[It is dawn. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are running.]

Legolas: "A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night."

[The sound of horses is heard.]

[The three hide. A large group of cavalry appear.]

[Aragorn comes out of hiding as they pass, Legolas and Gimli behind him.]

Aragorn: "Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"

[At a signal from Èomer, the riders make a quick turn and head towards the three companions, encircling them. As they stop, they point their spears at them.]

Èomer: "What business does an elf, a man and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?"

Èomer: "Speak quickly!"

Gimli: "Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine."

[Èomer gets off his horse. Aragorn puts a hand on Gimli's shoulder.]

Èomer: "I would cut off your head — dwarf — if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

[Legolas quickly aims an arrow at Èomer.]

Legolas: "You would die before your stroke fell!"

[Aragorn pushes down Legolas' arm.]

Aragorn: "I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

Aragorn: "This is Gimli, son of Gl�in, and Legolas, from the Woodland realm."

Aragorn: "We are friends of Rohan and of Th�oden, your king."

Èomer: "Th�oden no longer recognizes friend from foe."

[Èomer removes his helmet.]

Èomer: "Not even his own kin."

[The spears are withdrawn.]

Èomer: "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished."

Èomer: "The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked."

[Èomer gives Legolas a meaningful look.]

Èomer: "And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

Aragorn: "We are no spies. We track a band of Uruk-hai westward across the plains. They have taken two of our friends captive."

Èomer: "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

Gimli: "But there were two hobbits, did you see two hobbits with them?"

Aragorn: "They would be small, only children to your eyes."

Èomer: "We left none alive."

Èomer: "We piled the carcasses and burned them." (Points to smoke in the distance.)

Gimli: "Dead?"

Èomer: (Nods.) "I am sorry."

[Legolas rests a hand on Gimli.]

[Èomer whistles.]

Èomer: "Hasufel! Arod!"

[Two horses appear.]

Èomer: "May these horses bear you to better fortune than the former masters. [nods] Farewell."

[Èomer mounts his horse.]

Èomer: "Look for your friends, but do not trust the hope. It has forsaken these lands. We ride north!"

[Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli look on as the Riders depart.]