[The group of horsemen ride across the plain. Èomer carryies a wounded Th�odred in front of him.]

[A woman runs up the stairs to the Golden Hall of Meduseld and enters a chamber where Èomer has taken Th�odred.]

[She kneels in front of the bed.]

Èowyn: "Th�odred!"

[Èomer gives his sister a meaningful look, and Èowyn draws back the covers and sees that Th�odred's wound is fatal.]

[The two are with king Th�oden, who is sitting motionless on his throne, looking aged beyond his years.]

Èowyn: "Your son is badly wounded my lord."

Èomer: "He was ambushed by orcs. If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force."

Gr�ma: "That is a lie!"

[Gr�ma appears from the shadows and walks to the king.]

Gr�ma: "Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally."

[Th�oden mumbles feebly to Gr�ma, who leans closer to the King.]

Èomer: "Orcs are roaming freely across our lands. Unchecked, unchallenged, killing at will."

Èomer: "Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman."

[Èomer drops a helmet onto the ground. It has the white hand print on it.]

Gr�ma: "Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind?"

Gr�ma: "Can you not see? Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your warmongering."

Èomer: "Warmongering?!"

[Èomer grabs Gr�ma and pushes him against a pillar.]

Èomer: "How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Gr�ma? When all the men are dead you would take a share of the treasure?"

[Gr�ma's eyes flick to right, watching Èowyn as she walks by, who stops to stare back for a moment before departing.]

[Èomer jerks Gr�ma again and clutches his hand around Gr�ma's jaw.]

Èomer: "Too long have you watched my sister. Too long have you haunted her steps."

[Gr�ma's eyes look to the left and he relaxes, and Èomer is pulled off Gr�ma by guards.]

Gr�ma: "You see much, Èomer son of Èomund. Too much."

Gr�ma: "You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan, and all its domains, under pain of death."

Eomer: "You have no authority here. Your orders mean nothing."

Gr�ma: "This order does not come from me. It comes from the king."

[Gr�ma displays a order with a sunburst seal and a scrawled signature.]

Gr�ma: "He signed it this morning."

[The guards take him.]

Èomer: "Argh!"