Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

[A council convenes in the throne room at Minas Tirith.]

Gandalf: "Frodo has passed beyond my sight."

Gandalf: "The darkness is deepening."

Aragorn: "If Sauron had the Ring we would know it."

Gandalf: "It's only a matter of time."

Gandalf: "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."

[Gimli sits on the steward's throne, puffing on a pipe.]

Gimli: "Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?"

Gandalf: "Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom."

Gandalf: "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."

Aragorn: "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."

Aragorn: "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."

Aragorn: "Oh, I think he will."


[Aragorn enters the citadel throne room and uncovers the Palantír. He flinches as the Eye blazes.]

[He grasps the Palantír and holds it up, looking into it.]

Aragorn: "Long have you hunted me. Long have I eluded you. No more."

[He holds up his sword to the Palantír.]

Aragorn: "Behold the sword of Elendil."

[An image of Saruon in his armor appears, then a depiction of Arwen, dead.]

[As Sauron laughs, Aragorn releases the Palantír. The Evenstar falls to the floor and shatters.]


[Aragorn leads an army from Minas Tirith. Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Eomer ride with him. Pippin rides with Gandalf. Merry rides with Eomer.]

[The Host of the West marches forth from Minas Tirith.]

[Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Pippin, and Merry accompany the Men.]


[Éowyn looks out from the Houses of Healing. Faramir walks to her side.]

Éowyn: "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."

[Éowyn turns to Faramir.]

Faramir: "I do not believe this darkness will endure."

[They hold hands and smile.]

[Éowyn rests her head on Faramir's shoulder.]


[Within Mordor, an orc dispatches orders.]

Orc: "To the gate, you slugs! Move out! To the gate!"

[Frodo and Sam look over the plains of Gorgoroth. Orcs hors blow as the army moves from their path.]

Sam: "Look, the Orcs! They're moving off. You see, Mister Frodo, some luck at last."

[Orcs march towards Frodo and Sam. The hobbits huddle behind a rock.]

Orc Captain: "Move it, you slugs!"

Orc Captain: "Come on! Faster! Come along you scum! I'll whip you down to the bone, you."

[Orcs begin to pass by the hobbits.]

Orc Captain: "Come on! What have I told you? Now move it!"

[The Orc Captain spies the hobbits.]

Orc Captain: "Get up! Come on, you slugs!"

[The captain whips the hobbits.]

Orc Captain: "You two are going straight to the front line! Now, move it! Go on! Fall in! Move it! Move it! Move it!"

[Frodo and Sam join the Orc column.]

Orc Captain: "To the Gates, you slugs! Now move it!"

[The sea of orcs head toward the Black Gate.]

Orc Captain: "Don't you know we're at war?"


[Aragorn leads the army of men towards the Black Gate.]


[Frodo and Sam continue shuffline along with the Orc army.]

Orc Captain: "Company Halt! Inspection!"

[The soldiers stop, but Frodo has trouble standing.]

Frodo: "Sam, help me!"

[Frodo falls but Sam catches him.]

Sam: "Mister Frodo!"

[A brutal-looking Orc sergeant with no nose looks around.]

Sam: "Stand up, Mister Frodo! Stand up!"

Frodo: "It's so heavy!"

[Sam sees the Ring's chain cutting into Frodo's neck.]

[No Nose turns toward Sam.]

Sam: "Oh no!"

[No Nose sees Sam and roars. He makes for the hobbits.]

Sam: "What do I do? What do we do?"

Frodo: "Hit me!"

Sam: "What?"

Frodo: "Hit me Sam! Start fighting!"

[Sam shoves Frodo away.]

Sam: "Get off of me!"

[Sam hits Frodo.]

Sam: "Nobody pushes me, you filthy maggot!"

[The Orcs circle the hobbits, shoving each other while watching them fight. No Nose is stopped by the crowd.]

Sam: "Get off of me!"

Orc Captain: "Break it up! Break it up."

No Nose: "Oy! I'll have your guts if you don't shut this rabble down!"

Frodo: "Go, Sam. Now!"

[Sam and Frodo sneak out of the Orc troop and into a tent. No Nose looks around for them, but gives up.]

No Nose: "Argh. Move along scum!"

Orc Captain: "Back in the line! You maggots! Back into the line, you slugs!"

[Frodo and Sam escape.]

Orc Captain: "Dig it, you slugs! Move it!"


[Frodo and Sam walk slowly across Mordor in their Orc armor.]

[Frodo falls and lays panting.]

Frodo: "I can't… I can't manage the Ring, Sam. It's… it's… it's such a weight to carry. It… such a weight."

[Sam points toward Mount Doom.]

Sam: "We're going that way. Straight as we can. There's no point in carrying anything we're not sure to need."

[The hobbits throw their Orc armor into a fissure. Sam throws down his pans.]


[Sam and Frodo are resting at night. Sam sees a glimmer of stars in the night sky.]

Sam: "Mister Frodo, look! There is light, and beauty up there, that no Shadow can touch."

[Frodo, unconscious, doesn't respond.]