COUNCIL CHAMBER, RIVENDELL — DAY
Elrond addresses the council…
ELROND
Mates, you have been summoned here to
answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth
is going all to pot.
Frodo sits amongst a council of free-peoples of Middle earth,
Elrond stands before them, addressing Gandalf, Strider,
Legolas, and 20 other elves, Dwarves, and men.
ELROND (CONT’D)
Bring up the ring, Frodo.
Frodo steps forward and places the ring on a stone in the center
of the council before returning to his seat.
BOROMIR
(gobsmacked)
So it is true!
LEGOLAS
(disbelief)
Sauron’s Ring! The ring of power!
GIMLI
(gutted)
Bollocks! We’re doomed!
BOROMIR
Rubbish. The ring is a gift. Why not use it?
STRIDER
Don’t talk tosh. Only Sauron can use the ring.
BOROMIR
And what would you know?
Strider says nothing and Boromir turns away dismissively.
LEGOLAS stands…
LEGOLAS
Don’t be a wanker, Boromir. He is Aragorn,
son of Arathorn. He’s your king.
Frodo looks at Strider questioningly…Boromir turns sharply.
BOROMIR
(quiet disbelief)
Aragorn? This is Isildur’s heir?
LEGOLAS
And heir to the throne of Gondor.
ARAGORN
(Elvish: with subtitles)
Havo dad, Legolas…no need to give him a bollocking,
Legolas…
BOROMIR
Gondor doesn’t need a king. We’re the bee’s knees.
GANDALF
Aragorn is right…we can’t use it.
ELROND
You have only one choice..the ring must
be destroyed.
The HUM OF THE RING seems to grow louder in Frodo’s ears.
Gimli suddenly stands, excited.
GIMLI
Then…what are we waiting for?
Gimli suddenly rushes forward! He swings his axe down on the
ring. The axe shatters with a deafening crack! Gimli falls
backwards, staring in disbelief at the ring.
ELROND
Nice one, Gimli. Really brilliant. The ring was made
in the fires of Mount Doom, that’s where it has to be
be destroyed. No time to skive, one of you has to
take it there.
Stunned silence…the council sits with downcast eyes, as if
they’re all about to chunder simultaneously. Boromir addresses the
council in a quiet voice.
BOROMIR
One does not simply walk into Mordor. The place is
dodgy and you’ll definitely get into a kerfuffle,
sometimes with more than orcs.
LEGOLAS
Have you heard bugger all Lord Elrond has
said? The ring must be destroyed.
GIMLI
And I suppose you think you’re such an ace
that you should be the one to do it?
BOROMIR
And if our attempt ends up a damp squib, what then?
What happens when Sauron takes back the ring?
Gimli leaps to his feet!
GIMLI
I will be dead before I see the Ring in
the hands of some wanker elf!
motion…the angry faces, the shaking fists, the accusatory
fingers, his eyes move across to the ring…the hum grows
louder in his head.
GIMLI (CONT’D)
(shouting)
Never trust an Elf!
CLOSE ON: THE RING fills the screen…streams of blood flow
across the surface… flames flicker within the Gold Band.
GANDALF
Have you all lost the plot? While we
get into this kerfuffle, Sauron grows stronger.
CLOSE ON: FRODO…breathing rapidly, Caught in the grip of
his hideous vision. Looking knackered, Frodo tears
his gaze off of the ring. Frodo suddenly stands…he speaks in
a strong, clear voice.
FRODO
Really nice, you bunch of cock ups. I’ll take the
take the Ring to Mordor.