Here's my attempt at an outline, to try to keep us up to speed with that. Feel free to make any comments, and I'll go back and edit things in (or out).
Episode 5: Little Red Riding Hood
Frame - We open on a flashback to the time when Arathorn was chieftain of the Dunedain. No names are used, but we see Gilraen with a baby. The flashback ends, and we see that Gilraen is in her guest cottage in Rivendell, reminiscing. Estel is out in the yard, playing, and then running off to his lesson. Gilraen seems dissatisfied with something, and follows the boy. Elrond holds the lesson in the Hall of Fire.
We open in Almaren. Aulë and Melkor, along with their subordinates, are discussing the plans for the Lamps that were proposed earlier. Aulë's design looks decidedly mountain-like, with a wide base, and any attempts to talk him out of this result in him pointing out that they need to be like this, for strength. Most of this bickering is between Aulë, Mairon and Curumo. Mairon turns to Melkor, and asks his opinion. Melkor suggests using metal, not rock. Aulë points out that iron is too weak for what they are doing, and demonstrates by bending an iron bar. Melkor applies fire, to make steel out of the iron, and hands that to Aulë. He has to try considerably harder to bend it, and nods his approval. Aulë still voices some concern that the proposed pillars will fall down if the design is flawed.
Pillar construction sorted out, they split into two teams. Melkor, Mairon and Curumo will work on the construction of one pillar, while Aulë and Gothmog and Arien will work on the other. [Both teams need to have access to fire.] The pillars are a combination of stone and steel reinforcing.
While the pillars are under construction, there is a meeting of the Valar in Almaren to discuss the project. Manwë is very pleased to see everyone working together. Melkor reveals that he can produce as much heat as they might want, but that won't be enough - the Lamps will also need light. He even references the Music (for the last time). He demonstrates by super-heating a metal bar, and dropping it on the table (damaging what it touches). He looks to Varda and says, "I need more."
*back to the Frame*
The Hall of Fire has background cavorting tra-la-la-lally elves. During a pause/interruption, Gilraen expresses some doubts as to whether or not this lesson is particularly useful. Elrond replies that he's getting to the point. [This is a chance to show elves reacting in shock/distaste if Elrond says the name 'Melkor'.] Gilraen remembers saying goodbye to her husband.
*back to Primordial Arda*
Varda has given out vessels that hold light, and everyone is scattering around to gather it up. Nessa is walking (okay, dancing) through the wilderness of Arda alone, gathering ambient light. She comes across an area that is dark - there is no ambient light there. Curious, she goes to check it out. We see her from above, a bright spot in the gloom, and realize she is being watched by someone. Ungoliant (in humanoid form) comes down to greet her, obviously *very* curious about Nessa's vessel of gathered light. They don't know one another, and are both a bit surprised and curious. Ungoliant invites Nessa into her mountain cave, and Nessa follows her.
As they walk together into the mountain, it is a twisty maze. Their conversation begins pleasant, and takes a sharp turn towards creepy and dark. It quite literally gets dark when Ungoliant swipes the vessel of light and eats it. At this point, Nessa recognizes that there is a problem here, and makes it clear that she intends to leave now. This is when Ungoliant informs her that she cannot leave, and that she and her wonderful light will be staying there. Nessa is effectively trapped underground, but she is not constrained. She manages to evade whatever webs and traps Ungoliant sets for her. Ungoliant chases her around within the dark maze, but Nessa herself shines brightly in the darkness.
They have a back-and-forth conversation revealing their rather different world views. Nessa expresses her trust in Ilúvatar, and Ungoliant scoffs, 'Who is that?' Nessa is confused for a beat, asking, 'You...don't know? Were you not there?,' but then goes on to explain that the will of Ilúvatar will play out in the history of Arda, and she will put her trust in that. We leave the mountain, seeing that it is a dark patch.
Lightning strikes! The crater reveals Tulkas, who looks the part of a young god. He calls Nessa's name, maybe? Anyway, then he punches the mountain to break it. Even with the rock broken open, the inside of the mountain is still dark with Ungoliant's unlight. He is surprised by that, but goes in.
It does not take long for Ungoliant to trap him in her webs. He tears them away, but more catch him, and he's fairly pinned down. Nimble, agile Nessa is still free, slipping past such things. Ungoliant issues a threat to Nessa, saying that she has to stay, because this 'other one' is caught. Nessa offers back to Ungoliant, 'Why don't we leave together? Come to Almaren with me.' We see in this moment that Nessa recognizes and pities Ungoliant's loneliness. Ungoliant wants none of it, but Nessa takes the opportunity to help free Tulkas from his bonds.
Ungoliant transforms into a giant spider, but rather than fighting Tulkas and Nessa, she flees.
Nessa brings Tulkas back to Almaren, and on the way there, they discuss how he came to Arda. She then introduces him to the other Valar, who are happy to see her safe.
The pillars of the Lamps are finished now. Each of the Valar and Maiar contribute a little of their own light, and then gather in Almaren to watch the Lamps be lit. Mairon is at the northern Lamp and Gothmog is at the southern Lamp (both Aulë and Melkor are in Almaren with everyone else).
Melkor considers this moment to be his crowning achievement. He kinda stands front and center, waiting to be acknowledged, but....instead, the Valar and Maiar turn to each other with mutual joy and congratulations. Melkor interrupts this to focus the attention back on himself, giving a short speech. The proto-balrogs (Valaraukar) enthusiastically cheer his speech, but everyone else is mostly confused. Ulmo is angry, and looking around the group, he catches Varda's eye and they share a significant look.
We zoom out and are left with an image of the new Lamps shining brightly over primordial Arda. We then see a large spider creature scuttle into a dark cave to hide from the new light.
Back in the Frame, Elrond's audience seems happy and appreciative. The elves know this tale and like it, and Estel is smiling. We pan to Gilraen, who is decidedly not smiling. The group breaks up (it's time for a meal), and Gilraen remembers the party that returned with news of her husband's death (bringing his dead body?). She catches Elrond's attention and tells him that he cannot fill the boy's head with happy stories like this, because not every tale has a happy ending. He assures her that the story isn't over yet, and agrees with her.
***
Okay, so maybe that's more than a little rough/uneven in places, but I tried to make a coherent summary of everything that was discussed. There were a *lot* of ideas as to how this episode should play out, so....how do I fix this?