As Gandalf and Pippin (Billy Boyd) walk away from their disheartening first meeting with Denethor (John Noble), Gandalf explains to Pippin how the line of kings had failed and how Gondor had gone ...

All four Hobbits were childhood friends, but Merry and Pippin were the most troublesome of the bunch, even being recognized by the wizard Gandalf the Grey for their pranks and thievery.