[Lyta_Underhill]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I had written a short piece on Saruman, asking PJ to put him in Frodo's path for the RotK EE, which I intended to send to TORn. Could y'all give it a review? Please? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I downloaded and read your piece, Helen, and I must say that you're preaching to the choir here! I do wonder whether that would throw off whatever he had planned for the demise of Saruman in the EE or not...it does seem to be something that could possibly be inserted. Getting six actors together so long after the fact might be troublesome, though. <P>On a less editorial note but more a spin-off effect, I also had a thought:<P>Another possibility, although somewhat weaker and not completely canon, would be thus: Frodo is allowed the show of mercy through tolerance of the ignorant and sometimes boorish nature of certain hobbits of the Shire who have made their boorishness known in an earlier part of the film. I speak of Ted Sandyman, who speaks to Rosie in the Extended FOTR and earns a grumble from Sam. Let’s posit that Sam sees Rosie and gets up to “go get her” as he did in the ROTK theatrical version. Perhaps Sandyman sees this and challenges Sam, telling him that she’s taken—by him. Sandyman offers violence, which Sam begins to return. Enter Frodo between them, who simply gets between the fray and puts himself in the way of whatever damage would be done. He says something to the effect of his words during the Scouring: do not kill hobbits, even if they have become as bad as he (Sandyman) is, even if they really have gone over to the other side and are not doing it out of fear. <P>It would not have the great impact that the Frodo/Saruman exchange has, but it might get across an element of the quality of mercy and understanding that seems to be an undercurrent in the Green Dragon scene to begin with, the idea that, even if no one ever knows what you have suffered and done for them, it doesn’t make them any less deserving of that protection. It would, perhaps, resonate back to the idea (that also is not covered in the movie to my regret, but, oh well!) that finally helps Frodo overcome the despair that hits him as he watches the Morgul Host departing towards the West. Even if no one ever knows or lives to see it, it must be done, for it is the right thing to do. <P>This also resonates with the “hardness” that becomes part of Sam’s being at the approach to Mount Doom. Sam may feel some resentment or amazement at not being given respect for what he has done, or may feel that he did not suffer the Quest to Mt. Doom just so he could be confronted by an idiot in the Green Dragon, and this may cause him to wish to show him “where he’s been,” a sort of alienation effect that manifests through an aggressive impulse. This effect might be seen even more clearly in Merry and Pippin, who are seasoned warriors by this time. Pippin in particular would be prone to a retaliatory outburst in such a situation (viz. his threat when the man calls Frodo a “cock-a-whoop”). This aggressive stance on the part of the three hobbits could be contrasted to Frodo’s impulse to let it be or simply stand in the way of the offered violence in order to stop it, reminding Sam of the lesson of Gollum, the fact that, even if the focus was Frodo’s becoming like Gollum, in the end, he fulfilled a destiny beyond mere justice and his comeuppance was dealt by the higher power. <P>I’m not sure exactly how to explain the effect, but it is possible that such a short scene could have been included in the Green Dragon to contrast Frodo to the others. I kind of doubt it, though, as the dynamic that runs through that scene is the out of place nature of all four hobbits. Sam is the only one who seems to jump right back into Shire life as if he never left. Even Merry and Pippin seem rarified by the experience and set apart from the blind denizens of the Green Dragon. It does not single Frodo out, but perhaps an additional encounter here would set him apart. One could even escalate it by having Merry and Pippin drawing sword to challenge the interloper. <P>As a matter of fact, any sort of conflict done in this manner to show the difference in how Sam, Merry and Pippin would handle it, contrasted with Frodo's response, would get some of this point across. <P>I hope my long-windedness hasn’t driven everyone away from the thread! Sorry if this wasn't exactly a review! <P>Cheers!<BR>Lyta