The Return of the King — Sketch Card Reveal
Part 5: The Paths of the Dead – The Choices of Master Samwise
What is it? What do you see?
I see shapes of men and of horses.
Where?
Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned.
The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Legolas!
Do not look down.
Who enters my domain?
One who will have your allegiance.
The dead do not suffer the living to pass.
You will suffer me!
The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it.
The way is shut. Now you must die.
I summon you to fulfill your oath.
None but the King of Gondor may command me!
That line was broken.
It has been remade.
Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?
What say you?
You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death.
I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you!
You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?
Stand, you traitors!
Out!
Legolas! Run!
We fight!
Open the gates! Quick!
Quick! Hurry!
Faramir? Say not that he has fallen.
They were outnumbered. None survived.
Fear. The city is rank with it.
Let us ease their pain. Release the prisoners!
Catapults! Ha!
Shields up!
My sons are spent.
My line has ended.
He's alive!
The house of Stewards has failed.
He needs medicine my lord!
My line has ended!
My lord!
Rohan has deserted us.
Théoden has betrayed me.
Abandon your posts! Flee! Flee for you lives!
Prepare for battle.
Pull them in! To the wall! Defend the wall! Return to your posts!
Send these foul beasts into the abyss!
Stay where you are.
Watch out!
Down to the lower level. Quick!
Hold them back. Do not give in to fear! Stay at your posts!
Don't aim for the towers. Aim for the trolls. Kill the trolls! Fight them back!
Peregrin Took! Go back to the citadel! Now!
They called us out to fight.
This is no place for a hobbit!
Guard of the Citadel indeed! Now back up the hill! Quick! Quick!
What are you doing, you useless scum?
The door won't give. It's too strong.
Get back there and smash it down.
But nothing can breach it.
Grond will breach it.
Bring up the wolf's head.
Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond! Grond!
You may go no further. You will not enter Gondor.
Who are you to deny us passage?
Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear.
Mind your aim!
Ah!
Oh!
That's it. We warned you. Prepare to be boarded.
Boarded, by you and whose army?
This army.
There.
What is this place?
Master must go inside the tunnel.
Now that I'm here, I don't think I want to.
It's the only way! Go in or go back.
I cannot go back.
What's that smell?
Orcses filth. Orcses come in here sometimes.
Hurry!
Sméagol?
Over here!
Ahh! It's sticky! What is it?
You will see. Oh yes, you will see.
Sméagol? Sméagol? Sméagol!
Sam.
Ah! Ah!
And you, Frodo Baggins, I give you the Light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out.
Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! (Hail Eärendil brightest of the Stars!)
Ugh!
Naughty little fly, why does it cry? Caught in a web! Soon you'll be eaten.
Got away, did it, precious! Not this time! Not this time!
No!
It wasn't us! It wasn't us! Sméagol wouldn't hurt Master! We promised!
You must believe us. It was the Precious! The Precious made us do it!
I have to destroy It, Sméagol. I have to destroy It for both our sakes.
No!
Ah!
I'm so sorry, Sam. So sorry.
This task was appointed to you, Frodo of the Shire. If you do not find a way, no one will.
The scouts report Minas Tirith is surrounded. The lower level's in flames. Everywhere legions of the enemy advance.
Time is against us.
Take heart Merry. It will soon be over.
My lady, you are fair and brave and have much to live for, and many who love you. I know it is too late to turn aside.
I know there is not much point now in hoping. If I were a knight of Rohan capable of great deeds… but I'm not. I'm a Hobbit. And I know I can't save Middle-Earth.
I just want to help my friends. Frodo. Sam. Pippin. More than anything… I wish I could see them again.
Prepare to move out!
Make haste! We ride through the night.
To battle.
To battle.
Grond! Grond!
Back to the gate! Hurry!
I am steward of the House of Anárion. Thus have I walked. And thus now will I sleep.
Gondor is lost. There is no hope for Men.
Why do the fools fly? Better to die sooner than late. For die we must.
No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No long, slow sleep of death embalmed. We shall burn like the heathen kings of old!
Bring wood and oil!
Steady! Steady!
You are soldiers of Gondor! No matter what comes through that gate, you will stand your ground!
Volley! Fire!
Let him go, you filth!
Let him go! You will not touch him again! Come on and finish it!
Ha! Back!
Mister Frodo!
Oh, no! Frodo! Mister Frodo! Wake up! Don't leave me here alone! Don't go where I can't follow. Wake up! You're not asleep… dead!
