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Dive into the adventure of Middle-earth with the legendary 1981 BBC Radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings! In this first episode, "The Shadow of the Past," we're transported to the Shire for Bilbo Baggins's farewell party. But the celebrations hide a sinister secret: the One Ring. Join a young Frodo as he inherits a destiny far greater than he could have imagined, and Gandalf the Grey as he unravels the terrifying truth about the ring's origin and its master, the Dark Lord Sauron.
This full-cast audio drama is a classic for Tolkien fans, featuring incredible performances from a stellar cast including Ian Holm as Frodo and Michael Hordern as Gandalf. Experience the magic of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece in a unique and captivating audio format. Perfect for listening on your commute, during a workout, or while curled up with a cup of tea.
Whether you're a long-time fan or discovering the world of Middle-earth for the first time, this series is a must-listen. Don't miss out on this timeless journey!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction to the Shire and Bilbo's Party
5:30 - Bilbo's Farewell and the Ring's First Move
12:15 - Gandalf's Suspicions and His Departure from the Shire
25:40 - The Tale of Isildur and the Ring's History
40:00 - The Revelation: The One Ring and the Threat of Sauron
50:10 - Frodo's Burden and Gandalf's Counsel
👍 If you love this radio drama, give us a thumbs up and leave a comment below with your favorite part of this episode!
This full-cast audio drama is a classic for Tolkien fans, featuring incredible performances from a stellar cast including Ian Holm as Frodo and Michael Hordern as Gandalf. Experience the magic of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece in a unique and captivating audio format. Perfect for listening on your commute, during a workout, or while curled up with a cup of tea.
Whether you're a long-time fan or discovering the world of Middle-earth for the first time, this series is a must-listen. Don't miss out on this timeless journey!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction to the Shire and Bilbo's Party
5:30 - Bilbo's Farewell and the Ring's First Move
12:15 - Gandalf's Suspicions and His Departure from the Shire
25:40 - The Tale of Isildur and the Ring's History
40:00 - The Revelation: The One Ring and the Threat of Sauron
50:10 - Frodo's Burden and Gandalf's Counsel
👍 If you love this radio drama, give us a thumbs up and leave a comment below with your favorite part of this episode!
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FunTranscript
00:00Long years ago, in the second age of Middle-earth, the elven smiths of Eregion forged rings of great power.
00:18Then the Dark Lord Sauron forged one ring in the fires of Mount Doom in the land of Mordor.
00:25This ring he made to rule the others, and their power was bound up with it, so that they could last only so long as it too should last.
00:36And from that time, war never ceased between Sauron and the elves.
00:41Three rings they hid from him, but the others he gathered into his hands, hoping to make himself master of all things.
00:50Then was an alliance made against the Dark Lord, and Sauron was, for that time, vanquished.
00:58But at length his dark shadow stretched forth once more, and he sought again for mastery over the rings of power.
01:08One ring had come into the possession of Gollum, a slimy creature as dark as darkness, who kept its secret onto himself in the nethermost depths of the mines beneath the misty mountains.
01:20There it was hidden, even from the searching eye of Sauron, the Lord of the Rings.
01:27The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
01:39Prepared for radio in 13 episodes by Brian Sibley
01:43With Ian Holm, Michael Horton, John Lemesurer and Peter Woodthorpe
01:49Episode 1, adapted by Brian Sibley
01:54The Shadow of the Past
01:58Long years Gollum possessed his ring, before it left him and passed to another.
02:05Gollum sought unceasingly to recover it, and without realising what power drew him on, he made his way, step by step and mile by mile, to Mordor.
02:16Precious... Precious... Precious... We've lost the Precious...
02:27After all these ages... It's gone...
02:33It was our birthday present, and it's lost...
02:38Curse us and crush us, but we'll never find it again... No... No...
02:45No... No...
02:52You...
02:53Us... Us... Us...
02:54Miserable creature!
02:56Why are you lurking here?
02:58No! Not lurking, Precious...
03:00Lurking... Yes, we're looking for our birthday present, aren't we, Precious? Yes, that's all.
03:05The Lord Sauron has no liking for those who pry and spy.
03:08Spying? Prying?
03:11Women are harm, Precious...
03:14None come or go here without the Lord Sauron's leave.
03:16If you will not answer here, you shall answer in Mordor.
03:22Nothing to answer. Is there, Precious? Nothing? No, no, nothing.
03:25There are... Devices in Barad-Dur to loosen the lying tongue.
03:30No!
03:31No!
03:32Come!
03:33No, Precious!
03:34No!
03:35Precious!
03:36Puts us down!
03:37Puts us down!
03:40No!
03:41No!
03:42No!
03:43No!
03:45Why come you to the land of Mordor?
03:48We were only looking for our Precious, weren't we? Our Precious, which we love.
03:54Precious?
03:55What is this Precious?
03:57It was ours, and the nasty noses stole it from us.
04:01What was stolen?
04:06We only used it to catch our food with Precious, didn't we?
04:10Silly goblinses couldn't see us when we wore the Precious.
04:15We would have died of hunger in those mountains, we would, we would.
04:21If it hadn't been for Precious.
04:23Where did you get this thing?
04:27It was given to us, Precious, as a birthday present.
04:31And we kept it safe, oh yes, very safe, for long ages.
04:36To the thief took it, Thomas.
04:38Who took it?
04:39We don't know.
04:40We don't know.
04:41We don't know.
04:42Nasty nosy was, wasn't he, Precious?
04:45Trixie do.
04:46Tried to cheat us, he did.
04:48Lost in the mountains, he was lost.
04:52Came nosing round our pool, he did.
04:55Asked us riddles, he did.
04:58Cheated, he did.
05:00Stole it, he did.
05:03Who stole it?
05:04We've said, haven't we, Precious?
05:08We don't know, don't we, Precious?
05:15Baggins!
05:16Baggins, he said it was!
05:18That's all we know, isn't it, Precious?
05:19Yes, yes, yes.
05:20When was this?
05:21Long ago.
05:22Yes, yes.
05:23Years, years ago.
05:24And we've been looking for it ever since, haven't we?
05:27Yes.
05:28Little cheating thief.
05:30We ought to have squeezed it.
05:36Squeezed it, we are!
05:37Where is Baggins now?
05:38Don't know.
05:39Don't know, do we, Precious?
05:40No, we don't know where the Baggins is.
05:43Came from the Shire, didn't he?
05:45Yes, yes, but we don't know where that is.
05:48We don't know.
05:49You lie!
05:50No!
05:51My master demands the truth.
05:53No, no, Precious, we don't know where that is.
05:57Without the master, all we know.
06:00Yes, yes, yes.
06:02Yes!
06:07And who was Baggins?
06:09He was Mr. Bilbo Baggins.
06:12And Mr. Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit.
06:15He had once lived at Bag End on the hill in the village of Hobbiton across the water in the Shire in the peaceful north-west of Middle-earth.
06:23Now, however, Bilbo was no longer the occupant of Bag End and sinister shadows lengthened in the Shire.
06:32But let us go back seventeen years to an evening in early September when the chief topic of conversation at the Ivy Bush Tavern in Hobbiton was Mr. Bilbo Baggins.
06:42You can say what you like, Gaffer Gamgee, but Bag End's a queer place, and its folk are queerer.
06:50Mr. Bilbo is a very nice, well-spoken, gentle hobbit, Ted Sandiman, and don't you go saying otherwise.
06:56But what about this Frodo that lives with him? Baggins is his name, but he's more than half a brandy book.
07:02Aye, Gaffer, Sandiman's right there, and they're rum folk in Buckland, living on the wrong side of Brandywine River and all.
07:08Be that as it may, Daddy Two-Foot, Mr. Frodo is a Baggins. He's Mr. Bilbo's nephew, and his first and second cousin.
07:16And anyhow, he's as nice a young hobbit as you could wish to me.
07:20Well, there still some us think when young Frodo's parents upped and died, Mr. Bilbo ought to have left well enough alone.
07:26And there still some us think Mr. Bilbo did him a great kindness by adopting him as his heir, and bringing him back here to live among decent folk.
07:33To live among queer folk, I says.
07:35Well, I've gardened for Mr. Bilbo more years than I can't remember. I finds him decent enough.
07:40And so does my lad Sam. He's always in and out of Bag End.
07:44Mr. Bilbo's learned in his letters.
07:46Oh, letters.
07:47Well, meaning no harm, mark you. I hope no harm will come of it.
07:52Well, if you know so much about the goings-on at Bag End, what's all this talk of a party?
07:59It's to be a birthday party. Mr. Bilbo and Mr. Frodo have the same birthday, you know.
08:05Oh.
08:06September the 22nd.
08:07Ah.
08:08This year, Mr. Frodo will be 33, come of age. And Mr. Bilbo will be 11 to one. And a very respectable age, too, for a hobbit.
08:16Ah, gathers right there. Well, the old Took himself only reached 130.
08:21And Mr. Bilbo's certainly well-preserved for his age. Why, he don't look no different now to what he did when he was 90.
08:28Well, come to that, when he was 50.
08:31Well-preserved. Unchanged would be nearer the mark. Some folk of all the luck.
08:38Anyway, who's going to this here party?
08:42My Sam says that everyone's going to be invited. And there's going to be presents, Marky. Yeah, presents for all. This very month, as is.
08:51Honestly, Frodo, I shall be glad when September the 22nd's been and gone.
08:55Why? What's up?
08:56Half Hobbiton's up.
08:58It's certainly about outside Bag End as if they expected to see a dragon pop out any minute.
09:03Our party certainly seems to be causing rather a lot of excitement.
09:06Well, I put up a notice on the gate now saying no admittance except on party business.
09:11So perhaps you'll have a little peace and quiet for a while.
09:14Come on.
09:18Yes? Oh, I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, Mr. Bilbo, sir.
09:21No, no, no, no. It's all right, Sam. What can I do for you?
09:24Nothing, Mr. Bilbo. I met the postman from Bywater on his way up here with another bundle of replies to those party invitations of yours.
09:30And as the poor fellow had been up here four times already today, I said it's how I'd deliver them for him.
09:35Well, thank you, Sam.
09:36Well, not at all, Mr. Bilbo.
09:39May I say how much me and the gaffer's looking forward to your party?
09:43Well, a party at Bag End without the Ganges would be unthinkable.
09:47Well, anyway, if you'll excuse me, I'd best be getting on with trimming that there hedge of yours.
09:52Well, very good, Sam. And thank you again for playing postman.
09:55My pleasure, Mr. Bilbo.
09:57Now then, Frodo.
10:00Now, you start on these.
10:02Yes.
10:03And I'll open this lot.
10:07Um, thank you for your kind invitation.
10:10I should be very pleased to come, Rory Mac Brandybuck.
10:13Good old Rory.
10:14Oh, rest my soul, Frodo. Listen to this.
10:16We wish to acknowledge your invitation and to notify you of our acceptance, Otho and Lobelia Sackfield Baggins.
10:24Well, you didn't think they'd miss it, did you?
10:27Oh, I suppose not.
10:29But I'm sure they're not at all happy that I've made you my heir.
10:33Now who is it?
10:37Ah, Gandalf!
10:38Well, Mr. Baggins, you needn't look so surprised.
10:42Well, what on earth have you got in that cart?
10:44Fireworks.
10:45Well, surely you weren't planning a party without fireworks.
10:48My word, it's a good many years since any of Gandalf's fireworks were seen in the Shire.
10:52Well, wizards have more important business to attend to than making elf fountains and goblin barkers for the entertainment of hobbits.
10:59Now then, how long are you going to keep me standing on the doorstep?
11:03Oh, I'm sorry, Gandalf.
11:04I'm sorry.
11:05Come in.
11:06Come in.
11:08Ah, hello, Frodo.
11:09Hello, Gandalf.
11:11Did I hear you say something about fireworks?
11:14You did.
11:16I always thought Gandalf's fireworks were a hobbit legend.
11:19Did you now?
11:20Can I take a peek?
11:21You can do better than that.
11:22I can?
11:23Yes.
11:24You can make sure no young hobbits go sneaking off with any.
11:27A single squib, mark you.
11:29All right.
11:30And that includes you, Frodo.
11:33Oh.
11:34Very well.
11:36Now, sit down, Gandalf.
11:38We'll have a pipe of old Toby together.
11:40Uh-huh.
11:41And you can tell me your news.
11:42Thank you, Bilbo.
11:44There's no pipe weed to compare with that of the Shire.
11:48I've missed it.
11:51As to news,
11:53that, for the moment, must wait.
11:58Oh, now.
12:01This is pleasant.
12:04I must say,
12:06your garden's looking very bright.
12:08Yes.
12:09Sam and his father keep it well for me.
12:11And I'm very fond of it.
12:12And of all the dear old Shire.
12:14And I think I need a holiday.
12:16Oh, you mean to go on with your plan, then?
12:18I do.
12:19I made up my mind months ago, and I haven't changed it.
12:22Oh, very well.
12:23Well, it's no good saying anymore.
12:26Stick to your plan, your whole plan, mind.
12:29And I hope it'll turn out for the best for you.
12:31Well, I have, sir.
12:32And for all of us.
12:33Anyway, I mean to enjoy myself on Thursday.
12:37Have my little joke.
12:38A little laugh, I wonder.
12:40Well, we shall see.
12:41You'll see.
12:42Eventually, after much excitement,
12:44Thursday, September the 22nd, actually came.
12:47That is the signal for supper.
13:04Yay!
13:05My dear people.
13:06Oh, dear.
13:07I think Bill Bear is about to make speech.
13:08My dear Bagginses and Woffins.
13:09And my dear Tookes and Bradley Bucks and Grubs and Chubs.
13:13Yes.
13:14And Burroses and Hornblowers.
13:15Yeah.
13:16Bulgers, Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Brockhouses.
13:17Oh, yes.
13:18Oh, yes.
13:19Oh, yes.
13:20Oh, yes.
13:21Oh, yes.
13:22Oh, yes.
13:23Oh, yes.
13:24Oh, yes.
13:25Oh, yes.
13:26Oh, yes.
13:27Oh, yes.
13:28Oh, yes.
13:29Oh, yes.
13:30Oh, yes.
13:31Oh, yes.
13:33Oh, yes.
13:34And Proudfoots.
13:35Proud feet.
13:36Oh, yes.
13:37Oh, yes.
13:38Proud foots.
13:39Yes.
13:40Also, my good Sackfield Bagginses, as I welcome back at last to Baggins.
13:45Now, while you're filling up the corners, as we hobbits put it, I hope you'll permit me
13:50a few words.
13:51Yay!
13:52Come on, sweet.
13:53Today is my 111th birthday.
13:55Oh.
13:56I'm 111 today.
13:58Yay!
13:59And I hope, I hope you're all enjoying it.
14:03I hope you're all enjoying yourselves as much as I am.
14:06Yay!
14:08Yay!
14:09No!
14:10Well, I shan't keep you long.
14:13Yay!
14:15But I've called you together for a purpose.
14:18Indeed, for three purposes.
14:20First of all, to tell you that I'm immensely fond of you all, and that 111 years is too short
14:26a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits.
14:30Yay!
14:31Yay!
14:32Yay!
14:33I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you as
14:38well as you deserve.
14:40Yay!
14:41And secondly, I have called you all together to celebrate my birthday.
14:45Hooray!
14:46Hooray!
14:47Or I should say our birthday.
14:49For it is, of course, also the birthday of my nephew and heir, Frodo.
14:53Frodo.
14:54He comes of age and comes into his inheritance today.
14:57Hooray!
14:58Did you hear that, okay?
15:01What does it mean, inheritance?
15:03I don't know, Lobelia, but I don't like the sound of it at all.
15:06Together, our years total 144.
15:10Your numbers were chosen to fit this remarkable total.
15:13One gross, if I may use the expression.
15:17One gross.
15:18Nasty vulgar expression.
15:20Thirdly and finally, I wish to make an announcement.
15:24I regret to announce that although, as I said, 111 years is far too short a time to
15:30spend among you, this is the end.
15:34I'm going.
15:35I'm leaving.
15:36Now.
15:37Goodbye.
15:38Where did he go?
15:39He vanished.
15:40How did he do it?
15:41How extremely bad-mannered.
15:42He's mad.
15:43I always said so mad.
15:45While Bilbo Baggins was making his speech, he had been fingering a golden ring in his pocket.
15:51The very ring that Gollum had once possessed and lost.
15:52And as he said goodbye, he slipped it on his finger, vanished, and was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again.
16:06He walked briskly back indoors and changed his face.
16:09And he had been fingering a golden ring in his pocket.
16:12He slipped it on his finger, vanished, and was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again.
16:18He walked briskly back indoors and changed into some travelling clothes.
16:23Ah, Gandalf.
16:25I wonder if you'd come to see me off.
16:27I'm glad to find you visible, Bilbo.
16:30I suppose you feel that everything has gone off splendidly and according to plan?
16:35Well, yes, I do.
16:36Though that last firework was rather surprising.
16:39It quite startled me.
16:40A little addition of your own, I suppose.
16:43It was.
16:44You've wisely kept that ring secret all these years.
16:47And it seemed to me necessary to give your guests something else that would seem to explain your sudden vanishment.
16:53You're an interfering old busybody.
16:55Well, I sweat you know best, as usual.
16:57I do.
16:58When I know anything.
17:01But I don't feel too sure about this whole affair.
17:06Are you going any further with it?
17:09Yes, I am.
17:10I feel I need a holiday.
17:12A very long holiday.
17:14Probably a permanent holiday.
17:16I don't expect I shall return.
17:18Hmm?
17:19In fact, I don't mean to.
17:20Why, Bilbo?
17:21Ah, I'm old, Gandalf.
17:24I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel sort of stretched.
17:28Like butter that has been scraped over too much bread.
17:32I can't be right.
17:33Hmm.
17:34Hmm.
17:35Hmm.
17:36No, it doesn't seem right.
17:39No, I believe your plan probably is for the best.
17:43Well, I've made up my mind, anyway.
17:45I want to see the mountains again.
17:48And then find somewhere where I can rest in peace and quiet without a lot of relatives prying around,
17:54and a string of confounded visitors hanging on the bell.
17:58And, Dot?
17:59Yes?
18:00You'll keep an eye on Frodo for me, won't you?
18:03Yes, I will.
18:04Two eyes.
18:05As often as I can spare them.
18:07He would come with me, of course, if I asked him.
18:10But he doesn't really want to yet.
18:12He's still in love with the Shire, with woods and fields and little rivers.
18:18Anyway, he ought to be comfortable here.
18:20I'm leaving everything to him.
18:23Everything?
18:24The ring as well?
18:26Well, yes, yes.
18:29I suppose so.
18:31Where is it?
18:32In an envelope, if you must know.
18:35There, on the mantelpiece.
18:37Where, Bilbo?
18:39I don't see it.
18:40What?
18:42Bless my soul.
18:43No, no, no.
18:45It's here.
18:46It's here in my pocket.
18:47Now, isn't that odd?
18:48Oh.
18:49But then, after all, why not?
18:51Why shouldn't it stay there?
18:52No, no, no.
18:53There's no need to get angry about it.
18:55I'm angry because it's mine.
18:56It's my own.
18:57My precious.
18:58Ah.
18:59Yes.
19:00My precious.
19:01It's been called that before, but not by you.
19:04Well, I must say it now.
19:06Even if that horrid golem creature said the same once, it's not his now.
19:11He lost it, and I found it, and now it belongs to me, and I shall keep it.
19:14If you say that again, Bilbo, I shall get angry, and then you shall see Gandalf the Grey uncloaked.
19:23But the rig is mine, isn't it?
19:25I mean, I found it, and golem would have killed me if I hadn't kept it and used it to escape from him.
19:31The hobbit must have a competition with us, precious.
19:36If it asks us a riddle, and we doesn't answer, then we does what it wants and shows it the way out.
19:42If it pressures us, and it doesn't answer, then we ease it, my precious.
19:54All right.
19:59Ask us, ask us, ask us a riddle.
20:03What have I got in my pocket?
20:06Not fair! Not fair!
20:08That's not a riddle, it isn't fair, my precious.
20:10It doesn't fair to ask us what it's got in its nasty little pocket.
20:13What have I got in my pocket?
20:17Must give us a few guesses.
20:19My precious fingers.
20:21Very well.
20:22Guess away.
20:25Hanses!
20:26Wrong.
20:27Yes?
20:28Yes again.
20:31Knife!
20:32Wrong.
20:34Last guess.
20:36Come on, time's up.
20:39Strings or nothing?
20:40Both wrong.
20:42Now you must show me the way out of here.
20:44If we say so.
20:45Precious, show the nasty little baggins is the way out of here.
20:49But what has it got in its pocket?
20:51In its pockets this way.
20:52Nothing, precious, but not nothing.
20:56Never mind.
20:57A promise is a promise.
20:58Precious, it is.
20:59Impatient, precious.
21:01But what?
21:02But what?
21:03What?
21:04No.
21:05No.
21:06No.
21:07Oh, yes.
21:08We can guess what it's got in its pockets this time.
21:09Can't we, precious?
21:10We've lost it yet.
21:11He's found it.
21:12Yes.
21:13He's found it.
21:14Yes.
21:15He must have.
21:16Curse the baggins.
21:17Please.
21:18Please.
21:19Please.
21:20Where's the bag?
21:21Curse the baggins.
21:22Curse the baggins.
21:23Please.
21:24Please.
21:25Please.
21:26Where's the bag?
21:27Where's the baggins?
21:28Curse the baggins.
21:29Curse the baggins.
21:30Please.
21:31Please.
21:32Please.
21:33Please.
21:38Where's the bag?
21:39Where's the baggins?
21:40Curse the baggins.
21:41Punish the baggins!
21:44Curse the baggins!
21:46We hate it!
21:48We hate it!
21:50We hate it!
21:51We hate it!
21:57I'm not a thief, whatever he said.
22:00I've never called you one, and I'm not one either.
22:04I'm not trying to rob you, but to help you.
22:07I'm sorry, but I felt so strange.
22:10You see, the ring has been growing on my mind lately.
22:14I'm always wanting to put it on and disappear,
22:16or wondering if it's safe, and pulling it out to make sure.
22:21Sometimes I've felt it was like an eye looking at me.
22:26Then go away and leave it behind. Stop possessing it.
22:30Give it to Frodo, and I will look after him.
22:35All right, I will.
22:37Well, after all, that's what this party business was all about, really.
22:41To give away lots of presents and somehow make it easier to give it away at the same time.
22:47It hasn't made it any easier in the end, but it would be a pity to spoil the joke.
22:53Very well, the ring goes to Frodo with all the rest.
22:57And now I really must be starting, or somebody else will catch me.
23:02Bilbo?
23:02Yes?
23:03You still have the ring in your pocket.
23:06What?
23:07Well, that's why so sorry I have.
23:10It's still in the envelope with my will.
23:12You'd better take it and deliver it for me.
23:14No.
23:15No.
23:16No, don't give the ring to me.
23:19Put it on the mantelpiece.
23:21It'll be safe enough there till Frodo comes.
23:25I shall wait for him.
23:26All right, if you say so.
23:28There.
23:29Well, that's that.
23:32Now I'm off.
23:34Oh, what fun.
23:39Goodbye, dear Gandalf.
23:40Goodbye for the present, Bilbo.
23:42Take care of yourself.
23:43Don't worry about me.
23:44I'm as happy now as I've ever been.
23:48Goodbye.
23:49Goodbye.
23:49The road goes ever on and on.
23:54Down from the door where it began.
23:58Now far ahead the road has gone.
24:02And I must follow, if I can.
24:07Goodbye, my dear dear Gandalf.
24:09Until our next meeting.
24:11Until it joins some larger way.
24:15Where many thoughts and errors meet.
24:20Standing wither then.
24:22Is he gone?
24:29Yes, he's gone at last.
24:33Oh, dear, I wish I...
24:34I mean, well, I hoped until this evening that it was only a joke,
24:42but I knew in my heart that he really meant to go.
24:46He always used to joke about serious things.
24:48I wish I'd come back sooner.
24:53Just... just to see him off.
24:55I really think he preferred slipping off quietly in the end.
24:59Don't be too troubled.
25:00He'll be all right now.
25:02He left a packet for you.
25:04There it is.
25:06You'll find his will and all the other documents in there.
25:09And I fancy you'll also find a golden ring.
25:13The ring?
25:14Oh, has he left me that?
25:16I wonder why.
25:16Still, it may be useful.
25:20It may.
25:21And it may not.
25:23You must be careful of that ring.
25:25I should not make use of it if I were you.
25:28Keep it safe and keep it secret.
25:31Why?
25:33What do you know already?
25:35Only what Bilbo told me.
25:37But what did he tell you, I wonder?
25:39He told me the truth.
25:41Not that old story about its having been a present.
25:44Yes, it was odd that he should have invented that.
25:47But odd things happen to people who have such treasures.
25:51If they use them, let it be a warning to you to be very careful with it.
25:58It may have other powers than just making you vanish when you wish to.
26:01I don't understand.
26:03No.
26:05Neither do I.
26:08I've merely begun to wonder about the ring.
26:12You're being very mysterious.
26:15What are you afraid of?
26:18I'm not certain.
26:20So I'll say no more.
26:21Well, I may be able to tell you something when I come back.
26:24Come back?
26:25Well, you're going away too.
26:26Yes, and I must go at once.
26:28At once?
26:29But why?
26:29I thought you were staying on for at least a week.
26:31I intended to, but I've had to change my mind.
26:34Well, how long will you be gone?
26:36It may be for some while, Frodo,
26:38but I'll come and see you again as soon as I can.
26:41Look out for me,
26:43especially at unlikely times.
26:47So take care of yourself.
26:48And remember what I said about the ring.
26:53Keep it safe and keep it secret.
26:58Goodbye.
27:00Goodbye, Gandalf.
27:06Keep it safe and keep it secret.
27:15Seventeen years passed.
27:19And Frodo all but forgot the ring.
27:22But the Dark Lord Sauron had not forgotten it.
27:25And learning from Gollum
27:27that a ring of power had been found by Baggins of the Shire,
27:31bent his mind to find it again.
27:35Riders of Mordor,
27:37the Lord Sauron commands,
27:41seek for the Shire.
27:43Find Baggins.
27:44Baggins.
27:45Ah!
27:45Ah!
27:50The nine black riders galloped out of Mordor
27:54to begin their quest.
27:57While in the Shire,
27:59Frodo was oblivious to the interest being shown
28:02in the name of Baggins.
28:04Ho, ho, ho, to the bottle I go
28:06to heal my heart
28:10and drown my woe.
28:14Good health, Bilbo,
28:15wherever you are.
28:16Gandalf!
28:27Hello, Frodo.
28:29All well, eh?
28:30All well.
28:32Though I've missed seeing my friend Gandalf.
28:34Come in, come in.
28:36Thank you, Frodo.
28:39Well, you look the same as ever.
28:42So do you.
28:43Or as far as I can remember.
28:45Yes, yes.
28:46It's been too long now.
28:48I thought you'd abandon the Shire forever.
28:51But I expect you've had more important people to visit
28:53than hobbits.
28:54Important, yes,
28:55but not necessarily more important.
28:59In fact,
29:00my visit now is of the utmost importance.
29:04I'm sorry, Gandalf.
29:05I don't understand.
29:06The ring, Frodo.
29:09Bilbo's ring.
29:11It's dangerous.
29:11Far more dangerous than even I had guessed.
29:16But such matters are best left until daylight.
29:20We'll talk about it in the morning.
29:23All right.
29:28Hmm.
29:31That was an excellent breakfast, Frodo.
29:33Good.
29:34Now.
29:36Oh, uh,
29:37how about a pipe before we talk?
29:39Oh, splendid.
29:41I once told Bilbo
29:43the one thing I miss about the Shire
29:47when I'm not there,
29:48apart, of course,
29:48from having breakfast
29:49with an agreeable hobbit,
29:50is its pipeweed.
29:52Well, now, which would you like?
29:53I see you.
29:54Longbottom leaf or
29:55old Toby?
29:57Or a southern star?
29:58I used to smoke old Toby with Bilbo.
30:01So let it be there.
30:01All right.
30:02Help yourself.
30:03Thank you, Frodo.
30:07Hmm.
30:09Sam's at work early, I see.
30:12Yes.
30:13He's a great fellow, Sam.
30:15He manages the garden by himself now.
30:17Gaffer's getting on.
30:21Now, Gandalf,
30:23last night you began to tell me
30:25that you thought
30:25the ring was dangerous.
30:28If it is,
30:29then I must know in what way.
30:30Mm-hmm.
30:33In many ways.
30:35It's far more powerful
30:37than I ever dared to suppose.
30:39So powerful
30:40that in the end
30:41it would utterly overcome
30:42anyone of mortal race
30:43who possessed it.
30:45It
30:45would possess him.
30:47How do you mean,
30:48possess him?
30:49A mortal, Frodo,
30:51who keeps one of the rings of power
30:52does not die.
30:54Hmm?
30:55He doesn't grow
30:56or obtain more life.
30:58He merely
30:59continues
31:00until at last
31:01every minute
31:02is weariness.
31:03And if he often
31:04uses the ring
31:05to make himself invisible,
31:07he fades.
31:08He becomes,
31:09in the end,
31:10permanently invisible
31:11and walks in twilight
31:13under the eye
31:14of the dark power
31:15that rules the rings.
31:17How terrifying!
31:20And Bilbo,
31:20how much did Bilbo
31:21know about all this?
31:22Very little,
31:23I'm sure.
31:24It seemed to him
31:25that something was
31:26wrong or odd,
31:28but he thought
31:29it was himself.
31:31He said he felt
31:31stretched,
31:34but he didn't suspect
31:35that the ring
31:35was to blame
31:36for the fact
31:36that he showed
31:37no signs of age.
31:39But it was an indication
31:40that the ring
31:41was getting control.
31:43But there wasn't
31:43any permanent harm
31:44done, was there?
31:45He would get
31:46all right in time,
31:47wouldn't he?
31:47I don't think
31:48you need worry
31:48about Bilbo.
31:50Of course,
31:50he possessed the ring
31:51for many years
31:52and used it
31:53and lied to others
31:54about how he came by it,
31:55so it may take
31:56a long while
31:57for the influence
31:58to wear off,
31:58but the important thing is
32:00he gave it up
32:02in the end
32:03of his own accord.
32:05Now,
32:06once he'd let
32:07the thing go,
32:08I wasn't troubled
32:09about dear Bilbo
32:09any more.
32:11Now,
32:12it's
32:13for you
32:14that I feel
32:16responsible.
32:17Me?
32:18Yes.
32:19You and
32:19all these
32:21charming,
32:22absurd,
32:23helpless hobbits.
32:23It would be
32:24a grievous blow
32:25if all the
32:26jolly,
32:27stupid,
32:27bulges,
32:28boffins
32:28and bagginses
32:29became enslaved.
32:30But what?
32:32You don't know
32:33the real peril yet,
32:35but you shall.
32:38Give me the ring
32:39for a moment.
32:39I spoke
32:45of there being
32:46rings of power,
32:48for there were many,
32:50some more potent
32:51and some less.
32:53They were forged
32:54by the elven smiths
32:55long ago.
32:56The lesser rings
32:57were only
32:58essays in the craft,
33:00but the great rings,
33:02they were perilous.
33:03Is this one of them?
33:04No.
33:05The great rings
33:06had each a gemstone.
33:08This ring,
33:08you see,
33:10is quite plain
33:12and unadorned.
33:13But then is it
33:14one of what you
33:14call the lesser rings?
33:15No, I think not.
33:18Frodo,
33:18can you see
33:19any markings
33:20on it at all?
33:21Um,
33:23no.
33:25Well then,
33:25let's see
33:26what a little fire
33:28will reveal.
33:29But,
33:29Gandalf,
33:30my ring,
33:30it will be damaged.
33:31Wait.
33:32But Gandalf,
33:33the fire!
33:33Wait.
33:34Wait.
33:38Now,
33:41let's look
33:42at the ring.
33:44Take it,
33:44Frodo.
33:45I can't eat it.
33:45Go on,
33:46go on,
33:46go on.
33:46It's quite cool.
33:47Take it.
33:48Now,
33:49hold it up
33:49and look closely.
33:53Well,
33:54what do you see?
33:54There are fiery letters,
34:00outside and inside,
34:03but I cannot read them.
34:05No,
34:06but I can.
34:07The letters are Elvish,
34:10but the language
34:11is that of Mordor.
34:12One ring
34:25to rule them all,
34:26one ring
34:28to find them,
34:30one ring
34:31to bring them all,
34:33and in the darkness
34:36find them.
34:40What does it mean,
34:41Gandalf?
34:42It's only two lines
34:43of a verse long known
34:44in elven lore.
34:46Three rings
34:47for the elven kings
34:48under the sky,
34:50seven for the dwarf lords
34:52in their halls of stone,
34:54nine for mortal men
34:56doomed to die,
34:58one for the dark lord
35:00on his dark throne
35:01in the land of Mordor
35:03where the shadows lie.
35:06One ring
35:07to rule them all,
35:09one ring
35:10ring to find them,
35:12one ring to bring them all,
35:15and in the darkness
35:16bind them
35:18in the land of Mordor
35:20where the shadows lie.
35:22this
35:25is the master ring,
35:28the one ring
35:30to rule them all.
35:32This is the one ring
35:33lost many years ago
35:35to the great weakening
35:36of its maker's power.
35:38Now
35:39he greatly desires
35:41to have it again,
35:42but he must not get it.
35:44What I don't understand,
35:48Gandalf,
35:49is whose ring
35:50this is
35:51if it is not
35:51one of the elven rings.
35:52This ring
35:53was made to rule
35:54the elven rings.
35:56It was made,
35:57Frodo,
35:58by Sauron the Great,
35:59the dark lord
36:00of Mordor.
36:02It's he
36:02who is seeking it.
36:03But stories are told
36:04of Sauron's fall
36:05long, long ago.
36:06That is so,
36:07but always,
36:08after a respite,
36:09the shadow
36:10takes another shape
36:11and grows again.
36:13He's fast becoming
36:13very strong
36:14and he lacks
36:16but one thing
36:17to give him strength
36:18and knowledge
36:18to beat down
36:19all resistance,
36:20break the last defences
36:21and cover all the lands
36:23in darkness.
36:24He lacks
36:25the one ring.
36:29But what are the other rings
36:30which that first spoke of?
36:32Three of them,
36:33the fairest of all,
36:34the elf lords
36:35hid from him.
36:37The others,
36:37Sauron took
36:38and gave seven
36:39to the dwarf kings
36:41who used them
36:42for getting great wealth.
36:44Nine he gave
36:44to mortal men,
36:46proud and great,
36:47and so ensnared them.
36:49The wearers of the nine
36:50are now fell servants
36:51of the dark lord,
36:53ringwraiths in his parlour.
36:55It's many years
36:56since they walked abroad,
36:58yet who knows,
36:59as the shadow
36:59grows once more,
37:01they too may walk again.
37:03And the one ring
37:04was his.
37:06He made it
37:07and wore it.
37:09But how did he come
37:09to lose it
37:10if he was so strong?
37:12It's ancient history
37:13and a long story.
37:15It was Gil-galad,
37:16the elven king,
37:18and Elendil of Westerness
37:19who overthrew Sauron,
37:21though they themselves
37:21perished in the deed.
37:23But Isildur,
37:25Elendil's son,
37:26cut the ring
37:27from Sauron's hand
37:28and took it
37:29for his own.
37:30Thus was Sauron
37:31vanquished,
37:32for a while at least.
37:33But the ring,
37:34what happened to the ring?
37:35The ring was lost.
37:37Isildur
37:38was marching north
37:39when he was waylaid
37:40by orcs
37:41and almost all
37:42his followers
37:42were slain.
37:43He leapt into the waters
37:45of the great river Anduin,
37:47but the ring slipped
37:48from his finger
37:48as he swam,
37:50and then the orcs
37:51saw him
37:51and killed him
37:52with arrows.
37:53And there,
37:54in the river,
37:56the ring passed out
37:57of knowledge and legend.
37:58But I think
38:01I can now carry on
38:03the story.
38:06Long after Isildur
38:08lost the ring,
38:08but still long ago,
38:10a hobbit-like folk
38:11lived beside the river.
38:14One day,
38:15two of them
38:16were fishing in the river.
38:17They were called
38:18Smeagol and Deagol,
38:21and Deagol it was
38:22who found the ring.
38:23What a beautiful thing.
38:34How could anyone
38:35have lost such a treasure?
38:36What is that,
38:37Deagol?
38:38Nothing.
38:39Oh, yes, it is.
38:40It's mine.
38:41I found it.
38:41Give us it,
38:42Deagol, my love.
38:43Why?
38:43Because it's
38:44Smeagol's birthday,
38:45my love,
38:45and he wants it.
38:46I don't care.
38:47I've given you
38:48a present already.
38:49I found this,
38:50and I'm going to keep it.
38:51Oh, are you indeed,
38:53my love?
38:55Are you indeed?
39:05And now,
39:06the pretty ring
39:07belongs to
39:09Smeagol.
39:13Smeagol kept the ring
39:14and used it to thieve
39:16and find out secrets.
39:18He took a muttering to himself
39:19and gurgling in his throat,
39:20so they called him
39:22Gollum.
39:23Gollum?
39:26Do you mean that this
39:28is the very
39:29Gollum creature
39:30that Bilbo met?
39:31Yes.
39:33He took to living
39:33in the dark passages
39:34beneath the misty mountains
39:35where in time
39:37his torment
39:37became unbearable.
39:39He hated the dark,
39:40but he hated the light more.
39:41He hated everything
39:42and the ring
39:43most of all.
39:45Well, then why didn't
39:45he get rid of it
39:46or go away
39:47and leave it?
39:47He had no will
39:48left in the matter.
39:49A ring of power
39:51looks after itself,
39:53Frodo.
39:54Its keeper
39:55never abandons it.
39:57And when Gollum
39:57lost the ring,
39:58it was really the ring
39:59that left him.
40:00What?
40:01Just in time
40:02to meet Bilbo?
40:03Bilbo was meant
40:04to find the ring,
40:05but not by its maker.
40:07Hmm.
40:08What about Gollum?
40:09What happened to him?
40:10The elves
40:11have him now
40:11in prison,
40:12but not before
40:13he made great mischief.
40:16After he lost the ring,
40:17Gollum left the mountains
40:18to seek his precious
40:19and the hobbit
40:20who'd robbed him of it.
40:22But before Gollum
40:23could find Bilbo,
40:24Sauron found Gollum.
40:27And that is how
40:28he will have learned
40:29that the one
40:29has been found again.
40:32He has at last
40:33heard of hobbits
40:34and the shire.
40:36And I fear
40:37that he may even think
40:38that the long
40:39unnoticed name
40:40of Baggins
40:41has become important.
40:43But this is terrible.
40:50What a pity
40:51Bilbo did not
40:51kill Gollum
40:52when he had a chance.
40:54Pity?
40:55It was pity
40:56that stayed his hand.
40:58One reason
40:59why Bilbo
41:00took so little hurt
41:01from the evil
41:01of the ring
41:02was because
41:02he began his ownership
41:04with pity.
41:06I'm sorry,
41:07but I'm frightened
41:08and I do not feel
41:10any pity
41:11for Gollum.
41:11You must understand
41:13that Gollum
41:14is bound up
41:15with the fate
41:16of the ring.
41:17And my heart
41:18tells me
41:19that he may yet
41:19have some part
41:20to play
41:20for good or ill.
41:22And when that comes,
41:24the pity of Bilbo
41:25may rule
41:26the fate of many.
41:28Yours not least.
41:30But why did
41:31the ring come to me?
41:32Why was I chosen?
41:33Not for power
41:34or wisdom.
41:36But you have
41:37been chosen
41:37and must therefore
41:39use such strength
41:40and heart
41:41and wits
41:42as you have.
41:43But I have
41:46so little
41:47of those things.
41:49Gandalf,
41:50you're wise
41:51and powerful.
41:52Will you not
41:53take the ring?
41:54No, no, no.
41:56No.
41:57Do not tempt me.
41:59I dare not
42:00take it.
42:02With that power,
42:04I should have
42:05power too great
42:06and terrible.
42:06then
42:07why don't I
42:09destroy it?
42:10How would you
42:10do that?
42:11Well,
42:12I suppose one
42:13could hammer it
42:14or melt it.
42:15The heaviest hammer
42:16would make no
42:17dint in it
42:17nor would the
42:18hottest fire
42:18melt it.
42:20You saw how
42:21your own small
42:21fire failed
42:22to even heat it.
42:23Yes.
42:23If you really
42:27wish to destroy it...
42:28I do, Gandalf,
42:29I do.
42:30Then there is
42:31only one way.
42:33Cast it into
42:34the cracks of doom
42:35in the depths
42:36of Orodruin,
42:37the Fire Mountain,
42:38in the land
42:39of Mordor
42:39where the ring
42:40was forged.
42:43Gandalf,
42:43I am not
42:45made for
42:46perilous
42:46quests.
42:48But I see
42:49that I cannot
42:50keep the ring
42:51and stay here.
42:55I ought to
42:55leave Bag End,
42:57leave the
42:58Shire,
43:00leave everything
43:01and go away.
43:04And
43:04I suppose
43:06I must
43:07go alone.
43:10My
43:11dear
43:11Frodo.
43:13Hobbits
43:14really are
43:15amazing.
43:19And
43:19I'm afraid
43:20you're right.
43:22For your
43:22sake,
43:23as well as
43:24for others,
43:25you will
43:25have to go.
43:28But I don't
43:28think you need
43:29go alone,
43:30and not if you
43:31know of anyone
43:31you can trust.
43:34But
43:34be careful
43:37in choosing.
43:38What?
43:38The enemy
43:39has many
43:39spies.
43:40What's the
43:41matter,
43:41Gandalf?
43:42Shh!
43:42God!
43:43Well,
43:46bless my
43:47beard.
43:48Sam
43:49Gamgee.
43:50And what
43:50might you
43:51be doing
43:51under Mr.
43:52Frodo's
43:52window?
43:53Lord bless
43:54you,
43:54Mr.
43:54Gandalf,
43:54sir,
43:55nothing!
43:56Leastways,
43:56I was just
43:57trimming the
43:58grass for
43:58orders,
43:58if you
43:59follow me.
43:59I don't.
44:00How long
44:01have you
44:01been eavesdropping?
44:02Begging your
44:03pardon,
44:03sir,
44:03but there
44:03ain't no
44:04eaves at
44:04Bag End,
44:04and that's
44:05a fact.
44:05Don't be a
44:05fool.
44:07What have
44:07you heard?
44:08Why did
44:09you listen?
44:10Mr.
44:10Frodo,
44:10sir,
44:10don't let him
44:11hurt me,
44:11sir.
44:12Don't let him
44:12turn me into
44:13anything unnatural.
44:14My old dad
44:15would take on
44:15so.
44:16I mean no
44:16harm on my
44:17honour,
44:17sir.
44:17He won't
44:18hurt you,
44:19but just you
44:19up and answer
44:20his question
44:21straight away.
44:21Well, sir,
44:24I heard a deal
44:25that I didn't
44:25understand about
44:26an enemy
44:28and rings
44:29and a fiery
44:30mountain
44:31and elves,
44:32sir.
44:32I listened
44:33because I
44:33couldn't help
44:33myself,
44:34if you know
44:34what I mean.
44:35I do love
44:35tales of that
44:36sort and believe
44:37them, too.
44:38I'd dearly love
44:39to see some elves,
44:40sir.
44:40What else did
44:41you hear?
44:42Mr.
44:42Frodo is going
44:43away, sir.
44:44And that's why
44:45I choked,
44:46which you heard
44:46seemingly.
44:47I tried not to,
44:48sir, but it
44:48burst out of me.
44:49I was so upset.
44:50It can't be
44:51helped,
44:51Sam.
44:52I have to go.
44:54But if you
44:55really care about
44:56me, you will
44:57keep that a dead
44:58secret.
44:59See?
45:00If you don't,
45:02if you even
45:03breathe a word
45:04of what you've
45:04heard, then
45:06I hope Gandalf
45:08will turn you
45:09into a spotted
45:10toad and fill
45:11the garden full
45:12of grass.
45:13Oh, no, sir!
45:13I have thought
45:14of something
45:15better than that.
45:16No, Mr.
45:17Gandalf, sir,
45:17please.
45:18Something to
45:18shut your mouth
45:19and punish you
45:20properly for
45:21listening.
45:23You shall go
45:24away with
45:25Mr. Frodo.
45:27Me, sir?
45:29Me, go and
45:30see Elginal?
45:33Hooray, sir!
45:37Gandalf stayed in
45:38the Shire for
45:39over two months.
45:40Then one evening
45:41at the end of
45:42June he made a
45:43sudden announcement.
45:43I'm leaving
45:44tomorrow, Frodo.
45:46Only for a
45:46short while, I
45:47hope.
45:48But I'm going
45:48down beyond the
45:49southern borders
45:50to get some
45:50news, if I
45:51can.
45:52I've been idle
45:52longer than I
45:53should.
45:53Has anything
45:54happened?
45:55Well, no, but
45:57I've heard
45:58something that
45:59has made me
45:59anxious, and
46:00he's looking
46:00into.
46:02I think you
46:02should leave
46:03as soon as
46:03possible now.
46:04I thought I'd
46:05go on September
46:06the 22nd.
46:07It will be my
46:0850th birthday, and
46:09Bilbo's 128th.
46:11that seems
46:12somehow a proper
46:13date on which to
46:13set out and
46:14follow the old
46:14fellow.
46:15Very well, but
46:16it must not be
46:16any later.
46:17It's almost the
46:18end of June
46:18already.
46:19How long will
46:19you be, Gandalf?
46:20I shall come
46:21back immediately,
46:22or at least
46:22send word.
46:24At the very
46:24latest, I'll be
46:25back by your
46:26birthday.
46:27I think, after
46:28all, you may
46:29need my company
46:30on the road.
46:31Will it be that
46:31dangerous?
46:32It may be.
46:34One thing you
46:35must remember,
46:35when you go, you
46:37must leave the
46:38name of Baggins
46:38behind you.
46:40I'll give you a
46:40travelling name.
46:41When you go, go
46:42as Mr. Underhill.
46:46And in the
46:46meanwhile, do
46:47take care.
46:48Don't let out
46:49any hint of
46:49where you're
46:50going.
46:51Underhill.
46:53But where
46:54am I to go?
46:57I've been so
46:57taken up with
46:58the thoughts of
46:59leaving Bag End
46:59and of saying
47:00farewell that I've
47:02never even
47:02considered the
47:03direction.
47:04If you want
47:04my advice, make
47:06for the house of
47:06Elrond, half-elven
47:08at Rivendell.
47:09Well, that
47:10journey shouldn't
47:11prove too
47:11perilous, though
47:13the road is
47:13less easy than
47:14it was, and
47:15it'll grow worse
47:16as the year
47:16fails.
47:17Rivendell.
47:19Very good.
47:20I will go east
47:21and I will make
47:22for Rivendell.
47:23I will take
47:24Sam to visit
47:25the elves.
47:26He will be
47:27delighted.
47:28Well, see that
47:28he doesn't talk.
47:29If he does, I
47:31really shall turn
47:32him into a toad.
47:33And so Gandalf
47:35rode away,
47:36journeying to the
47:37southern borders
47:38of the Shire,
47:38where he heard
47:39news of the
47:39black shadow
47:40that disturbed
47:41him greatly.
47:42He turned
47:43then east and
47:44north, and so
47:45journeyed towards
47:45the village of
47:46Bree.
47:47Gandalf!
47:49Gandalf!
47:50Gandalf the Grey!
47:52Yes?
47:53It is I,
47:54Radagast!
47:55Radagast the Brown!
47:56Radagast!
47:58What are you
47:59doing here?
48:00Well, seeking
48:01you.
48:02All I knew
48:02was that you
48:03might be found
48:03in a wild region
48:04with the uncouth
48:05name of Shire.
48:06It is the
48:07Shire, and you
48:09are near its
48:09borders now, but
48:10why are you
48:10seeking me?
48:12Must be pressing,
48:13for you were
48:14never a traveller,
48:15Radagast, unless
48:15driven by great
48:16need.
48:17I have an urgent
48:17errand, and my
48:18news is evil.
48:20Hmm?
48:21The Nazgul, the
48:22Nine, they are
48:23abroad again.
48:24Ah.
48:25They have crossed
48:26the river secretly
48:27and are moving
48:27westward.
48:29They have taken
48:29the guise of
48:30riders in black.
48:32The enemy must
48:33have some great
48:34need or purpose,
48:35but what it is
48:36that makes him
48:37look to these
48:37distant and
48:38desolate parts,
48:39I cannot guess.
48:40Who told you
48:40this, and who
48:41sent you?
48:41The head of our
48:42order, Saruman
48:44the White.
48:45And he also
48:45told me to say
48:46that if you feel
48:47the need, he
48:48will help, but
48:49you must seek
48:49his aid at once,
48:50or it will be
48:51too late.
48:52I will go to
48:53Saruman.
48:53Then you must
48:54go now, Gandalf,
48:55for I have wasted
48:56time in looking
48:56for you, and the
48:57days are running
48:58short.
48:58I was told
48:59to find you
49:00before Midsummer,
49:01and that is
49:02now here.
49:03Even if you
49:03set out now,
49:04you will hardly
49:04reach Saruman
49:05before the nine
49:06discover the land
49:06they seek.
49:08I myself shall
49:09turn back at once.
49:10Radagast, stay a
49:11moment.
49:12We shall need
49:12your help, and
49:14the help of all
49:14things that will
49:15give it.
49:16You are wise in
49:17the lore of
49:17beasts and birds.
49:19Send out messages
49:19to all of them
49:20that are your
49:21friends.
49:21Tell them to
49:22bring news of
49:22anything that
49:23bears on this
49:24matter to
49:24Saruman and
49:25Gandalf at
49:26Isengard.
49:27Yes, I will
49:28do that.
49:29Fare you
49:29well, Gandalf.
49:31Leaving a message
49:31with the innkeeper
49:32at Bree to be
49:33sent on to
49:33Frodo, Gandalf
49:34rode south to
49:35Isengard, a
49:37circle of sheer
49:37rocks that
49:38enclosed a valley
49:39in the midst of
49:40which stood a
49:40tower of stone
49:41called Orthanc.
49:43While in the
49:43Shire, Frodo
49:44still watched and
49:45waited for him,
49:46and the news that
49:47Mr Baggins was up
49:48to something began
49:49to get about.
49:51Well,
49:51Gavin, is it
49:52true?
49:53Aye, Daddy
49:54two foot, it
49:54is true.
49:55Mr Frodo's
49:56selling Bag End
49:57sold it, in
49:58fact, to those
49:59cousins of his,
50:00the Sackville
50:01Bagginses.
50:02And for a nice
50:02bit, I'll be
50:03bound.
50:03More likely for
50:04a Bag End
50:05price if
50:05Mr Slobelia's
50:06to buy her.
50:08Poor old
50:08Otho.
50:09If only he'd
50:10lived a few
50:10more years, he'd
50:12have been
50:12muster of Bag End
50:13after all.
50:14Not that I wish
50:15to speak ill of
50:15the dead Ted
50:16Sandiman, but I
50:17for one say the
50:18fewer Sackville
50:19Bagginses of
50:20Bag End the
50:20better.
50:21Mr Slobelia
50:23and that
50:23there son of
50:24hers would be
50:24enough for me.
50:25So, where's
50:27Mr Frodo
50:27off to, Gavin?
50:28He's going
50:29back to live
50:29among his
50:30folk in
50:30Buckland.
50:31I can't
50:32think why.
50:32They're queer
50:33folk in
50:34Buckland.
50:34He'll be
50:35well at home
50:35there, then.
50:36He's as
50:36cracked as
50:37old Bilbo
50:37Baggins was.
50:38There's
50:39naught wrong
50:39with Mr Frodo,
50:41nor there's
50:41friends of his
50:42in Buckland.
50:43Mr.
50:43Peregrine
50:44Took and
50:44Mr.
50:45Merry
50:45Haddock
50:45Brandybuck.
50:47For my
50:48Sam says
50:48Mr.
50:49Merry has
50:49found Mr.
50:49Frodo
50:50a little
50:50house in
50:51Brook Hollow.
50:52But what
50:52will your
50:52Sam do
50:53now,
50:53Gaffer?
50:54Will
50:54Mr Slobelia
50:55keep him
50:55on his
50:56gardener
50:56at Baggins?
50:57No need.
50:58He's going
50:58with Mr Frodo
50:59to look after
51:00his bit of
51:01garden there.
51:02You know
51:03what,
51:03Gaffer?
51:04That son
51:05of yours
51:05is acting
51:05like he's
51:06as cracked
51:06as the
51:06Bagginses.
51:09It was
51:10late one
51:10evening in
51:11July when
51:11Gandalf arrived
51:12at Isengard
51:13and was met
51:14by Saruman
51:15who led him
51:15up to his
51:16chamber high
51:16in the
51:17tower
51:17Orthanc.
51:19I have
51:19come for
51:19your aid,
51:20Saruman the
51:21White.
51:21Have you
51:22indeed
51:22Gandalf the
51:23Grey?
51:24For aid?
51:25It has
51:26seldom been
51:26heard of
51:26that Gandalf the
51:27Grey
51:27sought for
51:28aid.
51:29One so
51:29cunning and
51:30so wise,
51:31wondering about
51:32the lands and
51:33concerning himself
51:33and every business,
51:35whether it belonged to
51:35him or not.
51:37If I am not
51:37deceived,
51:38things are now
51:38moving,
51:39which will
51:39require the
51:40union of all
51:41our strength.
51:41That may be
51:42so,
51:42but the
51:42thought is
51:43late in
51:43coming to
51:43you.
51:45What
51:45brings you
51:45now from
51:46your
51:46lurking
51:47place in
51:47the
51:47Shire?
51:48The
51:48Nine have
51:49come
51:49forth
51:49again.
51:50They have
51:50crossed the
51:51river,
51:52so Radagast
51:52said to
51:53me.
51:53Radagast
51:53the
51:54brown,
51:55Radagast
51:56the
51:56bird
51:56tamer,
51:57Radagast
51:57the
51:57simple,
51:58Radagast
51:58the
51:58fool.
52:00Yet he
52:01had just
52:01the wit
52:01to play
52:02the part
52:02that I
52:02set in,
52:03for you
52:03have
52:03come and
52:03there
52:04was
52:04all
52:04the
52:04purpose
52:04of
52:04my
52:04message.
52:06And
52:11many
52:12colours.
52:14I
52:14like
52:14white
52:15better.
52:16White.
52:17It
52:18serves as
52:19a
52:19beginning.
52:20White
52:20cloth
52:21can be
52:22dyed,
52:22the
52:22white
52:22page
52:23can be
52:23overwritten,
52:24and the
52:24white
52:24light
52:24can be
52:25broken.
52:26In
52:26which
52:26case it
52:26is no
52:27longer
52:27white,
52:28and he
52:28that
52:28breaks
52:28a
52:29thing
52:29to
52:29find
52:29out
52:30what
52:30it
52:30is
52:30has
52:31left
52:31the
52:31path
52:31of
52:31wisdom.
52:32I
52:32have
52:32not
52:32brought
52:32you
52:32here
52:33to
52:33be
52:33instructed
52:33by
52:34you,
52:34but
52:34to
52:34give
52:34you
52:34a
52:34choice.
52:35What
52:36choice
52:36do
52:36you
52:37speak
52:37of
52:37Saruman?
52:38The
52:38elder
52:39days
52:39are
52:39gone.
52:40The
52:40middle
52:40days
52:41are
52:41passing,
52:41younger
52:41days
52:42are
52:42beginning.
52:43The
52:43time
52:44of
52:44the
52:44elves
52:44is
52:44over,
52:45but
52:45our
52:45time
52:45is
52:45ahead.
52:47The
52:47world
52:47of
52:47men
52:47which
52:48we
52:48must
52:48rule,
52:50but
52:50we
52:51must
52:51have
52:51power.
52:53Power
52:53to
52:53order
52:53all
52:54things
52:54as
52:54we
52:54will
52:55for
52:55that
52:55good
52:55which
52:55only
52:56the
52:56wise
52:56can
52:56see.
52:57Listen,
52:58Gandalfi,
52:59my
52:59old
52:59friend
53:00and
53:00helper,
53:01I
53:06instant
53:06the
53:07old
53:07allies
53:07and
53:07policies
53:08will
53:08not
53:08have
53:08ill
53:08us
53:08at
53:08all.
53:10This
53:10then
53:10is
53:10the
53:10choice
53:11before
53:11you,
53:11before
53:12us.
53:13We
53:14may
53:14join
53:15with
53:15that
53:15power.
53:17It
53:17would
53:17be
53:18wise,
53:18Gandalf.
53:19How
53:20could
53:20it
53:20ever
53:20be
53:21wise
53:21to
53:21join
53:22with
53:22Sauron,
53:23our
53:23enemy?
53:23There
53:23is
53:24hope
53:24that
53:24way.
53:24His
53:25victory
53:25is
53:25at
53:25hand
53:25and
53:26there
53:26will
53:26be
53:26rich
53:26reward
53:27for
53:27those
53:28who
53:28aided
53:28it.
53:28Yes,
53:29Saruman,
53:29I have
53:29heard
53:29speeches
53:30of
53:30this
53:30kind
53:30before,
53:31but
53:32only
53:32in
53:32the
53:32mouths
53:32of
53:32emissaries
53:33sent
53:33from
53:34Mordor
53:34to
53:34deceive
53:35the
53:35ignorant.
53:36I
53:36cannot
53:37think
53:37that
53:37you
53:37brought
53:38me
53:38so
53:38far
53:38only
53:39to
53:39weary
53:39my
53:39ears.
53:41Well,
53:42I see
53:43that this
53:44wise
53:44cause
53:44does not
53:45commend
53:45itself
53:46to
53:46you.
53:47Not
53:47yet.
53:48Not
53:49if
53:49some
53:49better
53:50way
53:50can
53:50be
53:50contrived.
53:51What
53:51better
53:52way?
53:53The
53:54ruling
53:54ring.
53:56And
53:57why
53:57not,
53:57Gandalf,
53:58why
53:58not?
53:59The
54:00power
54:00would
54:00pass
54:01to
54:01us
54:01if
54:02we
54:02could
54:02but
54:03command
54:03it.
54:04Saruman,
54:05only one
54:06hand at a
54:06time can
54:07wield the
54:07one ring,
54:08and you
54:08know that
54:09well.
54:10So don't
54:11trouble to
54:11say we.
54:12I have
54:12many eyes
54:13in my
54:13service,
54:13Gandalf,
54:14and I
54:14believe that
54:14you know
54:15where this
54:15precious
54:16thing now
54:16lies.
54:18Well,
54:20is it
54:20not so?
54:22Now that
54:22I learn
54:23your mind,
54:23I will not
54:24even give
54:24you news
54:25of it.
54:25You are
54:25a fool.
54:26Well,
54:26your choices
54:27are,
54:27it seems,
54:27to submit
54:28to Sauron
54:29or to
54:29submit to
54:29you.
54:30I will
54:31take neither.
54:33Have you
54:33others to
54:34offer?
54:34Yes.
54:35The third
54:36choice is to
54:36stay here.
54:37You shall
54:37contemplate your
54:38folly from
54:38the highest
54:39pinnacle of
54:40the Tower of
54:40Orthanc.
54:41Until the
54:42end.
54:43Until what
54:43end?
54:45Until you
54:46reveal to me
54:47where the
54:47one ring may
54:48be found.
54:50Or until it
54:51is found in
54:52spite of you.
54:53in episode
55:10one of
55:11J.R.R.
55:12Tolkien's
55:12The Lord of
55:13the Rings
55:14adapted by
55:15Brian Sibley.
55:16The part of
55:17Frodo was
55:17played by
55:18Ian Holm,
55:19Gandalf by
55:20Michael Horden,
55:21Bilbo Baggins by
55:23John LeMesurer,
55:24and Gollum by
55:25Peter Woodthorpe.
55:27Sam,
55:28William Nye,
55:29Gaffer Gamgee,
55:30John Church,
55:32Sandy Man,
55:33Gordon Reed,
55:34Daddy Two Foot,
55:35Leonard Fenton,
55:37Deagle,
55:37Graham Faulkner,
55:39Saruman,
55:39Peter Howell,
55:41Radagast,
55:42Donald G,
55:43The Lord of
55:44the Nazgul,
55:45Philip Voss,
55:47The Mouth of
55:48Sauron,
55:49John Rye,
55:50and the Nazgul,
55:51Christopher Scott,
55:53Michael Spice,
55:54and Hayden Wood.
55:56With Diana Bishop,
55:57Catherine Helbert,
55:58John Livesey,
55:59David McAllister,
56:00Martin Reed,
56:02and John Webb.
56:03The narrator
56:04was Gerard Murphy.
Recommended
58:27
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