May 27, 2018







These scripts follow the style of professional spec scripts, as referenced from S07E07 - "The Dragon and the Wolf" and other Game of Thrones scripts made public for the Emmys.

Season Eight Premiere. The Night's Watch regroups. Bran delivers dire news. A long-awaited reunion takes place. Dany, Jon, and Tyrion head for Winterfell.

EXT. WALL BREACH - DAY

The ARMY OF THE DEAD streams through the breach in the Wall. Among the countless foot soldiers are GIANTS, MAMMOTHS, and WOLVES. WHITE WALKERS ride through the ranks on dead horses.

Overhead, VISERION circles like a vulture, the NIGHT KING mounted on his back. Viserion lets out a chilling screech that echoes out across the realms of men.

EXT. WALL SOUTHERN FACE - DAY

A band of surviving WILDLINGS and NW BROTHERS climb painstakingly down the southern side of the Wall with ropes and ice picks, some distance away from the breach. TORMUND and BERIC are among them.

Below them, the last of the Army of the Dead makes its way through the breach.

EXT. BASE OF THE WALL - EVENING

Tormund and Beric are slumped with their backs against the base of the Wall, exhausted, breathing hard. They stare southward as they struggle to catch their breath.

Their POV: the Army of the Dead grows distant as it moves south, away from us.

With a grunt, Tormund heaves himself to his feet. He holds out a hand and helps Beric up.

They turn and gaze at the devastation where Eastwatch once stood. It's a tragic, lingering shot, taking in jagged shards of ice, crumbled stone, and the frozen bodies of men lying broken where they had fallen from great height.

Tormund turns and looks at the band of survivors -- a meager pack of a dozen or so.

BERIC

What now?

Tormund turns his gaze west, inland, away from the sea.

TORMUND

We find my people.

He pulls his furs tighter around himself and starts walking west. The Eastwatch survivors follow him, trudging through the snow.

2.

Beric hangs back for a moment. He takes a step south, away from the Wall, and peers into the distance toward the Night King and his army. Then turns and follows Tormund.

EXT. DANY'S CAMP - EVENING

Rows of military tents stand in various stages of being pitched. It's a huge, sprawling campground, with Targaryen and Stark banners visible throughout.

A large command tent dominates, decked out in Targaryen colors. Nearby, DOTHRAKI RIDERS unsaddle their horses, while UNSULLIED huddle miserably around a campfire. They have thick woolen cloaks pulled around themselves, but look rather frozen all the same.

JON (SOUND ADVANCE)

Another day's march should do it.

INT. TARGARYEN COMMAND TENT - EVENING

JON SNOW looks down at a map of the North, one gloved hand resting near Winterfell.

TYRION LANNISTER and DAENERYS TARGARYEN stand nearby.

[N.B.: None of the people present are yet aware that the Wall has been breached.]

TYRION

Your bannermen?

JON

They're expecting an audience.

DANY

I look forward to meeting them.

A pause. Jon chooses his words carefully.

JON

You will. But to begin, I think it's best if it's Northerners only.

Dany gives him a quizzical look.

DANY

You said they'd know of our alliance.

3.

JON

They do. But they'll have... questions. They'll speak more freely if it's just me.

TYRION

(to Jon)

You'd best rehearse what you're going to say.

Jon nods and exits the tent. Dany waits until he is out of earshot, then:

DANY

(to Tyrion)

"Questions."

TYRION

Northmen are proud. Jon will have his work cut out for him.

DANY

He's their king.

TYRION

(significant emphasis)

He was named king.

A pause as Dany considers that.

DANY

You do think the Northern lords will accept me?

TYRION

Eventually.

Tyrion walks over to a small table, where there's a pitcher of wine and some goblets.

4.

TYRION

Some initial skepticism is to be expected. After all, Starks and Targaryens do make strange bedfellows.

Dany shoots him a suspicious look, noting his word choice.

TYRION

So.

(pours wine)

When were you planning to tell me?

DANY

(defensive)

When I require your counsel.

TYRION

(serious)

This isn't just a personal matter. Anything you do together is politics, whether you think of it that way or not. I'm here, ostensibly, to advise you on matters of politics.

DANY

So what do you advise?

TYRION

If he's anything like his father, he'll be asking to marry you soon.

Dany avoids eye contact.

5.

TYRION

(weary)

Oh. He already has. Wonderful. How did you respond?

DANY

I didn't.

TYRION

Good.

(beat)

Marriage is powerful. It would certainly help you earn the North's loyalty. It softens the blow of their king bending the knee.

(beat)

But. It can only be used once. If you marry him, it closes the door of possibility.

DANY

And what other possibilities do you have in mind?

TYRION

Euron Greyjoy, for example.

DANY

(the actual fuck)

Euron Greyjoy.

TYRION

(I know, I know)

I don't like him either.

(takes a drink)

I don't want you to marry Euron Greyjoy. I don't want you to marry anyone, at the moment. I want you to leave open the possibility . At least in their minds.

INT. JON'S TENT - EVENING

ARYA STARK is waiting inside a large tent of Stark colors.

Jon walks in, absorbed in thought, not paying attention. Arya turns and looks up.

6.

By her movement, Jon suddenly becomes aware that some unexpected stranger is in his tent. He starts backward in alarm and draws his sword in defense.

ARYA

Jon, it's me. It's Arya.

JON

(severely shaken)

...Arya?

Arya nods, eyes shining. There's a long, meaningful pause as the long-lost Stark siblings stare at each other.

JON

(shaky)

Seven Hells.

Jon tosses Longclaw aside. Arya runs to him and jumps into his arms. They share a huge embrace. We get to savor the moment for a long while.

Finally they break apart. Jon looks Arya over, grinning happily.

JON

How did you get in here?

ARYA

(grinning)

I'm quick.

JON

I think my heart stopped.

ARYA

You need better guards.

Jon laughs, then holds his forearm up to show her how his fingers are trembling.

JON

(accusing)

Look how badly I'm shaking.

(beat)

I thought you'd be waiting at Winterfell.

ARYA

I had to see you. Just you.

(beat)

I've missed you.

7.

JON

I've missed you too.

They hug again. When they break apart, Jon turns Arya slightly to get a better look at Needle, hanging at her side. He beams.

JON

I hear you're a great fighter now.

ARYA

I hear you're King in the North.

JON

Not anymore.

ARYA

Mm. Sansa told me you'd bent the knee.

JON

(taking a breath)

Daenerys pledged all her forces to our cause, (before I even--)

ARYA

(interrupting)

You don't have to explain. Not to me. I don't care what Sansa thinks.

Jon pauses, rather touched, then smiles.

JON

I'm impressed neither of you has attacked the other yet.

ARYA

We came close.

Jon chuckles, then his grin fades a bit as he sees her expression.

JON

(wary)

How close?

Arya avoids his eyes.

JON

(exasperated)

Arya. We can't fight a (war amongst ourselves--)

8.

ARYA

(interrupting)

I know. It was Littlefinger.

JON

And what's Littlefinger doing now?

ARYA

I cut his throat.

Jon double-takes, surprised and slightly disturbed.

JON

You...

(beat)

Just like that?

ARYA

(matter-of-fact)

Sansa sentenced him first.

There's a pause as Jon regards Arya, searchingly and a little sadly.

JON

What's happened to you since you left home?

What a question. Arya stares back at him, a glimmer of vulnerability becoming visible on her face.

INT. TARGARYEN COMMAND TENT - EVENING

Jon and Arya walk into the Targaryen command tent together. Dany and Tyrion are still there, and JORAH MORMONT now too.

JON

Your grace.

(Dany looks up)

May I present my sister? Lady Arya of House Stark.

Dany and Arya regard each other with interest.

DANY

I've heard much about you, Lady Arya.

9.

ARYA

Is it true you ride a dragon into battle?

Jon glances at Dany in mild embarrassment, but Dany is charmed rather than offended by Arya's directness.

DANY

Yes, it is.

ARYA

...can you carry other people with you?

JON

Arya...

DANY

When there's a need.

ARYA

A boy king surrendered the Vale of Arryn to Visenya Targaryen, in exchange for a ride on her dragon's back.

Jon shoots Dany a "don't get any ideas" look.

Dany smiles. She likes this girl.

A RAVEN bursts into the tent, startling everyone, interrupting the moment.

It flaps around the tent, then lands on Jon's shoulder, cawing. Strangely, its scroll is held in its beak, rather than tied to its leg.

Jon looks at the others, perplexed, then reaches up toward the bird. The raven stuffs the scroll into his hand, then flaps down to perch on the table. It caws up at him.

JON

(still perplexed)

Never seen a raven do that.

10.

ARYA

(to the raven)

...Bran?

The raven caws again. Arya sees the others looking at her quizzically.

ARYA

My brother can control animals.

TYRION

You're joking.

JON

I knew a wildling with this power.

(to the raven, intrigued)

Bran, is this really you?

The raven pecks hard at the hand holding the scroll, making Jon flinch. Jon holds the scroll up and reads it aloud.

JON

(reading)

"Jon, this is Bran."

Jon looks at Tyrion.

Tyrion makes a defeated face: well, this might as well be true too, why the fuck not?

Jon resumes reading.

JON

"The Night King..."

He freezes in horror. He reads the rest of the scroll in silence, his expression growing increasingly alarmed.

DANY

What is it?

Jon fumbles for a chair and sits down on it, staring down at the scroll.

DANY

(growing alarm)

Jon.

11.

JON

They've breached the Wall.

A stunned silence.

DANY

What?

TYRION

How?

JON

They have Viserion.

It takes a moment for Dany to realize what he means. Then her face slowly transforms into a mask of horror and grief.

Jon sees that. But he has neither the right words nor the time for proper condolences.

JON

(quiet intensity)

When you flew from Dragonstone to save us, for how long were you flying?

Dany blinks, still reeling, but gathers herself.

DANY

Three days.

Jon looks at the map, eyes flitting as he does some approximations in his head. He grimaces.

JON

He could hit Winterfell in the morning if he wants to.

TYRION

Will he?

Jon looks down at the scroll in his hand.

JON

Bran says the Night King is staying close to his army.

JORAH

Why wouldn't he fly ahead?

12.

Jon lowers the scroll. The gears are turning in his head as he works it out.

JON

He doesn't want to burn us.

Everyone looks at him.

JON

If he burns us, we can't march in his army. He'll use his dragon to blast a hole in our walls, then let his army do the rest.

TYRION

This is according to your... magic bird brother. What if he's wrong?

JON

He's not wrong. The Night King is eight thousand years old. He has patience.

(beat)

He won't hit us tomorrow. He won't hit us for weeks.

Jon pulls the map toward himself.

JON

He'll hit Last Hearth. Then swing east and hit Karhold. He'll hit every village along the way, slaughter every living thing, and swell the ranks of his army.

(beat)

Then he'll hit us at Winterfell. His dragon and his whole army together .

DANY

We need to hit him first.

JON

If you fly to meet him, you'll tire your dragons.

13.

ARYA

We're just going to wait for him?

A pause as people think.

DANY

(to Jon)

You say we can't save the castles. But maybe we can save the people.

Jon looks up at her. An idea forms between them.

DANY

My Dothraki could ride out. Bring the common people in for protection.

TYRION

How do we convince villagers to trust Dothraki?

JORAH

I'll go with them.

Everyone looks at Jorah.

JORAH

I speak Dothraki. And I'm a Northerner too.

JON

Not to them, anymore.

ARYA

I'll go with him.

Jon goes very still. He looks at Arya with a look of deep fear and dread.

14.

ARYA

I'm a Stark. The people will come to Winterfell if I ask them to.

Jon stares and says nothing.

ARYA

Jon, it has to be me.

Jon says nothing.

ARYA

(with heat)

I'm a fighter , and we're at war .

This is very difficult for Jon. But he finally assents.

JON

Take Ghost with you.

Arya nods and starts to leave.

JON

Arya.

She stops. Jon walks to her.

JON

Don't try to fight them. If you get any hint that they're close, you ride back to Winterfell as fast as you can. Promise me?

Arya nods. They hug. Jon gives Jorah a look, catching his eye over Arya's shoulder, silently imploring him to keep Arya safe.

Jon and Arya break apart. Jorah shares a gaze with Dany. She comes up to him and gives him a hug farewell. Jorah stares at her as she pulls away and looks up at him.

DaNY

(don't die)

I shall expect you at Winterfell, afterward.

JORAH

Yes, your grace.

15.

He and Arya linger for half a beat, then exit together. Jorah calls out in Dothraki, his voice fading with distance as he walks away.

Jon looks at Dany.

JON

We need to get to Winterfell quickly.

DANY

(walking toward the exit)

I'll call Drogon.

JON

(confused)

...Drogon?

DANY

(looking back at him)

I've sent all the horses away, with your sister.

Oh. Now he gets it.

A dragon's cry echoes out as we cut to:

EXT. WINTERFELL LANDSCAPE - LATER

Winterfell is visible in the distance.

DROGON's elongated evening shadow rushes across the snow-covered ground. RHAEGAL follows after him.

Dany, Jon, and Tyrion are mounted on Drogon's back, along with DAVOS SEAWORTH and MISSANDEI.

Arya is on horseback, riding in the same direction, along with Jorah and the entire DOTHRAKI HORDE. She stops and looks up in awe as the dragons fly over her at close range.

16.

EXT. WINTERFELL BATTLEMENTS - EVENING

SANSA STARK stands on Winterfell's battlement wall, looking out at something, wearing a look of fearful amazement.

Sansa's POV: Drogon and Rhaegal are fast approaching.

Drogon passes huge and dark over her head like a jet plane, his shadow skimming over Sansa and the Winterfell walls. Sansa turns as he flies over her, her gaze following the dragon as he comes in for a landing.

EXT. WINTERFELL - BROKEN TOWER - EVENING

The two dragons land in the snow-covered lawn outside the Broken Tower. They stretch and roar, as we pull out into a majestic aerial view of Winterfell, reverberating with the echoes of dragon-song.