The LotR Movie Series
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Rings of Power and The Third Age - Prologue [Black screen]
** Galadriel speaks all lines in this scene unless specified**
I amar prestar aen. The world is changed.
Han mathon ne nen. I feel it in the waters.
Han mathon ne chae. I feel it in the earth.
A han noston ned g'wilith. I smell it in the air.
Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.
It began with the forging of the Great Rings.
Three were given to the Elves: immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings.
Seven to the Dwarf-lords: great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.
And nine. Nine rings were gifted to the race of men, who above all else desire power.
For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived.
For another ring was made.
In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a Master Ring to control all others.
And into this Ring he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all life.
One Ring to rule them all.
One by one, free lands of Middle-earth fell to the power of the Ring.
But there were some who resisted.
A last alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of Mordor. And on the slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Middle-earth.
ELROND: Tangado haid! Leithio i philinn!
[Translation: "Hold [your] positions! Fire the arrows!"]
Victory was near. But the power of the Ring could not be undone.
It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his father's sword.
Sauron, the enemy of the Free peoples of Middle-earth, was defeated.
The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever.
But the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the Ring of power has a will of its own.
It betrayed Isildur to his death.
And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend; legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer.
GOLLUM: My preciousss.
The Ring came to the creature Gollum who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. And there it consumed him.
GOLLUM: It came to me. My own. My love. My own. My Preciousss... Gollum...
The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For 500 years it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's cave it waited.
Darkness crept back in the forest of the world. Rumour grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear.
And the Ring of Power perceived its time had now come.
It abandoned Gollum. But something happened then, the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable.
BILBO: What's this?
A Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins of the Shire.
BILBO: A ring.
GOLLUM: Lost! My Precious is lost!!!
For the time would soon come when Hobbits would shape the fortunes of all.
GANDALF: Down from the door where it began, Now far ahead the road as gone, And I must follow if I can...
GANDALF: The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow if I can.
[Frodo comes to the side of the path on which Gandalf's cart is travelling. He folds his arms.]
FRODO:
You're late.
GANDALF:
[sternly]: A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.
[They look at each other for a moment, as though trying to keep a straight face. Then, as Gandalf's mouth begins to twitch, their faces both break into sudden smiles, and they laugh richly. Frodo jumps onto Gandalf's lap, arms outstreched.]
FRODO:
It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!
GANDALF:
[He catches him, embracing him as he does so, swaying from side to side with Frodo in his arms, laughing once again. They break apart, and Gandalf looks at Frodo.]
You didn't think I'd miss your uncle Bilbo's birthday? [He touches Frodo's face affectionately, and laughs.]
FRODO:
What news of the outside world? Tell me everything!
GANDALF:
Everything? You're far to eager and curious for a Hobbit. Most unnatural... [The cart approaches the mill.] Well, what can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on, much as it has this past Age. [They cross a narrow stone bridge.] Full of its own comes and goings. Scarcely aware of the existence of Hobbits. For which I am very thankful.
[The cart passes through a crowded marketplace, where Hobbits can be seen going about their daily tasks, leading pigs and goats, exchanging goods, or just eating.]
HOBBIT:
[Waves] Look! It's Gandalf! [Gandalf tips his hat.]
[The cart moves out of the marketplace, and on, to the top of a slope, where we are given a magnificent view of a more quiet part of the Shire, which is lush, and green. Several hobbit-holes can be seen beneath the hills.]
GANDALF:
Ooh - The long expected party. [We see a group of twenty or so hobbits working on party preparations. Ten or so try to keep a tent up, while others carry tables and chairs.]
HOBBIT:
Hold it!
[Hobbits can be seen putting up a banner saying 'Happy Birthday Bilbo Baggins'. As it is raised, the Hobbits cheer, and they clap and cheer more loudly when it stays up.]
HOBBBITS:
Yeah, Bilbo, yay, up we go... etc...
[Gandalf and Frodo continue on, on what seems to be a grassy path through the woods.]
GANDALF:
So how is the old rascal? I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence!
FRODO:
You know Bilbo. He's got the whole place in an uproar.
GANDALF:
Now, well, that should please him.
FRODO:
Half the Shire's been invited!
GANDALF:
Good gracious me!
FRODO:
He's up to something.
GANDALF:
Hmm... [Mutters]
FRODO:
All right then, keep your secrets.
[The cart passes a hobbit-hole, with a chimney breathing white clouds of smoke, and a line of clothing hung on its roof. Two Hobbits stand by the gate, talking, and wave as the cart passes them by.]
Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of.
GANDALF:
Indeed.
FRODO:
Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected.
GANDALF:
If you're referring to the incident with dragon, I was barely involved.
[Gandalf looks at Frodo; Frodo looks back doubtfully.]
All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door.
FRODO:
[Half-laughing]: Whatever you did, you've been officially labelled a disturber of the peace.
GANDALF:
[Mutters]: Oh, really?
[A hobbit by the name of 'Proudfoot' sees Gandalf, while sweeping the front of his house, and eyes him rather sourly. Hobbit children are seen running through the fields, and following the cart.]
HOBBIT KIDS:
Gandalf! Gandalf's here!! GanDALF!
[The Hobbit kids climb a fence, and run past the gate at which the Proudfoot hobbit and his wife are standing. The Proudfoot hobbit mouths something, then closes his mouth, as though pained. Soon, the Hobbit children come to the road that the cart is on, and stand on one fork of it.]
HOBBIT KIDS:
Fireworks, Gandalf... Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf...
[Gandalf takes the other fork.]
HOBBIT KIDS:
Ohhhh...
[Gandalf lets some fireworks out of the back of the wagon.
The Hobbit children jump up and down, and cheer. Frodo smiles to himself, then looks at Gandalf, rather amused.]
GANDALF:
Oooh... [Laughs] Oooh...
[The Proudfoot hobbit laughs, and as he does so, his wife walks towards him, hands on her hips, giving him a rather quelling look. His smile vanishes, and he adopts a grumpy expression.]
[The cart comes to the woods, and slows down.]
FRODO:
[Holds onto one of the posts of the wagon.] Gandalf - I'm glad you're back.
GANDALF:
So am I, dear boy. [Frodo jumps off the wagon, and waves, as he leaves.]
[Mutters to himself]: So am I.
[Frodo runs off into the fields, and Gandalf continues on to Bag End. As he stops his cart in front of it, Gandalf looks at the hobbit-hole, and sighs in satisfaction. He opens the gate, which reads 'No admittance except on party business,' then continues on to the front door, which he knocks on, with his staff.]
BILBO:
No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!
GANDALF:
And what about very old friends?
[Bilbo opens his front door.]
BILBO:
Gandalf?
GANDALF:
Bilbo Baggins. [Holds his hands out to him.]
BILBO:
My dear Gandalf! [He walks towards Gandalf, who kneels down and embraces him.]
GANDALF:
Good to see you. One hundred and eleven years old. Who would believe it? [Looks at Bilbo.] You haven't aged a day. [They both laugh.]
BILBO:
Come on, come in! Welcome, welcome. [Shuts the door.]
[Mutters]: Oh, here we are.
[He takes Gandalf's stick and hat.]
Tea? Or maybe something a little stronger. I've got a few of bottles of the old Winyard left. 1296. Very good year. Almost as old as I am. Ha ha ha ha ha. It was laid down by my father. What's say we open one, eh?
GANDALF:
Just tea, thankyou. [Gandalf hits his head on one of the lights. Then, as he's putting it straight, he hits his head on the ceiling.] Ohh...
BILBO:
[Mutters in the background]: I was expecting you sometime last week. Not that it matters. You come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid. We've only got some cold chicken and a bit of pickle... There's some cheese. Oh no, that won't do. We've got rasberry jam, an apple tart... But not much for afters. Oh, no, we're all right. I've just found some sponge cake.
[Gandalf looks at some maps on the table.]
BILBO:
I can make you some eggs if you li-- Ganda- Gandalf?
GANDALF:
Just tea, thank you.
BILBO:
Oh, right. [Stuffs some cake in his mouth, and mumbles]: You don't mind if I eat, do you?
GANDALF:
No, not at all.
FEMALE HOBBIT:
[Bangs on door.] Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins. [Bangs on door more loudly.]
BILBO:
I'm not at home! I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace. I want to see mountains again, mountains, Gandalf. And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book... Oh - tea!
GANDALF:
So you mean to go through with your plan, then?
BILBO:
Yes, yes, it's all in hand. All the arrangements are made. [Bilbo gets the tea, and Gandalf takes the lid off for him.]
BILBO:
Oh, thank you.
GANDALF:
Frodo suspects something.
BILBO:
'Course he does. He's a Baggins! Not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle.
GANDALF:
You will tell him, won't you.
BILBO:
Yes, yes.
GANDALF:
He's very fond of you.
BILBO:
I know. He'd probably come with me if I asked him. I think in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields. Little rivers. I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart. I feel thin. Sort of stretched, like butter, scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to.
[The night of the party. Bilbo and Gandalf are sitting outside Bag End together.]
BILBO:
Old Toby. The finest weed in the Southfarthing.
[Bilbo blows a smoke ring, and Gandalf blows a ship that goes through it.]
BILBO:
Gandalf, my old friend. This will be a night to remember.
[Fireworks go off, everyone cheers. It is the night of the party, and Hobbits are dancing to music.]
BILBO:
[Is talking to some guests.]
Hello, hello. Fatty Bolger. Lovely to see you. Welcome, welcome!
FRODO:
Go on, Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!
SAM:
I think I'll just have another ale.
FRODO:
Oh, no you don't! Go on!
[Sam stands up for another ale, but Frodo pushes him towards Rosie. They dance. Frodo laughs.]
[Gandalf lets off a bright blue firework, that opens out over party site.]
[Bilbo is sitting on a low bench, telling a group of young Hobbit children a story.]
BILBO:
So there I was, at the mercy of three monstrous trolls. And they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether it be turned on a spit, or whether they should sit on us one by one, squash us, to jelly.
HOBBIT GIRL:
[Gasps]
BILBO:
And they spent so much time arguing, the whitertos and the whyfors that the sun's first light crept over the top of the trees -poof-
HOBBIT KIDS:
[Gasp]
BILBO:
And turned them all to stone! [Nods]
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