaches the tree root and rests his
armored hand on it, hissing and sniffing. Insects and earthworms start coming out of their holes. Frodo enters a trance, tempted
to wear the Ring as his finger strains towards it. Sam realises this and he reaches over and hits Frodo in the arm, startling
him out of his the trance. Frodo jerks the Ring away from his finger. Merry throws a bag full of vegetables into the forest
to distract the Rider, who whirls away and follows the sound. The hobbits make a break for it. They run a short distance and
then stop, gasping.>
<<Merry: What was that?>>
<Nightfall. A Black Rider is patrolling the area. The hobbits hide behind the trees.>
<<Sam: Anything?>>
<<Frodo: Nothing.>>
<<Pippin:
What is going on?>>
<<Merry: That Black Rider was looking for something… or someone. Frodo?>>
<<Sam: Get down!>>
<The Black Rider
feigns leaving the area.>
<<Frodo: I have to leave
the Shire. Sam and I must get to Bree.>>
<<Merry: Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me.>>
<Hobbits make their way to Buckleberry ferry. A second Black Rider suddenly
appears along their path. Frodo is delayed as the others run on. The hobbits jump over the fence and run towards the river.
The Riders follows the chase, hot on Frodo’s heels.>
<<Pippin:
Run! This way, follow me! Run!>>
<<Merry: Get the rope Sam!>>
<<Man: <to Merry coming from the bar> Get, get out of my way.>>
<Merry sits down at the table.
He is holding a huge stein of beer, which he sets down reverently.>
<<Pippin:
What’s that?>>
<<Merry: <gazing at it in rapt
admiration> This my friend, is a pint.>>
<<Pippin: It comes
in pints? I’m getting one.>>
<Pippin rushes to the bar. The Men
of Bree, amused, make way for him and he makes himself comfortable in their company.>
<<Sam: You had a whole half already!>>
<<Pippin: Baggins!>>
<Frodo snaps out of his
reverie>
<<Pippin: <at the bar with his newfound friends> Sure I know a Baggins. He’s
over there, Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin once removed on his mother's side <listeners laugh, "It works for him!"
yells one> and my third cousin twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me.>>
<Strider
sits up, his attention fairly caught. Frodo rushes towards the bar to stop Pippin from babbling further.>
<<Frodo: Pippin!>> <grabs
him>
<<Pippin: Steady on, Frodo!>>
The following morning, Strider leads the four hobbits and a newly acquired pony away from the village
of Bree.>
<<Frodo: Where are you taking us?>>
<<Strider:
Into the wild.>>
<<Merry: <to Frodo> How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?>>
<<Frodo: I think
a servant of the Enemy would look fairer and feel fouler.>>
<<Merry: He's foul enough!>>
<<Frodo: We have no choice but to trust him.>>
<<Sam: But where is he leading
us?>>
<<Strider: To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, to the House of Elrond.>>
<<Sam:
Did you hear that? Rivendell! We’re going to see the Elves!>>
<Snow is starting
to fall and cover the ground. After a while, the Hobbits pause, pulling cookware and food from their packs. Strider looks
back at them.>
<<Strider: Gentlemen, we do not stop
till nightfall.>>
<<Pippin: What about breakfast?>>
<<Strider: We’ve
already had it.>>
<<Pippin: We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?>> <Strider walks away.>
<<Merry: Don't
think he knows about second breakfast Pip.>>
<<Pippin: <alarmed>
What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn’t
he?>>
<<Merry: I wouldn't count on it.>>
<From
over the bushes, Strider tosses an apple and Merry catches it. He hands it to Pippin and pats him on the shoulder. Another
apple flies through the air, hitting Pippin in the head. He looks up bewildered.>
<<Merry:
<impatiently> Pippin!>>
<The party slowly make their way through increasingly rough country. It becomes darker and the forest gives way
to flat marshland, which they eventually have to cross. All go up to their knees in the sludgy mire. The conditions are made
worse by an army of midges which attack them all unmercifully. Merry slaps despairingly at the cloud of pests hovering around
him.>
<<Merry: What do they eat - when they can't
get Hobbit?>>
<Behind him, Pippin stumbles and falls into the mire,
measuring his length. It is a miserable journey at this stage. Eventually they make camp for the night on the boggy ground.
Strider manages to hunt and kill a deer which he brings back for their supper. The Moon rises as the hobbits fall asleep.
Strider is keeping watch by the fire. He hums a tune softly to himself:>
<Frodo, asleep, wakes up with a start. Merry, Pippin and Sam gathered around a fire cooking.>
<<Merry: My tomato's burst.>>
<<Pippin:
Can I have some bacon?>>
<<Merry: Ok. Want some tomatoes Sam?>>
<<Frodo
(in alarm): What are you doing?!>>
<<Merry: Tomatoes, sausages, nice crispy bacon.>>
<<Sam:
We saved some for you, Mr. Frodo.>>
<<Frodo: Put it out, you fools! Put it out!>>
<He stamps on the fire, trying to douse the flames.>
<<Pippin: Oh, that’s nice! Ash on my tomatoes!>>
<<Strider: Andelu i ven. (The road is too dangerous.)>>
<<Pippin:
What are they saying?>>
<<Arwen: Frodo fîr. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon.
(Frodo's dying. If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.)>>
<<Frodo: I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though-- I do not know the way.>>
<<Gandalf: <walks towards Frodo> I will help you bear this burden,
Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear <places his hands reassuringly
on Frodo’s shoulders.>>>
<<Aragorn: <rises> If by my life or death, I can protect you, I
will.>>
<He approaches Frodo and keels before him.>
<<Aragorn: You have my sword.>>
<<Legolas: And you have my bow <walks to join them.>>>
<<Gimli:
And my axe! <looks grimly at Legolas as he joins the group.>>>
<<Boromir: <walks over to them> You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done.>>
<<Sam: Heh! <jumps from behind the bushes and joins them> Mr. Frodo is not goin’ anywhere without me!>>
<<Elrond (amused):
No indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.>>
<<Pippin
and Merry: <emerges from behind the pillars to join them> Wait! We are coming too!>>
<<Merry: You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop
us!>>
<<Pippin: Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest... thing.>>
<<Merry: Well that rules you out Pip.>>
<<Elrond (musing): Nine companions...
So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!>>
<<Pippin: Great! Where are we going?>>
<<Gandalf: <raising his hands> Fennas Nogothrim, lasto beth lammen. (Doorway of the Dwarf-folk, listen to the word of my tongue.)>>
<<Pippin:
Nothing's happening.>>
<Gandalf glances at him at him, looking slightly annoyed. He begins
to push on the doors, but they remain fast.>
<<Gandalf:
I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves...Men...and Orcs.>>
<<Pippin (piping up): What
are you going to do, then?>>
<<Gandalf (angrily): Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin
Took! And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening
words.>>
The Hobbits whisper amongst themselves.>
<<Pippin:
Are we lost?>>
<<Merry: No.>>
<<Pippin: I think we are.>>
<<Sam:
Shhh! Gandalf’s thinking.>>
<<Pippin: Merry?>>
<<Merry: What?>>
<<Pippin: I’m hungry.>>
<Pippin, still holding hat and staff, backs away.>
<<Gandalf:
"Drums...drums…in the deep.">>
<He looks up slowly, and turns the smudged, bloodstained page. The Fellowship
begins to glance around uncomfortably.>
<<Gandalf:
"We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark.">>
<Pippin
stumbles back slightly and sees a corpse sitting by a stone well with an arrow in its chest. He turns towards it.>
<<Gandalf: "We cannot get out…" <He glances at the last, single line, a scrawl fading out at the bottom of the page. Gandalf looks up in
the uncomfortable silence.> "They are coming!">>
<The silence is broken by Pippin. Curious, he reaches out and lightly twists
the arrow in the corpse. The skull slips off, falling into the well with a resounding crash.>
<Gandalf whips
around, spooked.>
<Pippin turns to face him, looking guilty. As he does, the corpse slips into the well, dragging
with it a chain and bucket, its noise echoing from hall to hall far below. Where once was only silence, a ricocheting noise
now fills every cranny. Pippin winces at each new wave of noise. Then, silence. The Fellowship begins to relax.>
<<Boromir: <exhales>>>
<<Gandalf: <slams
the book shut> Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid
us of your stupidity!>>
<He pulls his hat and staff
from the Hobbit’s hands.>
<Gandalf turns away. Pippin stands still, awkwardly.>
<Boom…boom.>
<Gandalf
slowly turns back, and Pippin turns as well, staring down into the well.>
<Elves prepare for the departure of the Fellowship. Legolas is among them, shifting parcels into
a set of boats provided by the Galadhrim. He holds up a thin wafer for Merry and Pippin to see, as they sit in a boat.>
<<Legolas: Lembas! Elvish Way-bread. One small bite is enough to fill the
stomach of a grown man.>>
<He walks up onto shore, leaving the Hobbits
by themselves.>
<<Merry: <turning to Pippin> How many did you eat?>>
<<Pippin:
Four.>>
<He burps.>
<Frodo runs and hides behind a tree. Across the way, Merry and Pippin
hide in a space under some fallen tree trunks.>
<<Merry:
Frodo!>>
<<Pippin: <beckoning> Hide here! Quick! Come on!>>
<Frodo looks at them, anguished, then shakes his head.>
<<Pippin
(to Merry): What’s he doin'?>>
<<Merry (in realization): He's leavin’.>>
<<Pippin:
No!>> <runs out towards Frodo>
<<Merry: Pippin!>>
<goes after him>
<Merry and Pippin are out in the open. Several Uruk-Hai are coming down the hill, towards
them.>
<<Merry (quietly): Run, Frodo! Go!>>
<Merry cups his hands and calls out to the Uruk-Hai.>
<<Merry: Hey! Hey you! Over here!>>
<<Pippin: Hey!>>
<<Merry: Over here!>>
<<Pippin: <waving his arms> This way!>>
<Both Hobbits run away from Frodo. The Uruk-Hai troop follows them. Frodo makes
a break for it, running in the opposite direction.>
<<Pippin:
Its working!>>
<<Merry: I know its working! Run!>>
<Back at the hilltop, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli continue to fight the
Uruk-Hai. In one smooth move, Legolas stabs one Uruk with an arrow then shoots it out at another. Gimli wields his axe. Aragorn
stabs one behind his back.>
<Merry and Pippin run across an old stone bridge. At its far end, they stop and see
Uruk-hai running towards them. The Uruks are closing in, both in front and behind. An Uruk runs up to them, raising his battleaxe.
But Boromir comes charging in, knocks the Uruk back, and kills him with his own axe. He throws a knife at another. More close
in.>
<Merry and Pippin look at him, aghast. With all the courage they can muster, they take up their
swords and attack the Uruk-Hai.>
<<Merry and Pippin: Ahhhhgggh!!!>>
<They never have the chance to strike. The Uruk-Hai lift them up and carry them off.
Merry and Pippin wave their arms frantically. The Uruk-Hai troop walks away from Boromir. Boromir looks on helplessly. The
troop passes by Boromir where he kneels, suffering, as though he does not exist.>
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