M Master
[We see Laketown, with the Lonely Mountain in the distance. Bells are ringing, and people are frantically loading their possessions into boats. In his house, the Master of Laketown is overseeing his soldiers and servants carrying boxes containing his gold and valuables.]
I warned you. Did I not warn you what would come of dealing with dwarves?! Now they`ve done it! They've woken the dragon. They brought the apocalypse upon our heads!
B Braga
Come on! Quickly! Quickly!
M Master
[The Master pulls a candlestick in the wall sideways; it turns out to be a secret lever, and a nearby bookshelf falls backwards to reveal a hidden staircase and boat landing with the Master's boat waiting.]
Faster now! I'm trying to evacuate myself here! Careful, men. Never mind the books! Get on, get the rest of it!
A Alfrid
But sire, should we not try to save the town?
M Master
The town is lost! Save the gold!
B Braga
You heard him! Get a move on!
Tauriel
[The men load all the gold and other valuables onto the Master's boat. The townspeople frantically paddle their loaded boats through the canals. Tauriel watches the sky ominously; with her elf-hearing, she can hear Smaug approaching and roaring. Suddenly, a huge shadow swoops overhead. Smaug has arrived. Tauriel enters Bard's house and prepares the dwarves and Bard's family to leave.]
We have no time. We must leave!
Bofur
Get him up!
Fili
Come on, brother.
Bofur
Come on, come on. Let's go.
Kili
I'm fine. I can walk.
Tauriel
As fast as you can.
B Bain
We're not leaving. Not without our father.
Tauriel
If you stay here, your sisters will die. Is that what your father would want?
Bard
[Bard is in the prison, and all the men guarding him are gone. He clutches the cell bars and shouts.] [Bard grunting]
Open this door! Do you hear me?
Fili
Give me your hand.
Bofur
We gotta go.
Tauriel
Quickly now. Hurry.
Fili
Kili, come on!
[They set off down the canal, poling the boat through the floating chunks of ice. Smaug swoops low overhead, and the townspeople scream. Smaug soars high above and away from the town, then turns and dives steeply toward the town, building up fire in his chest. As he gets over the town, he unleashes his flames, and he breathes his fire in a line all the way across the town. People scream and fall and die in the inferno. Bard smashes at his cell's bars with a pail, but to no avail. Smaug breathes fire over another section of the town; a man, on fire, falls out of his house and into the water. The Master, his men, and Alfrid poll their boat loaded with treasure through the water.]
M Master
[Smaug roaring] [Bard grunting]
Come on, come on! Faster! Faster!
M Master
[Smaug sets things to fire around them.]
If only we could take more of these people with us, but they're hardly--
A Alfrid
Worth it. I quite agree.
Bofur
[A man tries to climb onto the boat, but Alfrid kicks him in the face and back into the water. Bard tears his blanket into strips. People are trampling each other in their efforts to escape the dragon and the fire.]
Look out!
M Master
[The Master's boat collides with Tauriel's, upsetting everyone. They manage to push their boats apart, but some of the Master's treasure falls into the water.]
Move it! Move it! Come on! Faster!
A Alfrid
My gold! My gold!
B Braga
We're carrying too much. We need to dump something.
M Master
[While Alfrid looks at the pile of treasure, trying to decide what to throw overboard, the Master looks at him, greedily.]
You're quite right, Alfrid.
B Braga
[The Master pushes Alfrid overheard, just as a cloth loops falls from above and catches around the Master's throat. It is the rope Bard made from his blanket; he has tied one end to his cell bars and let the other end loop, out of the window and over the canal, where it has conveniently caught the Master. Braga, at the front of the boat, hasn't seen this.]
Faster! Faster!
[As the boat pulls ahead, the rope loops pulls the Master back, but then he gets stuck in front of the boat's rear post. As the rope tightens around him, he gags and chokes. Eventually, the pressure is so much that the entire side of Bard's prison break, and Bard escapes. The Master frantically pulls the rope away from his throat. As Smaug flies overhead, still blowing flames, Bard breaks through the guardroom window and grabs his bow and quiver, testing his bowstring. He pushes out some of the shingles in the upper story and clambers out onto the roof, where he has a good vantage point. He ducks low as Smaug flies by almost overhead. Bard runs across the rooftops, heading toward the bell tower, the tallest building in the town. Back at the Lonely Mountain, Thorin and Company watch the town burning in the lake.]
Balin
Poor souls.
[They all stare in sadness of each other in sadness and fear. Bilbo looks back and sees that Thorin is staring back at the halls of Erebor, not at Laketown. Bilbo is worried. Bard continues leaping roof to roof. Tauriel hides her boat under an overhang until she sees that it's safe to go on. Bard climbs rapidly up the winding steps of the bell tower. Once at the top, he pulls all the arrows out of his quiver and looks out at the sky. As Smaug soars by, Bard shoots an arrow at him; however, the arrow merely bounces off Smaug's scales and falls to the ground. Bard, standing directly below the ringing bell, gets nauseated by the booming sound, so he pulls out the dagger and cuts the bell's rope, silencing it. He shoots another arrow at Smaug, but this, like the first bounces harmlessly off. In the canals below, Bain, on the boat with his family, the dwarves, and Tauriel, notices his father at the top of the tower. The dwarves, Tauriel, and Bard's children are rowing out of Lake-town to escape Smaug's wrath, when they see Bard on top the tower firing arrows at the dragon]
Kili
[Bard keeps shooting his arrows at Smaug, but they have no effect on him]
He hit it! He hit the dragon!
Tauriel
No.
Kili
He did! He hit its mark! I saw it!
Tauriel
His arrows can not pierce its hide. I fear nothing will.
Bofur
[Bain suddenly remembers the black arrow; he grabs a hook and swings off the boat]
What are you doing?!
Fili
Come back! Bain!
Bofur
Bain!
Fili
Come back here!
Tauriel
Leave him! We cannot go back.
S Smaug
[to Bard]
Who are you that would stand against me? [Bard, with the Black Arrow in hand, grabs his bow but finds it broken] Now that is a pity. What will you do now, Bowman? You are forsaken. No help will come. [crushes a building with his foot]
MO Master of Lake-town
[to his men]
Now's our chance! Go now! Head to the open water!
S Smaug
[sees Bain, and licks his chops]
Hmm. Is that your child? You cannot save him from the fire. He...will...BURN.
Bard
[aims the black arrow while balancing it on Bain's shoulder]
Stay still, son. Stay still.
S Smaug
Tell me, wretch...how now shall you challenge me? [Bard concentrates on Smaug's hollowed scale; last words] YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT...BUT YOUR DEATH!!!!! [roars and makes his way to them]
Bard
Bain. Look at me. You look at me. A little to your left. [Bain moves slightly] That's it. [Just as Smaug heads toward them, he shoots the arrow and it strikes the dragon's heart, causing him to roar and scream in pain and crash into the tower] Bain! Hold on!
[The tower falls with Bard and Bain in it. Smaug continues to roar in pain, flying high until the light leaves his body. He plummets down into the ground, dead. The Master of Lake-town sees the dragon's body, and he can only freeze. The body lands on the Master, Braga, the guards, the boat, and the gold, crushing and killing them all; back at the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves and Bilbo hear the crash of Smaug's dead body in the lake]
O Ori
What was that? What happened?
B Bilbo
It fell. I saw it. It's dead. Smaug is dead!
G Gloin
By my beard, I think he's right! [points to birds flying to the mountain] Look there! The Ravens of Erebor are returning to the Mountain!
Balin
Aye. Word will spread. Before long, every soul in Middle-Earth will know...the dragon is dead!
[The dwarves cheer, but Thorin goes back to enter the Lonely Mountain]
Thorin
[Thranduil and Bard with their armies arrive in Erebor; Thranduil and Bard ride to the gate when Thorin shoots an arrow in front of Thranduil]
I will put the next one between your eyes!
Thranduil
[The dwarves cheer when Thranduil's Elf army aim their arrows at them. All the Dwarves except for Thorin duck down, Thranduil indicates for his army to stand down]
We've come to tell you payment of your debt has been offered...and accepted.
Thorin
What payment? I gave you nothing. You have nothing!
Bard
[takes out the Arkenstone and shows them]
We have this.
Kili
[to Thorin, in pure shock]
They have the Arkenstone. [to Bard and Thranduil] Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the King!
Bard
The King may have it, with our good will. [puts the Arkenstone away] But first, he must honor his word.
Thorin
[to the Company]
They are taking us for fools. It is a ruse. A filthy lie. [to Bard and Thranduil] The Arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick!
B Bilbo
It...It's no trick. [Thorin is surprised] The stone is real. I gave it to them.
Thorin
[Thranduil and Bard look on in concern as Thorin discovers Bilbo's bargaining with them] [turns to Bilbo]
You?...
B Bilbo
I took it as my fourteenth share.
Thorin
[accusingly]
You would steal from me?
B Bilbo
[nervously smiles]
Steal from you? No, no. I may be a burglar but I'd like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim.
Thorin
"Against your claim"? Your claim. You have no claim over me, you miserable RAT! [throws his bow down to the concrete]
B Bilbo
I was going to give it to you. Many times, I wanted to, but-
Thorin
But what, thief?
B Bilbo
[firmly; angrily]
You are changed, Thorin. The Dwarf I met in Bag End would never have gone back on his word. Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin.
Thorin
Do not speak to me of loyalty. [to the Dwarves] THROW HIM FROM THE RAMPART! [Bilbo widens his eyes in terror. The Dwarves stand still; none of them obey Thorin's order as Bard and Thranduil look on in disbelief and shock] DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?! [pulls Fili, who pulls back; Thorin turns back to Bilbo angrily] I will do it MYSELF! [grabs Bilbo and lifts him up, the other dwarves rush to stop him] CURSE YOU!
Fili
No!
Thorin
CURSED BE THE WIZARD THAT FORCED YOU ON THIS COMPANY!
Gandalf
[walks to the bottom of the wall, magically magnified voice]
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY BURGLAR, [normal voice] then please, don't damage him. Return him to me. [Thorin stops at the sight of Gandalf] You're not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain, are you, Thorin, son of Thrain?
Thorin
[slowly puts Bilbo down]
NEVER AGAIN WILL I HAVE DEALINGS WITH WIZARDS...
Bofur
[to Bilbo, escaping down the wall]
Go.
Thorin
...OR SHIRE RATS.
Bard
[to Thorin]
Are we resolved? The return of the Arkenstone for what was promised?
Thorin
[looks to a nearby hill expectantly, not responding. Then paces]
Why should I buy back that which is rightfully mine?!
Thranduil
[Gandalf looks at him in disbelief] [to Bard]
Keep the stone. Sell it. Ecthelion of Gondor will give you a good price for it.
Thorin
[shouting furiously]
I WILL KILL YOU! UPON MY OATH, I WILL KILL YOU ALL!
Thranduil
Your oath means nothing. [pause] I've heard enough.
Gandalf
[The Elven Army readies to take fire]
Thorin, lay down your arms. Open these doors. This treasure will be your death.
Balin
Thorin, we cannot win this fight.
Bard
[The company and Gandalf look at Thorin, who still doesn't respond]
Give us your answer. Will you have peace or war?
Thorin
[after the raven from earlier arrives, signaling that Dwarves led by Dain are approaching]
I will have war.
Gandalf
[sees the army]
Ironfoot.
B Bilbo
[referring to Dain]
Gandalf, who is that? He doesn't look very happy.
Gandalf
He is Dain, Lord of the Iron Hills. Thorin's cousin.
Gandalf
[sighs]
I've always found Thorin the more reasonable of the two.
Dain
[Dain and his army from the Iron Hill have just arrived; Dain is riding a pig]
Good morning! How aaare we all? I have a wee proposition, if ye wouldn't mind givin' me a few moments of yer time. Would ye consider...JUST SODDING OFF?! All of you! Right now!
Bard
Stand fast!
Gandalf
[steps forward]
Come now, Lord Dain.
Dain
Gandalf the Grey. Tell this rabble to leave, or I'll water the ground with their blood!
Gandalf
There is no need for war between Dwarves, Men, and Elves. A legion of Orcs march on the Mountain. Stand your army down.
Dain
I will not stand down before any Elf. [looks at Thranduil] Not least this faithless woodland sprite. He wishes nothing but ill upon my people! If he chooses to stand between me and my kin, I'll split his pretty head open! See if he's still smirking then! [rides back to his army]
Gandalf
Dain! Wait!
Thranduil
[Dain ignores him; the Dwarves cheer, Gandalf looks on distressed]
Let them advance, see how far they'll get.
Dain
You think I give a dead dog for your threats, ya pointy-eared princess? [to his army] You hear that, lads? We're on! Let's give these bastards a good hammering!
Dwalin
[confronting Thorin over his obsession with the Arkenstone, trying to reason with him to help Dain]
Since when do we forsake our own people? Thorin, they are dying out there.
Thorin
There are halls beneath halls within the Mountain, places we can fortify. Shore up, make safe? Yes. Yes, that is it. We must move the gold further underground to safety.
Dwalin
Did you not hear me? Dain is surrounded. They're being slaughtered, Thorin.
Thorin
Many die in war, life is cheap. But a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost. It is worth all the blood we can spend.
Dwalin
You sit here, in these vast halls, with a crown upon your head...and yet you are lesser now than you have ever been.
Thorin
Do not speak to me as if I were some lowly dwarf lord... [voice begins to break] as if I were still Thorin...Oakenshield... [draws his sword, enraged] I am your KING!
Dwalin
[voice breaking]
You were always my King. You used to know that once. But you cannot see what you have become.
Thorin
Go. Get out...before I kill you.
Dwalin
[Dwalin tearfully leaves. Later, Thorin wanders through the Gallery of Kings and recalls his conversations involving him] [voice over]
You sit here with a crown upon your head...and yet you are lesser now than you have ever been.
Thorin
[voice over]
A treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost.
Balin
[voice over]
A sickness lies upon that treasure horde.
Bard
[voice over]
The blind ambition of a Mountain King.
Thorin
[voice over]
AM I NOT THE KING?! This gold is ours and ours alone. Treasure hoard. [as Thorin walks over the hardened gold floor, he continues to recall] I will not part with a single coin.
Bard
[voice over]
He cannot see beyond his own desire!
Thorin
[voice over]
As if I were some lowly dwarf lord...Thorin Oakenshield.
Balin
[voice over]
A sickness which drove your grandfather mad.
Thorin
[voice over]
Oakenshield.
Dwalin
[voice over]
This is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror!
Thorin
[voice over]
I am not my grandfather.
Gandalf
[Thorin begins to come to his senses] [voice over]
You are the heir to the throne of Durin.
Dwalin
[voice over]
They are dying out there.
Gandalf
[voice over]
Take back Erebor.
Dwalin
[voice over]
Dain is surrounded...is surrounded.
Gandalf
[voice over]
Take back your homeland.
B Bilbo
[voice over]
You are changed, Thorin!
Thorin
[voice over]
I am not my grandfather.
B Bilbo
[voice over]
Is this treasure truly worth more than your honor?
Thorin
[voice over]
I am not my grandfather.
Gandalf
[Thorin begins hallucinating as he sees Smaug swimming underneath him as well as himself sinking in the molten gold] [voice over]
This treasure will be your death!
Kili
[Thorin, horrified, sees himself sinking further into the gold; he suddenly comes to his senses and casts his crown aside. Meanwhile, the dwarves have grown impatient of not helping until they see Thorin coming towards them. Kili stands up from a piece of rubble with an angry scowl on his face] [lividly shouting at Thorin]
I will not hide behind a wall of stone while others fight our battles for us!! [Thorin continues walking toward the company, unaffected by the shouting] It is not in my blood, Thorin.
Thorin
[comes to a halt in front of Kili]
No, it is not. We are sons of Durin. And Durin's folk do not flee from a fight. [Kili's lips tremble as if he were about to cry. Thorin and Kili smile at each other, touch foreheads together and they walk over to the rest of the company] I have no right to ask this of any of you...but will you follow me...one last time?
[The dwarves raise their weapons, ready for battle]
Balin
[After the battle; everyone paid respect to the King under the Mountain, the funeral was held for Thorin, Fili and Kili, and Dain is crowned King under the Mountain]
The king is dead!
D Dwarves
Long live the king!
Balin
[Later, outside the opened and broken stone wall in front of Erebor]
There is to be a great feast tonight. Songs will be sung, tales will be told, and Thorin Oakenshield will pass into legend.
B Bilbo
I know that's how you must honor him, but to me, he was never that. He was... [getting choked up] To me...he was...Well, I think I'll slip quietly away. Will you tell the others I said goodbye?
Balin
You'll tell them yourself.
B Bilbo
[Bilbo turns around to see all the dwarves at the gate] [to the dwarves]
Uh, if any of you are ever passing Bag End, uh...tea is at four, there's plenty of it. You are welcome anytime. [they all bow to Bilbo] Oh, ah...don't bother knocking.
[The dwarves laugh softly; Gandalf chuckles, and Bilbo and Gandalf leave, as the dwarves watch in sadness]
