<Outside Bag End, Gandalf pulls up his cart.>
<<Gandalf: Whoa, whoa.>>
He gets down and goes through the gate which bears a sign saying: "No admittance except on party business." Gandalf knocks on the door with his staff>
<<Bilbo: <from within> No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!>>
<<Gandalf: And what about very old friends?>>
<Bilbo opens the door>
<<Bilbo (amazed): Gandalf?>>
<<Gandalf: Bilbo Baggins!>>
<<Bilbo: My dear Gandalf!>> <gives Gandalf a hug>
<<Gandalf: Good to see you! One hundred and eleven years old --who would believe it? <looks at Bilbo in astonishment> You haven't aged a day.>>
<Bilbo and Gandalf laugh as Bilbo bids Gandalf inside>
<<Bilbo: Come on, come in! Welcome, welcome! <closes door and takes Gandalf's hat and staff> Oh, here we are. Tea? Or maybe something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the Old Winyard left. 1296 --very good year. Almost as old as I am! Hahaha!
<Bilbo hangs up Gandalf's hat and disappears down the corridor on his hunt for refreshments.>
<<Bilbo: It was laid down by my father. What say we open one, eh?>>
<<Gandalf: Just tea, thank you.>>
<Gandalf, bent double, backs into the chandelier. He steadies it, but then bumps his head onto the beam and utters an "Ooooff ". Nursing the pain he enters Bilbo’s study and sees the map of the Lonely Mountain mounted on a frame. He picks it up to examine it. Meanwhile, Bilbo is pottering around in the kitchen.>
<<Bilbo (out of sight): I was expecting you sometime last week! Not that it matters, you come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle ... Oh, there's some cheese here- oh no, that won't do. Err, we got raspberry jam and an apple tart ... Not much for afters, I'm afraid. Oh, no -we're all right! I've found some sponge-cake. <enters the study> I could make you some eggs if you like-- oh. Gandalf?>>
<<Gandalf (appearing right behind Bilbo): Just tea, thank you.>>
<<Bilbo: Oh, right! <with mouthful of sponge-cake> You don't mind if I eat, do you?>>
<<Gandalf: Oh no, not at all.>>
<Gandalf sits down on a chair just inside the kitchen entrance. There is a sudden, incessant knocking on the door and a woman shouting: "Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins!">
<<Bilbo: <whispers> I'm not at home!>>
<He tiptoes up to the front window and peers out to identify the unwanted visitor.>
<<Bilbo: It's the Sackville-Bagginses!>>
<<Sackville-Baggins (outside): I know you're in there!>>
<<Bilbo (in alarm): They're after the house. They've never forgiven me for living this long!>>
<Still armed with his sponge-cake, Bilbo disappears hurriedly into the kitchen.>
<<Bilbo: I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace!>>
<Bilbo puts down his cake and stares out his window while Gandalf tries to make himself comfortable at Bilbo's hobbit-sized table.>
<<Bilbo: I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf! And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, tea! (He hurries to prepare the tea.)>>
<<Gandalf (still disposing his limbs): So, you mean to go through with your plan, then.>>
<<Bilbo: Yes, yes. It's all in hand. All the arrangements are made. <Gandalf lifts up the lid of a tea pot, Bilbo starts to pour water into it> Oh, thank you.>>
<<Gandalf: Frodo suspects something.>>
<<Bilbo: ‘Course he does. He's a Baggins! Not some block-headed Bracegirdle from Hardbottle.>>
<<Gandalf: You will tell him, won't you?>>
<<Bilbo: Yes, yes.>>
<<Gandalf: He's very fond of you.>>
<<Bilbo: (a pause. Bilbo looks away. An expression of regret comes over his face.) I know. <Bilbo again wanders over to his window.> He'd probably come with me if I asked him. <chuckles> I think, in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire: the woods, the fields … little rivers. I'm old, Gandalf. <Bilbo comes away from the window> I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart.>>
<Gandalf's gaze is drawn downwards to Bilbo's waistcoat pocket as the Hobbit's fingers begins to fidget with something inside it. Gandalf frowns.>
<<Bilbo: I feel thin -- sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. <He sits down wearily at the table.> I need a holiday - a very long holiday - and I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to!>>
<Evening falls on Hobbiton. Bilbo and Gandalf sit peacefully smoking pipe outside Bag End. Below them, in the party field, sounds of laughter and revelry float up from a growing crowd of Hobbits preparing for their evening's entertainment. Torches and candles light a festive scene and everywhere food is rapidly filling up the space on wooden trestles>
<<Bilbo: Old Toby. The finest weed in the Southfarthing.>>
<Gandalf is unimpressed. Bilbo blows a large ring of smoke which hangs gently in the still air. Gandalf regards it for a moment, and then, sucking his cheeks in and out, blows a majestic, full-rigged ship that sails right through the ring.>
<<Bilbo: Ahh! Gandalf, my old friend. This will be a night to remember!>>
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