Well, it seems that whomever has been passing around the script finally got it to someone that decided to leak it to the internet in its entirety. A blog called A TV Calling has
posted it as their TV Script of the Week. After a quick perusal it seems to be the same one that has been making the rounds the past couple months, the same one I reviewed back in December. If you want to check out the script, click the link above and click on "Available Now" underneath
Game of Thrones on the right sidebar. Or just get it directly
here.
Call me an Internet dinosaur, but I never believe that these "leaked scripts" are legit. But, everyone else seems to automatically regar them as authentic.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else feeling that they don't want to read the script? I'd rather keep my virginity intact awhile longer.
They very often are authentic. The fact is these scripts get around Hollywood a lot, even supposedly 'Top Secret' projects. You just have to know the right person or know the person who knows the right person. If they are trying to be very secretive about it they will put coded watermarks on them to make sure any leaked scripts can be traced back to the offending party. But usually some version of it is floating around. I read a watermarked version of "The Insider" called "Untitled Mann/Roth Project" before it ever came out.
ReplyDeleteI think it's likely being done by someone involved (marketing?) to gin up fan interest, or someone who got their hands on it is just enjoying seeing all the attention it's getting just so they can say to themselves, 'see, it's cause of me all these fanboys are going crazy about this thing.'
As has been talked about by many people, I don't think it's the shooting script and someone posted on one of these boards that what we've been seeing is the original draft that was submitted, which I would is most likely the case. It feels like a first draft.
About time this alleged script has been leaked.
ReplyDelete*reads script*
Excellent script, very faithful to the book. The added scenes are good. I really liked the scene with Tyrion in the brothel, making his love for whoring apparent.
Now to wonder if this is real or not.
One of the main theme's was left out, when Bran asks if a man and be afraid and brave...and Ned's response. Silliness..
ReplyDeleteI for one won't read it. It's not like I don't know what happens storywise and I'd rather be able to go into the pilot not knowing how exactly they're going to do everything ^^
ReplyDeleteTakes a lot less self-control than avoiding actual spoilers :D
this script is almost perfect, I can't wait to see it on my tv.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris. I would miss the response about being afraid and brave. I remember that line as being very touching.
ReplyDeleteI am SO excited about this project! If anyone knows where they will be doing post-production, can you please pass along the info to a humble digital compositor?
ReplyDeleteThis is so strange.
ReplyDeleteI just on a WHIM decided last night to actually try and find the script itself, instead of just the reviews, and i came across this very same site.
I chuckled myself to sleep thinking of all those suckers out there who didn't have a copy of the script, when all it took me to find it was a simple Google search.
Well, who's the sucker now?
Also, as far as the script itself goes:
ReplyDeleteI believe it was Winter who said he didn't like the Jaime/Ned encounter. I didn't have any problems with it, I thought it was well-written (if smacking of first draft, which somebody else also said) and establishes both of their characters' relationship effectively. It did not in any way feel superfluous or extraneous or forced - all three of which I've seen this scene referenced as, in reviews.
Some of the dialogue needs work. Not just for that scene, but the entire pilot. One quick example is a line taken from the Jaime/Ned encounter:
NED: I don’t fight in tournaments
because if I ever have to fight a
man for real, I don’t want him to
know what I can do.
I would say:
NED: I don't fight in tournaments because if I ever have to face a man for true, I don't want him to know what I'm capable of.
Maybe I'm nitpicking here, I don't know. Maybe "for true" isn't the best replacement for "for real", but "for real" REALLY grates on me. For real. And I stand by the second half of that line - "I don't want him to know what I'm capable of" is better than "I don't want him to know what I can do".
It's little things like this. Just polishing here and there. I think D&D know this and have already fixed some of these things. As somebody else already pointed out, this feels like a first draft.
It's really good though. Really, really good.
I agree with you, Sub tech. When I read the line about tournaments, I cringed. :P It just didn't feel like something Ned would say.
ReplyDeleteThe whore scene with Tyrion felt just like it was GRRM writing it.
Everything was good for the most part. But I'm a little bit disappointed with the scene with the Others, Waymar's death and becoming a wight. I was expecting it to be exactly like in the book. It was...surprising to me that they changed it. They could have still kept that scene unchanged and not lost any time with the rest of the script.
ReplyDeleteSubTech,
ReplyDelete"For true" is used in the books primarily by Arya. It's a bit of an uneducated phrasing, and some commoners use it besides I think (Dick Crabb, for example).
"In earnest", however, works very well. Jaime uses it in that exact sense in ASoS -- "If they had been fighting in earnest..."
"One of the main theme's was left out, when Bran asks if a man and be afraid and brave...and Ned's response. Silliness." <-- One of my favourite lines in the whole series... I hope it gets put back in.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this bit of wisdom really stands out from that conversation
ReplyDelete"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?"
"That is the only time a man can be brave"
Also, did you notice, they switched Robb's and Jon's lines in the conversation just before that one? In the book it's Robb who says "The deserter died bravely. He had courage, at the least" and Jon who says "No. It was not courage. This one was dead of fear. You could see it in his eyes, Stark", to which Robb responds dismissively "The Others take his eyes. He died well. Race you to the bridge?"
But in the script it's reversed, except the ending:
JON SNOW
I thought he was brave.
ROBB
Brave? He was dead of fear. You
could see it in his eyes.
JON SNOW
What would be in your eyes with
your head on the stump? He died
well. Give him that much.
Robb considers the point for a moment and shrugs, already
losing interest in the subject.
ROBB
Race you to the bridge?
I hope they change it back, as this is one of the scenes that are supposed to help establish that characteristic of Jon on which Benjen comments at the feast, that he doesn't miss much.
I think the script is excellent
ReplyDeleteThe fact that is has a part of The Bear and the Maiden Fair in it makes me giggle.
ReplyDeleteTrue to form for when I read GRRM's books, it took me a while to read the script. I don't know why but when I read anything having to do with AsoIaF I slow waaay down and savor ever word.
ReplyDeleteNow that I've finished I just want to express how amazed I was at the writer's ability to stay true to the source material. Yes the dialogue may need to be punched up a bit, but scene for scene the pacing was spot on. After reading it I seriously don't know what I'm going to do if this series isn't picked up. Wow!
I loved all the "new" scenes too. They fit without missing a beat.
One difference I picked up on was Tyrion crashing down off the ledge. I've always hoped GRRM would do more with the acrobatics he displayed at this point in the books, but falling on his face here seems much more in character (and hilarious) to the Tyrion that Martin has presented in the 4 (well 3) books so far. A nice touch by the writers.
My only criticism would be that the script doesn't quite display Bran as a large enough character to the point of his fall, to make the viewer care about him. I remember the bottom plummeting out of my gut when he fell (ok was dropped)the first time I read the book. While people should have compassion for any 8 year old dropping down off a tower, it could be a much more powerful scene if they built up his dialogue a little more prior to his "accident". The suggestion to expand the Ned/Bran conversation after the beheading would really go a long way to work on this point. Its also a great venue to display Ned as a father a bit further.
On the other hand, Jaime in the climax(of the episode, not his love making to Cersei) is even more believable as a dastardly villain because of his previous scene at the banquet with Ned. I could be mistaken, but I don't remember too much dialogue from him before this point in AGoT. After reading the script, the tower scene made me hate him even more than the novel did.
Other threads have mentioned the need to address Jaime and Cersei as sibilings more clearly. A nice place to fit this in might be when Tyrion leaves the banquet hall. Jaime could simply add "He plays the hand he was dealt. As do we all, my sister".
I got caught up in this script the same way I got caught up with the books. At first, it's pretty slow and you aren't sure you want to read anymore. This is until you realize you're already 150 pages in and can't take your eyes away (well, for the script, it was more like 15 pages).
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I loved it. It FELT like ASoIaF, which I think is the most important part. Far more important than staying true to the original storyline. It seems a little choppy when you read it, but coming from a theatre background, all scripts are choppy when you read them. Scripts are like pieces of a dress that haven't been sewn together yet. The actors and their acting are the seams and they come in to make everything flawless.
There was one part, however, that I hated. I thought the scene between Jaime and Ned was horrible. I didn't feel like either of their characters would actually behave that way, especially the soul-revealing line that Jaime has about killing the King. Jaime is a jackass, and we're supposed to hate him throughout the entire first book. He doesn't get sentimental and revealing in the novels until his hand gets chopped off and he realizes that everything he previously lived for is gone. That's when he basically becomes an entirely new person. I don't think eluding to this in the first episode is a smart choice.
Other than that, I say kudos for writing an awesome script. It definitely helped satiate my ever-deepening ASoIaF hunger, but I'm still impatiently waiting on Dance. At this point I'm surprised I haven't ripped my hair out yet, and if this goes on for another year, I'm not sure I'll be able to restrain myself.
PS: Did anyone else think it would be fitting for Jon to puke as soon as he busts out of the door from the feast?
ReplyDeleteThis is the same anonymous from above.
My main concern here is Tyrion. I really didn't like the way he came across at all. He doesn't sound clever or interesting, just a complete drunk and slut. I just think he feels rather one-sided at this point.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that line of Ned's about not fighting has to go. It just sounds corny and silly, not the kind of sophisticated writing you get from HBO.
I wonder why they changed it so there is no snow on the ground south of the wall? Is it a production cost thing? (I imagine fake snow is pretty expensive and generally doesn't even look real.)
ReplyDeleteI don't think its the actual script. Don't get me wrong I think its an admirable attempt at scripting the first part of the book, but the writing is too sloppy and unrefined.
ReplyDeleteCouple of cringe-worthy new lines (I think you know the ones). My problem (weirdly) is that I think the plot might be moving too quickly on the screen. The page gives us much more character work. Color me concerned. Excited, of course. But concerned.
ReplyDeleteyou people are being too -picky...the script is excellent:..and if it is only a first draft like many posters suspect ...we are in good hands with Beniof and Wiess(sorry if u misspelled your name)...relax everyone...George is happy with the script...and unlike many of us he understands the business ...he wrote it...he is happy with the final script ::.relax
ReplyDeleteJaime's line is not "soul-revealing" at all. He makes similiar comments about killing Aerys all throughout the books before we learn he isn't so bad after all.
ReplyDeleteThat exchange does nothing to paint him in a "good" light, I don't know what you guys are talking about.
And to that other Anonymous: this is the real script. It's the first draft, hence the "unrefined" dialogue.
Reads well enough for me. I am surprised Dany is in this... just seems confusing and disjointed. Also, it's been awhile since I read GOT, but many of the characters seem to have short lines in this script. I remember the dialogues being longer. We have very short sentences that are supposed to convey much information. Just seems that with HBO they like more dialogue... But the upside is I see lots and lots of room for "ambiance" that the director can put in... like Robert arriving at Winterfell followed by Cercei and her carriage... Lots of room for non-dialgue ambiance there.
ReplyDeleteDidn't the King jump off his horse, run and bear hugged Ned in the book? Would be a great scene to see. :]
ReplyDeleteI do not understand why some people did not like the Jamie-Nedd lines. They were greit! This is a first script, so the final lines will be refined, pluss the actors themselves might come with suggestion/changes to suit their personas, specially in first opening introductions. While we all "know" how dangerous Nedd might be with a sword (he might have defeated the sword of the morning in a single duel, or at the very least faced two kingsgards at the tower of joy). It is simply something that its never clear on the books. We have to piece it together. I think these lines gives Nedd what he needs to shine on tv early on the introductions. As for Jamie/Tyrion, great for same reasons.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I have no problems with the new lines. It does also seem like dialogue could be added to help flesh out the characters. This is expected and can easily be done right up until they shoot scenes.
ReplyDeleteI think this script shows that a lot of discretion will be put in the lap of the director. As I see it, there isn't much direction in the script about how a scene should look and feel, just a few notes here and there. That says to me that the production designer, director and the actors will get quite a bit of say. Just check out some other scripts for television, where the writers practically spell out how a director is supposed to shoot a scene.
Overall I like it, but I have 3 main qualms.
ReplyDelete1) Yeah in the scene after the beheading, I spotted the Jon/Robb lines being reversed as well. This seemed really strange. As has been pointed out, these lines were quite defining in the early characterisation of Jon Snow.
2) The Bran - Ned exchange every has mentioned missing too is a real shame. It is one of the stand-out moments of the book, IF NOT, the whole series.
3) There is also s stand-out moment in the book between Jon and Tyrion in the courtyard outside the banquet. After Tyrion says "All dwarfs are bastards in their fathers eyes", there is a passage where he says something like "Remember, dwarfs may be bastards, but bastards need not be dwarfs". And then the doors open and his shadow shines across the yard and "for a moment, Tyrion Lannister stood as tall as a king." I can`t remember the exact wording but it is something like that. In the script here, he just says "All dwarfs are bastards in their fathers eyes", and just goes back inside.
I disagree with the anon post about Jaime`s line being "soul-revealing". The fact is, Jaime had a conscience before his hand was cut off. He did after all, kill Aerys, because as is revealed later, he planned to set the whole of King`s Landing alight with wildfire.
ReplyDeleteJaime seems a "jackass" in the beginning of the series, and I don`t think this exchange drives that home rather than changes it.
oops I meant "I dont think this exchange changes that rather than drives it home"
ReplyDeleteAbout that line of Ned's, how about this:
ReplyDeleteNED: I don’t fight in tournaments.
JAIME: No? Getting a little old for it?
NED: I don’t fight in tournaments because when I fight a man in earnest, I don’t want him to know my measure.
(Sorry for being anom, but I don't have any accounts, yeah, I'm ancient)
ReplyDeleteI rather liked the script. It was very faithful, but it also had some quite good new scenes (especially introducing King's Landing at this point is good thinking). It would be boring if it followed the book blindly. A film/tv-series needs to be independent, a little :)
What worries me though, is the Lannister brothers. Tyrion is too drunk-slut as someone already pointed out. Dwarves aren't equal to clowns (maybe Jackson's LotR-adaptations gave them this sad inspiration). And Jaime -while I'm glad about his and Ned's encounter, it was a great way to tell about Mad King and Ned's father and brother - I must say I hate changes how Jaime killed Aerys. With a spear. What's wrong with a good golden sword? And more importantly, why oh why they made him shove his spear into Aerys' back? To spell it out that Jaime is a cowardly and unhonorable badass? Well, he does act as if he were, but I think he needn't to be this stereotypically so.
And this is perhaps the greatest problem considering the whole script - some things are too underlined, the subtlety and the tingety (is that a word? I think not :D) of the book is thus partly lost. TV wievers aren't stooopid and I'm sure they can appreciate if not treated as such. The quality of the series would definetely be better...
But, as I said, mostly it was good script. There's always room for some minor flaws, nothing's perfect and so on.
I've just read it. I'm not sure about it.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways, it's a very loyal adaptation - some lines and themes are taken directly from the book, but it's the little things I feel are missing. For example, the added scene of Jaime and Ned's confrontation is very good stuff, but it wasn't in the book. Normally I wouldn't triffle over it, but to me it's a big deal because already Jaime is trying to justify himself to Ned, where as we didn't really understand who Jaime was until the 3rd book, when we got his chapters. I think the same can be said for Cersei - I'm worried she will get too much screen time at this early stage when she isn't meant to develop for some time. I also didn't like the scene between her and Pycelle.
As someone else has said though, one line that really stayed with me from the book is missing, and that's the exchange between Ned and Bran "Can a man be brave, even when he's afraid?" "That is the only time a man can be brave." I also didn't like Tyrion's additional scene. To me, Tyrion was someone we only really understood once we get his chapter, inside his head - except for the very interesting encounter between him and Jon at the feast. To me, that should be his introduction scene.
Perhaps I've said this enough, but my main concern is the amount of Lannister screen-time: remember, A Game Of Thrones was really the Starks story, and the Lannisters story comes much later. I hope the studio and writers/directos are brave enough to give the minor characters the time they are actually due when they are due it - we all know the character focus shifts throughout the series, and I hope the makers of the show are patient enough to work with this and not immediately give us a lot of Jaime and Cersei.
I also thought Arya and Sansa were under-developed in the script. I'm actually reading AGOT again at the moment, and as much as I love the book and love the IDEA of it being a TV show, I don't think any show could ever truly do it jusice, and I love my own vision of it in my head so much that part of me hopes the series doesn't get picked up....rather, George, finish writing the damned series!
link doesn't seem to be active any more...shame as I would have liked to read it... :(
ReplyDeleteAn alternative link provided by a member of the Facebook group:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.box.net/shared/e046azo9j2