ACT FOUR
INT. KING’S LANDING – WESTEROS MAP – NIGHT
Cersei stands in the courtyard, the massive painted map of Westeros stretching across the stones. The torchlight flickers.
The Mountain enters, leading Harry Strickland. The Mountain takes his place in the shadows.
CERSEI LANNISTER
My father worked his whole life in the best interest of the Seven Kingdoms. They are now mine to rule as I see fit — to follow in his footsteps with power he’d only ever dreamed of.
(a beat)
I am not afraid to do what is necessary to ensure the continued well-being of Westeros. But as much I wish it were not so, I cannot do it alone. I need men like you and your company to ensure that I remain queen, and Westeros secure.
HARRY STRICKLAND
You have my loyalty, Your Grace, of course. The Golden Company is yours to command.
CERSEI LANNISTER
Yes, but there must be something more that you want. Women? Weapons? Land?
At the word “land,” Strickland looks down at the map of Westeros.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
Ah, land it is.
(a beat)
I’m prepared to offer you a fine parcel of land in the Reach. Borders on the river Mander, and access to the finest wine in Westeros.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
I’m prepared to offer you Highgarden in exchange for your unwavering loyalty in the battle to come.
Shocked, Strickland bends into a deep bow.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
Swear allegiance to me alone, that your loyalty will be unwavering. No matter what is to come.
HARRY STRICKLAND
I am honored by your generosity, Your Grace. My men and I are at your full disposal.
CERSEI LANNISTER
Your loyalty will not be misplaced, Strickland. You may rise.
Strickland stands.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
I have a task for you.
EXT. SILENCE – NIGHT
Theon and Harrag silently approach Silence, which looks unguarded.
The wooden gangplank is extended.
HARRAG
This is a trap.
THEON GREYJOY
We don’t know that.
HARRAG
I’d say it’s a pretty damn good thing to assume.
THEON GREYJOY
If you’re having second thoughts, feel free to meet me back in the cave. I’m finding my sister, with or without you.
Theon hurries up the gangplank, leaving Harrag on the dock.
INT. SILENCE – NIGHT
Theon steps down the narrow stairway leading below deck. Dim lanterns light his way.
At the bottom, Theon is met with darkness.
THEON GREYJOY
(tentatively)
Yara?
(a beat)
Yara? It’s me, Theon. Are you here?
The silence and darkness stretch on.
Dejected, Theon turns back to the staircase.
RAMSAY BOLTON (O.S.)
Giving up so soon?
Theon whips around at the sound of RAMSAY BOLTON’S voice. Theon nearly trips in his haste to get away. He lands with a thud on the mucky floor.
INT. DREADFORT – CELLAR – NIGHT – ILLUSION
Theon finds himself in the cellar of the DREADFORT.
Ramsay stands over him. Theon scrambles back in fear.
RAMSAY BOLTON
Why are you on the ground? Get up, you useless dog!
Terrified, Theon attempts to follow Ramsay’s order.
Ramsay shoves the sole of his boot into Theon’s chest, kicking him back to the ground.
RAMSAY BOLTON (CONT’D)
Are you fucking deaf? Get up! Fucking fool, you can’t even follow directions! No wonder your family abandoned you!
(a beat)
I’ll cut your feet off and feed them to my dogs if you don’t listen!
Theon kicks directly between Ramsay’s legs. Ramsay reels, gasping with pain and a perverse peal of laughter.
Theon propels himself off the ground and shoulders into Ramsay’s chest. Still distracted by the pain, Ramsay falls.
Their positions are now reversed. Theon looms over Ramsay.
Theon lifts his foot and slams it down on Ramsay’s face. Blood splatters, but Ramsay’s laughter still gurgles.
Theon kicks him repeatedly.
Gasping with adrenaline and satisfaction, Theon whirls and leaves through the nearest door.
Ramsay’s deranged, wheezing laughter echoes.
INT. MOAT CAILIN – DUNGEON – DAY – ILLUSION
Theon BURSTS through a door and finds himself in the dungeon of MOAT CAILIN. Shafts of bright sunlight break up the murky darkness.
Theon looks around in terror.
There are no noises, no yelling from outside, no barking of starving dogs to set off his pants-pissing terror.
A quiet shuffling from the shadows startles him, and he is immediately on edge again.
His eyes adjusting to the murky half-light, Theon sees REEK pressed against the far wall.
THEON GREYJOY
What’s happening?
REEK
Who are you?
Theon steps toward Reek, but that sets Reek off.
Reek whimpers, struggling to get away from Theon.
Theon takes a sharp breath..
THEON GREYJOY
I’m trying to find my –- our sister. Yara. She’s in danger. Uncle Euron captured her.
A flash of recognition catches in Reek’s eyes before he shakes his head.
REEK
Reek has no sister. And no uncle. Reek is no one.
Fed up, Theon tries to find a way to out. Finally, he spots a door near Reek.
THEON GREYJOY
Come on.
Theon grabs at Reek to haul him to his feet. His hand closes around Reek’s arm–-
Reek yells.
REEK
No, what are you doing?
THEON GREYJOY
Stand up! I’m not leaving you in this place.
REEK
No, I can’t leave!
Reek’s cries grow louder. Theon presses on.
He hauls Reek, who fights Theon’s hold, partially to his feet and makes a move for the door.
The heavy sound of many footsteps on the floor above him startles Theon.
Reek also hears the footsteps.
REEK (CONT’D)
If he catches me trying to leave he’ll kill me!
Reek dissolves into hysterics, his body becoming nearly deadweight.
The closer the footsteps come, the slimmer his chance of escape is. Theon knows he needs to make a decision.
He drops Reek against the wall. Reek curls in on himself, crying.
THEON GREYJOY
I’m sorry.
Theon bolts through the door.
A flight of stairs awaits him, and he wastes no time.
INT. WINTERFELL – COURTYARD – DAY – ILLUSION
Theon BURSTS into the courtyard at Winterfell.
It’s empty –- no one is hammering steel, there are no dogs barking, no horses or carts around. The ground is clean, fresh.
Tiny, delicate snow flakes drift through the air.
NED STARK (O.S.)
In a hurry?
Theon freezes.
Out of the shadows steps NED STARK –- tall and regal as ever in thick winter furs.
The light snow swirls around him, shroud-like.
Theon is in awe.
THEON GREYJOY
(stammering)
How–- how are you here?
Theon stammers, a young boy again in the presence of Lord Stark.
NED STARK
Where were you running off to? Important business to take care of?
THEON GREYJOY
I’m trying to find my sister, my lord.
NED STARK
Is she in Winterfell?
THEON GREYJOY
No, sir. She’s… held. By my uncle.
NED STARK
It must be difficult. Being kept from family like that.
Ned’s statement hits Theon squarely in the chest.
THEON GREYJOY
My lord, I–- I know there is nothing I can do to make up for what I’ve done. But I am sorry.
(MORE)
THEON GREYJOY (CONT’D)
More sorry than I can ever tell you, for everything.
NED STARK
You’re sorry?
Ned steps toward Theon. Theon is frozen in place, in fear, in awe.
NED STARK (CONT’D)
Do you believe that’s enough? To atone for all that you’ve done, to my family, to my home?
(a beat)
You betrayed me. You betrayed my sons, my daughters, and the home that raised you. And for what? Because you were angry?
(a beat)
That is not how a man deals with his anger.
Theon knows he must be brave.
THEON GREYJOY
I know that now, my lord. You did so much for me, and I repaid it with death and destruction. Nothing I do can ever fix that. But I know who I am now, and I’m working to be a better man. A man that you would be proud of.
NED STARK
You can never be forgiven for all that you’ve done. You went too far, for too long, knowing full well what you were doing.
(a beat)
But I forgive you for what I can. I do not believe a man should be saddled with his past when he wishes to grow, to move forward.
Theon is relieved.
Ned steps aside, clearing a path through to the opposite archway.
NED STARK (CONT’D)
Go. Find your sister. Bring some honor to your family name.
Theon draws himself to his full height. He meets Ned’s gaze directly.
THEON GREYJOY
I won’t disappoint you, my lord.
Theon moves across the courtyard and disappears through the archway.
INT. SILENCE – NIGHT
Theon rushes back into blackness.
He sits up. He is back in the belly of Silence.
The sound of clashing swords is distantly audible above.
THEON GREYJOY
Hello? Is anyone there?
YARA GREYJOY’S voice calls back to him from across the room.
YARA GREYJOY (O.S.)
Theon?
Theon scrambles to his feet at the sound of his sister’s voice.
THEON GREYJOY
Yara, where are you?
YARA GREYJOY (O.S.)
I’m against the wall. Chained.
Theon takes a few rapid steps and crashes into a stack of boxes. They fall, startling Theon.
HARRAG (O.S.)
(distantly)
Theon!
YARA GREYJOY (O.S.)
(pleased)
You brought Harrag?
THEON GREYJOY
He’s the only one thick enough to attempt this with me.
HARRAG (O.S.)
(distantly)
Theon, it’s time to go!
YARA GREYJOY (O.S.)
Theon, you need to go. Harrag sounds like he needs you.
THEON GREYJOY
I can’t leave you!
FAR INTO THE DARKNES, Yara is bound to the wall. She is badly beaten.
And she is gagged.
Yara’s disembodied voice continues to speak to Theon from the darkness, urging him to leave.
The real Yara is terrified.
YARA GREYJOY (O.S.)
You have to. I’ll be fine here, you know me.
NEAR THE STAIRS, Theon looks toward the sound of swords clashing. He knows he needs to leave.
THEON GREYJOY
I will come back for you.
YARA GREYJOY (O.S.)
I know you will. But you and Harrag need to leave before you’re killed.
With a glance into the darkness, Theon bolts up the stairs.
IN THE DARKNESS –- bound and gagged –- Yara is devastated.
EXT. SILENCE – NIGHT
Theon emerges onto the deck of Silence. Harrag holds his own, fighting a SOLDIER.
A second SOLDIER lies bloodied on the deck.
HARRAG
(to Theon)
Took you fuckin’ long enough!
With a mighty roar, Harrag slashes his sword across the torso of the soldier.
The soldier falls to the deck.
OVER HARRAG’S SHOULDER, Theon sees a group of men approaching the harbor, all brandishing torches.
HARRAG (CONT’D)
Time to go.
Harrag grabs Theon and shoves him toward the gangplank.
HARRAG (CONT’D)
Any sign of her?
THEON GREYJOY
She’s down there. I couldn’t get to her.
HARRAG
(exasperated)
Did you get lost? You had plenty of time.
THEON GREYJOY
It’s a long story.
Frustrated, Harrag follows Theon and they flee the harbor.
They disappear into the night as the men, all wearing the Greyjoy sigil, reach the harbor.
Euron arrives, a sword in his hand and a wild look in his eye.
EURON
(to the soldiers)
Let them go! My nephew is my prize for another day.
Disappointed by the lack of a fight, the men disperse.
Satisfied, Euron continues toward Silence.
EXT. WINTERFELL – BATTLEMENTS – NIGHT
Daenerys stands, gazing south. Jon finds her, and approaches her with care. They look over the snowy land.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I’d never seen snow until I came to Westeros. It’s beautiful.
JON SNOW
It is.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Even when you can’t feel your toes.
JON SNOW
Even then.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
(a beat)
I’m sorry.
Jon is confused.
JON SNOW
About what?
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I haven’t treated you fairly.
JON SNOW
I have endured worse.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
I acted like you’ve been keeping this secret.
JON SNOW
I feel like the world has been keeping a secret from me.
The pair lapse into a comfortable silence.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
What do you plan to do about Cersei’s army, now that she has the company from Essos?
JON SNOW
Cersei will always be a threat, but we have a greater threat to the North.
Dany and Jon look to the North.
INT. KING’S LANDING – CELLAR – NIGHT
The halls beneath the Red Keep are black.
The single lantern slices through the darkness, creating a path for Cersei and Strickland.
The Mountain holds the lantern.
CERSEI LANNISTER
And how go the preparations?
HARRY STRICKLAND
Everything is in place, Your Grace. My men are simply waiting on my command. As I wait on yours.
CERSEI LANNISTER
Very good. You may proceed whenever you please.
The small group reaches the end of the hallway.
The Mountain moves through an archway and lights torches as he goes.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
I have something I wish to show you. Come.
Cersei and Strickland step into the cavernous room that the Mountain has illuminated.
The flickering light falls upon the hulking skulls of ancient dragons, casting menacing shadows.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
These skulls are all that remains of the once-great Targaryen dynasty. They weren’t much toward the end, though. Withered away to nothing.
Cersei motions to a pile of tiny skulls, the same size as that of a small dog –- but with much bigger teeth.
Strickland steps up to the largest skull –- Balerion the Black Dread.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
My family put an end to the Targaryen kings, once and for all, many years ago. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the final, desperate attempts of the last Targaryen come to nothing.
Strickland is enamored by the enormous skull.
CERSEI LANNISTER (CONT’D)
When I’m done, I will no longer have need of strained alliances with the likes of Euron Greyjoy or the Iron Bank… For death will no longer be an issue.
The Mountain looms in the flickering torchlight.
EXT. KING’S LANDING – STREETS – NIGHT
The relative silence of the nighttime streets of King’s Landing is broken by the blood-curdling scream of a woman.
The door is thrown open. A Golden Company solider storms out. In his arms, he carries a small baby.
A few houses down, a second door bursts open, revealing another Golden Company solider clutching a baby to his armored chest. This one screams at the top of its lungs.
All around the city, doors fly open. The cries of babies and family members follow the Golden Company soldiers marching toward the Red Keep.
From the stairs, soldiers can be seen streaming through the streets.
Each soldier carries a baby.
CUT TO BLACK.
END OF EPISODE 802