The Wheel of Time (2021) s01e05 Episode Script

We forswear violence.
Have you ever been in battle? Picked up a weapon? A sword? Bow and arrow? An ax? They say the White Tower dispatched eight sisters to deal with Logain's army.
I will not forget your faces should we meet again.
Mat's got all the signs, lad.
The Dark One corrupted the One Power so men couldn't use it without going mad.
I see you.
You are exactly what I thought you were, Wisdom al'Meara.
No bond is closer than an Aes Sedai and her Warder.
I've heard about the bond.
That you feel what she feels.
No! May the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.
A long time since we've been home.
Do you still think of it as home? Don't you? This saddle is home.
This cloak.
These boots.
This brooding man at my side.
Is she ready for what's waiting in the White City? You think she talks to me? She eats every night at the Warders' fire.
She's worried, about Stepin.
Warders are not supposed to outlive their Aes Sedai.
Stepin's a strong man.
He'll deliver her ring to the Tower.
You think the other four are already there? If they are, we'll find them.
And if they aren't well, we'll find them.
Watch it, you piece of sh Mate, you all right? Will you stop looking at me like you're my bloody wet nurse.
Just tired.
A month without a warm bed will do that.
That mountain.
What? I don't know.
I think I've seen it before.
Tar Valon.
Blood and ashes.
Can I have one? Thank you.
What is it? Mmm.
Don't know.
It tastes good, though.
Not hungry.
You have it.
Should be down there.
Thom told me about this place.
The innkeeper was an old friend of his.
I'll give you one for this, one for the other one.
Thought we were going to the White Tower.
Yeah, we will.
But first, we need to rest and clean up.
Think they'll let us in looking like this? I can't believe a night here is more expensive than a month at the Winespring Inn.
Better than the road.
Tell me again.
Mat The little girl - on the farm - It wasn't you, Mat.
It wasn't you.
Thom and I both saw it.
Thom's not here.
Thom's dead.
Then please believe me.
It was the Fade.
You know you didn't kill that family.
You would never hurt that little girl.
This is the Warders' quarters.
This is the safest place in the Tower to stay away from the sisters we traveled with.
When the Amyrlin Seat arrives I don't care about the Amyrlin Seat or your Tower politics.
I told you, I care about my people.
And you said they'd be here, so where are they? I have eyes and ears watching every gate and every wall in the city.
If they've arrived, I'll know.
But will you tell me? Maybe I'll have a look around town myself.
Do not underestimate the women in this Tower.
Each of them has her own goal, her own agenda, her own pride and ambition.
As powerful as you are, these women have spent decades honing their strengths, masking their weaknesses.
And when news spreads of your presence here Which it will You'll be expected to become a Novice immediately.
And if you're not careful, those Tower politics will eat you alive.
If I'm as powerful as you say I am maybe it's you, Aes Sedai, who shouldn't underestimate me.
It's all right to be afraid.
You reached out and you touched the Source.
You saw how small you are in comparison to it.
And how great you are in comparison to those you've always loved.
And now you're wondering: how do you fit into the world? Can you ever go back to being who you were? I know because I felt it, too, the first time.
And the answer is no.
You'll never be the same.
But it's time that you saw that for the gift it is.
Now, stay here.
Do not speak to anyone.
And I will try and protect you as best I can.
And when I've found your friends I will bring you to them.
It's a little hypocritical, you know.
What is? Preaching nonviolence and then letting your pets slaughter anything you come across.
Violence is in us all.
The Way of the Leaf isn't about denying that.
It's about accepting it.
Maybe.
But one more turnip curry, and I'll be joining the dogs.
What are you two talking about? You.
Obviously.
Only good things.
Did you see? The White Tower.
We made it.
You think they're there already? I do.
Seems you won't have to suffer through turnip curry much longer.
- Whoa! - What's going on? Why are we stopping? The false Dragon.
Don't know anything about him, but we've been in the grass for months now.
Those two.
Bring them to me.
You can't just take our people.
They're not your people.
They've eaten our food and shared our fire.
Do you want your new friends to suffer? If they don't wish to go with you, you can't have them.
I can't? That's a strange word to be coming out of a Tinker's mouth.
And how exactly do you plan on stopping me? The Way of the Leaf against the Way of the Light.
Hmm.
Hurry.
This way.
You can cover the Light with the palm of a child's hand, but a Leaf, even if you crush it, bury it, burn it, it becomes a part of the earth and the air.
We can't just leave them! Whitecloaks may be bastards, but they won't kill Tuatha'an.
Come on, hurry.
Come on, this way.
There's a village nearby who've always been good to us.
Aah! Aram! Aram! The Karaethon Cycle.
Oh.
I didn't even hear you come in.
- Stay back! - Oh, dear.
You humans are very excitable.
My first day in Tar Valon, I could not believe the uproar.
Children cried, women screamed, and a mob chased me all the way across the city, waving knives.
I'm afraid I was almost beginning to get a little upset.
I tell you, it was not for this I left the Stedding.
Stedding? You're an ogre? Ogier.
Loial, son of Aren't, son of Halan.
And who are you? Rand.
Rand al'Thor.
Your name sings in my ears, Rand al'Thor.
It is quite exciting to meet an Aielman.
I've read much of your people.
I'm not an Aielman.
Really? Red hair is one of the few physical traits that can help you work out where a human is from.
I'm from the Two Rivers.
An Aielman from the Two Rivers? I'm not an Aielman.
An Aielman from the Two Rivers who insists that he is not an Aielman.
That is very odd.
I like oddities.
You know this book? Yes.
Why would The Travels of Jain Farstrider make you sad? It's a first-class adventure.
No, I A girl I know used to read this book every day.
Thought she was Jain herself reincarnated.
Well, that would be quite unlikely.
With all the humans all It's just something she thought, you know.
I see.
I forget how frivolous you humans can be with your thoughts.
Where is she now, this girl? Or is she a woman? You age so quickly.
I'm not sure.
I came to Tar Valon because she was heading to the White Tower, but What's going on? The Aes Sedai are returning from battle with the false Dragon, parading him through the streets to show the people the dangers of madness and hunger for power.
How far a man can - Sorry, I-I've got to go.
- To the procession? I'll come with you.
Just give me a moment to gather my things.
I'll see you out there.
Always in such a rush, these humans.
Never taking time to properly prepare for what they're walking into.
Thanks for saving me a seat.
They're bringing in the false Dragon.
They say he was a man who could channel, that it drove him mad.
Kill the Dragon! False Dragon! Mat? Mat? Let's make a deal.
All right? All right.
If it turns out it's one of us that you or me can channel we won't let each other become like that.
- Mat - I'm serious.
I don't give a shit about this prophecy nonsense.
Aes Sedai, Dragons, whatever.
- I won't be like that.
- You won't.
You don't know that.
Promise me.
I promise.
You'd do the same for me? You bet.
How was the procession? He'll be picking tomato out of his hair for weeks.
It was all worth it to see Liandrin's face when she accidentally got hit with a radish.
Haven't worn white since my father's funeral.
I hated him, you know.
After he died, I used to go out, piss drunk before I even got to the bar, fight the smallest, weakest guy in there and beat him.
Then I started picking on people who could fight back, half hoping they would just put a stop to me.
That's when I met Kerene.
Stupid young boy with a death wish, facing off against an Aes Sedai.
She just laughed at me and then bought me a drink.
Somehow, we became friends.
Or rather, she gave me the honor of becoming her friend.
And when she needed a Warder, she was already so powerful that she could have had anybody she wanted, but she asked for me.
I couldn't believe it.
I knew I wasn't worthy.
I told her to reconsider, but she wouldn't.
She just rolled her eyes at me, and that was that.
We bonded and I had to become worthy of her.
My dad tried to kill me when I was 12.
So stop your whining.
White Tower gave me the first real family I ever had.
You're right.
It's good that you lads always have each other.
Probably ten more Warders, if Alanna had her way.
Including you, old friend.
If you bond another Aes Sedai First, you lose Moiraine, and then tell me how easy it is to jump from one woman to the next.
It's time.
Come on, now.
Put your back into it.
Open your eyes, child.
That's better.
All covered up.
Hands.
Bring him in.
Perrin! If you care for her, boy, don't fight.
Sir, please Call me Child Valda.
The authority is in the Light, not me.
Child Valda, we are not who you think.
W-We're nothing.
We're no We are all someone important under the Light.
But you're right.
You're not who I thought you were.
An Aes Sedai would have tried to channel already, so I would have taken your hands already.
You know, one of those witches once told me that you don't actually need your hands to channel.
That the use of the hands, of any motions or words, is just a crutch.
I can't channel.
There.
We've proved it, then.
Because Aes Sedai certainly cannot lie, as much as they're able to twist the truth.
So let's say you're not an Aes Sedai, and that this boy Perrin? Is not your Warder.
The Light must have brought you before me for a reason.
Twice.
The Light never does anything without a purpose.
I assure you, sir Child Valda.
Child Valda.
I'm just a girl from a mountain village who should have never left.
Please, just let us go.
Please.
But you can touch the One Power.
I know you can.
So stop me from killing you.
No.
I'm sorry? I can't channel.
You said yourself you're sworn to the Light.
And a man of the Light cannot kill a girl who's done nothing wrong.
And what makes you think that I'm a man who stays true to his oaths? That I won't just bleed you out right here and now? If you're going to do it, then do it.
But know this I'll come back in my next life and split you from head to tail like the pig you are! You would have made a strong Aes Sedai.
A wonderful ring to add to my collection.
Don't.
No! No! Why are you doing this?! Because we humans are meant to be of this Earth, to struggle and fight for everything we have.
The Creator never meant for us to have access to so much power.
You witches make a mockery of our very existence, walking like gods amongst men.
The idea that the One Power comes from anywhere other than the Dark is absurd.
So I have been called to stamp it out.
Woman by woman by woman.
Channel for me, girl, and I'll kill you and let the boy go.
Don't channel, and I'll kill the boy and let you go.
I'll leave you two to discuss.
Decide which one of you it will be.
Stepin.
Heard you'd been locked up here, too.
I wondered if I could get a bit more of that tea you had.
For sleeping.
It's not really goats' tongues, is it? Goatstongue is a plant.
- Oh.
- Mm.
Are you still having trouble sleeping? I, uh I I lie there and, uh, just as I'm about to drift off, the pain goes away.
- Good.
- No.
That's the only thing I have left of her.
The pain.
I'm not ready to let go of it yet.
Don't worry.
I promise you the pain will never go away.
Thank you.
Escaped, did you? They're almost as old as the Tower itself.
Representing the tens of thousands of men who bonded themselves to my sisters.
Standing guard outside the Hall in death as they did in life.
Reds don't have Warders.
No.
Never.
Because you hate men.
Is that a question or a statement? Some of my Red sisters, perhaps.
Women hold the One Power, but men still control much of this world.
And they are rarely kind to little girls who show a spark of being greater than they are.
Well, now you've escaped Moiraine's cage, you should enjoy your freedom.
Hmm? That way leads to the library, then on to the gardens.
The persimmons are in season.
Mmm.
Rand al'Thor.
Did you know that Ogier have access to the White Tower grounds? Um, no.
But why I went there and found the woman you spoke of.
By the Light.
The braid is a distinct rite of passage - in the Two Rivers.
- We thought you were dead.
It was really very simple.
Where's Egwene? And Perrin? On their way, I think.
Oh What happened to him? Nynaeve? Who else could I be? You're alive.
So are you.
Barely.
Show me your tongue.
Don't touch me! I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sleep, Mat.
You need to rest.
I think he can channel.
Have you seen it? No, but he's losing himself.
I know Moiraine said we should come to her at the White Tower.
I don't know if we can trust her.
We saw what the Aes Sedai did to the false Dragon.
You've done well.
To bring him here.
To take care of him.
We don't need the Aes Sedai.
We're Two Rivers folk.
I'll heal what I can, and when Egwene and Perrin arrive, we'll sort out the rest.
Together.
I haven't seen her in a month now.
She's alive.
You know, when Egwene was little, barely ten, her parents brought her to us, the Old Wisdom and I.
She had an infection already set into her muscles.
They were cramping so badly that her legs were bent backwards on themselves.
That's why they call it breakbone fever.
Usually before the person dies, they snap their own legs and arms in half.
The Old Wisdom, she, um she didn't know what to do.
So she started making a tea to ease her passing.
But I couldn't.
So I took Egwene's hands, and she held on so tight.
She looked at me and she said, "I'm not ready.
" She was so small.
She just lay there the whole night while her own body tried to break itself in half.
And she didn't cry.
Not once.
And she refused the Wisdom's tea.
In the morning, the fever had broken.
Not her.
Sounds about right.
Egwene is many things, but above all else, she's unbreakable.
Egwene, stop.
If it has to be one of us, it should be me.
No.
This is what I deserve.
Laila.
- I killed her.
- No.
No, Laila's death was not your fault.
Yes, it was! We were fighting them off together.
The Trollocs.
Then I killed one.
But then I heard another from behind me, and I swung with all my strength.
But it was her.
My own hands.
My own ax.
I killed her.
I killed my wife.
This is what I deserve.
No.
Have we reached a decision? Very well.
No decision is still a decision.
Eventually, the boy will bleed out.
It was an accident, Perrin.
Not your fault.
And it may take you your whole life to realize that, but you will.
I promise.
You will.
No.
Egwene, no! Drift.
Just drift.
Ah.
There you are.
You'll find me harder to kill than that, girl.
Especially with a flame so small.
In truth, I was expecting more.
Light protect me.
What are you?! Let's go.
Keep moving! You two, stop.
Come on.
Come on.
- He won't hurt us.
- How do you know? Come on.
Go.
You heading to bed, sister? I'm surprised you remember where your chamber is.
How long has it been? Two years? And to return with such a prize.
Where is Nynaeve? Safely hidden away, I assume.
No doubt she's resting after her long journey.
You look a little worse for wear, too.
You know, the trouble with always coming and going, Moiraine, is that when Nynaeve becomes a Novice And despite her distressing mistrust of Aes Sedai, she will become a Novice You won't be here to guide her.
A girl with her raw talent and lack of control will need mentoring.
And you think she will choose Red? The Wisdom of the Two Rivers, after her first channeling healed the dying? Mm.
Our Yellow sisters will be desperate to get their hands on her, it's true.
Hmm.
But there's a certain force of will she cannot hide.
A sense that the world would be better if everyone obeyed the rules.
Her rules.
One thing she doesn't share, though, is your contempt for men.
So I suggest you look for converts elsewhere.
Not many people still make offerings to ward off the Forsaken.
These belonged to my mother.
The only thing left in her house when she died.
And who are you trying to keep away? Ishamael Father of Lies.
I need to see clearly now.
I need to see the truth.
Do you believe any of it? Think they can still touch our world? The Forsaken sold their souls to the Dark One for eternal life.
Even if the last Dragon sealed them away - Eternity's a very long time.
- Hmm.
A very long time.
Hey.
Enough of this.
I'll stay with you till morning.
Do you think Stepin will accept your offer? I don't know.
When a Warder loses his Aes Sedai, the pain is so deep.
It's almost like he's swallowed her death.
I read once there's a way to release the bond.
Oh.
There, now, sister.
Don't do that.
Ian has nothing to worry about.
You'll be here with us a long time yet.
What have you been doing out there all these years? Now, unless you've made it a habit to use this as your dining room, I'm assuming you have a reason for coming.
I got word that the Amyrlin's returning from Caemlyn.
She's summoned us to the Hall to answer for Logain.
She's out for blood, looking for someone to blame.
Siuan Sanche is many things but she's never turned on a sister without cause.
Moiraine, this place isn't what it was when you left.
You're one of the only sisters strong enough to challenge her.
But I have no designs on the Seat.
I never have.
No one has any idea what you have designs on.
Liandrin's strength is growing.
More and more sisters are listening to her, and not just the Reds.
All I'm saying is, for someone who's rarely in the Tower, you have two very powerful enemies here.
Be careful, my friend.
Thank you for the warning.
One day, you'll have to trust someone with your secrets, or they'll scour you from the inside out and leave you bare as this room.
Good night, Moiraine.
Well maybe when I'm bonded with Alanna and feel her bond to Ihvon and Maksim, but still I don't know, I've, uh never been with a man.
Two men.
Certainly not two men.
But hey, there's a first time for everything.
Well, you're you're assuming they want you.
What's not to want? Huh? Tell me about the Wisdom.
Nothing to tell.
Because you've never been a talker.
But I have eyes.
She touched the One Power for the first time to save your life.
And barely spoken to me since.
She's stubborn.
Knows her own mind.
Knows she's falling for you.
That's a bad idea for her.
Love's usually a bad idea.
Still, we allow it to happen, or this life would be intolerable.
Well, I can tolerate a lot.
I know.
Al'Lan Mandragoran.
Lay your hand on him.
Relieve us of our grief.