Frodo: I can cut across country easily enough.

Gandalf: My dear Frodo. Hobbits really are the most amazing creatures! You can learn all that there is to know about them in a month, and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you!

Hears rustling outside, Gandalf grabs his staff

Gandalf: Get down!

Gandalf advances over to the window and gives the bushes a whack with his staff.

Sam: Oof!

Gandalf drags Sam out of the bushes and slams him onto the table.

Gandalf: Confound it all Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?!

Sam: I haven't been dropping no eaves sir, honest! I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me.

Gandalf: A little late for trimming the verge don't you think?

Sam: I heard raised voices.

Gandalf: What did you hear? Speak!

Sam: N-nothing important. That is i heard a good deal about a ring and a dark lord and something about the end of the world. But please Mister Gandalf sir, don't turn me into anything...unnatural.

Gandalf: No, perhaps not. I've thought of a better use for you...

Scene goes to outside the next morning.

Gandalf: Come along Samwise, keep up! Be careful both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts.

Looks at Frodo.

Gandalf: Is it safe? Never put it on, for the agents of the Darklord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Frodo, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found.

Gandalf rides off. Frodo and Sam walk across various fields and along streams.

Sam: This is it.

Frodo: This is what?

Sam: If i take one more step, it would be the farthest away from home, i've ever been.

Frodo: Come on Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say? 'It's a dangerous buisness...' *melts into Bilbo's voice. 'Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.'

Scene goes to Gandalf riding to Isengard. Saruman walks down the steps of Orthanc to meet Gandalf.

Saruman: Smoke rises from the Mountain of Doom. The hour grows late and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard, seeking my counsel. For that is why you have come is it not? My old friend?

Gandalf: Saruman.

Scene goes to Gandalf and Saruman walking through the Gardens of Isengard.

Saruman: You are sure of this?

Gandalf: Beyond any doubt.

Saruman: Then the Ring of power has been found...

Gandalf: All these long years it was in the Shire, under my very nose.

Saruman: Yet you did not have the wit to see it! Your love of the halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind.

Gandalf: But we still have time, time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickly.

Saruman: Time? What time do you think we have?

Scene goes to Gandalf and Saruman talking in Orthanc.

Saruman: Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all-his gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what i speak Gandalf, a Great Eye...lidless...wreathed in flame.

Gandalf: The Eye of Sauron.

Saruman: He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will summon an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle Earth.

Gandalf: You know this? How?

Saruman: I have seen it...

Gandalf and Saruman enter the chamber of the Palantir.

Gandalf: A palantir is a dangerous tool, Saruman!

Saruman: Why? Why should we fear to use it?

Saruman unveils the Palantir.

Gandalf: They are not all acounted for, the lost seeing stones. We do not know who else may be watching!

Gandalf covers up the Palantir, eye of Sauron flashes.

Saruman: The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The nine have left Minas Morgul.

Gandalf: The Nine!

Saruman: They crossed the river Isen on Midsummer's Eve disguised as riders in black.

Gandalf: They've reached the Shire?!

Saruman: They will find the Ring. And kill the one who carries it.

Gandalf: Frodo!

Gandalf runs to door but Saruman closes it with his mind, likewise the other doors.

Saruman: You did not seriously think that a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can. Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join with him Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise my friend.

Gandalf: Tell me, friend. When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?

With a shout from Saruman a battle between the two Wizards ensues.

Saruman: I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain!!!

Saruman then sends Gandalf to the top of Orthanc with his staff.

Scene goes back to the Shire.

Sam: Mister Frodo? Frodo! Frodo!

Frodo emerges from behind the bend.

Sam: I thought i'd lost you.

Frodo: What are you talking about?

Sam: Oh, it's just something Gandalf said.

Frodo: What did he say?

Sam: 'Don't you loose him Samwise Gamgee!' And i don't mean to.

Frodo: Sam, we're still in the Shire, what could possibly happen?

Then out through the corn come Merry and Pippin who bump into Frodo and Sam.

Pippin: Frodo? Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!

Merry: Hello Frodo!

Sam: Get off him! Frodo? Are you alright?

Pippin: What's the meaning of this?

Merry: Hold this!

Merry hands Sam some vegetables.

Sam: You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!

Then they hear a voice shouting at them, Pippin gets Frodo followed by Merry and Sam once he's dropped all the vegetables in his hands.

Farmer Maggot: Wait til i get this through you! Stay out of my fields! You ruffians i'll catch up with you!

Merry: Dunno why he's so upset, it was only a couple of carrots!

Pippin: And some cabbages. And those few bags of potatoes that we lifted last week and the mushrooms the week before!

Merry: Yes Pippin! My point is, he is clearly over-reactin'. Run!

Pippin, Merry and Frodo stand at the edge of a hill, Sam slams into them from behind and they all go rolling down the hill.

Pippin: Oh! That was close.

Merry: Oww! I think i've broken something. *pulls out a broken carrot*

Sam: Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!

Merry: What? That was just a detour, a shortcut.

Sam: A shortcut to what?

Pippin: Mushrooms!

Merry, Pippin and Sam make for the mushrooms while Frodo is left standing in the middle of the road.

Pippin: That's mine!

Merry: Here's a nice one Sam.

Frodo: I think we should get off the road.

The sounds of a Nazgul can be hard coming up the road.

Frodo: Get off the road!

All four hobbits go and jump down and hide behind the root of a tree. The Nazgul approaches and stops, sniffs and listens. Frodo starts being taken over by a sudden urge to put on the Ring, draws it slowly out of his pocket and puts it towards his finger. Sam stops him and Merry throws a bag away to distract the Nazgul, the Nazgul goes off and Hobbits run for it.

Merry: What was that?

Frodo stares at the Ring in his hand.

Scene turns to nightfall.

Pippin: Anything?

Frodo: Nothing.

Pippin: What is going on?

Merry: That Black Rider was looking for something, or someone. Frodo?

Pippin: Get down!

Nazgul stops trying to decide to leave the area and then goes.

Frodo: I have to leave the Shire. Sam and I must get to Bree.

Merry: Right...Bucklebury Ferry! Follow me!

Hobbits begin to make their way to the Ferry but a second Nazgul comes and trys to stop them, Sam, Merry and Pippin jump over the fence to get to Bucklebury leaving Frodo trying to run away from the Nazgul.

Pippin: Run! This way, follow me! Run!

Merry: Get the rope Sam!

Sam: Frodo!

Hobbits: Run Frodo!

Frodo: Go!

Hobbits: Hurry!

Sam: Frodo!

Hobbits: Jump Frodo! Go on faster! Jump!

Frodo leaps onto the raft, Nazgul stops just short of the water. Then turns and rides off followed by two other Nazgul.

Frodo: How far to the nearest crossing?

Merry: Brandywine Bridge. Twenty miles.

Later on, the Hobbits arrive at the West gate of Bree, it's raining really hard.

Frodo: Come on.

Frodo knocks on the gate.

Gatekeeper: What do you want?

Frodo: We're heading for the Prancing Pony.

Gatekeeper: Hobbits! Four hobbits! What business brings you to Bree?

Frodo: We wishto stay at the inn! Our business is our own!

Gatekeeper: Alright young sir, i meant no offence. It's my job to ask questions after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful.

Hobbits enter Bree and go up the cobble path, working their way up to the inn.

Men of Bree: Move! Watch where you're going!

Hobbits enter the Prancing Pony.

Frodo: Excuse me?

Butterbur: Good evening little masters! If you're seeking accomodation then we've got some nice cosy hobbit sized rooms Mr.er...

Frodo: Underhill. My name's Underhill.

Butterbur: Underhill...hmmm...

Frodo: We're friends of Gandalf the Grey, can you tell him we've arrived?

Butterbur: Gandalf? Gandalf? Ohhh yes! I remember, elderly chap, big grey beard, pointy hat. Not seen him for 6months.

Sam: What do we do now?

Scene goes to Hobbits sitting around a table.

Frodo: Sam, he'll be here, he'll come.

Merry comes over with a big mug filled with beer.

Pippin: What's that?

Merry: This my friend, is a pint.

Pippin: It comes in pints? I'm getting one.

You've had a whole half already!

Pippin barges over to the bar.

Sam: That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived.

Frodo: *to Barliman Butterbur* Excuse me, that man in the corner, who is he?

Butterbur: He's one of the rangers. Dangerous folk they are, all wandering in the wilds. What his right name is i've never heard, but 'round here, he's known as Strider.

Frodo: Strider...

Frodo fiddles with the ring and it starts to whisper to him.

The Ring: Baggins. Baggins. Baggins. Baggins! Baggins!...

Pippin: Baggins?!

Frodo opens his eyes.

Pippin: *over at the bar* Sure i know a Baggins! He's over there, Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin twice removed on his father's side if you follow me...

Frodo runs to the bar...

Frodo: Pippin!

Pippin: Steady on!

Frodo slips up and the Ring flys into the air he reaches to grab it but it slips onto his finger. The people of Bree as he disappears. The Nazgul ride to Bree and Frodo sees the eye of Sauron...

Eye of Sauron: You cannot hide! I ssssseee you!

Frodo takes the Ring off his finger, but as soon as he does Strider grabs him from behind and he is dragged away...

Strider: You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr. 'Underhill'!

Strider then chucks Frodo up the stairs and into a room.

Frodo: What do you want?

Strider: A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you carry.

Frodo: I carry nothing.

Strider: Indeed.

Strider walks over to the window and puts out the candles with his fingers.

Strider: I can avoid being seen if i wish, but to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift.