October 7, 2018

Yara plans her next move. Sansa questions Jon.

Ext. NARROW SEA - MARON'S SHIP - DAY

Maron Volmark stands at the prow of his ship, the golden kraken billowing above him on his sails.

Behind him, MARON'S IRONBORN are moving catapults into position. They carry wooden crates up from the ship's hold, each containing a projectile, and lash them to the deck near each catapult.

17.

Two other ships sail alongside Maron's, one on each flank. The three ships cut through the water in pursuit of their quarry.

EXT. NARROW SEA - YARA'S SHIP - DAY

YARA GREYJOY stands at the stern of her ship, her FIRST MATE at her side. The two gaze out at the three ships pursuing them. From their POV, the ships are small dots in the distance.

First mate

We can outsail them.

Yara

(grim)

For a time, perhaps.

FiRST MATE

This is a fast ship, captain. They won't have an easy time catching us.

Yara

They don't need to catch us.

She turns and begins walking along the length of her ship, her first mate following after her. YARA'S IRONBORN nod to her in deference as she passes.

Yara

They only need to come within catapult range, just for a moment. One sloppy tack on our part, one lucky shot on theirs, and they sink us. If we stop for harbor, for food, they sink us.

She stops walking and leans against the rail, frowning in thought.

YARA

We can't run forever.

FIRST MATE

So what do we do?

Yara looks back again toward the pursuing ships, thinking. Her eyes grow sad.

YARA

My brother died so I could be here.

18.

She gazes out over the waves, in silent grief for Theon.

Her expression hardens. Sadness gives way to rage, to determination.

She turns toward her crew.

YARA

Ironborn!

Her voice cuts like a whip. Instantly, she has the rapt attention of every man on board. They gather to hear her.

YARA

You see those ships?

(they look)

Those are Euron's hounds. They mean to hunt us down for sport. They mean to chase us to exhaustion and starvation. To shoot at us like game and claim our heads for trophies.

(beat)

They expect us to run from them. They expect us to fear them. They expect us to flee, for as long as we have wind in our sails and food in our hold.

The men listen in grim silence. She holds their gaze, meeting their eyes as individuals and as a group.

YARA

We're not going to do what they expect.

Ironborn

(heartened)

Aye...

YARA

It's a moonless night tonight. We're going to change course under cover of darkness. We're going to choose a ship for the taking and fuck them from behind!

IrONBORN

Aye!

YARA

We will take their ship and their catapults and sink the others!

19.

IRONBORN

Aye!

YARA

We will be outnumbered. The fighting will be hard and bloody. Will you kill for me, Ironborn?

IRONBORN

AYE!

YARA

Will you die for me?

IRONBORN

AYE!

YARA

Am I truly your queen?

Ironborn

AYE!

A great raucous cheer goes up. The men clash their swords and stomp the deck and raise their fists and their voices for their queen.

IRONBORN

YARA! YARA! YARA!

Yara gazes at her men as they continue shouting her name. The significance and bittersweetness of this moment is reflected in her eyes.

Ext. Winterfell skies - day

Dragon cries ring out as DROGON and RHAEGAL soar overhead in the skies above Winterfell.

inT. JON'S OFFICE - day

Jon stands at his window, watching them.

There's a knock on his door.

JON

Who is it?

SANSA (O.S.)

(muffled by the door)

Your cousin.

20.

Jon pulls a face. He turns his back on the window and leans against the wall.

JON

(wry)

Get in here, Sansa.

Sansa opens the door.

JON

And don't call me cousin. You'll always be my sister to me.

She smiles at that, as she closes the door behind herself.

JON

How do you think it went?

Sansa eyes him dubiously as she takes a seat.

SANSA

(quoting him)

All birthrights, in perpetuity?

Ah. He'd wondered if this would come up.

JON

(deadpan)

Did you like that bit?

SANSA

...I never took you for a revolutionary.

Jon lifts his eyebrows at her.

JON

Do you think Joffrey would've been king for as long as he was, if it weren't for the Baratheon name? Do you think the Mad King would've, if it weren't for the Targaryen name?

SANSA

So instead we'll just use war to decide who should be king.

JON

(sarcastic deadpan)

Mm, wouldn't that be a change.

SANSA

Jon.

21.

JON

Every highborn twat thinks they have a right to some throne.

SANSA

(offended)

"Every highborn twat ."

JON

Forgive my language.

SANSA

(look who's talking)

You're a Targaryen !

JON

(sharp)

I'm the same person I've always been.

Sansa stares at him, surprised by his sudden heat.

JON

Now I have a fancy name, and suddenly everything is different. You don't find that a bit mad?

(off her silence)

I suppose you wouldn't. You've been highborn your whole life.

SANSA

Are you angry with me?

JON

No, of course not.

Sansa eyes him warily. Jon sees that, feels a bit bad, and gives her a kind, conciliatory smile.

JON

(self-deprecating)

Here I am, debating politics while the world is ending. I didn't mean it like that. Forgive me?

Sansa sighs. She gives him a long pensive look.

SaNSA

You need to be careful. You're asking people to accept a lot of change all at once.

22.

JON

I know that.

SANSA

You were gone a long time.

JON

I'm sorry. I know it made things hard for you.

SANSA

I'm not complaining about the work I did. I'm trying to warn you.

Jon nods deferentially. Sansa stands up and comes to join him at the window. She looks up at the dragons flying overhead.

SANSA

Are you really going to ride that?

JON

Rhaegal.

SANSA

What?

JON

His name is Rhaegal. And a betting man would say: probably not.

SANSA

But you're going to try.

JON

I have to.

Sansa doesn't speak, but Jon picks up on her discomfort.

JON

You're worried.

SANSA

It's the end of the world. Of course I'm worried.

JON

I know it's a risk, Sansa. But if I succeed, we double our firepower.

SANSA

And if you fail, you'll be dead in a blameless accident you publicly agreed to.

23.

JON

(slight edge)

Do you realize what it means, that she's letting me try?

(off her look)

It means she trusts me. The last time Targaryens fought each other with dragons, it nearly destroyed them all.

SaNSA

How do you know she won't command Rhaegal to roast you the first time you try to touch him?

JON

Because she didn't.

SANSA

(confused)

What do you...

(working it out)

You've tried already?

JON

I did already.

Oh damn.

SANSA

...when?

JON

Yesterday. After I spoke with her.

SANSA

You were alone with her and her dragons? After telling her...

Sansa does a face palm to end all face palms.

SaNSA

Jon, you idiot .

Jon refuses to look abashed.

SANSA

(grudging)

It's possible she doesn't want to kill you after all.

Jon is too polite to say "I told you so." Outwardly, at least.

24.

EXT. WINTERFELL - BROKEN TOWER - later

Rhaegal rests now on the ground, with Dany standing by his cheek. She rubs the ridge under Rhaegal's eye. He makes a contented noise.

DANY

They like being scratched here.

Jon stands beside her, cautiously petting Rhaegal's snout. He glances at her and moves his hand to the spot she'd indicated. Their dynamic is professional, carefully respectful, and a bit stiff in light of their recent breakup. They never quite make proper eye contact.

DANY

They can be very eager when it comes to food. And they always burn their food before eating it.

(beat)

Have you ever been burned before?

JON

By what?

DANY

Anything.

Strange question.

JON

Yes.

DANY

Mm, you'll have to be careful of that, then. They don't always realize their own power.

Jon gives Dany a look like he wants to say something, then looks away. But Dany sees it.

DANY

What is it?

Jon hesitates.

DANY

If there's something you wish to say to me, say it.

JON

When you attacked the Lannister forces on the Goldroad. Afterward, Randyll and Dickon Tarly refused to kneel for you.

25.

DANY

And?

JON

Did you have to burn them?

Dany stops and narrows her eyes at Jon.

DANY

You think you can challenge my decisions now.

JON

It's not a challenge. It's an honest question.

Dany says nothing.

JON

Maybe the answer is yes. I wasn't there. Maybe their deaths saved others.

DANY

Who discussed this with you?

JON

(vague)

A friend.

DANY

A friend. Your friend went behind my back and approached you about my decisions.

JON

Of course he did.

Dany looks frustrated.

JON

He knows me . He trusts me . He has no reason to trust you , not yet.

Dany is silent. Jon picks up on her displeasure.

JON

I've supported you at every turn since we got here. I want everyone to support you, because I believe in you. But I can't work miracles. If you want the people of this country to trust you, you have to give them time. You have to show them what you are.

26.

DANY

How did you respond to this trusted friend of yours?

Jon stops petting Rhaegal and finally makes proper eye contact with her.

JON

I told him you were at war. I told him the Tarlys chose the wrong side. I told him ruling is full of difficult decisions and impossible choices, and that it's not my place or his to question yours. I told him that you are my queen.

A beat. A glimmer of vulnerability peeks through Dany's pride. In spite of herself, she's very touched by Jon's loyalty.

JON

But did you have to burn them?

Dany stares at him, doubting herself on this for the first time.