Peter Jackson's The Two Towers screenplay
From Tolkien Gateway
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
Screenplay by
Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
Based on "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy by
J.R.R Tolkien.
Transcription credits
Accela, Aina, Bad burn, Bridget Chubb,
Brionn Equus (Lochrann), Drusilia, Elf
Lady, Éowyn Unquendor, Feanari, Finafyr,
Flourish, Galadriel, Heri, Julamb, JustinsIce(Mdjasrie),
Kazren, Krystal, LadyÉowynKenobi, Lady
Evenstar, Legolas’Bow, Lithorose, Melody,
Mormegil, Nilmandra, Padfoot, Penwiper,
Pilgrim Grey, Primula Baggins, Randy
Savage, Samwise the Brave, Sirius Black,
Tethra, The Lidless Eye, Turnar, Xyla,
Yaksha
Elvish dialogue from The Elvish Linguistic
Fellowship.
[TITLE: THE LORD OF THE RINGS]
[Camera pans over the Misty Mountains
as voices drift in from the background.]
GANDALF
You cannot pass!
FRODO
Gandalf!
GANDALF
I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder
of the Flame of Anor!
[Camera pans closer to the mountain
side.]
GANDALF
Argh! Go back to the shadow. The Dark
Fire will not avail you, Flame of Udûn!
[Camera zooms in through the mountain
and focuses on Gandalf and the Balrog
on the bridge of Khazad-dûm. The Balrog
strikes down on Gandalf with its flaming
sword. Gandalf parries the blow with
Glamdring, shattering the Balrog’s sword.]
YOU… SHALL NOT... PASS!!!
[Gandalf strikes his staff onto the
bridge. As the Balrog steps forward,
the bridge collapses from under it and
the demon plunges backward into the
chasm. Gandalf, exhausted, leans on
his staff and watches the Balrog fall
then turns to follow the others. At
the last minute, the flaming whip lashes
up from the depths of the abyss and
winds around Gandalf’s ankle, dragging
him over the edge. He clings onto the
bridge but is straining to keep his
grip.]
GANDALF
Argh!
[Frodo rushes forward but Boromir restrains
him.]
BOROMIR
No! No!
FRODO
Gandalf!
GANDALF
Fly, you fools!
[Gandalf loses his grip and falls into
the chasm]
FRODO
Noooooooooooooooo!!!!
[Gandalf loses his grip and falls into
the chasm]
FRODO
[Calls after Gandalf as he falls into
the abyss] Gaaandaaaaalf!!
[Gandalf falls after the Balrog and
grabs hold of his sword Glamdring on
his way down. As they continue to plunge
into the depths, Gandalf hacks away
at the Balrog even as it thrashes and
bounces off the walls. They continue
to plunge at great speed, sometimes
with Gandalf clinging to the horn of
the demon. The battling pair then falls
into an enormous cavern and plunges
into the water. Just then Frodo awakens
as if from a nightmare.]
FRODO
Gandalf!
SAM
What is it, Mr. Frodo?
FRODO
Nothing. Just a dream. [Lies back down.]
[Frodo and Sam climbs over the rocky
terrain Emyn Muil. They look into the
distance at the Mountain of Fire.]
SAM
Mordor. The one place in Middle-earth
we don’t want to see any closer, and
the one place we’re trying to get to.
It’s just where we can’t get. Let’s
face it, Mr. Frodo, we’re lost. I don’t
think Gandalf meant for us to come this
way.
FRODO
He didn’t mean for a lot of things to
happen, Sam... but they did.
[Suddenly Frodo feels and sees the Eye
zooming in on him. He gasps and pants
as he backs away.]
SAM
Mr. Frodo? It’s the Ring, isn’t it?
FRODO
It’s getting heavier. [Clutches the
Ring by his chest and sits down, still
panting. He then fumbles for his water
bottle and takes a sip.]
FRODO
What food have we got left?
SAM
Well, let me see. [He takes out a package
of lembas bread from his pack] Oh yes,
lovely – Lembas bread. And look! [He
digs deeper into his pack] More lembas
bread.
[Sam shows another package. He then
breaks off a piece and tosses it to
Frodo, and munches on a piece himself.]
SAM
I don't usually hold with foreign food,
but this Elvish stuff, it’s not bad.
FRODO
[smiles] Nothing ever dampens your spirits,
does it Sam?
[Sam smiles back, and then looks ominously
towards Mordor.]
SAM
Those rain clouds might.
[They continue trekking through difficult
terrain, often huddling underneath their
cloaks.]
SAM
[Looks around] This looks strangely
familiar.
FRODO
[Exasperated] It’s because we’ve been
here before! We’re going in circles.
SAM
Ah! What's that 'orrid stink? I'll warrant
there's a nasty bog nearby. Can you
smell it?
FRODO
Yes. I can smell it. [Drops to a whisper]
We’re not alone.
[NIGHTTIME
Frodo and Sam are sleeping. A dark shape
appears on top of the cliff. The creature
Gollum has appeared and is making his
way down to the hobbits.]
GOLLUM
The thieves! The thieves! The filthy
little thieves! Where is it? Where isss
it? They stole it from us. My preciousss.
[Gollum creeps closer and closer.] Curse
them! We hates them! It’s ours, it is...
and we wantssss it!
[Gollum reaches out his hand towards
the hobbits. Suddenly the hobbits spring
up, grab hold of Gollum’s arms and pull
him down. Amidst the struggle, Gollum
wriggles loose and leaps onto Frodo.
As Frodo falls back, the chain and Ring
around his neck is revealed and Gollum
jumps straight for the Ring. Sam tries
to grab at him but is knocked away.
Gollum now jumps on top of Frodo and
tries to reach for the Ring even as
Frodo grabs his hands and tries to push
him away. Gollum’s cheeks puff with
exertion as he struggles with Frodo,
his enormous eyes fixed on the Ring.
Sam grabs hold of Gollum again and tears
him away from Frodo. Gollum then turns
around and bites Sam on the shoulder,
wriggles around and clasps his arms
around Sam’s neck and legs around his
waist in a death grip. Frodo unsheathes
Sting and holds it to Gollum's throat.]
FRODO
[menacingly] This is Sting. You’ve seen
it before, haven’t you... Gollum! Release
him or I’ll cut your throat!
[Slowly, Gollum loosens his grip on
Sam and as the latter disentangles himself,
Gollum wails. In the next scene, Gollum
is being dragged with Sam's Elvish rope
around his neck, wailing and writhing
in pain.]
GOLLUM
It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty
Elves twisted it. Take it off us!
SAM
Quiet you!
[Sam tugs fiercely at the rope. Gollum
cries some more and collapses onto his
back. Sam turns to Frodo in dismay.]
SAM
It’s hopeless! Every Orc in Mordor’s
going to hear this racket! Let’s just
tie him up and leave him.
GOLLUM
No! That would kill us! Kill us!
SAM
It’s no more than you deserve!
FRODO
Maybe he does deserve to die, but now
that I see him, I do pity him.
GOLLUM
[Begging] We be nice to them if they
be nice to us. Take it off us. We swears
to do what you wants. We swears.
FRODO
There’s no promise you can make that
I can trust.
GOLLUM
We swears to serve the master of the
preciousss. We swears on... on the precious.
*Gollum. Gollum.*
FRODO
The Ring is treacherous. It will hold
you to your word.
GOLLUM
Yes... on the preciousss. On the preciousss.
SAM
I don’t believe you! [Gollum backs away,
frightened, and climbs onto a boulder]
Get down! I said, down!
[Sam jerks strongly at the rope as Gollum
tries to get away from him. He crashes
onto the ground, choking.]
FRODO
Sam!
SAM
He’s trying to trick us! We let him
go he’ll throttle us in our sleep!
[Gollum lies panting and holding his
throat. He backs away, frightened, as
Frodo approaches him.]
FRODO
You know the way to Mordor?
GOLLUM
[nods warily] Yes...
FRODO
You’ve been there before?
GOLLUM
[nods again] Yes...
[Frodo reaches out and takes the rope
noose off Gollum’s neck. Gollum seems
surprised and relieved.]
FRODO
You will lead us to the Black Gate.
[Gollum scrambles off in the direction
of Morannon and the hobbits follow in
his wake.]
[A band of Uruk-hai marches across the
plain, with two hobbits bound to the
backs of two Uruk-hai. Pippin tries
to call to Merry, who is unconscious
with a gash on his right brow.]
PIPPIN
Merry. Merry! [He receives no response.]
[Suddenly, an Uruk-hai puts up his hand
and signals a stop.]
UGLÚK
What is it? What do you smell?
MAN-FLESH URUK
[sniffs the air] Man-flesh.
PIPPIN
[quietly to himself] Aragorn!
UGLÚK
They've picked up our trail! Let's move!
[The Uruk-hai quicken their pace. Pippin
struggles to reach his Elven brooch
with his teeth. He then tears it off
his cloak and drops it onto the ground.
A foot stomps onto the brooch but it
remains unbroken and visible on the
grass.]
[Aragorn is lying with his eyes closed
and ear pressed to the ground, listening
for the sound of footsteps.]
ARAGORN
Their pace has quickened. [He looks
up.] They must have caught our scent.
Hurry! [He runs off.]
LEGOLAS
Come on, Gimli! [Looks back at Gimli
and then runs after Aragorn]
GIMLI
[pauses in his steps and huffs] Three
days’ and nights’ pursuit. No food.
No rest. And no sign of our quarry but
what bare rock can tell. [Runs after
his companions.]
[The Three Hunters run across rocks
and plains, with Aragorn in the lead,
followed by Legolas and Gimli. From
time to time, Legolas looks back to
make sure that Gimli is keeping up.
Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick
up an Elven brooch from the ground.]
ARAGORN
Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall.
LEGOLAS
[stops and turns to Aragorn.] They may
yet be alive.
ARAGORN
Less than a day ahead of us. Come! [Runs
off again]
[Gimli stumbles from behind some rocks
and rolls to the ground]
LEGOLAS
Come, Gimli! We are gaining on them!
GIMLI
[Panting] I am wasted on cross-country!
We dwarves are natural sprinters! Very
dangerous over short distances!
[The trackers come over a hill and pause
as they gaze across the plains below.]
ARAGORN
Rohan. Home of the horse-lords. There
is something strange at work here. Some
evil gives speed to these creatures,
sets its will against us.
[Legolas runs ahead and looks out to
the horizon.]
ARAGORN
Legolas, what do your Elf eyes see?
LEGOLAS
The Uruks turn northeast. They’re taking
the hobbits to Isengard!
ARAGORN
Saruman.
[The tower of Orthanc stands amidst
the smoking caverns of Isengard. Saruman
stands in his chamber, communicating
with the Dark Lord through the Palantír.]
SARUMAN (V.O.)
The world is changing. [View changes
to the tower of Barad-dûr, with its
huge Orc armies on a bridge.] Who now
has the strength to stand against the
armies of Isengard and Mordor? To stand
against the might of Sauron and Saruman
and the union of the two towers?
[Camera pans upwards along the height
of the tower of Barad-dûr until the
flaming Eye is in view.]
SARUMAN (V.O.)
Together, my lord Sauron, we shall rule
this Middle-earth.
[The trees around Isengard are being
ripped down, chopped up and used to
feed huge furnaces. The caverns of Isengard
glow with the fires of industry, sounds
of hammering fill the air and molten
iron is poured into casts to forge weapons.]
SARUMAN (V.O.)
The old world will burn in the fires
of industry. The forests will fall.
A new order will rise. We will drive
the machine of war with the sword and
the spear and the iron fists of the
Orc. We have only to remove those who
oppose us.
[Saruman stands in the midst of a gathering
of Dunlanders.]
SARUMAN
The horsemen took your land. They drove
your people into the hills to scratch
a living off rocks.
DUNLAND MAN
Murderers!
SARUMAN
Take back the lands they stole from
you! Burn every village!
CROWD
[Roars with approval] Argh!!
[They stomp off to destroy the villages
of Rohan as Saruman stands coldly still
among the stampede. A Rohan village
is in pandemonium as people try to escape
the on-coming pillage.]
SARUMAN (V.O.)
It will begin in Rohan. Too long have
these peasants stood against you. But
no more.
[A woman with her hand on a horse calls
out to her children.]
MORWEN
Éothain! Éothain! You take your sister.
You’ll go faster with just two.
FREDA
[As Morwen puts her onto the horse in
front of her brother] Papa says Éothain
must not ride Garulf, he is too big
for him!
MORWEN
Listen to me. You must ride to Edoras
and raise the alarm. Do you understand
me?
ÉOTHAIN
Yes, Ma!
FREDA
[starts to cry] I don’t wanna leave!
I don't wanna go, Mama!
MORWEN
Freda, I will find you there.
[A woman screams]
MORWEN
Quickly!
[The children ride off.]
MORWEN
[Looks after them] Go child!
[Dunlanders and Uruk-hai enter the village,
burning everything in sights as the
Rohirrim scream and run in all directions.
Éothain and Freda weep as they look
back from a distance.]
SARUMAN (V.O.)
Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall.
[A group of horsemen ride to Edoras.
Éomer is in the lead, carrying a gravely
wounded Théodred.]
[Éowyn runs hastily up the stairs to
the Golden Hall and enters a bedchamber.
She runs to the bed.]
ÉOWYN
Théodred!
[Théodred seems to hear her call but
is unable to respond. He has a bloody
gash on the side of his head. Éomer
nods to Éowyn in the direction of Théodred’s
torso. Éowyn draws back the covers and
upon seeing Théodred’s fatal wound,
her lips tighten and eyes close. She
looks up to catch Éomer’s eye.]
[Éomer and Éowyn are speaking to Théoden-king
who sits motionless on his throne, wizened,
and aged beyond his years.]
ÉOWYN
Your son is badly wounded, my lord.
ÉOMER
He was ambushed by Orcs. If we don’t
defend our country, Saruman will take
it by force.
GRÍMA
That is a lie! [Appears from the shadows.]
Saruman the White has ever been our
friend and ally.
THÉODEN
[mumbles feebly] Gríma… Gríma… [Gríma
leans down close to the King.]My son...?
Gríma...?
ÉOMER
Orcs are roaming freely across our lands.
Unchecked. Unchallenged. Killing at
will. Orcs bearing the white hand of
Saruman. [He drops a helmet onto the
ground, which topples over to reveal
the white hand of Saruman.]
GRÍMA
Why do you lay these troubles on an
already troubled mind. Can you not see?
Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent,
your war-mongering.
ÉOMER
War-mongering?
[Éomer grabs Gríma and pins him against
a pillar.]
ÉOMER
How long is it since Saruman bought
you? What was the promised price, Gríma?
When all the men are dead you will take
your share of the treasure?
[Gríma’s eyes flicks to right, watching
Éowyn as she walks by. Éowyn stops to
stare back for a moment before departing
form the hall. Éomer jerks Gríma again
and clutches his hand around Gríma’s
jaw.]
ÉOMER
Too long have you watched my sister,
too long have you haunted her steps.
[Gríma's eyes look to the left and relax
as Éomer is suddenly pulled off Gríma
by his thugs.]
GRÍMA
You see much Éomer, Son of Éomund. Too
much. [The thugs punch Éomer n the stomach]
You are banished forthwith from the
kingdom of Rohan. Under pain of death!
ÉOMER
[Being dragged away] Argh!!
[Uruk-hai and Orcs continue to march
across the plains with their hobbit
captives, with Aragorn, Legolas, and
Gimli hot on their pursuits.]
GIMLI
Keep breathing! That’s the key! Breathe!
Ho!
LEGOLAS
They’ve run as if the very whips of
their masters were behind them.
[They continue running over vast distances.
The Uruk-hai and Orcs halt at nightfall,
many panting with exertion.]
MORDOR ORC
We’re not going no further till we’ve
had a breather!
UGLÚK
Get a fire going!
[As the Orcs and Uruk-hai take their
rest, Pippin crawls over towards Merry.]
PIPPIN
Merry! Merry!
MERRY
[opens his eyes] I think... we might
have made a mistake leaving the Shire,
Pippin.
[A group of Orcs chops down the trees
nearby for firewood. Low groans and
rumbles start to emerge from the forest.]
PIPPIN
What’s making that noise?
MERRY
[looks towards the forest] It’s the
trees.
PIPPIN
What?
MERRY
Do you remember the Old Forest? On the
borders of Buckland? Folk used to say
that there was something in the water
that made the trees grow tall... and
come alive.
PIPPIN
Alive?
MERRY
Trees that could whisper. Talk to each
other. Even move.
MAÚHUR
I'm starving. We ain't 'ad nothin' but
maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!
SNAGA
Yeah. Why can’t we have some meat? [His
eyes rest on the hobbits.] What about
them? They’re fresh.
UGLÚK
They are not for eating!
GRISHNÁKH
What about their legs? They don't need
those. Ooh… They look tasty!
UGLÚK
[Shoves at the Orcs] Get back, scum!
[The other Orcs are getting restless.]
MORDOR ORC
Carve them up!
SNAGA
[Moves towards the hobbits with his
blade drawn] Just a mouth full.
UGLÚK
No!
[Pippin and Merry recoil in fright.
Uglúk jumps on the Orc and cuts off
his head, which bounces off the hobbit's
shoulders.]
UGLÚK
Looks like meat’s back on the menu,
boys!!
[The Uruk-hai and Orcs cheer and started
tearing into the fresh meat, intestines
flying, taking their eyes off the hobbits
for a while.]
MERRY
Pippin, let’s go.
[Their hands still bound, the hobbits
try to crawl away. Suddenly a foot comes
down on Merry and Pippin is turned onto
his back.]
GRISHNÁKH
[Brandishing a blade in front of Pippin’s
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