8. The Account of Isildur
[A huge tower appears, rearing up against the night sky. Rivers of fire from
a neighbouring volcano pour around its foundations as an army scurries to build
it even higher.]
[A tortured scream breaks the air.]
Gollum: "Shire! Baggins!"
[Huge gates at a different tower open slowly outward. On horseback, nine
cloaked figures ride out.]
[Day has come. In the distance, a smoking volcano belches out ash and fire
into a dark sky. Gandalf, on a white horse, comes to a halt on a hill and
watches.]
[Closer to Gandalf's position is a white-towered city, set against a mountain
range. Gandalf heads towards it.]
[With the help of a librarian, Gandalf goes deep into the city and finds
himself in a dark room, covered from floor to ceiling in books and ancient
scrolls.]
[He shuffles through them. Eventually he sits down with a glass of wine and
begins to read by the flickering candlelight.]
Gandalf: "'The Year thirty-four thirty-four of the Second Age. Here follows
the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor and the finding of the Ring of
Power.'"
[Isildur, lying on the ground, stares at the Ring on Sauron's severed finger.
He reaches out to grab it, crushing the burnt finger to char.]
Gandalf: "'It has come to me, the One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my
kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I
will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great
pain.'" [The Ring in Isildur's fingers seems to shrink] "'The markings upon the
band begin to fade. The writing, which at first was as clear as red flame, has
all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell.'"
[Back in the Shire, a Hobbit is chopping wood in front of his home at
nightfall. His dog, alerted to a stranger's presence, barks incessantly, then
backs off, whimpering, and retreats into the house. A huge shadow crosses the
house as the stranger draws nearer. A horse neighs and stamps the ground. Its
hoofs are nailed, its hair matted and bloody. Its eyes are blood-red. The black
rider turns to look at the Hobbit. No eyes are visible inside its cowl.]
Black Rider: "Shire. Baggins."
Hobbit: "Baggins. There's no Bagginses 'round here! They're up in Hobbiton,
that way!" [points]
[The Black Rider gallops off.]
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