Part 4/7:

The true nature of Saruman's hypocrisy would eventually be laid bare after the downfall of Isengard. It was here that Merry and Pippin found the remnants of Saruman's hidden treasures—his beloved pipe-weed, carefully concealed throughout his reign as the scourge of the land. In contrast to the film's portrayal of Saruman's demise, the books provide a starkly different conclusion, where Saruman is not killed but shamed into begging for the very substance he had once scorned.

In a poignant encounter, Saruman, cornered and desperate, admits his addiction to pipe-weed, lamenting over the loss of dignity and power. His exchange with Merry showcases a sad fall from grace; he demands to know where the hobbits acquired their smoking leaf while begrudgingly accepting a meager share himself.