Characters:
Théoden - King of Rohan
Éowyn - His Daughter
Háma - Doorward of Meduseld
Grima - Théoden's Doctor
Gandalf - An Istar
Aragorn - A Man
Legolas - An Elf
Gimli - A Dwarf
Guard 1 - A Guard
Guard 2 - Another Guard
The action takes place in Meduseld, Théoden's Hall at the top of the hill in Edoras.
[A spacious throne-room, with one door to the left, two doors to the right behind the throne. In the foreground there is a large fire-pit with a cauldron suspended over it. In the background, the wall is pillared, the spaces between pillars are filled with heraldic banners. Théoden is seated on the throne staring into space.]
[Two guards enter from the right and speak in low voices while casting furtive glances at Théoden]
GUARD 2 - What do you think he's looking at?
GUARD 1 - Well he's mad isn't he? Thinks he's in a play, poor bastard.
THÉODEN - [Aside] O! let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven; Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!
GUARD 2 - It's all that doctor's fault if you ask me.
GUARD 1 - No-one asked you. And you better not say that to anyone else; the doctor is the only one he listens too these days.
[Enter DR. GRIMA in conversation with HÁMA]
DR. GRIMA - I don't pretend that medical science has yet found a method of treating madness that's quite satisfactory, I don't say there isn't room for improvement, but what I do say is that it's the duty of a member of the medical profession to use the best available treatment known and accepted by his fellow physicians! It's his duty. A license to practice medicine isn't a license to perform whatever hare-brained experiments may come into his head.
HÁMA - I'm just saying he was a lot better off when he was riding around killing Orcs and drinking mead. You have him in here cooped up; All he needs is some fresh air and some excitement.
DR. GRIMA - I know I'm not the first to diagnose him of madness, I know he had consulted the new doctor, who had been brought from Minas Tirith by a fantastic notion of Eowyn's. After listening to him and examining him the doctor came to the conclusion that he was actually suffering from some disorder of the brain. As I have done.
THÉODEN - [Aside] Mother, give me the sun.
HÁMA - Yes, but then he was his old self again after that. It's only now he's been like this, after you started meddling.
DR. GRIMA - I venture to hazard the suggestion that he really had perhaps, by a terrible effort of will, succeeded in delaying the attack for a time, hoping, of course, to check it completely. He knew that he was unwell, but he loathed the thought of being ill at that fatal time.
THÉODEN - [Aside] The sun. The sun.
HÁMA - Well it's a damned coincidence then that he started getting worse as soon as you started treating him.
DR. GRIMA - Worse, Háma. The poor man has been getting worse for years. The previous Doctor was called in because he was getting worse. I was called in because he was getting worse. This isn't the result of treatment, this has been building for years.
