SEASON 6, EPISODE 4: BOOK OF THE STRANGER

TITLE SEQUENCE

INT. CASTLE BLACK - JON'S ROOM

Longclaw is lying on a table. DOLOROUS EDD lifts and admires it, then turns to JON who is putting some items in a bag.

DOLOROUS EDD: Where you gonna go?

JON: South.

DOLOROUS EDD: What are you gonna do?

JON: Get warm.

JON smiles. DOLOROUS EDD places Longclaw on the table.

DOLOROUS EDD: I was with you at Hardhome. We saw what's out there. We know it's coming here. How can you leave us now?

JON: I did everything I could here. You know that.

DOLOROUS EDD: You swore a vow.

JON: Aye, I pledged my life to the Night's Watch. I gave my life.

DOLOROUS EDD: For all nights to come.

JON: My vows ended when my own brothers killed me, Edd.

A single horn sounds outside. JON and DOLOROUS EDD look to the doorway.

MAN (O.S.): Riders approaching!

MAN #2 (O.S.): Open the gate!

CUT TO: CASTLE BLACK - COURTYARD

The southern gates open. SANSA, BRIENNE, and PODRICK enter the courtyard on horseback. The Night's Watch and the Wildlings all watch them. TORMUND stares intently at BRIENNE. The trio dismount from their horses. JON and DOLOROUS EDD emerge onto a balcony overlooking the courtyard. SANSA slowly spins around until she and JON lock eyes. JON descends from the balcony and walks to SANSA. They stare at each other and then embrace.

CUT TO: CASTLE BLACK - JON'S ROOM

JON and SANSA are sitting by the fire. SANSA lifts a bowl to her lips and drinks from it.

SANSA: This is good soup. Do you remember those kidney pies Old Nan used to make?

JON: With the peas and onions?

SANSA: Mmm.

JON: We never should have left Winterfell.

SANSA: Don't you wish we could go back to the day we left? I want to scream at myself, "Don't go, you idiot."

JON: How could we know?

SANSA: I spent a lot of time thinking about what an ass I was to you. I wish I could change everything.

JON: We were childrenand took things for granted. It's the curse of youth.

SANSA: I was awful, just admit it.

JON chuckles.

JON: You were occasionally awful. I'm sure I can't have been great fun. Always sulking in the corner while the rest of you played.

SANSA: Can you forgive me?

JON: Yes, if you forgive me.

SANSA: Forgive you?

JON: I failed my family, including you. I thought a lot about what was happening to you, Bran, Rickon, and Arya, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. Every now and then, when I have restless nights, I'm haunted by what happened to Ned, Rob, and Caitlin. And the sister-in-law I never met. I cry and want to stab Longclaw into the chests of the men who did this to our family. I was on my way south when you arrived. I was on my way to seek vengeance – and then you arrive. We're family, Sansa, and seeing you alive makes me so happy.

SANSA: You're not the same brooding brother I remember.

JON: I'm not. Did you know I was murdered by men of the Night's Watch? I lay dying in the cold snow, and was brought to life by blood magic. JON exposes his wounds, then drinks. Did you drink fine wine in King's Landing?

SANSA nods, then holds out her hand for JON's horn of ale. JON gives it to her. She sips, then coughs. JON laughs.

JON: You'd think after thousands of years, the Night's Watch would have learned how to make a good ale.

SANSA: Where will you go?

JON: Where will we go?

SANSA: Where will we go?

JON: South. Home.

SANSA: Should we tell the Boltons to pack up and leave?

JON: We need an army. I've the wildlings. They not only owe me for saving them from the Night King, they will not be safe with the Boltons controlling Winterfell. How many men are in Roose Bolton's army?

SANSA: Five thousand.

JON: We need more men. Unless...

SANSA: Unless what?

JON: We enter through the sewer system and kill Roose Bolton in his sleep.

SANSA: That is not the honourable way to fight, Jon.

JON stands and turns to face SANSA.

JON: I'm done with honour, Sansa. Honour was what killed your father, mother, and brothers.

SANSA: After all I've been through, I've reached the same conclusion. But living under Cersei's tyranny, I've learned that politics requires the pretense of honour. Tell me everything that's happened to you brother, and I will hold back no secrets.

CUT TO: CASTLE BLACK – MESS HALL

SANSA, JON, BRIENNE, TORMUND, and DOLOROUS EDD are eating at a table. SANSA looks at the meat on her fork. JON, DOLOROUS EDD, and TORMUND eat vigorously. BRIENNE looks around at the men eating. TORMUND stares intently at BRIENNE. BRIENNE looks away. TORMUND smiles. DOLOROUS EDD notices their interaction.

DOLOROUS EDD (to SANSA): Sorry about the food. It's not what we're known for.

SANSA: That's all right. There are more important things.

A Night's Watchman enters the room and holds out a scroll to JON.

MAN: A letter for you, Lord Commander.

JON: I'm not Lord Commander anymore.

JON takes the letter. The man leaves. JON sees the seal of House Bolton. He opens the scroll and starts reading.

JON: "To the traitor and bastard Jon Snow. You allowed thousands of wildlings past the Wall. You have betrayed your own kind. You have betrayed the North. Winterfell is mine, bastard. Come and see. Your brother Rickon is in my dungeon.

JON looks at SANSA.

JON: His direwolf's skin is on my floor. Come and see. I want my bride back. Send her to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you or your wildling lovers. Keep her from me and I will ride north and slaughter every wildling man, woman, and babe living under your protection. You will watch as I skin them living. You -

SANSA: Go on.

JON: It's just more of the same.

JON puts the letter away, but SANSA takes it and continues reading.

SANSA: "You will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your sister. You will watch as my dogs eat your wild little brother. Then I will spoon your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest. Come and see. Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.

JON: Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.

SANSA: His father's dead. Ramsay killed him. And now he has Rickon.

JON: Are you certain?

SANSA: Yes.

TORMUND: How many men does he have in his army?

SANSA: I heard him say 5,000 once when he was talking about Stannis's attack.

JON (to TORMUND): How many do you have?

TORMUND: That can march and fight? 2,000. The rest are children and old people.

SANSA (to JON): You're the son of the last true Warden of the North. Northern families are loyal. They'll fight for you if you ask.

SANSA takes JON's hand.

SANSA: A monster has taken our home and our brother. We have to go back to Winterfell and save them both.

JON nods.

CASTLE BLACK - DINING HALL

JON, SANSA, BRIENNE, DOLOROUS EDD, DAVOS, TORMUND, and MELISANDRE are gathered around a table. A map is spread out on the table with tokens indicating houses laid on its surface.

JON: We can't defend the north from the Walkers and the south from the Boltons. If we want to survive, we need Winterfell, and to take Winterfell, we need more men.

DAVOS: Aside from the Starks and the Boltons, the most powerful houses in the North are the Umbers, the Karstarks, and the Manderlys.

DAVOS stands and moves some of the tokens to Winterfell.

DAVOS: The Umbers and the Karstarks have already declared for the Boltons, so we're not doing so well there.

SANSA: The Umbers gave Rickon to our enemies. They can hang. But the Karstarks declared for Ramsay without knowing they had another choice.

DAVOS: I beg your pardon, my lady, but they know that a Stark beheaded their father. I don't think we can count on them either.

SANSA: How well do you know the North, Ser Davos?

DAVOS: Precious little, my lady.

SANSA: My father always said Northerners are different. More loyal, more suspicious of outsiders.

DAVOS: They may well be loyal, but how many rose up against the Boltons when they betrayed your family? I may not know the North, but I know men. They're more or less the same in any corner of the world and even the bravest of them don't want to see their wives and children skinned for a lost cause. If Jon's going to convince them to fight alongside him, they need to believe it's a fight they can win.

JON: There are more than three other houses in the North - Glover, Mormont, Cerwyn, Mazin, Hornwood. Two dozen more. Together they equal all the others. We can start small and build.

SANSA: The North remembers. They remember the Stark name. People will still risk everything for it, from White Harbor to Ramsay's own door.

DAVOS: I don't doubt it. But Jon doesn't have the Stark name.

SANSA: No, but I do.

JON stares at SANSA.

SANSA: Jon is every bit as much Ned Stark's son as Ramsay is Roose Bolton's. Ant there are also the Tullys. They're not Northern, but they will back us against the Boltons without question.

DAVOS: I didn't know the Tullys still had an army.

SANSA: My uncle the Blackfish has reformed it and retaken Riverrun.

JON: How do you know that?

SANSA: Ramsay received a raven before I escaped Winterfell.

DAVOS: That's good. The Blackfish is a legend. His support would mean a great deal. Stark, Tully, a few more houses, almost starts to look like a winning side.

SANSA smiles.

CUT TO: CASTLE BLACK - COURTYARD

Several men of the Night's Watch are readying horses. JON stands beside them. MELISANDRE sits on her horse behind them. BRIENNE walks past. SANSA approaches JON, carrying a bundled cloak.

JON: New dress?

SANSA: I made it myself. Do you like it?

JON: Year, it's - I like the wolf bit.

SANSA: Good, because I made this for you.

SANSA hands JON the cloak. JON looks at it. The direwolf sigil of House Stark is pressed into the leather straps.

SANSA: I made it like the one Father used to wear. As near as I can remember.

JON: Thank you, Sansa.

SANSA: You're welcome.

SANSA walks away. BRIENNE is sitting on horseback beside TORMUND. TORMUND stares at her. She catches him staring and looks away. He grins. DOLOROUS EDD approaches JON, who is donning his new cloak.

JON: Don't knock it down while I'm gone.

DOLOROUS EDD: I'll do my best.

They embrace.

DOLOROUS EDD: Good luck.

JON walks to his horse and climbs atop it. He leads SANSA, MELISANDRE, PODRICK, BRIENNE, TORMUND, and the rest of the party out through the southern gates. A man of the Night's Watch approaches DOLOROUS EDD, who is watching them leave.

MAN: Should we close the gate, Lord Commander?

DOLOROUS EDD: I'm not the Lord Comman -

The men of the Night's Watch gather around DOLOROUS EDD.

DOLOROUS EDD: Yeah, ahem, close the bloody gate.

SOUTH OF THE WALL - WILDLING ENCAMPMENT

JON, SANSA, DAVOS, TORMUND, and WUN WUN are meeting with DIM DALBA and the other Wildling leaders. They are all gathered around a fire pit.

DIM DALBA: We said we'd fight with you, King Crow, when the time comes and we meant it, but this isn't what we agreed to. These aren't White Walkers. This isn't an army of the dead. This isn't our find.

TORMUND: If it weren't for him, none of us would be here. All of you would be meat in the Night King's army. And I'd be a pile of charred bones just like Mance.

DIM DALBA: Remember Mance's camp? It stretched all the way to the horizon. And look at us now. Look what's left of us. And if we lose this, we're gone. Dozens of tribes, hundreds of generations. Be like we were never there at all. We'll be the last of the free folk.

JON: That's what'll happen to you if we lose. The Boltons, the Karstarks, the Umbers, they know you're here. They know that more than half of you are women and children. After they finish with me, they'll come for you. You're right. This isn't your fight. You shouldn't have to come to Winterfell with me. I shouldn't be asking you. It's not the deal we made. I need you with me if we're gonna beat them, and we need to beat them if you're going to survive.

TORMUND gestures to JON.

TORMUND: The crows killed him because he spoke for the free folk when no other southerners would. He died for us. If we are not willing to do the same for him, we're cowards. And if that's what we are, we deserve to be the last of the free folk.

WUN WUN stands.

WUN WUN: Snow.

WUN WUN walks away. DIM DALBA looks at the men around him. One of them nods. DIM DALBA walks up to JON and holds out his hand. JON takes it. DIM DALBA returns to his men.

JON (to TORMUND): Are you sure they'll come?

TORMUND: We're not clever like you southerners. When we say we'll do something, we do it.

JON: Good. I want to tell you what I know about Winterfell. No matter how many men we amass, Winterfell was built upon a hill and only the western side is accessible. [Editor's note: like Edinburgh Castle] If I were defending Winterfell, I'd wait inside for a storm to weaken the attacking forces. But Ramsay, he's young and wants to show how powerful he is. If he meets us in the open field, we stand a better chance to defeat his forces. We need a smaller army to tease him out of the castle, and a hidden, second force to ride on horseback and attack Bolton's men from behind.

TORMUND: I remember what men on horses can do. But where do we get this second force on horseback?

JON: My sister is working on it. But your wildling men must not know, otherwise they'd give the plan away.

TORMUND: And the Boltons will retreat to their castle and wait for the next storm.

JON nods.

TORMUND: You're asking me and my men to be bait.

JON: You, your men, and me. I will fight alongside in the vanguard.

TORMUND nods.

BEAR ISLAND

The castle of House Mormont sits atop a high hill. Waterfalls pour out below. A bird screeches.

CUT TO: BEAR ISLAND - CASTLE AUDIENCE CHAMBER

LYANNA MORMONT sits at a high table flanked by a commander and a maester. JON, SANSA, and DAVOS enter. Some guards close the doors behind them.

JON: Lady Mormont.

LYANNA: Welcome to Bear Island.

JON looks at SANSA.

SANSA: I remember when you were born, my lady. You were named for my Aunt Lyanna. It was said she was a great beauty. I'm sure you will be, too.

LYANNA: I doubt it. My mother wasn't a great beauty or any other kind of beauty. She was a great warrior, though. She died fighting for your brother, Robb.

JON: I served under your uncle at Castle Black, Lady Lyanna. He was also a great warrior and an honourable man. I was his steward. In fact- -

LYANNA: I think we've had enough small talk. What are you here?

JON: Stannis Baratheon garrisoned at Castle Black before he marched on Winterfell and was killed. He showed me the letter you wrote to him when he petitioned for men. It said- -

LYANNA: I remember what it said. "Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark."

JON: Robb is gone, but House Stark is not. And it needs your support now more than ever. I've come with my sister to ask for House Mormont's allegiance.

LYANNA leans towards her maester. They whisper to each other. LYANNA turns back to face JON.

LYANNA: As far as I understand, you're a Snow and Lady Sansa is a Bolton. Or is she a Lannister? I've heard conflicting reports.

SANSA: I did what I had to do to survive, my lady. But I am a Stark. I will always be a Stark.

LYANNA: If you say so. In any case, you don't just want my allegiance. You want my fighting men.

JON: Ramsay Bolton cannot be allowed to keep Winterfell, my lady. It is our duty to stop him. Even more so because he holds our brother Rickon Stark as prisoner. What you have to understand, my lady, is that- -

LYANNA: I understand that I'm responsible for Bear Island and all who live here. So why should I sacrifice one more Mormont life for someone else's war?

JON and SANSA fall silent. DAVOS steps forward.

DAVOS: If it please, my lady, I understand how you feel.

LYANNA: I don't know you, Ser…?

DAVOS: Davos, my lady, of House Seaworth.

LYANNA turns to her maester.

DAVOS: You needn't ask your maester about my house. It's rather new.

LYANNA settles back into her chair.

LYANNA: All right, Ser Davos of House Seaworth. How is it you understand how I feel?

DAVOS: You never thought you'd find yourself in your position. Being responsible for so many lives at such a young age. I never thought I'd be in my position. I was a crabber's son, then I was a smuggler. And now I found myself addressing the lady of a great house in time of war. But I'm here because this isn't someone else's war. It's our war.

LYANNA: Go on, Ser Davos.

DAVOS: Your uncle, Lord Commander Mormont, made that man his steward. He chose Jon to be his successor because he knew had the courage to do what was right, even if it meant giving his life. Because Jeor Mormont and Jon Snow both understood that the real war isn't between a few squabbling houses. It's between the living and the dead. And make no mistake, my lady, the dead are coming.

LYANNA: Is this true?

JON nods.

JON: Your uncle fought them at the Fist of the First Men. I fought them at Hardhome. We both lost.

DAVOS: As long as the Boltons hold Winterfell, the North is divided. And a divided North won't stand a chance against the Night King. You want to protect your people, my lady. I understand. But there's no hiding from this. We have to fight and we need to do it together.

LYANNA's maester leans over to whisper in her ear, but she waves him away.

LYANNA: House Mormont has kept faith with House Stark for 1,000 years. We will not break faith today.

JON: Thank you, my lady. How many fighting men can we expect?

LYANNA leans to her military commander and they whisper to each other.

LYANNA: 62.

JON: 62.

LYANNA: We are not a large house, but we're a proud one. And every man from Bear Island fights with the strength of 10 mainlanders.

JON: If they're half as ferocious as their lady, the Boltons are doomed.

LYANNA smiles and nods.

DEEPWOOD MOTTE – COURTYARD

JON, SANSA, and DAVOS are meeting with ROBETT GLOVER. Several men serving under ROBETT stand in attendance.

ROBETT: The answer is no.

JON: Lord Glover, if you could just hear us out.

ROBETT: I've heard enough. We've only just taken back this castle from the Ironborn. The Boltons helped us do it. Now you want me to fight against them? I could be skinned for even talking to you.

JON: The Boltons are traitors. Roose Bolton- -

ROBETT: Have other northern houses pledged to fight for you?

JON: House Mormont.

ROBETT: And?

JON: We sent raven to Houses Manderly- -

ROBETT: I don't care about ravens. You're asking me to join your army. Who is fighting in this army?

JON: The bulk of the force is made up of wildlings.

ROBETT laughs.

ROBETT: Then the rumors are true. I didn't dare believe them. I received you out of respect for your father. Now I would like you to leave. House Glover will not abandon its ancestral home to fight alongside wildlings.

ROBETT turns around and heads up the stairs towards a door attended by his men.

JON: Lord Glover.

ROBETT: There's nothing else to say.

SANSA: I would remind you that House Glover is pledged to House Stark. Sworn to answer when called upon.

JON glares at SANSA. ROBETT turns on his heel and walks up close to SANSA.

ROBETT: Yes, my family served House Stark for centuries. We wept when we heard of your father's death. When my brother was lord of this castle, he answered Robb's call and hailed him King in the North.

ROBETT gets closer to SANSA.

ROBETT: And where was King Robb when the Ironborn attacked this castle? When they threw my wife and children in prison and brutalized and killed our subjects? Taking up with a foreign whore. Getting himself and those who followed him killed.

ROBETT looks at JON and then back at SANSA.

ROBETT: I served House Stark once, but House Stark is dead.

JON: Lord Glover, did you hear any rumours about my death? That men of the Night's Watch stabbed me and I died on the snow like the bastard I was? That I was resurrected?

ROBETT: That can't be true. No one returns from the dead.

JON: But I was, Lord Glover. I will defeat the Boltons, just as I have defeated death. I have seven stab wounds in my chest as proof. I'd show them to you, but this castle is so filthy I'd risk death from a festering wound. Or just the stench. I smell you, Lord Glover. You're weak, and scared, and I'd wager you've barely enough food to last the winter. Then whispering: Or at least, all your men. Most of these men will starve. ROBETT nods. If not for your vow, do this for your men. They will starve here, and we both know hungry men are dangerous, mutinous men.

ROBETT: I will pledge two hundred of my men. Now please leave.

ROBETT turns, climbs the stairs to the door, and walks through it.

SANSA: What did you do?

JON: I'm learning how to play this game.

NORTHERN WILDERNESS – STARK ENCAPMENT

JON, SANSA, and DAVOS are riding horses through the encampment.

DAVOS: Stannis camped here on his way to Winterfell.

SANSA: And that's a good thing?

DAVOS: He was the most experienced commander in Westeros. He chose this place for a reason. Those mountains are a natural fortification. There's a stream down there for the horses.

JON: We're not staying here long. Another storm could hit any day..

DAVOS: Aye, the snows defeated Stannis as much as the Boltons did.

JON: We have to march on Winterfell now while we still can.

They all dismount their horses and begin walking side by side.

DAVOS: 2,000 Wildlings. 200 Hornwoods, 200 Glovers, 143 Mazins- -

SANSA: 62 Mormonts.

DAVOS: It's not what we'd hoped for. But we still have a chance if we're careful and smart.

DAVOS spots two men fighting.

DAVOS: For fuck's sake.

DAVOS hurries over to the men. JON and SANSA watch him go and then continue walking.

SANSA: He's the one you trust to infiltrate Winterfell.

JON: He smuggled into Dragonstone on a dingy. He will try to kill Ramsay if he has the opportunity, but he must remain hidden until the battle to sabotage the front gate and set fire to the north tower. His mission is to cause confusion in the castle and hopefully among Ramsay's army.

SANSA: He knows nothing about the Knights of the Vale?

JON: He is a man who believes strongly in being good and righteous. If he knew the plan, he couldn't help but give it away. This plan means more than half these men will die by the end of it, but it is the best chance we have.

SANSA: If Ramsay retreats into the castle, he'll survive the winter and none of us will.

JON moves close to SANSA.

JON: How much can we trust Little Finger?

SANSA: Never trust Little Finger. But if he thinks he's smarter than we are and out manoeuvring everyone else, he will come with the Knights of the Vale.

JON looks over SANSA's shoulder at DAVOS. He is standing in front of the fighting men, who are wrestling on the ground.

DAVOS: Friends, this is not worth fighting over!

JON walks past SANSA and away.

DAVOS: This'll be it, now. Right now, we don't need to be fighting.

One of the men gets in DAVOS' face.

MAN: Who the fuck are you?

DAVOS: Hold on.

MAN #2: Yeah, who the fuck are you?

SANSA spies the maester of Bear Island handling some crates containing ravens. He holds up one of the crates to LYANNA MORMONT.

CUT TO: NORTHREN WILDERNESS – STARK ENCAPMENT TENT

SANSA is writing a letter. She signs her name, pours wax, and presses the wax with the direwolf sigil of House Stark. She picks up the letter and rereads it, then stares ahead.

WINTERFELL – OUTSKIRTS

JON, SANSA, DAVOS, TORMUND, LYANNA MORMONT, and some Stark bannermen sit on horseback, waiting. RAMSAY, HARALD KARSTARK, SMALLJON UMBER, and a group of Bolton soldiers approach on horseback. They come to a halt in front of JON and company.

JON: You don't have to be here.

SANSA: Yes, I do.

RAMSAY: My beloved wife. I've missed you terribly.

RAMSAY looks at JON.

RAMSAY: Thank you for returning Lady Bolton safely. Now, dismount and kneel before me, surrender your army and proclaim me the true Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. I will pardon you for deserting the Night's Watch. I will pardon these treasonous lords for betraying my house. Come, bastard, you don't have the men, you don't have the horses, and you don't have Winterfell. Why lead those pour souls into slaughter? There's no need for a battle. Get off your hose and kneel. I'm a man of mercy.

JON: You're right. There's no need for a battle. Thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us. Let's end this the old way. You against me.

RAMSAY chuckles.

RAMSAY: I keep hearing stories about you, bastard. The way people in the North talk about you, you're the greatest swordsman who ever walked. Maybe you are that good. Maybe not. I don't know if I'd beat you. But I know that my army will beat yours. I have 6,000 men. You have, what, half that? Not even?

JON: Aye, you have the numbers. Will your men want to fight for you when they hear you wouldn't fight for them?

RAMSAY points at JON.

RAMSAY: He's good. Very good. Tell me, will you let your little brother die because you're too proud to surrender?

SANSA: How do we know you have him?

RAMSAY nods to SMALLJON. SMALLJON pulls SHAGGYDOG's head out from a satchel and throws it on the ground.

RAMSAY: Now, if you want to save —

SANSA: You're going to die tomorrow, Lord Bolton. Sleep well.

SANSA turns her horse and rides away.

RAMSAY (to JON): She's a fine woman, your sister. I look forward to having her back in my bed. And you're all fine-looking men. My dogs are desperate to meet you. I haven't fed them for seven days. They're ravenous. I wonder which parts they'll try first. Your eyes? Your balls? We'll find out soon enough. In the morning, then, bastard.

RAMSAY and company ride back towards Winterfell. JON looks down.

JON: If you see the morning, tyrant.

STARK ENCAMPMENT - CONFERENCE TENT

JON, DAVOS, TORMUND, and SANSA are standing around a planning table.

JON: If he was smart, he'd stay inside the walls of Winterfell and wait us out, but he's a cocky, murdering man.

DAVOS: He knows the North is watching. If the other houses sense weakness on his part, they'll stop fearing him. He can't have that. Fear is his power.

JON: It's his weakness, too. His men don't want to fight for him. They're forced to fight for him. If they feel the tide turning...

TORMUND: It's not his men that worry me. It's his horses. I know what mounted knights can do to us.

TORMUND looks at DAVOS.

TORMUND: You and Stannis cut through us like piss through snow.

JON: We're digging trenches all along our flanks. They won't be able to hit us the way that Stannis hit you, in a double envelopment.

TORMUND stares blankly at JON.

JON: A pincer move.

TORMUND stares blankly at JON. JON and DAVOS look at each other briefly.

JON: They won't be able to hit us from the sides.

TORMUND: Good.

DAVOS: It's crucial that we let them charge at us. They've got the numbers, we need the patience. If we let him buckle our center, he'll pursue. Then we'll have him surrounded on three sides.

TORMUND (to JON): Did you really think that cunt would fight you man to man?

JON: No. But I wanted him to feel like a coward, at least for that moment. I wanted to make him angry. I want him coming at us full tilt.

DAVOS: We should all get some sleep. I will attend to the specific task, Jon Snow.

TORMUND: Rest, Jon Snow. We need you sharp tomorrow.

DAVOS, TORMUND, and any remaining attendants exit. JON sits down at the head of the table.

SANSA: So you've met the enemy, drawn up your battle plans.

JON: Aye, for what they're worth.

SANSA: You've known him for the space of a single conversation. I lived with him. I know the way his mind works. I know how he likes to hurt people. He will not fall into your trap.

JON: You're right.

SANSA: But he has to think you've set your trap.

JON: He's overconfident and must believe he'll win, and I must buy us time for the Nights of the Vale to arrive.

SANSA: What if the Knights are delayed?

JON: Then we're doomed.

SANSA: Like Rickon is doomed. We'll never get him back. Rickon is Ned Starks trueborn son, which makes him a greater threat to Ramsay than you, a bastard, or me, a girl. As long as he lives, Ramsay's claim to Winterfell will be contested, which means he won't live long.

JON: I wish I could say I love Rickon. But I don't. I mean, I love him because he's related to me, but I would never risk my life for him, like I would for you. Or Arya. I wonder where she is. When Ned died, the night before the Raven arrived at Castle Black, I had a dream about him. I don't remember what it was about, but I remember feeling sadness and sorrow. I haven't had a dream about that with Arya, and that makes me hope she's still alive somewhere out there.

SANSA: I feel like she's still alive. I wish I could tell her how much I'm sorry for everything.

CUT TO: STARK ENCAPMENT

DAVOS and TORMUND are walking together through the encampment.

DAVOS: You think there's hope?

TORMUND: I've never seen these Bolton fuckers fight. And they've never seen the free folk fight, so, yes, there's hope. You want to avenge your king, don't you?

DAVOS: It wasn't the Boltons defeated Stannis. It was Stannis himself. I loved the man. He lifted me up and made me something. But he had demons in his skull whispering foul things.

TORMUND: You saw these demons?

DAVOS: What?

They stop walking. DAVOS looks at TORMUND.

DAVOS: No, it's a manner of speaking. Not actual demons.

TORMUND: Oh. Well, you loved that cunt Stannis and I loved the man he burned. Mance didn't have demons in his skull. He didn't torch people or listen to some red witch. I believed in him. I thought he was the man to lead us through the Long Night. But I was wrong just like you.

DAVOS: Maybe that was our mistake, believing in kings.

TORMUND: Jon Snow's not a king.

DAVOS: No, he's not.

TORMUND and DAVOS smile at each other.

TORMUND: I need a good drink to help me sleep the night before a fight. You want some? I have a jug of sour goat's milk stronger than any of that grape water you southern twats like sucking on.

DAVOS: No, thanks. It does sound delicious, but I better keep a clear head. I can never sleep the night before a battle.

TORMUND: So what do you do all night?

DAVOS: I walk. Think and walk. I've a special mission. Did Jon Snow tell you about it?

TORMUND nods.

TORMUND: I may not live by the end of it, but every trick and confusion you inflict on the enemy means I may kill a few more bastards before one of them kills me.

TORMUND walks away.

STARK ENCAMPMENT - MELISANDRE'S TENT

MELISANDRE is sitting at a desk with a mirror and candles on it, staring into a fire pit. JON enters and approaches her.

JON: My lady. You weren't at the war council.

MELISANDRE: I'm not a soldier.

JON: Any advice?

MELISANDRE: Don't lose.

JON: I need something from you.

MELISANDRE: I am here to serve you and the Lord of Light.

JON: What power is in king's blood?

MELISANDRE: All the world's power.

JON, slices his finger and presents it to MELISANDRE to lick.

MELISANDRE: You are a king, not a bastard. That's why the Lord of Light brought you back from the dead.

JON: What power is in my blood?

MELISANDRE: Fuck me, and I will bear you a child as powerful as your blood. But this takes time. This child's gestation can be days like in Stannis' case because his stag seed was weak, but it could be months or years if your seed is powerful. A dragon and a wolf are mighty powerful indeed.

JON: I need something for tomorrow's battle.

MELISANDRE: There are other parts of you I can lick. Come to me, give your seed into my mouth, and tomorrow, you will fight with more vigour and will not tire. No injury will harm you, and you will fight with the strength of a hundred men.

JON: Or a thousand. Suck me, Red Priestess, and serve your lord.

Fade out.

WINTERFELL – OUTSKIRTS

The Stark and Bolton armies sit across the battlefield from one another. JON rides his own horse through the ranks, looking at the men. He rides up next to TORMUND and WUN WUN, at the front of the line. Across the battlefield, X-shaped pyres resembling the sigil of House Bolton are burning. Attached to each of them is the body of a flayed man, strapped upside down. RAMSAY rides through the ranks of the Bolton army on horseback with a rope in his hand.

JON, to TORMUND: Davos couldn't kill Ramsay, but hopefully he's still within Winterfell.

RAMSAY reaches the front of the line and dismounts. The rope is revealed to be tied around RICKON's hands. RAMSAY ushers RICKON a little further out past the front line and stares at JON across the field. He unsheathes a dagger and raises it in the air. JON dismounts and walks a few paces out into the field. RAMSAY lowers the dagger and cuts RICKON's bindings.

RAMSAY: Do you like games, little man? Let's play a game. Run to your brother. The sooner you make it to him, the sooner you get to see him. That's it. That's the game. Easy. Ready? Go.

RICKON starts walking out into the field, then looks back at RAMSAY.

RAMSAY: No, you have to run, remember? Those are the rules.

A soldier approaches and hands RAMSAY his bow. RICKON starts running across the field. RAMSAY draws an arrow from his quiver. RAMSAY notches an arrow and fires. The arrow lands in the ground next to RICKON. RAMSAY fires another arrow. It lands on the ground next to RICKON.

JON:Goodbye brother. You will be avenged.

RAMSAY shoots another arrow. It misses. RAMSAY shoots another arrow. The arrow pierces through RICKON's chest from behind. RICKON falls to the ground. JON looks at Winterfell, and sees the North Tower on fire. The Bolton archers draw and loose a volley of arrows. JON ushers his horse into a gallop straight towards the Bolton army.

JON: Men, fight! FIGHT!

TORMUND: FIGHT!

WUN WUN roars. The bulk of the Stark forces charge across the field towards the Boltons. JON rushes faster than anyone else toward the Bolton forces alone. The Bolton arches releases a volley of arrows, some of which land in the body of JON's horse, and an arrow into JON's chest, causing him and his horse to tumble to the ground.

RAMSAY: Now.

KARSTARK: Cavalry, charge!

JON stands up, and pulls the arrow out of his chest as if nothing happened. JON faces the Bolton cavalry, charging at him. He takes off his sword belt and draws his sword. The cavalry approaches. JON braces for impact, and in slow motion, kills all five men charging at him. The rest of the cavalry continues and meets with the Stark's cavalry, but half of the Bolton cavalry fall into trenches. Full battle ensues.

Archers on both sides of the battlefield nock arrows and draw their bows.

RAMSAY: Loose!

The Bolton archers fire. Their arrows rain down on Bolton men and JON. But after each arrow, JON pulls each out. JON rushes forward and kills a man on the ground, then slices the belly of a second man. A volley of arrows rains down around JON. He ducks. None of the arrows hit him. He returns to his feet and cuts down another man, dodges the strike of a passing Bolton cavalryman, and runs through another Bolton footsoldier.

JON: Ramsay, fight me like a man.

RAMSAY: It's time, go.

SMALLJON brandishes his sword and walks back and forth in front of his men.

SMALLJON: Who owns the North?

ALL: We do!

SMALLJON: Who owns the North?

ALL: We do!

SMALLJON: Show me!

SMALLJON and his men cheer and charge across the battlefield. JON continues fighting, but is knocked to the ground by a Bolton footsoldier. TORMUND appears and stabs the footsoldier through the back, then helps JON to his feet.

TORMUND: Hey! We killed most their cavalry, but his infantry remain.

WUN WUN and the Wildlings charge up behind TORMUND and JON. SMALLJON and his men are charging from the other side. WUN WUN points at them and grunts. A force of Bolton men appear bearing tall shields and spears. They create a half-circle around JON, TORMUND, WUN WUN, and the entire Stark forces. The other half of the circle is blocked by the piles of bodies on the battlefield. The shield soldiers set their shields firmly in the dirt, then point their spears inward towards the Stark forces.

MAN: Infantry, advance!

The shield soldiers grunt in unison, lift their shields, and move in towards the Stark forces. With each wave of movement, they stab more and more Stark soldiers with their spears. One Stark soldier tries to climb up over the piles of bodies but gets cut down by SMALLJON. SMALLJON and his men charge down over the bodies, taking the Stark forces from the rear.

JOHN SNOW: With me! I will break their line! JON walks into the spear, but unphased, slices from above and kills the soldier. He kills another and another, and a gap forms in the line of shields. TORMUND, WUN WUN and others fight through the gap.

The shieldbearers advance, but the Stark forces continue. More Bolton men die, and JON continues to fight even though he's stabbed or should be dead. As more and more Bolton men die by JON's sword, more and more men from both Bolton's and Starks stop fighting and stare at the man who will not die.

RAMSAY: Fuck this. Ramsay turns his horse around, and gallops back toward the castle. Open the gate! RAMSAY's face grows more fearful when the gate doesn't open and he sees JON fighting through the bodies, walking closer and closer.

A horn begins to sound in the distance. RAMSAY looks in the direction of the sounding horn. A force of cavalry appears across the battlefield carrying flags bearing the white falcon sigil of House Arryn. SANSA and PETYR BAELISH sit on horseback beside the charging Arryn cavalry. The Arryn cavalry takes the Bolton shieldbearers from the rear, then circles around and knocks them all down. SANSA smiles.

RAMSAY: My army's gone. Open the fucking gate!

JON arrives.

RAMSAY, cocks an arrow, pointed at JON: You can't be alive. How many arrows hit you? How many swords sliced into you? You're a bastard like me, and you should be dead.

JON: I am Jon Snow, and I am no mere bastard. I am Jon Snow, the Resurrected, and I seek justice for those who harmed me and my family. SANSA arrives on horseback. She will determine what justice befalls you.

RAMSAY: My beloved wife, you're here. He smiles, aims at SANSA, then shoots. Her eyes grow wide and she clutches her belly as she falls. JON rages and stabs RAMSAY over and over.

TORMUND arrives and screams: HELP!

The gates open, and it's DAVOS. He sees SANSA and rushes toward her.

DAVOS: My lady, you're injured. I won't lie, it's bad. But you may pull through. Stay with us. DAVOS looks at JON, repeatedly stabbing into the mangled body of RAMSAY.

The Bolton flags fall away from the walls of Winterfell and are replaced by Stark flags. MELISANDRE watches from a balcony. DAVOS, holding the charred stag statuette, stares up at her. Some Stark men carry RICKON's body into the courtyard on a stretcher and stop in front of JON, TORMUND.

JON: Sansa is resting in her old room. She'll be OK. We're going to bury my brother in the crypt next to my father.

The stretcher men continue on. JON turns to walk away, and lifts RAMSAY's body on his shoulder. He walks toward the kennels, and throws the body into the darkness before closing the cage. The audience hears sniffing then savage biting.

JON: Justice.

WINTERFELL – OUTSKIRTS

A white raven flies over the Northern wilderness towards Winterfell.

CUT TO: WINTERFELL - DINING HALL

JON is standing behind the high table, staring across the hall. MELISANDRE stands by his side.

JON: When we had feasts, our family would sit up here… and I'd sit down there.

JON points to the other end of the hall.

MELISANDRE: Could have been worse, Jon Snow. You had a family. You had feasts.

JON chuckles.

JON: Aye, you're right. I was luckier than most.

DAVOS enters the hall and tosses the charred stag statuette at MELISANDRE. MELISANDRE catches it.

JON: What is that?

DAVOS: Tell him. Tell him who it belonged to.

MELISANDRE: The Princess Shireen.

DAVOS: Tell him what you did to her. Tell him!

MELISANDRE: We burned her at the stake.

DAVOS: Why?

MELISANDRE: The army was trapped. The horses were dying. It was the only way.

DAVOS: You burned a little girl alive!

MELISANDRE: I only do what my Lord commands!

DAVOS: If he commands you to burn children, your Lord is evil!

MELISANDRE: We are standing here because of him. Jon Snow is alive because the Lord willed it.

DAVOS: I loved that girl like she was my own. She was good. She was kind. And you killed her!

MELISANDRE: So did her father. So did her mother. Her own blood knew it was the only way.

DAVOS: The only way for what? They all died anyway! You told everyone Stannis was the one. You had him believing it, all of them fooled. And you lied.

MELISANDRE: I didn't lie. I was wrong.

DAVOS: Aye, you were wrong. How many died because you were wrong?

DAVOS and MELISANDRE stare at each other in silence.

DAVOS (to JON): I ask your leave to execute this woman for murder. She admits to the crime.

JON (to MELISANDRE): Do you have anything to say for yourself?

MELISANDRE: I've been ready to die for many years. If the Lord was done with me, so be it, but he's not. You've seen the Night King, Jon Snow. You know the great war is still to come. You know the army of the dead will be upon us soon. And you know I can help you win that war.

JON, to DAVOS: She saved my life, and I cannot execute her. But I will banish her. Go, let me deal with this. Is the north tower fire out? DAVOS nods and leaves.

JON approaches MELISANDRE.

JON: Ride south today.

MELISANDRE puts the stag statuette down on the high table and begins to walk away. JON then grabs her waist then pushes her onto the table and lifts her skirt.

JON: Red Priestess, you will bear me a child upon your return north. JON bends MELISANDRE over the table and fucks her.

MELISANDRE: My king, my king, yes my king.

CUT TO: WINTERFELL - OUTER WALL

JON stands atop the outer wall watching MELISANDRE ride south on her horse then walks to SANSA's room.

JON: How does it feel, back in your old room?

SANSA: Eerie. The furniture's still the same, but I'm not and the room smells differently.

JON: I'm having the lord's chamber prepared for you. When you're healed, you can sleep there.

SANSA: Mother and Father's room? You should take it.

JON: I'm not a Stark.

SANSA: You are to me.

JON: You're the Lady of Winterfell. You deserve it.

JON touches SANSA's face and kisses her on the forehead, then turns to walk away.

JON turns back to face SANSA.

JON: A raven came from the Citadel. A white raven. Winter is here.

SANSA smiles and looks up at the sky. Well, Father always promised, didn't he?

JON exits. SANSA looks out the window. WINTERFELL - DINING HALL

Slow zoom out from JON's face. JON is sitting at high table. SANSA sits beside him. Representatives from Northern houses, the Vale, and the wildlings are gathered in the dining hall. TORMUND and DAVOS sit among the wildlings. PETYR stands off to the side, watching.

VALE KNIGHT: You can't expect Knights of the Vale to side with wildling invaders.

TORMUND: We didn't invade. We were invited.

VALE KNIGHT: Not by me.

JON stands.

JON: The free folk, the northerners, and the Knights of the Vale fought bravely, fought together, and we won. My father used to say we find our true friends on the battlefield.

One of the houses' representatives stands.

MAN: The Boltons are defeated. The war is over. Winter has come. If the maesters are right, it'll be the coldest one in a thousand years. We should ride home and wait out the coming storms.

JON: The war is not over. And I promise you, friend, the true enemy won't wait out the storm. He brings the storm.

The men begin to murmur. LYANNA MORMONT stands.

LYANNA: Your son was butchered at the Red Wedding, Lord Manderly. But you refused the call. And you, Lord Cerwyn, your father was skinned alive by Ramsay Bolton. Still you refuse the call. But House Mormont remembers. The North remembers. We know no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark. I don't care if he's a bastard. Ned Stark's blood runs through his veins. He's my king from this day until his last day.

The men resume murmuring. LORD MANDERLY stands.

MANDERLY: Lady Mormont speaks harshly and truly. My son died for Robb Stark, the Young Wolf. I didn't think we'd find another king in my lifetime. I didn't commit my men to your cause 'cause I didn't want more Manderlys dying for nothing. But I was wrong. Jon Snow avenged the Red Wedding. He is the White Wolf. The King in the North.

MANDERLY draws his blade, then rests it point-down on the ground and kneels. LORD GLOVER stands.

GLOVER: I did not fight beside you on the field but my men told me of the battle. No arrow, sword, or spear could fell you. Are you King in the North or a god?

JON: I am Jon Snow, the Resurrected. I will defeat my enemies like I defeated death. There will be more fights to come, aye, but together, we will defeat them so that we and our children know a just peace. Together with me as your king.

GLOVER: Together with Jon Snow… the King in the North!

GLOVER draws his blade, then rests it point-down on the ground and kneels.

GLOVER: The King in the North!

Everyone in the hall stands and draws their blades.

ALL: The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North! The King in the North!

JON stands. SANSA and PETYR look at each other.