8. The Banishment of Éomer
[The group of horsemen ride across the plain. Èomer carryies a wounded Théodred in front of him.]
[A woman runs up the stairs to the Golden Hall of Meduseld and enters a chamber where Èomer has taken Théodred.]
[She kneels in front of the bed.]
Èowyn: "Théodred!"
[Èomer gives his sister a meaningful look, and Èowyn draws back the covers and sees that Théodred's wound is fatal.]
[The two are with king Théoden, who is sitting motionless on his throne, looking aged beyond his years.]
Èowyn: "Your son is badly wounded my lord."
Èomer: "He was ambushed by orcs. If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force."
Gríma: "That is a lie!"
[Gríma appears from the shadows and walks to the king.]
Gríma: "Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally."
[Théoden mumbles feebly to Gríma, who leans closer to the King.]
Èomer: "Orcs are roaming freely across our lands. Unchecked, unchallenged, killing at will."
Èomer: "Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman."
[Èomer drops a helmet onto the ground. It has the white hand print on it.]
Gríma: "Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind?"
Gríma: "Can you not see? Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your warmongering."
Èomer: "Warmongering?!"
[Èomer grabs Gríma and pushes him against a pillar.]
Èomer: "How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Gríma? When all the men are dead you would take a share of the treasure?"
[Gríma's eyes flick to right, watching Èowyn as she walks by, who stops to stare back for a moment before departing.]
[Èomer jerks Gríma again and clutches his hand around Gríma's jaw.]
Èomer: "Too long have you watched my sister. Too long have you haunted her steps."
[Gríma's eyes look to the left and he relaxes, and Èomer is pulled off Gríma by guards.]
Gríma: "You see much, Èomer son of Èomund. Too much."
Gríma: "You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan, and all its domains, under pain of death."
Eomer: "You have no authority here. Your orders mean nothing."
Gríma: "This order does not come from me. It comes from the king."
[Gríma displays a order with a sunburst seal and a scrawled signature.]
Gríma: "He signed it this morning."
[The guards take him.]
Èomer: "Argh!"
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