[Aragorn exits the Golden Hall and approaches Legolas.]

[They look toward Mordor.]

Legolas: "The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice. The Eye of the enemy is moving."

[Indoors, Pippin wakes up and approaches a sleeping Gandalf.]

Merry: "What are you doing? Pippin! Pippin?"

[Gandalf is asleep, although his eyes are open. Pippin waves a hand over Gandalf's face to make sure.]

[Pippin takes the Palant�r from Gandalf, replacing the space in Gandalf's hands with a chamberpot.]

Merry: "Pippin! Are you mad?"

Pippin: "I just want to look at it! Just one more time."

Merry: "Put it back!"

[Pippin unwraps the stone.]

Merry: "Pippin. No! Pippin!"

[Pippin becomes affixed to the now glowing stone. Outside, Legolas turns to Aragorn.]

Legolas: "He is here!"

Sauron (to Pippin): "I see you!"

Merry: "Pippin! Help! Gandalf Help him! Someone help him!"

[Aragorn and Legolas enter. Everyone awakes. Pippin, stuck to the burning orb, writhes in pain.]

[Aragorn takes the Palant�r and falls to his knees.]

[The Palant�r falls from Aragorn's hands and rolls across the floor. Gandalf throws a cloth over it.]

Merry: "Pippin!"

Gandalf: "Fool of a Took!"

[Gandalf tends to a terrified Pippin.]

Gandalf: "Look at me."

Pippin: "Gandalf! Forgive me!"

[Pippin looks away.]

Gandalf: "Look at me. What did you see?"

Pippin: "A tree… there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone… it was dead. The city was burning."

[The courtyard of Minas Tirith is shown.]

Gandalf: "Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?"

Pippin: "I saw… I saw Him! I could hear His voice in my head!"

Gandalf: "And what did you tell Him? Speak!"

Pippin: "He asked me my name. I didn't answer."

Pippin: "He hurt me!"

Gandalf: "What did you tell Him about Frodo and the Ring?"

[Gandalf talks to Th�oden in the Golden Hall. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin are also present.]

Gandalf: "There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool… but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring."

Gandalf: "We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palant�r a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith."

Gandalf: "His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing: he knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed; there is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-Earth uniting under one banner."

Gandalf: "He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the throne of men. If the Beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."

Th�oden: "Tell me… why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?"

Th�oden: "What do we owe Gondor?"

Aragorn: "I will go."

Gandalf: "No!"

Aragorn: "They must be warned!"

Gandalf: "They will be. You must come to Minas Tirith by another road."

Gandalf: "Follow the river and look to the black ships."

Gandalf: "Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith."

[Gandalf looks at the hobbits.]

Gandalf: "And I won't be going alone."

[Outside, Gandalf, followed by the two hobbits, swiftly makes his way to the stables of Edoras.]

Gandalf: "Of all the inquisitive hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!"

Pippin: "Where are we going?"

Merry: "Why did you look? Why do you always have to look!"

Pippin: "I don't know. I can't help it!"

Merry: "You never can."

Pippin: "I'm sorry, all right! I won't do it again."

Merry: "Don't you understand? The enemy thinks you have the Ring! He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here."

Pippin: "And y-you're coming with me?"

[Merry walks away.]

Pippin: "Merry?"

Merry: "Come on!"

[Inside the stables, Gandalf lifts Pippin up on Shadowfax's back.]

Pippin: "How far is Minas Tirith?"

Gandalf: "Three day's ride, as the Nazgûl flies. And we better hope we don't have one of those on our tail."

Merry (handing Pippin a pouch): "Here. Something for the road."

Pippin: "Last of the Longbottom Leaf?"

Merry: "I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pip."

Pippin: "But we'll see each other soon, won't we?"

Merry (glances at Gandalf): "I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen."

[Merry starts to cry.]

Pippin: "Merry!"

Gandalf: "Run, Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste."

Pippin: "Merry!"

[Shadowfax gallops out of the stables.]

[Merry runs after them. He climbs up to a watchtower. Aragorn follows Merry.]

Aragorn: "Merry!"

[From the tower, Merry watches Shadowfax run towards Gondor. Aragorn joins him.]

Merry: "He's always followed me. Everywhere I went, since before we were were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort of trouble. But I was always there to get him out. And now he's gone."

[Aragorn puts his hand on Merry's shoullder.]

Merry: "Just like Frodo, and Sam."

Aragorn: "One thing I've learned about hobbits: they are most hardy folk."

Merry: "Foolhardy maybe. He's a Took."

[They laugh.]