The Prince of Thorns

🕯A Sister's manipulation

Joffrey is being fitted by a Tailor. Cersei, seated nearby, looks on.

JOFFREY: "Make it tighter here."

CERSEI: "That's better. It makes you look very strong."

The Tailor lays some sample fabric on Joffrey's shoulder. Displeased, Joffrey snatches it away.

JOFFREY: "No flowers. I said no flowers. All these are wrong. Bring others."

Joffrey dismisses the Tailor.

TAILOR: "Yes, Your Grace."

The Tailor exits.

JOFFREY: "Bloody flowers. On the king."

CERSEI: "Looks like a Tyrell rose. Give it to Margaery for her wedding gown."

Joffrey tosses the fabric away and moves to his bed to change back into his clothes.

CERSEI: "Tell me what you think of her."

JOFFREY: "Who?"

CERSEI: "Margaery."

JOFFREY: "She's an ideal match. With the Tyrells beside us, we'll crush the Northerners. Hang their lords, burn their strongholds, sow their fields with salt, and no one will think of rebelling for another century."

CERSEI: "It is a good match, but what do you think of her? She's beautiful and intelligent."

JOFFREY: "Yes, she is."

CERSEI: "Her concern with the well-being of the common people is interesting."

JOFFREY: "Not to me."

CERSEI: "I only meant that to go out of your way to endanger yourself."

JOFFREY: "This is becoming one of the most boring conversations I've ever had."

Cersei stands.

CERSEI: "Margaery Tyrell dotes on filthy urchins for a reason. She dresses like a harlot for a reason. She married a traitor and known degenerate like Renly Baratheon for a reason."

JOFFREY: "She married Renly Baratheon because she was told to. That's what intelligent women do-what they're told."

Cersei reaches out to him, but Joffrey pushes her hand away.

CERSEI: "You need to ask yourself"

JOFFREY: "I don't need to do anything."

The Tailor returns with a different fabric sample. He drapes it on Joffrey's shoulder.

JOFFREY: "Better. Much better."

-----------------------------------

Shae brushes Sansa's hair as she sits before a mirror.

SHAE: "I still don't believe it."

SANSA: "He didn't. He didn't want anything. He just takes an interest because he loved my mother."

SHAE: "Men only want one thing from a pretty girl."

SANSA: "Littlefinger's not in love with me."

Shae helps Sansa into her dress.

SHAE: "Love is not the thing he wants."

SANSA: "He's too old."

SHAE: "They never see it that way. He didn't ask you to do something for him? Spy on someone or...?"

SANSA: "No."

SHAE: "If he does ask you for anything or try anything or touch you, I want you to tell me."

SANSA: "Why? What will you do? I will make him stop."

There is a knock on the door.

GUARD: "Alester Tyrell, my lady."

SANSA: "Send him in."

Shae opens the door and Alester enters.

ALESTER: "Sansa."

SANSA: "Alester."

ALESTER: "My sister Margaery invites you to take the air with her and our grandmother, the Lady Olenna, in the gardens. May I escort you to them?"

Sansa exits with Alester.

---------------------------

Sansa and Alester stroll together through the garden, her arm in his.

ALESTER: "I believe you grow more beautiful every day, Lady Sansa."

SANSA: "You are too kind, Alester."

ALESTER: "It is only a fact my lady."

SANSA: "What is your grandmother like?"

ALESTER: "Shes smart and a bit straight forward, she'll be reading you from the moment she sees you so bare that in mind."

They approach Lady Margaery.

MARGAERY: (to a maid) "It's more your color. You take it."

MAID: "Thank you."

MARGAERY: (to Alester) "You're such a dear."

ALESTER: "I'll take my leave. Ladies"

SANSA: "Thank you, Alester."

Alester exits. Margaery leads Sansa to a patio, filled with maids.

MARGAERY: "Come. Lady Sansa, it is my honor to present my grandmother the Lady Olenna of House Tyrell."

They walk to Lady Olenna, who is seated in the patio.

OLENNA: "Kiss me, child."

Olenna extends her hand and Sansa kisses it in greeting.

OLENNA: "It's so good of you to visit me and my foolish flock of hens. We're very sorry for your losses."

SANSA: "And I was sorry when I heard of Lord Renly's death, Lady Margaery. He was very gallant."

OLENNA: "Gallant, yes. And charming and very clean. He knew how to dress and smile and somehow this gave him the notion he was fit to be king."

MARGAERY: "Renly was brave and gentle, Grandmother. Father liked him and so did both my brothers."

OLENNA: "Loras is young and very good at knocking men off horses with a stick. That does not make him wise. Alester is one of the few men with both brains and brawn. I take his opinions more than most. As to your fathead father-"

MARGAERY: "Grandmother! What will Sansa think of us?"

OLENNA: "She might think we have some wits about us. One of us, at any rate. It was treason. I warned them. Robert has two sons and Renly has an older brother. How could he possibly have any claim to that ugly iron chair? We should have stayed well out of all this if you ask me. But once the cow's been milked, there's no squirting the cream back up her udders. So here we are to see things through. What do you say to that, Sansa? Shall we have some lemon cakes?"

SANSA: "Lemon cake's my favorite."

OLENNA: "So, we've been told. (To the servant) Are you going to bring the food, or do you mean to starve us to death? Here, Sansa, come sit with me. I'm much less boring than these others."

They move to a table away from the others.

OLENNA: "Do you know my son? The Lord of Highgarden?"

SANSA: "I haven't had the pleasure."

OLENNA: "No great pleasure, believe me. A ponderous oaf. His father was an oaf as well. My husband, the late Lord Luthor. He managed to ride off a cliff whilst hawking. They say he was looking up at the sky and paying no mind to where his horse was taking him. It's a gift from the gods that my oldest grandson hasn't inherited their ignorance. Now I want you to tell me the truth about this royal boy, this Joffrey."

SANSA: "I-, I-"

OLENNA: "You, you. Who else would know better? We've heard some troubling tales. Is there any truth to them? Has this boy mistreated you?"

Sansa looks down and doesn't reply.

OLENNA: "Has he ripped out your tongue?"

SANSA: "Joff-King Joffrey, he-His Grace is very fair and handsome and as brave as a lion"

OLENNA: "Yes, all Lannister's are lions. And when a Tyrell farts, it smells like a rose. But how kind is he? How clever? Has he a good heart, a gentle hand?"

MARGAERY: "I'm to be his wife. I only want to know what that means."

A Servant approaches and brings a platter.

OLENNA: Bring me some cheese.

SERVANT: "The cheese will be served after the cakes, my lady."

OLENNA: "The cheese will be served when I want it served. And I want it served now."

The Servant nods and exits quickly.

OLENNA: "Are you frightened, child? No need for that. We're only women here. Tell us the truth. No harm will come to you."

SANSA: "My father always told the truth."

OLENNA: "Yes, he had that reputation. And they named him traitor and took his head."

SANSA: "Joffrey. Joffrey did that. He promised he would be merciful, and he cut my father's head off. And he said that was mercy. Then he took me up on the walls and made me look at it."

Sansa holds back tears.

OLENNA: "Go on."

Sansa regains her composure.

SANSA: "I-I can't. I never meant-my father was a traitor. My brother as well. I have traitor's blood. Please don't make me say anymore."

MARGAERY: "She's terrified, Grandmother. Just look at her."

OLENNA: "Speak freely, child. We would never betray your confidence, I swear it."

SANSA: "He's a monster. If it wasn't for Alester he would have killed me on multiple occasions."

OLENNA: "Oh, of course my grandson is quite the young man."

SANSA:" Please, don't stop the wedding."

OLENNA: "Have no fear. The Lord Oaf of Highgarden is determined that Margaery shall be queen. Even so, we thank you for the truth. Ah, here comes my cheese."

The Servant sets down the tray and slips away. Sansa sighs in resignation.

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Joffrey sits holding his crossbow. A guard knocks on the door.

GUARD: "Lady Tyrell, my king."

JOFFREY: "Send her in."

The door opens, and Margaery enters.

MARGAERY: "You wanted to see me, Your Grace?"

JOFFREY: "I'm leaving on a hunting trip. I just wanted to make sure you had everything you need before I left."

MARGAERY: "That's very thoughtful, Your Grace. I have everything I could want."

JOFFREY: "Good. Good. How are you finding life in the capital? It must be quite a change after Renly's camp."

She approaches.

MARGAERY: "A welcome one. A military encampment is no place for a lady."

JOFFREY: "And the bedside of a traitor? Is that a place for a lady?"

MARGAERY: "Your Grace, I tried to do my duty as a wife, that is all."

JOFFREY: "What was your duty to this traitor as you saw it?"

MARGAERY: "The duty of any wife to any husband-to provide him with children."

JOFFREY: "You failed to do this."

MARGAERY: "Why? I-I would not speak ill of the dead, Your Grace."

JOFFREY: "You think one ought to speak kindly of a traitor merely because he's had a sword put through his heart?"

MARGAERY: "No. I do beg your pardon. The subtleties of politics are often lost on me. Renly, I don't believe he was interested in the company of women."

JOFFREY: "What makes you say this?"

Margaery sits next to Joffrey.

MARGAERY: "Whenever I wanted to make a child with him, he-he had so many excuses, so many late-night war councils. He never wanted to try. Except one evening, after he'd had far too much wine to drink, he suggested something-something that sounded very painful and couldn't possibly result in children. Maybe the fault was with me."

JOFFREY: "No, he was a known degenerate."

MARGAERY: "It's such a relief to hear you say so, Your Grace."

JOFFREY: "Mmm. I've considered making his perversion punishable by death."

MARGAERY: "As is your right. You must do whatever you need to do."

Margaery strokes the crossbow.

MARGAERY: "You are the king."

JOFFREY: "Yes. I am."

Joffrey looks at his crossbow, a bit excited.

JOFFREY: "Do you like it? I just had it made. Probably one of the finest weapons in the Seven Kingdoms."

MARGAERY: "It's beautiful. Will you show me how it works?"

JOFFREY: "It's a new design. Much easier to load. There's no crank. You use this lever to draw the string."

Joffrey uses the lever to cock the bow.

JOFFREY: "The bolt goes here."

Margaery hands him the bolt, daintily. He takes it and arms the bow. He stands, weapon braced at his waist, and looks for a target.

JOFFREY: "And then you just aim and-"

Joffrey releases the bolt and pierces the head of a stuffed boar. Margaery erupts in applause and laughs. She stands.

MARGAERY: "Would you take me hunting sometime? Forgive me, Your Grace. I know a hunt is no place for a woman."

JOFFREY: "It's not unheard of."

MARGAERY: "My father would never let me before-"

JOFFREY: "You no longer belong to him. Do you want to hold it?"

MARGAERY: "May I? Please."

Joffrey hands her the crossbow and helps Margaery into a proper stance. They stand, posed and close.

MARGAERY: "I imagine it must be so exciting to squeeze your finger here and watch something die over there."

JOFFREY: "Could you do it? Could you kill something?."

MARGAERY: "I don't know, Your Grace Do you think I could?"

JOFFREY: "Yes."

MARGAERY: "Would you like to watch me?"

JOFFREY: "Yes."