Post by Huinesoron on Nov 19, 2004 16:20:50 GMT -5
These are the Feanor pre-Silmarilli scenes. As before, opinions ignored appreciated.
~~~~~~~~~
The Silmarillion: The Fall Of The Noldor
Scene 2: Fëanor's Forge
[Interior of the forge. Fëanor is working over a furnace, making something from gems]
Fëanor: [Muttering] Pearl… opal… marble… sapphire… adamant… right, that's where I got to last time. Now to let it heat a while… where's that sample gone?
[Walking briskly over to another table, he pulls a sphere of faintly blue transparent crystal out of a wooden bucket of water and carries it carefully back over to the furnace]
Fëanor: Right, now to test it…<br>[To the left of the fire is a strange, press-like device. Fëanor moves to put the sphere into the centre of the device, but there is a loud knock at the door and he drops it. It shatters]
Fëanor: Aulë! What am I doing wrong? There's got to be something I can add…<br>[Walking briskly over to a cupboard near the door, he gets out a broom and starts sweeping the shattered crystal into a corner, where we see there is already a large heap of fragments in all sizes and colours. The knock at the door comes again]
Fëanor: [Shouting] It's open! Come in!
[The door opens and Nerdanel enters. Seeing what he's doing, she shakes her head, amused]
Nerdanel: Another mess-up, Fëanor?
Fëanor: When one is in my line of work, my dear Nerdanel, one has to put up with the occasional mistakes.
Nerdanel: Fëanor… I am in your line of work. I know all about mistakes.
Fëanor: Ah, but you work with metals. Crystals tend to be a little more fragile. And these [He indicates the pile of shards] are among the most fragile I've ever made. Which is ironic, really.
[Nerdanel obviously has no clue what her husband is working on]
Nerdanel: Why is it ironic?
Fëanor: Well, when you're trying to make a substance harder than any known to elf, and they all end up shattering as soon as you look at them… well.
Nerdanel: [Intrigued] Why are you trying to do that? We've got metals that are easily hard enough – just look at the tilkal Aulë came up with, or the mithril my father made. Why would you want a crystal to do that?
[Fëanor shakes his head, obviously irritated]
Fëanor: Nerdanel, you don't understand. Metals are all very good, yes, but all they can do is reflect. With gems you can shine light through them, and refract it, and – well, look at this.
[He grabs her by the arm and drags her over to a workbench where sheets of parchment are laid out, with sketches all over them. Nerdanel peers down at one particular piece]
Nerdanel: Darling… this looks as though you're planning to trap the light of the Trees in a gem.
Fëanor: That's precisely what I hope to do. All I need is an unbreakable yet colourless substance to trap it in, which [He looks back at the furnace] is what I'm working on right now.
Nerdanel: But why, Fëanor? What would be the purpose?
[Over the following speech, Fëanor grows steadily more enthusiastic, moving around the forge, with gestures]
Fëanor: Nerdanel, just imagine it, the beauty of a jewel that contained the light of Laurelin and Telperion. It would shine with an inner light, coruscating patterns the like of which have only been seen on the seabed beyond the Calacirya at the Mingling Hour. And forever! No more this waiting twelve hours to be able to add another dozen brush strokes to a painting just as the light is right. Using such a gem, you could have the precise light you require for many hours at a time. And indoors! No more dashing for shelter with easel under arm at the first sign of rain, you could begin and end your project from the comfort of your home!
[He pauses for a moment, and Nerdanel opens her mouth to speak, but he continues, almost as though he were not there]
Fëanor: And so beautiful would they be, gleaming with the Treeslight. I saw them, you know. [He stops moving, and faces Nerdanel] I saw them, you know. In a dream, I saw them. Three gems, perfectly shaped, glowing with an inner light of gold and silver. Atop three pillars they sat, of red, blue and clear glass. Even now, when I close my eyes, I see them still. I must capture that beauty, Nerdanel. I must.
Nerdanel: And I am sure you shall, Fëanor my love. [Stepping closer, she gives him a kiss on the cheek] But please remember your family, too. It has been days since you left the forge, and your sons are beginning to miss you.
[Fëanor looks slightly embarrassed]
Fëanor: I'm sorry, Nerdanel, I truly am. It's just that there's so much to do… but I'll come out when I've finished this set, I swear I will.
[Nerdanel smiles]
Nerdanel: Thank you, Fëanor. That's all I ask.
[Nerdanel leaves, closing the door behind her]
Fëanor: … unless I have a breakthrough, of course.
[Turning away from the door, he walks back to the furnace and picks up a gem from the workbench]
Fëanor: Now, let's try amethyst…<br>[Fade to black, snap to…]
Scene 3: Tirion
[Fëanor stalks up a wide stair. His clothes are slightly singed. Nerdanel is running along behind him]
Fëanor: And I was so close. I was sure I had it right, and then bang! It all goes up in my face. Why do I even bother?
Nerdanel: I'm sure you'll get it sooner or later. But for now, do you think you could calm down? You don't want to act like this in front of your father…<br>Fëanor: No, and if it was just him, I'd gladly blow up all my projects, ever, to get here on time. But Fingolfin and Finarfin are going to be there, and worse – their mother.
Nerdanel: Fëanor, you really should make an effort to be nice to Indis…<br>Fëanor: Why? Because she married my father? Just because she somehow managed to get Manwë to break tradition and let Father remarry after Mother died, I don't have to treat her like she's related to me.
Nerdanel: I'm not saying you should. I'm just saying you should at least be civil to her while you're in her house.
[Fëanor sighs]
Fëanor: All right. I'll try.
Nerdanel: And her sons, too? They are your half-brothers…<br>Fëanor: As long as they don't try to get between me and Father, I will treat them with all the respect they deserve as Princes of the Noldor.
[They reach the top of the stair, and Fëanor sees Finwë at the other end of a stone-paved walkway, standing alone in front of a door, obviously waiting]
Fëanor: Father!
[Fëanor runs off down the walkway and gives his father an energetic hug. Nerdanel watches this from the top of the stair]
Nerdanel: [To herself] Somehow, I don't find that very encouraging.
[Snap to…]
Scene 4: Finwë's House in Tirion
[Finwë and Fëanor enter side by side, Nerdanel a little behind them. Fëanor is talking animatedly]
Fëanor: … so I tried adding emerald, and that just made it weaker, and when I added ruby it just split up into little granules that I couldn't persuade to come back together, but then I tried—<br>[Fëanor sees Indis, Fingolfin and Finarfin on the other side of the room, talking to each other, and freezes. Finwë also stops and turns to look at him. Nerdanel comes up on his other side and whispers in his ear]
Nerdanel: [Whispering] Be nice, remember.
[Fëanor gives a curt nod, and walks across the room to Indis and her sons]
Fëanor: Hello Indis… Fingolfin… Finarfin.
Finarfin: Oh, hello, Fëanor. How's the project coming?
[Fëanor glares at Finarfin suspiciously, but it looks like the youngest son of Finwë is being perfectly serious]
Fëanor: Fine.
[Finarfin waits for him to continue, but he does not. Fingolfin breaks the silence]
Fingolfin: So, Fëanor, we were talking about how well your Maedhros seems to get on with my own son, Fingon.
[Fëanor is startled]
Fëanor: Does he?
Fingolfin: Oh, yes. Didn't he mention this to you? Fingon talks about him all the time.
[Fëanor avoids Fingolfin's gaze]
Fëanor: He, ah, may have said something… I've been a bit busy in the forge, you know how it is.
Fingolfin: Ah, yes, of course.
[There is a moment of uncomfortable silence. Finwë comes over with Nerdanel]
Finwë: Ah, boys. It's so nice to see you all getting on like this. Now, what are we talking about, hm?
Fëanor: [Curtly] We aren't.
[Finwë frowns slightly. From behind Finwë, Nerdanel gives Fëanor a Look. Fingolfin tries to defuse the situation]
Fingolfin: What my brother means is that we had just finished talking, and that… that… er… [He trails off as the full force of Fëanor's glare is trained on him]
Fëanor: [Strained voice] No one speaks for me.
Fingolfin: I'm sorry, br—<br>[Fëanor interrupts him]
Fëanor: And you are not my brother.
[Turning on his heel, Fëanor stalks towards the door. As he is about to leave, his father calls out]
Finwë: Fëanor!
[Fëanor stops in the doorway, but does not turn around]
Fëanor: I will be in my forge. There is much for me to do. Goodbye, father. I hope to see you again… in better company.
[Fëanor stalks out of the door, slamming it behind him. Slam cut to…]
~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
The Silmarillion: The Fall Of The Noldor
Scene 2: Fëanor's Forge
[Interior of the forge. Fëanor is working over a furnace, making something from gems]
Fëanor: [Muttering] Pearl… opal… marble… sapphire… adamant… right, that's where I got to last time. Now to let it heat a while… where's that sample gone?
[Walking briskly over to another table, he pulls a sphere of faintly blue transparent crystal out of a wooden bucket of water and carries it carefully back over to the furnace]
Fëanor: Right, now to test it…<br>[To the left of the fire is a strange, press-like device. Fëanor moves to put the sphere into the centre of the device, but there is a loud knock at the door and he drops it. It shatters]
Fëanor: Aulë! What am I doing wrong? There's got to be something I can add…<br>[Walking briskly over to a cupboard near the door, he gets out a broom and starts sweeping the shattered crystal into a corner, where we see there is already a large heap of fragments in all sizes and colours. The knock at the door comes again]
Fëanor: [Shouting] It's open! Come in!
[The door opens and Nerdanel enters. Seeing what he's doing, she shakes her head, amused]
Nerdanel: Another mess-up, Fëanor?
Fëanor: When one is in my line of work, my dear Nerdanel, one has to put up with the occasional mistakes.
Nerdanel: Fëanor… I am in your line of work. I know all about mistakes.
Fëanor: Ah, but you work with metals. Crystals tend to be a little more fragile. And these [He indicates the pile of shards] are among the most fragile I've ever made. Which is ironic, really.
[Nerdanel obviously has no clue what her husband is working on]
Nerdanel: Why is it ironic?
Fëanor: Well, when you're trying to make a substance harder than any known to elf, and they all end up shattering as soon as you look at them… well.
Nerdanel: [Intrigued] Why are you trying to do that? We've got metals that are easily hard enough – just look at the tilkal Aulë came up with, or the mithril my father made. Why would you want a crystal to do that?
[Fëanor shakes his head, obviously irritated]
Fëanor: Nerdanel, you don't understand. Metals are all very good, yes, but all they can do is reflect. With gems you can shine light through them, and refract it, and – well, look at this.
[He grabs her by the arm and drags her over to a workbench where sheets of parchment are laid out, with sketches all over them. Nerdanel peers down at one particular piece]
Nerdanel: Darling… this looks as though you're planning to trap the light of the Trees in a gem.
Fëanor: That's precisely what I hope to do. All I need is an unbreakable yet colourless substance to trap it in, which [He looks back at the furnace] is what I'm working on right now.
Nerdanel: But why, Fëanor? What would be the purpose?
[Over the following speech, Fëanor grows steadily more enthusiastic, moving around the forge, with gestures]
Fëanor: Nerdanel, just imagine it, the beauty of a jewel that contained the light of Laurelin and Telperion. It would shine with an inner light, coruscating patterns the like of which have only been seen on the seabed beyond the Calacirya at the Mingling Hour. And forever! No more this waiting twelve hours to be able to add another dozen brush strokes to a painting just as the light is right. Using such a gem, you could have the precise light you require for many hours at a time. And indoors! No more dashing for shelter with easel under arm at the first sign of rain, you could begin and end your project from the comfort of your home!
[He pauses for a moment, and Nerdanel opens her mouth to speak, but he continues, almost as though he were not there]
Fëanor: And so beautiful would they be, gleaming with the Treeslight. I saw them, you know. [He stops moving, and faces Nerdanel] I saw them, you know. In a dream, I saw them. Three gems, perfectly shaped, glowing with an inner light of gold and silver. Atop three pillars they sat, of red, blue and clear glass. Even now, when I close my eyes, I see them still. I must capture that beauty, Nerdanel. I must.
Nerdanel: And I am sure you shall, Fëanor my love. [Stepping closer, she gives him a kiss on the cheek] But please remember your family, too. It has been days since you left the forge, and your sons are beginning to miss you.
[Fëanor looks slightly embarrassed]
Fëanor: I'm sorry, Nerdanel, I truly am. It's just that there's so much to do… but I'll come out when I've finished this set, I swear I will.
[Nerdanel smiles]
Nerdanel: Thank you, Fëanor. That's all I ask.
[Nerdanel leaves, closing the door behind her]
Fëanor: … unless I have a breakthrough, of course.
[Turning away from the door, he walks back to the furnace and picks up a gem from the workbench]
Fëanor: Now, let's try amethyst…<br>[Fade to black, snap to…]
Scene 3: Tirion
[Fëanor stalks up a wide stair. His clothes are slightly singed. Nerdanel is running along behind him]
Fëanor: And I was so close. I was sure I had it right, and then bang! It all goes up in my face. Why do I even bother?
Nerdanel: I'm sure you'll get it sooner or later. But for now, do you think you could calm down? You don't want to act like this in front of your father…<br>Fëanor: No, and if it was just him, I'd gladly blow up all my projects, ever, to get here on time. But Fingolfin and Finarfin are going to be there, and worse – their mother.
Nerdanel: Fëanor, you really should make an effort to be nice to Indis…<br>Fëanor: Why? Because she married my father? Just because she somehow managed to get Manwë to break tradition and let Father remarry after Mother died, I don't have to treat her like she's related to me.
Nerdanel: I'm not saying you should. I'm just saying you should at least be civil to her while you're in her house.
[Fëanor sighs]
Fëanor: All right. I'll try.
Nerdanel: And her sons, too? They are your half-brothers…<br>Fëanor: As long as they don't try to get between me and Father, I will treat them with all the respect they deserve as Princes of the Noldor.
[They reach the top of the stair, and Fëanor sees Finwë at the other end of a stone-paved walkway, standing alone in front of a door, obviously waiting]
Fëanor: Father!
[Fëanor runs off down the walkway and gives his father an energetic hug. Nerdanel watches this from the top of the stair]
Nerdanel: [To herself] Somehow, I don't find that very encouraging.
[Snap to…]
Scene 4: Finwë's House in Tirion
[Finwë and Fëanor enter side by side, Nerdanel a little behind them. Fëanor is talking animatedly]
Fëanor: … so I tried adding emerald, and that just made it weaker, and when I added ruby it just split up into little granules that I couldn't persuade to come back together, but then I tried—<br>[Fëanor sees Indis, Fingolfin and Finarfin on the other side of the room, talking to each other, and freezes. Finwë also stops and turns to look at him. Nerdanel comes up on his other side and whispers in his ear]
Nerdanel: [Whispering] Be nice, remember.
[Fëanor gives a curt nod, and walks across the room to Indis and her sons]
Fëanor: Hello Indis… Fingolfin… Finarfin.
Finarfin: Oh, hello, Fëanor. How's the project coming?
[Fëanor glares at Finarfin suspiciously, but it looks like the youngest son of Finwë is being perfectly serious]
Fëanor: Fine.
[Finarfin waits for him to continue, but he does not. Fingolfin breaks the silence]
Fingolfin: So, Fëanor, we were talking about how well your Maedhros seems to get on with my own son, Fingon.
[Fëanor is startled]
Fëanor: Does he?
Fingolfin: Oh, yes. Didn't he mention this to you? Fingon talks about him all the time.
[Fëanor avoids Fingolfin's gaze]
Fëanor: He, ah, may have said something… I've been a bit busy in the forge, you know how it is.
Fingolfin: Ah, yes, of course.
[There is a moment of uncomfortable silence. Finwë comes over with Nerdanel]
Finwë: Ah, boys. It's so nice to see you all getting on like this. Now, what are we talking about, hm?
Fëanor: [Curtly] We aren't.
[Finwë frowns slightly. From behind Finwë, Nerdanel gives Fëanor a Look. Fingolfin tries to defuse the situation]
Fingolfin: What my brother means is that we had just finished talking, and that… that… er… [He trails off as the full force of Fëanor's glare is trained on him]
Fëanor: [Strained voice] No one speaks for me.
Fingolfin: I'm sorry, br—<br>[Fëanor interrupts him]
Fëanor: And you are not my brother.
[Turning on his heel, Fëanor stalks towards the door. As he is about to leave, his father calls out]
Finwë: Fëanor!
[Fëanor stops in the doorway, but does not turn around]
Fëanor: I will be in my forge. There is much for me to do. Goodbye, father. I hope to see you again… in better company.
[Fëanor stalks out of the door, slamming it behind him. Slam cut to…]
~~~~~~~
