" They retreat to the kitchen where there are no windows.As he lights the gas stove in the kitchen to fry up a large haddock filet for his guest, she is startled by the loud poof of the gas catching fire.After his horse refuses o eat from a bag of oats, he sprinkles it with salt and eats the horse""s meal.C."Bud" Baxter (Jack Lemmon).He is employed in a large impersonal Manhattan insurance firm - as an average hard-working, upwardly-mobile American employee, he describes his powerless position in life in the opening voice-over narration, as the film opens with aerial helicopter views of the city:On November 1st, 1959, the population of New York City was 8,042,783.Although he was gratefully thanked by Bard, Thranduil divulged his real intention - to reclaim white gems (and a necklace) denied o him by the Dwarves years earlier - and he would go to war if necessary with Thorin:I did not come on your behalf.