31. The Ring Goes South
[The Fellowship departs from Rivendell as the sun's rays pierce the
valley.]
[They travel through the woods, over open plains and hillsides.]
[They pause on a hill in the wild.]
Gandalf (voiceover): "We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains
for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us.
From there our road turns east to Mordor."
[Sam cooks sausage and other food over a fire, climbing up onto a rock
besides Frodo. The Fellowship is resting on an outstretched arm of the
mountains.]
[Boromir spars with Merry and Pippin, tutoring them on sword fighting. He
battles with Pippin.]
Boromir (to each move of the sword): "Two, one, five. Good. Very good."
[Aragorn sits nearby, smoking a pipe. He speaks encouragement.]
Aragorn: "Move your feet."
Merry: "You look good, Pippin."
Pippin: "Thanks."
Boromir: "Faster!"
[As the Hobbits spar with Boromir, Gimli approaches Gandalf.]
Gimli: "If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not,
I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the
Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome."
[Gandalf takes a pipe he was smoking from his mouth. Faint surprise registers
in his eyes.]
Gandalf: "No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no
other choice."
[Legolas notices something amiss and looks intently towards the South.
Meanwhile, Boromir continues to fight Pippin.]
Boromir: "Come on. Good."
[Boromir accidentally nicks Pippin's hand.]
Pippin: "Aaaah!"
Boromir: "Sorry!"
[Pippin kicks Boromir on the shin.]
Boromir: "Ahh!"
Merry: "Get Him!"
[Boromir goes down in a mock battle. Boromir and Aragorn laugh with the
Hobbits.]
Pippin: "For the Shire! Hold him! Hold him down! Merry!"
[Aragorn walks over to them.]
Aragorn: "Gentlemen, that's enough."
[He lays a hand on either Hobbit's shoulder. Pippin and Merry grab his legs,
pulling him down on his back.]
Pippin: [off screen, still in a mock battle] "You've got my arm… you've got
my arm!"
[Legolas continues to look to the South, where a strange cloud has appeared.
Sam takes notice of Legolas's observation.]
Sam: "What is that?"
Gimli: "Nothing, it's just a whiff of cloud."
Boromir: [getting up from the ground, a hand on either Hobbit's shoulder]
"It's moving fast… against the wind."
Legolas: "Crebain from Dunland!"
Aragorn: "Hide!"
Boromir: "Hurry!"
[Aragorn rushes around, getting the Fellowship out of sight.]
Aragorn: "Frodo! Hurry! Take cover!"
[The Fellowship scrambles to gather their things, and Sam puts out the fire.
They hide behind rock outcroppings and under bushes. They wait. In a burst of
darkness against the light of day, a flock of black birds rushes overhead,
cawing loudly.]
[The birds circle the hill, then turn and fly back Southward.]
[The Fellowship comes out from the rocks.]
Gandalf: "Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched."
Gandalf: "We must take the Pass of Caradhras."
[He turns, looking up at a great, snowy mountain.]
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