The Prince of Thorns

🧠Battle of the Minds🧠

KING'S LANDING, TYWIN'S CHAMBERS

OLENNA: "Impossible."

Tywin pours some wine.

TYWIN: "Why?"

OLENNA: "My grandson may be a bit simple, but he is second only to his brother in Highgarden. The most desirable bachelor in all seven kingdoms. Your daughter-"

TYWIN: "Is rich, the most beautiful woman in all seven kingdoms and the mother of the king."

Tywin hands a glass to Olenna.

OLENNA: "Old."

TYWIN: "Old?"

OLENNA: "Old. I'm something of an expert on the subject. Her change will be upon her before long. I'll spare you the details of what will happen then. You men may have a stomach for bloodshed and slaughter, but this is another matter entirely."

TYWIN: "The years punish us as well, I promise you that. My stomach remains quite strong, however. The only thing that might turn it are details of your grandson's nocturnal activities. Do you deny them?"

OLENNA: "Oh, not at all. A sword swallower through and through."

TYWIN: "And a boy with his affliction should be grateful for the opportunity to marry the most beautiful woman in the kingdoms and remove the stain from his name."

OLENNA: "Did you grow up with boy cousins, Lord Tywin? Sons of your father's bannermen, squires, stable boys?"

TYWIN: "Of course."

OLENNA: "And you never-"

TYWIN: "No."

OLENNA: "Not once? Not in any way?"

TYWIN: "Never."

OLENNA: "I congratulate you upon your restraint. But it's a natural thing, two boys having a go at each other beneath the sheets."

TYWIN: "Perhaps Highgarden has a high tolerance for unnatural behavior."

OLENNA: "I wouldn't say that. True, we don't tie ourselves in knots over a discreet bit of buggery, but brothers and sisters- where I come from, that stain would be very difficult to wash out."

TYWIN: "I will not breathe further life into a malicious lie by discussing it."

Tywin stands, offended. He pours himself more wine.

OLENNA: "Lie or not, you must admit many people find it quite convincing. Convincing enough to put swords in their hands and send them off to kill Lannister's and Tyrells thanks to our new affiliation."

TYWIN: "I don't care what people believe. And neither do you."

Olenna refuses Tywin's offer for more wine.

OLENNA: "As an authority on myself, I must disagree."

TYWIN: "Now, if the rumors about my children were true, then Joffrey is no king at all and House Tyrell is throwing its prized flower into the dirt."

OLENNA: "And if Cersei is too old to give Loras children, we're throwing another prized flower into the dirt. It is a chance we simply cannot take."

TYWIN: "The uncertainty makes you uncomfortable. All right. I'll remove it for you."

Tywin sits back down at his desk.

TYWIN: "If you refuse to marry Loras to Cersei, I will name him to the Kingsguard. I'm sure you're familiar with the Kingsguard vows. He will never marry. He will never have children."

OLENNA: "Oh."

TYWIN: "If something were to happen to Alester than the Tyrell name will fade. And Highgarden will go to the children of Joffrey and Margaery."