<The surrounds fade to white. Elrond appears, recognisable as the Elf who was a lieutenant in the Last Alliance.>
<<Elf: Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad. (Hear my voice, come back to the light)>>
<Frodo is lying in a vast bed.>
<<Frodo (half-asleep): Where am I?>>
<<Gandalf's voice: You are in the house of Elrond. And it is 10 o’clock in the morning, on October the 24th, if you want to know.>>
<Frodo wakes up.>
<<Frodo: Gandalf!>>
<Gandalf is seated on Frodo's bed, smoking his pipe. The bedroom opens on to a stunningly beautiful garden. The noise of falling water is mixed with bird song. Leaves are gently falling.>
<<Gandalf: Yes...I’m here. And you're lucky to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit!>>
<<Frodo: What happened, Gandalf? Why didn't you meet us?>>
<<Gandalf: Oh I'm sorry Frodo . . . (long pause) . . . I was delayed.>>
<Flashback to Isengard. On the tower top, Saruman is using his powers to flip Gandalf about. He then dangles him dangerously over the edge of Orthanc.>
<<Saruman: Friendship with Saruman is not lightly thrown aside. One ill turn deserves another. It is over! Embrace the power of the Ring . . . or embrace your own destruction!>>
<Gandalf lies at full stretch, completely at Saruman's mercy. A tiny white moth flutters across between them. Gandalf observes it as Saruman continues to taunt him. Saruman hurls Gandalf back towards the platform.>
<<Gandalf: <slowly raises himself as the shadowy form of an eagle appears in the background.> There is only one Lord of the Ring! Only one who can bend it to his will. And he. does. not. share. power!>>
<The eagle screeches. Gandalf leaps off the Tower of Orthanc and lands on the eagle's back.>
<<Saruman: So you have chosen - death .>>
<Gwaihir flies over the mountains, bearing Gandalf to safety.>
<<Frodo: Gandalf? What is it?>>
<<Gandalf: Nothing, Frodo.>>
<Sam enters the room and rushes to Frodo's side, clasping his hand in joy.>
<<Sam: Frodo! Frodo!>>
<<Frodo: Sam!>>
<<Sam: Bless you, you're awake!>>
<Frodo laughs>
<<Gandalf: Sam has hardly left your side.>>
<<Sam: We were that worried about you, weren't we Mr. Gandalf?>>
<<Gandalf: By the skills of Lord Elrond, you're beginning to mend.>>
<<Elrond: <entering the room and smiles down at Frodo> Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins.>>
<Rivendell sits high above a gorge which is thick with pines and deciduous shrubs. Delicate, lacy waterfalls trace their way down to the river below. A stone bridge spans the chasm as a cloaked rider upon a white horse plods towards the house. In the gardens, Frodo is reunited with his friends. Multiple hugs and backslaps all round. Eventually, Frodo spots a familiar figure sitting on a stone seat, reading from a large Red Book.>
<<Frodo: Bilbo!>>
<Bilbo seems to have aged and looks white and frail. He leans heavily upon a staff as he gets up to greet Frodo.>
<<Bilbo: Hello, Frodo my lad!>>
<<Frodo: Bilbo! <hugs him>>>
<<Bilbo: Oh!>>
<Frodo reads aloud from Bilbo's book.>
<<Frodo: "There and Back Again: A Hobbit's Tale by Bilbo Baggins." <leafs through the book> This is wonderful!>>
<<Bilbo: I meant to go back ... wander the paths of Mirkwood ... visit Laketown ... see the Lonely Mountain again. But age it seems, has finally caught up with me.>>
<He gives Frodo a sad smile. Frodo stops to look at the map of the Shire.>
<<Frodo: I miss the Shire. I spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else … off with you on one of your adventures! <realises sadly> My own adventure turned out to be quite different.>>
<<Frodo: I’m not like you, Bilbo.>>
<<Bilbo: <pats Frodo's cheek> My dear boy.>>
<On the balcony, Sam is trying to pack his bags.>
<<Sam (to himself): Now what have I forgotten?>>
<<Frodo: Packed already?>>
<<Sam: No harm in being prepared.>>
<<Frodo: I thought you wanted to see the Elves, Sam.>>
<<Sam: I do!>>
<<Frodo: More than anything.>>
<<Sam: I did! It's just ... we did what Gandalf wanted didn't we? We got the Ring this far to Rivendell and then I thought, seein’ as how you’re on the mend, we'd be off soon. Off home.>>
<<Frodo: You're right Sam. We did what we set out to do. <shows the Ring on his palm> The Ring will be safe in Rivendell.>>
<<Frodo: I am ready to go home.>>
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