Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
FRODO: You're right Sam (he turns to face him) We did what we set out to do (He takes the Ring out of his pocket and holds it out) the Ring will be safe in Rivendell. I am ready to go home
Elrond and Gandalf are looking down at Frodo and Sam from a balcony
ELROND: His strength returns
GANDALF: That wound will never fully heal, he will carry it for the rest of his life
(he looks at Elrond)
ELROND: And yet to come so far, still bearing the Ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil (he walks over to a carafe of wine)
GANDALF: It is a burden he should never have had to bear. (shaking his head) we can ask no more of Frodo
ELROND: (turning to look at Gandalf, speaks seriously) Gandalf! The enemy is moving Sauron's forces are massing in the east, his eye is fixed on Rivendell ..... and Saruman you tell me has betrayed us... (Gandalf looks away folorn) Our list of allies grows thin!
GANDALF: His treachery runs deeper than you know. (Elrond looks at him frowning) By foul craft Saruman has crossed orcs with goblin men, he is breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight and gather great distance at speed. Saruman is coming for the Ring.
ELROND: This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard (Gandalf walks away from him) Gandalf! the Ring cannot stay here
Gandalf looks folorn. He leans on the balcony and looks out. He sees Boromir riding into Rivendell, then Legolas and other elves and Gimli walking with fellow dwarves.. all look in wonder at this place
ELROND VOICEOVER: This peril belongs to all in Middle Earth they must decide now how to end.
ELROND: The time of the elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone ? The dwarves ? They hide in their mountains seaking riches, they care nothing for the troubles of others
GANDALF: (turning to him) It is in men we must place our hope
ELROND: Men! (turning away) Men are weak (he walks through his library Gandalf follows) the race of men is failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity all but forgotten. It is because of men the Ring survives. I was there Gandalf (we see Elrond fighting in the Battle of the Last Alliance) I was there three thousand years ago (Elrond watches as Isildur cuts the Ring from Sauron's hand) when Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed (Isildur looks at the Ring he has just cut) Isildur hurry, follow me (Elrond in the battle appears before Isildur) I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom (Elrond appears inside Mount Doom, with Isildur behind him, he beckons to Isildur He speaks to Isildur) Come!
ELROND VOICEOVER: Where the Ring was forged. The one place it could be destroyed (Elrond looks at Isildur)
ELROND: (to Isildur) Cast it into the fire
Isildur holds the Ring up and rolls it in his fingers
ELROND: Destroy it!
ISILDUR: No (he turns and walks out of Mount Doom)
ELROND: Isildur! (Isildur walks out of the Crack of Doom)
ELROND VOICEOVER: It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure (Elrond in Mount Doom, stares after Isildur in despair)
ELROND: (turns to Gandalf) Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There's no strength left in the world of men. They're scattered, divided, leaderless
GANDALF: There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor
ELROND: He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile
FRODO: You're right Sam (he turns to face him) We did what we set out to do (He takes the Ring out of his pocket and holds it out) the Ring will be safe in Rivendell. I am ready to go home
Elrond and Gandalf are looking down at Frodo and Sam from a balcony
ELROND: His strength returns
GANDALF: That wound will never fully heal, he will carry it for the rest of his life
(he looks at Elrond)
ELROND: And yet to come so far, still bearing the Ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil (he walks over to a carafe of wine)
GANDALF: It is a burden he should never have had to bear. (shaking his head) we can ask no more of Frodo
ELROND: (turning to look at Gandalf, speaks seriously) Gandalf! The enemy is moving Sauron's forces are massing in the east, his eye is fixed on Rivendell ..... and Saruman you tell me has betrayed us... (Gandalf looks away folorn) Our list of allies grows thin!
GANDALF: His treachery runs deeper than you know. (Elrond looks at him frowning) By foul craft Saruman has crossed orcs with goblin men, he is breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight and gather great distance at speed. Saruman is coming for the Ring.
ELROND: This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard (Gandalf walks away from him) Gandalf! the Ring cannot stay here
Gandalf looks folorn. He leans on the balcony and looks out. He sees Boromir riding into Rivendell, then Legolas and other elves and Gimli walking with fellow dwarves.. all look in wonder at this place
ELROND VOICEOVER: This peril belongs to all in Middle Earth they must decide now how to end.
ELROND: The time of the elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone ? The dwarves ? They hide in their mountains seaking riches, they care nothing for the troubles of others
GANDALF: (turning to him) It is in men we must place our hope
ELROND: Men! (turning away) Men are weak (he walks through his library Gandalf follows) the race of men is failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity all but forgotten. It is because of men the Ring survives. I was there Gandalf (we see Elrond fighting in the Battle of the Last Alliance) I was there three thousand years ago (Elrond watches as Isildur cuts the Ring from Sauron's hand) when Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed (Isildur looks at the Ring he has just cut) Isildur hurry, follow me (Elrond in the battle appears before Isildur) I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom (Elrond appears inside Mount Doom, with Isildur behind him, he beckons to Isildur He speaks to Isildur) Come!
ELROND VOICEOVER: Where the Ring was forged. The one place it could be destroyed (Elrond looks at Isildur)
ELROND: (to Isildur) Cast it into the fire
Isildur holds the Ring up and rolls it in his fingers
ELROND: Destroy it!
ISILDUR: No (he turns and walks out of Mount Doom)
ELROND: Isildur! (Isildur walks out of the Crack of Doom)
ELROND VOICEOVER: It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure (Elrond in Mount Doom, stares after Isildur in despair)
ELROND: (turns to Gandalf) Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There's no strength left in the world of men. They're scattered, divided, leaderless
GANDALF: There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor
ELROND: He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile
