I amar prestar aen...
The world is changed.
han mathon ne nen...
I feel it in the water.
han mathon ne chae...
I feel it in the earth.
a han noston ned gwilith.
I smeel 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 bye one, the 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 amrched against the armies of Mordor and on the slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Middle-earth.
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 precioussssssssss
The Ring came to the creature Gollm, 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 preciousssssssss
The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life and for five hundred years it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's cave, it waited. Darkness crept back into 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: Lossst!...My precious is lost!
For the time would come when Hobbits would shape the fortunes of all.
And old man in a cart apporaches, a hobbit sitting under a tree hears the old man singing and runs to meet him.
Old man: The road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began...
Hobbit: You're late!
Old man: A wizard is never late Frodo Baggins, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Frodo: It's wonderful to see you Gandalf!
Gandalf: You didn't think i'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?
Frodo: What new of the outside world? Tell me everything!
Gandalf: Everything? Far too eager and curious for a hobbit, most unnatural. Well what can i tell you? Life in the wide world goes on, much as it has done this past age, full of its own comings and goings. Scarcely aware of the existence of Hobbits. For which i am very thankful.
Hobbit: Look it's Gandalf! It's Gandalf!
Gandalf: Ooo! The long expected party! So how is the old rascal? I hear there's going to be a party of special magnificence!
Frodo: You know Bilbo, he's got the whole place in an uproar.
Gandalf: Hmm... now well that should please him, hmm....
Frodo: Half the Shire's been invited!
Gandalf: Good gracious me!
Frodo: He's up to something.
Gandalf: Oh really?
Frodo: All right then, keep your secrets. 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 the incident with the dragon, i was barely involved. All i did was give your Uncle a little nudge out of the door.
Frodo: Whatever you did, you've been offically labelled a disturber of the peace.
Gandalf: Oh really?
Hobbit boys/girls: Gandalf! Gandalf! Fireworks? Gandalf?
Fireworks go off from inside Gandalfs cart. Hobbit children cheer. Gandalf chuckles.
Frodo: Gandalf, i'm glad you're back.
Frodo jumps off cart.
Gandalf: So am i, dear boy. So am i...
Gandalf goes through a gate with the sign: No admittance except on Party buisness. He goes up to the hobbit hole door and knocks on it with his staff.
Bilbo: No thankyou! We don't want any more visitors, well wishers or distant relations!
Gandalf: And what about very old friends?
Bilbo opens the door.
Bilbo: Gandalf?
Gandalf: Bilbo Baggins!
Bilbo: My dear Gandalf!
Gandalf: Good to see you! One hundred and eleven years old, who would have believed it? You haven't aged a day.
Bilbo: Come on, come in. Welcome, welcome! There we are tea? Or maybe something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the old Winyard left. 1296-very good year. Almost as old as i am! It was laid down by my father. What say we open one eh?
Gandalf: Just tea, thankyou.
Gandalf walks into Bilbo's study and find a map of the Lonely Mountain.
Bilbo: I was expecting you last week! Not that it matters, you come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You've caught me a bit unprepared, i'm afraid. We have some old chicken and pickles...Here's some cheese-oh no it won't do. There we got brussles and jam and...not much for afterlunch-oh no! We're alright, i have some cake. I can make you some eggs if you like-oh, Gandalf?
Gandalf: Just tea thankyou.
Bilbo: Oh all right. You don't mind if eat do you?
Gandalf: No not at all.
There's a knock on the front door and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins can be heard shouting: Bilbo! Biblo Baggins!
Bilbo: I'm not at home! I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell, they never give me a moments 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.
Gandalf: Frodo suspects something.
Bilbo: Of course he does! He's a Baggins. Not some block-headed 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 is still in love with the Shire the woods, the fields, the two 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.
Later on in the eveing, Gandalf and Bilbo sit outside Bag End smoking their pipes.
Bilbo: Old Toby. Finest weed in the Southfarthing.
Bilbo blows a smoke ring, Gandalf blows a ship which sails through the middle of the smoke ring.
Bilbo: Gandalf, my old friend, this will be a night to remember.
The scene now skips to Bilbo's party with lots of fireworks going off.
Bilbo: Hello, hello, lovely to see you, Fatty Bolger. Welcome, welcome!
Frodo sees his friend and garderner sitting alone watching Hobbit Lass Rosie Cotton dancing.
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!
Frodo pushes Sam over to Rosie andthey start dancing, Frodo laughs.
Gandalf: Whoa!
Massive fireworks.
Bilbo: 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 to be turned on a spit or whether they should sit on us one by one and squash us into jelly. They spent so much time arguing the weather to's and the why fore's that when the the sun's first light cracked over the top of the trees and poof!
Hobbit boys/girls: gasp!
Bilbo: It turned them all to stone!
Gandalf, laughing grabs some more fireworks.
Merry comes up amd signals for Pippin to get into Gandalf's cart.
Merry: Quickly!
Gandalf: Whoa off the go!
Merry: No, the big one, big one.
Pippin: Done.
Inside a tent.
Merry: You're supposed to stick it in the gound!
Pippin: It is in the ground.
Merry: Outside!
Pippin: It was your idea!
The firework goes up, throwing Merry and Pippin on the ground. The firework takes the shape of a dragon and turns towards the Hobbits at Bilbo's party. The hobbits see this and try to get out of the way.
Frodo: Bilbo! Bilbo! Look out for the dragon!
Bilbo: Dragon? Nonsense! There hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years.
The dragon flies past the Hobbits and explodes into a beautiful firework.
Merry: That was good. Let's get another one!
Gandalf comes up behind and grabs their ears.
Merry and Pippin: Aah!
Gandalf: Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took, i might have known.
Merry and Pippin wash plates, while the other Hobbits are gathered near the party tree for Bilbo's speech.
Hobbits: Speech, Bilbo!
Hobbits: Speech!
Frodo: Speech!
Bilbo: My bear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots.
Proudfoot Hobbit: Proudfeet!
Bilbo: Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!
Hobbits: Happy birthday!
Bilbo: Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don't know half of you as well as i should like, and like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. I...i have things to do. I've put this off for far too long. I regret to announce that this is the end. I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye.
Bilbo puts on the Ring and vanishes.
Hobbits: Ooh!
Biblo returns to Bag End.
Biblo chuckles, flips the Ring and puts it in his pocket.
Gandalf: I suppose you think that was terribly clever.
Bilbo: Come on Gandalf! Did you see their faces?
Gandalf: There are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins and none of them should be used lightly.
Bilbo: It was just a bit of fun. Oh you're probably right as usual. You will keep an eye on Frodo won't you?
Gandalf: Tow eyes, as often as i can spare them.
Bilbo: I'm leaving everything to him.
Gandalf: What about this ring of yours, is that staying too?
Bilbo: Yes yes. It's in an envelope over on the mantlepiece... No wait, it's here in my pocket. Isn't that odd? Yet, after all, why not? Why shouldn't i keep it?
Gandalf: I think you should leave the ring behind. Bilbo, is that so hard?
Bilbo: Well no...and yes. Now it comes to it, i don't feel like parting with it, it's mine, i found it, it came to me!
Gandalf: There's no need to get angry.
Bilbo: What if i'm angry it's your fault! It's mine, my ownly, my precious.
Gandalf: Precious? Its been called that before, but not by you.
Bilbo: What buisness is it of yours what i do with my own things?
Gandalf: I think you've had that ring quite long enough!
Bilbo: You want it for yourself!
Gandalf: Bilbo Baggins! Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you! I'm trying to help you.
Bilbo: *cries*
Gandalf: All your long years, we have been friends. Trust me as you once did, eh? Let it go.
Bilbo: You're right Gandalf, the ring must go to Frodo. It's late, the road is long. Yes, it is time.
Gandalf: Bilbo...
Bilbo: Hmm?
Gandalf: The Ring is still in your pocket.
Bilbo: Oh, yes...
Bilbo pulls the ring from his pocket, he allows it to slip slowly out of his hand, it lands on the floor with a thud. Bilbo walks out of the door...
Bilbo: I've thought of an ending for my book-and he lived happily ever after...to the end of his days.
Gandalf: And i'm sure you will, my dear friend.
Bilbo: Goodbye Gandalf.
Gandalf: Goodbye, dear Bilbo.
Bilbo: *singing* The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began...
Gandalf: Until our next meeting.
Gandalf opens the door to Bag End, he stoops down to pick up the ring off the floor, but stops when the Eye of Sauron flashes in his eyes. Gandalf sits by the fireplace.
*Voiceover of Bilbo*: It's mine, my own, my precious.
Gandalf: Riddles in the dark.
Frodo enters Bag End.
Frodo: Bilbo! Bilbo!
Frodo sees the ring and picks it up.
Gandalf: My precious...
Frodo sees Gandalf and goes over to him.
Gandalf: Precious...
Frodo: He's gone hasn't he? He talked for so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it. Gandalf?
Gandalf: Bilbo's ring. He's gone to stay with the elves. He's left you Bag End...*Holds envelope open, Frodo slips the Ring into it and Gandalf seels it*...along with all his possesions. The ring is yours now. Put it somewhere out of sight.
Gandalf gets up to leave.
Frodo: Where are you going?
Gandalf: There are some things that i must see to.
Frodo: What things?
Gandalf: Questions. Questions that need answering!
Frodo: But you've only just arrived! I don't understand.
Gandalf: Neither do i. Keep it secret, keep it safe.
Gandalf leaves Bag End, Frodo holds the envelope in his hand, containing the Ring and looks at it...
Scene swops to the dungeons of Barad-Dur.
Gollum's voice is heard.
Gollum: Shire! Baggins!
The gates of Minas Morgul open and the Ringwraiths ride out.
Gandalf heads to Minas Tirith to study ancient scrolls.
Voiceover of Gandalf: The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor and the finding of the Ring of power. It has come to me, the One Ring. It shall be the heirloom of my kingdom. All that who follow in my blood-line shall be bound to its fate, for i will risk no hurt to the ring. It is precious to me, though i buy it with a great pain. The markings upon the band begin to fade. The writing, which at first was a clear as red flame, has all but disappeared, a secret now that only fire can tell.
Back in the Shire a Hobbit is chopping wood...
Ringwraith: Shire! Baggins!
Hobbit: Baggins? There are no Bagginses 'round here. They're up in Hobbiton...that way!
Ringwraith rides off.
Scene goes to Frodo and Sam leaving the Green Dragon Inn.
Rosie: Goodnight.
Sam: Goodnight.
Frodo and Sam stagger back to Bag End.
Sam: Goodnight.
Frodo: Goodnight Sam.
Frodo enters Bag End, but sees that it appears to have been broken in to.
Gandalf grabs him from behind.
Gandalf: Is it secret? Is it safe?!
Frodo rumages in a chest and draws out the envelope.
Frodo: Ah! *hands Gandalf the envelope.*
Gandalf throws the envelope into the fire.
Frodo: What are you doing?
Gandalf gets the Ring out of the fire by using a pair of tongs.
Gandalf: Hold out your hand Frodo, it's quite cool. What can you see? Can you see anything?
Frodo: Nothing. There's nothing...wait. There are markings, it's some form of elvish, i can't read it.
Gandalf: There are few who can, the language is that of Mordor, which i will not utter here.
Frodo: Mordor?
Gandalf: In the common tongue it says: 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.'
Scene swops to Gandalf and Frodo sitting at the kitchen table.
Gandalf: This is the One Ring. Forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom. Taken by the Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself.
Frodo: Bilbo found it, in Gollum's cave.
Gandalf: Yes. For sixty years the ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor, the Ring has awoken. It's heard it's master's call.
Frodo: But he was destroyed, Sauron was destryoed.
Ring: Isildur...
Gandalf and Frodo look at it.
Gandalf: No, Frodo. The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the Ring and the Ring survived. His orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad-Dur is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands of a second darkness. He is seeking it. Seeking it, all his thought is bent on it. The Ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one, the Ring and the dark lord. Frodo, he must never find it.
Frodo: Alright, we put it away, we keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do they? Do they Gandalf?
Gandalf: There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollim. But the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him. Amidst the endless screams and inane babble, the discerned two words.
Scene goes to Gollum's torture
Gollum: Shire!!! Baggins!!!
Frodo: Shire? Baggins? But that would lead them here!
Scene goes to Ringwraiths riding up to a Hobbit
Hobbit: Who goes there?
Ringwraith chops off hobbits head.
Scene goes back to Bag End.
Frodo: Take it Gandalf! Take it!
Gandalf: No, Frodo, no.
Frodo: You must take it!
Gandalf: You cannot offer me this Ring!
Frodo: I'm giving it to you!
Gandalf: Don't tempt me Frodo! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. But through me...it would wiel a power too great and terrible to imagine.
Frodo: But it cannot stay in the Shire!
Gandalf: No! No it can't.
Frodo: What must i do?
Scene goes to Frodo packing for his journey.
Gandalf: You must leave, and leave quickly.
Frodo: Where? Where do i go?
Gandalf: Get out of the Shire, make for the village of Bree.
Frodo: Bree...what about you?
Gandalf: I'll be waiting for you, at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.
Frodo: And the Ring will be safe there?
Gandalf: I don't know, Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo, he'll know what to do. You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you, for that name is not safe outside the Shire. Travel only by day and stay off the road.
