The Prince of Thorns

⛓The Iron Bank⚖

BRAAVOS - RAGMAN HARBOR

Walking down the ships ramp and onto the dock Alester and Bronn are approached by an Iron Banker.

BANKER: "Lord Tyrell! On behalf of the Iron Bank, may I be the first to welcome you to the free city of Braavos. I hope your journey was trouble free."

ALESTER: "Besides the company I keep it wasn't too awful."

BANKER: "And how goes the harvest in the Reach?"

ALESTER: "Best grapes in half a century. If we come to a satisfactory arrangement, I'll be sure to send the Arbor's finest your way."

BANKER: "I'm afraid I don't partake."

ALESTER: "I understand completely. Shall we make our way to the bank."

The banker nods before leading the way.

BRONN: "(Whispering) How the fuck are we supposed to work with people who don't even drink. It scares me people like that."

ALESTER: "Really. Thats what scares you."

Bronn nods.

 BRAAVOS - IRON BANK

ALESTER: "Some consider usury distasteful, dishonorable. Pure nonsense, of course."

BANKER: "I'm glad we see eye-to-eye on this matter."

ALESTER: "Maegor the third once tried to outlaw it in the Seven Kingdoms? Wanted to arrest anyone caught charging interest and cut off both their hands."

BANKER: "Most unfortunate for the glovers."

ALESTER: "If a man charges low interest on a loan, then he has nothing to gain and everything to lose, so why charge him? Whereas a reward makes a man willing to gamble."

BANKER: "We are not gamblers here at the Iron Bank, Lord Tyrell."

ALESTER: "Every man is a gambler. You are the world's best gamblers. And all those bets you won built this."

Alester gestures to the Iron Bank.

IRON BANK - INSIDE

Sitting across the banker Alester is throwing his best charm at the man.

BANKER: "So you are here asking for relief on the behalf of the king?"

ALESTER: "Smart man you are, sir. It's no secret to anyone that the crown is in very deep debt to your fine establishment. And it is true that I'm here to bargain a better deal with you."

BANKER: "Unfortunately, you've wasted a trip for we do not let debt go."

ALESTER: "The crown isn't just any normal client. It's your number one client and therefore your number one priority. I'm not asking that you erase all that is owed. I'm simply saying that if you would cut the debt in half and lower our payments then you'd receive the existing half sooner."

The banker mulls this over in his head.

ALESTER: "And worst-case scenario we continue to accumulate the money owed and in the end, we owe you the same as before. For you there is no bad ending."

BANKER: "Very well you have yourself a deal Alester Tyrell.""

ALESTER: "(shaking hands) Great."

The Tyrell walks out of the Iron Bank where Bronn is leaning up against a pillar waiting.

BRONN: "So?"

ALESTER: "We're good."

BRONN: "Great! Let's celebrate. Brothel?"