#script format

I

The docks at Alqualonde, after the slaughter. Waves red with blood, scattered corpses across the docks, the clash of the last ongoing fights. The scene is lit by torchlight and the stars.

The screen goes dark.

II

Voice over by FINWE.

FINWE: In the beginning there was nothing. Then Eru made the Ainur, and they began singing the world into existence.

One after the other, tiny dots of light start appearing in the darkness, and a wonderful music swells under Finwe’s narration.

FINWE: But Melkor, the best and brightest of his children, was bitter and envious and wanted to make Music of his own. That is how the Dissonance was born, and evil was brought into the world.

Harsh percussions join the music.

FINWE: Then some of the Ainur, chose to enter the world and inhabit it, and help shape it to Eru’s will. But Melkor, who followed them, sought to destroy all that they made.

We see the Valar take form, and the world with them. A series of scenes—the Valar making mountains, and Melkor making them into volcanoes; Green trees sprouting and Melkor turning them dead and wizened; Varda putting stars in the sky and Melkor covering them with stormcloud. Animals and monsters. Fighting. As Finwe narrates, we see the events he talks about unfold on screen.

FINWE: The Ainur, whom we call the Valar, fought Melkor, thought his efforts have Marred the world, and imprisoned him. Then the Valar made Valinor, at the Western end of the world, and Yavanna grew the Two Trees, whose light is brighter than even Varda’s stars. And in Middle-earth, we, the Children of Eru, awoke. We had little light and were scared of the dark, and of Melkor’s creatures who still roamed. Many of us disappeared into these primordial woods, and to this day we do not know what happened to them. But the Valar came to guide us to Valinor, and some of us heeded the call.

We see three Elves, one blond, one white-aired and one black-haired, meet a giant, otherworldly rider—OROME—and follow him. We see that some Elves stay behind.

FINWE: The journey was long, and perilous, and many of us were lost…

We see the white-haired Elf (ELWE) disappear into the woods and the branches close after him, trapping him. But we also see other Elves board and island that magically starts sailing towards Valinor.

FINWE: Until finally we were here, in Valinor, the Blessed Realm, where we are at peace and there is no death or pain.

The Elves kneel under the Two Trees.

III

The images on screen freeze and become smaller. We see various snippets of what FINWE said and we realise thsat they are images on tapestries, hung around a bedroom. In the bed there is an Elf child, FEANOR; FINWE is at his bedside, telling him the story.

FEANOR: But if there is no death or pain, what happened to my mother?

FINWE: … She is just very tired. But she knows that I am here to take care of you. Sleep, now.

FEANOR closes his eyes. FINWE leaves the room and, just outside, waiting for him, is a blonde Elf woman: INDIS.

INDIS: Have you told him yet?

FINWE: I don’t know how.

INDIS: Do you think there is a chance… that Miriel might change her mind and come back to us?

FINWE sighs.

FINWE: I have hoped, and prayed, but the Valar are certain: Miriel is in Mandos’ Halls, and she doesn’t ever want to return. Giving birth to Feanor consumed her spirit, and eroded her will to live forever.

INDIS: He is a remarkable child. He might be the greatest prince of the Noldor.

FINWE: Yes, he is extraordinary. But my heart longs for more children…

He looks at INDIS

FINWE: And to have a wife by my side.

INDIS: But you heard the edict: no Elf shall have more than one spouse. If we marry, then Miriel will never be allowed to come back to life.

FINWE: Am I doomed to loneliness forever then? She doesn’t want to come back. Neither love for me nor for our child will change her mind. Let her spirit rest, and let us grasp for what happiness we may! I will not be the only Elf in Valinor bereft.