You may
go no further. You will not enter Gondor.
CAPTAIN
Who are
you to deny us passage?
ARAGORN
Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's
ear.
GIMLI
Mind your
aim.
GIMLI
Oh!
That's it. Right. We warned you. Prepare to be
boarded.
SAILOR
Boarded? By you and whose army?
ARAGORN
This army.
GOLLUM
In there.
FRODO
What is this place?
GOLLUM
Master must go inside the tunnel.
FRODO
Now that I'm here, I don't think I want to.
GOLLUM
It's the only way. Go in, or go back.
FRODO
I can't go back. What's that smell?
GOLLUM
Orcses filth. Orcses come in here sometimes. Hurry! This way!
FRODO
Sméagol?
GOLLUM
Over here!
FRODO
It's sticky! What is it?
GOLLUM
You’ll see! Oh, yes! You will see.
FRODO
Sméagol? Sméagol! Sméagol! Sam...
GALADRIEL
And you, Frodo Baggins, I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.
Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!
Hail Eärendil brightest of the Stars! (Quenya)
GOLLUM
Naughty little fly, why does he cry? Caught in her web, soon you'll be...eaten. Got away, did it, Precious? Not this time! Not this time!
FRODO
No!
GOLLUM
It wasn't us! It wasn't us! Sméagol wouldn't hurt master. We promised. You must believe us. It was the Precious! The Precious made us do it!
FRODO
I have to destroy it, Sméagol. I have to destroy it for both our sakes.
GOLLUM
No!
FRODO
I'm so sorry, Sam. I’m so sorry.
GALADRIEL
This task was appointed to you, Frodo of the Shire. If you do not find a way, no one will.
The
scouts report Minas Tirith is surrounded. The lower
level's in flames. Everywhere legions of the enemy advance.
THÉODEN
Time is
against us. Make ready!
ÉOWYN
Take
heart, Merry. It will soon be over.
MERRY
My lady,
you are fair and brave, and have much to live for, and many who love you. I
know it is too late to turn aside. I know there is not much point now in
hoping. If I were a knight of Rohan, capable of great
deeds... but I'm not. I'm a hobbit. And I know I can't save Middle-Earth. I
just want to help my friends. Frodo, Sam. Pippin. More
than anything, I wish I could see them again.
ÉOMER
Prepare
to move out!
THÉODEN
Make
haste. We ride through the night.
ÉOWYN
To battle.
MERRY
To battle.
ORCS
Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond!
GANDALF
Back to the gate! Hurry!
I am
steward of the House of Anárion. Thus have I walked. And thus now will I sleep. Gondor
is lost. There is no hope for men. Why do the fools fly? Better to die sooner
than late. For die we must.
DENETHOR
No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No long, slow, sleep of death embalmed. We shall burn, like the heathen kings of old. Bring wood and oil!
Steady, steady! You are soldiers of Gondor. No matter what comes through that gate, you will stand your ground. Volley! Fire!
Let him go, you filth! Let him go! You will not touch him again! Come on and finish it! Back! Mr.Frodo! Oh no. Frodo! Mr.Frodo! Wake up! Don't leave me here alone. Don't go where I can't follow. Wake up. Not asleep... dead.
SHAGRAT
What's this? 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
Not dead?
SHAGRAT
She jabs him with her stinger and he goes as limp as a boned fish. Then she has her way with them. That's how she likes to feed...fresh blood. Get him to the tower!
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 house of his spirit crumbles. He is burning. Already burning.
PIPPIN
He's not dead. He's not dead! No, no! No, no! He’s not dead!! Aah!
DENETHOR
Hear now, Peregrin, son of Paladin-
PIPPIN
No, no, no!
DENETHOR
I release you from my service. Go now and die in what way seems best to you. Pour oil on the wood!
SOLDIER
Come on, move your feet!
SOLDIER
Hurry along there! Hurry along!
PIPPIN
Gandalf! Where is Gandalf?
SOLDIER
Hurry, hurry!
PIPPIN
Gandalf!
GANDALF
Retreat! The city is breached. Fall back, to the second level! Get the women and children out. Get them out! Retreat!
SOLDIER
Come on. Come on!
GOTHMOG
Move into the city. Kill all in your path.
SOLDIER
Take them down!
GANDALF
Fight!
Fight to the last man! Fight for your lives!
Gandalf!
Gandalf! Denethor has lost his mind! He's burning Faramir alive!
GANDALF
Up!
Quickly!
Go back
to the abyss! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your master.
WITCH-KING
Do you
not know death when you see it, old man? This is my hour.
PIPPIN
Gandalf!
WITCH-KING
You have
failed. The world of men will fall.
ÉOWYN
Courage, Merry. Courage for our friends.
GOTHMOG
Form ranks, you maggots. Form ranks. Pikes in front, archers behind.
THÉODEN
Éomer, take your éored down the left flank.
ÉOMER
Flank ready.
THÉODEN
Gamling, follow the king's banner down the center. Grimbold, take your company right, after you pass the wall. Forth, and fear no darkness! Arise! Arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered! A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
ÉOWYN
Whatever happens, stay with me. I'll look after you.
THÉODEN
Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin, and the world's ending! Death!
ROHIRRIM
Death!
THÉODEN
Death!
ROHIRRIM
Death!
THÉODEN
Death!
ROHIRRIM
Death!
Merry and ÉOWYN
Death!
THÉODEN
Forth, Eorlingas!!
GOTHMOG
Fire!
MERRY
Death!
THÉODEN
Charge!
GOTHMOG
Fire at will!
Set a fire in our flesh.
GANDALF
Stay this madness!
You may
triumph in the field of battle for a day, but against the power that has risen
in the east, there is no victory.
PIPPIN
Aaah!
DENETHOR
Nooo! You will not take my son from me!
PIPPIN
No! No!
DENETHOR
Faramir. Ah! Aaah!
GANDALF
So passes Denethor, son of Ecthelion.
Drive them to the river!
THÉODEN
Make
safe the city!
THÉODEN
Re-form the line! Re-form the line!
THÉODEN
Sound the charge! Take them head-on! Charge!!
ROHIRRIM
Chaaarge!
ROHIR
Cut him down! Follow me!
ÉOWYN
Take the reins! Pull him left! Left!
ÉOMER
Aim for their heads!
THÉODEN
Bring it down! Bring it down! Bring it down!
ÉOWYN
Merry!
I didn't think it would end this way.
GANDALF
End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that 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.
Rally to me! To me!
WITCH-KING
Feast on his flesh.
ÉOWYN
I will kill you if you touch him!
WITCH-KING
Do not come between the Nazgûl and his prey.
ÉOWYN
Aah!
Late as usual, pirate scum! There's knife-work here needs doing.
ORC
Come on, ya sea rats! Get off your ships!
GIMLI
There's plenty for the both of us, may the best Dwarf win!
You fool, no man can kill me! Die, now.
MERRY
Aaaah!
ÉOWYN
I am no man! Aaah!!
Fifteen, sixteen!
GIMLI
Seventeen! Twenty-nine!
Merry!
ARAGORN
Legolas!
LEGOLAS
Thirty-three. Thirty-four.
GIMLI
That still only counts as one!
ORC
Come on then, come on!
I know your face...Éowyn. My eyes darken.
ÉOWYN
No. No, I am going to save you.
THÉODEN
You already did. Éowyn, my body is broken. You have to let me go. I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed. Éowyn.
Release us.
GIMLI
Bad idea. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead.
KING OF THE DEAD
You gave us your word.
ARAGORN
I hold your oath fulfilled. Go, be at peace.
Merry.
ÉOMER
Nooooo!!! NOO!!!
With a
sigh, you turn away. With a deepening heart, no more words to say. You will
find that the world has changed, forever. And the trees are now turning from
green to gold, and the sun is now fading; I wish I could hold you, closer.
Merry! Merry!
PIPPIN
Merry. Merry, it's me. It's Pippin.
MERRY
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.
Hands off! That shiny shirt, that's mine!
SHAGRAT
It's going to the Great Eye, along with everything else.
GORBAG
I don't take orders from stinking Morgul rats!
SHAGRAT
You touch it, and I'll stick this blade in your gut.
GORBAG
The scum tried to knife me. Kill him!
SAM
Rrr! Rah! That's for Frodo! And for the Shire! And that's for my old Gaffer!
ORC
Stop your squealing, you dunghill rat. I'm gonna bleed you like a stuck pig!
SAM
Not if I stick you first.
FRODO
Sam!
FRODO
Oh, Sam, I'm so sorry. Sorry for everything.
SAM
Let's get you out of here.
FRODO
It's too late. It's over. They've taken it. Sam, they took the Ring.
SAM
Beggin' your pardon, but they haven't. I thought I'd lost you, so I took it. Only for safekeepin'.
FRODO
Give it to me. Give me the Ring, Sam. Sam. Give me the Ring! You must understand, the Ring is my burden. It will destroy you, Sam.
SAM
Come on,
Mr.Frodo. We'd best find you some clothes. You can't
go walking through Mordor in naught but your skin.
SAM
We did
it, Mr.Frodo. We made it to Mordor.
FRODO
There's so many of them. We'll never get through unseen. It's him...the Eye!
SAM
We have to go in there, Mr.Frodo. There's nothing for it. Come on, let's just make it down the hill for starters.
Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening.
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 ten thousand 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 Gorgoroth. We can give him that.
GIMLI
How?
ARAGORN
Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate.
ÉOMER
We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.
ARAGORN
Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves.
LEGOLAS
A diversion.
GIMLI
Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?
GANDALF
Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait.
Oh, I
think he will.
Long have
you hunted me. Long have I eluded you.
No more. Behold the sword of Elendil!
The city
has fallen silent. There is no warmth left in the sun. It grows so cold.
FARAMIR
It's just
the damp of the first spring rain. I do not believe this darkness will endure.
SAM
Look,
the Orcs! They're moving off. You see, Mr.Frodo, some luck at last.
ORC
To the
gate, you slugs!
ORC
Come on,
faster! Come along, you scum. I'll whip you down to the bone, you. Come on!
What have I told you?! Keep movin'!
ORC
Get up! Come
on, you slugs. You two are going straight to the front line! Now, move it! Go
on, fall in. Move it, move it, move it! To the gate,
you slugs. Now, move it. Don't you know we're at war? Company, halt!
Inspection!
FRODO
Sam, help
me.
SAM
Mr.
Frodo! Stand up, Mr. Frodo. Stand up!
FRODO
It's so
heavy.
SAM
Oh, no.
What do I do? What do we do?
FRODO
Hit me.
SAM
What?
FRODO
Hit me,
Sam. Start fighting.
SAM
Get off
of me! Nobody pushes me, you filthy maggot! Get off of me!
ORC
Break it
up, break it up!
ORC
Oi,
I'll have your guts if you don't shut this rabble down!
FRODO
Go, Sam.
Now!
ORC
Move
along, scum!
ORC
Back in
the line! You maggots. Get back in the line, you
slugs! Dig it, you slugs, move it. Move it!
I can't.
I can't, I can't manage the ring, Sam. It's... it's such a weight to carry. It...
such a weight.
SAM
We're goin' that way. Straight as we can. There's no point carryin' anything we're not sure to need.
SAM
Mr.
Frodo! Look. There is light, and beauty up there that no shadow can touch.
SAM
Take mine, there's a few drops left.
FRODO
There'll be none left for the return journey.
SAM
I don't think
there will be a return journey, Mr.Frodo.
SAM
Frodo, get down! Hide! Frodo!
Where are they?
ARAGORN
Let the
Lord of the Black Land come forth. Let justice be done upon him.
MOUTH OF
SAURON
My master,
Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome. Is there any in
this rout with the authority to treat with me?
GANDALF
We do not
come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed.
Tell your master this: the armies of Mordor must disband.
He is to depart these lands, never to return.
MOUTH OF
SAURON
Old Greybeard. I have a token I was bidden to show thee.
PIPPIN
Frodo. Frodo!
GANDALF
Silence.
MERRY
No!
GANDALF
Silence!
MOUTH OF
SAURON
The
Halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suddered
greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could
endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did.
MOUTH OF
SAURON
And who
is this? Isildur's heir? It takes to make a king than a broken Elvish blade.
GIMLI
I guess
that concludes negotiations.
ARAGORN
I do not
believe it. I will not.
Pull back! Pull back!
SAM
It's gone, Mr.Frodo. The light's passed on, away towards the North. Something's drawn its gaze.
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 fails, 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!
GIMLI
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.
Do you remember the Shire, Mr.Frodo? It'll be spring soon, and the Orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket and they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields. And eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?
FRODO
No, Sam. I can't recall the taste of food. Nor the sound of water. Or the touch of grass. I'm... naked in the dark... there's nothing, no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I can see him with my waking eye!
SAM
Then let us be rid of it, once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you! Come on!
Aragorn...Elessar...
ARAGORN
For Frodo...
Look, Mr.Frodo. A doorway. We're almost there.
GOLLUM
Clever Hobbits, to climb so high!
SAM
Frodo!
Mustn't go that way. Mustn't hurt the precious.
FRODO
You
swore! You swore on the precious! Sméagol promised!
GOLLUM
Sméagol
lied.
Eagles! The Eagles are coming!
Frodo!
FRODO
I'm here, Sam.
SAM
Destroy it! Go on. Now! Throw it in the fire. What are you waiting for? Just let it go!
FRODO
The Ring is mine!
SAM
No...no.. NOOOO!
GOLLUM
Yes! Yes! Precious, precious, precious, precious!
SAM
Give me your hand! Take my hand! No! Don't you let go. Don't let go. Reach!
Frodo! Frodo!!
It's gone. It's done.
SAM
Yes, Mr.Frodo. It's over now.
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 ever I was to marry someone, it would've been her. It would've been her.
FRODO
I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.
Gandalf?
MERRY
Frodo!
FRODO
Gimli! Aragorn.
Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed.
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.
Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta.
Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world. (Quenya)
Hannon le.
Thank you. (Sindarin)
ARAGORN
My friends. You bow to no one.
And thus it was. A Fourth Age of Middle-earth began, and the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended. Thirteen months to the day, since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar site. We were home.
PIPPIN
Hi.
HOBBIT
Hey, watch the pumpkin. Haha!
TED
Hey! Rosie, Rosie!
ROSIE
Good night, lads.
FRODO
How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.
SAM
Mr. Frodo? What is it?
FRODO
It's been four years to the day since Weathertop, Sam. It's never really healed.
SAM
'There and Back again, a Hobbit's Tale by Bilbo Baggins'...and 'The Lord of the Rings by Frodo Baggins.' You finished it.
FRODO
Not quite. There's room for a little more.
FRODO
Bilbo once told me, his part in this tale would end. That each of must come and go in the telling. Bilbo's story was now over. There would be no more journeys for him... save one.
BILBO
Tell me again, lad...where are we going?
FRODO
To the harbor, Uncle. The elves have accorded you a special honor. A place on the last ship to leave Middle-earth.
BILBO
Frodo, any chance of seeing that old Ring of mine again? Hmm? The one I gave you?
FRODO
I'm sorry, Uncle. I'm afraid I lost it.
BILBO
Oh? Pity. I should like to have held it, one last time. Oh! Here is a sight that I have never seen before.
GALADRIEL
The power of the three rings is ended. The time has come for the Dominion of Men.
I Aear can vên na mar.
The sea calls us home. (Sindarin)
BILBO
I think I'm quite ready for another adventure.
GANDALF
Farewell, my brave Hobbits. My work is now finished. Here at last, on the shores of the sea, comes the end of our Fellowship. I will not say, “do not weep,” 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
The last pages are for you, Sam. 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.
SAM
Well, I'm back.
The rights to this script are New Line’s, but it was transcribed by me.