April 26, 2019

The Free Folk head north. The dragons head south.

INT. QYBURN'S LABORATORY - DAY

We see Cersei through the bars of Qyburn's rat cages. They parallax as she walks along the row, eyes moving expressionlessly over their contents, which we can't see from our POV.

Behind her, across the room, QYBURN is busy at a workbench. Rows of stoppered flasks line the shelves above him.

[N.B.: Qyburn is filling a vial from one of his flasks, though this may not be apparent from what we're able to see.]

The deanimated wight from the Dragonpit is still spread-eagled on Qyburn's examining table.

Qyburn finishes what he's doing and walks over to Cersei. She turns to face him.

He holds up a sealed crystal vial. It's full of a sinister purplish liquid. A golden necklace chain is affixed to its neck.

QYBURN

For when the time comes.

Cersei takes the vial from him and holds it up to the light.

Her gaze shifts down to meet Qyburn's.

CERSEI

When the time comes.

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

The ponderous rumbling of Castle Black's tunnel gate leads us into the next scene.

36.

Tormund, Edd, and BERIC stand on the north side of the Wall, watching the gate slowly descend. Behind them: the entirety of the surviving FREE FOLK and NIGHT'S WATCH. Packhorses stand placidly in the snow, loaded down with provisions, their breath steaming in the cold air.

Their POV: the tunnel has been blocked up with rocks and chunks of ice, sealed in much the same way that Jon Snow had once suggested to Alliser Thorne.

With heavy finality, the gate meets the earth. The impact trembles through the frozen ground. There's an iron clinking as the chains go slack, then a solemn silence.

EDD

Oh wait. I forgot something.

Beric smiles at Edd's joke.

A NW BROTHER stands at the foot of the wall with a climber's rope looped around his waist, belaying down the man who had stayed behind to lower the gate.

Tormund turns his back on the Wall and takes a few steps north, breathing deep and gazing out into his beloved lands. He looks almost chipper.

Edd comes up to stand beside him.

EDD

This feels wrong.

TORMUND

Why? Because you're trapped on the wrong side of the Wall, with an army of wildlings?

He laughs heartily and thumps Edd on the back, nearly knocking him over. He beams and moves off northward. So does Beric, moving past Edd as he follows after Tormund.

Edd takes one last lingering look, craning his head back as he gazes up at the Wall where he's spent the better part of his life.

Finally he turns his gaze northward. A look of fatalistic resignation resumes its customary position on his face. He gazes dolorously at the great crowd of wildlings, already putting distance between themselves and the Wall.

This is his life now. Edd heaves a sigh and follows after them.

37.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - DAY

Muffled growling emanates from a bound and hooded wight. It wriggles impotently as THE HOUND scowls down at it. He's dressed warmly, for flying.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - SAM/GILLY MOMENT

Elsewhere in the courtyard, Sam and GILLY are sharing a heartfelt farewell.

SAM

I'll be back.

GILLY

When?

SAM

I don't know.

GILLY

(stubborn)

Wherever you go, I go too.

SAM

(be reasonable)

We can't bring a child on a dragon.

Gilly frowns, but has no retort prepared.

LITTLE SAM is fussing, tugging tearfully at Sam's sleeve. The boy can tell that something is wrong. Sam crouches down and gathers the child into his arms, shushing him. Gilly stares down reproachfully. Sam peers up at her over Little Sam's shoulder.

SAM

Winterfell is the safest place in Westeros right now. To the extent that anywhere can be called safe anymore.

A sad look comes over Gilly's face. She doesn't like this, but she knows he's right.

GILLY

Don't die.

SAM

I won't.

He picks Little Sam up, holding him with one arm against his hip, and pulls Gilly into a hug with his other arm. Their little family stands together quietly for a moment, with Little Sam sandwiched between his parents.

38.

SAM

I promise I'll always come back to you, Gilly. You're my wife.

Gilly peers up at him. She nods, with unspilled tears in her eyes. They share a kiss.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - GENDRY MOMENT

Gendry walks past them. He's decked out in badass Baratheon armor, carefully crafted to make him resemble Young Robert Baratheon as much as humanly possible.

DAVOS SEAWORTH appears. He gives Gendry an appraising look.

Davos

Fancy getup, for a lad from Flea Bottom.

Gendry smiles self-consciously.

GENDRY

If all goes well, I'll have a bowl o'brown there soon.

DAVOS

(echoing ominously)

"If all goes well."

(beat)

You've always known how to make me shit myself with worry.

Gendry laughs. He gazes fondly at Davos.

GENDRY

I know how much I owe you. And I won't blame you if this all goes terribly.

DAVOS

That's comforting.

Davos catches sight of Arya coming toward them, approaching from behind Gendry.

He offers Gendry his hand, and they clasp each other farewell.

DAVOS

Take care of yourself, lad.

39.

GENDRY

I will.

Davos extricates his hand and turns Gendry slightly toward Arya with a touch to his arm, winking as he does.

This confuses Gendry greatly.

ARYA

(incredulous)

...did you make this yourself?

Gendry turns to see Arya gawking at him. Davos tactfully skedaddles.

GENDRY

(yes I did)

Do you like it?

ARYA

It's...

(beat)

You're a very good smith.

GENDRY

(wry)

A smith pretending at being a lord.

ARYA

You're not pretending.

GENDRY

What, because I got a piece of paper from the queen?

(beat)

I'm the same person I've always been. But they needed a Baratheon, so...

(he shrugs)

Least I could do was try to look the part.

ARYA

You look...

She trails off, finding herself uncharacteristically tongue-tied, almost shy. Gendry looks hot . She's never properly noticed before.

ARYA

It's very good armor.

Gendry beams with a craftsman's pride.

40.

GENDRY

You should see the dragon armor that Sansa had me make. For Jon and the queen.

The smile fades off Arya's face. She's still upset with Jon. Gendry looks confused and a little abashed, unsure what he's said wrong.

ARYA

I'm sure he looks like a proper Targaryen now.

GENDRY

(wry)

As much as I'm a proper Baratheon, I suppose.

That makes her feel just a little bit better.

She steps forward, and they hug farewell.

ARYA

I wish I were coming with you.

Gendry gives her a look, then looks up and around at Winterfell.

GENDRY

I wouldn't be in such a hurry to leave, if I had this. Never had a proper home. Or a proper family.

ARYA

Jon's my family too.

Ah. That's why the dragon armor makes her sad. Gendry gets it now.

GENDRY

(gentle)

He'll come back to you.

Arya's grief cracks through her stubborn exterior, for just a moment.

GENDRY

And so will I.

Arya looks up at him. A loaded silence passes between them.

A murmur passes through the courtyard as everyone turns to look at something. Arya and Gendry notice and turn to look too.

41.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - JON/DANY MOMENT

Jon and Dany are walking into the courtyard, side-by-side in glorious new Targaryen armor. The camera indulges us with some costume porn. The armor is matte black, accented in dark red, and comprised of tapered ridged scales. Curving back over the shoulders, the pauldrons are shaped to resemble stylized dragon wings. A gorget encircles each of their necks and extends down over the upper chest, where the three-headed dragon sigil is picked out in red enamel. Small rubies are inlaid, one for each dragon's eye.

Jon's grooming has been updated as well. He's clean-shaven now, and his hair is down and loosely braided the way Rhaegar used to wear it. Walking next to Dany, he looks every inch a Targaryen prince.

Jon stops when he sees Sansa coming to say farewell. Dany continues on.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - JON/SANSA MOMENT

Sansa looks Jon up and down, approvingly.

SANSA

You look very princely.

Jon is embarrassed.

JON

You really shouldn't have.

SANSA

Shush.

JON

This is uncomfortably extravagant.

SANSA

You're flying south, to rally southerners to war. You could use a little extravagance.

Jon considers that.

SANSA

You need to look like a prince. And you need to think like one. Can you do that for us?

JON

I'll try.

42.

They hug.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - DANY/MISSANDEI/GREY WORM MOMENT

MISSANDEI and GREY WORM are waiting for Dany. She looks at them, and they look at her. They sure have come a long way together.

DANY

Farewell, for now.

MISSANDEI

Safe travels, your grace.

GREY WORM

When our queen will come back?

A tricky question.

DANY

I don't know.

(to both of them)

I shall rely on you, now more than ever. You must speak with my voice and act with my authority. I cannot command you from afar. You must command yourselves.

(beat)

I trust you more than anyone. This country is yours to protect.

Missandei and Grey Worm take this to heart, solemn as ever.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - STARKS MOMENT

Arya comes up to join Jon and Sansa, pushing Bran in his chair.

She can't quite meet Jon's eyes. She gazes instead at the Targaryen sigil on his armor.

Jon looks at Arya apprehensively for a beat. Then turns to Bran.

JON

Thank you for everything, Bran. I'll see you when I return.

BRAN

I see you always. You're not really leaving, to me.

43.

This weird-ass remark earns Bran a Jon Snow Deadpan™.

Jon gives Arya the subtlest little glance, a look that says: "why is Bran so weird?" Arya finds this look extremely funny, in spite of herself. She suppresses a smile.

Jon gives Bran a hug, which Bran -- as per usual -- doesn't really reciprocate. Then he pulls out of the hug and turns at last to face Arya.

They stare at each other in silence. Arya's face reveals her struggle as she wrestles with resentment, fear, affection, and sadness. Jon watches her, waiting for her to say something.

Sansa watches them both. She's frustrated, but she knows her siblings need to work this out on their own.

ARYA

Try not to get killed again.

Jon gives her a sad smile.

JON

I'll do my best.

They look at each other another beat, then finally come together in a hug.

Jon blinks rapidly, suddenly fighting tears. He closes his eyes and tightens his embrace, and Arya does the same. They stand there like that for a while, then pull apart.

JON

(hoarse)

I'm sorry. I really am.

ARYA

Don't be. Just come home.

Jon nods. They hug again, and now Jon really is crying, voicelessly. He squeezes Arya tight.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - DRAGONS MOMENT

Dany raises an arm and the two dragons descend toward the courtyard. People scuttle to the periphery to make space as the dragons land, screeching and stretching their wings. They've been outfitted with leather flying harnesses to make the long flight a bit more tolerable for their riders.

44.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - STARKS MOMENT

Jon kisses Arya on the forehead, and breaks away brusquely, wiping at his face as he walks away. Arya stares after him as he goes.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - RHAEGAL MOMENT

Jon mounts up on Rhaegal. He extends an arm down and helps Jaime climb up behind him. Jaime looks at Jon's face and for once in his life doesn't say anything snarky.

Sam and Gendry clamber up after Jaime, and finally the Hound brings up the rear, carrying the wight over his shoulder. Everyone straps in.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - DROGON MOMENT

Dany and Tyrion are already mounted up on Drogon. He takes off, buffeting the courtyard with the force of his wingbeats.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - JON MOMENT

Jon lingers, taking in one last look at Winterfell, at the home he's leaving behind.

His eyes find Sansa, Bran, and Arya. They're standing together in a little cluster, looking up at him. He raises a hand in farewell, and they return the gesture, in unison.

Jon stares after Drogon, already starting to grow small with distance. He takes a breath, gathering himself.

EXT. WINTERFELL COURTYARD - ARYA MOMENT

ARYA

Wait.

He doesn't hear her. Rhaegal takes off into the air.

Arya breaks away from her siblings and runs forward, calling.

ARYA

Jon, wait!

Too late. Arya watches him fly away, the reality of his departure suddenly hitting her. Her face crumples with grief as she starts to cry.

END OF EPISODE 808