(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)
♪ ♪