s a m   &   f r o d o

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

SAM - SCENE 2

In the stench-filled tunnels of the PASS to CIRITH UNGOL, SAM mortally wound-s the monstrous spider, SHELOB as it looms over the lifeless body of FRODO.

Heart still racing from fear and rage, SAM cannot rouse FRODO and believes him to be dead.

A terrible choice now faces SAM. To take the RING and go on with the journey, or stay try to make it back to the Shire alone.

SAM can see the myriad eyes of SHELOB glaring at him from the dark. He is reeling and exhausted but he knows he has severely wounded the monster.

SAM
(unafraid) Come on, you filth! You will not touch him again. Come on - let me finish it!

SHELOB-S EYES disappear into the gloom and SAM slumps down beside FRODO, shaking him gently.

SAM
Frodo?

FRODO does not move. SAM lays his head on FRODO-s chest, then checks for breath. Nothing.

SAM
Frodo? ... Don-t leave me here alone. It-s Sam ... don-t go where I can-t follow. Wake up, Frodo. Wake up, wake up.

SAM is suddenly swamped by grief.

SAM
No! We can-t have come all this way for nothing! What do I do now? What do I do?

SAM slowly manages to pull himself together. He speaks to FRODO as if he could hear him.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

SAM
Go home? Leave you dead and unburied in these cursed mountains? Or go on? (pause) Go on. Is that what I must do? Let me think. Let me think. The war-s begun. There-s no way to go back. No, it-s sit here till they come and kill me over your body, and take the Ring; or go on to the end.

SAM thinks long and hard as if he-s listening to FRODO-s argument.

SAM
Go on, it is!

SAM reaches down to FRODO-S body and draws the chain holding the ring over FRODO-S head.

SAM
Goodbye Frodo, forgive me.

-END-