May 4, 2019

Jon and Dany court armies for their cause.

EXT. GOLDEN TOOTH LANDSCAPE - DAY

From our familiar Winterfell, we transition to our first-ever look at the Golden Tooth. The castle sits atop a mountain peak, overlooking the hill road that winds through the pass -- the gateway into the Westerlands from the east.

The conical peak of the mountain looks as though it had been sliced vertically, and the half nearest the road discarded. The keep nestles against the vertical face of the remaining half, its curtain wall surrounding it in a semicircle, rising smoothly from the surrounding rock. The castle looks like a seamless part of the mountain itself, an effect enhanced by the way its stones match its color. From the main gate, a narrow track winds back and forth down the side of the mountain to the hill road below.

11.

RHAEGAL soars overhead, his cries echoing off the mountains as his shadow falls over the castle.

JON (SOUND ADVANCE)

Lord Lefford, is it?

INT. GOLDEN TOOTH KEEP CORRIDORS - DAY

JON SNOW walks through the corridors of the castle keep, dressed as he was at the end of 808. JAIME LANNISTER walks beside him.

JAIME

Yes. Leo Lefford.

JON

You showed him the wight?

JAIME

I don't think it helped.

Jon looks at him for elaboration.

JAIME

(bitter)

It seems to have convinced him that he ought to stay holed up on his mountaintop and have nothing to do with us. But he agreed to meet with you before he threw me out, so...

Jaime shrugs pessimistically. Jon takes that in.

They've reached a set of double doors. A pair of guardsmen open them as they approach.

EXT. GOLDEN TOOTH COURTYARD - CONTINUOUS

LORD LEO LEFFORD is waiting for them in a small open air courtyard. It's a semicircle, like the rest of the castle, with its flat edge walled off by the mountain peak's sheer cliff face.

Jon sizes up the old lord with his eyes as Jaime does the honors. Judging by Lefford's sour expression, he is not going to be an easy sell.

12.

JAIME

(to Jon)

Your grace, I present Lord Leo of House Lefford, Lord of the Golden Tooth, and Guardian of the Pass.

(to Lefford)

Lord Lefford, you stand before Prince Aegon Targaryen, the Wolf Dragon. Prince of Dragonstone, son of Rhaegar Targaryen, and consort to Queen Daenerys Targaryen, first of her name.

If Jon is embarrassed by his new titles, he does not let it show. He is watching Lefford's face with quiet composure.

Lefford bows, but it looks almost sarcastic.

Jon nods for Jaime to leave them. Jaime exits and the guardsmen close the door behind him. Jon watches Jaime go, then looks at Lefford once more.

Lefford looks Jon up and down for a beat.

LORD LEFFORD

So you're this dragon prince?

He does not sound impressed. Jon says nothing. To affirm would cheapen what ought to be obvious.

LORD LEFFORD

Let's sit.

There's a small table with chairs in the middle of the courtyard, close to the cliff face. Lefford talks as they walk to it.

LORD LEFFORD

I saw Rhaegar, once. A great tournament at Harrenhal -- everyone was there, it seemed. That was over twenty years ago now. But I never forget a face.

He squints into Jon's face as they sit, scrutinizing him with a closeness bordering on rudeness. He sighs, as though Jon has done something to annoy him.

LORD LEFFORD

Dammit, you do look like him.

JON

So I'm told. Not that I would know.

13.

LORD LEFFORD

He was well-liked, here in the Westerlands. Your grandfather wasn't, of course. But everyone loved Rhaegar.

He pours himself a goblet of wine, neglecting to pour one for Jon.

LORD LEFFORD

We all thought he would marry Tywin's daughter and rule with Tywin as his Hand, once his damn father was finally dead. I looked forward to that, I'll admit it. We all did.

He sips his wine.

LORD LEFFORD

But then, of course, he was married off to that Dornishwoman. Then left her to run off with your mother, which started a war. I remember the end of that war. When Tywin called his banners, and we all marched to the capital. Sacked the city. Killed every Targaryen we found.

Lefford gives Jon a look, but Jon doesn't rise to the bait. Lefford tries a different tack.

LORD LEFFORD

You grew up with the Starks, I'm told. I remember that war as well. I was there when your cousin played his trick at the Green Fork. Never lost a battle, that one. Lost the war, all the same. What do they call it, up in the North? The Red Wedding?

This jab bothers Jon a lot more. We see it in his face, though again he refrains from taking the bait. Lefford regards him with shrewd, narrowed eyes.

LORD LEFFORD

You're a rare person. Not many survive being on the losing side of war twice. Against Tywin of all people.

(condescending)

14.

Came to try your hand at winning for once? Did you come here for advice?

JON

You know why I'm here.

Lefford somehow manages to make this sound like the harshest insult in the world:

LORD LEFFORD

You want me to fight for you.

He laughs rudely.

LORD LEFFORD

Gods, you're young. You thought you could dance in here with your dragon armor and your dragon titles, and have me swooning at your feet. Are you going to give me a speech now? About how yesterday's wars don't matter? Go on, then.

He sits back in his chair and gives Jon a scornful look. Jon eyes him for a moment, unhurried, letting the silence sit.

JON

You're right. Both sides of my family have been an enemy to yours. So don't fight for me. Don't fight for the queen. Don't fight for honor, for glory, or for riches. You won't get any.

Lefford stares at Jon unimpressedly. He makes a face: is there more?

LORD LEFFORD

I thought you came here to raise an army.

JON

I did.

LORD LEFFORD

You're not making a very good case. Why should I abandon my castle and my lands to march with you?

JON

For the oldest reason, and the best one. To save your own skin. To save your wife, and your children, and your grandchildren. Everyone you've ever known or cared about.

15.

LORD LEFFORD

Don't threaten me, boy.

A beat. Jon looks up at the castle walls around them.

JON

How old is this castle? How long has it stood?

LORD LEFFORD

Thousands of years.

JON

The Night King is marching for King's Landing. If the city falls, he adds a million soldiers to the Army of the Dead. Can your castle stand against a million soldiers?

Lefford hesitates.

JON

I've faced that army, my lord. Three times. I've seen your castle from the air. Would you like to hear exactly how your castle will fall, when the dead come for it?

Jon is totally dispassionate as he goes on to paint a picture for Lord Lefford. He states his words as facts, because he knows that they are. He requires validation from no one.

JON

They'll attack your walls. You'll rain arrows, to no effect. You'll rain oil and pitch. You'll see them burning and feel a moment of hope, until more of them come and smother the flames with their own bodies.

(beat)

They'll have no ladders or siege weapons, but they'll have giants. They'll have mammoths. And if somehow you stop them from breaking down your gates, the foot soldiers will swarm over each other like ants, crawling higher and higher until you're fighting them atop your walls.

(beat)

16.

Then just when you think it can't get worse, you'll hear a sound like a rockfall. You'll turn around...

He turns his head and looks up at the cliff overlooking the keep. Lefford follows his gaze.

JON

This cliff has acted as a natural fortification for thousands of years. The dead don't care. They can climb like spiders. This courtyard we're sitting in... it'll fill up with bodies, raining down on you from above.

(beat)

And then those bodies will stand up. They'll slaughter your family. And if you're very lucky, they'll slaughter you too, before you get a chance to see what your grandchildren become after they die.

Lefford is not an easy man to rattle, but this vision shakes him. Jon's tired deadpan makes it all the worse.

JON

That's the truth. It'll happen within the year. Unless you come with me now.

Lefford stares at him, at a loss for words.

EXT. VOLANTIS HARBOR - DAY

The golden kraken ripples on a thousand black sails, resting at anchor in the great harbor of Volantis. The Silence is dominant among them.

EXT. VOLANTIS - VARIOUS LOCATIONS - DAY

It's been a while since we've been here. We take a moment to remind ourselves that this place exists, along with its various landmarks -- the Long Bridge, the Red Temple of Volantis. We end with an exterior shot of a lavishly upscale inn.

EURON (SOUND ADVANCE)

I shouldn't be meeting with you, you know.

17.

INT. UPSCALE VOLANTENE INN - MEETING ROOM - DAY

EURON GREYJOY is meeting with DAENERYS TARGARYEN in the inn's large, stately meeting chamber -- neutral territory. They are alone except for a force of HIRED GUARDS.

EURON

My betrothed wouldn't like it.

DANY

(quizzical)

Your "betrothed."

Euron smiles.

DANY

And when will your "betrothed" become your wife?

EURON

In good time.

DANY

You know that Cersei will never win this war, Lord Greyjoy. Her own brother has abandoned her. Her own armies have abandoned her.

(off Euron's look)

Though I suppose news doesn't travel so well over the Narrow Sea.

EURON

Well. With her brother gone, I suppose Cersei will be very lonely, and that much happier to see me again.

DANY

You're a bold man to assume you'll see her again.

EURON

And bold men rule the world.

He grins winningly at her. Dany holds his gaze.

DANY

Tell me, how well do you think your wooden fleet would fare against fire-breathing dragons?

EURON

Is this your notion of courtship? I like it.

18.

He grins again.

EURON

You could have torched me the moment you arrived. But you're smarter than that. My niece and nephew are dead, you're low on ships, and you know the Iron Fleet won't ever sail for an outsider. You know that with my support, your war against Cersei is as good as won. So here you are. And here I am.

DANY

You're not a very loyal man, are you?

EURON

I'm a very simple man. All I ever wanted was to marry the most beautiful woman in the world.

And there it is. Cards on the table. Dany holds his gaze.

DANY

And if you did?

EURON

She would find me a generous husband. For her bride gift, she would have the greatest armada this world has ever seen, led by the greatest captain on the fourteen seas.

Dany is well used to braggarts and blowhards -- a fortunate thing, in this moment.

DANY

You would swear to me now? To sail for me and fight for me? Only for me?

EURON

One condition. We marry tomorrow, aboard my ship. Before the eyes of the Drowned God and my senior captains.

Dany lifts her eyebrows at him.

DANY

You're in quite a hurry.

19.

EURON

I've been recently unlucky in love. It's soured me on long engagements.

Dany makes a show of weighing this choice.

DANY

I suppose that's fair.

EURON

And of course, by Westerosi tradition, a marriage is no true marriage until it's been... consummated.

Euron's smile is bordering on a leer.

Dany favors him with a serene smile. We recognize this particular smile, but poor Euron does not.

DANY

I will do my duty by my husband. You have my word on that.

Euron looks very pleased.