In Search of the One Ring
by Odeena Sabnach
Chapter three: Tea with a Hobbit
// Fade in…
Wraith #6: That’s… it… can’t… go on… uuurgh…
Wraith #8: Just… a little… more…
Wraith #6: Food…
Wraith #1: Knock it off, both of you. We’re almost there.
Wraith #2: ‘There’ where?
Wraith #1: Umm… (does some quick thinking) There’s a nice little burrow over there, let’s go ask for directions.
Wraith #6: And some food.
Wraith #1: Shush.
// A fat hobbit is chopping some wood in front of the burrow. Wraith #1 approaches him.
Wraith #1: (in a strange, hissing voice) Shire… Baggins…
Fat hobbit: (frightened) There is no Baggins here! They’re in the Shire! That way!
Wraith #1: (Turns to leave)
Wraith #3: (Approaching fast) Wait a minute. (To the hobbit) Listen, you. We’re here to offer you a deal.
Fat hobbit: …
Wraith #3: It’s either you give us some food and drinks – or we kill you.
Other wraiths: (Approving mutters)
Wraith #1: Guys, we don’t have time for this!
Wraith #3: Oh yes we do. (To the hobbit) So, what do you say?
Fat hobbit: Well, since you put it that way – come in, gentlemen! It’s almost time for tea!
// Meanwhile, in the Shire…
// Frodo & Sam are leaving.
Frodo: Did you pack everything?
Sam: Yup.
Frodo: Okay. Let’s go then.
Sam: (Sniff) I’m gonna miss the Shire.
Frodo: Yeah, me too, but we must do what Gandalf says.
Sam: Why?
Frodo: Well… because.
Sam: Because what?
Frodo: Because… because I say so. OK? Now let’s go.
Sam: (Shrug) Whatever you say. Bubbye Shire.
Frodo: (Nudges Sam) Come on.
// Back with the Wraiths…
Wraith #3: Thank you, that was delicious!
Fat hobbit: Thank you. Do come back again!
Wraith #3: We will!
Wraith #1: Come on you morons. Let’s go.
// The same evening…
// The Wraiths have reached the Shire. After lots of sniffing, searching about and frightening hobbits out of their minds, they finally gather at the Baggins former residence.
Wraith #1: We’re to late! I told you!
Wraith #9: Aw, c’mon, boss, we’ll get them in the end! After all, how fast can they go?
Wraith #1: Well, we have horses, they’re on foot; we’re big, they’re small, we’re--
Wraith #7: Hungry!
Wraith #1: What? But you just ate a few hours ago?
Other wraiths: But we’re hungry!
Wraith #1: (Makes a face, although it’s hard to say because of his hood) Okay, we’ll search for some food inside. But hurry!
Other wraiths: Yay!
// So, let’s review. We have nine starving wraiths, Frodo and Sam left the Shire, and Gandalf is… somewhere in this big picture. A lot of interesting things are about to happen, so be on the lookout for the next chapter of – In Search of the One Ring!