The Shire Challenge

[Early dawn on the following morning, Gandalf, Frodo and Sam make their way along the road. Sam, encumbered with pots and pans, puffs along behind Gandalf's horse.]

Gandalf: "Come along Samwise, keep up!"

[They enter a more heavily forested area and some dense undergrowth.]

Gandalf: "Be careful both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts." [turns to Frodo] "Is it safe?"

[Frodo pats his vest pocket.]

Gandalf: "Never put it on, for the agents of the Dark Lord 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, leaving Frodo and Sam in the forest. They stare at each other. Eventually Frodo sighs, takes up his stick and continues on their journey. Sam follows.]

[Frodo and Sam trek along the countryside, making their way across streams, over hills and through meadows. Eventually they find themselves before a cornfield. Frodo walks through the corn. Sam following behind, stops besides a large scarecrow.]

Sam: "This is it."

Frodo: "This is what?"

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

Frodo: "Come on Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say: 'It's a dangerous business…' [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.'"

[Frodo and Sam set up camp for the night. Sam cooks their meal of bacon, tomatoes and sausages as Frodo lies in a tree limb. Suddenly they both stop and listen. Singing can be heard in the distance. The voices are sweet and high, singing in a strange language.]

Frodo: "Sam! Wood-Elves!"

[They scramble up to a ridge where they can lie and watch unseen. A group of Elves is passing slowly through the forest, some on horseback, some walking, some with banners. The group seems to shine of its own light, their white garments softly glowing against the purples and midnight blues of the woods. Their haunting song continues.]

Elves:
"a Galad ren i veniar
hi' aladhremmin ennorath
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
ithil nâ thűl, ithil lîn hen"

(O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees
O Elbereth Gilthoniel
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath)

Frodo: "They're going to the harbour beyond the White Towers. To the Grey Havens."

Sam: "They're leaving Middle-Earth."

Frodo: "Never to return."

Sam: "I don't know why — it makes me sad."

[Later, Sam and Frodo prepare for sleep. Sam is trying to find a comfortable spot on the ground.]

Sam: "Everywhere I lie there's a dirty great root sticking into my back."

Frodo: "Just shut your eyes, and imagine you're back in your own bed, with a soft mattress and a lovely feather pillow."

[Sam gives him a skeptical look, and settles back. After a moment he sighs. and gives up, frustrated.]

Sam: "It's not working Mister Frodo. I'm never going to be able to sleep out here."

Frodo: "Me neither, Sam."

[Frodo smiles. Sam stares at the sky and finds something to nibble on.]

[Sam, in the middle of a field of corn, emerges onto a small path between the rows of tall vegetables. He looks back and forth.]

Sam: "Mister Frodo? Frodo! Frodo!"

[Frodo appears round the bend in the path, looking puzzled.]

Sam: "I thought I'd lost you."

Frodo: "What are you talking about?"

Sam: "It's just something Gandalf said."

Frodo: "What did he say?"

Sam: "'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee!' And I don't mean to."

Frodo: "Sam, we're still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?"

[Suddenly, Pippin bursts from the cornfield and knocks over Frodo. Merry, close behind, knocks over Sam. Both have an armful of vegetables]

Pippin: "Frodo? Merry! It's Frodo Baggins."

Merry: "Hello Frodo!"

Sam: "Get off him!" [hauls Pippin off Frodo] "Frodo? Are you all right?"

Frodo: "What's the meaning of this?"

Merry: "Hold this." [hands vegetables to Sam]

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

[They hear a dog barking and an angry, yelling voice. Pippin grabs Frodo and runs, followed by Merry. Sam does a double take on the produce in his hands, drops them and runs after the others.]

Farmer Maggot: [brandishing a scythe] "Hoi! You get back here! Wait till I get this through you! Get out of my fields! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!"

Merry: "'Dunno why he is so upset. It's only a couple of carrots!"

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

Merry: "Yes Pippin! My point is, he is clearly overreactin'. Run!"

[Pippin, Frodo and Merry stop just before the edge of a gorge.]

[Sam slams into them from behind and all four hobbits roll down the hill.]

[Nightfall comes. A Black Rider is patrolling the area. The hobbits hide behind the trees.]

Sam: "Anything?"

Frodo: "Nothing."

Pippin: "What is going on?"

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

Sam: "Get down!"

[The Black Rider feigns leaving the area.]

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

Merry: "Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me."

[A second Black Rider appears along their path. Frodo is delayed as the others run on. The hobbits jump over a fence and run towards the dock. One Rider is hot on Frodo's heels.]

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

Merry: "Get the rope Sam!"

[Merry and Sam each uncoil a mooring rope while Pippin starts to push off.]

Sam: "Frodo!"

Hobbits: "Run Frodo!"

Frodo: "Go!"

Hobbits: "Hurry!"

Sam: "Frodo!"

Hobbits: "Jump Frodo! Go on faster! Jump!"

[Frodo leaps onto the raft. The Rider stops short of the water and once again squeals in frustration. Looking back the hobbits see the Rider ride away, followed by two others.]

Frodo: "How far to the nearest crossing?"

Merry: "Brandywine Bridge: twenty miles."

[The Hobbits arrive at the gates of Bree, soaking wet due to the pouring rain. They pause, uncertain how to declare themselves.]

Frodo: "Come on."

[He knocks on the gates. A small peep hole opens high above them, then slams shut. Another opens, nearer their eye level. An old face peers out against the downpour.]

Gatekeeper: "What do you want?"

Frodo: "We're heading for the Prancing Pony."

Gatekeeper: [opening the gate] "Hobbits! Four hobbits! What business brings you to Bree?"

Frodo: "We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own."

Gatekeeper: "All right young sir, I meant no offence. 'Tis my job to ask question after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful."

[He ushers them inside. The Hobbits make their way up the cobbled path, through the motley crowd which jostles and bumps them. One man, a particularly ugly oaf holding a carrot, belches contemptuously over them.]

Men of Bree: "Out of the way! Watch where you're walking, young masters!"

[Frodo looks up and spots the sign of the Prancing Pony. The four Hobbits enter the Inn. Inside, it is crowded, noisy and poorly-lit. They pull back their hoods. Merry and Pippin breathe sighs of relief.]