23:23 – In the woods near Beorn’s house. We see the dwarves with the ponies that Beorn has lent them, preparing to leave.
Beorn: You will leave my ponies before you enter the forest.
Gandalf: You have my word.
A bird squawks. Gandalf remarks that they are being watched.
Beorn: Yes. The Orcs will not give up. They will hunt the dwarves until they see them destroyed.
Gandalf: Why now? What has made the Defiler crawl from his hole?
Beorn: There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the sorcerer of Dol Guldur.
Gandalf: Are you sure of this?
Beorn: Packs have been seen gathering there. Each day more and more come.
Gandalf: What do you know of this sorcerer. The one they call the Necromancer.
Beorn: I know he is not what he seems. Fell things are drawn to his power. Azog pays homage to him.
Thorin interrupts them and tells Gandalf they must leave. Gandalf turns to leave.
Beorn: There is more. Not long past word had spread that the dead had been seen walking near the high fells of Rhudaur.
Gandalf: The dead?
Beorn: Is it true? Are there tombs in those mountains?
Voiceover from Galadriel, as we watch a group of men carrying what appears to be a body wrapped in linens and chains: When Angmar fell, the men of the north took his body and all that he possessed, and sealed it in the high fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock, they buried him in a tomb so dark, it would never come to light.
Gandalf: Yes, there are tombs there.
Beorn: I remember a time when a great evil ruled these lands. One powerful enough to raise the dead. If that enemy has returned to Middle-earth, I would have you tell me.
Gandalf: Saruman the White says it’s not possible. The enemy was destroyed and will never return.
Beorn: And what does Gandalf the Grey say?
Gandalf is silent.
Beorn: Go now while you still have the light. Your hunters are not far behind.
We then see the Company arrive at the edge of Mirkwood, and Gandalf tells them he must leave.
29:18 – As Gandalf prepares to leave, he warns the others: This is not the Greenwood of old. There is a stream in the woods that carries a dark enchantment. Do not touch the water. Cross only by the stone bridge. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion.
31:00 – After entering the forest, the dwarves are just starting to feel the effects of the Mirkwood air. They find the remains of the bridge that Gandalf mentioned, but it is impassable. Bofur suggests that they swim across, but Thorin reminds him of Gandalfs warning. They try to find another way across; Kili finds some large vines and starts to climb over. Thorin tells him to stop, and sends Bilbo over instead. Bilbo just makes it to the other side. He tries to warn the others that something doesn’t seem right, but they have already started crossing over. Before he can make it to the other side, Bombur falls asleep.
Just as Thorin crosses over to Bilbo, Bilbo looks up into the forest and sees a Patronus glowing white stag. Thorin takes aim with his bow.
Bilbo: What are you doing??
Thorin and the stag lock eyes, and Thorin fires an arrow, but misses.
Bilbo: You shouldn’t have done that. It’s bad luck
Thorin: I don’t believe in luck We make our own luck.
The rest of the dwarves make it over, and pick Bombur up from the water, and carry him into the forest. Bilbo then makes the mistake of tugging at a spiderweb, sending vibrations up into the trees.
1:26:45 – We see the Master in his study.
Master: You mark my words, that troublemaking bargeman is behind this! (instead of cutting to Bard, we stay with the Master) No one else would have the…
Alfrid: Bollocks, sire. (holding up a plate of food) Ram and goat, sautéed in a lovely little mushroom gravy
We then see the Master eating (and who, in this writers opinion, is tied with Denethor as most disgusting eater).
Alfrid: In an ideal world, sire, we’d arrest him. But Bard has the favor of the people. They see him as a leader. Someone they can truly admire. Modest…intelligent…handsome…athletic.
Master: Yes, he’s clearly modelling himself on me. But that’s no crime. I wonder…I wonder if some ancient law might exist…that forbids bargemen from asking questions. Do you think such a venerable statute might exist?
Alfrid: Almost certainly, sire. I’ll write one immediately.
