[Frodo nears Cirith Ungol. Shelob stalks him from the cliff face. Frodo hears some rocks falling and looks around but doesn't see her. She follows, then stings him from above.]
Frodo: Umph! Oh!
[His face turns blue and green. Foam leaks from his mouth. He groans and falls.]
[Shelob pounces on him and winds sticky silk around him.]
[Sam arrives. He brandishes Sting and the phial.]
Sam: Let him go you filth!
Shelob: Sssshh!
Sam: Let him go!
[Shelob drops Frodo to the ground. Sam looks down at him, worried, then returns his attention to Shelob.]
Sam: You will not touch him again! Come on and finish it!
[Shelob attacks Sam. He slashes at her but she knocks the phial from his hand. She corners him by a wall and tries to mash him with her mandibles. Sam kicks at her. He rolls over the top of her and lands on the pathway.]
Sam: Oh!
[He retrieves Sting, and when she attacks he stabs at her eyes. Sam stabs again, but Shelob catches Sting in her mandibles and won't let go. Sam struggles, and when he frees Sting it flies out of reach. Shelob unsheathes her own sting and tries to jab Sam. He rolls away from several attempts. He finally reaches the Blade, and manages to drive it into her abdomen as she tries to sting him again. Shelob shrieks in pain and begins to retreat. Sam retrieves the phial and menaces her with it.]
Sam: Ha! Back!
[Shelob shrieks and retreats into a hole.]
Shelob: No!
[Sam runs to Frodo, dropping Sting.]
Sam: Mister Frodo!
[He tears the spider web from Frodo's face.]
Oh no, Frodo! Mister Frodo, wake up!
[He holds Frodo and begins to cry.]
Don't leave me alone! Do go where I can't follow! Wake up! Not asleep. Dead!
[He holds Frodo and cries. Then he sees that Sting has turned blue. He looks around.]
[Shagrat, Gorbag, and other orcs arrive and see Frodo.]
Shagrat: What's this?
[Sam looks out from a hiding place in the rocks.]
Shagrat: Looks like old Shelob's been having a bit of fun.
Gorbag: Killed another one, has she?
Shagrat: No, this fellow ain't dead.
Sam: [whispering] Not dead?
Shagrat: She just jabs him with her stinger And he goes as limp as a boned fish Then she has her way with him. That's how she likes to feed, fresh blood. Get him to the tower!
[The orcs carry Frodo toward Cirith Ungol.]
Sam: Samwise, you fool.
Gorbag: This scum will be awake in a couple of hours.
Shagrat: Then he'll wish he'd never been born!
<The Ride of the Rohirrim >
[Minas Tirith: Pippin quietly enters the mausoleum of the Stewards. Denethor's guard has built a pyre of bundles of wood all around and on top of a stone tablet. They place Faramir on top. Faramir groans softly.]
Denethor: The house of his spirit crumbles. Faramir is burning. Already burning.
[Pippin runs to the pyre.]
Pippin: He's not dead! [He pulls at the bundles of wood.] He's not dead!
[Denethor grabs his collar and drags him away.]
Pippin: No! No! No! No! He's not dead! No!
Denethor: Come now, Peregrin son of Paladin.
Pippin: No! Help! No!
[Denethor dumps Pippin outside the mausoleum.]
Denethor: I release you from my service Go now and die in what way seems best to you.
[He closes the door, leaving Pippin outside.]
Denethor: Pour oil on the wood!
[Pippin runs down through the city. Soldiers are everywhere. Many are injured.]
Pippin: Gandalf! Where is Gandalf? Gandalf!
[Orcs and trolls enter the city. Many of the Gondorians panic.]
Gandalf: The city is breached! Fall back to the second Level! Get the women and children out! Get them out! Retreat!
Gothmog: Move into the city. Kill all in your path.
[The Gondorians fight against the orcs and trolls.]
Gandalf: Fight! Fight to the last man. Fight for your lives!
[Melodic horns sound. Gandalf looks up.]
[Rohan arrives on the Pelennor. They look down upon the huge army of Mordor. Orc shout. Their drums sound.]
Eowyn: [whispers] Courage, Merry. Courage for our friends. [She holds him.]
Gothmog: Form Ranks, you maggots. Form ranks! Pikes in front. Archers behind.
[Theoden and his captain are positioned in front of the long line of Riders.]
Theoden: Eomer! Take your eored down the left side.
Eomer: [To his Eored] Make ready!
Theoden: Gamling, follow the king's banner down the center. Grimbold! Take your company right after you pass the wall. Forth! And fear no darkness!
[Theoden rides up and down the line.]
Theoden: Arise! Arise! Riders of Theoden! Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered!
[As he rides in front of Eowyn she turns to hide her face.]
Theoden: A sword day! A red day! Ere the sun rises!
[The Orcs form ranks.]
Eowyn: Merry, stay with me. I will look after you.
[Theoden rides down the spears.]
Theoden: Ride Now! Ride now! Ride! Ride to ruin and the world's ending! Death!
Rohirrim: Death!
[Eowyn gasps.]
Theoden: Death!
Rohirrim: Death!
Theoden: Death!
Rohirrim: Death!
Merry and Eowyn: Death!
Theoden: Forth Eorlingas!
[The horns sound. The Rohirrim shout and charge toward the orcs' line.]
Gothmog: Fire now!
[The orcs fire arrows at the Rohirrim. Many fall.]
Merry: Death!
Theoden: Death!
[The Rohirrim shout.]
Gothmog: Fire at will!
[The orc arrows fell more riders. Then the Rohirrim plow into the Orc army, breaking through the front line and into the heart. Their horses simply ride down many of the orcs. The Rohirrim kill many more with spear and sword.]
<The Pyre of Denethor >
[In Minas Tirith, Pippin finds Gandalf.]
Pippin: Gandalf! Gandalf! Denethor has lost his mind! He's burning Faramir alive!
Gandalf: Come! Quickly!
[He lifts Pippin onto Shadowfax, and they ride off.]
[The Rohirrim continue to drive through the orc army.]
[Denethor stands atop the pyre and pours oil over his face. Faramir flinches as the oil drips onto his closed eyes.]
Denethor: Set a fire in our flesh.
[His guardsmen look unsure. They slowly approach with torches.]
[Shadowfax breaks through the door.]
Gandalf: Stay this madness!
[Denethor's guard draws back. Denethor grabs a torch from one of them and throws it onto the pyre. Gandalf takes a spear from one of the guards. He rides to the pyre and knocks Denethor off. Pippin jumps from Shadowfax onto the pyre.]
Pippin: Ahh!
[Pippin pushes Faramir and they both roll off onto the floor. As Pippin pats out the flames in Faramir's clothing, Denethor attacks him.]
Denethor: Aughh! You will not take my son from me!
[Denethor grabs his collar. Denethor's clothes are already alight.]
Pippin: Ahh!
[Shadowfax rears and knocks Denethor back onto the fire.]
[Faramir opens his eyes. Denethor sees him and whimpers.]
Denethor: Faramir!
[As Denethor's clothes begin blazing, he jumps down from the pyre. He runs out into the citadel courtyard and off its easternmost point. He falls flaming onto the orc army many feet below.]
Gandalf: So passes Denethor, son of Ecthelion.
<The Mumakil >
[On the Pelennor the Rohirrim are devastating the orc army.]
Eomer: Drive them to the river!
Theoden: Make safe the City!
[The mumakil arrive. Each of the great beasts bears a war tower filled with Southron warriors. The Southrons blow horns and chant. The mumakil approach.]
Theoden: See to your horse!
[The Southrons shout.]
Theoden: Reform your line! Reform the line!
[The Riders form a line facing the Southron army.]
Theoden: Sound the charge!!
[Gamling blows his horn. Theoden and Eowyn shout as they charge.]
[The Rohirrim charge toward the mumakil. The orc army runs before them, and the mumakil allow them to pass. The mumakil have spikes attached to their tusks and circling their ankles. When the Rohirrim come into range, the mumakil begin tossing them aside and crushing them underfoot. The Riders who pass through the line of beasts unharmed turn and attack the beasts from the rear. The Southron archers shoot arrows at those who catch up with the Mumakil. The Mumakil continue to overrun and crush the Riders.]
[Eomer turns and faces one of the Mumakil head on. The Mumak's driver leers down at him. Eomer throws a spear, knocking the driver off. The driver hangs by a rope attached to the Mumak's ear. The Mumak bellows with pain and veers left with the driver swinging from its ear. It crashes into another Mumak and both fall.]
Theoden: Hurry up!
[Merry and Eowyn ride among the Mumakil. They are almost trampled.]
Eowyn: Take the reins! Pull Left!
[Eowyn grabs a sword from an orc as they charge past.]
Eowyn: Left!
[Eowyn cuts at the front and back legs of a Mumak as they pass under it. Its back end collapses and then it falls.]
Eomer: Aim for their heads! [He shoots.]
[A Mumak is wounded by arrows and rises onto his hind legs.]
Theoden: [Desperately] Bring it down! Bring it down! Bring it down!
[Gamling shoots. The wounded Mumak falls. It knocks Eowyn and Merry off their horse. Eowyn scrambles out of the way to avoid being crushed. She looks around but can't see Merry.]
Eowyn: Merry!
[Minas Tirith: A troll is pounding at the gate to the second level with a great hammer. Gandalf and Pippin crouch on a porch. Below them, soldiers wait for the gate to be breached.]
Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? The journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it
Pippin: What? Gandalf? See what?
Gandalf: White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: Well, that isn't so bad.
Gandalf: No, no it isn't.
[They smile. The gate is almost breached. Gandalf nods to Pippin. Pippin grips his sword and closes his eyes.]
<The Witch King and The King of Gondor >
[The Rohirrim continue to battle the Mumakil.]
Theoden: Rally to me! To me!
[The Witch King flies in. Theoden looks stunned. The fell beast grabs Snowmane and shakes him. As Eowyn watches, he sends Snowmane tumbling. Theoden's knights scatter, and the fell beast approaches. Theoden is alive, but his legs are trapped under Snowmane.]
Witch King: Feast on his flesh.
[The beast growls and approaches Theoden. Theoden looks up and is afraid. Eowyn leaps between them.]
Eowyn: I will kill you if you touch him!
Witch King: Do not come between the Nazgul and his prey.
[The fell beast strikes out at her. She cries out, leaps aside and chops through his neck with two great sword strokes. The head falls aside and the beast falls.]
[Eowyn picks up a fallen shield and crouches as the Witch King emerges from the wreck of the fell beast. Her eyes grow wide as he lifts his mace and the great spiked ball at the end of the chain comes into view. Theoden watches as the Witch King swings at her. The Witch King shrieks as he attacks. Eowyn ducks several blows. One blow falls on her shield and shatters it. She falls back, dropping her sword.]
[The Corsairs arrive at Minas Tirith's wharf. Orcs wait at dockside.]
Skully: Late as usual! Pirate scum! There's knife work here that need doing! Come on, you sea-rats. Get off your ships!
[Aragorn leaps from the ship. Legolas and Gimli follow. The orcs are dismayed at first, but then look unimpressed.]
Gimli: There are plenty for the both of us. May the best dwarf win.
[As Aragorn charges, the Dead appear behind him. Many Dead sweep off the ships and over the water toward the orc army.]
[Merry has fallen almost beneath the Mumak that knocked him and Eowyn off their horse. He crawls out, coughing.]
[The Witch King chokes Eowyn.]
Witch King: Fool. No man can kill me. Die now.
Merry: Augh!
[Merry strikes the Witch King from behind. The Witch King falls to his knees. Merry drops his sword and falls back, clutching his arm as if it's been burned.]
Merry: Ahh!
[Eowyn rises. She takes off her helm and lets her hair fly free.]
Eowyn: I am no man! Ahh!
[She plunges her sword into the front of his helm. The Witch King shrieks. He crumples and dies away. Eowyn falls to her knees.]
[Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas fight and kill many orcs.]
Gimli: Fifteen, sixteen.
Legolas: Seventeen, Eighteen.
Gimli: Twenty-nine! That's still mine!
[Aragorn sees an approaching Mumak.]
Aragorn: Legolas!
[Legolas jumps onto the Mumak's tusk. From there he jumps to the front leg, and then to the back. He climbs up and begins shooting arrows at the Mumak's riders.]
Legolas: Thirty-three, thirty-four.
[Some of the Mumak's riders attack him, but he pushes them off. Legolas grabs a rope and swings down the Mumak's side, swinging back and forth as the Mumak runs until he reaches the ropes, which hold the war-tower on its back. He cuts the ropes, and the tower begins sliding off the other side of the beast. Legolas hangs on and the rope helps him walk up to the Mumak's back. The tower crashes to the ground and is swarmed by the Dead army. Legolas draws three arrows and shoots them into the Mumak's neck. He runs down the beast's trunk and jumps off as it crashes down, landing in front of Gimli.]
Gimli: That still only counts as one!
[Aragorn looks around for more enemies. In the background the Dead bring down one of the remaining Mumakil.]
<I Know Your Face >
[Eowyn crawls to Theoden.]
Theoden: I know your face. Eowyn. My eyes darken.
Eowyn: No! No! I'm going to save you.
Theoden: As you did. Eowyn. My body is broken. You have to let me go I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now be ashamed.
[Theoden dies. Eowyn weeps.]
[Gandalf and Pippin walk on the now-quiet battlefield. Aragorn stands before the dead army.]
Dead King: Release us.
Gimli: Bad idea. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead.
[The Dead King looks displeased.]
Dead King: You gave us your word
Aragorn: I hold your oath fulfilled. Go. Be at peace.
[The Dead King smiles with pleasure as he and his army dissipates. Gandalf bows to Aragorn. Pippin searches the battlefield until he finds Merry where he's fallen by the feet of one of the Mumakil. Pippin runs to him and rolls a dead orc off of him.]
Pippin: Merry! Merry, it's me. It's Pippin.
Merry: [weakly] I knew you'd find me.
Pippin: Yes.
Merry: Are you going to leave me?
Pippin: No Merry. I'm going to look after you.
[Pippin finds a discarded cloak to pull over Merry.]
<Cirith Ungol >
[Cirith Ungol. Frodo lies on the floor of the topmost tower. His hands are bound. Gorbag and Shagrat growl as they paw through his belongings.]
Gorbag: Hands off! That shiny shirt, that's mine!
[Clutches Frodo's mithril shirt.]
Shagrat: That goes to the Eye, along with everything else.
[Frodo discovers that he no longer has the Ring on its chain.]
Shagrat: I don't take orders from stinking Morgul rats!
[The orcs struggle.]
Shagrat: I'll stick this blade in your gut.
[Gorbag takes the blade and pushes Shagrat through the trapdoor. Shagrat falls to the lower level.]
Gorbag: The scum tried to knife me. Kill him!
[Gorbag's orcs growl. They begin fighting with Shagrat's company. One orc falls from a window and tumbles down to the tower's base.]
[Sam creeps up to Cirith Ungol. He enters, but few orcs are left alive. He begins running through the fortress. He finds the stairs and begins climbing them. When he glimpses orcs above him around the corner of the stair, he brandishes both his own blade and Sting. ]
Sam: Uhh! Uhh! Aahhhggh! Rraaaaggh!
[His shadow appears large and menacing on the wall of the stairway. The orcs hesitate. However, when Sam rounds the corner they see that he's smaller than his shadow. They approach. Sam slashes at the first one and it falls.]
Sam: That's for Frodo! [He slashes the second one.] That's for the Shire! [He pushes the last one off the stairs.] And that's for my old Gaffer!
[Sam makes his way toward the top of the tower.]
[Still bound, Frodo moans. He hears someone coming and struggles to undo the ropes around his wrists. Snaga enters from the trapdoor.]
Snaga: Stop your squealing you dunghill rat. [He draws his sword.] I'm gonna bleed you like a stuck pig.
[Shagrat yells and the glowing point of Sting appears from the middle of his chest.]
Sam: Not if I stick you first.
[Shagrat falls.]
Frodo: Sam!
[Sam sets Sting aside and kneels by Frodo.]
Frodo: Oh Sam, I'm so sorry! Sorry for everything.
Sam: Let's get you out of here. [He undoes the ropes.]
Frodo: It's too late. It's over. They've taken it. Sam, they took the Ring!
Sam: [Looking surprised.] Begging your pardon, but they haven't.
[He takes the Ring from his pocket and holds it at the end of its chain.] I thought I'd lost you, So I took it. Just for safekeeping.
Frodo: Give it to me. [Sam withdraws.] Give me the Ring, Sam.
[The Ring whispers to Sam, and he looks confused.] Sam! Give me the Ring.
[Sam slowly holds the chain out to Frodo. Frodo snatches the Ring from him. Frodo looks relieved to the point of ecstasy as he puts the chain around his neck.]
Frodo: You must understand. The Ring is my burden. It will destroy you, Sam.
Sam: Come Mister Frodo. We'd best find you some clothes. You can't go walking through Mordor in naught but your skin.
[Frodo and Sam leave Cirith Ungol dressed in orc armor and helmets.]
Sam: We did it, Mister Frodo. We made it to Mordor.
[As they look down they see the campfires and torches of thousands upon thousands of orcs.]
Frodo: There are so many. We'll never get through unseen. [He sees the Eye atop Barad-dur.] That's him! The Eye!
Sam: We have to go in there, Mister Frodo. There's nothing for it. Come. Let's just make it down the hill for starters.
<The Last Debate >
[Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Eomer are in the Citadel. Gimli sits in Denethor's seat and smokes.]
Gandalf: Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deep.
Aragorn: If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it.
Gandalf: It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but, behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping.
Gimli: Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?
Gandalf: Because 10,000 orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom. I've sent him to his death.
Aragorn: No. There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time, and safe passage across the plains of Gorgorath. We can give him that.
Gimli: How?
Aragorn: Draw out Sauron's army. Empty his lands. We will gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate.
[Gimli coughs.]
Eomer: We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.
Aragorn: Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo a chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us -- keep him blind to all else that moves.
Legolas: A diversion.
Gandalf: [quietly] Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait.
Gimli: Certainty of death, small chance of success. What are we waiting for?
[Aragorn leads an army from Minas Tirith. Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Eomer ride with him. Pippin rides with Gandalf. Merry rides with Eomer.]
[In Mordor, torches indicate that Sauron's forces are moving North.]
Orc Captain: To the Gates, you slugs! Now march! Move along! To the gate!
[Orc horns blow.]
Sam: Look, the orcs! They're moving off! You see Mister Frodo? Some luck at last!
[Frodo and Sam trudge through the desolation. In one scene they're wearing the orc armor, but in the next they've left it behind.
[The hobbits rest. Frodo turns up his water skin, but it's empty.]
Sam: [Offers his water skin] Take mine. There's a few drops left.
[Frodo drinks.]
Frodo: There will be none left for the return journey.
Sam: I don't think there will be a return journey, Mister Frodo.
[The hobbits walk again.]
[Aragorn's troops approach the Black Gate.]
[Frodo walks, staggering and swiping at something unseen. Sam follows. Frodo stops, and the Eye sweeps around toward them. Sam sees it and ducks behind a rock.]
Sam: Frodo get down! Hide!
[Frodo sees the Eye, turns, then falls.]
<The Black Gate >
[Aragorn's army forms up a short distance from the Black Gate.]
Pippin: Where are they?
[Aragorn and a Gondorian bearing his banner ride toward the Black Gates. With him go Gandalf with Pippin, Eomer with Merry, and Legolas with Gimli.]
Aragorn: Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!
[The Black Gate opens. Orcs shout and an army of orcs issues from the Gate.]
Aragorn: Fall back! Fall back! [He and his companions ride back to rejoin their troops.]
[In Mordor the Eye's gaze turns away. Sam looks up.]
Sam: It's gone Mister Frodo! The light's passed over us, away toward the North. Something's drawn its gaze.
[They get up and continue to walk toward Mount Doom.]
[Thousands of orcs stream out of the gates. Aragorn's soldiers look frightened. Many take a step back. Aragorn rides before them.]
Aragorn: Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fail, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down. But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth. I bid you stand, Men of the West!
[The Men and Hobbits draw their swords.]
[Frodo and Sam struggle up Mount Doom. Frodo slips and slides down.]
[At the Gate, an orc army many times larger than Aragorn's issues from the Gates. They completely encircle Aragorn's forces. From above Aragorn's Men look like a small island in a sea of enemies.]
[Frodo is unable to rise, and Sam lies clutching his side. Frodo begins crawling up the mountain. After a few feet he collapses.]
Gimli: I never thought I'd die, fighting side-by-side with an elf.
Legolas: What about side-by-side with a friend?
Gimli: Aye, I could do that.
[Sam comes to Frodo, turns him over, and holds him in his arms.]
Sam: Do you remember the Shire, Mister Frodo? It'll be spring soon, and the orchids will be in blossom. And the birds will nest in the hazel. And they'll be sowing summer barley in the lower fields. And eating the first of the strawberries and cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries, Mister Frodo?
Frodo: No Sam, I can't recall the taste of food, nor the sound of water, or the touch of grass. I am naked in the dark. There is nothing, no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I can see it with my waking eyes!
Sam: [crying] Then let us be rid of it, once and for all! Come on, Mister Frodo, I can't carry it for you but I can carry you! Now!
[Sam lifts Frodo and staggers up the mountain.]
[Aragorn sees the Eye atop Barad-Dur.]
Sauron: Aragorn. Elessar.
[Aragorn appears to be mesmerized by the Eye. Then he turns slowly toward the army and smiles.]
Aragorn: For Frodo.
[He runs toward the army of Mordor. Merry and Pippin run after him. The rest of the army shouts and follows. They overtake Merry and Pippin. Aragorn's army slams into the orcs and breaks their line.]
<The Crack of Doom >
[Sam continues to climb. He sees an entrance into the mountainside.]
Sam: Look, Mister Frodo. A doorway! We're almost there.
[Gollum pops out of a hiding place on top of a tall shoulder of stone.]
Gollum: Very clever hobbits, to climb so high!
[Gollum jumps on the hobbits and pulls Frodo off of Sam's back. Frodo falls and Gollum goes for the Ring. Sam pulls him off, but Gollum attacks Frodo again. Sam throws a rock at Gollum and knocks him away. Gollum gets up and approaches Frodo again. Sam jumps at him and they roll away.]
[Aragorn's army continues their battle. The Nazgul appear.]
[Sam and Gollum continue to fight. Gollum bites Sam. Sam slices Gollum across the chest with Sting. Then Sam turns to look for Frodo.]
Sam: Frodo!
[Frodo runs toward the Cracks of Doom.]
[The Nazgul fly in toward Aragorn's army. Gandalf looks dismayed, then sees a moth. The Eagles arrive and attack the Nazgul. ]
Pippin: Eagles! The eagles are coming!
[As they approach the Nazgul, the Eagles roll and attack with their claws. One of the Nazgul falls from his fell beast. ]
[Sam runs into the Cracks of Doom.]
Frodo: I'm here Sam!
[Frodo stands at the very end of the walkway. Below him there is a sea of lava. ]
Sam: Destroy it!
[Frodo holds the Ring on its chain over the edge.]
Sam: Go on. Now! Throw it in the fire!
[Frodo hesitates. The Ring begins to sing to him.]
Sam: What are you waiting for? Just let it go!
[Frodo stares at the Ring hanging on the chain. He cups it in his hand again.]
Frodo: The Ring is mine!
[Frodo pulls the Ring off of the chain.]
Sam: No! No!
[Frodo smiles, then puts the Ring on and disappears.]
Sam: Noo!
[The Eye is startled. It turns toward Mount Doom. The Nazgul shriek and retreat toward the Mountain.]
[Frodo's footprints appear in the dirt of the walkway. Gollum sneaks up behind Sam and hits him with a rock. Sam falls. Gollum leaps onto Frodo's back. As they struggle Gollum appears to be hovering in the air.]
[A troll with an enormous sword approaches Aragorn and swings. Aragorn parries with Anduril. ]
Aragorn: Gah!
[Legolas sees Aragorn fighting with the Troll and is alarmed.]
[Frodo and Gollum continue to fight. Gollum grabs an invisible finger and bites. Frodo appears and cries out in pain. Gollum neatly catches the Ring as Frodo falls to his knees. Gollum discards Frodo's finger. He holds the Ring high and stares at it with delight. He staggers, then begins to jump and dance.]
Gollum: Precious! Precious! Precious! Precious!
[Frodo recovers and attacks Gollum. The struggle at the edge of the lava pit.]
[Aragorn falls. The troll tries to crush him, but he stabs it with his knife. Legolas struggles to reach him.]
[Frodo and Gollum fight over the Ring. They fall over the edge. As Gollum falls toward the lava he smiles happily. He hits the lava with a thud and his skin begins to burn away as he sinks. He continues to hold the Ring up and it lies on the surface after he sinks away. Sam rushes to the edge and finds that Frodo is hanging onto the rock face. As the hot air rushes by him he swings out over the lava. Sam reaches for him.]
Sam: Give me your hand!
[The Ring rests on the crusty surface of the lava. As it heats the fiery letters of the poem appear.]
Sam: Take my hand!
[Frodo reaches and misses. His hands are slippery with blood. He looks down, almost longingly.]
Sam: No!
[Frodo looks up at Sam sadly.]
Sam: Don't you let go! Don't let go. Reach!
[Frodo reaches up and catches Sam's hand. The crust holding the Ring on the surface of the lava cracks and the Ring falls through.]
[The Eye startles again and loses coherency for a moment. At the Black Gate Sauron's troops stop fighting. The troll looks up from his fight with Aragorn and suddenly runs from the battlefield. The companions watch in awe as the tower of Barad-dur slowly begins to fall. The Eye struggles as the tower falls. Before the top of the tower falls to the ground the Eye is extinguished. Its destruction causes a shock wave that sweeps over Sauron's army. The land begins to collapse behind the Black Gate, and many of Sauron's troops fall into the resulting hole. The collapse extends until the Black Gate and the surrounding Towers of the Teeth also fall. It stops just short of Aragorn's army.)
Merry: [grinning] Frodo, Frodo!
[Merry is startled when Mount Doom explodes. The companions look on, shocked as a great flood of lava pours out of the mountain.]
Pippin: [crying] Frodo!
[Frodo and Sam run out of the Cracks of Doom, just ahead of the collapse of the walkway and a rush of lava. They find a high outcropping just outside the reach of the lava. Frodo looks amazed and relieved. His eyes fill with tears.]
Frodo: It's gone! It's done!
Sam: Yes, Mister Frodo. It's over now.
[Frodo plops down on the rock and lies on his back.]
Frodo: I can see the Shire, the Brandywine River. Bag End. Gandalf's fireworks, the lights in the Party Tree.
Sam: Rosie Cotton dancing. She had ribbons in her hair. If I was to marry someone, it would have been her. [He cries.]
It would have been her!
[Frodo puts his arms around Sam and holds him close, dripping tears.]
Frodo: I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.
[Fade to black]
[The surrounds the hobbit's rock. Frodo and Sam lie unconscious. Eagles appear out of the mist with Gandalf riding on the back of their leader. They lift Frodo and Sam very gently and fly away with them. Frodo opens his eyes as he is being carried, but seems unaware.]
[Frodo's face fades to white.]
<Celebration and Coronation >
[Frodo is lying on a bed. The sun streams into the window behind him and birds are singing. He wakes and sits up. He is clean and dressed in a nightshirt.)
Frodo: Gandalf?
[They laugh. Merry and Pippin enter. They are overjoyed and jump on the bed, hugging Frodo and laughing with him. ]
Frodo: [He sees Gimli enter.] Gimli!
[Gimli laughs. Legolas enters and then Aragorn, smiling.]
Frodo: [no sound] Aragorn!
[The big folk stand, smiling and watching the exuberant hobbits. Sam comes to the doorway last, smiling shyly. When Frodo sees him he looks grateful and full of joy.]
[Fade to black.]
[The Citadel courtyard is filled with people. Gandalf and Gimli stand on the steps of the Citadel. Aragorn stands before Gandalf, who slowly lowers a winged crown to his head.]
Gandalf: Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed.
[The crowd cheers. Aragorn takes a breath and turns to face them.]
Aragorn: This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world, that we may share in the days of peace.
[Everyone cheers. Flower petals drift down from the citadel. At the front of the crowd of onlookers, Faramir and Eowyn smile at each other and applaud.]
Aragorn (singing): Et Earello Endorenna utulien. Sinome maruvan are Hildinyar tenn Ambar-metta. [Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the word.]
[Aragorn walks down the aisle formed by the cheering onlookers. Eowyn curtsies to him and Faramir bows. Eomer also steps forward and bows. Aragorn approaches a group of Elves, led by Legolas. Aragorn and Legolas embrace.]
Aragorn: Hannon le. [Thank you.]
[Legolas smiles as if he has a secret. He steps aside and Elrond is behind him. Arwen is also there, shielded by a white banner embroidered with the Tree of Gondor. She brings the banner to Aragorn and curtsies. She lowers her head. He raises her chin and meets her eyes, then embraces her suddenly and kisses her hard. The crowd cheers and applauds. Aragorn and Arwen kiss, then Arwen hugs him and laughs. Elrond smiles.]
[Aragorn and Arwen continue through the crowd together. They approach the four hobbits, who bow to them.]
Aragorn: My friends! You bow to no one.
[Aragorn and Arwen kneel to the hobbits. Others follow their lead until everyone in the courtyard is kneeling. The hobbits look out over them in awe.]
<Homeward Bound >
[Fade to a drawing of Minas Tirith on a map of Middle-earth.]
Frodo (v.o.): And thus it was, the Fourth age of Middle-earth began, and the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by Friendship and love was ended. [The camera flies over the map from Minas Tirith, back over the lands traveled by the hobbits, North toward Weathertop, Bree and finally back to Hobbiton.] Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey we found ourselves looking upon a familiar sight.
[The hobbits ride toward Bag End. They are dressed in rich velvet cloaks. ]
Frodo: We were home.
[Mr. Proudfoot scowls at the hobbits as they ride by. They nod to him politely.]
[At the Green Dragon, Frodo carries four cups of ale. He bumps into a Hobbit carrying a huge pumpkin. Frodo sets the mugs down. He sits quietly with Merry, Pippin and Sam. The other hobbits are delighted with the pumpkin and praise its owner. The four companions pause, smile and then drink together.]
Hobbit: Goodnight Rosie!
Rosie: Goodnight lads!
[Sam looks to Rosie behind the bar. He gathers his courage, takes a drink and goes off to talk to her. Merry, Pippin and Sam look surprised and amused.]
[Sam and Rosie kiss at their wedding. The hobbits cheer. Rosie throws a bouquet and Pippin catches it. He smiles at a dark-haired hobbit lass.]
[Fade to black.]
[Frodo walks through Bag End, drinking from a mug. The hole is clean to the point of seeming empty and sad.]
Frodo: How do you pick up the pieces of an old life? How do you go on? When in your heart you begin to understand, there is no going back. [Frodo sits at Bilbo's writing desk.] There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts go too deep... and they've taken hold.
[Frodo writes about Sam's wedding in the Red Book. He turns to the title page, and begins to write. He frowns and clutches his shoulder. Sam enters, bringing books.]
Sam: Mister Frodo? What is it?
Frodo: It's been four years to the day since Weathertop, Sam. It will never really heal.
Sam: "There and back again: A hobbit's tale by Bilbo Baggins." And "The Lord of the Rings, by Frodo Baggins." You've finished it.
Frodo: [closes the book] Not quite. There's room for a little more.
<The Grey Havens >
[A covered wagon arrives in Hobbiton. The four hobbits are waiting on ponies. Gandalf smiles out at them from the wagon.]
Frodo (v.o.): Bilbo once told me his part in this tale would end, that each of us must come and go in the telling. Bilbo's story was now over. There would be no more journeys for him, save one.
[The hobbits ride ahead of the wagon through the Shire. Sam leads Frodo's pony.]
Bilbo (v.o.): Tell me again, lad. Where are we going?
Frodo (v.o.): To the harbor, Bilbo. The Elves have accorded you a special honor, a place on the last ship to leave Middle-earth.
[Inside the wagon, Frodo holds the greatly aged Bilbo as they ride.]
Bilbo: Frodo, Is there any chance of seeing that old ring of mine again.
Frodo: Sorry, uncle. I'm afraid I lost it.
Bilbo: Oh. Pity. I would have liked to have held it one last time.
[Gulls cry. The hobbits and Gandalf approach the pier at the Grey Havens. A swan ship is there. Elrond, Celeborn, Galadriel and Cirdan wait on the pier.]
Bilbo: [seeing the ocean] Oh! Well! A sight I have never seen before.
Galadriel: The power of the three Rings is ending. The time has come for the Dominion of Men.
Elrond: I Aear cān ven na mar. [The Sea calls us home.]
Bilbo: I think I'm quite ready for another adventure.
[Elrond gestures to him, and Bilbo walks with him onto the ship.]
Gandalf: Farewell, my friends. My work is now finished. Here at last, by the shores of the sea comes the end of our fellowship.
[Merry and Pippin start to cry.]
I do not say 'do not cry' for not all tears are an evil. It is time, Frodo.
Sam: What does he mean?
Frodo: We set out to save the Shire, Sam. And it has been saved, but not for me.
Sam: You don't mean that. You can't leave!
Frodo: [gives him the Red Book] The last pages are for you, Sam.
[Frodo hugs Merry, Pippin, then Sam. He kisses Sam's brow. He walks onto the ship with Gandalf, then turns and smiles back at the hobbits. The swan ship moves toward the mouth of the harbor. Merry and Pippin and finally Sam turn away.]
[Fade to white as the ship sails.]
[On the path to #3 Bagshot Row, young Elanor runs out to meet Sam. He picks her up and carries her. She grins and hugs him.]
Frodo (v.o.) : My dear Sam. You cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy, and to be and to do. Your part in this story will go on.
[Rosie carries baby Frodo out to meet him.]
Sam: Well, I'm back.
[They go through the garden gate and then into their hole. The round door closes.]
[Fade to black.]
<Credits >
ROTK script pg1
ROTK script pg2
ROTK script pg4
