The Helm's Deep Challenge

[It is morning. Gandalf walks Pippin towards the top of Minas Tirith.]

Gandalf: "Peregrin Took, my lad, there is a task now to be done. Another opportunity for one of the Shire-folk to prove their great worth. You must not fail me."

[Pippin climbs to the top of the beacon at Minas Tirith, evading the guards. He reaches for a lamp hanging over it. A rope snaps, spilling oil on the wood. Pippin tosses the lit lamp onto the wood, which quickly catches fire, to Pippin's surprise. He climbs down. As Gandalf watches, the beacon burns, as soon does another one on a nearby mountainside.]

Gandalf: "Amon Dîn."

[Guards on watch take notice.]

Guard: "The beacon! The beacon of Amon Dîn is lit!"

[Denethor looks out of a window and frowns.]

Gandalf: "Hope is rekindled."

[Signal beacons light in succession across several peaks. At Edoras, Aragorn sees the last beacon lit, and runs into the Golden Hall.]

Aragorn: "The Beacons of Minas Tirith! The Beacons are lit!"

Aragorn: "Gondor calls for aid!"

[Théoden, in council with his men, pauses and takes stock of this news.]

Théoden: "And Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim!"

[A soldier rings a alarm bell. Théoden exits Meduseld, speaking with Éomer.]

Théoden: "Assemble the army at Dunharrow, as many men as can be found. You have two days."

[Éomer nods and turns. Théoden grabs his shoulder.]

Théoden: "On the third, we ride for Gondor. And war."

[Éomer nods and leaves.]

Théoden: "Gamling…"

Gamling: "Lord."

Théoden: "Make haste across the Riddermark. Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow."

[Gamling nods and departs. Théoden watches the Riders flow from Edoras. Aragorn and Éowyn exit the stables.]

Aragorn: "You ride with us?"

Éowyn: "Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men."

[Aragorn uncovers a sword, hidden in Éowyn's saddle. She covers it with a blanket.]

Éowyn: "The men have found their captain, they will follow you into battle, even to death. You have given us hope."

[Merry, holding his sword, approaches Théoden.]

Merry: "Excuse me. I have a sword. Please accept it."

[Merry kneels.]

Merry: "I offer you my service, Theoden King."

[Theoden helps Merry to his feet.]

Theoden: "And gladly I accept it. You shall be Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan."

[Merry grins and runs off. Legolas and Gimli prepare to depart.]

Gimli: "Horsemen, hmph! I wish I could muster a legion of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy."

Legolas: "Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands."

[Merry tries to get his stubborn pony to move; the pony ignores his kicks. Théoden takes one last look at his kingdom's banner.]

Théoden (voiceover): "So it is before the walls of Minas Tirith, the doom of our time will be decided."

Éomer: "Now is the hour, Riders of Rohan, oaths you have taken! Now, fulfill them all! To Lord and Land!"

[The Rohirrim ride to Dunharrow, with Merry on his galloping pony.]

[Théoden and Aragorn ride through the encampment at Dunharrow, surveying Rohan's army.]

Théoden: "Grimbold, how many?"

Grimbold: "I bring five hundred men from the Westfold, my Lord."

Gamling: "We have three hundred more from Fenmarch."

Théoden: "Where are the riders from Snowbourn?"

Gamling: "None have come, my Lord."

[From a small, high encampment, Théoden surveys his army.]

Théoden: "Six thousand spears. Less than half of what I'd hoped for."

Aragorn: "Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor."

Théoden: "More will come."

Aragorn: "Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have till dawn. Then we must ride."

[Théoden nods. A horse rears.]

Legolas: "The horses are restless, and the men are quiet."

Éomer: "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."

Gimli: "That road there, where does that lead?"

Legolas: "It is the road to the Dimholt; the door under the the mountain."

Éomer: "None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil."

[Aragorn looks down the path and sees a shadowy profile.]

Gimli: "Aragorn, let's find some food."

[At night, inside a tent, Éowyn helps Merry dress for battle.]

Éowyn: "There. A true esquire of Rohan."

Merry: "I'm ready!"

[Merry draws his sword. Éowyn leans back, startled but amused.]

Merry: "Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp."

Éowyn: "Well that's no good. You won't kill many orcs with a blunt blade. Come on! To the smithy, go!"

[Merry exits the tent, taking practice swings. Éowyn follows, laughing. Éomer and Gamling sit nearby, eating.]

Éomer: "You should not encourage him."

Éowyn: "You should not doubt him."

Éomer: "I do not doubt his heart, just the reach of his arm."

[Gamling chuckles.]

Éowyn: "Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause go to war as you! Why can he not fight for those he loves?"

[Éomer stands to face his sister.]

Éomer: "You know as little of war as that Hobbit. When the fear takes him, and the blood and the screams and the horror of battle take hold, do you think he would stand and fight? He would flee, and he would be right to do so. War is the province of men, Éowyn."

[A cloaked rider approaches the upper encampment at Dunharrow. Sleeping, Aragorn dreams of Arwen.]

Arwen (voiceover): "I choose a mortal life. I wish I could have seen him, one last time."

[The Evenstar pendant falls to the floor and shatters. Aragorn wakes with a shout, drawing his knife. A soldier stands in the tent doorway.]

Soldier: "Sir? King Théoden awaits you, my Lord."

[Aragorn walks to the king's tent. Aragorn enters Théoden's tent. Théoden stands next to a seated, cloaked figure.]

Théoden: "I take my leave."

[Théoden exits. The cloaked figure stands and approaches Aragorn, lifting his hood.]

Aragorn (bows): "My Lord, Elrond."

Elrond: "I come on behalf of one whom I love. Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come."

Aragorn: "It will not be our end but His."

Elrond: "You ride to war but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, as you know, but in secret He sends another force, which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They'll be in the city in two days."

[Ships are shown gliding through the water, past burning buildings.]

Elrond: "You're outnumbered, Aragorn. You need more men."

Aragorn: "There are none."

Elrond: "There are those who… dwell in the mountain."

[A flash is shows of a ghost.]

Aragorn: "Murderers! Traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They answer to no one."

Elrond: "They will answer to the King of Gondor!"

[Elrond reveals a sword.]

Elrond: "Andúril… Flame of the West. Forged from the shards of Narsil."

Aragorn: "Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil."

[Aragorn draws the sword.]

Aragorn: "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."

Elrond: "The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road."

[Aragorn looks uncertain.]

Elrond: "Ónen i-Estel Edain." (I gave Hope to the Dúnedain.)

Aragorn: "Ú-chebin Estel anim." (I have kept no hope for myself.)

[Aragorn readies his horse to depart. Éowyn approaches.]

Éowyn: "Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle!"

Éowyn (struggling for words): "You cannot abandon the men."

Aragorn: "Éowyn…"

Éowyn: "We need you here."

Aragorn: "Why have you come?"

Éowyn: "Do you not know?"

Aragorn: "It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek. I have you wished you joy since first I saw you."

[He touches her face then turns away. Éowyn is shocked and saddened. Aragorn approaches the Dimholt road alone.]

Gimli: "Just where do you think you're off to?"

Aragorn: "Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli."

[Legolas appears with his horse.]

Legolas: "Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?"

Gimli: "Might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie."

[The three start off on the Dimholt road, as soldiers look on.]

Soldier #1: "What's happening?"

Soldier #2: "Where's he going?"

Soldier #3: "I don't understand."

Soldier #4: "Lord Aragorn!"

[The riders disappear into the darkness.]

Soldier #5: "Why does he leave on the eve of battle?"

Gamling: "He leaves because there is no hope."

Théoden: "He leaves because he must."

Gamling: "Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor."

Théoden: "No, we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless."

[The men nod in agreement. At dawn, Éowyn is approached by her uncle.]

Théoden: "I have left instructions. The people are to follow your rule in my stead. Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras if the battle goes ill."

Éowyn: "What other duty would you have me do, my lord?"

Théoden: "Duty? No. I would have you smile again. Not grieve for those whose time has come. You shall live to see these days renewed. No more despair."

[Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas ride along a barren mountain path.]

Gimli: "What kind of army would linger in such a place?"

Legolas: "One that is cursed. Long ago the Men of the Mountain swore an oath to the last king of Gondor, to come to his aid, to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled, vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest, until they had fulfilled their pledge. Who shall call them from the grey twilight? The forgotten people. The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the north shall he come. Need shall drive him. He shall pass the door to the Paths of the Dead."

[They approach the Dimholt door. It is adorned with skulls.]

Gimli: "The very warmth of my blood seems stole away."

[Legolas reads the hieroglyphs above the door.]

Legolas: "'The way is shut. It was made by those who were dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut.'"

[Wind and noise come out of the door. The horses rear and flee.]

Aragorn: "Brego!" (turning back towards the entrance): "I do not fear death!"

[Aragorn enters the mountain. Legolas soon follows, but Gimli hesitates.]

Gimli: "Well this is something unheard of! An elf will go underground where a dwarf dare not! Ah, I'd never hear the end of it!"

[Gimli runs into the tunnel.]

[Aragorn's party moves inside the Paths of the Dead, past piles of skulls.]

Gimli: "What is it? What do you see?"

Legolas: "I see shapes of men and of horses."

Gimli: "Where?"

Legolas: "Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned."

Gimli: "The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Legolas!"

[Gimli runs to catch up. Shapes of arms are surround Legolas and Aragorn, who brush them aside. Gimli puffs at the ghosts around him.]

Aragorn: "Do not look down."

[Gimli stops at a snapping sound under his feet. He looks down and sees hundreds of skulls. Every step he takes lets a crackling out. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli run into a great underground hall with a large doorway.]

The King of the Dead: "Who enters my domain?"

[A ghost appears.]

Aragorn: "One who will have your allegiance."

The King of the Dead: "The dead do not suffer the living to pass."

Aragorn: "You will suffer me!"

[The King laughs. A dead city appears. Dead soldiers walk out of the city and encircle the living.]

The King of the Dead: "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it. The way is shut. Now you must die."

[The King approaches Aragorn. Legolas shoots at King, but the arrow passes right through the ghost's head.]

Aragorn: "I summon you to fulfill your oath."

The King of the Dead: "None but the King of Gondor may command me!"

[Aragorn draws the sword of the King. The ghosts swings at Aragorn. Aragorn parries the blow with the Sword of Elendil, much to the ghost's surprise.]

The King of the Dead: "That line was broken."

Aragorn: "It has been remade."

[Aragorn shoves back the ghost.]

Aragorn: "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?"

[Aragorn surveys the dead soldiers.]

Aragorn: "What say you?"

Gimli: "You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death."

Aragorn: "I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you!"

[The King of the Dead smirks. The Dead King laughs as his army begins to fade.]

Aragorn: "You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?"

Gimli: "Stand, you traitors!"

[The ground shakes. Skulls roll on the floor. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn to the breaking doorway to see thousands of skulls flowing out of it.]

Aragorn: "Out!"

[They run, but are nearly swept away by the skulls.]

Aragorn: "Legolas! Run!"

[The party fights their way through the sea of skulls and escapes to the outdoors. Emerging from the doorway in the mountainside, Aragorn sees the black ships and the cities they have sacked. Aragorn falls to his knees in despair. Aragorn hears a sound behind him and turns around. The King of the Dead appears before the heir to the Gondorian throne.]

The King of the Dead: "We fight!"