December 16, 2018

Jaime is confronted.

INT. JAIME'S CHAMBER - NIGHT

Jaime paces in his chamber, his face bandaged where he had been bloodied. There's a knock on the door.

JAIME

Come in.

BRIENNE enters.

BRIENNE

Ser Jaime. You wanted to see me?

JAIME

Brienne of Tarth. Thank you for coming.

Brienne nods and closes the door behind her. She looks him over.

BRIENNE

(soft)

How's your head?

38.

JAIME

I've had worse. These Northmen will have to try harder if they want to kill me.

BRIENNE

They won't try again.

JAIME

No? You heard the man. I've long been an enemy to the North.

BRIENNE

You're competent . Everyone sees that, whether they like you or not. The smart ones accept that we need you. As for the stupid ones...

(shaking her head)

It seems Jon Snow does have some dragon in him after all.

JAIME

(wry)

I must say, watching that man lose his temper was well worth getting my head nearly bashed in.

BRIENNE

They won't try again. Not before the battle. And once everyone sees what we're fighting, with their own eyes...

JAIME

Here's hoping we live long enough to see me enjoy some popularity for once.

They both smile.

A beat. The silence stretches on, until it begins to grow awkward. Brienne casts a furtive glance at the bed.

BRIENNE

Jaime.

JAIME

What?

BRIENNE

Why did you call me here?

39.

JAIME

To discuss the defense of Winterfell, of course. You're one of our best swords, and you have the trust of (the Northern Houses--)

BRIENNE

(interrupting)

Why here?

A loaded silence.

JAIME

What's wrong with here?

Brienne eyes him. She walks up to him, slowly, watching him carefully, trying to gauge his reaction. He doesn't move, standing perfectly still as she comes right up close to him. Their faces are inches apart now.

She looks him in the eyes, her expression watchful and questioning. He stares back at her. She takes his good hand, hesitating all the while, and holds it in her own. He doesn't pull away.

Brienne pauses a moment longer. Then leans in -- very tentatively -- and brushes her lips against his.

Jaime's breath catches in his throat. His body stiffens. She looks into his face a beat, trying to assess his reaction. Then kisses him again. This time he kisses her back. Their arms go around each other...

Then suddenly Jaime breaks it off.

JAIME

(breathless)

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

BRIENNE

Too much?

JAIME

No. I mean, yes. I just...

She stares at him.

JAIME

I can't. I'm sorry.

40.

She stares at him another beat. Then abruptly pulls away. She walks to the bed, sinks down on the edge, and puts her face in her hands. Her shoulders start to silently shake. Jaime looks stricken.

BRIENNE

(muffled, choked)

I'm an idiot.

JAIME

Brienne, no...

He comes and sits next to her on the bed.

BRIENNE

(tearful)

I should've learned by now.

JAIME

(hand on her shoulder)

No, no, no, no. It's not you. It's--

BRIENNE

(pushing him away)

I don't want your pity!

JAIME

You're beautiful.

Brienne looks up at him, her face wet with tears. She eyes him warily, mistrustful of his sincerity.

JAIME

You're beautiful, and you're brave, and you're kind, and I'm...

(beat)

I'm not... I'm not right for you.

Brienne searches his face.

BRIENNE

You still love your sister.

A pained look comes over Jaime's face. Brienne's expression turns stubborn.

BRIENNE

I don't care.

JAIME

Brienne...

41.

BRIENNE

I don't care. Love her until your dying day. You can't choose whom you love. And neither can I.

JAIME

(with pain)

I don't want to love her. I wish I didn't.

BRIENNE

I know. I don't care.

JAIME

You should. You deserve better than that.

BRIENNE

Nobody gets what they deserve, in this world.

Jaime laughs sardonically.

JAIME

That's a very cynical thing for a knight to say.

BRIENNE

I'm not a knight.

JAIME

Yes you are.

BRIENNE

I was never anointed.

JAIME

No? Well I have been. And you are more a knight than I've ever been.

BRIENNE

That's not true.

A beat. Jaime is trying to come up with something snarky to say. But when he opens his mouth, what comes out instead is:

JAIME

What are we doing then? What place is there for knights when every good deed is met with lies and murder and worse? In this world where nobody gets what they deserve?

42.

BRIENNE

(echoing)

Nobody gets what they deserve. But maybe we can get what we want .

He looks at her. His eyes are vulnerable.

BRIENNE

I want you . I want you as you are.

She slowly undoes the laces securing his golden hand to his arm. She removes it, baring his stump, and sets the hand carefully aside. Then she looks him in the face, her expression soft and open.

BRIENNE

Do you want me?

Jaime looks like he's been ripped wide open. He's utterly helpless. He gives her the tiniest of nods.

A beat, then Brienne leans toward him and rests her forehead against his, closing her eyes. They breathe together like that for a few moments. Jaime slowly reaches up with his good hand, trembling, and rests it gingerly on her shoulder, then behind her neck. He strokes her skin with his thumb.

Very, very slowly, he moves his lips to hers once more, and they kiss. It's a soft, vulnerable thing -- careful, and questioning, and hopeful, and frightened, all at once. It lingers on and on as they explore each other.

They kiss again. Then again. Then they move up onto the bed together and begin to make love.

END OF EPISODE 805