ACT TWO
INT. WINTERFELL – HALL – DAY
Jon and Daenerys emerge from the war room.
JON SNOW
I must speak with Sansa and Lady
Brienne.
Jon turns to walk down the hallway, opposite Daenerys.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Jon.
JON SNOW
What’s the matter?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Why do you assume something is the
matter?
JON SNOW
The look on your face. Believe me,
I know.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
You know too much, Jon Snow.
JON SNOW
You’d be surprised.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
It’s Viserion.
JON SNOW
Walk with me.
The two walk down the dimly lit halls of Winterfell.
JON SNOW (CONT’D)
I cannot imagine your pain.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I wish everyone would stop telling
me how sorry they are for me. Apologies will not bring him back. What’s done is done.
JON SNOW
Then what troubles you?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Do you dream?
JON SNOW
I do.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
What of?
JON SNOW
When I was younger I had nightmares of the crypts beneath Winterfell. Now, I dream of much more terrible things.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
That sounds unbearable.
(beat)
I’ve been having rather odd dreams of late.
JON SNOW
What of?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Viserion. But they are not dreams of the past or of a fantasy world in which he still lives. They are of now.
JON SNOW
Go on.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I believe I witnessed an attack on
Last Hearth during a dream at sea. Through Viserion’s eyes I saw men burned alive. I saw Ned Umber as he escaped the Army of the Dead. The dream stayed with me. Soon after we arrived at Winterfell –- here came the boy from my dream. A boy I had never before met, standing right in front of me.
JON SNOW
Bran talks of flying with ravens.
(a beat, remembering)
When I was younger, I could swear I dreamt I was running with my wolf.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Then you believe me?
JON SNOW
Aye, I believe you. Few things
surprise me anymore.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I have a connection to my dragons. It cannot be explained with words,
but it is there. I can feel it. I believe that connection still exists between me and Viserion.
JON SNOW
Your dragon is a slave to the Night
King. He can’t be saved.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I cannot accept that. A piece of
him still remains. How else would I dream through his eyes?
JON SNOW
I don’t know.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Neither do I. What I do know is
that I cannot strike him down without giving him a chance. I need you to promise me that you will not destroy him without my leave.
Jon stops.
JON SNOW
I cannot promise you that.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Shall I command you?
JON SNOW
If your dragon burns my men alive,
do you expect me to sit idly by and let it happen?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
No. But if Viserion can be turned,
it would change the course of the war.
JON SNOW
Aye, but at what cost? You cannot
put yourself in harm’s way for the sake of a chance.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I do not expect you to understand.
I cannot be the Mother of Dragons if I do not try to save my own child.
Daenerys leaves Jon alone in the hallway.
INT. WINTERFELL – CRYPTS – DAY
Arya and Sansa stand by Ned Stark’s tomb. The torchlight gives the grey stone tombs a warm sheen.
ARYA STARK
Mother’s body should be here. And
Robb’s.
SANSA STARK
There’s no way of knowing where the
river took them. At least no one can hurt them now.
Arya looks up at her.
ARYA STARK
(curious)
Are you frightened?
SANSA STARK
I’ve lived with fear so long I
don’t think I could recognize it anymore.
ARYA STARK
We’ve faced worse than this.
SANSA STARK
Worse than an Army of the Dead?
ARYA STARK
I’m not afraid of the dead. It was
the living who tore apart our family.
SANSA STARK
And dragons? What of those?
ARYA STARK
The worst thing a dragon can do is
kill you. They’re kinder beasts than men.
SANSA STARK
They can also turn Winterfell into
ash and rubble.
ARYA STARK
Don’t you remember father’s
stories? Winterfell has stood since the time of the first men.
SANSA STARK
Of course I remember. I also remember when Theon burnt it to the
ground.
ARYA STARK
And now it stands. And if it falls,
it will stand again.
SANSA STARK
And if there’s no one left to
rebuild?
ARYA STARK
You came of age in a lion’s den and
escaped uneaten. I traveled with criminals and assassins and turned my own blade against them. There are graves filled with dead men who underestimated the Starks.
SANSA STARK
There are tombs filled with Starks
as well.
ARYA STARK
And plenty of Starks yet living. We
will win this battle because we have to.
SANSA STARK
The last time I fought for
Winterfell, it was I who was in the fields and Ramsay who waited within these walls.
ARYA STARK
And now he’s a pile of dog shit in
a kennel. I’d say you had the better hand in that battle.
SANSA STARK
You are a far greater warrior than
I will ever be.
ARYA STARK
And you are a far better lady.
Perhaps you could embroider me a favor when I go off to war.
Sansa smiles at her sister, who has her father’s looks.
Unnoticed, a shadow moves through the crypts. It’s VARYS. He creeps like the spider he is.
EXT. WINTERFELL – COURTYARD – DAY
Grey Worm walks toward the armory. He sees Missandei, who stands alone with her eyes closed, murmuring a prayer. Grey Worm puts his hand on her shoulder, delicately enough to not startle her.
GREY WORM
Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.
MISSANDEI
It’s fine.
GREY WORM
What were you doing?
MISSANDEI
I am not sure exactly. I have never
really prayed to any gods. But I was asking whoever is there, if anyone is there, to keep everyone I care about safe. To protect… you.
Missandei’s eyes well with tears. Grey Worm puts his hand on her cheek.
GREY WORM
No. Don’t cry.
MISSANDEI
I can’t help it.
Grey Worm pulls her to him.
MISSANDEI (CONT’D)
Are you going to be well? Tell me
you will.
GREY WORM
I do not know. In battle, it is
always the same. You never know which fight will be your last.
MISSANDEI
Just please try not to die.
GREY WORM
You should get to the First Keep.
The Army of the Dead is close.
MISSANDEI
(hugging Grey Worm)
I don’t want you to go.
Grey Worm kisses her passionately. When their kiss comes to an end, Grey Worm takes Missandei’s hand and places it on his heart.
GREY WORM
We will always be together.
The elected leader of the Unsullied wishes he could stay here with the woman he loves forever, but he forces himself to leave for the armory. Missandei watches Grey Worm walk away.
EXT. WINTERFELL – FIRST KEEP – DAY
Brienne of Tarth, Sansa Stark, Samwell Tarly, and GILLY stand around the battle planning table. Samwell studies the map of Winterfell.
Gilly holds BABY SAM and bounces him in her arms. Sansa watches baby Sam, enjoying the distraction of an innocent child in the midst of the anxiety of the coming battle.
SANSA STARK
Baby Sam is so sweet.
GILLY
He’s a good boy. He’ll be a brave
man like his father one day.
Samwell blushes at the compliment.
GILLY (CONT ’D)
Sam killed a White Walker. Did you
know that?
BRIENNE OF TARTH
Did you really?
SAMWELL TARLY
It was nothing.
GILLY
He was protecting me and baby Sam.
SANSA STARK
Maybe we should have you on the
battlefield then, Sam.
SAMWELL TARLY
Trust me, you don’t want that.
GILLY
Baby Sam might have been offered to
the Night King if Sam hadn’t rescued us.
SANSA STARK
What do you mean ‘offered?’
GILLY
My father, well my husband, Craster,
would sacrifice all his newborn sons to the Night King.
SANSA STARK
What does he do with them?
GILLY
Nothing good.
SANSA STARK
That’s terrible.
GILLY
Do you think we can win this battle
against the walkers?
SAMWELL TARLY
I think we will. If I was able to
kill a White Walker, Jon and the rest should have no trouble.
SANSA STARK
I hope you’re right, Sam.
Gilly switches her attention to the topographical map of Winterfell.
GILLY
Look baby Sam. The battle doesn’t
seem so scary when it’s all just a bunch of rocks. Does it?
Baby Sam reaches for one of the rocks on the map. Gilly hands one to him.
GILLY (CONT’D)
You want this? There you go.
SAMWELL TARLY
Don’t give him that! He could
choke.
GILLY
Right, sorry.
Gilly takes the rock away from Baby Sam and he starts to cry. Gilly bounces him up and down and soothes him to silence.
GILLY (CONT’D)
So, where are we running to if the
White Walkers start killing more of us than we kill of them?
SANSA STARK
White Harbor. We’ll be safe there.
(to Brienne)
I wish you had escorted the people of Wintertown there personally.
BRIENNE OF TARTH
They are in excellent hands with
Podrick, my lady. I am needed here.
GILLY
Is White Harbor nice?
SANSA STARK
Nice enough. It’s a small town.
GILLY
Maybe Sam and I can raise Baby Sam
there. What do you think?
Gilly looks down at Baby Sam, as though waiting for his answer. Sansa can’t help but smile.
EXT. NORTH OF WINTERFELL – DAY
The WHITE WALKERS, stoic and terrifying with pale white skin and bright blue eyes, ride on their WHITE WALKER HORSES. They lead the ARMY OF THE DEAD in a slow and synchronized march. There seems to be an infinite amount of dead soldiers marching side by side.
The dead wield various weapons –- spears, swords, and axes. THREE WIGHT GIANTS tower over the rest of the wights, their colossal size the only weapon they need.
All humanity has been drained from the dead. There is no fear in their eyes, nor any compassion. They are killing machines on a mission. Their master’s mission.
The Night King flies above them on VISERION, his dragon now.
EXT. WINTERFELL – GODSWOOD – DAY – VISION
Bran sits alone with his eyes open. He faces the heart tree with its bright red leaves and a face that seems to know all.
The leaves RUSTLE. Bran turns to see if anything is there, but finds nothing.
When Bran turns back, the Night King is standing at a weirwood tree.
In an instant, the Night King is on Bran. Bran gazes into his adversary’s bottomless pupils and sees…
…WINTERFELL and the SUN over it.
Helpless, Bran looks to the weirwood tree. The tree opens its EYES, and its…
…BLACK MOUTH.
BRANDON STARK
Father, help me.
Swarms of ravens SHRIEK as they shoot out of the mouth.
The Night King whirls toward the tree and the ravens. The flock engulfs the Night King.
END VISION.
EXT. WINTERFELL – GODSWOOD – DAY
Bran’s eyes roll from white to brown. As he gathers himself, Bran looks to Jon, who sits nearby.
BRANDON STARK
The sun is setting on Winterfell.
JON SNOW
I won’t let it.
BRANDON STARK
Or maybe the sun is setting on the
Starks.
JON SNOW
You need to get to safety.
BRANDON STARK
We all do.
Determined, Jon strides out of the Godswood.
EXT. WINTERFELL – WEST WALL – DAY
Daenerys and Tyrion stand side by side on the snow-covered battlements of Winterfell. They look out on the endless fields of snow and forest that make up the great expanse of the North.
TYRION LANNISTER
Whatever preparations we have made,
I do not believe anything can prepare us for what’s to come.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I have faced the Night King and his
army once. I can do it again.
TYRION LANNISTER
The last time you faced the Night
King you lost a dragon.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Yes, I did.
(beat)
Tell me Lord Tyrion, how did you free my dragons from their chains beneath Meereen? Why did they not eat you alive?
TYRION LANNISTER
I’ve been told by many a fine woman
that I don’t taste very good.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Answer the question.
TYRION LANNISTER
When I entered the dungeons beneath
the Great Pyramid, I thought those steps would be my last. Varys believed me mad, and Grey Worm thought me a fool. To this day I do not refute their claims. I cannot explain it, but your dragons knew I was there to help them. Dragons are more intelligent than any of us will ever know. But you already know that, don’t you?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Yes, I do.
TYRION LANNISTER
Then why do you ask me? I am no
Father of Dragons. If I were, perhaps I could take the Seven Kingdoms for myself.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
You would make a bad king.
TYRION LANNISTER
A very bad king, Your Grace, but
would we have fun. Wine and ale all day long, a woman for every man, a man for every woman, and more gold than the smallfolk would know what to do with. But you’re right, I’m much better at supporting great rulers than becoming one.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
You still think me a great ruler?
Despite my failings?
TYRION LANNISTER
I’ve probably made more mistakes in
my life than any man living. But traveling across the world to find you was not one of them. You have not failed me yet, and I hope I have not failed you.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
You have not failed me.
(beat)
Yet.
TYRION LANNISTER
When I fail, I fail quite
spectacularly.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Sounds intriguing. I look forward
to it.
TYRION LANNISTER
(hint of sarcasm)
As do I.
Jon approaches them.
TYRION LANNISTER (CONT’D)
(to Jon)
No sign of the Night King or his horrifying horde yet.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
The Unsullied and Dothraki are in
position.
Jon looks to the horizon. A great grey cloud gathers.
JON SNOW
Snow. He’s coming.
(To Daenerys)
Do you truly think you can reach Viserion?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Yes. I’m his mother. I walked
through fire for him.
TYRION LANNISTER
You can reach Viserion, Your Grace?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
It can work.
(to Tyrion)
I understand if you want to step back, in case I fail.
TYRION LANNISTER
If you believe you can reach your
child, I believe.
JON SNOW
It’s risky.
TYRION LANNISTER
If Queen Daenerys could win
Viserion’s favor, we would take away the Night King’s greatest weapon.
JON SNOW
It could change the course of the
Great War.
(beat)
Are you sure you want to do this, Your Grace?
Daenerys smiles. Suddenly, DROGON lights on the battlements. His wings beat as he lands, creating a blast of wind so forceful Jon and Tyrion take a step back.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I will free my child.
As Daenerys climbs atop Drogon…
JON SNOW
Be safe.
But Jon’s words are swallowed by Drogon’s greeting growl. The dragon senses his mother’s mission.
Jon and Tyrion watch as Daenerys takes flight.
INT. GREAT KEEP – TOP FLOOR – DAY
Sansa and Arya look down at their home, which will soon be a battleground yet again. Nothing but white snow and the Targaryen army is visible outside the walls of Winterfell. Then, gradually, specks of slow-moving bodies come into view. WIGHTS.
Sansa and Arya exchange a glance.
Viserion, the undead dragon, flies over the Army of the Dead.
The Night King sits as still as ice atop the beautiful monster now under his control.
ARYA STARK
(cooly, calculated)
The Night King. I suppose it’s time to pay our respects.
Sansa hugs Arya. Then, as they’ve always done, the Starks separate to fight their own battles.
EXT. WINTERFELL – NORTHEAST WALL – DAY
Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Jorah Mormont stand behind North Men, who ready themselves behind a row of flaming arrows.
Jon follows Tyrion’s gaze to Viserion flying above them. Jon meets the Night King’s frigid glare.
Jon turns his attention to the hillside, where the Army of the Dead advances.
EXT. SKY – DAY
Daenerys rides Drogon toward Viserion. The Night King flies Viserion toward Daenerys. As they near, each pulls back to hover. The Night King sizes up Daenerys. Daenerys focuses on Viserion.
The brother dragons –- Drogon and Viserion –- don’t seem to recognize each other as they remain at a standstill in the sky.
Drogon gives a GROWL-like greeting, but Viserion doesn’t respond. Viersion’s azure blue eyes seem unfeeling, until…
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
You were in my dreams, Viserion. It’s me. I know you know me.
Viserion’s blue eye watches his mother. He seems to be absorbing her words. Daenerys and Viserion hold eye contact.
The Night King looks from Viserion to the Dragon Queen and back to Viserion. A hint of concern fills the Night King’s ice-cold face.
EXT. OUTSIDE WINTERFELL’S WALLS – SAME
The UNSULLIED march in formation. They move methodically, wielding their dragonglass spears.
Grey Worm waits, ready for battle.
The DOTHRAKI sit on their horses, their arakhs in hand.
EXT. WINTERFELL – COURTYARD – SAME
The North Men and the Wildlings wield an array of weapons.
TORMUND stands ready to massacre the wights. He lifts his gaze to see Drogon and Viserion in the sky. He cannot believe his eyes.
EXT. WINTERFELL – NORTHEAST WALL – SAME
Jon, Tyrion, and Jorah watch as Daenerys risks her life to reconnect with her lost child.
EXT. SKY – SAME
Daenerys reaches to stroke Viserion’s massive head. Viserion welcomes his mother’s touch.
The Night King grows impatient as Daenerys and Viserion bond. He places his hand on Viserion’s back. He closes his eyes.
Viserion bucks and ROARS.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Stop hurting him!
The Night King looks at Daenerys. He has control over Viserion now.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN (CONT’D)
Zaldrzes buzdari iksos daor.
Viserion flaps his wings violently and opens his mouth.
Daenerys knows what is coming, but still she is stunned.
Viserion blasts blue fire at Daenerys. She and Drogon bank at the last second. The fire catches Drogon’s wing and Daenerys’ arm. The Mother of Dragons and Drogon spiral toward the ground. Daenerys tries to take control of Drogon.
It’s no use. Daenerys and Drogon plummet as Drogon SCREECHES in agony.
EXT. WINTERFELL – NORTHEAST WALL – SAME
Jon, Tyrion, and Jorah rush to the battlements as they watch their queen and Drogon corkscrew toward the ground.
Drogon fights to stay in the air, but his crippled wing won’t allow it.
EXT. SKY – SAME
Daenerys clutches Drogon, bracing herself.
EXT. WINTERFELL – NORTHEAST WALL – SAME
Jon’s eyes fill with horror as he watches the love of his life freefall toward the snow-covered earth.
END OF ACT TWO