(epic theme playing)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(solemn music playing)

(birds chirping)

(wind blowing)

♪ ♪

(indistinct chatter)

(cookware clinking)

♪ ♪

Queen Alicent:

You’re sure?

(sobs)

Talya:

With his own eyes, Your Grace.

(sniffles) Uh…

Stay here.

Tell, tell no one.

Help me dress.

♪ ♪

Who knows?

My handmaiden, Talya.

Some of the servants.

I saw him last night…

before he–

He told me he wished

for Aegon to be king.

It is the truth.

Uttered with his own lips.

His last words to me

and I was the only one

to hear it.

And now he’s dead.

♪ ♪

(sighs)

What is it that could not

have waited an hour?

Was Dorne invaded?

The King is dead.

We grieve

for Viserys the Peaceful…

our sovereign…

our friend.

But he has left us a gift.

With his last breath,

he impressed upon the Queen

his final wish:

that his son, Aegon…

should succeed him

as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.

(thunder rumbles)

Then we may proceed now

with the full assurance

of his blessing

on our long-laid plans.

Otto Hightower: Yes.

There is much to be done,

as we’ve previously discussed.

Now, there are two

among the captains

of the City Watch that

remain loyal to Daemon.

Let us replace them.

Lord Lannister.

Tyland Lannister:

The Treasury is well in hand.

The gold will be divided

for safekeeping.

Otto:

Let ravens be sent

to our allies,

Riverrun and Highgarden.

Am I to understand that

members of the small council

have been planning secretly

to install my son without me?

My Queen,

there was no need to sully

you with darkling schemes.

Lyman Beesbury:

I will not have this.

To hear that you are plotting

to replace the King’s

chosen heir

-with an imposter!

-Tyland: His firstborn son

-is hardly an imposter.

-Lyman: Hundreds of lords

and landed knights

swore fealty to the Princess.

Tyland:

That was some 20 years ago.

Most of them now dead.

Jasper Wylde:

You heard the Lord Hand.

Plot or no,

the King changed his mind.

I am six-and-seventy years old.

I have known Viserys

longer than any

who sit at this table.

And I will not believe

that he said this

on his deathbed, alone,

with only the, the boy’s

mother as a witness.

This is seizure!

It is theft!

It is treason!

-At the least, it is–

-Mind your tongue, Lyman.

The King was

well last night…

by all accounts.

Which of you here can swear

that he died of his own accord?

Which of us are you accusing

of regicide, Lord Beesbury?

Lyman:

Whether it was one of you,

or all of you, I care not.

-I will have no part–

-Sit down!

-Lyman: Ahh!

-Alicent: Ser Criston.

Throw down your sword

and remove your cloak,

Ser Criston.

I am your Lord Commander,

Ser Criston.

Cast down your sword.

I will not suffer insults

to Her Grace the Queen.

There was no insult

to me, Ser Criston.

Y– Put aside your blade.

-Has it come to this?

-Lord Commander, enough.

-Let us have

Lord Beesbury removed.

-Otto: No.

The door remains shut

until we finish our business.

Storm’s End is of concern.

We may not assume

the loyalty of Lord Borros.

But he has four daughters,

all of them unmarried.

-The right proposal–

-What of Rhaenyra?

The former heir cannot,

of course, be allowed

to remain free

and draw support to her claim.

-Alicent:

You mean to imprison her.

-Otto: She and her family

will be given the opportunity

to publicly swear obeisance

to the new King.

She will never bend the knee.

Nor will Daemon, which you know.

You plan to kill them.

And all here accede to this.

Grand Maester Orwyle:

Your father is correct,

Your Grace.

A living challenger invites

battle and bloodshed.

It is unsavory, yes.

But a sacrifice

we must make to secure

Aegon’s succession.

And then there is

Daemon to consider.

-The King wouldn’t wish

for any unsavory–

-But the King did not wish

for the murder of his daughter!

He loved her.

I will not have you deny this.

-And yet–

-One more word,

and I will have you removed

from this chamber

and sent to the Wall!

What do you suggest,

Your Grace?

-(sighs)

-Otto: Time is of the essence.

Lord Commander Westerling…

take your knights

to Dragonstone.

Be quick and be clean.

I am Lord Commander

of the Kingsguard.

I recognize no authority

but the King’s.

And until there is one…

I have no place here.

♪ ♪

Princess Helaena:

It is our fate, I think,

to crave always what

is given to another.

If one possesses a thing,

the other will take it away.

Yes, Princess.

(door opens)

Where is Aegon?

N-Not here.

He’s not in his rooms.

Father.

(children babbling)

What’s happened?

♪ ♪

-Your father–

-There is a beast

beneath the boards.

Oh, my dearest love.

(footsteps approach)

Ser Erryk.

Where’s the Prince?

Forgive me, Lord Hand.

I do not know.

But you’re sworn

to protect him.

He exploits his authority

to order me away,

and then he evades me,

my Lord.

I believe he may have

left the Keep secretly,

gone into the city.

-Find him.

-(footsteps approach)

Take no one else

but your brother.

And remove

your white cloaks.

None can know who you are

or what you seek…

including the Queen.

My Lord.

Bring him to me, and me alone,

Ser Erryk.

(door locking)

(tense music playing)

What is the meaning of this?

♪ ♪

Guard. Guard!

♪ ♪

Prince Aegon’s not to be found

within the castle walls,

Your Grace.

Your father has sent

Ser Erryk into the city

to find him.

Ser Erryk knows Aegon.

He has the advantage.

I trust again to you,

Ser Criston,

and to your loyalty.

Aegon must be found,

and he must be brought

to me.

The very fate

of the Seven Kingdoms

depends on it.

Everything you feel for me…

as your Queen.

I will not fail you.

Prince Aemond:

I’ll come with you.

That would not be

my desire, Aemond.

-If anything has happened–

-Cole needs me, Mother.

Ser Erryk isn’t the only one

who knows Aegon’s doings.

♪ ♪

(door opens)

(door closes)

(bells tolling)

(dog barking)

Aemond:

Aegon brought me

to the Street of Silk

on my thirteenth name day.

It was his duty

as my brother, he said,

to ensure I was

as educated as he was.

At least that’s what

I understood him to mean.

I don’t follow.

He said,

“Time to get it wet.”

Every woman is

an image of the Mother,

to be spoken of

with reverence.

(bell ringing)

Sometime last night, we…

misplaced

our drinking companion.

Knowing that he has been,

in the past, a patron

of your fine establishment,

we thought to inquire here

as to his whereabouts.

And describe him.

That is a delicate matter.

(softly)

You see, the man we seek

is the young Prince Aegon.

I may trust, I hope,

in the discretion of your trade.

(chuckles)

The Prince is not here.

Has he been here?

Earlier, perhaps?

-Quite a bit earlier.

Years ago, in fact.

-But more recently?

He does not frequent

the Street of Silk.

His tastes are known to be…

less discriminating.

Meaning what?

I wish you luck, good Ser.

And my best to your friend.

How you’ve grown.

Aemond: Hm.

Otto:

Viserys amended his wishes.

It’s as simple as that.

You once swore

your banners to Rhaenyra.

You must now

pledge them

to the future king.

I must confer first

with my house on this matter.

You’ll not leave this

room without declaring

your intention.

I am no oath breaker.

I will not bend the knee.

Otto: Anyone else?

House Fell…

keeps its sworn oath

to the Princess.

Very well.

♪ ♪

Long live the King.

All:

Long live the King.

♪ ♪

(ambient street noise)

(indistinct chatter)

Criston Cole:

It seems you were mistaken

as to Aegon’s habits.

Aemond:

He could be in the hands

of mercenaries,

on a ship to Yi Ti.

He could be dead.

Let us hope,

for your mother’s sake,

that is not the case.

(distant yelling)

-Man 1: Let’s have a look.

-(groaning)

-Go on.

-Man 2: Come here. Come here!

-Get in there, you little–

-(crowd cheering)

Yeah!

Come on!

(child screams)

(crowd exclaiming)

-(grunting)

-Arryk Cargyll:

How old are they?

Erryk Cargyll:

About 10 years, I should say.

They have them

grow their nails

and file the teeth.

Makes them more formidable.

-Come on!

-Prince Aegon spends many

a night in this place.

Do you see now what he is?

You’ve not seen everything.

(crowd cheering)

- Aegon’s?

- One of many, I’d wager.

♪ ♪

Aemond:

Here I am, trawling the city,

ever the good soldier

in search of a wastrel who’s

never taken half an interest

in his birthright.

‘Tis I the younger

brother who studies

history and philosophy,

it is I who trains

with the sword,

who rides the largest

dragon in the world.

It is I who should be–

I know what it is

to toil for what others

are freely given.

Mm.

And we can’t find him, Cole.

You are a decent man

with no taste for depravity.

His secrets are his own…

and he’s welcome to them.

I’m next in line

to the throne.

Should they come

looking for me,

I intend to be found.

Ser Arryk:

Something must be done.

Aegon is unfit to rule.

You tolerated the Prince’s

proclivities for years.

Because it was

my sworn duty, Arryk.

It’s for the Hand

to find wisdom.

We swore an oath

of service until death.

Jayne:

A moment of your time, m’lords.

You’ll find no buyers

for your wares here.

I can take you to Prince Aegon.

Rather, I am sent by one

who knows where he is.

Who’ll tell you, for a price.

Deliver him,

and we’ll consider

your price.

My mistress will not

treat with the servants

of the Keep…

exalted though they may be.

She’ll trust this to

the Hand of the King only.

Impossible.

I think he will wish

to hear what the White Worm

can tell him.

(crowd cheering)

(bells tolling)

Knight:

Halt! Hold the gate!

(horse neighs)

Allun Caswell:

Let go of me!

Larys Strong:

He was fleeing from the gate.

Allun:

Do you know who I am?

Larys:

A warning for the Princess,

I’d wager.

What say you?

The Lord Confessor

presumes.

I have no love

for the Princess.

And where were you going then

with such urgency?

Let the King’s Justice take him.

Allun: Let go of me!

-No! This is not right!

-You did well, Lord Larys.

-Allun: I will–

-Only my duty, my Lord Hand.

Allun: (faintly)

Who do you think you are?

You’ve spent many hours

with the Queen of late.

There’s no reason

those hours could not,

in the end, benefit you.

(solemn music playing)

♪ ♪

(sniffles)

(door opens)

I will do you

the considerable

courtesy of assuming

there is a good reason

for the outrage

of my treatment

here this morning.

My sincerest regrets

for the lack of ceremony.

The King.

And you are

usurping the throne.

It was my husband’s

dying wish.

-(scoffs)

-Believe it or no,

it is of no consequence.

Aegon will be king.

I came here

to ask your support.

Well, I must credit you

for your boldness.

House Velaryon

has long allied itself

with the Princess Rhaenyra

and what has it gained you?

Your daughter dead…

alone in Pentos.

Your son cuckolded.

Rhaenyra’s heirs

are none of yours.

It is your husband

who grasps so heedlessly

for the throne.

And even he

has abandoned you:

gone these six long years

to fight a desperate battle,

returning grievously,

if not mortally, wounded,

leaving the Lady of Driftmark

to chart her course alone.

The word of my house

is not fickle.

No. But, dear cousin…

you more than any soul alive

understand what I say now.

Princess Rhaenys,

I loved my husband,

but I will speak

the truth we both know.

You should’ve been queen.

I little thought to hear

those words from you.

The Iron Throne was yours

by blood and by temperament.

Viserys would’ve lived

his days a country lord,

content to hunt

and study his histories,

but… here we are.

We do not rule

but we may guide

the men that do.

Gently…

away from violence

and sure destruction

-and instead toward peace.

-Ugh.

Is it in the name of peace

that you’ve imprisoned me?

-And what of my dragon?

-If we are overmatched,

Rhaenyra will be

tempted to strike us,

and war will ensue.

(sighs)

Without your dragon,

she may be persuaded

to negotiate.

If it’s Driftmark you want,

you shall have it

for you and your granddaughters

to pass on as you see fit.

You are wiser than

I believed you to be…

Alicent Hightower.

A true queen counts

the cost to her people.

And yet you toil still

in service to men.

Your father,

your husband, your son.

You desire not to be free,

but to make a window

in the wall of your prison.

Have you never

imagined yourself…

on the Iron Throne?

(tense music playing)

I’ll leave you

with your thoughts.

Ring the bell when

you have an answer.

(indistinct chatter)

(ambient street noise)

My Prince.

You yourself are the mysterious

White Worm, I take it.

Or are you

simply a further peel

in this stinking onion?

My condolences

on the passing of your king.

♪ ♪

Otto:

Where is Prince Aegon?

I thought, the Prince

is in Flea Bottom where

no one is to be trusted.

I’d best secrete him

somewhere safe

in case they come

looking for him.

Where’s the Prince?

He is safely tucked away.

I want an end

to the savage use

of children in Flea Bottom.

They are forced to fight,

and worse…

your gold cloaks take

the bribes given them

to look away.

An obscenity

either tolerated

or ignored by the crown.

I’ll look into it.

You have my word.

When your plots ripen

and you install your grandson

on the throne,

remember it was me

who put him there.

I could have killed him

as easily as a wasp on fruit.

There is no power but what

the people allow you to take.

I will remember.

♪ ♪

-(person coughs)

-Listen.

(coughing)

(groaning)

No… No!

No! Agh!

(groans)

(shouts)

Where is the White Worm?

Erryk:

She sold you for a price.

And why have you paid it?

I want my mother.

Your grandfather, the Hand,

will meet you

outside the city walls.

(Aegon grunting)

You flee what other men

die seeking, Aegon.

(grunts)

(grunting)

(bells tolling)

(grunts)

♪ ♪

I do regret this, friend.

(swords clang)

(grunts)

(intense music playing)

(grunting)

Prince Aegon: No! Stop! No.

(Aegon giggling)

-I was hoping you disappeared.

-Is our father truly dead?

Yes… and they’re

going to make you king.

-(spits)

-Agh!

-Aegon: No!

-Erryk: Are you

going to help me?!

(grunting)

Aegon: No! Let me go!

Where’s your brother, huh?

Let me go!

Brother! Ahh!

Let me go!

I have no wish to rule!

No taste for duty!

I’m not suited.

You’ll get no argument from me.

You let me go,

I will find a ship

and sail away,

never to be found.

The Queen awaits.

(tense music playing)

♪ ♪

(door opens)

-Well played.

-None of this is a game.

And yet you treat it as one.

A charming contest,

the… prize,

a pouch of silver.

We have relied

on one another

these many years.

And now it is

the good of the family

that we both desire.

Whatever our differences,

our hearts remain as one.

Our hearts were never one.

I see that now.

Rather, I have been

a piece that you

moved about the board.

If that is true,

then I made you Queen

of the Seven Kingdoms.

-Would you have

desired it otherwise?

-How could I know?

I wanted whatever you

impressed upon me to want.

And now the debt comes due.

-A debt you were

happy enough to pay.

-A sacrifice.

A sacrifice made for

the stability of the realm.

No king has ever lived

that hasn’t had to forfeit

the lives of a few

to protect the many.

Though I understand

your squeamishness.

Reluctance to murder

is not a weakness!

I have Aegon.

We’ll proceed now as I see fit.

(Alicent sighs)

We will send terms

to Rhaenyra on Dragonstone.

True terms, such that she

may accept without shame.

If she lives,

her allies will mass

behind her banners,

-looking for her return.

-Then she must not return.

My husband would have

desired this mercy be shown

-to his daughter.

-Your husband?

Or you, his daughter’s

childhood companion?

Criston Cole will be

named Lord Commander

of the Kingsguard.

My son will be anointed

tomorrow at dawn.

The whole of King’s Landing

must witness his ascent.

He will assume authority.

There will be no more dithering.

My son will take

the crown of his namesake,

the Conqueror,

and carry Blackfyre,

his sword.

Let the people remember

the ancient strength

of House Targaryen.

You look so much

like your mother

in certain lights.

(door opens)

-(door closes)

-As you wish.

Larys: Your Grace.

The hour is late, Lord Larys.

I’ve found out something

that you should know.

Have you asked yourself,

I wonder…

how it is… (grunts)

that your father, the Hand…

found Aegon first?

(Alicent sighs)

There is a web of spies

at work in the Red Keep.

Along its threads travels news

of all our doings.

Your father knows this,

but has left it in place.

More than once,

it has proved advantageous

to those willing to…

feed the weaver.

And this weaver watches me?

Um…

One of the little spiders

is your lady-in-waiting.

-Talya?

-There are more like her.

Even I do not know their number.

There is one way

to destroy his advantage.

It must be taken out

at the head.

When the Queen dies,

the bees fly without purpose.

Begging your pardon

for the turn of phrase,

Your Grace.

(sighs)

I assume this task falls

within your expertise.

If you wish it…

it will be done.

♪ ♪

(Larys breathing heavily)

♪ ♪

Erryk:

Out of my way! (grunting)

With me, Princess.

I cannot let this

treachery stand.

♪ ♪

(birds cawing)

-Where are we?

-Just south of King’s Way.

The Blackwater’s this way.

♪ ♪

I won’t leave Meleys.

-If I could get

to the Dragonpit, then–

-No.

They’ll expect you there,

Princess.

You won’t get

past the gates.

Now come.

You must make

for the riverfront

and find a ship.

Before they know you’ve gone.

Watch Captain: (shouting)

Move it! Go! Go!

-(horse neighs)

-This way!

Keep moving! That’s right.

That’s right!

-Onward!

-This way.

Watch Captain:

Halt! Halt!

Keep moving!

(indistinct yelling)

All of you, move forward!

-(horse neighs)

-Keep moving!

(indistinct yelling)

(sheep bleating)

Erryk:

Out of the way!

Out of the way!

(bells tolling)

(indistinct chatter)

(horses galloping)

Hyah! Hyah!

Alicent:

Have the decency

to look grateful.

Do you know what has been

done to give you this day?

In an hour, you will be king.

-And my father

never wanted this.

-That’s not true.

He had 20 years to name me heir

and never did.

Steadfastly, he upheld

Rhaenyra’s claim.

-He changed his mind.

-Oh. (chuckles)

No…

He could have,

but he never did

because he didn’t like me.

And yet, with his final breath,

he whispered to me

that you should take

his place on the throne.

(chuckling)

-Do not toy with me, Mother.

-I speak the truth.

(distant chatter)

Listen to me, Aegon.

Your grandfather, the Hand,

will try to impress on you

that Rhaenyra should be

put to the sword.

You must reject this counsel.

We must not rule with

cruelty and callousness.

For all her faults,

she is your sister,

-your, your father’s daughter–

-Do you love me?

-(bells tolling)

-You imbecile.

Watch Captain: (shouting)

Make way for

the royal wheelhouse!

(indistinct yelling)

(bells tolling)

Watch Captain: (shouting)

Hey, hey, forward then.

Guard:

Go on, move yourself! Come on!

(horse neighs)

(indistinct yelling)

(captains, guards shouting)

(bells tolling)

(bird cawing)

(indistinct chatter)

(captains, guards shouting)

(indistinct chatter)

(bells tolling)

Otto:

People of King’s Landing…

today is the saddest of days.

Our beloved king…

Viserys the Peaceful…

is dead.

(crowd murmuring)

But it is also the most

joyous of days…

for as his spirit left us…

he whispered his final wish:

that his firstborn son, Aegon…

should succeed him.

(crowd murmuring)

(applause)

Commander: Guards!

Out of the way! Move!

Commander: Halt!

Turn!

(horns blaring)

Commander: Present…

arms!

(powerful music playing)

♪ ♪

Otto:

It is your great good fortune

and privilege

to be here to witness this:

a new day for our city…

a new day for our realm.

A new king… to lead us.

♪ ♪

(person coughs)

Septon Eustace:

May the Warrior

give him courage.

May the Smith lend

strength to his sword

and shield.

May the Father

defend him in his need.

May the Crone

lift her shining lamp

and light his way to wisdom.

(person coughing)

Criston:

The crown of the Conqueror,

passed down

through generations.

(Aegon breathes deeply)

Let the Seven bear witness:

Aegon Targaryen

is the true heir

to the Iron Throne.

(crowd murmuring)

All hail His Grace,

Aegon,

Second of his Name,

King of the Andals

and the Rhoynar

and the First Men,

Lord of the Seven Kingdoms

and Protector of the Realm.

-(bells tolling)

-Aegon the King!

(crowd applauds, cheers)

♪ ♪

(cheering)

♪ ♪

Crowd:

Aegon the King!

Long live Aegon!

-(crowd screaming)

-(Meleys roars)

(roaring)

(screaming)

(roars)

(footsteps thudding)

(screaming)

(intense music playing)

(roars)

♪ ♪

(screaming)

Open the doors!

Open the doors!

Get Helaena.

(roars)

♪ ♪

(screeches)

♪ ♪

(screeches)

(door closes)

♪ ♪