Scene Ten

(We now go back to three other travelers-Jimagorn, Megolas, & Brimli, searching for Rippin Took & Jessie Brandybuck within the darkness of the Fangorn Forest. Each of them has their weapons drawn, and Brimli stops to survey a black liquid on a nearby branch. She puts some on her fingertip and puts it to her mouth to taste. She gives a shout of disgust and spits it out)

Brimli: (Disgustedly) Orc blood! Ick!

Megolas: (Agitated) Will you please quit doing that? That is so unhygienic!

Jimagorn: (Seriously, surveying the ground for tracks) There are tracks that I do not recognize in here. They are much bigger than Orc or hobbit.

(Suddenly, there is another series of soft howling and cracking noises fills the forest. The three wanderers look about worriedly. Once it has subsided, Jimagorn speaks)

Jimagorn: (Clutching his chest and whispering) What was that?

Megolas: (With a small smile on her face as she speaks) The trees are talking to one another. They sense our presence-they don't trust us.

Brimli: (In a confused tone) Those were trees? I thought they were killer whales!

Jimagorn: (Gesturing sharply and whispering to the Dwarf) Brimli! Lower your axe!

Brimli: (Confused) Hmm? (Sees axe and suddenly comprehends the situation with a nod) Oh yeah! (Nervously laughs as she puts the axe behind her back. Then, she begins to speak bitterly as she looks about the area) Good for nothing trees-scare the willies out of me!

Megolas: (In a warning tone to the Dwarf) It would be wise to show some respect, dear Dwarf! The trees speak to each other-have a mind of their own. The Elves started it-caused them to come alive and talk to one another.

Brimli: (In an annoyed tone) So-if we get attacked by a tree, then this is technically your fault!

(Megolas rolls her eyes in agitation and walks off to join Jimagorn in his search. Brimli follows after a moment of surveying the area)

Brimli: (In a bitter tone) I swear! What do trees have to talk about, anyways? "Say, my bark's coming off!" "Really? I'm beginning to experience some major sap shortage this month! Maybe I could be producing spores!"

(We see the three move deeper into the forest, occasionally pausing as they hear the trees speak to one another occasionally. Suddenly, Megolas pauses as she hears something else)

Megolas: (To Jimagorn in Elvish) Jimagorn, I see something!

Brimli: (In a frustrated tone) Damn it! There they go, speaking in Elvish again!

Jimagorn: (Running up to Megolas and also speaking in Elvish) What do you see?

Megolas: (Smiling grimly and speaking in English) The older and most gorgeous wizard approaches.

(Megolas lets her eyes dart to behind her, and Jimagorn nods in understanding. Brimli realizes what's going on, and looks about nervously. Slowly, Jimagorn pulls out his broadsword, and Megolas grips her bow tighter)

Jimagorn: (In a serious whisper) Do not let him speak-he will put a spell on us. For some weird reason, they don't like using swords to defend themselves.

Megolas: (In a humorous tone) Maybe they think saying spells make them sexier. I mean, with Men, it's touching themselves and with Dwarves, it's swinging axes.

Brimli: (Shocked as she looks at the Elf) How'd you know that?

Megolas: (Smiling at the Dwarf) It's hard to miss, Brimli.

Brimli: (In a defensive tone) Yeah, well, if you think you're so big, what makes Elves feel sexy?

(Before Megolas can answer, Jimagorn shushes them sternly)

Jimagorn: (Whispering) When I turn around, we attack. Ready?

(The two nod towards Jimagorn, and they all turn around to face the white figure behind them standing upon a stump-the older and most gorgeous wizard. Megolas shoots arrows quickly towards the figure, but the wizard deflects them quickly, as if in instinct. Brimli starts throwing knives at the other, but the wizard deflects them as well. Jimagorn raises his sword for a blow, but the wizard waves his hand casually and the sword grows brighter and gets hotter, causing Jimagorn to gasp in pain and release the sword. The three look upon the wizard, squinting through the great white light illuminating from the wizard. When it speaks, it sounds like Andraman)

Voice of Andraman: (Menacing as ever) You seek two young hobbits in these forests, don't you?

Megolas: (Shielding her face with her hands from the light, and in a bitter tone) So much for not letting him speak, huh Jimagorn?

Jimagorn: (Angrily) What have you done with them?

(The wizard speaks again, and it sounds like Kendalf, this time)

Voice of Kendalf: (Gentle and reassuring) They passed through these woods, the day before yesterday. They met up with me. Does that comfort you?

Brimli: (Grumpily) Of course not, you twit! Does it look like we're dancing around a may pole to you? Gees!

Jimagorn: (Feeling like there's some nasty work afoot) Who are you?

(The wizard does not speak, only stands there staring at the three companions. The three look at one another in confusion, wondering what they're really waiting for)

Jimagorn: (Angrily and demanding) Answer! Show yourself!

(The light fades slightly and we see the identity of the wizard-it is Kendalf. But it doesn't look like Kendalf at all. He is slightly more handsome that before, and he wears white robes in place of his gray ones. He looks as if he had never fallen-never been in any battle concerning a fire demon. He also carries a white staff instead of a wooden one, and he seems to bear more power than before. As he looks upon the three familiar faces, Kendalf smiles good-heartedly. Jimagorn is aghast, clutching his chest in shock. Megolas & Brimli are looking like they are staring into the face of death)

Jimagorn: (In barely more than a whisper) It-It cannot be!

Megolas: (Getting upon her knees and speaking gratefully) Forgive me, Kendalf! I did not mean to shoot you!

Kendalf: (In an irritable tone) Well, I should hope not! I come back to you guys, and this is how you greet me: shooting arrows and swords at me? I'd hate to be over at your houses when relatives come over!

Brimli: (In a defensive tone) Hey! What goes on at my house during Thanksgiving is none of your concern, Kendalf!

(Kendalf smiles at the group, as if to assure them that it really is he. Brimli is still shielding her eyes slightly-it is still rather bright)

Brimli: (In an agitated voice) Okay! I know it's a remarkable thing, but ease up on the lighting, a little! Gees!

(We hear the tech crew mutter their apologies and the lighting is turned down sufficiently. Megolas is still staring upon Kendalf as if transfixed)

Megolas: (In a breathless voice) Forgive us, Kendalf-we thought you were Andraman.

Kendalf: (With a small smile coming to his face) I am Andraman.

Jimagorn: (Pulling out his sword valiantly) I knew it! Somebody get my battle hair gel! I need to look intimidating, yet rugged and sexy at the same time!

Kendalf: (Angrily) NO! You do not fully comprehend my words!

Brimli: (Irritably) Well, why shouldn't we? One minute, you say that you're Kendalf.the next, you say you're our biggest threat, Andraman! Don't tell me you've changed your name to Kendraman, or something, and you're the extremely old and most annoying one!

Kendalf: (Giving an annoyed sigh) No, you twits! I was-(Darkly to Brimli) and I would just like to state it as unfair of your talks of Sestle, the old and most annoying one in the wizard's council! This is what I'm trying to say: (Clears his throat and speaks dramatically) I am Andraman, the older and most gorgeous one-or as he should have been.

Brimli: (Nodding in understanding) Oh! That makes more sense.

(For a while, the three look upon their old friend, who stands as an enigma to them all. Finally, Megolas stands up and decides to break the silence)

Megolas: (In a small voice) Er-aren't you supposed to be dead?

Kendalf: (Smiling upon the Elf) What would make you think such a thing, Megolas?

Jimagorn: (Breathless and incredulous as he speaks) You-fell! I saw you! We all saw you!

Kendalf: (We close in on his face as he explains) Yes-I did fall. I fell through fire and darkness.

(We now go back to when Kendalf started fighting the Balrog on a mountaintop, using a flaming sword and staff. The Balrog is screeching hysterically as it tries to lunge at the wizard and finish him. We hear Kendalf explain to the others)

Voice of Kendalf: (Dramatically) Upon the highest peak of the lowest dungeon of Moria, I fought the Balrog. I was meant to finish him-he was to be no more.

(We see Kendalf shout as he deflects the blow of the Balrog's whip with his sword. The Balrog gives an almighty shout, but it gives Kendalf the advantage he's going to need. Kendalf lunges the sword into the Balrog's chest, and the creature gives a horrible shriek of pain. Finally spent and through, the Balrog totters off the edge of the mountain and lands with a hard thump in a snow bank, steaming and smoking-finally dead. We see the past Kendalf staring at the Balrog's body as if spellbound, looking horrible in his tattered robes and looking quite exhausted. The flame in his sword has finally gone out)

Voice of Kendalf: (Dramatically) It was finished, the Balrog was no more. I-however-was not as stable.

(We see the past Kendalf collapse immediately upon the mountaintop, his staff rolling away from him. We then get a good look at the past Kendalf's face, which is extremely weary and on the edge of death)

Kendalf: (In a weary tone, almost crazy) Heh.heh.look at the pretty colors.

Voice of Kendalf: (Simply) Darkness enveloped me.

(We then close in on Kendalf's eye, which turns into a strange universe of stars and bright light)

Voice of Kendalf: (In good detail) I flew through time and space, feeling the weight of death upon me as I flew. I knew I was through.

(The universe suddenly fades out and we are looking at the face of the past Kendalf, whose eyes open and he starts gasping for air)

Voice of Kendalf: (Seriously) But I thought wrong, apparently. Life was pushed back into me.

Kendalf: (Through the coughs and gags) Damn.position.in.society!

Voice of Kendalf: (Dramatically) I have been sent back to earth.

(We now see the present Kendalf, talking to Jimagorn, looking quite serious at the moment)

Kendalf: (Finishing off the story with a glance to the side) until my duty has been fulfilled. (Under his breath) Damn duty calls!

Jimagorn: (Still awestricken by this new development) Kendalf-?

Kendalf: (Looking at the other in confusion) Kendalf? Kendalf? (Thinking about it for a while) I know that name.

Brimli: (Rolling her eyes) Old people can never remember anything! I remember Malin would call me all the way from Moria just to ask me if I knew where his remote control was!

(Megolas shushes the Dwarf, and Kendalf's face brightens as he remembers)

Kendalf: (With a smile upon his face) That is what they used to call me: Kendalf, the old but extremely attractive. (Smile growing wider as he looks at Jimagorn) I am Kendalf, the older and most gorgeous one, now.

(Jimagorn gives a great smile at this, pleased to have his friend back after all. Suddenly, Megolas voices something)

Megolas: (In a tone of great wonderment) Kendalf-where did you get those white robes and staff?

(Kendalf bites his lip as he remembers something. We see a flashback, occurring in Lórien. We see Woodelf#1 walking through the forest, whistling contently as he does so. Woodelf#1 is wearing the same robes that the present Kendalf wears, and even carries the same staff. Then, we see the past Kendalf-in his torn and tattered gray robes-jump behind Woodelf#1 and lob him over the head with his old wooden staff. Woodelf#1 collapses on the ground, out cold. Kendalf looks about to make sure nobody saw or heard, and drags Woodelf#1 quickly behind a bush. We now see the present Kendalf looking strangely shifty eyed as he surveys an intrigued Megolas)

Kendalf: (In a quick tone) Found them. (Turns to Jimagorn and speaks in a serious tone) I come to you-at the turn of the time.

(We now see Kendalf walking briskly in the Fangorn Forest, leading the company of three out of it and speaking briskly)

Kendalf: (Seriously) One stage of your journey is over; another begins.

Brimli: (In an exhausted voice from trying to keep up) Gees! It seemed like just yesterday when we were assigned to another stupid mission! How many missions are going to be involved in this thing?

Megolas: (Darkly) I swear! Kendalf comes back after the whole company gets screwed up and he doesn't even ask about Mikomir!

Kendalf: (In an offhand type of tone) Eh-I kind of expected him to die all along.

(Everybody stares at the wizard, who appears as though he has said nothing. Jimagorn is shocked)

Jimagorn: (Exasperatedly) Why didn't you tell us? If you knew that Mikomir was going to die, why didn't you tell us?

Kendalf: (After a moment of considering it) Nobody told me that I was close to dying! It's a fair share, if you ask me!

Jimagorn: (In a defensive tone) You knew you were going to die.

(Kendalf turns around to survey an agitated looking Jimagorn, who is stroking himself upon the chest fondly. Kendalf scowls at the Man)

Kendalf: (Agitated) You know what, Jimagorn, I'm getting tired of your lip! (In an important tone) Now, back to the situation at hand, we've got to act quickly. Andraman is preparing to take the Rohan.

Jimagorn: (Horrified) What?

Kendalf: (Seriously) Yes, Jimagorn, son of Jimathorn. We ride to Edoras, where we will be needed.

Megolas: (Seriously, walking briskly besides the wizard) Yes-we did hear something of peril in Edoras from the Riders of Rohan.they said the king was acting rather strangely.

Kendalf: (Grimly) It is more than the king behaving in an awry fashion, my Elven friend. Something is corrupt within the Golden Hall-we must ride to Edoras to expose and stop it.

Brimli: (Angrily stopping) Excuse me, but aren't we forgetting the major reason why we're out in the Fangorn in the first place?

(The three eye the Dwarf curiously for a while)

Jimagorn: (With a shrug) To find a Pizza Hut?

Brimli: (Angrily) No, you ninnies! The hobbits! Jessie and Rippin are still in this forest! We need to help them! Who knows what may happen to them if we are to leave them in the keep of these strange, awry, dangerous.

(Brimli stops as she hears the trees around her crack and groan in protest. Quickly, Brimli looks about shifty-eyed)

Brimli: (In a loud, nervous voice) I mean-charming, quite charming trees! I love the trees! See? (Moves to a large tree nearby) I've no beef with the trees!

(The Dwarf pats the tree delicately, but it falls down within a few seconds. For a while the four simply stare at the fallen tree) Brimli: (In a rather angry tone) Well, damn.

Kendalf: (In a reassuring tone) Do not fret, Brimli. The hobbits are in safe enough hands. In fact, I believe it best if we let them stay within the Fangorn.for something is about to happen that has not happened in a long time.

Jimagorn: (In a happy, bright-eyed tone) Ooh! Are they opening the gates to Willy Wonka's factory?

Megolas: (Angrily) You idiot, Jimagorn! Willy Wonka's factory is just a child fantasy from a book! It's not real!

Jimagorn: (In a disappointed tone) I thought as much.

Kendalf: (Continuing mysteriously) The trees are beginning to wake up-talk more frequently to one another. I believe that the coming of Jessie and Rippin will be like the throwing of small stones that starts an avalanche.

Megolas: (Rolling her eyes) That bad, eh? Probably will be Rippin's fault!

Jimagorn: (To Kendalf) One thing that has not changed about you, Kendalf, is that you like to speak in riddles! Have you been reading The Hobbit?

Kendalf: (Rolling his eyes) Jimagorn, of course I haven't read The Hobbit! But-(Dropping his voice as he speaks to Jimagorn) you wouldn't know what is like little treasure chests, but no hinges, and has gold inside, would you? I read it recently, haven't gotten around to finish reading it, and it's killing me! (Clears his throat dramatically) Now, we must ride to Edoras!

(We now see the small company emerge from the Fangorn Forest, and Kendalf whistles a sharp, but slightly gentle tune. Jimagorn, Megolas, & Brimli all shrug at one another, apparently confused. But seconds later, we see a beautiful white horse gallop towards Kendalf. Megolas, Brimli, & Jimagorn look at the approaching horse in amazement)

Megolas: (In a small voice) One of the Wild Horses-unless my eyes are cheated by some spell!

(We see the horse come a bit closer-and suddenly see it is actually a very ugly, gangly horse that is white, but flecked with dirt all over. It looks ancient; yet Kendalf still smiles at it with pride)

Brimli: (In a small, logical tone) Yep-that's a spell, all right.

Kendalf: (In a gentle tone) Yes, I have known this horse well. It is my beloved friend, Shadowfax. It may not be the prettiest horse you may find in these parts-you could say I won it from Radaghast the Brown in a bet on dog racing-but it has served me somewhat satisfactory throughout my years. (Pats the horse gently on the side, then addresses the other thee companions) Mount your horses-we leave immediately.

(Jimagorn mounts his immediately, as does Megolas. As Brimli follows the Elf, she is mumbling darkly)

Brimli: (Darkly) Wouldn't you know it? The wizard gets a horse and I have to ride with the Elf. How unfair!

(We see Jimagorn, Megolas, & Brimli riding through the plains of Rohan, following Kendalf on Shadowfax, heading to Edoras. They leave behind the Fangorn Forest, ready to emerge into an entirely different mission altogether)