<Scene returns to Henneth Annûn. Faramir is conferring with his man. They unroll a map.>
Faramir: What news?
Madril: Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Théoden’s people have fled to Helm’s Deep. <Points at the map> But we must look to our own borders. Faramir, Orcs are on the move. Sauron is marshalling an army. Easterlings and Southrons are passing through the Black Gate.
Faramir: How many?
Madril: Some thousands. More come every day.
Faramir: Who’s covering the river to the north?
Madril: We pulled 500 men at Osgiliath, but if the city is attacked, we won’t hold it.
Faramir: <Tracing on the map> Saruman attacks from Isengard. Sauron from Mordor. The fight will come to men on both fronts. Gondor is weak. Sauron will strike us soon. And he will strike hard. He knows now we do not have the strength to repel him.
<The hobbits are unbound and blindfolds taken off them by Damrod and another ranger. Sam and Frodo find themselves in a cave behind a waterfall, with Damrod sitting behind them on a rock constantly watching them. Faramir comes up to them and sits.>.
Faramir: My men tell me that you are Orc spies.
Sam: Spies?! Now wait just a minute!
Faramir: Well if you’re not spies, then who are you?
<Frodo and Sam remain silent.>
Faramir: Speak.
Frodo: We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name and this is Samwise Gamgee.
Faramir: Your bodyguard?
Sam: His gardener.
Faramir: And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favoured look.
Frodo: <The merest hesitation.> There was no other.
<Sam looks shifty-eyed and uncomfortable.>
Frodo: We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in Mória. Two were my kin. A Dwarf there was also, and an Elf. And two men, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor.
Faramir: <Intently> You’re a friend of Boromir?
Frodo: Yes... for my part.
Faramir: It will grieve you then to learn that he is dead.
Frodo: <Shocked> Dead? How? When?
Faramir: As one of his companions, I’d hoped you would tell me. <Pause> He was my brother.
<Faramir is sitting alone, deep in thought. Suddenly someone comes up to him.>
Gondorian ranger: Captain Faramir. <whispers> We found the third one.
<Frodo and Sam are sleeping. Frodo awakens as Faramir stands before him.>
Faramir: You must come with me. Now.
<Frodo gets up and follow. They come to the edge of the waterfall, overlooking the Forbidden Pool.>
Faramir: <Pointing down> Down there.
<Frodo looks down and sees Gollum diving into the water.>
Faramir: To enter the forbidden pool bears the penalty of death. <He gestures to archers hidden in the bushes.> They wait for my command.
<The Rangers notch their arrows>
Faramir: Shall I shoot?
<Frodo looks stricken. Gollum emerges from the pool onto a rock. He holds a fish in his hand and starts singing, slapping the fish on the rock as he goes.>
Gollum: <singing> The rock and pool is nice and cool, so juicy sweet! I only wish <Whacks the fish on the rock> to catch a fish <whacks>, so juicy sweet! <The fish almost wriggles out of his grasp and he whacks it some more.>
<Faramir has his hand raised to order his men to shoot. At the last moment, Frodo calls out.>
Frodo: Wait! <Faramir stops> This creature is bound to me. And I to him. He is our guide. Please, let me go down to him.
<Faramir nods. Frodo descends to the Forbidden Pool and approaches Gollum who is gorging on the raw fish.>
Frodo: Sméagol. <Gollum turns round at Frodo’s voice.> Master is here. Come, Sméagol. Trust master. Come!
<Frodo gestures for Gollum to follow him.>
Gollum: We must go now?
Frodo: Sméagol, you must trust master. Follow me, come on. Come. Come, Sméagol. Nice Sméagol. That’s it. Come on.
<With the fish between his teeth, Gollum follows Frodo warily. Suddenly he looks up in alarm and is caught by Rangers.>
Frodo: Don’t hurt him! Sméagol don’t struggle! Sméagol listen to me!
Gollum: <wails> Master!!
<A black cloth is brought over Gollum's head. Frodo stares after them with a stricken expression as Faramir leads Gollum and his men away. Back in the cave, Gollum is thrown down to the ground. Crying, he crawls into a corner and curls up into ball.>
Gollum: No! No!
Faramir: Where are you leading them? Answer me!
Gollum: <Cooing, his hand stroking his shoulder> Sméa…gol... Why does it cry, Sméagol?
Sméagol: <Sobbing> Cruel men hurts us. Master trickst us.
Gollum: Of course he did. I told you he was tricksy. I told you he was false.
Sméagol: <Sobbing> Master is our friend... our friend.
Gollum: Master betrayed us.
Sméagol: No, not its business. Leave us alone!
Gollum: <Hits his fist against the wall> Filthy little hobbitses. They stole it from us.
Sméagol: <Whimpers> No... No!
Faramir: What did they steal?
Gollum: <Turns to Faramir with a ferocious expression> Myyy… PRECIOUSSS!! <He bares his teeth and growls> Aaaarrrggghhh!!!
|