Scripting Episode 3

I’ve been snowed in today (feeling very Stark-ish right now) so I decided a good way to kill some time was to get out my old paperback copy of A Game of Thrones and see if I could write up a quick summary of episode 3. If you missed the discussion on episode 2, you can check it out here. I used the pilot as a guide for the length of story I could cover. The pilot script covers about 80 pages of the book, so I tried to do around the same for this episode. Anyway, here is what I came up with.

EXT. SKY ABOVE WESTEROS
Bran is falling. The three-eyed crow is there. Encourages him to fly. Bran finally does and sees to the edge of the world. The crow pecks his third eye. Bran awakens. “His name is Summer.”

OPENING CREDITS

EXT. DECK OF SHIP
Catelyn and Ser Rodrick sailing into King’s Landing. Discuss what they hope to find there. They arrive and Catelyn is taken before Littlefinger. We also meet Varys. Cat is told by Baelish, it was the Imp’s dagger.

INT. CASTLE BLACK
Tyrion is feasting with Mormont and the other Night’s Watch officers. He makes fun of Ser Alliser who storms out. As the others leave, Mormont and Tyrion speak about strange sightings and the need for more men. We learn that Benjen is heading out to learn what happened to Waymar. Tyrion promises to ask the King to send men to the Wall.

INT. RED KEEP
Eddard arrives in King’s Landing and is taken directly to meet with the Small Council. We meet Pycelle and Renly for the first time. Ned learns of the King’s lack of interest or effectiveness in running his kingdom. He is also told about the upcoming tourney. He calls the meeting to an abrupt end.

EXT. DOTHRAKI SEA
Dany is learning to become a Dothraki. We see her gaining confidence in not only her riding ability, but also in herself as a leader. She breaks away from the group to ride alone. Viserys ignores her command to stay behind and follows after her berating her for ordering him around. He begins to beat her but is pulled back and subdued by Drogo’s bloodriders. Dany orders for them to spare Viserys’ life, but to take his horse.

EXT. CASTLE BLACK
Jon trains in the yard under the watchful eye of Ser Alliser. He is much better than the other recruits and beats on them. Later Jon is confronted by Grenn and others about him beating them in training. They get into a fight but are broken up by Donal Noye, the blacksmith. Noye has a talk with Jon and advises him to take it easy on the others or he may soon regret it.

EXT. RED KEEP
Littlefinger confronts Ned and takes him to see Catelyn. Catelyn tells him of the attempt on her life and how it was Tyrion’s dagger that was used. Ned orders her back to Winterfell but to ready the North’s defenses.

INT. CASTLE BLACK
Jon apologizes to Grenn and promises to help him in his training. Thorne scoffs at that and Jon makes a jest at his expense. Thorne is furious and storms out. “That was a grievous error, Lord Snow.”

EXT. DOTHRAKI SEA
Dany is in her tent after a long day of riding and is being bathed by her handmaidens. She touches the dragon eggs and they are warm. They speak of dragons. That night, when Drogo comes to her bed, she is ready for him. She leads him outside the tent and this time, she rides him. Cut to a few months later, Dany’s belly is noticeably bigger. “Khaleesi, you are with child.”

END CREDITS

Winter Is Coming: Just a few notes. Looking at it now, it might be a little too short. There is a noticeable lack of Jaime or Cersei though, so maybe you could add a few scenes with them in this episode. Also I skipped an Arya chapter (her beginning her training with Syrio) because it didn’t really fit with the rest of the story lines present in this episode. It might be a good one to open episode 4 with though. I also cut a scene with Jon and Tyrion talking on top of the Wall. In the scene, Jon vows to go find his uncle. It might make sense to include that scene early in the next episode as well.

Lastly, the Dany story arc is dependent on us seeing how she is having a hard time adjusting to the Dothraki lifestyle in episode 2. It would be especially important if we see how Drogo essentially rapes her every night. Still I’m not sure if those scenes would work better here or in episode 2. I figure we need some Dany in 2, so for now I’m thinking we will see her struggle in episode 2, be left to wonder if she will ever be able to cope and then see her grow as a character in this episode. Not too sure about ending with the pregnancy though. Might be confusing to have to jump to a few months in the future. Maybe the reveal of her pregnancy can happen in a later episode?

Anyway, what does everyone else think about the summary? Like it? Dislike it? Have any ideas for new scenes?

• Published on 02/06/2010 at 9:24 PM CDT
• Last updated on 02/17/2012 at 2:56 PM CDT