This prologue was written as a "trailer" for the Fairy Tale series.

~~~

Fade In:

A brown leather book fills the frame.  The plain black lettering reads "Fairy Tales of Middle-Earth".

We hear the ratcheting sound of someone winding a music box as a work-worn brown hand opens the book's cover.

In a square, utilitarian hand, the title page reads:

"Fairy Tales of Middle-Earth
Being a Compendium
of
Folk-Tales
of
Diverse Peoples and Places
Suitable for the
Instruction and Amusement
of
Persons of All Ages
As Compiled by
Samwise Gamgee
the Gardener"

A soft click sounds, a tinkling music-box melody begins.

Slow zoom out:

Sam and Rosie sit before the fire in a large parlor at Bag End, surrounded by their children and their friends.  Elanor, a hobbit-lass in her mid-teens, steps back from replacing the music-box (real Dale-work!) on the mantel.

Sam:  "What story shall I read tonight?  Elanor-love?"

Elanor:  "I like "The Swans", Da, but you know I've heard them many times.  Let one of the little ones pick."

Sam:  "Frodo-lad?"

Frodo-lad:  "Huh, I'm not so little!"  He makes a face at Elanor.  "I want to hear "Birds and Feathers".  It makes me feel like I'm swooping throught the air."

Rosie-lass:  "I want to hear "Spiderwebs", with all the colors.  It makes me think of the Queen and her pretty ladies."

Merry-lad:  "How 'bout "Cloak-Ties", and I can kill the orcs.  Grrrr-aagghh!"

He mimes stabbing Pip.  They tussle on the rug.

Goldilocks:  "Is the story of "Lady in the Water" wrote down yet?

Sam:  "Now you know as Mrs. Maggot's a busy lady.  She'll send it along when she gets the time."

Homm (a neighbor child, friend of Pip) tugs on Sam's sleeve.

Homm:  "Mistuh Gard'nuh, Mistuh Gard'nuh!"

Sam:  "Yes, Hommie?"

Homm:  "When we was workin' in the flowerbeds, you said as I could pick sometime."

Sam:  "Why, so I did.  And so you shall, lad.  Where shall I start?"

Homm:  "At the beginnin', please, sir."

Sam:  "What better place to start than the beginning?"

Zoom in to Sam turning to:

"The Sorceress"

Sam (reads):  " The King of the Mark had three sons.  The eldest, his father’s heir, was wise and just, and loved by all.  The second son, who would be his brother’s war-leader, was a doughty fighter and a great leader of men.  But the youngest son was fair and brave and gay and adventuresome... "

Fade out.