A massive iron gate and portcullis slowly slides up and three dour-looking men ride in silence down a long tunnel. This brings them to another, even larger and more formidable door, which slides up in front of them into what is revealed to be a massive stone wall, beyond which is blindingly white ice and snow. The men ride out from the entrance into the bleak wilderness before them.
Location: Castle Black, The Wall
Characters: Three Rangers of the Night's Watch – Ser Waymar Royce, Will and Gared
The Rangers, led by Ser Waymar Royce, move away from the massive wall and head into the forest. Snow is falling thickly, but despite the title of this episode – and the ongoing theme of running through most of the series – winter has not yet come. This is the far north, as far as a man can go and still be in what can be vaguely (and perhaps overly charitably) called civilisation, and it is always snowing here. It's always cold, hence the thick furs that the men are bundled up in. One of them, Will, comes across the scene of a massacre. Bodies, and body parts, are strewn all over the red-splashed snow, and some corpses are nailed to trees, others have their heads separated from their bodies, the former impaled on spikes in the white ground. These are wildlings, semi-civilised nomadic peoples who refuse to live in the cities and scratch a meagre existence beyond the Wall. When Will returns to tell his brothers of what he has found and they all go to investigate, the bodies are gone, gone as if they had never existed. Shortly afterwards, Will hears screams and then sees one of the dead girls walking again! He runs. Well, you would, wouldn't you? He is aware he is being stalked but has no idea by who. Or what.
A figure appears in the gloom, beheading the remaining ranger and stares down at him as he drops to his knees.
Location: Winterfell, ancestral home of House Stark
Characters: House Stark members Robb, Bran, Lord Eddard (Ned), Lady Catelyn, Arya and Sansa, Jon Snow. Ranger/Deserter Will. Theon Greyjoy.
As Jon Snow coaches young Bran in the art of archery and Lord Eddard Stark, known to most as Ned, and his wife Catelyn, Lord and Lady of Winterfell, look on, Arya and Sansa Stark, Lord Eddard's daughters, are taking an embroidery lesson, though the younger of the two, Arya, seems more interested in what's happening down below in the courtyard than in her needlework. As Bran tries, and fails, to hit the target, an arrow shoots into the bullseye, and he turns in dismay to see his sister Arya standing there, a bow in her hand, an impish grin on her face. Lord Stark is brought the news that a deserter has been captured from the Night's Watch, and goes to dispense the King's justice, taking Bran along with him as an object lesson to the lad. He also takes Theon Greyjoy and Jon Snow.
The deserter, who is of course Will from the opening scene, swears that he has seen “white walkers”, but this does not seem to mollify Ned, who ensures that he is the one to make the fatal blow. “The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword” he tells Bran. In other words, it's no use sentencing someone to death and then allowing a lackey to carry out the sentence. If you're willing to condemn a man to death, be also willing to be the one who takes his life. It's a hard lesson to learn, but life here is hard and there's no hiding from the brutal truths all around. Bran is worried about Will's contention that he saw white walkers, but whatever they are, or may have been, Ned tells him they have all been gone for thousands of years now, and Will could not have seen one.
On the way back to Winterfell, they come across a dead stag, ripped and mutilated, and shortly thereafter a dead direwolf with five cubs suckling at her inert teats. Direwolves are like the wolves we know, but bigger and fiercer. Ned is for putting the cubs out of their misery, but Jon Snow points out that there are five of them – one for each of his trueborn children – and that further, the direwolf is the sigil, or emblem of House Stark. Not a man to ignore portents or wish to anger the gods, Ned acquiesces, and the cubs are brought home with them to Winterfell. As it turns out, in fact, there are six cubs, so Jon is able to claim one for his own.
Location: King's Landing, seat of the King
Characters: Jon Arryn, former Hand of the King (dead), Cersei Lannister, wife to the King, Jaime Lannister the Kingslayer, her twin brother and head of the Kingsguard
A short scene that introduces a subplot that will come to have great significance, and which also allows two of the main players to strut onstage. Watching the death ritual being held for Jon Arryn, who had until recently served as the Hand of the King, the man to whom the King entrusts all his enforcement of laws, the man who sees the King's justice done and who protects the King, and speaks with his voice when he is away, Cersei Lannister tells her brother Jaime that it should have been him who was named Hand on Arryn's death, but Jaime laughs and says the job would not suit him. Cersei worries that Arryn may have “told someone”, and Jaime assures her that had that happened they would not now be here to talk about it. It's clear there's some plot being woven, secrets kept and protected, but we won't find out what they are just yet.
Location: Winterfell
Characters: Lady Catelyn Stark, Lord Ned Stark and all House Stark members. King Robert Baratheon, Cersei Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, The Hound (Sandor Clegane)
A raven arrives from King's Landing. We will discover fairly shortly that this is the main mode of carrying news in this world. Like carrier pigeons were once used to convey messages, scrolls attached to the raven's claw are carried from place to place, and ravens are specially bred for this purpose. It is seldom good news they bring, leading to an old saying in this land: “Dark wings, dark words.” They are certainly dark words carried by this raven anyway, as it tells of the death of Jon Arryn, as we have just witnessed, ostensibly from a fever. Arryn, it turns out, was Ned's friend, almost a father to him, and the news of his death hits the lord of Winterfell hard. Jon Arryn was wed to Catelyn's sister, and they had a child, both of whom Ned enquires but is told they are safe. There is more news: the King himself is travelling to Winterfell, and Ned knows that if he's coming this far north then there can be only one thing he wants.
On His Grace's arrival, it's clear that his wife, Cersei Lannister, is not happy to be here and that there is no love lost between her and Ned Stark, or any Starks. Arya seems to know everyone, pointing them out quietly as they dismount or take off their helmets. Initially bowing to his King, Ned is told to rise and it's then clear that there's a very personal relationship between the two men as they embrace. Robert's first words to Ned are “You've got fat!” to which Ned does not reply, but gives the King's belly an arch look, as if to say
Look who's talking!
Location: Winterfell, the Crypts
Characters: Ned Stark and His Grace the King, Robert Baratheon
As they visit the crypt, so that he can pay his respects to his dead wife, Robert asks Ned the question he has been dreading, requesting – ordering, really – that he take up the now vacant post of the Hand of the King. Ned has no real choice but to accept, though he asks for time to discuss it with his wife, and Robert reminisces about how Ned helped him win the Iron Throne, and how, if his sister had lived, he and Robert might have been bonded by blood, but it was not to be. He does suggest though that Ned marry his eldest daughter to his son, as a political alliance. Kneeling by the crypt of his dead wife, Ned's sister, he tells Ned “I kill him every night” and Ned responds “It's done. All the Targaryens are dead” to which the King snarls “Not all of them.”
Location: Winterfell, a whorehouse
Characters: Jaime Lannister, Tyrion Lannister
Having been sent by his sister to find his brother, who was not present when the King arrived and was greeted at Winterfell, Jaime goes to the nearest whorehouse, where he knows he will find Tyrion, his younger brother, who is also a dwarf. He seems to care little for court etiquette, despite actually coming from King's Landing, where he lives, but promises vaguely to be at the feast being thrown by the Starks that evening. Jaime leaves, shaking his head and grinning at his brother's legendary appetites.
Location: Pentos, across the Narrow Sea
Characters: Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen, last of their line
Looking out a window from a house in Pentos, hundreds of miles from Westeros, Daenerys Targaryen awaits her wedding. Her brother, heir to the Iron Throne, is making plans to marry her off in return for support to take back his throne. They have been living under the protection of a man called Magister Illyrio Mopatis for a year now, and they await the arrival of the groom. From the way Viserys behaves towards his sister it's clear he views her as his property, to do with as he wishes, and a pawn in his game to reseat himself on the Iron Throne. She has absolutely no say in who she marries, and her meek and submissive demeanour speaks of someone used to following orders.
As her prospective husband arrives, Daenerys sees that he is a strong, virile, proud but brutal-looking man, with a sharp smile and flashing eyes. Like all of his retinue, Khal Drogo is mounted on horseback, and he wears a leather harness with his hair in a long braid. Viserys tells his sister that when Drogo's people, the Dothraki, are defeated in combat they cut their braids to show this to the world. Drogo's braid is very long and has never once been cut. Drogo does not dismount, even when Daenerys, bid come forward, does so; he gives her a long, searching look and then he and his riders leave. Viserys is aghast, but Illyrios tells him this is a good sign.
Location: Winterfell
Characters: Lady Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark
Having been told of her impending nuptials, Sansa worries that Prince Joffrey will not like her, and her mother tries to put her fears to rest. No doubt this is as big a shock to her as to her husband, but the King's will must be done, and anyway, it will be good for their House to be allied by marriage to the Throne. Still, Ned has not yet agreed to either be his Hand or give his daughter in marriage to Joffrey (though of course he will have to) but Sansa's head is full of romantic visions of her dashing prince, and also being a queen, and she wonders how her father could even think of saying no? Catelyn points out that not only would his acquiescence mean that he would have to leave Winterfell – and her – but that Sansa too would have to relocate to King's Landing. Sansa points out that her mother did the very same thing when she married her father and came to live with him in Winterfell.
Location: Winterfell
Characters: Jon Snow, Benjen Stark, Tyrion Lannister
Arriving from the Wall, Benjen, Jon's uncle, asks why he is not at the feast and Jon replies that LadyStark thought having their bastard at the table might insult the king. He asks Benjen to allow him to accompany him back to Castle Black when he returns, and when he sees he is serious about it, Benjen counsels him to think carefully. Men on the Wall foreswear all previous fealties – family, House, friends, even their loyalty to the King. They can never marry, never have children. They must dedicate themselves to the Night's Watch totally, and for the rest of their lives. There is no retirement from the Night's Watch; only death can break that bond, and you can't resign if you find you don't like it after all. Jon Snow says he has not much of a life here anyway, and he is sure if Benjen asks Ned the lord of Winterfell will agree.
When he has gone to the feast, Tyrion appears out of the shadows and expresses a desire to see the Wall. He tells Jon they are both bastards (though technically he is not, but he might as well be, for all the standing he has in his family), both unloved and without a place in their families, and he counsels Jon never to forget he is a bastard, and never to allow anyone to use that knowledge to hurt him.
Location: Winterfell
Characters: House Stark, the King, Cersei, Benjen Stark, Jaime Lannister
Ned talks to Benjen, mentioning that the boy he executed had spoken of white walkers, and Benjen does not laugh. There are many strange things happening out there beyond the Wall, he tells his brother. Ned and Jaime face off, and it's clear there's no love lost between the two of them, Jaime less than pleased that the King has named Ned as his Hand. Cersei remarks on how pretty Sansa is, at even though she's only thirteen has the gall to ask the child “Have you bled yet?” a question which embarrasses Sansa, annoys her mother and makes the queen smirk. She's really only concerned about Sansa giving her son one of his own, an heir to his throne when he dies.
Location: Winterfell, Ned and Catelyn's bedroom.
Characters: Ned, Catelyn, Maester Lumin
As Catelyn declares she will not let her husband go to King's Landing without a fight (though in reality she knows there is nothing she can do to stop it) a knock on the door announces Maester Lumin, who tells her that a rider arrived in the night with a note for her eyes only. It is from her sister, Lysa, who has fled to the high fortress known as the Eyrie, taking her son with her. She says that John Arynn, her husband, was murdered by the Lannisters, and fears the King himself is in trouble. Ned now knows that if he is to protect his old friend he must accept the position of Hand of the King, though Catelyn points out that if her sister is right, they murdered the last Hand, and he could be next.
Location: Pentos
Characters: Viserys, Daenerys, Magister Illyrio Mopatis, Khal Drogo and his horde. Ser Jorah Mormont.
The wedding ceremony between Khal Drogo and Daenerys takes place, and Viserys is impatient to be setting sail with his new army, but Drogo is in no hurry. Magister Mopatis tells him that the Dothraki will only go to war when the omens favour it, but Viserys is in no mood to wait. Existing almost alone in a crowd, with no help or support from her aloof and uncaring brother, Daenerys watches as the Dothraki revel, savages who couple openly and with whomever they want. Two men fight to the death over one woman, but it's not about the woman. Spirits are high, life is cheap and all women are property it would seem. Daenerys is terrified, disgusted and despairing at once, but a ray of light appears in the shape of an exiled knight from her own country, Ser Jorah Mormont, who gives her a gift of books from the Seven Kingdoms. He tells her he served her father faithfully for years, but when Arys II Targaryen was defeated by Robert Baratheon he fled Westeros.
A somewhat more awe-inspiring gift comes from the Magister, who presents Daenerys with three dragon's eggs, petrified now and surely no more than pretty rocks, but incredibly valuable nonetheless. Her new husband makes her a gift of the most valuable thing his tribe have, a horse of her own. She is overwhelmed, and perhaps beginning to see that Khal Drogo is not the mindless savage she had originally taken him for, and that her brother believes he is. When the ceremony is over though he leads her on her horse to the seashore where her worst nightmares are confirmed as he takes her despite her tears.
Location: Winterfell
Characters: Ned, Robb Stark, Jon Snow, King Robert, Theon Greyjoy, Bran Stark, Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister.
The King is eager to indulge in his third favourite thing, and everyone has assembled for the hunt. Ned has of course agreed to be his Hand, and Robert is truly grateful. Bran goes climbing, to find, to his dismay, at the top of the keep, Jaime Lannister and his sister going at it like rabbits. Cersei sees him, looking up in horror, and Jaime, with a smile on his face, pushes Bran out of the window.
Quotes
Ser Raymar Royce to Will (shortly before his messy death at the hands of the White Walkers): “Do the dead frighten you?”
(They should, as we'll find out, though poor Ser Royce is well beyond such worries!)
Royce to Will: “If you want to run away south, run away. Of course, they will behead you as a deserter. That is, if I don't catch you first.”
(A chilling indictment of the lot of a man of the Night's Watch. No matter the danger, no matter the fear, no matter the reason, there is no excuse for cowardice and desertion, and if Will makes it away from Castle Black he will be seen as a deserter and killed. If, somehow, as Royce asserts here, he does not make it that far, then he will be put to death by his brothers. A man's watch ends only with his death, and there is no room for the weak and the cowardly. These men rely on each other, here at essentially the end of the world, and each must know and expect that his brothers would and will give their lives for him)
Ned (about to go to execute the deserter): “Tell Bran he's coming too.”
Catelyn: “Ten is too young for a boy to see such things!”
Ned: “He won't be a boy forever, and winter is coming.”
(The first usage of the phrase that will come to define the series)
Ned: “You understand why I did it?”
Bran: “He was a deserter.”
Ned: “But you understand why it had to be me? The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.”
Catelyn to Bran: “I want you to promise me: no more climbing.”
(Remember that...)
Robert: “Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the King.”
Ned (kneeling): “I am not worthy of such an honour.”
Robert: “I'm not trying to honour you. I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom while I eat, drink and whore my way to an early grave!”
Viserys: “You don't want to wake the dragon, do you?”
Viserys: “When they write the history of my reign, sweet sister, they will say it began today.”
Viserys to Daenerys: “I would let his whole tribe f
uck you – all forty thousand men – and their horses too, if that was what it took.”
Magister Mopatis: “A Dothraki wedding without at least three deaths is considered a dull affair.”
Daenerys: “Ser Jorah, I don't know how to say thank you in Dothraki.”
Jorah: “There is no word for thank you in Dothraki.”
Drogo (wiping a tear from her face): "No."
Daenerys: "You speak the common tongue?"
Drogo: "No."
Daenerys: "Is no the only word you know?"
Drogo: "No."