(Thankyousomuchforallwhocontributedtothis!Itiswonderful!)ProloguebyGaladriel:Iamarprestaraen...Theworldischanged.ihanmathonnenen...Ifeelitinthewater.hanmathonnechae...IfeelitintheEarth.ahannostonnedgwilith.Ismellitintheair.Muchthatoncewasislost.Fornonenowlivewhorememberit.TEXT:THELORDOFTHERINGS(Afireisseen,inwhichmeltedmetalisbeingtakenoutbyprongs.Itispouredintoamoldforcasting.ThethreeElfringsareseenontheirowndershands;Narya,NenyaandVilya.Theylookatthem,admiringtheirbeauty.Sevenringsarespreadinacircleonatable.SevenDwarfLordspickthemupandraisethemabovetheirheads.NineKingsofmenlowertheirrings,holdingtheminfrontofthemselves.)Itbeganwiththeforgingofthegreatrings.ThreeweregiventotheElves,immortal,wisestandfairestofallbeings.SeventotheDwarflords,greatminersandcraftsmenofthemountainhalls.Andnine,nineringsweregiftedtotheraceofMen,whoaboveallelse,desirepower.Forwithintheseringswasboundthestrengthandwilltogoverneachrace.Buttheywereallofthemdeceived,foranotherringwasmade.(MountDoomspoutsofflavaandfire,thelandsurroundingitisdarkandgloomy.SauronstandsinsideMountDoomcreatinghisring.)InthelandofMordor,inthefiresofMountDoom,theDarkLordSauronforgedinsecretamasterring,tocontrolallothers.AndintothisRing,hepouredhiscruelty,hismaliceandhiswilltodominatealllife.(SauronshowstheRingonhisforefinger,theElvishinscriptioncarvingitselfintotheRing.)OneRingtorulethemall.(Wildmenattackvillages,houseserruptinflames,thetownspeoplerunawayscreaminginfear.)Onebyone,thefreelandsofMiddle-EarthfelltothepoweroftheRing.Butthereweresomewhoresisted.(AnarmyofElvesandMenareseenonthefieldofDagorlad)AlastallianceofMenandElvesmarchedagainstthearmiesofMordor,andontheslopesofMountDoomtheyfoughtforthefreedomofMiddle-Earth.(Orcsareseengruntingandreadyforbattle.ElvesandMenletloosearrowsintothehordesofOrcs.ArmiesofOrcsattacktheElvesandMen,whofightbackbravely.LordElrondisseenshoutingoutcommandsatthearmy.)Victorywasnear.ButthepoweroftheRingcouldnotbeundone.(Sauronstepsontothebattlefield,carryingamaceandtheRingofPoweronhisfinger.Everyoneturnsandlooksathimwithfearintheireyes.Heswingshismace,sendingagroupofElvesflyingthroughtheair.Elendilraiseshisswordtostrike,butSauronflingshimagainstarock,crushinghimtodeath.Shocked,Isidurrunsovertohisfallenfather.Suddenly,heisawareofsomeonebehindhim,herolesover,seeingSaurontoweringabovehim)Itwasinthismomentwhenallhopehadfaded,thatIsildur,sonoftheKing,tookuphisfather'ssword.(IsildurgrabsthehiltofNarsil,butSauronstompsonit,shatteringtheblade.SauronreachesdowntowardsIsildurwiththehandcarryingtheRing.Withadesperateattempt,Isildurlet'soutacryandstrikesSauron'shandwiththeshardsofNarsil,slicingoffthefingerbearingtheOneRing.Sauronlet'soutacry.Heimplodes,sendingashockwavethroughoutthebattlefield,knockingthewarriorsofftheirfeet.Hisarmourfallstotheground,hisbodygone.Smokeemergesfromwithinthearmour)Sauron,theenemyofthefree-peoplesofMiddle-Earthwasdefeated.(IsildurslowlyreachesfortheremainsofSauron'sfingerbearingtheRing.Thefingerturnstoashinhishands,buttheRingshimmersfaintly)TheRingpassedtoIsildur,whohadthisonechancetodestroyevilforever.Buttheheartsofmenareeasilycorrupted.AndtheRingofPowerhasawillofitsown.(Isildurisridingtroughtheforestwithagroupofwarriors.TheRingisonachainaroundIsildur'sneck.TheyareambushedbyagroupofOrcs.IsildurisknockedoffofhishorsebyanOrcandtheytumbletotheground.HismenfightbravelyagainsttheOrcs,butitdoesn'tlookhopeful.IsildurlooksarounddesperatlyandseestheRingaroundhisneck.HejerksthechainoffandputstheRingonanddisappearsfromsight.Bushesspreadasherunsthroughthem,yetnothingisseenofhimactuallybeingthere.HesplashesintothelakeandisswimmingawayunderwaterwhentheRingleaveshisfinger.HereachesforitvainlyandOrcsonthesurfacespothisbodyandkillhim.)ItbetrayedIsildurtohisdeath.(IsildurfloatsdownAnduinfacedowninthewater,dead,withthreearrowsinhisback.TheRingsinksintothedepthsoftheriver)Andsomethingsthatshouldnothavebeenforgottenwerelost.Historybecamelegend,legendbecamemythandfortwoandahalfthousandyears,theRingpassedoutofallknowledge.Until,whenchancecame,itensnaredanewbearer.(TheRingishalfcoveredindirtandahandreachesdownandpicksitupoutofthewater.Itglistensinthathandcoveredinmud.)Gollum:(v.o.)MyPrecioussssssssTheRingcametothecreatureGollum,whotookitdeepintothetunnelsoftheMistyMountains.Andthere,itconsumedhim.(TheMistyMountainsareshown,Gollumsitsonastoneabovealittlepoolinsidethemountains)Gollum:Itcametome.Myown.Mylove.Myown.Myprrrecioussssss!*gollum*TheRingbroughttoGollumunnaturallonglife.Forfivehundredyearsitpoisonedhismind.AndinthegloomofGollum'scave,itwaited.Darknesscreptbackintotheforestoftheworld.Rumorgrewofashadowintheeast,whispersofanamelessfear,andtheRingofPowerperceiveditstimehadnowcome.ItabandonedGollum.(TheRingfallsdown,bouncingoffoftherocks,landinginapileofdirt.)ButsomethinghappenedthentheRingdidnotintend.Itwaspickedupbythemostunlikelycreatureimaginable.(AyoungBilboappears.Heisontheground,hishandgropingthroughthedirtuntilitstumblesupontheRing.Hepicksituplookingatit.)Bilbo:What'sthis?AHobbit.BilboBagginsoftheShire.Bilbo:Aring.Gollum: