36. The Bridge of Kahazd-dúm
[The Fellowship runs out the chamber into a hall of pillars. The Fellowship
is closely pursued by an army of Orcs. Other Orcs spring out from the floor or
crawl, like spiders, from the ceiling and down the pillars.]
[They surround the Fellowship, who have drawn their weapons outward in a
circle.]
[The Orcs snarl and leer.]
[Gimli lets out a yell. A fiery light appears at the end of a hall followed
by a thunderous rumble. The Orcs flee in all directions. Gimli laughs, thinking
he has scared off the Orcs.]
[The Fellowship are left alone. The weary wizard stares down the hall.]
Boromir: "What is this new devilry?"
[Gandalf does not respond for a moment. He closes his eyes, concentrating.
The rumble is heard again.]
[Gandalf opens his eyes.]
Gandalf: "A Balrog — a demon of the ancient world."
[The thing growls, still hidden around a corner of the vast hall, throwing
fiery light on the pillars. Legolas's eyes show fear.]
Gandalf: "This foe is beyond any of you… Run!"
[The Fellowship runs to a small doorway. Gandalf shepherds them through.]
Gandalf: "Quickly!"
[He takes a last glance behind him, and follows.]
[The Fellowship enters a passageway and goes down a flight of steps. The
flight ends in a missing segment, and Boromir nearly falls but Legolas pulls him
back.]
[His torch whirls away into the vast underworld beneath.]
Aragorn: "Gandalf!"
Gandalf: "Lead them on, Aragorn! The bridge is near!"
[They look across a wide space to a long bridge spanning the gap between a
hall and a cliff face. Away behind them, the Balrog roars again.]
[Aragorn moves towards Gandalf, but Gandalf pushes Aragorn roughly away from
him.]
Gandalf: "Do as I say!"
[Hurt and confusion register on Aragorn's face.]
Gandalf: "Swords are no more use here!"
[The Balrog roars again. The Fellowship descend a flight of massive
stairs.]
[The Fellowship encounters a gap in the stairs. Legolas leaps and lands on
the other side.]
[The Balrog rumbles again. Foundations splinter and crumble, sending huge
rocks tumbling into the depths.]
Legolas: "Gandalf."
[Gandalf leaps after him.]
[Arrows whistle into the air from a far ledge, striking the stone steps.
Legolas shoots back. His arrow rises through the air and pierces the skull of an
Orc. The Orc tumbles down from his ledge.]
Boromir: "Merry! Pippin! Hoo-aah!"
[He leaps across the gap.]
[An exchange of arrows follow from the stairs to the ledge.]
Aragorn: "Sam."
[He pitches Sam to the other side where the Hobbit is caught by Boromir.]
[Aragorn reaches to pick up Gimli.]
Gimli: [holds up his hand] "Nobody tosses a dwarf."
[He leaps forward but nearly falls back into the chasm. Legolas grabs his
beard and pulls him up.]
Gimli: "Not the beard!"
[Some of the stone steps crumble and fall. Aragorn pushes Frodo to safety.
They climb to their feet and look at the now widened gap that separates them
from the rest of the Fellowship.]
Aragorn: "Steady. Hold on!"
[The Balrog can be heard approaching from the other hall. Stone structures
around the mine collapse as it draws near. A huge rock falls from the ceiling
and smashes through the steps behind Aragorn and Frodo, creating another gap
behind them. The stairs begin to wobble.]
Aragorn: "Hang on! Lean forward!"
Legolas: "Come on!"
[They shift their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide and
slamming them onto the steps where their companions are.]
[They leap across to safety. They run down the stairs as the stone structures
collapse behind them.]
[Around a great pillar in a fiery hall comes Gandalf, leading the Fellowship.
A wall of flame whirls behind them.]
Gandalf: "Over the bridge! Fly!"
[The Fellowship flees. Gandalf does not follow, but turns, looking into the
wall of fire.]
[A great form of black shadow leaps through the flames, its eyes of white
fire, great ash-black horns curling around a bull-like head.]
[It opens its maw, rippling heat pouring out with a rumble. Gandalf turns,
running after the Fellowship. A great, black, cloven foot stomps down into the
hall, bursting into flame. A narrow bridge of stone appears in the fiery light,
and the Fellowship crosses the bridge. Gandalf turns to face the Balrog.]
Gandalf: "You cannot pass!"
Frodo: "Gandalf!"
Gandalf: "I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of
Anor…"
Gandalf: "The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!"
[The Balrog strikes down on Gandalf, who parries the blow with his blade,
shattering the Balrog's sword. Glowing embers run off the circle of light around
the wizard. The monster bellows at the wizard. Frodo gasps. Aragorn runs
forward.]
Gandalf: [clenching his teeth] "Go back to the Shadow!"
[The Balrog steps onto the bridge. It brandishes a flaming whip.]
[Gandalf raises his sword and staff together into the air.]
Gandalf: "You — shall not — pass!"
[Gandalf drives his staff into the bridge, causing a bright flash of blue
light to appear. Flaring its nostrils, the Balrog steps forward onto the
bridge.]
[The bridge collapses from under it as it moves towards Gandalf, and breaks
before the wizard's staff. The demon plunges backward into the chasm, still
wielding its glowing whip. Gandalf, exhausted, leans on his staff and watches
the Balrog fall. He turns to follow the others.]
[The flaming whip lashes up from the depths of the abyss and winds about
Gandalf's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He clings onto the bridge but
strains to keep his grip. Frodo rushes forward but Boromir restrains him.]
Boromir: "No, no!"
Frodo: "Gandalf!"
[The wizard grasps the bridge, looking into Frodo's eyes. He stops
struggling.]
Gandalf: "Fly, you fools!"
[Gandalf lets go of the stone and falls into the chasm, spreading his arms,
the light of the Balrog glimmering far below.]
Frodo: "No!"
[Boromir grabs hold of Frodo and starts to leave up a flight of stairs.]
Boromir: "Aragorn!"
Frodo: "No!"
[For a moment Aragorn does not move, but then Orc arrows start whistling by
once again, shooting at the companions.]
[Dodging them, he turns and follows the others up the stairs.]
[The Fellowship exits Moria. Boromir tries to restrain Gimli as the Dwarf
vents out his rage and sorrow.]
[Merry consoles Pippin, who lies crying.]
[Legolas wears a look of shock and disbelief; the immortal elf's eyes show
puzzlement.]
[Sam sits on the ground, bows his head onto his hands, and begins to
weep.]
[Aragorn wipes his sword clean, sheathes it, and turns to the others.]
Aragorn: "Legolas, get them up."
Boromir: "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!"
Aragorn: "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach
the woods of Lothlórien. Come, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, get them up."
Aragorn: "On your feet Sam. Frodo? Frodo!"
[Frodo stands alone upon the hillside. Weeping silently, he turns towards
Aragorn, a single tear running down his chin.]
|