User:Amroth/Screenplays/Fall of Gondolin

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The Fall of Gondolin screenplay is an attempt to turn Tolkien's The Fall of Gondolin into a film script. The Fall of Gondolin is, next to the story of Beren and Lúthien (see Lay of Leithian screenplay) and possibly the Narn i Chîn Húrin (see Narn i Chîn Húrin screenplay), considered the most adaptable of Tolkien's writings to screen. This project will also cover the coming of Tuor. To aide in this project, see the Talk page above.

Dramatis Personae

The White Citadel

Dramatis Personae TUOR (TUOR) – a young man, looking noble but slightly wild IDRIL (IDR.) – an elf maiden, appearance of youth, long golden hair TURGON (TUR.) – an elf-king, tall, proud, regally dressed but not glamorously ULMO (ULMO) – a Vala, tall, blue-green, reflecting the properties of the Sea VORONWË (VOR.) – an elf-mariner, quiet, reflective, and yet a touch of youth EÄRENDIL, young (EDL.) – a young boy, appearing between five and ten EÄRENDIL, older (EDL, E) – a handsome young man, yet solemn of face ECTHELION (ECT.) – a tall, brave, but stern elf-lord GLORFINDEL (GFD.) – a brave, golden-haired, merry elf-lord ROG (ROG) – a misshapen, scarred elf; good-hearted GALDOR (GAL.) – a cheerful but fierce elf-lord MAEGLIN (MAG.) – a young, ambitious but somewhat cold elf EREGDOS (ERD.) – grave lieutenant of Turgon EGALMOTH (EGM.) – tall, handsome, fiery elf-lord LORGAN (LOR.) – Cruel Easterling captain WHIP-MASTER (WHM.) – Easterling slave-driver

BLACK SCREEN

DOORS OPEN DIRECTLY AHEAD, letting in WHITE LIGHT… TURGON IS FRAMED IN DOORWAY OF VINYAMAR

ULMO (VO) Thou hast found thy exile, Turgon King.

TURGON (face hidden) LEANS over TABLET to place down ARMOR upon it, one piece at a time.

ULMO (VO) The Noldor forsook their land of happiness. Even now thou must flee the realms of the West, and come to the place to which I will bring thee. Morgoth shall search for thee.

TURGON moves his hand over FISH-MAIL.

ULMO (VO) But he shall not find thee, until I send my messenger to thee. He shall wear this armor which thou art to put to rest in the halls of Vinyamar. Thou shalt build a city in hiding, greater than any other city wrought by the hands of the Elves.

TURGON TURNS away to leave, heading for the DOORS OF VINYAMAR.

ULMO (VO) Thou shalt call it Gondolin.

DOORS OF VINYAMAR CLOSE, SCREEN GOES BLACK

MUSIC STARTS. FADE IN image of MOUNTAINS OF MITHRIM

SUPER: THE WHITE CITADEL: The Fall of Gondolin

EAGLE PASSES OVERHEAD, ANGLE BELOW to EASTERLING ENCAMPMENT

WHM Walking through camp, SHIFT to inside tent, flap opens to let WHM enter You there, the Master wants you, now.

TUOR YAWNS, RISES from BED, and FOLLOWS WHIP-MASTER through CAMP to LORGAN’S TENT. SHIFT to inside TENT, where LORGAN SITS at DESK with AIDE. ENTER WHM and TUOR

LOR You slave, get me some fresh water, and be quick about it.

TUOR Yes, my Lord.

TUOR EXITS. SHIFT to OUTSIDE TENT, where TUOR crouches down beside TENT to LISTEN. SHIFT to INSIDE TENT.

LOR The deed must be done, lieutenant. We have defeated the rebels, yes, but if any of our captives escape a new rebellion could be raised against us.

AIDE I assure you, Lord Lorgan, the Men of Dor-Lómin have been crushed utterly. Even were one of the foul elf-princes to come from the South, there could be no sizeable resistance against you. You are a great lord, and the Master of Angband has rewarded you richly for your services in battle, when the Men of this land were defeated. This move could inconvenience us greatly.

LOR It must be done, I say again. There is a rumor that Huor’s son is among us, and with the dedication of these men no torture will induce them to indicate who he is. Let us kill them all, and so may the Men of Dor-Lómin, the friends of Elves and other evil folk, no longer trouble the mighty Warlord Lorgan and his Easterlings!

CAMERA SHIFT to OUTSIDE TENT. TUOR RECOILS, when APPROACHES MELDIR.

MDR Tuor! What are you doing?

TUOR Hush! Listening.

MDR You’ll be whipped, Tuor, for eavesdropping, if they don’t kill you outright. Have you learned nothing in the three years you’ve been the slave of Lord Lorgan?

TUOR We must warn the others, Meldir. They’re going to kill us all! We must escape.

ENTER WHIP-MASTER, SEES TUOR and MELDIR. RUNS toward them with an EASTERLING YELL in native tongue. EASTERLINGS ENTER from the surrounding area, and from in TENTS.

TUOR Run, Meldir! I’ll draw them away, you help the others.

TUOR RUNS forward, MELDIR DUCKS behind tent. TUOR RUNS through ENCAMPMENT, HIDING here and there, while MELDIR THROWS DOWN EASTERLING GUARD, STEALING SPEAR. ENTER LARGE TENT.

MDR (to captives) Run! It’s a massacre.

EXIT MELDIR TO ENCAMPMENT, RUNS through, SHOUTING ALERTS to SLAVES. SHIFT TO TUOR, who reaches the FOREST and LEAPS in among TREES. CIRCLES around ENCAMPMENT, while SOUNDS OF PURSUIT die away. SHIFT to MELDIR, who is URGING SLAVES as they FLEE into FOREST. At last MELDIR TURNS to FLEE into FOREST, but an EASTERLING ARCHER SHOOTS HIM in the BACK. MELDIR FALLS.

LOR Quick, after them. Kill them all. I’ll have your head, Whip-master, if any escape.

EASTERLINGS RUN into FOREST, LEAPING over MELDIR. As SOUNDS OF PURSUIT die away once more, TUOR ENTERS from FOREST, COMING to MELDIR and LEANING OVER HIM.

MDR (to Tuor) Farewell, Tuor son of Huor, last of the Princes of Dor-Lómin! I must go now.

TUOR No, Meldir, we shall escape together! We survived the Coming of the Easterlings, we shall survive this.

MELDIR DIES. TUOR STANDS, SHOCKED, then TURNS AWAY with hand over eyes. LORGAN ENTERS from FOREST and ATTACKS TUOR with a YELL. TUOR STEPS ASIDE and TAKES UP MELDIR’S SPEAR. DODGES several BLOWS of LORGAN’S SWORD, then STABS LORGAN in BELLY. LORGAN FALLS. TUOR FLEES into WOODS. SCREEN FADES AWAY.

SCREEN FADES IN, revealing TUOR as rugged OUTLAW, walking out of CAVE and into FOREST with BOW.

ULMO (VO) For four years Tuor Huor’s son lived alone as an outlaw, hunting, and harassing the Easterlings he so hated.

IMAGE: TUOR SHOOTING down a group of four EASTERLINGS, then approaching to take their packs and eat what food is in them.

ULMO (VO) But at last a strange longing came over him, a desire to head west to lands he had not seen before.

IMAGE: TUOR STANDING on high ledge above CIRITH NINNIACH at SUNSET, behind him ANNON-IN-GELYDH.

ULMO (VO) He heeded the call, and continued to travel westward for days, never finding what his heart possessed him to find.

IMAGE: TUOR WALKING along rocky bank of RIVER in CIRITH NINNIACH, suddenly STOPPING and COCKING HEAD as SEA-GULLS MEW far ahead. TUOR MOVES FORWARD, with a light in his eyes, STRAINING to HEAR. MEWING comes again, and TUOR BEHOLDS GULLS FLYING overhead.

TUOR What beautiful creatures are these white birds! How my heart leaps within me, in anticipation of some great wonder that lies before me.

TUOR WALKS ON. SHIFT TO TUOR WALKING forward TOWARD CAMERA, then coming to STOP UPON ROCK. ANGLE TO VIEW FROM BEHIND TUOR, to reveal the ROARING SEA. TUOR is AMAZED.

TUOR This is what my heart has longed for. This must be what is called the Western Sea, across which lies fair Valinor and the Undying Lands! I shall never forget the sight of it.

SHIFT TO BEACH at NIGHT, TUOR SITTING laying beside FIRE. WHISPER COMES, and TUOR RAISES HIS HEAD.

GULL (VO) Go South, and find what thou canst there.

ANGLE to FROM BEHIND TUOR’S HEAD, to see GULL on ROCK. GULL turns and FLIES AWAY.