THE LORD OF THE RINGS
Las Colinas School Version
SCENE 1: PROLOGUE
(Darkness. Silence.)
GALADRIEL (Voice-over): The world has changed. I feel it in the water… I feel it in
the earth… I smell it in the air. Much that once was… is lost. For none now live who
remember it. Great rings were forged. For Men… for Elves… for Dwarves. But they
were all deceived. For another ring was made. In secret. A Master Ring to rule them
all. And into this ring, he poured his power. His cruelty. His will to dominate all life.
(Pause)
GALADRIEL: And those who held it… believed they could master it. But the ring…
obeys no one. It corrupts. It transforms. And it waits. (Whispering) It always waits.
Until one day… it found someone unexpected.
(A Hobbit enters. He lies down on the floor and falls asleep.)
SCENE 2: THE SHIRE
SAM: Frodo!
(Frodo is sleeping)
SAM: Frodo… Frodo!... Frodo!... FRODO!
FRODO (Waking up): What!?
SAM: There is no food!!
FRODO (Jumps up): WHAT?
SAM (Laughing): I lied…
(Frodo sits down, annoyed)
SAM: Sorry, it was the only way to wake you up.
FRODO: I was going to get up!
SAM: When?
FRODO: …At some point.
(Gandalf enters. Maybe a small magic trick to surprise them)
FRODO (Hugging him): Gandalf! It’s been so long! I’m so happy you are here!
SAM: What are you doing here, Gandalf?
GANDALF: I have news for your uncle. Call him.
(Frodo leaves and brings Bilbo Baggins)
BILBO: My dear friend, how have you been? It’s been a long time.
(Gandalf greets him but looks at Sam and Frodo with a challenging stare so they
leave. They don't realize at first, until Gandalf scares them away and they run)
GANDALF (Serious): I have news.
BILBO: That never sounds good.
GANDALF: Where is it?
BILBO: What?
GANDALF: The ring.
BILBO (Hesitant): What ring?
GANDALF: I know you went on an adventure and found a ring… well, actually
Gollum lost it and you have it. I want to see it.
BILBO: Why?
GANDALF: I need to be sure if it is The Ring.
BILBO (Screaming angrily): IT IS MINE! I FOUND IT!
(Tense silence. Gandalf looks at him firmly)
GANDALF (Calm but firm): I am not trying to rob you… Bilbo.
(Bilbo realizes his reaction and looks down)
BILBO (Softer): I’m sorry… I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
GANDALF: That is exactly the problem: The Ring.
(Bilbo reaches into his pocket. He takes out the ring but doesn't let go)
BILBO: It’s just a ring…
GANDALF: It is not "just" a ring.
(Bilbo slowly hands it over. Gandalf looks at it with real concern)
GANDALF: Frodo, come here.
(Frodo enters, curious. Sam tries to spy from behind)
FRODO: Yes?
GANDALF: Keep it safe.
FRODO: Me?
GANDALF: Listen to me, Frodo. It is powerful. So powerful it will enslave whoever
possesses it. It is evil. It was forged long ago by the Dark Lord, Sauron. You must
not use it. You must not show it. And above all… (Looking into his eyes) do not trust
it.
FRODO: What must I do?
GANDALF: You must leave. Leave the Shire. Go to Rivendell and seek the help of
the Elves. I will find out the truth. Until then, keep it secret.
FRODO: Secret from whom?
GANDALF: From everyone. (Pause) SAAAAAM! Since you’ve been eavesdropping
the whole time, you shall accompany Frodo. Go! Fly!
(Two more hobbits jump out from the bushes)
MERRY: I was spying too, sir.
PIPPIN: And me!
GANDALF: GO!
SCENE 3: THE JOURNEY
(Suspenseful music. The four hobbits run across the stage, fleeing from dark
characters. Dancers enter.)
SCENE 4: THE INN
(The hobbits arrive at Bree. The inn is dark. Barliman Butterbur greets them)
BUTTERBUR: Good evening, little ones! I am Barliman Butterbur. What can I do for
you?
FRODO: Good evening. These are Mr…
BUTTERBUR (Interrupting): We have special rooms for Hobbits, with tiny round
windows and doors...
(During the evening, Frodo sings and dances on a table. An enigmatic man watches
from a corner. Frodo slips, falls... and the Ring slides onto his finger. Shock. Aragorn
grabs him and takes him to a corner)
ARAGORN: That was a very imprudent thing to do, Mr. Baggins. You must stay
unnoticed. I think we should talk.
FRODO: How do you know my name?
ARAGORN: Do not be alarmed. I will tell you everything I know, but I want a reward:
you must take me with you. I know the Black Riders are following you, and after that
show, they will find you.
(Butterbur gives a letter to Frodo)
FRODO: It says: "Dear Frodo. You may meet a friend of mine on the road: a Man,
dark, tall, and lean. They call him Strider. He knows our business and will help you.
Go to Rivendell. I hope we meet again. P.S.: Make sure he is the real Strider. His
true name is ARAGORN."
(Aragorn shows a broken sword. The hobbits are surprised)
SCENE 5: THE ENCOUNTER
(Sinister light. SARUMAN receives GANDALF)
GANDALF: The One Ring has been found, Saruman. I need your counsel.
SARUMAN: Everything has gone according to my plan! A new power is rising; we
can join it. I know where the Ring is. Do not resist me. Tell me where it is so we may
share it... or you will suffer the consequences.
GANDALF: What? You were behind this the whole time?!
SARUMAN: Do not resist. Tell me who has it, and I promise you your life.
GANDALF: Treachery! Treachery!
(After a struggle, Gandalf escapes)
SCENE 6: THE WILD
(Aragorn and the hobbits rest by a fire)
ARAGORN: Can you see the Riders? They use their smell more than their eyes.
They do not see the world of light as we do. And they always smell the blood of living
things. Besides... the Ring calls to them.
FRODO: Is there no escape from them?
ARAGORN: Fire is our friend in the wild. The Riders do not love it, and they fear
those who use it.
(Frodo feels a terrible compulsion. He moves his hand toward the Ring)
FRODO: The Ring... something is pushing me to put it on, but I know I must resist.
Gandalf warned me... I must resist... I am so weak.
(The Black Riders burst in. Frodo puts on the Ring. The leader stabs him. Frodo
screams and falls. Aragorn drives them back with torches. Sam runs to Frodo)
SAM: Is it bad, Strider?
ARAGORN: The tip has broken off in his shoulder. If it reaches his heart, we will
lose him. The Riders are waiting... they are sure Frodo will die from the poison. We
must reach Rivendell as soon as possible.
(They exit. Gollum appears under a spotlight)
GOLLUM: That ring is mine... my precioussss.
SCENE 7: ELVES
(Screen projections for time/space transition. Music or live choir)
VOICE-OVER (Choir):
Frodo, a hobbit who was lucky,
Could escape from the hand of death.
He could understand how the world works.
Where there is evil, there is also goodness.
Luck has found our Frodo.
(The Council of Elrond is gathered around a table)
ELROND: The One Ring has been found. We must decide its fate.
BOROMIR: Let us use it! With that power, we can defeat Sauron.
GANDALF: It cannot be used. The Ring responds only to its master.
ARAGORN: Destroying it is the only option.
BOROMIR: And how?
ELROND: It must be taken to Mount Doom… where it was forged.
(Silence. Everyone hesitates)
FRODO (Steps forward): I will do it.
(Everyone looks at him)
FRODO: I will take the Ring… though I do not know the way.
SAM (Quickly): I’m going with him!
MERRY: We are too!
PIPPIN: We are not leaving him alone.
ARAGORN: You shall have my sword.
GANDALF: And my guidance.
ELROND: Then… the Fellowship of the Ring is born.
SCENE VIII: THE END
(FRODO and SAM enter, exhausted. They walk slowly.)
SAM: Mr. Frodo… we are almost there. Stay strong! Come on!
FRODO (Weak): I can't feel my legs… (looking at the ring): … this is the place…
(Long pause. They look around.)
FRODO (Whispering): After all this… I can't…
SAM: Frodo!!! No!!!
FRODO (Firmer, but sounding different/dark): The Ring is mine.
(He puts it on. GOLLUM enters.)
GOLLUM: My preciousss!
(Simple choreographed fight, they pull at the ring. Gollum "bites" Frodo's hand,
recovers the ring, and laughs.)
GOLLUM: It is mine again!
(He trips and falls into the fire. SAM and FRODO hug each other and carefully exit
the stage. The giant screen shows a bright, calm landscape. GALADRIEL enters.)
GALADRIEL: And though the darkness grew, it could never fully put out the light.
Because hope lives in the smallest gestures. In those who resist. In those who love.
And in those who never give up.
THE END