Frodo: What are you talking about?

Sam: It's just something Gandalf said.

Frodo: What did he say?

Sam: 'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee.' And I don't mean to.

Frodo: Sam, we're still in the Shire. What could possibly happen?

(Instantly they are bombarded by two other Hobbits)

Pippin: (getting up from atop Frodo) Frodo! Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!

Merry: (getting off of Sam) Hello, Frodo!

Sam: (angrily at Pippin, tossing him off) Get off 'im! Come on, Frodo.

Frodo: (watching the two quickly pick up the fallen vegetables) What's the meaning of this?

Sam: (having his arms stuffed with cabbages) You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!

(Dogs begin to bark and a man yells angrily. Merry shoves Frodo into the stalks and Pippin follows. Sam stays there in nervous indecision before running right behind the others)

Farmer Maggot: You get back here! Get out of my field! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!

Merry: (running) I don't know why he's so upset! It's only a couple of carrots!

Pippin: And some cabbages. And those three bags of potatoes we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before!

Merry: Yes, Pippin! My point is, he's clearly over-reacting!

(All the hobbits approach the cliff edge of a hill)

Merry: Run!

(They all instantly stop, staring at the rocky fall, but they all tumble down as Sam collides behind them. Pippin looks up from the groun beneath the hobbit pile, staring at the dung his face had almost gone into)

Pippin: Oh, that was close!

Merry: (sitting up) Oh, I think I've broken something.

(He pulls a broken carrot out from under his back. Sam brushes some dirt off his sleeves)

Sam: (sarcastically) Trust a Brandybuck and a Took.

Merry: What? That was just a detour- a shortcut.

Sam: A shortcut to what?

Pippin: Mushrooms!

(All the Hobbits attempt to get up at once, pushing Pippin back down in the process. As Sam, Pippin, and Merry pick the mushrooms, Frodo stares intently at the clearing down the path)

Merry: That's mine.

Pippin: That's nice, Merry.

Merry: Here's a nice one, Sam.

Frodo: I think we should get off the road.

(The others stuff their findings in a cloth sack and don't seem to take heed. He stares back and the path seems to draw closer. A hard wind picks up and a Nazgûl screech cries out)