Scene Six

(We now see members of the Urak-hai stopping on the edge of the Fangorn Forest. It is evening, and the members are exhausted, breathing in and out and occasionally growling at one another. Finally, we see Urak-hai Member#6 resting upon a stump)

Urak-hai Member#6: (Angrily) We go no further-till we've had a breather! Dear Lord! I've got a stitch in my side that's almost causing me to sing my own high-pitched solo! (Grabs side angrily)

(We see Urak-hai Member#2 heavily drop Rippin Took on the ground, who winces in pain slightly. Urak-hai Member#2 evilly smiles down at the hobbit)

Urak-hai Member#2: (Evilly) Awe.is the poor hobbit tired?

Rippin Took: (Angrily, feeling it unnecessary to disagree) Yeah-I'm exhausted!

Urak-hai Member#2: (In the same evil tone) And what about your poor, little wrists? Are they bound too tightly?

Rippin Took: (Sarcastically, as she brandishes her bleeding wrists before the Orc) Yeah! They're practically cutting into my wrists!

Urak-hai Member#2: (Suddenly dropping the evil attitude and resuming a flamboyant tone and sympathetic attitude) Oh really? Well you should have said something!

Rippin Took: (Awkwardly) Well-I didn't think you would really care-

Urak-hai Member#2: (Shocked) How could you even say such a thing? Of course I care! Gees, just because I've been assigned to carry you, it doesn't mean I don't want you to be comfortable! Here-let me loosen those binds for you! You're so silly! (Bends down and begins to loosen the hobbit's binds, then reties them slightly) How's that?

Rippin Took: (In a simple tone with a shrug) It's nice-but a little too loose, if you ask me.

Urak-hai Member#2: (Nodding) Yeah-I thought that. (Reties the binds briskly) How about that?

Rippin Took: (Looking at wrists and nodding in satisfaction) Not bad! Not bad at all! It's comfortable, but it also keeps me in my place. You're a real pro in this!

Urak-hai Member#2: (Modestly) Oh, stop it!

Rippin Took: (Seriously) No, really! You're really good at tying these things! Have you ever considered making bracelets?

Urak-hai Member#2: (Happy the subject was raised) Well, now that you mention it, I started making these friendship bracelets while the troop was in Isengard! I suggested to Andraman that we should wear them as part of the uniform, because black and metal can be really dull, if you know what I'm saying. I talked with him for a while, but he said that-

(We suddenly see Urak-hai Member#1 shouting at Urak-hai Member#2)

Urak-hai Member#1: (Angrily) Hey! Stop talking to that halfling! They're not to be talked to! If you need something to do, help get a fire going! (Shuffles off, mumbling angrily)

Urak-hai Member#2: (Quietly to Rippin Took) Gees, what a hard ass!

(Without further word, Urak-hai Member#2 leaves Rippin Took alone, lying on the ground with her hands still bound. Despite the comfortable binds, the hobbit looks rather disheveled and exhausted. We see Urak-hai Members cutting down large limbs in attempts to start a fire. We see Rippin Took look over to Urak-hai Member#3, who is a fair distance away and practically throwing an unconscious Jessie Brandybuck upon the ground. Once it does so, Urak-hai Member#3 moves over to join the others. We see Rippin Took looking rather concerned)

Rippin Took: (Quietly) Jessie!

(We see Urak-hai Members cut down more branches. Then, we see Rippin Took looking towards the Orcs, to be sure they're preoccupied, and quickly begins to crawl over to where Jessie Brandybuck is lying practically motionless. With another quick glance over to the other Orcs, Rippin Took whispers to Jessie Brandybuck)

Rippin Took: (Frantically) Jessie! Jessie!

(With a small groan, Jessie Brandybuck awakens. We see her weary face, her glasses slightly askew and a huge gash upon her forehead. She looks relieved to see Rippin Took there)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Whispering quietly) Rippin! Thank God! (Shakes head to straighten her senses) I thought I wasn't going to see you again.

Rippin Took: (Noticing the gash on her friend's head and looking concerned) Your forehead's got a huge gash on it!

Jessie Brandybuck: (Looking up at it and shrugging) Must've gotten it when the Orcs lobbed me on the head. Besides-(Gives a grim smile) I think the last thing I need to worry about is a gash on my head. (Laughs slightly, then suddenly looks worried) You don't think it'll scar, do you?

Rippin Took: (With a shrug) I don't suppose so.

Jessie Brandybuck: (Sighing) Well, it doesn't really matter. (Closing eyes in exhaustion as she speaks) Where are we?

Rippin Took: (Making sure nobody's listening) I'm not too sure-last time I heard, we're supposed to be on the border of the Fangorn Forest.

Jessie Brandybuck: (Sarcastically) Whoopee! We're in just another place even further from home! (Sighing angrily) Boy-I wish I wasn't here! Whatever hopes we had of coming with the fellowship, I don't think this was one of them! (Sighs again, more in dismay) You wouldn't happen to know exactly how long it has been since we've been captured, would you?

Rippin Took: (After thinking for a while) Three days-maybe three and a half.

Jessie Brandybuck: (Sarcastically) Yea! (Blowing her bangs out of her eyes in frustration) Any idea of where we're going?

Rippin Took: (After gulping) I don't really know-(Quietly, probably hoping Jessie Brandybuck won't hear) Isengard.

Jessie Brandybuck: (Her eyes widening and exclaiming in horror) WHAT?

(Rippin Took shushes the other as many of the Orcs look over their shoulders towards the hobbits. Once they realize it's probably nothing, they go back to their work. Rippin Took begins to talk to a horrified Jessie Brandybuck)

Rippin Took: (Quietly) I heard that from one of the members a few days ago- and one of them just told me that they were a lot from Andraman. If the Orcs are taking us anywhere, it's most likely there.

Jessie Brandybuck: (Horrified) This is horrible, Rippin! Just awful!

Rippin Took: (Confused) Really, Jessie! It's probably not as bad as you think! At least we're not dead!

Jessie Brandybuck: (In an exasperated tone) Well, we're going to be dead if we go into Isengard!

Rippin Took: (Still confused) What do you mean?

Jessie Brandybuck: (Explaining in a horrified tone) Rippin, remember who lives in Isengard?

Rippin Took: (After pondering for a few seconds) Uh-Jeff Daniels?

Jessie Brandybuck: (Ignoring this) Andraman! Remember? He's the guy who turned traitor, the older and most gorgeous one!

Rippin Took: (Nodding in understanding) Yeah? So?

Jessie Brandybuck: (Rather impatiently) Rippin, he's working for Jauron! That means he's after the Movie of Power as well! All he knows is that one of the hobbits carries the Movie of Power! He thinks we have the Movie!

Rippin Took: (Furrowing her brow) But-we don't have the Movie.

(Jessie Brandybuck gives her a stare that's supposed to say, "Well, duh!" and then Rippin Took's eyes widen in fear as she realizes it)

Rippin Took: (In an understanding tone) Ohhhhhh! That's-not good.

Jessie Brandybuck: (In an exasperated tone) Of course not, Rippin! Don't you see? When Andraman finds out that we don't have the Movie, he's gonna- he's gonna (Gulps at the thought) kill us!

Rippin Took: (In a logical tone) Well, actually, he probably won't kill us right away. First he'll torture us-then torture us some more-then make us fight one another-then make us fight one of the Orcs-then make us run around Isengard-and then he'll kill us; that is, if we haven't already died of exhaustion.

Jessie Brandybuck: (Groaning at the possibility) Oh-this is hopeless, Rippin! Hopeless!

Rippin Took: (In a reassuring tone) Not necessarily, Jessie! (Making sure nobody is still listening, and then speaking in a whisper) A few hours ago, one of the Orcs caught the smell of Jimagorn-that means he's on our trail! And I'll bet you that Megolas and Brimli are behind him as well!

Jessie Brandybuck: (Very forlorn at the moment) Oh, Rippin, it's a nice thing to say, but Jimagorn's not going to come after us. And even if he is, he'll never be able to catch up to us! We're near the Fangorn Forest- that's not too far from Isengard, already!

Rippin Took: (Disliking her friends pessimism) Jessie, don't talk like that! Jimagorn may be a weird fellow-and a fancier of touching himself-but he's not going to give up on us! And with Megolas and Brimli with him, he'll probably be able to catch up! They're not giving up on us, Jessie! They're going to keep going until we're found! (We suddenly see Jimagorn, Brimli, & Megolas around a small fire and a turkey fryer. They're eating fried turkey and some beans upon their plates. They seem carefree and very unconcerned with anything at the moment)

Megolas: (Through a mouthful of turkey to Brimli) Great call on the fried turkey, Brimli! This is excellent!

Brimli: (With a casual wave of disregard) Ah, it was nothing! I knew I'd need the fryer-that's why I packed it in Rivendell. But if it hadn't been for Jimagorn here, we never would have had a turkey! Good catch, Jimagorn! (Takes a huge bite from a drumstick)

Megolas: (Nodding at Jimagorn) Yeah-great bird, Jimagorn! I've never eaten one so tender!

Jimagorn: (With a smile as he jabs at the fire with a stick) Ah, no biggy!

Megolas: (In a pleased tone) No, seriously, Jimagorn! Most wild turkeys are stringy and gross-but this one was ripe for the picking!

(Jimagorn smiles and resumes eating his dinner, occasionally stroking himself fondly on his chest. Then, Brimli stops looking up as she thinks of something)

Brimli: (In a questioning tone) Uh-guys? (When they look over) Does it seem like we should be doing something else at the moment-you know, that's important?

Megolas: (Raising an eyebrow) Like what?

Brimli: (After thinking about it, shrugging away as if it's no big deal) Ah- it's probably nothing. (To Jimagorn) Pass the beans, would you, Grabby?

Jimagorn: (With a small scowl as he passes the beans to Brimli) I wish you wouldn't call me that! It's so inaccurate! (Begins to stroke himself on the chest again)

(We go back to Jessie Brandybuck and Rippin Took, who are looking at each other as if expecting one to make the other feel better about the situation at hand. As much as they would like to believe that it couldn't get any worse, they would have to strongly disagree. Suddenly, a strange, soft howling and cracking noise is heard throughout the camp sight, causing the Urak-hai Members to look about for a few seconds, but go back to collecting wood. Rippin Took looks about worriedly)

Rippin Took: (In a frightened whisper) What the hell was that?

Jessie Brandybuck: (After listening to it for a while, smiles softly) It's the trees!

Rippin Took: (Looks at Jessie Brandybuck with wide eyes) Uh-Jessie, I must be losing my mind, because I thought I just heard you say that it was the trees.

Jessie Brandybuck: (With a small scowl) That's because I did say it.

Rippin Took: (Blinking at her friend incredulously) Uh-then, I think that you might be losing your mind! That gash must've caused some severe blood loss or something because-

Jessie Brandybuck: (Agitated) Damn it, Rippin, it is the trees! The trees talk to one another!

Rippin Took: (In disbelief) What?

(As Jessie Brandybuck speaks, we get a good look at the bordering forest, hearing the soft howls and grindings of the trees' speech)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Whispering) Remember the old stories they used to tell us in the Shire, about how some forests had unnatural things in them? Well, they say that there was something in the water in the Fangorn Forests that caused the trees to speak to each other-you know-(We see her smile mysteriously at Rippin Took) come alive!

Rippin Took: (Shocked) Alive? Wow! (Looks at the forest) I guess I should've paid more attention to that song in Pocahontas, huh?

(We now see Urak-hai Member#6 sitting upon a rock, looking very ill- tempered at the moment)

Urak-hai Member#6: (Angrily) I'm starving! (Picks up the bread he holds in his hand) We have had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days! (Throws his bread on the ground angrily) I want meat!

(We see Urak-hai Member#2 with a plastic container and a lunch bag in his lap as he sits on the ground as he speaks)

Urak-hai Member#2: (In his flamboyant voice, sounding very scornful) Well, that's what you get when you're not a vegetarian! (Opens up his plastic container and looking overjoyed) Ooh! A Caesar salad! (Looks in the lunch bag and exclaims) And ooh! Sprouts! (Mouths to the others) My favorite!

Urak-hai Member#6: (Angrily as he stands up) Keep your salad and your sprouts, you freakin' lettuce head! (Shouting out) I want meat!

Urak-hai Member#7: (In an agreeing voice) Yeah! Why can't we have some meat?

Urak-hai Member#1: (Angrily) Well, how're you going to get it, you dumb ass? You don't have anything to go hunting with! There are no animals in that forest-and if they are, a deer will be far out of reach before you can pounce on it! You make so much noise when you walk, I'd swear I was listening to a train bumbling on the tracks!

Urak-hai Member#7: (Coolly) I'll shed some of my armor, then! That ought to be quiet enough!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Growling) And what're you going to kill the animal with, huh? Are you going to just walk right up to it and plunge a sword in its back? Or are you content with lobbing it over the head with a large stick?

Urak-hai Member#7: (After thinking about it) I'll wait in the bushes and throw my dagger in its head before it can blink!

Urak-hai Member#8: (Piping up eagerly, enjoying the prospect of having meat) I've got darts!

Urak-hai Member#9: (Also deciding to help out) I've still got some of my arrows left over from three days ago!

Urak-hai Member#10: (We see him sitting on a rock, and he pulls out a huge rifle as he speaks) And I've got a gun!

(Many of the Orcs cheer at this, each favoring the idea of having fresh meat. But Urak-hai Member#1 silences them all as he shouts out)

Urak-hai Member#1: (Angrily) SHUT UP! (Once everyone does so) You fools keep forgetting! We don't have hunting licenses! Gees!

(A great howl of dismay goes throughout the camp)

Urak-hai Member#11: (In a disappointed tone) But-I thought Andraman gave us some!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Agitated) Those were killing licenses, you idiots! We're allowed to kill people and things-but we're not allowed to hunt animals!

(Everybody's eyes suddenly fix upon Urak-hai Member#10, who looks rather shocked, but still clasping the gun in his lap. Then, he looks down and thinks of something to say)

Urak-hai Member#10: (In a nervous laugh and tone) Oh! How did this get here? Dear me! Oopsie! (Carefully slips it behind his back and says nothing more)

(Urak-hai Member#7 looks over at where Jessie Brandybuck & Rippin Took are laying with a cunning smile upon his face. The hobbits realize they're being stared at and look over at the Orc with confused glances)

Urak-hai Member#7: (In a growling voice) What about them? (Points to the hobbits) They're flesh!

(Jessie Brandybuck & Rippin Took suddenly look horrified. Rippin Took bites her lip to keep the scream of fear building up inside her. Desperately, Jessie Brandybuck speaks)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Practical in her desperate tone) Uh, no, no! No! You don't want to eat us! We're not flesh! We're comprised mostly of-of fat! And a gristle-type substance I call phlan!

Urak-hai Member#7: (Licking his lips) I'm sure it's not anything I can't handle!

(Both Jessie Brandybuck & Rippin Took look at each other in fear, but before Urak-hai Member#7 can even take a step towards them, Urak-hai Member#1 grabs the other's shoulder firmly and growls at him)

Urak-hai Member#1: (Viciously) They are not for eating!

(Urak-hai Member#7 growls at the other, as if egging him into a brawl, but the other doesn't want to waste the time. So, Urak-hai Member#1 goes over to the hobbits, and picks them up roughly. Both hobbits wince and sputter in pain, but they don't do anything to struggle. We see Urak-hai Member#8 look at the hobbits hungrily)

Urak-hai Member#8: (In a vicious, logical tone) What about their legs? They don't need those!

(Both hobbits gasp in shock, and Jessie Brandybuck takes the moment to put her knees together in fear. Urak-hai Member#8 smiles hungrily at the hobbits' legs)

Urak-hai Member#8: (Viciously) Mmm.they look tasty!

Rippin Took: (Angrily) Taste this!

(With that, Rippin Took kicks Urak-hai Member#8 in the crotch. Urak-hai Member#8 howls out in pain and sinks to his knees, grasping his crotch in pain. Many of the Urak-hai Members shout out in anger)

Urak-hai Member#9: (Quite angry) She kicked him in the jewels, she did!

Urak-hai Member#10: (Also angry) That was rather unnecessary!

Urak-hai Member#11: (Angrily) We demand justice! I say we kill 'em-and eat 'em!

(The other members shout out in agreement)

Urak-hai Member#1: (Tightening his grip on the hobbits) NO! Shut your traps, the lot of you! They are not to be eaten! They are to be delivered to Andraman alive and unspoiled! (In a simple voice as he says it) I already covered that with him, you know.

Urak-hai Member#8: (In a vicious voice) Alive? (Looks at the hobbits) Why alive? Do they make good sport? (Hisses in laughter)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Biting her lip in fear) Please let them be talking about volleyball!

Rippin Took: (In a horrified tone) No! I was never good at serving!

Urak-hai Member#1: (Angrily explaining to Urak-hai Member#8) They carry some kind of Elvish weapon-something that will aid in the wars.

(Rippin Took & Jessie Brandybuck look at one another in curiosity, and we see Urak-hai Member#7 silently creep towards them from behind)

Rippin Took: (In a whisper, as if to make a point) They think we have the Movie!

Jessie Brandybuck: (Shushing her friend and quickly whispering) As soon as they find out we don't, we're dead!

Rippin Took: (Angrily whispering) But-if we're dead when we get to Isengard, and dead if the Orcs find out about us-then what's the whole point of keeping us alive? This really sucks, Jessie!

Jessie Brandybuck: (Scowling at her friend) How long did it take you to figure that out, Rippin?

(We see Urak-hai Member#7 pop up from behind the hobbits, who turn around and give a gasp as they realize who it is)

Urak-hai Member#7: (Stepping forward, his eyes fixed on the two hobbits hungrily) Oh, come on! Just a mouthful!

(Without warning, Urak-hai Member#7 lashes out for the hobbits. Both hobbits gasp, but Urak-hai Member#1 pushes them behind him and he takes out a huge sword. With a quick swipe, he lobs off the head of Urak-hai Member#7, and it flies over to where Rippin Took is sitting and lands in her lap. Her eyes grow wide and she lets out a horrified shriek. Jessie Brandybuck looks like she's going to be sick. We then see Urak-hai Member#1 speaking to the other Orcs)

Urak-hai Member#1: (Pointing to the decapitated body of Urak-hai Member#7) Meat's back on the menu, boys! Dig in!

(Without hesitation, the Orcs lunge for the body. We hear the sickening sound of snatching and pulling and even some squishing. We then move over to where Rippin Took & Jessie Brandybuck are sitting)

Rippin Took: (Horrified as she pushes the head of Urak-hai Member#7 off her lap) Oh-my-GOD! Get it off me! Get it off me! EWWEEE!

Jessie Brandybuck: (With a quick glance back at the Orcs, to make sure they're preoccupied, she looks at Rippin Took and whispers urgently) Rippin! (Nods towards the forest) Let's go!

(With that, both hobbits quickly begin to crawl away from the others, who are so immersed in eating the dead Orc that they don't seem to notice-or at least, we don't think so. We see Rippin Took cry out sharply as an Orc's boot steps on her back, stopping her in her tracks. Jessie Brandybuck immediately stops to see what's going on, and we see Rippin Took turn over and look horrified as she gazes into the face of Urak-hai Member#8. We see Urak-hai Member#8 looking at Rippin Took with an evil grin upon his face)

Urak-hai Member#8: (In a vicious hiss) Go on-call for help! (Grabs Rippin Took by the face and lifts her head up slightly) Squeal for me! Squeal! (In a hillbilly tone) Squeal like a piggy! Squeal!

(Rippin Took looks horrified, and lets out a quiet whimper. Jessie Brandybuck is too horrified to move, staring at the scene and thinking of what to do. Urak-hai Member#8 laughs evilly)

Urak-hai Member#8: (Starting to unsheathe a great dagger at his side) Nobody's going to save you now!

(Urak-hai Member#8 cries out sharply as an arrow hits him in the back, and he quickly lets go of Rippin Took)

Urak-hai Member#8: (Weakly, as he falls back) Guess-I had that one-coming.

(We now see the Riders of Rohan about the camp sight, killing as many Orcs as they can. Jessie Brandybuck looks at Rippin Took, who looks quite terrified)

Jessie Brandybuck: (Quickly) Rippin! Into the woods! Now!

Rippin Took: (In an anxious tone) Are you sure about this, Jessie?

(At that moment, an Orc's hand flies in between the two hobbits. For a while, they just stare at it)

Jessie Brandybuck: (In a practical tone) Uh-yeah, I'm pretty sure. Let's go!

(Both hobbits begin to crawl away from the scene, but it is a slow process. We see Rippin Took stop frequently to rest. Then, she looks to her side and sees that Jessie Brandybuck is far-off to the side-they had gotten separated without even realizing it)

Rippin Took: (Frightened) Jessie! Jessie!

(Jessie Brandybuck looks over just as a Rider's horse blocks her from view. Rippin Took exclaims in shock, and tries to turn around, but ends up turning on her back. We see her looking up and scream as she sees a horse rearing on its back legs almost right above her. Luckily, the horse places its hooves a few inches away from her, so Rippin Took sighs in relief. Then, we see the horse turn around so that its hindquarters are facing the hobbit. Rippin Took suddenly realizes what its doing and her eyes go wide)

Rippin Took: (Hysterically) Holy sh-!

(We get a last view of the horse lifting its tail before we go to the next scene)