April 13, 2019

Tormund and Edd ponder their next move. Jon shares difficult news with Sansa.

EXT. CASTLE BLACK, NORTH SIDE OF THE WALL - DAY

A wide shot establishes us at the north side of the Wall. We can see the closed gate of Castle Black's tunnel at its base.

A chunk of ice the size of a bowling ball sails down from on high and shatters against the ground.

EXT. CASTLE BLACK, TOP OF THE WALL - DAY

TORMUND heaves another chunk of ice from the top of the Wall, putting all his strength into the throw. He looks deeply upset about something. The ice falls away from the Wall in a long slow arc.

A collection of ice rubble lays in a heap by Tormund's feet, along with an axe.

DOLOROUS EDD appears, as Tormund continues moodily chucking chunks of ice out into empty space. Edd deadpans at the ice rubble, and at the section of parapet wall that it had been hacked from.

EDD

You're ruining my nice Wall.

Tormund ignores him and chucks another piece of ice over the edge. Edd walks up to stand beside him.

EDD

I'm sorry about your lady.

A pang of grief comes over Tormund's face. He's silent for a few beats as he continues throwing ice.

17.

TORMUND

She was never really mine. But she would have been. If we'd only had more time.

Edd casts him a look of profound skepticism, which Tormund doesn't see. But he politely refrains from comment.

EDD

The raven brought other news.

Tormund throws another chunk of ice. But grunts to show he's listening.

EDD

Jon says they brought down the Night King's dragon. And about a third of his army.

TORMUND

Aye?

EDD

(dour)

Yes. The world is ending slightly more slowly than before. Hurrah.

Tormund finally stops throwing ice and looks at Edd.

EDD

The dead are roaming, attacking vulnerable people where they can. Your people are vulnerable. Nice big army of children and old people, all gathered up in one place.

Edd steps over to the southern edge of the Wall, looking down at Castle Black and the surrounding wildling encampment. Tormund joins him there, his face creased with worry.

TORMUND

You think they'll come this far north again?

EDD

Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. It won't matter.

Tormund gives him a quizzical look.

Edd heaves a weary sigh.

18.

EDD

We're running out of food. Our stores weren't meant to feed four thousand wildlings. So either the dead kill us, or hunger does.

(resigned)

I expect Jon would want us to set ourselves on fire first.

TORMUND

(with heat)

No, Jon would want us to stay alive.

EDD

Oh. I'd forgotten. I suppose I won't die then.

TORMUND

We need to find a way. Keep them safe.

EDD

The dead are south of the Wall now. There's nowhere left that's safe.

A brooding silence follows Edd's pronouncement. The two men stare down into Castle Black together.

Suddenly, a look of huge epiphany overtakes Tormund's face. He turns his head and fixes Edd with a wide-eyed stare.

Edd looks up at him and freezes.

EDD

(wary)

...what.

TORMUND

(slow emphasis)

The dead. Are south. Of the Wall.

Slowly, ponderously, he turns his eyes north. Edd follows his gaze. An "oh shit" look comes over his face as he realizes what Tormund is thinking.

Tormund steps up to the northern edge of the Wall and stares down into the lands beyond -- his once and future home.

EDD

(are you crazy)

We can't survive out there. Winter is here.

19.

TORMUND

Aye. Crows can't.

He leans toward Edd with a wild glint in his eye.

TORMUND

But we can.

INT. JON'S OFFICE - DAY

SANSA

The dead are roaming deeper into the wolfswood, according to his scouts.

Sansa sets down an opened raven scroll upon Deepwood Motte, leaning over a large map of the North, spread out on Jon's desk.

Jon stands silently at Sansa's side. His gaze is achingly sad as it moves lingeringly over their kingdom. Sansa is too preoccupied to see it.

She sets down another raven scroll, this time on Torrhen's Square.

SANSA

Beren Tallhart reports Walkers moving south into the Barrowlands. That's open ground -- you might have more luck with your dragon there.

Jon looks up at her. She finally notices his expression and trails off.

SANSA

...what is it?

Jon is visibly struggling.

SANSA

Jon?

JON

I'm leaving.

A stunned silence.

SANSA

What?

20.

JON

I'm flying south. With Daenerys and Tyrion.

Sansa looks utterly stricken.

SANSA

Jon, you can't.

JON

I have to.

SANSA

We need you here !

JON

People in the North have been preparing for this. People in the South have no idea what's about to hit them.

SANSA

There are still tens of thousands of dead in the North! They're killing our people, your people .

JON

I'm married to the queen now. All of them are my people.

(beat)

A million people live in King's Landing alone. If we don't save them, the Night King will kill everyone and return to march on the North with a hundred times the soldiers. This war is moving south. I have to move with it.

SANSA

Jon...

JON

We're leaving all the queen's forces with you. We'll raise our own army in the South.

SANSA

(panicking)

Jon, I can't, I don't know anything about armies or fighting or...

JON

You do.

(off her look)

You do . You won't be able to save everyone. But with luck, and the right hard choices, you'll make this an even fight. They'll be looking for easy victories, people they can kill without losing more soldiers than they gain.

21.

(beat)

You're smart, and you're brave. And besides: this is what you were always meant to be.

SANSA

What do you mean?

He looks her over.

JON

Sansa Stark. We would name you Wardeness of the North.

Sansa stares back at him. In some part of her, this is what she's always wanted. And yet:

SANSA

How long will you be gone?

JON

I don't know. I'm taking this war one battle at a time.

SANSA

After the war?

JON

I'll go wherever my queen needs me to be.

Sansa takes a shaky breath. She's fighting tears, and Jon is not quite dry-eyed himself.

SANSA

I don't want you to leave.

JON

Me neither.

She pulls him in, and they hug. The camera slowly pulls out on them: two Starks, with the North behind them on the desk.