Script for Lord of the Qs: Scene 5
SCENE 5: DEATH OF BOROMIR ------------------------- NARRATOR: After surviving the threat on Sam's life, the Fellowship continues its journey to Carpenter library. BOROMIR: None of us should wander alone. You least of all (looks at Frodo). So much depends on you. (Looking away, Frodo runs the other way) BOROMIR: Frodo? (Goes after Frodo) I know why you seek solitude. You suffer. I see it day by day. Are you sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo. Other paths that we might take. FRODO: I know what you would say, and it would seem like wisdom, but for the warning in my heart. BOROMIR: I only ask for the chance to prove my theories! If you would but lend me the Q. FRODO: No! (Boromir grabs the Q forcefully) BOROMIR: It's mine! I will solve the Q and present it at Systems Lunch! NARRATOR: And so Boromir prepared his theories, and a presentation demonstrating them before the systems lords. (Boromir is in front of system professors finishing his presentation, the last slide says P != NP. Pause ensues, system's profs stare, recross legs, a few seconds of silence, intently studying slide.) URUKHAI 1: I have a question. (Pause) Could you go back to your previous slide for a second. BOROMIR: Sure (Boromir flips back to previous slide, showing a bar plot, one bar is labeled P, the other NP) URUKHAI 1: Could you please be a little more explicit about this graph. Could you explain it again? BOROMIR: You have P and NP, and according to this graph they are not equal. Do they look equal to you? They certainly do not look equal to me. URUKHAI 2: Yes, but does it scale? BOROMIR: (Stammers) Bu... URUKHAI 1: Do you have benchmarking results? BOROMIR: (Stammers) Th... URUKHAI 2: What are the power implications? BOROMIR: (Stammers) Whe... URUKHAI 1: (Looking very intently at Boromir) Did you prepare for this presentation? BOROMIR: (Stammers) Who... URUKHAI 2: (Stands up, holding up a paper) Did you even read the paper? BOROMIR: PAPER? What paper? There was no paper! Ahhhhhh! (Boromir falls over dead, throws Q into the air. Gollum runs up, catches the Q.)