Flight to the Ford Scene 1 - The Fellowship of the Ring

Frodo is lying on the ground staring upwards at some huge stone trolls SAM: Look Frodo. It’s Mr Bilbo’s trolls Frodo gasps for breath. His eyes have turned cloudy. Sam feels his forehead SAM: He’s going cold! Strider stands between the trolls holding a torch aloft. PIPPIN: Is he going to die ? STRIDER: He’s passing into the Shadow world. He’ll soon become a wraith like them. Frodo gasps again. Screeches are heard through the woodland. MERRY: They’re close! STRIDER: Sam! Do you know the Athelas plant ? SAM: Athelas ? STRIDER: Kingsfoil SAM: Kingsfoil, aye, its a weed! STRIDER: It may help to slow the poison. Hurry! They run through the woodland, scanning the ground. Strider stops when he finds a low growing plant covered in white flowers. He takes out his knife to cut some. A sword appears at Strider’s throat. ARWEN: What’s this ? a Ranger caught off his guard ? (he turns round to look) Frodo, opening his eyes, sees a vision of a white horse riding towards him with a maiden upon it, a bright white light surrounding her. She dismounts and walks towards him and kneels beside him ARWEN: Frodo Im Arwen. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nin. Tolo dan na galad (I am Arwen. I have come to help you. Hear my voice. Come back to the light) Frodo gasps. Sam and Pippin watch on MERRY: Who is she? Strider joins her, as Arwen mops Frodo’s brow. Strider chews up some Athelas ARWEN: Frodo SAM: She’s an elf! ARWEN: He’s fading (she pulls back Frodo’s shirt to reveal the wound) Strider puts the chewed Athelas into the wound. Frodo gasps! ARWEN: He’s not going to last. We must get him to my father. Strider lifts Frodo up ARWEN: I’ve been looking for you for two days. (Strider carries Frodo to Arwen’s horse) There are five wraiths behind you, where the other four are I do not know STRIDER: (placing Frodo on Arwen’s horse) Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon. (Stay with the Hobbits. I will send horses back for you.) ARWEN: Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im. (I’m the faster rider. I’ll take him.) STRIDER: Andelu i ven. (The road is too dangerous) PIPPIN: What are they saying ? ARWEN: Frodo for. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon. (Frodo’s dying. If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.) I do not fear them STRIDER: (takes Arwen’s hand and holds it tightly) Be iest l’n. (As you wish.) Arwen mounts her horse behind Frodo who is still having trouble breathing STRIDER: Ride hard. Don’t look back ARWEN: Noro lim, Asfaloth, noro lim! (Ride fast, Asfaloth, ride fast) She rides off through the woods. SAM: What’re you doing ? Those wraiths are still out there! Strider looks on worried Arwen rides through the fields and open plains. Through woodlands. She notices through the trees a black rider. As she reaches a clearing he rides alongside her, and then is joined by another two, screeching. Five follow her closely behind now. As she dodges in and out of the trees she catches her face on a branch. In open ground, eight wraiths now follow her. Frodo looks sideways at the wraiths as one reaches out his hand to him. ARWEN: Noro lim Asfaloth! (Ride faster Asfaloth!) Asfaloth pulls away from them, dodging in and out of trees. Jumping a log, they finally reach the river. Arwen rides across to the other side, whilst the nine wraiths stand on the opposite shore facing her, their horses rearing in frustration, the wraiths screeching. WRAITH: Give up the halfling She-elf. ARWEN: (draws her sword) If you want him. Come and claim him All nine wraiths draw their swords raised and gallop across the river towards her