Pippin quotes from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Merry

It's good. Definitely from the Shire. Longbottom Leaf.

Pippin

I feel... like I'm back at the Green Dragon!

Merry

Nn! Grn Dragn!

Pippin

A mug of ale in my hand... putting my feet up on a settle, after a hard day's work.

Merry

Only, you've never done a hard day's work. [They both laugh at this. They then see Gandalf approaching]

Merry

Welcome, my lords, to Isengard.

Gimli

You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you... feasting! and... and smoking!

Pippin

We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good.

Gimli

Salted pork...

Gandalf

Hnh! Hobbits!

Merry

We're under orders- from Treebeard, who's taken over management.

Pippin

So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position. I mean, they don't expect me to do any fighting? Do they?

Gandalf

Your in the service of the Steward now, you'll have to do as your told, Peregrin Took! [to himself] Ridiculous hobbit...! [coughs] Guard of the Citadel...!

Pippin

There's no more stars. Is it time?

Gandalf

Yes.

Pippin

It's so quiet...

Gandalf

It's the deep breath before the plunge.

Pippin

I don't want to be in a battle. But waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse. Is there any hope, Gandalf? For Frodo and Sam?

Gandalf

There never was much hope. Just a fool's hope. [pauses and looks out at Mordor] Our enemy is ready, his full strength gathered. Not only orcs, but men as well. Legions of Haradrim from the south, mercenaries from the coast, all shall answer Mordor's call. This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammer stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken - if the garrison at Osgiliath falls - the last defense of this city will be gone.

Pippin

But we have the White Wizard. That's got to count for something.

Gandalf

Sauron has yet to reveal his deadliest servant - the one who will lead Mordor's armies in war. The one they say no living man can kill. The Witch-king of Angmar. You've met him before. He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop. He is the Lord of the Nazgûl; the greatest of the Nine. Minas Morgul is his lair.

Denethor

Can you sing, master hobbit?

Pippin

Yes- Well... I mean, we sing songs for our own people. We have no songs for great halls or... evil times.

Denethor

Then why should your songs be unfit for my halls? Come sing me a song.

Pippin

Home is behind, the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow, to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow, cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall
Fade

Gandalf

Go back to the abyss! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your master!

Do you not know death when you see it, old man?

This is... my hour!

Pippin

Gandalf! [Attempts to defend him, but is soon petrified with fear as the Fell Beast roars]

You have failed. The world of Men will fall.
[The Rohirrim trumpets blare in the distance, and the Witch-king flies off]

Pippin

I didn't think it would end this way.

Gandalf

End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... then you see it!

Pippin

What? Gandalf? See what?

Gandalf

White shores... and beyond. A far green country, under a swift sunrise.

Pippin

Well, that isn't so bad.

Gandalf

No. No, it isn't.

My Master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome. [he grins wildly] Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?

Gandalf

We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed! Tell your master this. The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return.

Aha! Old Greybeard. I have a token that I was bidden to show thee. [holds up Frodo's Mithril coat and throws it at Gandalf, who stares in horror]

Pippin

Frodo... Frodo!

Gandalf

Silence.

Merry

No!

Gandalf

Silence!

The Halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. [he looks around, grinning] Who would have thought that one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did. Aha!

And who is this? Isildur's Heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken Elvish blade.

Gimli

I guess that concludes negotiations.

Aragorn

I do not believe it! I will not!

Gandalf

Look at me.

Pippin

Gandalf, forgive me.

Gandalf

Look at me. What did you see?

Pippin

There was a tree. A white tree, in a courtyard of stones. It was dead. The city was burning.

Gandalf

Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?

Pippin

I saw...I saw him! I can still hear his voice in my head!

Gandalf

What did you tell him? Speak!

Pippin

He asked me my name. I didn't answer.

Gandalf

What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?
[Pippin looks at him, still horrified]

Gandalf

Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!

Pippin

Where are we going?

Merry

Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?!

Pippin

I don't know. I couldn't help it.

Merry

You never can.

Pippin

Look, I'm sorry, alright! I won't do it again!

Merry

Don't you understand? The Enemy thinks you have the Ring. He's going to be looking for you. They have to get you out of here.

Pippin

And you? You're coming with me, right?

Merry

Come on!

Pippin

How far is Minas Tirith?

Gandalf

Three days' ride, as the Nazgul flies. And you better hope we don't have one of those on our tail.

Merry

Here. [hands Pippin a packed Longbottom leaf] Something for the road.

Pippin

The last of the Longbottom Leaf.

Merry

I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pip.

Pippin

But we'll see each other soon? Won't we?

Merry

I don't know, Pip. I don't know what's going to happen.

Pippin

Merry?

Gandalf

Run, Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste.

Pippin

Merry! [Gandalf rides off with him atop Shadowfax]

Merry

He's always followed me everywhere I went, since before we were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort of trouble but I was always there to get him out. [sadly] Now, he's gone, just like Frodo and Sam.

Aragorn

One thing I've learned about hobbits: they are the most hardy folk.

Merry

Foolhardy, may be. He's a Took! [both he and Aragorn smile]

Pippin

The White Tree. Gandalf. Gandalf!

Gandalf

Yes, the White Tree of Gondor, the Tree of Kings. Lord Denethor, however, is not the king. He is a Steward, a caretaker to the throne. [stops by the citadel's door and looks at Pippin, sternly] Now, listen carefully, Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise. And do not mention Frodo, or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either. [hesitates] In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all, Peregrin Took.
[Pippin nods and he enters the citadel with Gandalf]

Gandalf the White

Hail, Denethor, Son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor. I come with tidings in this dark hour, and with counsel.

Denethor

Perhaps you come to explain this? [holds up Boromir's broken horn] Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead?

Pippin

Boromir died to save us, my kinsman and me. He fell, defending us from many foes.

Gandalf the White

Pippin!

Pippin

I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt.

Denethor

This is my first command to you. How did you escape and my son did not, so mighty a Man as he was?

Pippin

The mightiest Man may be slain by one arrow. Boromir was pierced by many.

Gandalf the White

Get up. [to Denethor] My Lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming. The Enemy is on your doorstep! As Steward, you are charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies? You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan. Light the beacons.

Denethor

You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor and with your right you would seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Théoden of Rohan. Oh, yes. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North! Last of a ragged house, long bereft of Lordship.

Gandalf the White

Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King, Steward!

Denethor

The rule of Gondor is MINE! And no other's!

Gandalf the White

All has turned to vain ambition! He would even use his grief as a cloak! A thousand years this city has stood. Now, at the whim of a madman, it will fall. And the White Tree, the Tree of the King, will never bloom again.

Pippin

Why are they still guarding it then?

Gandalf the White

They guard it because they have hope. A faint and fading hope, that one day it will flower. A King will come, and this city will be as it once was. Before it fell into decay. The old wisdom born out of the West was forsaken. Kings made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living, and counted the names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls, musing on heraldry, or in high cold towers asking questions of the stars. And so, the people of Gondor fell into ruin. The line of Kings failed. The White Tree withered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men.

Pippin

Mordor.

Gandalf the White

Yes, there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow.

Pippin

A storm is coming.

Gandalf the White

This is not the weather of the world. This is a devise of Sauron's making, a broil of fume he sends ahead of his host. The Orcs of Mordor have no love of daylight. So he covers the face of the sun to ease their passage along the road to war. When the shadow of Mordor reaches this city, it will begin.

Pippin

Well, Minas Tirith, very impressive. So where are we off to next?

Gandalf the White

Oh, it's too late for that, Peregrin Took, there's no leaving this city. Help must come to us.

Faramir

Mithrandir! They have broken through our defenses! They've taken the bridge and the west bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the river.

It is as the Lord Denethor predicted. Long has he foreseen this doom.

Gandalf

Foreseen and done nothing! [Faramir stares at Pippin] Faramir? This is not the first halfling to have crossed your path.

Faramir

No.

Pippin

You've seen Frodo and Sam?

Gandalf

Where? When?

Faramir

In Ithilien. Not two days ago. Gandalf, they're taking the road to the Morgul Vale.

Gandalf

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Pippin

What does that mean? What's wrong?

Gandalf

Faramir, tell me everything. Tell me all you know.

Pippin

Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor. In peace or war. In living or dying. From... from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me, or death... take me.

Denethor

And I shall not forget it. Nor fail to reward that which is given. [holds out his ringed hand which Pippin kisses] Fealty with love. Valor with honor. Disloyalty with vengeance. [sits down and starts to eat. He then looks at Faramir with cold eyes] I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact.

Faramir

What would you have me do?

Denethor

I will not yield the river and Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken.

Faramir

My lord, Osgiliath is overrun.

Denethor

Much must be risked in war. Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?

Faramir

You wish now that our places have been exchanged? That I have died and Boromir had lived?

Denethor

Yes. I wish that.

Faramir

Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead. If I should return, think better of me, Father.

Denethor

That will depend on the manner of your return.

Denethor

Tell me not that he has fallen.

They were outnumbered. None survived.

Denethor

My sons are spent. The house of Stewards has failed.

Pippin

He's alive! [to Denethor] He needs medicine, my lord!

Denethor

My line has ended! [he soon catches sight of Sauron's massive army surrounding Minas Tirith and bombarding its lower levels] Rohan has deserted us. [angrily] Theoden's betrayed me. [to the soldiers] ABANDON YOUR POSTS! FLEE! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!

Gandalf

Prepare for battle! Follow, Men! To the wall! Defend the wall! Return to your posts! Send these foul beasts to the abyss!
[Under Gandalf's command, the invigorated Gondorian soldiers defend Minas Tirith from Sauron's armies]