Scene Three

(We now see the remaining Urak-hai Members running along the grassy plains, heading towards Isengard, which is a fair distance away. The camera catches Urak-hai Members#2 & 3 with something other than armor or weapons upon their back: two hobbits, Rippin Took and Jessie Brandybuck. We see Rippin Took's face, which is livid with fear as she looks about. Her hair is in a very messy ponytail, with some dirt and blood flecked in. She looks over at Jessie Brandybuck, who's glasses are askew and her eyes are closed)

Rippin Took: (As she bounces with the rhythm of the Urak-hai Member#2 carrying her, she speaks in a frightened whisper to her friend) Jessie? Jessie?

(There is no answer-Jessie Brandybuck is still out of it, her head lolling about as the company of Orcs move. Looking very forlorn, Rippin Took looks at her Urak-hai Member#2)

Rippin Took: (In a nervous tone) Yeah-uh, excuse me-big, mean Orc dude? I don't suppose you could take it easy on your trot there? It's really uncomfortable bouncing about for about five hours, you know.

(The Urak-hai Member#2 responds with a rapid jump, causing Rippin Took's head to bang right into his armor. When she pulls away, she's rather cross- eyed)

Rippin Took: (In a simple tone) Well-that was mature!

Urak-hai Member#2: (In a gruff voice) Shut up!

Rippin Took: (In a calm, bargaining tone) You know, that's not going to get you very far in life. Kidnapping little hobbits and hurting them isn't going to get you any higher on the social scale, you know!

Urak-hai Member#2: (Still angry) Oh shut up, you weak little halfling!

Rippin Took: (Shakes her head in disappointment) Typical. Insult the halfling as a defense mechanism. It's kind of sad, really. You know, you should really concentrate on being more considerate towards others rather than tossing death threats!

Urak-hai Member#2: (About to respond viciously, but suddenly considers the hobbit's words. He talks with understanding) Hey! You might be right!

Rippin Took: (Happily) There we go!

Urak-hai Member#2: (Still in an understanding tone) I've been so focused on being the tough one in the group, I never thought about anyone's feelings! I've been spouting out unnecessary rage! Rippin Took: (Nodding) That's more like it!

Urak-hai Member#2: (In a humble tone) Maybe instead of releasing my rage in a bad way, I could channel it towards something else. Like-maybe I could take up kickball!

Rippin Took: (Very happy that this is going somewhere) That's the spirit, old chap! Kickball's a great way to channel your rage!

Urak-hai Member#2: (Sighing at the thought) Yeah, kickball-and maybe I could use a nice hobbit's head! (Laughs evilly and resumes running)

Rippin Took: (Looking very crestfallen) Yeah-I kind of had that one coming, didn't I?

(Camera suddenly shows Urak-hai Member#1 stop in his tracks, along with the rest of the Orcs. Then he looks towards some nearby boulders as many new Orcs make their appearance-ones of a new clan meeting to join the others. We see Urak-hai Member#8 walk towards the group, looking very menacing and untrustworthy)

Urak-hai Member#8: (Boldly to Urak-hai Member#1) You're late.

Urak-hai Member#1: (In a very ill-tempered tone) I'm sorry-I lost my watch back when we were fighting! Which reminds me! Where the hell were you guys? We called for reinforcements ages ago!

Urak-hai Member#8: (In a defensive, hissing voice) We have our own reasons!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Angrily) I should hope they do not have to deal with that scrap booking fair in town!

Urak-hai Member#8: (Looking very shifty eyed) And if they do? (Shaking his head as he spots the hobbits) Well-the main thing is that we are here. We can take the hobbits from here-give you a bit of a breather.

Urak-hai Member#2: (In a relieved tone) Whoo! Thanks you guys! I could really use a break! I think I'm getting a back sore!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Holding up a fist menacingly at Urak-hai Member#8) I do not take orders from Orc maggots!

(Urak-hai Member#8 gives a great hiss of dislike at the other-this is not going to be a happy group after all. Rippin Took looks towards Jessie Brandybuck, who's mouth is open and looking liable to retch. Rippin Took looks horrified at her friend's condition. Seeking aid, Rippin Took looks to Urak-hai Member#4, who is drinking from his flask greedily)

Rippin Took: (Timidly to the Orc) My friend is sick! (Nods to Jessie Brandybuck) She needs water! (Desperately) Please! Give her some water!

(Urak-hai Member#4 hisses at Rippin Took, but Urak-hai Member#1 looks at the scene and gives a great laugh)

Urak-hai Member#1: (In a sarcastic tone) Sick, is she? Give her some medicine, boys!

Urak-hai Member#3: (Going through his pockets quickly) Er-which kind? Children's cough medicine, or some flu medicine? I might even have some Comtrex if I look hard enough-!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Irritably) No! I mean-(To Urak-hai Member#4) give her some of your Orc draught!

(Rippin Took raises an eyebrow suspiciously at this, but Urak-hai Member#4 is already pouring some of the black, syrupy draught down Jessie Brandybuck's throat. Jessie Brandybuck begins to cough and sputter, shaking her head quickly to rid herself of the taste. Many of the Orcs laugh at the scene, while Rippin Took looks upon the scene with horror in her eyes, fearing that Jessie Brandybuck could choke to death)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Gargling through the draught) It tastes like fish heads and Nyquil!

Rippin Took: (Loudly to the Orcs) Stop it! Leave her alone!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Evilly to the hobbit) Why? You want some?

Rippin Took: (After swallowing in fear) Er-no.I don't really settle with poison!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Evilly) Then keep your mouth shut!

(Rippin Took bites her lip and the other Orcs laugh in evil joy. Jessie Brandybuck is still coughing up the draught, quite disgusted by the taste and texture)

Rippin Took: (Nervously to Jessie Brandybuck) Jessie! I'm so sorry! I never would have-!

Jessie Brandybuck: (Irritably) I'm fine! It's nothing I can't handle-I've tasted one of Kram's blueberry pies; once you fully consume one of them, everything seems to taste better. (Seriously as she looks at Rippin Took) Don't worry about me, Rippin-don't worry.

(And with that, Jessie Brandybuck goes back to her uneasy rest, leaving Rippin Took alone and frightened. Then, we see Urak-hai Member#1 put his fist in the air to silence the rest of the group. He sniffs the air and gives a hiss of distaste)

Urak-hai Member#1: (In an evil voice) Man flesh!

(The other Orcs grumble their dislike. We see Jessie Brandybuck and Rippin Took. Rippin Took is straining her ears to see if she can catch anything else, and Jessie Brandybuck turns her head slightly)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Eyes still closed and in a groggy voice) Maybe-Rippin farted again?

Rippin Took: (Even though her friend is alive, still rather angry) Damn it, Jessie! I did not fart!

Jessie Brandybuck: (Irritably) Teaches-you to-pull that draught-crap on me, eh?

Urak-hai Member#1: (Camera shows him shaking his head and looking about with narrow eyes) No! It is the scent of a foul man! (Turns to his troops) We are being pursued!

Rippin Took: (We see her eyes widen and she silently mouths) Jimagorn!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Speaking to his troops in a loud voice) Let's move out!

(The troop begins to move again, with a faster pace, this time. We see Rippin Took, her head bouncing; tilt her head so that her jaw fastens upon the leaf broach upon her cloak. Silently, she tears it off and spits it off to the side. The camera follows its course until it lands, then goes back to Rippin Took, who is moving her jaw about)

Rippin Took: (In a quiet voice) Ouch! That smarts!

(Then, we see three new people, far behind the Orc company, running along the grasslands: Jimagorn, Megolas, and Brimli. Jimagorn is running up front, occasionally glancing at the ground for any sign of the hobbits they are tracking. Megolas and Brimli are running behind-way behind. They are huffing and puffing, trying to keep up to Jimagorn. Finally, Jimagorn looks behind him-rolls his eyes at what he sees-and stops to wait for the others to catch up)

Brimli: (When she stops, she leans on her axe and speaks in an exhausted tone) This-is-crazy! I've-never-run so much!

Megolas: (In a frustrated tone between breaths) Why-are we running-exactly?

Jimagorn: (Frowning at his friends) In case you haven't noticed, those Orcs up there have our hobbit friends! We have to catch them!

Megolas: (Out of breath) Well, so far, we haven't been doing too well. Those Orcs are way ahead of us! Jimagorn: (A tinge of red appearing on his cheeks) All right! All right! (In a low voice) I look sexier when I run.

Megolas: (Rolling her eyes) That's what I thought.

Brimli: (Still exhausted) So, are we taking a break? Man! All this running and straining is not good for my heart! (Clutches her chest as she breathes) Dang my family's horrible high cholesterol problems!

Megolas: (Rather coolly) I don't want to hear about your family's heart problems, Brimli! If you ask me, you could've prevented it all with avoiding that Burger King in Moria!

Brimli: (Glaring at the Elf) Easy for you to say, you-salad eater!

Megolas: (Rolling her eyes) Oh no! Not the salad remark! Please! Spare me your amperage of insults, please!

Brimli: (Clutching her axe angrily) Yeah! I'll give you an insult! And it involves my axe going up your-!

Jimagorn: (Shouting) KNOCK IT OFF!

Megolas: (Out of the corner of her mouth) Shorty!

Brimli: (Out of the corner of her mouth) Salad eater!

Jimagorn: (Rather frustrated) You know, you guys aren't really helping me! We could be looking for the hobbits and instead you guys are arguing endlessly with one another!

Megolas: (Glaring at Jimagorn) Oh! And you've been a real help? I take it all that touching yourself is supposed to signal allying forces?

Jimagorn: (Grasping his chest in defense) Megolas, how many times must I explain it to you? Morale is the first thing that a group leader needs to carry out a mission! If I am to lead this mission successfully, I must have confidence in myself! (Sighs as if to say, "Duh!" and strokes himself fondly on the chest)

Megolas: (Giving him an incredulous stare) What do you mean "leader of the group"? As far as I'm concerned, you're just a guy from-from-(Thinks for a moment, then comes to a conclusion) some part of Middle Earth, and now you're some kind of leader?

Jimagorn: (Eyes widening in surprise) Does that shock you?

Megolas: (Giving a laugh of annoyance) I can't believe what I'm hearing! How come you're the leader? I don't think Kendalf told us that you were supposed to be the leader!

Jimagorn: (Pulls his look into a very far-off look, like he's reminiscing something) He did say something, once. Before we were going down the stairs to the bridge of Khazad-dûm, he grabbed my shoulder and said, "Lead them on, Jimagorn!" (Shakes his head in grim remembrance)

Brimli: (Nodding in understanding) That's a pretty good argument, if you ask me.

Megolas: (Obviously not convinced) Why should I even believe you, Jimagorn? A few days ago, you swore to me that you saw a water nymph in that lake we passed earlier! But once I braved a look, you used the opportunity to push me in, headfirst!

(If Megolas expected some understanding, she's not getting any. At her statement, Jimagorn and Brimli break out laughing, Brimli having to lean on her axe from the laughs. Jimagorn's laughs are quite loud, but he does not remove his hand from his chest. Megolas does not look as enthused)

Brimli: (Still laughing) Oh yeah! I forgot about that, Megolas! I needed a good laugh, Megolas! Thanks!

(Megolas gives Brimli a very dirty look)

Jimagorn: (Laughing softly as he speaks) All right, Megolas! It's noted- it's noted! (Stops laughing immediately as he speaks next) But seriously, Megolas, Kendalf entrusted me with the company, or what's left of it, at least.

(Megolas looks very disbelieving, and Brimli stops laughing as she watches the scene. Jimagorn's eyes widen)

Jimagorn: It's true! I assure you! (When both Dwarf and Elf still look unconvinced, he sighs and pulls out a huge packet of paper) You want proof? You got it!

Megolas: (Giving a laugh as she looks at the paper) What're you going to do: read me my rights?

Jimagorn: (Angrily) No! (Tosses the packet to the Elf, who catches it) It's scene seventeen of Fellowship of the Movie-the last scene with Kendalf! (When the Elf still looks bemused) Read through it, if you don't believe me!

(For a moment, Megolas simply stares at Jimagorn, who is looking rather sour at being contradicted. Whatever defense the Elf had expected, she definitely did not expect this. Knowing better than to back down, Megolas thumbs through the script, her eyes scanning the pages as she goes)

Megolas: (Mumbling as she reads) Let's see-Orcs and Goblins are chasing after us.monsters suddenly scatter.Jessie accuses Rippin of farting.Kendalf displays his horrible "fire demon" pun.Ah! (Eyes widens as she reads) "Lead them on, Jimagorn!" (Looks up in a flash) Holy bomb shelters-he was right!

Brimli: (Eyes widening in shock) Really? No! (Looks from Jimagorn to Megolas rapidly) This can't be good! I don't want him leading us! Some-no good, self-groping loony from the lands of Men! There's gotta be a mistake!

Megolas: (Looking rather grim) Sorry, Brimli, but it's there. Jimagorn's the leader of this company. (Tosses the script back to Jimagorn) He makes our decisions now.

Jimagorn: (Pocketing the script) Thank you, Megolas, for your consideration.

Megolas: (Darkly) Hey! Hey! Hey! I said you're our leader-I didn't necessarily say I agreed with you!

Jimagorn: (Shrugging carelessly as he strokes himself) Not a lot of people agree with me-but that doesn't stop me from believing myself to be an extremely handsome, sex-symbol.

(Both Megolas and Brimli roll their eyes at this-apparently, their leader's self-pride still annoys him)

Jimagorn: (In a dramatic tone) But enough of this grim reminiscence! We have two hobbit friends out there that require our aid and mercy-neither of which is being delivered by the Urak-hai members holding them captive!

Brimli: (In a small tone) And if they are, Jimagorn?

Jimagorn: (In a grim tone) Then, God help us all!

(Suddenly, Jimagorn flattens himself upon the ground, putting his head to the rock and closing his eyes in concentration. Megolas and Brimli look at one another in confusion-not knowing whether to laugh or be concerned with the situation at hand)

Megolas: (Awkwardly) Er-Jimagorn-I don't mean to sound rude, but what the hell are you doing?

(Jimagorn does not answer immediately, listening to the ground carefully. Finally, he raises his head and looks to the distance)

Jimagorn: (In a concerned tone) The Urak-hai members have quickened their pace-they have caught our scent! (Looks at the two members of the company and frowns) I told you we should have taken a bath yesterday!

Brimli: (Frowning) It's not our fault! If this were a Terry Brooks' novel, we all would have been taking baths by now! Megolas: (Sounding rather frustrated) I highly doubt that any of Terry Brooks' characters would suggest the idea that we all take a bath together! (Glares at Jimagorn)

Jimagorn: (In a defensive tone) It's not my fault you guys aren't as open as I about sharing your body to the world!

Megolas: (Looking quite disgusted as she shivers, straightening her quiver over her shoulder) You are so lucky you've got Narwen!

Jimagorn: (Cocking his eyebrow rather slyly towards the Elf) Why, Megolas, I had no idea you cared about me that way!

Megolas: (Angrily) I don't, you Man pervert! Now-(Looking serious as she draws her bow) what of the situation at hand? What of the hobbits?

Jimagorn: (Shaking his head to bring himself back into the situation) Of course! Let us run-we should try and catch up with them!

(Jimagorn dashes into the distance, causing Megolas and Brimli to groan at the prospect of running endlessly again. The three members of the company are seen running from overhead, Jimagorn ahead of the other two considerably. Pretty soon, the company is dashing on the borders of Rohan, the rocks jutting from the earth like great sleeping giants. We suddenly see Rippin Took's leaf broach embedded into the earth, barely visible to anyone passing. Yet, somehow, Jimagorn spots it and bends to pick it up delicately. His face is drawn in deep concern)

Jimagorn: (Quietly) Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall.

(We see Megolas and Brimli stop behind him. Both look rather confused)

Megolas: (Bemused) Wha?

Jimagorn: (A bit annoyed that nobody understood, turning about to face them) It's one of the hobbits' leaf broaches from Lórien! (Looks to the distance as he runs his fingers delicately upon the leaf broach) They could be alive.

Brimli: (In a simple tone) Or-they could be dead, and the Urak-hai members managed to leave behind one of the hobbits' broaches after decapitating them.

(Both Jimagorn and Megolas scowl openly as they look at Brimli, who looks confused as she sees their stares)

Brimli: (Angrily) What? I'm just saying!

Jimagorn: (In a serious tone as he pockets the broach) Well, either way, we have to find them. (They run a short distance-very short-before Jimagorn holds up his hand in caution. They stop and look towards the plains below them at the base of the hill they stand on-the Rohan)

Jimagorn: (In a serious note) The Rohan. (Camera catches his face as he speaks, looking very suspicious) Something strange is at work here. A strange power gives these creatures speed-works hard against us.

Brimli: (Very quietly to Megolas) Well, duh!

(Megolas flashes a hearty grin, and then darts off towards a huge boulder on the hill. She is squinting in the distance, as if looking for something. Jimagorn looks at her, walks over to her, and speaks lowly. As he does so, Brimli moves slowly towards them)

Jimagorn: (Quietly) What do your Elf-eyes see, Megolas?

Megolas: (After squinting for a long time) The blackish, mass of specks-I suppose those are the Urak-hai-are turning northeast. (Her eyes widen in disbelief) They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!

Jimagorn: (Looks towards the plains, a dark look upon his face as he utters a single name) Andraman.