[Kalimac]

I agree about the Sam thing being a flub, in the sense that the filmmakers forgot their dialogue continuity, but don't think it's that big a deal. After all, it can be pretty easily explained, as everyone here has demonstrated . Besides, I think of Maggot as a famous local character who probably visited Hobbiton a fair number of times and was much talked of in the Green Dragon. Sam's probably heard of M & P's crop-stealing predilection before. It could work.<P>About the "Isildur's Heir" lane, there doesn't seem to be so much of a logic leap there. If I remember correctly, Legolas says "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Even if Boromir had never heard either of those names before (and we don't know that he hasn't) the bit about owing allegiance would narrow the possibilities down a lot. To whom else would Boromir owe allegiance except the Heir of Isildur? The House of the Stewards is probably the highest non-elven house ever mentioned in the books; even Gandalf points out that although Denethor is not technically a king, he's still more powerful than Theoden, who is one. Just my $0.02.