10. A Short Cut to Mushrooms

[Sam, in the middle of a field of corn, emerges onto a small path between the rows of tall vegetables. He looks back and forth.]
Sam: "Mister Frodo? Frodo! Frodo!"

[Frodo appears round the bend in the path, looking puzzled.]
Sam: "I thought I'd lost you."
Frodo: "What are you talking about?"

Sam: "It's just something Gandalf said."
Frodo: "What did he say?"

Sam: "'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee!' And I don't mean to."

Frodo: "Sam, we're still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?"



[Suddenly, Pippin bursts from the cornfield and knocks over Frodo. Merry, close behind, knocks over Sam. Both have an armful of vegetables]
Pippin: "Frodo? Merry! It's Frodo Baggins."

Merry: "Hello Frodo!"

Sam: "Get off him!" [hauls Pippin off Frodo] "
Frodo? Are you all right?"Frodo: "What's the meaning of this?"
Merry: "Hold this." [hands vegetables to Sam]

Sam: "You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!"
[They hear a dog barking and an angry, yelling voice. Pippin grabs Frodo and runs, followed by Merry. Sam does a double take on the produce in his hands, drops them and runs after the others.]



[Sounds something can be heard, coming up the road.]


Frodo: "Get off the road! Quick!"
[The hobbits grab their things and cross the road, hopping over and then crawling beneath a large overhanging tree root. The sound of hoof steps are heard.]
Sam: "Shhh! Stop it! Be quiet!"
[Merry and Pippin stop jostling each other. Frodo looks up through a small gap and sees a black horse, and a Rider, clothed and hooded in black.]





[The Black Rider leaps from his horse. He approaches the tree root and rests his armored hand on it, hissing and sniffing.]


[Insects and earthworms start coming out of their holes. Frodo enters a trance, tempted to wear the Ring as his finger strains towards it.]


[Sam realises this and he reaches over and hits Frodo in the arm, startling him out of his the trance.]

[Frodo jerks the Ring away from his finger. Merry throws a bag full of vegetables into the forest to distract the Rider, who whirls away and follows the sound. The hobbits make a break for it. They run a short distance and then stop, gasping.]
Merry: "What was that?"
[Frodo stares at the Ring in his palm but says nothing.]



[Nightfall comes. A Black Rider is patrolling the area. The hobbits hide behind the trees.]
Sam: "Anything?"
Frodo: "Nothing."
Pippin: "What is going on?"

Merry: "That Black Rider was looking for something… or someone. Frodo?"

Sam: "Get down!"



[The Black Rider feigns leaving the area.]

Frodo: "I have to leave the Shire. Sam and I must get to Bree."

Merry: "Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me."



[A second Black Rider appears along their path. Frodo is delayed as the others run on. The hobbits jump over a fence and run towards the dock. One Rider is hot on Frodo's heels.]
Pippin: "Run! This way, follow me! Run!"
Merry: "Get the rope Sam!"
[Merry and Sam each uncoil a mooring rope while Pippin starts to push off.]
Sam: "Frodo!"

Hobbits: "Run Frodo!"
Frodo: "Go!"

Hobbits: "Hurry!"
Sam: "Frodo!"
Hobbits: "Jump Frodo! Go on faster! Jump!"



[Frodo leaps onto the raft. The Rider stops short of the water and once again squeals in frustration. Looking back the hobbits see the Rider ride away, followed by two others.]

Frodo: "How far to the nearest crossing?"

Merry: "Brandywine Bridge: twenty miles."