Episode 2: What comes next?

Reader About Yea High left a comment in a recent post in an attempt to spur discussion about episode 2. I thought it would make for an interesting discussion, so I’ve decide to create a new post. AYH’s comment, originally posted at the Westeros forums, contained a speculative outline of what episode two might include.

GAME OF THRONES, EPISODE TWO: THE NOT-EVEN SLIGHTLY OFFICIAL SCREENPLAY OUTLINE

INT. WINTERFELL – LIBRARY – DAWN

Tyrion Lannister puts a book aside and wakes his sleeping servant as dawn breaks. Tyrion himself couldn’t sleep because of the wolves howling outside his window all night long, and instead spent his time sorting through Winterfell’s various tomes. Tyrion leaves. [1 page]

EXT. WINTERFELL – COURTYARD – CONTINUOUS

Tyrion encounters Prince Joffrey and The Hound. After hearing more than a few snide comments about Bran “dying quietly,” Tyrion slaps Joffrey and admonishes him. Joff runs off. The Hound implies a bad end for Tyrion if he treats the future king poorly. [2 pages]

INT. WINTERFELL – GUEST HOUSE MORNING ROOM – MORNING

Tyrion joins Ser Jaime, Queen Cersei, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen for breakfast. They discuss Bran’s injury, and the fact that he is still alive; it is clear Tyrion does not know the details of the past day’s events (or his brother and sister’s direct involvement), but he seems suspicious of something. [3 pages]

INT. WINTERFELL – BRAN’S BEDCHAMBER – DAY

Jon Snow enters to say his goodbyes to Bran; he is leaving today to make his journey to the Wall. Lady Catelyn Stark is with Bran, dead-eyed with grief. “It should have been you,” she tells Jon. [2 pages]

EXT. WINTERFELL – COURTYARD – DAY

Jon encounters Robb Stark amidst the hustle and bustle of leaving. They say their goodbyes; Robb says Benjen is waiting, but Jon has one more goodbye to make. [1 page]

INT. WINTERFELL – ARYA’S BEDCHAMBER – DAY

Arya is having a packing disaster, and Nymeria’s “help” isn’t helping. Jon gives his favorite sister a parting gift: Needle. “Stick them with the pointy end.” [2 pages]

EXT. KINGSROAD CAMP – PRE-DAWN

Lord Eddard Stark is awakened by King Robert Baratheon; the king desires to speak in private with him, and wants to ride. [Half page]

EXT. HILLS – DAWN

Ned and Robert outdistance their guards, coming to a halt on a hill far off the kingsroad. They talk of fond memories growing up in the care of Jon Arryn, and Robert speaks of his wish to simply ride away and forget his responsibilities. The subject of Jon Snow’s parentage comes up and Ned immediately halts that line of conversation. They argue about Robert ordering the death of Daenerys Targaryen, and about Robert making Jaime Lannister the Warden of the East. Ned is vocal about his distrust of the Lannisters. [Possible flashback inserts: “Promise me, Ned,” and Eddard encountering Jaime sitting on the throne] [6 pages]

EXT. NORTH HOLDFAST – DAY

Benjen Stark remains aloof and unwelcoming to Tyrion as the Wall-bound party stops outside a holdfast. Introduction of YOREN and the two rapers he’s bringing to the Wall. Tyrion notes Jon’s ill look once the boy realizes these criminals will soon be his “brothers.” [1.5 pages]

EXT. NORTH CAMP – DUSK

[Possible flashback beginning: Tyrion first discovering the massive dragon skulls at Kings Landing.]

Tyrion is tucked within the roots of a tree outside the camp, reading a book about dragons. Jon walks up with Ghost in tow, and they talk. Tyrion mocks the “nobility” of service on the Wall; he reaches to pat Jon in apology, and Ghost nearly attacks him. It’s soon forgotten amidst quietly-placed barbs. It’s clear the two get along relatively well. [5.5 pages]

INT. WINTERFELL – BRAN’S BEDCHAMBER – NIGHT

Catelyn continues to sit with her unconscious son. Maester Luwin tries to rouse her with talks of everyday business but she will have none of it; even the appearance of Robb does nothing. Catelyn finally stirs when Robb notices the glow of a fire in the distant stables. Robb and Luwin rush out. Moments later a KNIFE-WIELDING MAN enters, clearly intent on killing Bran. “You weren’t s’posed to be here,” he mutters to Catelyn. He comes at her; Catelyn is able to fight him off until Bran’s wolf charges through the door and kills the would-be assassin. [5 pages]

INT. WINTERFELL – CATELYN’S BEDCHAMBER – DAY

Catelyn awakes to discover she’d slept for four days. She is much more lucid now, however. Maester Luwin, Robb, Ser Roderick Cassel, and Theon Greyjoy visit, discussing the attempt on Bran’s life. The assassin wielded too fine a blade; Catelyn suspects the Lannisters are behind the attempt. Catelyn determines she and Ser Roderick will take a ship to Kings Landing in order to show the knife to Eddard. [3.5 pages]

INT. THE CROSSROADS INN – COMMON ROOM – DAY

Sansa picks at her breakfast fare, feeding her wolf Lady scraps beneath the table. Septa Mordane reminds her they are invited to travel in Queen Cersei’s wheelhouse today, and tells her to go make sure Arya is dressed for it. Sansa leaves. [1 page]

EXT. THE CROSSROADS INN – CONTINUOUS

Sansa moves through the camps set outside the inn, looking for her sister. The sprawl of tents and wagons is impressive, and the queen’s wheelhouse, in the distance, is massive. [Half page]

EXT. THE TRIDENT – DAY

Sansa arrives at the riverbank, none too pleased by the sight of muddy Arya trying to brush mud from the pelt of her wolf Nymeria. Nymeria uses the opportunity to wriggle free of Arya and escape. In typical fashion, the sisters argue; Arya refuses to travel in the queen’s boring wheelhouse. Arya runs off to chase after her wolf. Sansa leaves, furious. [3 pages]

EXT. THE CROSSROADS INN – DAY

Sansa notices a crowd has gathered outside the queen’s wheelhouse, and wanders over. Introduction of RENLY BARATHEON, SER BARRISTAN SELMY, and SER ILYN PAYNE, all come to give a proper escort to King’s Landing. Ilyn Payne frightens Sansa, as does an appearance by the Hound, but soon Joffrey is there, supporting her gallantly. Sansa summons her courage and identifies Renly and Barristan, showing her knowledge. Queen Cersei suggests to Joffrey he should take her riding; Sansa happily leaves with her noble prince. [4.5 pages]

EXT. KINGSROAD WOODLANDS – DAY

TRAVEL MONTAGE: Sansa and Joffrey ride horses through fields and lightly-forested woodlands.

Sansa and Joffrey pause while cresting a hill on their horses. They both hear the sounds of wood hitting wood, somewhere down near the river. Sansa is suddenly nervous, but Joffrey wants to investigate, so they ride toward it. [1.5 pages]

EXT. THE TRIDENT – DAY

[Possible flashback beginning: Robert fighting Rhaegar in the waters of the Trident. Rhaegar falls, Robert’s hammer descends, crashing into his chest. Rubies and blood join the rushing waters… ]

Arya is practicing fighting with wooden swords, dueling with MICAH the butcher’s boy on the banks of the Trident when Sansa and Joffrey arrive. Joff mocks Mycah, who is older and larger than Arya, and challenges him to fight someone with a real sword, drawing his blade “Lion’s Tooth.” Mycah, clearly frightened, refuses. Joff cuts him on the cheek — and then Arya hits Joffrey over the head with her sword. When Joffrey spins to attack her in a fury, Nymeria savages his arm, dragging Joffrey to the ground. Arya calls Nymeria off while Sansa screams at her. Arya, still enraged, picks up Lion’s Tooth and hurls it into the river. Mycah is already gone, so Arya runs off. Sansa tries to help Joffrey up, but he jerks away from her in contempt. [5 pages]

INT. DARRY HOLDFAST – PRIVATE CHAMBER – NIGHT

Eddard Stark is notified that after a two-day search, his daughter Arya has been found by Jory Cassel. [Half page]

EXT. DARRY HOLDFAST – CASTLE YARD – CONTINUOUS

Eddard strides across the courtyard calling to his men. We get an idea this is a strange new place (Darry-liveried guards, etc.), and tension is in the air. [Half page]

INT. DARRY HOLDFAST – AUDIENCE CHAMBER – NIGHT

Eddard enters. King Robert is there, as well as Queen Cersei, Prince Joffrey, and Renly Baratheon. JORY CASSEL is here, standing with Arya and Sansa. Arya runs to her father. She’s filthy and crying. The events are retold by her, but Joffrey calls her a liar, as his version of the events are quite different. Sansa is asked which is the truth but she says she can’t remember. Arya is furious with her. Cersei demands the pelt of Nymeria as payment for her son’s scarring, and Robert acquiesces, but Nymeria has not yet been found. Cersei instead demands the pelt of Sansa’s wolf Lady. Ned is forced by Robert to comply. Cersei calls for Ilyn Payne, but Ned insists he will do it himself. [6 pages]

INT. DARRY HOLDING CHAMBER – NIGHT

Ned executes Lady with Ice. He tells Jory to have Lady’s corpse delivered to Winterfell. [1 page]

EXT. DARRY HOLDFAST – CASTLE YARD – NIGHT

Ned encounters Lannister riders in the yard. With them is the Hound, who has a bloody bag slung over his horse. It’s opened, but within is not the corpse of Nymeria, as Ned feared — it’s Mycah. The butcher’s boy as been cleaved in two. “You rode him down,” Ned accuses the Hound. The Hound laughs and replies, “He ran. But not very fast.” [1.5 pages]

Winter Is Coming: Good stuff, AYH. My initial thoughts are that they will probably have Dany show up in the episode at least once. I also think the beginning, with all the Winterfell goodbyes, might be condensed a bit so we can get to the more meaty stuff later in the episode. They also will likely be adding a few new scenes that didn’t appear in the books. Some of you might remember, they had added a scene between Cersei and Catelyn at Bran’s bedside that appeared in the casting sides. Unless that has been written out, that would fall into episode 2. Lastly, I like the final scene with Hound but I think that the assassination attempt should come right before it. This way you end the episode with a bang in both storylines.

What does everyone else think?

• Published on 01/05/2010 at 1:16 PM CDT
• Last updated on 02/17/2012 at 2:58 PM CDT