Denethor Quotes in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Denethor: Can you sing, Master Hobbit?

Pippin: Well... yes. At least, well enough for my own people. But we have no songs for great halls and... evil times.

Denethor: And why should your songs be unfit for my hall? Come, sing me a song.

[pause]

Pippin: [sings] Home is behind, the world ahead... And there are many paths to tread. Through shadow, to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight... Mist and shadow, cloud and shade, all shall fade... all... shall... fade...

Pippin: [kneeling] I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt.

Denethor: This is my first command to you. How did you escape, and my son did not, so mighty a man as he was?

Pippin: The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow... and Boromir was pierced by many.

Gandalf: Get up. My Lord, there will be a time to greive for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your doorstep. As steward, you are charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies? You still have friends. You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Theoden of Rohan. Light the Beacons.

Denethor: You think you are wise, Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties, you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor, and with your right you would seek to supplant me. I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan. Oh, yes. Word has reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and I tell you now, I will not bow to this Ranger from the North, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship!

Denethor: Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?

Faramir: You wish now that our places had been exchanged... that I had died and Boromir had lived.

Denethor: Yes.

[whispering]

Denethor: I wish that.

Faramir: Since you are robbed of Boromir... I will do what I can in his stead.

[Bows and turns to leave]

Faramir: If I should return, think better of me, Father.

Denethor: That will depend on the manner of your return.

Denethor: My sons are spent. My line has ended. Rohan has deserted us. Theoden's betrayed me. Abandon your posts! Flee, flee for your lives!

[He turns around, and Gandalf knocks him out with his staff]

Gandalf: Prepare for battle!

Pippin: Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor. In peace or war. In living or dying. F... f... from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me... or death take me.

Denethor: And I shall not forget it. Nor fail to reward that which is given. Fealty with love, valor with honor, disloyalty with vengeance.

Denethor: He is burning... already burning.

Pippin: He's not dead! He's not dead!

[Denethor drags him out]

Pippin: No! No! He's not dead! Stop!

Denethor: Farewell, Peregrin, son of Paladin... I release you from my service. Go now and die in what way seems best to you.

Denethor: Why do the fools fly? Better to die sooner than late. For die we must.

Denethor: [to Faramir, about his loyalty] Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious as a king of old. Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift.

Faramir: Boromir would not have brought the Ring. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing, and taking it, he would have fallen.

Denethor: You know nothing of this matter!

Faramir: He would have kept it for his own! And when he returned, you would not have known your son.

Denethor: [jumping up angrily] Boromir was loyal to me! Not some wizard's pupil!

[Denethor cries and falls back into his chair; Faramir approaches him]

Faramir: Father?

[Denethor looks over Faramir's shoulder and smiles]

Denethor: My son!

[an image of Boromir appears behind Faramir. Boromir smiles and then the image fades. Denethor is left looking at Faramir. His mood shifts back to anger]

Denethor: Leave me!

[Faramir hesitates and departs]

Gandalf: Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king, *Steward*.

Denethor: The rule of Gondor is mine! And no other's!

Denethor: No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No long, slow sleep of death embalmed. We shall burn, like the heathen kings of old. Bring wood and oil.

Denethor: I am the servant of the house of Anarion. Thus I have walked... thus now I will asleep.

[from the extended edition]

Boromir: You give him no credit and yet he tries to do your will. He loves you, Father.

Denethor: Do not trouble me with Faramir. I know his uses and they are few.