Updated Outline for S2Ep08: The Trial of Melkor
Protagonist: Melkor
Conflict: Melkor tries to win back the trust of the Valar after his disastrous battle with them last season. Ulmo and Tulkas are having none of this.
Teaser: Melkor, imprisoned in the Halls of Mandos, is shown alone in darkness. Flashbacks are shown to his trial at the ruined Utumno at the end of the War, where Manwë condemned him to be imprisoned for 3 Ages until his 'probation hearing'. We see or hear some indication that the time is up, as Melkor is released.
Act 1
1. Melkor is brought to his Trial from Mandos to the Máhanaxar, the Ring of Doom, with all of the Valar seated on their thrones outside the West Gate of Valmar. No elves are present there, though some may have seen the prisoner in transport. Melkor, still in chains, observes the light of the Trees. He is told not to get used to it, as he will soon be returned to his cell in the Halls of Mandos.
2. The Trial begins. Melkor's crimes are read out (by Eonwë?), and the viewer is given flashbacks to the first season as a refresher (and excuse for some action sequences!) Melkor must answer for each of the crimes. For the destruction of the Lamps, he admits that he had the power to prevent that, and he failed to do so (he still blames the balrogs, if anyone asks). For the War, he might admit to the destruction, but still maintains the Valar started it. For the attack on the Children, he *does* admit to his anger getting the best of him, and being wrong.
3. Seeing actual remorse from him, Nienna pleads his case. Mandos says nothing (even when prompted). Manwë grants him temporary pardon, limiting his movement to Valmar, and placing him under the constant watch of Eonwë. A link of the chain that bound him is left on his person (wrist? ankle?) to indicate and enforce this restriction.
Act 2
4. Frame: Arwen and her brothers go on a short journey beyond the bounds of Lothlorien. She is surprised her brothers are so willing to spend so much time in 'mortal lands' which are so changeful and different from Rivendell and Lothlorien. They meet a group of (human) Woodsmen.
The Princes of the Noldor are being formally presented to Ingwë the High King in his court on the slopes of Taniquetal. Fëanor makes it very clear that he is not happy to be here. Afterwards, Nerdanel has a private conversation with him, exasperatedly asking him why he even bothered to come if he was going to be this way. He informs her that he was not about to let the sons of Fingolfin and Finarfin be presented as princes of the Noldor and overlook their boys. Fingolfin and his wife Anairë, meanwhile, are also discussing Fëanor's behavior. Anairë asks why her husband doesn't confront him when Fëanor is so shockingly rude to everyone (this is your mother's house!) And Fingolfin informs her that it's better just to appease him; he's always been this way. They are standing on a terrace looking out over the plain, and Fingolfin notices that the Valar have gathered at the Ring of Doom.
5. News begins to spread through the settlement of the Vanyar that something is going on, but no one knows anything about it, even Ingwë. The elves go into Valmar to find out what is going on. Then, Melkor is brought to a central point and 'introduced' to the elves by a proclamation stating the terms of his probation, but not much is said of his crimes. Ulmo is standing there looking disapproving.
6. Meanwhile, the grandsons of Finwë are exploring Ingwë's palace and having boyish adventures. Fingon leaves his toddler brother behind and runs off to have fun with his cousins. The Sons of Fëanor [well, Maedhros, Maglor and Celegorm] all decide to do something (go into a dark tunnel? enter an 'off limits' area?) and Fingon hangs back, not wanting to. Maedhros mockingly calls him 'Fingon the Valiant.'
7. Melkor is talking to random elves, including Fingolfin. If we overhear the conversation at all, it's only about the structure of Valmar or something innocuous. The Vanyar seem a bit hesitant to talk with Melkor. They are polite only. Tulkas is clearly unhappy with recent developments, and tells Eonwë that he won't let him get away with anything. Eonwë responds with something along the lines of, uh, why do you think I'm here?
Act 3
8. Ulmo and Irmo discuss the situation concerning Melkor. Ulmo expresses his grave doubts about how everything is going to turn out terribly. Irmo says that even if things do go as badly as Ulmo fears, there are still things they can do about it - not all hope will be lost. Ulmo complains about Melkor messing with water, which is his own domain.
9. Celegorm climbs down into an abandoned well to rescue a trapped animal that was crying. Unfortunately, he slips and falls and is unable to climb back up himself. He calls for his brothers to help him. When they see him down there, Maedhros runs off to get an adult and/or some rope. Maglor keeps talking to Celegorm, to make sure he's okay, but doesn't know what else to do. Fingon decides to climb down into the well himself to help Celegorm get out. Maglor doesn't stop him, and with Fingon's help, both Celegorm and the critter are rescued. When Maedhros returns, he thanks him for saving his little brother, and calls him Fingon the Valiant again - this time not as a joke. It is clear that they will be headed back to Tirion soon.
10. Tulkas plays detective, trying to figure out what Melkor's intentions are. Nessa teases him for his single-mindedness and (perhaps) somewhat bumbling approach. Melkor seems busy with a civic works project, that will bring water from a fountain in Valmar to all the buildings via a rooftop Aqueduct system.
11. Frame: Arwen enters the village of the Woodsmen and meets a family who has lost their baby to a mysterious creature.
{Timejump} Nienna asks Melkor about how his probation is going. He expresses that he feels he is doing too little to make up for all the damage he caused, but is hopeful his next project will be a small start in the right direction. She encourages him, reminding him that rebuilding trust is difficult and takes time. She notes the lovely rooftop gardens that Valmar now has thanks to his earlier efforts.
Act 4
12. Fëanor is at the workshop of Aulë (Amon Mara: The Mount of Everything Good and Useful), and showing Aulë how his new palantíri work. Demonstration of 2-way communication with one in Fëanor's home or Finwë's palace? Aulë is encouraging, but not unduly impressed/flattering. Fëanor explains that he intends to give some of these to the Teleri, so they can see their kin back in Middle Earth, but the primary reason he made them was for his father. Tulkas stops by and asks what was so important that Melkor needed to get from there? Aulë rattles off a list of materials he supplied to Melkor for his latest project. Fëanor startles at one of the ingredients (bluestone), suggesting that it's poisonous. Alarmed, Tulkas leaves the shop at a run.
13. Climax 1: Tulkas arrives at the site of Melkor's project, which appears to be a hot spring. Tulkas goes about destroying it while accusing Melkor of trying to hurt the elves. Everyone is shocked by Tulkas' behavior. Aulë shows up to explain while, yes, that item *can* be dangerous, it's also useful for other purposes....such as...hotsprings. Since Tulkas destroyed the natural dam, the hot springs drain hot water into the streams around Valmar until they can be repaired. Ulmo seems quite put out by Tulkas' actions.
14: Climax 2: Manwë praises Melkor for fulfilling the terms of his probation and gives him freedom to travel within Valinor. He very courteously acknowledges the good that Melkor has done and expresses hope for the future. The chain link comes off.
Tag: Ulmo seeks out Nienna, asking her how she can stand by and support this travesty? She explains why it is important to give people chances, even when they don't deserve it. He dismissively writes off her viewpoint, saying we can't all be that way.
Frame: Arwen reacts to the dangers (and sorrows) of Middle Earth outside the protected and unchanging land of Lothlorien.
Frame: Arwen and her brothers venture outside of Lothlorien. Perhaps it is a hunting party? Whatever, they're there for 'fun'. But they come across some human Woodsmen from the Vales of Anduin who warn them of a monster in the woods. The elves visit the human settlement and Arwen meets a family who lost their baby to a creature that climbed in the window and stole it from a cradle. Elladan and Elrohir join in hunting for the creature, but no sight of him is made*.
*The creature is Gollum, but no one on screen knows that.
Good luck fitting that into this episode....