HBO releases the shooting script for Jon Snow’s death scene

With the release this week of the Game of Thrones Season 5 Blu-ray and DVD boxsets, the production has released the final pages of the Emmy-winning script from the finale, “Mother’s Mercy.” The final pages of the script, as everyone will remember, involve the most controversial death of a main character on the show since the last controversial death of a main character. However, unlike some of those other controversial deaths—Joffrey Lannister Baratheon, Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, Ned Stark—the death of Jon Snow served as a cliff hanger, and many fans could not believe that yet another Stark (well, Stark bastard) had bitten the dust.

Published by Entertainment Weekly this morning, the final pages—and their stage directions—give us a glimpse into the way the actors were told to play the scene. More importantly, they once again establish that Jon Snow is, in fact, dead as a doornail.

It should be noted that for such a short scene—not even three full pages—it had a heck of an impact. Also, some details: the words “Pink pages” at the top does not refer to the Pink letter but to the draft. (Sorry Razor.) Note that Olly is supposed to have been crying, a detail that’s never hit me when I’ve watched the scene—perhaps I’m just so irritated with the character it doesn’t register. Also, it’s interesting to learn exactly what Jon was reading before Olly burst into his office.

“The light goes out of his eyes….” Jon Snow is definitely dead at the end of the shot.