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(Video: Montage of shots showing an ornate palace
and surrounding village nestled in a valley. Camera
zooms in to show a figure standing at the top of one
of the towers.)
Phil Keoghan: Rivendell. The latest Pit Stop in a Race
across Middle Earth. A Race to destroy the One Ring
of Power. Teams arrived here at the end of the last
leg of their jouney for a mandatory rest period; a chance
to recover and mingle with the other teams.
(Video: Scenes of teams arriving in Rivendell and
being greeted by Elrond and Arwen. "Welcome to Rivendell".
Other scenes of teammembers talking to each other. Shots
of Aragorn flirting with Arwen, Legolas and Gimli arguing
and of Boromir staring at Frodo.)
Phil: Will Legolas and Gimli overcome their differences
and start working together? Will Boromir continue to
work with his teammate Aragorn, or will he allow his
obvious attraction for the Ring carried by rival team
member Frodo sway his judgement. And, will we ever see
both Gandalf's, the Grey and the White, together. Find
out tonight on, The Amazing Ringwraiths... er...
Race.
(Video: Dramatic music plays. Quick montage of scenes
from around Middle Earth. Rowing boats on the river
Isen, horseback riding in Rohan, climbing among the
rocks of Mt. Doom, etc.)
Scene: Gates of Rivendell. Frodo and Sam approach.
Phil: (Voiceover) Frodo and Sam, having used their Fast
Forward after Frodo'sinjury at Weathertop, were the
first to arrive at Rivendell at the end of the last
leg and so have not only gained the right to carry the
One Ring, they are also the first to leave for this
leg of the Race.
Frodo: (Ripping open envelope and reading contents)
Get yourselves to the base of Mt. Caradhras in the Misty
Mountains. You must travel by foot; use of eagles is
not allowed. (Looks up.) Come on, Sam.
(Video: Quick zoom across Middle Earth to the Misty
Mountains.)
Phil: (Voiceover) Teams must now travel on foot across
treacherous terrain to the base of the rugged Misty
Mountains, all the while avoiding the spies of Sauron
and the fighting Uruk-ai from Isengard.
Samwise: (Interview segment) Everyone seems to think
that Mister Frodo and I can't keep up the pace, but
they're forgettin' that we picked up some taters and
carrots back in Farmer Maggot's field, so we's eatin'
better than the rest of them. I think they're going
to be surprised.
(Scene: Gates of Rivendell. Merry & Pippin and Aragorn
& Boromir arrive together.)
Merry: (Reading clue.) Get to Mt. Caradhras. (Looks
around.) Mt. Caradhras? Where's that?
Boromir: Gondor! That's in the direction of Gondor!
Aragorn: Steady on, friend. Let's not jump to conclusions.
Boromir: (Interview segment) Everyone wants to destroy
the Ring. "Throw it into Mount Doom!" they say. (Leans
forward.) Well, I plan to win this Race and claim
the Ring for Gondor and I'm not above playing dirty
to get it.
(Scene: Gates of Rivendell: Legolas & Gimli and Gandalf
the Grey arrive. Gandalf keeps gesturing to someone
off-screen who seems to be ignoring him.)
Legolas: (reading clue) Travel to Mt. Caradhras. No
eagles.
Gandalf: No eagles? (bleep)! I was... I mean, we
were counting on them!
Gimli: Ah-ha! Caradhras! Maybe we can stop in to see
my cousin Balin! (to Legolas) I'll introduce to to
real Dwarven hospitality!
Legolas: (rolling eyes) I'll be looking forward to it.
Gimli: (Interview segment) Legolas and I really do get
on pretty well. I mean, we have that whole elf/dwarf
thing going against us and that shows up a lot in our
interactions but I think we can overcome that and I
hope that this Race can really help us strengthen our
friendship.
(Video: Various scenes of teams travelling across
Middle Earth. A flock of birds controlled by Sauron
forces the lead teams to hide and allows the others
to catch up. All teams are bunched up as they arrive
at the base of the Misty Mountains.)
(Scene: Everyone arrives at the base of a forbidding
mountain. A clue box and several Race flags are visible
and everyone rushes to the box and pulls out envelopes.)
Sam: (yelling) Detour, Mister Frodo! Detour!
Phil: A Detour is a choice of two possible tasks, each
with their own pros and cons. In this case, the two
choices are "White Climb" or "Black Walk".
(Video: Scenes of a steep, snow covered mountainside.)
Phil: (Voiceover) In "White Climb", the players must
attempt to cross the Pass of Caradhras. It's a steep,
cold and difficult journey, but they will only have
to face the forces of nature.
(Video: Scenes of a ruined, underground city.)
Phil: (Voiceover) In "Black Walk", the players must
pass under the mountains through the Mines of Moria.
The passage is dark but otherwise easy. But, their journey
will be opposed by orcs and other, darker, denizens
of the deep under mountain.
Gandalf: There is much danger under the mountains. We
must try for the pass.
Pippin: Climbing? Caves? That's it? That's our only
choices? This is crazy! I can't do this! (Sits down
to sulk, Merry attempts to cheer him up.)
Gimli: The Mines of Moria! Didn't I tell you! My cousin
Balin will surely welcome all of us there!
Legolas: I'm not sure. Lately a shadow and a threat
have been growing in my mind and I am not certain that
our passage there would be unobserved.
Gimli: (Interview segment) I had hoped to convince everyone
to take the Mines. I was certain that Balin could provide
us with supplies and I was counting on convincing him
to delay the other teams long enough for us to get to
the lead.
Sam: I'm not sure about this Mister Frodo. What do you
think?
Frodo: Let's wait and see what the others do.
Aragorn: Let us take the pass. (Starts running) Come,
Boromir!
Boromir: (muttered) Come, Boromir... Come, Boromir...
(yells) You still aren't king, you know!. (Runs after
Aragorn.)
Frodo: Come on, Sam! (Runs off, Sam following.)
Merry: Hey, wait for us! (Runs off after the others,
Pippin reluctantly following.)
Merry: (Interview segment) To be honest, we really weren't
sure where we were going, so I figured the best thing
to do would be to follow Strider. I figured that since
he was a Ranger he should know what he was doing.
Gandalf: (Gestures to someone off-screen several times,
then throws up his hands in frustration and runs off
as well.)
Legolas: Come on, Gimli. They're getting ahead of us!
Gimli: But... but... the Mines! Balin!
Legolas: (Already running up the mountain.) Come on!
Legolas: (Interview segment) I was desperate to keep
Gimli out of the Mines. I didn't want him partaking
in the revelries of a Dwarven hall. If he had run into
Balin, he would probably still be down there drinking
ale and singing Dwarven songs.
(Scene: Teams struggling up the side of the mountain.
The deep snow is particularly difficult for the Hobbits
and for Gimli, who are following the trail of Aragorn
& Boromir and one of the Gandalfs. Legolas is walking
on top of the snow and doesn't look happy with Gimli's
pace.)
Legolas: (Interview segment) Attempting to cross the
Pass of Caradhras was probably one of the most frustrating
parts of the Race for me. I knew that I would be able
to make it across but it was pretty quickly obvious
that Gimli couldn't make it. (Sighs) Dwarves make a
living by tunnelling underground and so you would think
that tunneling through snow would be a piece of cake
for them but apparently that isn't the case.
Gandalf: (Interview segment) The Pass was much more
difficult than I... we had expected it to be.
I'm just glad that all of the other teams were having
as much trouble as we were. Especially Legolas and Gimli;
I had expected them to pass everyone there but apparently
Gimli couldn't handle the snow.
(Scene: Teams are trapped in the snow by a sudden
avalanche.)
Boromir: We aren't going to make it!
Aragorn: Hang on!
Boromir: We aren't going to make it! We must turn back!
Aragorn: We'll lose too much time!
Boromir: We'll lose more than time if we keep going
this way! I'm going back! (Turns and starts back down
the mountain. Aragorn looks after him in frustration
for a few moments then follows.)
Pippin: (Near panic) They're going back down!
Merry: Then we'll follow them.
Pippin: But, why are they going back down!
Sam: We must turn back, sir!
Frodo: Don't give up, Sam!
Sam: But, what should we do?
Frodo: (Thinks) Let's try the Mines. We can't make it
through this snow on our own. (Both Hobbit teams turn
back down the Mountain.)
Gimli: I'm going back too! (Starts back down. Legolas
pulls his bow and aims at him, then sighs, replaces
it and hurries after Gimli.)
Gandalf: Ha-ha! The fools. (To someone off-screen) Come
on! This is our chance. (Starts struggling forward then
stops and looks behind him.) Wait! Where are you going?
We can do this! Come back! Come... (He sags and looks
down.) (Bleep)ing idiot! (Hurries back down.)
(Scene: The base of a cliff with a dark pool of water
nearby. A stone door is set into the cliff with a Race
flag and clue box next to it. Teams hurry into view.)
Boromir: (reaching box first and reading clue) Roadblock!
Phil: A Roadblock is a task which only one Team member
can perform. But, they must choose who will perform
the task without knowing what it is. In this case, that
person should be good with riddles.
Sam: A Roadblock? In the middle of a Detour?
Phil: (Reappears briefly, shrugs, then disappears again.)
Boromir: (Reading) ...that person should be good with
riddles. (Looks up.) I'll do it!
Sam: (Reading) ...good with riddles. You do it sir!
Merry: I'm good with riddles! I'm the brains of this
team!
Pippin: (Interview segment) Merry is always going on
about how he's the brains of the Team. It's frustrating
sometimes, since he usually does some of the dumbest
things. Of course, that's a Bradybuck for you!
Gimli: Me! I'm no good at riddles!
Legolas: Yes, but it's a Dwarvish area!
Gandalf: (Flipping open clue) Speak friend, and enter?
What the (bleep)?
Merry: Speak friend, and enter? What does that mean?
Frodo: That isn't a riddle! That's a guessing game!
Gollum: (Peeking over rock) It's as much of a riddle
as "What have I got in my pocket?"
Frodo: Huh?
Gollum: Nevermind. (Slinks off)
Merry: Open seaseme!
Pippin: Wrong book.
Merry: Abracadabra!
Pippin: (Sighs)
Gandalf: Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen! Fennas nogothrim,
lasto beth lammen! (Nothing happens)
Gandalf: (Confused look) Edro, edro! (More nothing
happens) (Bleep)!
Boromir: Argh! This whole thing is stupid! (Starts picking
up rocks and throwing them into the pool in frustration
until Aragorn manages to calm him down.)
Merry: (Getting idea) Gandalf, what's the elven word
for "friend"?
Gandalf: (Irritated) Mellon. Why?
[i](Scene: The stone door swings open.){/i]
Merry: Hey hey! I got it! (Everyone crowds around and
congratulates Merry, except for Gandalf.)
Gandalf: (Muttering to himself) Idiot. I'm a {bleep)ing
idiot! (Gestures to someone off-screen and, glancing
at the crowd around Merry, scurries through the door.)
(Scene: Dark chamber. Gandalf enters and, after gesturing
for someone to follow, causes his staff to emit light
and looks around. Long-dead bodies of dwarves can be
seen scattered around.)
Gandalf: (Bleep)! (Others come running into chamber)
Gimli: Balin! Balin! It's me! Gim... Oh (bleep)!
Legolas: (Examining body of dwarf) Orcs!
Boromir: (Puzzled) No, they're dead dwarves. (Pause)
Oh! You mean they were killed by orcs!
Aragorn: (Interview segment) Boromir is a stout companion
and a solid supporter of Gondor but he also finds it
difficult to resist the call of the Ring. Plus, he's
about as bright as a box of rocks. (Shakes head) And
people wonder why I don't want to be king of these people...
Sam: Sir! Let's get out of here!
Frodo: I think you're right, Sam!
Merry: Pippin, let's go! Pippin?
Pippin: (Already running for exit)
Gimli: (Crying) Balin!
Legolas: (Looking around) Come! We must go!
(Scene: The teams run back for the exit of the mines.
Outside, a multi-tentacled creature rises from the pool
and attacks them, chasing them back inside. The creature
then collapses the cliff above the door, trapping them.)
Phil: (To creature) Thanks. I was getting tired of these
teams changing back-and-forth on the Roadblocks all
the time. Cthulhu fthagn!
Creature: Bloop!
(Scene: Interior of Moria. Teams are looking dejectedly
at the pile of rubble blocking the exit.)
Pippin: Now, that's what I call a Roadblock!
Merry: Shut up!
Gandalf: Fool of a Took! (Lights staff) This way!
Gandalf: (Interview segment) I... er, we had
hoped to lose the others in the Mines, but we needed
the light in order to see ourselves and it was so dark
in the Mines that everyone else was able to follow us.
(Video: Clips of teams traveling through the ruined
underground city.)
Legolas: (Interview segment) I almost hate to admit
this, but I was quite impressed with the workmanship
displayed by the dwarves in Moria. It was almost up
to Elven standards. It is unfortunate that we were unable
to remain longer. Still, I feel that my brief visit
there did help me understand Gimli a bit better and
that our relationship improved after our brief time
in the Mines.
(Scene: The teams arrive outside of the Tomb of Balin.
There is a sign on the side of the door. Merry attempts
to read it but Gandalf shoves him aside.)
Gandalf: (Reading) "Tomb of Balin and Bridge of Khazad-dûm
- Operating Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm." (Bleep)!
Sam: 8:00 am!
Frodo: Nothing to do but wait, I suppose. (Settles down
to wait, as do the other teams.)
Gandalf: (Continuing to read) "Drums. Drums in the deep.
They are coming." What the (bleep)?
Gimli: (Interview segment) I was quite saddened that
we could not spend more time in Moria. It seemed almost
wrong for me to be in what was such a special place
for my people and not be able to spend more time there.
I will certainly plan to return after the Race is over
for a proper visit.
(Scene: The teams wait outside the Tomb. As opening
hour approaches, they start to stir. Pippin idly picks
up a stone and tosses it into a well. The sound of it
hitting the bottom echos through the room and disturbs
everyone.)
Gandalf: (Angry) Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next
time!
Pipin: (Interview segment) I don't know what everyone
is so on about. Boromir was throwing stones into the
pool outside and this spawn of Cthulhu thingy came out
and attacked everyone but no one says anything to him
about it! I toss a pebble into a well and suddenly everyone
is treating me like I'm about to bring hordes of orcs
down on us.
Merry: (Interview segment) You did bring hordes
of orcs down on us!
Pipin: (Interview segment) Yes, but... that's not the
point, is it?
(Scene: Everyone is getting their packs together
when the sound of drums is heard. The drums get closer
and Frodo suddenly pulls his sword to reveal that it
is glowing.)
Sam: Orcs!
Aragorn: Stand ready!
Gandalf: (Bleep)!
(Video: Hordes of orcs sweep into the chamber. The
teams all draw weapons and begin a runing fight towards
the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. A quick montage of scenes
shows that all of them are exceptional fighters; even
the Hobbits do surprisingly well. A cave troll appears
and seems to kill Frodo at one point, but it is revealed
that he is wearing mithril armor and survives.)
Aragorn: (Interview segment) The battle under Moria
was the first time all of us had fought together and
I was quite pleased to see that everyone turned their
energies to fighting the orcs instead of each other.
Frodo gave us quite a scare at one point but he was
all right. I want to win this Race, but I want to do
it cleanly and fairly, not on the bodies of my opponents.
Boromir: (Interview segment) I thought I had my chance
when that cave troll skewered Frodo but it turned out
that that little Hobbit was wearing a suit of Mithril
Silver. If it weren't for that, I would have had the
Ring and Aragorn and I would have been halfway to Gondor
by now.
Frodo: (Interview segment) My uncle Bilbo had given
me his suit of Mithril armor before I left on the Race.
He said he had worn it when he had run an earlier version
of the Race and thought it might bring me good luck.
Of course, I never realized how expensive it really
was, which was probably just as well. If I had known
it was worth more than the entire Shire I would probably
have left it behind.
(Video: Teams continue to fight the orcs and find
themselves at the edge of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.
Suddenly, the orcs scatter as a Balrog appears.)
Gandalf: (Resigned) A Balrog. (Sigh) (Bleep)!
Aragorn: (Drawing sword) Boromir! With me!
Boromir: Yeah, right!
Legolas: (Stepping up and drawing bow) I am with you!
Gimli: (Stepping up and drawing axe) As am I!
Gandalf: No! You cannot defeat this foe! To the bridge!
Boromir: No need to tell me twice! (Runs off)
Frodo: Let's go, Sam! (Runs. Sam follows. Merry and
Pippin are already far ahead.)
Aragorn: To the bridge. (Falls back with Legolas and
Gimli.)
Legolas: (Interview segment) I hated to leave Gandalf
to face the Balrog alone but he did offer to do so and
at this point in the Race we needed to start thinking
about our own positions.
(Video: Teams run from the Balrog and across the
Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf is bringing up the rear
when he suddenly stops and starts gesturing wildly to
someone behind him. The Balrog rears up in front of
him and he brandishes his staff.)
Gandalf: I wield the flame of Arnor! You shall not pass!
(Slams staff into bridge)
(Video: The bridge shatters and the Balrog falls
into the depths. As it does, it lashes out with the
whip it is wielding and grabs Gandalf. Gandalf is pulled
from the bridge but manages to hang onto it for a few
seconds.)
Gandalf: (Hanging onto bridge) Fly, you fools! (Falls)
Aragorn: (Interview segment) Gandalf sacrificed himself
so that the rest of us would be able to complete the
leg of the Race. It was a noble thing to do and affected
all of us deeply.
Legolas: (Interview segment) After seeing the bridge
shatter, I thought that maybe I should rethink my new
opinion on Dwarven workmanship.
(Video: Teams rush along several flights of stairs,
dodging occasional orc patrols until they emerge on
the far side of the mountain.)