7. The Shadow of the Past

[The Ring whispers softly in the Black Speech. Alarmed, both Frodo and Gandalf stare at it.]
Gandalf: "No, Frodo. The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the Ring, and the Ring survived. Sauron has returned. His Orcs have multiplied. His fortress at Barad-Dûr is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands of a second darkness."

Gandalf: "He is seeking it, seeking it — all his thought is bent on it. The Ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it."
[Frodo stands up and grabs the Ring. He walks down the corridor.]
Frodo: "All right, we put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do they? Do they Gandalf?"

Gandalf: "There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum. But the enemy found him first."



[In the chambers of Barad-Dûr, Gollum's tortured body writhes.]

Gandalf: "I don't know how long they tortured him. But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words…"
Gollum (shrieking): "Shire! Baggins!"

Frodo: "Shire. Baggins. But that would lead them here!"



[Two Black Riders thunder down a moonlit road. A Hobbit holds up his lantern at the sound of the approaching horses.]

Hobbit: "Who goes there?"

[One of the Riders brings down his sword and scythes it directly at the Hobbit.]


[Back at Bag End, Frodo holds out the Ring to Gandalf.]
Frodo: "Take it Gandalf! Take it!"
Gandalf: "No, Frodo."
Frodo: "You must take it!"

Gandalf: "You cannot offer me this Ring!"
Frodo: "I'm giving it to you!"
Gandalf: "Don't tempt me Frodo! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand Frodo, I would use this Ring from a desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."

Frodo: "But it cannot stay in the Shire!"
Gandalf: "No! No, it can't."

[Frodo closes the Ring inside his palm and looks up at Gandalf.]
Frodo: "What must I do?"



[Frodo flings items into his backpack to prepare for his journey.]
Gandalf: "You must leave, and leave quickly."
Frodo: "Where? Where do I go?"

Gandalf: "Get out of the Shire. Make for the village Bree."

[He throws a neatly-rolled up shirt to Frodo. Frodo grabs it, unrolling the bundle in the process, and stuffs it into his bag, along with some food.]
Frodo: "Bree. What about you?"

Gandalf: "I'll be waiting for you, at the Inn of the Prancing Pony."
Frodo: "And the Ring will be safe there?"
Gandalf: "I don't know Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo, he'll know what to do."

Gandalf: "You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you, for that name is not safe outside the Shire."



[He helps Frodo into his cloak.]
Gandalf: "Travel only by day. And stay off the road."
[Frodo is ready. He smiles at Gandalf.]
Frodo: "I can cut across country easily enough."

Gandalf: "My dear Frodo. Hobbits really are amazing creatures! You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you."



Gandalf: [hears rustling of the leaves] "Get down!"

[Frodo drops to the floor. Gandalf goes to the window, peers out cautiously then gives the bushes a whack with his staff.]

[An "oofff!" is heard from the object of the whack. Gandalf drags the offender up by his hair and plops him onto the table.]

Gandalf: "Confound it all Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?!"
Sam: "I haven't dropped no eaves sir, honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me."

Gandalf: "A little late for trimming the verge, don't you think?"

Sam: "I heard raised voices."


Gandalf: "What did you hear? Speak!"

Sam: "N-n-n-nothing important. That is I heard a good deal about a Ring and a Dark Lord and something about the end of the world but… Please, Mister Gandalf sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anythin' — unnatural."

Gandalf: "Noooo?" [He turns a conspiratorial gaze upon Frodo.] "Perhaps not. I have thought of a better use for you…"