[Frodo flings items into his backpack to prepare for his journey.]Gandalf: "You must leave, and leave quickly."Frodo: "Where? Where do I go?"Gandalf: "Get out of the Shire. Make for the village Bree."[He throws a neatly-rolled up shirt to Frodo. Frodo grabs it, unrolling the bundle in the process, and stuffs it into his bag, along with some food.]Frodo: "Bree. What about you?"

Gandalf: "I'll be waiting for you, at the Inn of the Prancing Pony."Frodo: "And the Ring will be safe there?"Gandalf: "I don't know Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo, he'll know what to do."Gandalf: "You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you, for that name is not safe outside the Shire."[He helps Frodo into his cloak.]Gandalf: "Travel only by day. And stay off the road."[　　Frodo is ready. He smiles at Gandalf.　　]Frodo: "I can cut across country easily enough."Gandalf: "My dear Frodo. Hobbits really are amazing creatures! You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you."

Gandalf: [hears rustling of the leaves] "Get down!"[Frodo drops to the floor. Gandalf goes to the window, peers out cautiously then gives the bushes a whack with his staff.][An "oofff!" is heard from the object of the whack. Gandalf drags the offender up by his hair and plops him onto the table.]Gandalf: "Confound it all Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?!"

Sam: "I haven't dropped no eaves sir, honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me."Gandalf: "A little late for trimming the verge, don't you think?"Sam: "I heard raised voices."Gandalf: "What did you hear? Speak!"Sam: "N-n-n-nothing important. That is I heard a good deal about a Ring and a Dark Lord and something about the end of the world but… Please, Mister Gandalf sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anythin' — unnatural."Gandalf: "Noooo?" [He turns a conspiratorial gaze upon Frodo.] "Perhaps not. I have thought of a better use for you…"

[Early dawn on the following morning, Gandalf, Frodo and Sam make their way along the road. Sam, encumbered with pots and pans, puffs along behind Gandalf's horse.]Gandalf: "Come along Samwise, keep up!"[They enter a more heavily forested area and some dense undergrowth.]Gandalf: "Be careful both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts." [turns to Frodo] "Is it safe?"[Frodo pats his vest pocket.]Gandalf: "Never put it on, for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power."Gandalf: "Always remember, Frodo, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found."

[Gandalf rides off, leaving Frodo and Sam in the forest. They stare at each other. Eventually Frodo sighs, takes up his stick and continues on their journey. Sam follows.]

[Frodo and Sam trek along the countryside, making their way across streams, over hills and through meadows.]

[Eventually they find themselves before a cornfield. Frodo walks through the corn. Sam following behind, stops besides a large scarecrow.]Sam: "This is it."Frodo: "This is what?"Sam: "If take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been."Frodo: "Come on Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say: 'It's a dangerous business…' [Bilbo's voice] '…Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.'"

[Frodo and Sam set up camp for the night. Sam cooks their meal of bacon, tomatoes and sausages as Frodo lies in a tree limb. Suddenly they both stop and listen. Singing can be heard in the distance. The voices are sweet and high, singing in a strange language.]

Frodo: "Sam! Wood-Elves!"

[They scramble up to a ridge where they can lie and watch unseen.][A group of Elves is passing slowly through the forest, some on horseback, some walking, some with banners. The group seems to shine of its own light, their white garments softly glowing against the purples and midnight blues of the woods. Their haunting song continues.]Elves:"a Galad ren i veniarhi' aladhremmin ennorathA Elbereth Gilthonielithil nâ thûl, ithil lîn hen"(O Light to us that wander hereAmid the world of woven treesO Elbereth GilthonielClear are thy eyes and bright thy breath)Frodo: "They're going to the harbour beyond the White Towers. To the Grey Havens."Sam: "They're leaving Middle-Earth."Frodo: "Never to return."Sam: "I don't know why — it makes me sad."

[Later, Sam and Frodo prepare for sleep. Sam is trying to find a comfortable spot on the ground.]Sam: "Everywhere I lie there's a dirty great root sticking into my back."Frodo: "Just shut your eyes, and imagine you're back in your own bed, with a soft mattress and a lovely feather pillow."[Sam gives him a skeptical look, and settles back. After a moment he sighs. and gives up, frustrated.]Sam: "It's not working Mister Frodo. I'm never going to be able to sleep out here."Frodo: "Me neither, Sam."[Frodo smiles. Sam stares at the sky and finds something to nibble on.]

[Sam, in the middle of a field of corn, emerges onto a small path between the rows of tall vegetables. He looks back and forth.]Sam: "Mister Frodo? Frodo! Frodo!"[Frodo appears round the bend in the path, looking puzzled.]Sam: "I thought I'd lost you."Frodo: "What are you talking about?"Sam: "It's just something Gandalf said."Frodo: "What did he say?"Sam: "'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee!' And I don't mean to."Frodo: "Sam, we're still in the Shire! What could possibly happen?

[Suddenly, Pippin bursts from the cornfield and knocks over Frodo. Merry, close behind, knocks over Sam. Both have an armful of vegetables]Pippin: "Frodo? Merry! It's Frodo Baggins."Merry: "Hello Frodo!"Sam: "Get off him!" [hauls Pippin off Frodo] "Frodo? Are you all right?"

Frodo: "What's the meaning of this?"Merry: "Hold this." [hands vegetables to Sam]Sam: "You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!"[They hear a dog barking and an angry, yelling voice. Pippin grabs Frodo and runs, followed by Merry. Sam does a double take on the produce in his hands, drops them and runs after the others.]

Frodo: "I think we should get off the road."[Sounds something can be heard, coming up the road.

Frodo: "Get off the road! Quick!"[The hobbits grab their things and cross the road, hopping over and then crawling beneath a large overhanging tree root. The sound of hoof steps are heard.]Sam: "Shhh! Stop it! Be quiet!"[Merry and Pippin stop jostling each other.]

[Frodo looks up through a small gap and sees a black horse, and a Rider, clothed and hooded in black.]

[The Black Rider leaps from his horse. He approaches the tree root and rests his armored hand on it, hissing and sniffing.]

[Merry throws a bag full of vegetables into the forest to distract the Rider, who whirls away and follows the sound. The hobbits make a break for it. They run a short distance and then stop, gasping.]Merry: "What was that?"[Frodo stares at the Ring in his palm but says nothing.]