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LORD OF THE RINGS - (c) Three Foot Six Ltd

SAM - SCENE 1

Talk grows in HOBBITON of the strange goings on in the outside world. Know-it-all TED SANDYMAN is holding forth, but quiet SAM GAMGEE, the Gardner-s son, reveals an unexpected amount of knowledge.

SAM has been nursing his pint, listening to the discussion at the Green Dragon Pub.

OLD NOAKES
Peculiar things you hear these days to be sure.

TED SANDYMAN
(scoffing)
You do if you listen. Far-off tales and children-s stories, that-s all they are.

SAM
(quietly)
Even so.

TED SANDYMAN
(agressively)
What-s that, Samwise?

SAM
There may be more truth in some of those tales than you reckon.

TED SANDYMAN
If there is, it-s nought that need concern us.

SAM
Does it not? I-ve heard tell that the Elves are moving west, going to the harbours out beyond the White Towers. (pauses - sadly)
They are leaving Middle-earth.

TED SANDYMAN
I don-t see what that matters to me or you. Let them sail! But I warrant you haven-t seem -em doing it; nor any one else in the Shire.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

SAM
There are some, even in these parts, as know a bit about Elves. Some even that talk with them.

TED SANDYMAN
(scoffing)
You-ve been working at Bag End too long Sam.

SAM
You can laugh - but old Mr Bilbo knew a thing or two, and Frodo is just the same.

TED SANDYMAN
They-re both cracked!

SAM
Why? Because they understand more than you or I? Walking trees - you make sense of it Ted. Tell me why that elm tree was on the North Moors when there hasn-t been an elm in those parts for a hundred years? And what made those tracks the Bounders found on the Southern border two nights ago? Huge they were - and half Farmer Cotton-s flock gone, not to mention his ponies.

SAM takes a swig of beer having successfully quietened TED.

SAM (cont-d)
Maybe it-s just as well there-s folk like Frodo Baggins about - seems to me some of those far-off tales are getting awfully close.

-END-