<On the plains of Rohan. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stop as Edoras comes into view.>
Gandalf: Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman’s hold over King Théoden is now very strong.
<In the Hall, Éowyn is kneeling before Théoden, holding his hand in hers.>
Éowyn: My lord, your son, he is dead. My lord? Uncle?
<Théoden just sits and stares ahead, his eyes clouded and unseeing.>
Éowyn: Will you not go to him? <She weeps.> Will you do nothing?
<Scene returns to Gandalf and company.>
Gandalf: Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here.
<They ride on towards Edoras.>
<At Edoras, Éowyn is weeping at the dead Théodred's bed. She kisses his hand. Gríma appears at the door.>
Gríma: Oh, he… he must have died sometime in the night. What a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir.
<He sits on the bed and puts a hand on Éowyn’s shoulder.>
Gríma: I understand his passing is hard to accept, especially now that your brother has deserted you.
Éowyn: <jumps back and throws off Gríma’s hand> Leave me alone, snake!
Gríma: <Rises from the bed and moves ever closer to Éowyn> Oh, but you are alone! Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness. In bitter watches of the night, when all your life seems to shrink, the walls of your bower closing in about you, like a hutch to trammel some wild thing in.
<He puts a hand on her cheek and moves down to her throat.>
Gríma: So fair, so cold, like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill.
<Éowyn and Gríma stare at each other intently.>
Éowyn: Your words are poison!
<Éowyn runs out of the hall. Weeping, she looks away into the distance. A flag comes off its pole and is carried by the breeze. Éowyn sees riders coming towards Edoras. As Aragorn passes the entrance to Edoras, the flag floats down to land near him. Edoras is silent and somber. Everyone is dressed in black and staring at the newcomers in wary silence. Aragorn looks up at the hall and sees a lady in white standing on the steps. He looks around at more somber people.>
Gimli: You’ll find more cheer in a graveyard.
<Aragorn looks up to the hall again but the lady has disappeared. The company climbs up the stairs to the hall and is met by guards.>
Gandalf: <sees Háma> Ah.
Háma: I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Gríma Wormtongue.
<Gandalf nods in understanding and signals for the others to surrender their weapons. Aragon hands over his sword and knives. Legolas gives a little twirl to his knives before handing them over to the guards. Gimli hands over his axes reluctantly.>
Háma: <gestures to Gandalf> Your staff.
Gandalf: Hmm? <Glances at his staff.> Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick? <Looks at Háma innocently.>
<Háma hesitates for a second and then gestures that they follow him into the hall. Gandalf gives Aragorn a tiny wink and enters the hall, leaning on Legolas’ arm.>
Gríma: <Leaning down and whispering to Théoden.> My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming. He’s a herald of woe.
Gandalf: The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King.
<As Gandalf approaches Théoden, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pull back and survey the hall and its hostile occupants. A group of men starts to follow their steps with hostility.>
Gríma: <Whispering to Théoden.> He’s not welcome.
Théoden: Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow? <Looks to Gríma for affirmation.>
Gríma: A just question, my liege. <He walks towards Gandalf.> Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest.
Gandalf: Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm! <Raises his staff against Gríma.>
Gríma: His staff! <Backing away from Gandalf while addressing the guards> I told you to take the wizard’s staff!
<The hostile guards attack. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli engage them in a fist-fight as Gandalf continues to approach Théoden. Gamling tries to go forward but Háma holds him back.>
Gandalf: Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows.
<Gríma tries to crawl away unnoticed, but Gimli catches him and pins him to the floor.>
Gimli: <Growls> I would stay still, if I were you.
Gandalf: Hearken to me! I release you from the spell. <Gestures with his hand>
Théoden: <Menacingly> Hahahhhahahahah! <Gandalf opens his eyes in surprise.> You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!
<Gandalf throws back his grey cloak, exuding blinding white light. Théoden is thrown back against his seat.>
Théoden: Argh!
Gandalf: <Points his staff towards Théoden.> I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.
<Éowyn rushes in. Seeing her uncle threatened, she tries to go to him but is held back by Aragorn.>
Aragorn: Wait.
Théoden: <In Saruman’s voice.> If I go. . . Théoden dies.
<Gandalf moves his staff sharply and Théoden flies back against the chair again.>
Gandalf: You did not kill me, you will not kill him!
Théoden: <in Saruman's voice> Rohan is mine!
Gandalf: Be gone!!
<Gandalf smites Théoden as he lunges at him. Théoden is thrown back into the chair and the shot changes to Saruman flying backwards from the Palantír which he used to manipulate Théoden. He lands landing hard on the floor of Orthanc, bleeding from a gash in his forehead. In the hall, Théoden lets out a moan and slumps forward in the chair. Éowyn runs to her uncle’s side as he falls. Théoden’s head rises again and his face begins to change gradually into that of a much younger-looking man. Clarity and recognition returns to his eyes.>
Théoden: <Looks closely at Éowyn> I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn.
<Éowyn weeps with joy>
Théoden: Gandalf?
Gandalf: Breathe the free air again, my friend.
<The hall is shown to be filled with light again, as everyone marvels at the rejuvenation of the king.>
Théoden: <Standing up and looking around him.> Dark have been my dreams of late. <He looks down at his trembling hands.>
Gandalf: Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.
<Háma runs up with his sword. Théoden reaches for it with trembling hands. He wraps his fingers around it slowly and then draws it, gazing upon the shiny steel. In a corner, Gríma trembles and tries to escape but is pulled back by Gimli. Suddenly, Théoden’s gaze turns to Gríma. Gríma is thrown out of the hall and down the stairs.>
Gríma: Argh! <Beseechingly to Théoden> I've only ever served you, my lord!
Théoden: <Advancing towards Gríma, holding the sword firmly in his hand> Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!
Gríma: <Grovelling> Send me not from your side.
<Théoden raises his sword to kill Gríma. Aragorn holds him back.>
Aragorn: No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account.
<Gríma scrambles to his feet and pushes through the crowd>
Gríma: Get out of my way!
Háma: Hail, Théoden king!
<The crowd kneels in homage before Théoden. Aragorn kneels also. Gríma rides out of Edoras. As Théoden turns to go back into the hall, he looks up.>
Théoden: Where is Théodred? Where is my son?
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