Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Read online

  MCCLAGGAN

  Didn’t parry before counter-curse, sir.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Very good. And the last one . . . the most important one?

  MCCLAGGAN looks away, thinking. DUMBLEDORE hits him unawares. MCCLAGGAN flies into the air, DUMBLEDORE conjures a sofa, MCCLAGGAN hits it and slides to the floor.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Not learning from the first two.

  The class laughs. The door opens. TRAVERS, THESEUS, and four other AURORS enter, YOUNG MINERVA MCGONAGALL behind them.

  MCGONAGALL

  This is a school, you’ve no right—

  TRAVERS

  I’m the Head of Magical Law Enforcement and I have the right to go wherever I please.

  (to the students)

  Out of here.

  They don’t move.

  DUMBLEDORE

  (to the students)

  Go with Professor McGonagall, please.

  They file out, curious or alarmed. The last out is MCCLAGGAN.

  MCCLAGGAN

  (to TRAVERS)

  He’s the best teacher we’ve got.

  DUMBLEDORE

  (quiet)

  Thanks, McClaggan.

  TRAVERS

  Get out!

  MCGONAGALL

  Come, McClaggan.

  The door closes.

  TRAVERS

  Newt Scamander is in Paris.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Really?

  TRAVERS

  Cut the pretense. I know he’s there on your orders.

  DUMBLEDORE

  If you’d ever had the pleasure to teach him, you’d know Newt is not a great follower of orders.

  TRAVERS tosses a small book to DUMBLEDORE, who catches it in one hand.

  TRAVERS

  (indicating the book)

  You’ve read The Predictions of Tycho Dodonus?

  DUMBLEDORE

  Many years ago.

  TRAVERS

  (reads)

  “A son cruelly banished

  Despair of the daughter

  Return—”

  DUMBLEDORE

  Yes, I know it.

  TRAVERS

  There’s a rumor this prediction refers to the Obscurial. They say that Grindelwald wants—

  DUMBLEDORE

  —a highborn henchman. I’ve heard the rumor.

  TRAVERS

  And yet Scamander appears wherever the Obscurial goes, to protect him. Meanwhile you have built up quite a little network of international contacts—

  DUMBLEDORE

  (quiet, steely)

  However long you keep me and my friends under surveillance, you’re not going to discover plots against you, Travers, because we want the same thing: the defeat of Grindelwald. But I warn you, your policies of suppression and violence are pushing supporters into his arms—

  TRAVERS

  I’m not interested in your warnings!

  (controlling himself)

  Now, it pains me to say it, because—well, I don’t like you.

  TRAVERS and DUMBLEDORE both chuckle.

  TRAVERS

  But . . . you are the only wizard who is his equal. I need you to fight him.

  A pause. The AURORS watch.

  DUMBLEDORE

  I cannot.

  TRAVERS

  Because of this?

  He casts a spell to show moving pictures of TEENAGE DUMBLEDORE and TEENAGE GRINDELWALD. The AURORS are shocked.

  The TEENAGE DUMBLEDORE and TEENAGE GRINDELWALD stare intently into each other’s eyes.

  TRAVERS

  You and Grindelwald were as close as brothers.

  DUMBLEDORE

  We were closer than brothers.

  DUMBLEDORE is looking at the pictures. These memories are agony. He is full of remorse but, almost worse: nostalgia for the only time in his life he felt fully understood.

  TRAVERS

  Will you fight him?

  DUMBLEDORE

  (pained)

  I can’t.

  TRAVERS

  Then you have chosen your side.

  He flicks his wand once more. Thick metal cuffs—Admonitors—appear on DUMBLEDORE’S wrists.

  TRAVERS

  From now on, I shall know every spell you cast. I’m doubling the watch on you, and you will no longer teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.

  (to THESEUS)

  Where’s Leta? We need to go to Paris!

  He storms out. The AURORS follow. THESEUS is last to the door.

  DUMBLEDORE

  (quietly)

  Theseus.

  THESEUS looks back.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Theseus, if Grindelwald calls a rally, don’t try and break it up. Don’t let Travers send you in there. If you ever trusted me—

  TRAVERS (O.S.)

  THESEUS!

  THESEUS leaves.

  SCENE 65

  INT. DESERTED HOGWARTS CORRIDOR—DAY

  The late afternoon sun falls through the windows as LETA walks along a corridor populated only with memories. She stops beside an open door.

  The Great Hall is lit with floating candles.

  SCENE 66

  INT. EMPTY HOGWARTS CLASSROOM—DAY

  LETA walks slowly into the classroom, then turns to look back into the corridor and—

  DISSOLVE TO:

  SCENE 67

  INT. EMPTY HOGWARTS CLASSROOM—SEVENTEEN YEARS PREVIOUSLY—MORNING

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA stands hiding inside the empty classroom while students in cloaks trundle by, pushing trunks and carrying owls. It is the last day of the winter term and nearly everyone is going home.

  ANGLE ON TWO 13-YEAR-OLD GRYFFINDOR GIRLS pushing trunks.

  GRYFFINDOR GIRL 1

  You know she stays here every vacation. Her family don’t actually want her home.

  GRYFFINDOR GIRL 2

  I don’t blame them, she’s so annoying. Even the name Lestrange makes me feel sick—

  LETA flings herself into their path, pointing her wand.

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA

  Oscausi!

  GRYFFINDOR GIRL 2’S mouth is sealed shut as though she never had one. Triumphant, LETA flees the scene, pushing past shocked students.

  GRYFFINDOR GIRL 1

  (screams)

  Professor McGonagall! LESTRANGE HAS DONE IT AGAIN!

  MCGONAGALL (O.S.)

  Lestrange, stop running! LESTRANGE! Disobedient children. Stop! Shame on the House of Slytherin. One hundred points! Two hundred! Get back here, right now! Stop! Stop it! Stop it! You stop it! Get back here!

  GRYFFINDOR GIRL 1

  Miss, it was Lestrange. She’s horrible—

  McGONAGALL silences the girl.

  ANGLE ON LETA, sprinting around a corner.

  She wrenches open a side door and plunges inside.

  SCENE 68

  INT. HOGWARTS CUPBOARD—SEVENTEEN YEARS PREVIOUSLY—MORNING

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA slams the door and stands there, ear against it. She hears running, distant shouts. Then a sound behind her makes her jump and turn around.

  13-YEAR-OLD NEWT is already in occupation of the cupboard. He has hidden a couple of tanks here, one containing tadpoles, another Streelers. A lined cardboard box serves as a nest for the raven chick he is cradling in his hand. It wears a splint on its broken leg. NEWT and LETA stare at each other.

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA

  Scamander . . . why aren’t you packing?

  13-YEAR-OLD NEWT

  I’m not going home.

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA

  Why not?

  13-YEAR-OLD NEWT

  (of the raven)

  He needs me. It was hurt.

  LETA takes in the tanks, then the ugly little bird, to which NEWT now feeds an earthworm.

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA

  What is that?

  13-YEAR-OLD NEWT

  A raven chick.

  She is mildly intrigued now.

  13-YEAR-OLD LETA

  The raven’s m
y family’s emblem.

  She watches him stroking the bird’s head. As he places the chick gently in her hands, she seems to see him plainly for the first time.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  SCENE 69

  INT. DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS CLASS—FOURTEEN YEARS PREVIOUSLY—DAY

  It is Boggart time. DUMBLEDORE supervises the line of teenagers advancing to try their luck. “Riddikulus”—“Riddikulus”—gusts of hilarity as a shark becomes a flotation device, a zombie’s head turns into a pumpkin, a vampire turns into a buck-toothed rabbit.

  DUMBLEDORE

  All right, Newt. Be brave.

  16-YEAR-OLD NEWT moves to the front of the queue. The Boggart turns into a Ministry desk.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Mmm, that’s an unusual one. So Mr. Scamander fears what more than anything else in the world?

  16-YEAR-OLD NEWT

  Having to work in an office, sir.

  The class roars with laughter.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Go ahead, Newt.

  16-YEAR-OLD NEWT

  Riddikulus!

  NEWT turns the desk into a gamboling wooden dragon and moves aside.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Well done. Good job.

  It is 16-YEAR-OLD LETA’S turn, but she doesn’t move. She is terrified.

  DUMBLEDORE

  (kind, to LETA)

  Leta, it’s only a Boggart, it can’t hurt you. Everyone’s scared of something.

  A group of girls stands together, enjoying her fear.

  GRYFFINDOR GIRL 1

  I’ve been looking forward to this.

  LETA steps forward. The Boggart transforms and at once, all laughter is extinguished. Green light is reflected on every horrified face.

  We see a shadow, with a tiny human hand. LETA lets out a sob and runs from the room.

  SCENE 70

  EXT. HOGWARTS LAKE, BOWTRUCKLE ISLAND—FOURTEEN YEARS PREVIOUSLY—EVENING

  NEWT finds LETA sitting by the lake, tearstained, eyes swollen. They look at each other.

  16-YEAR-OLD LETA

  I don’t want to talk about it!

  He holds out his hand and she lets him pull her up. He leads her past a few trees until they reach the one where Bowtruckles are climbing and fighting and playing. They freeze at the humans’ approach but relax when they recognize NEWT. He holds out a finger. One of them jumps on.

  16-YEAR-OLD NEWT

  They know me, or they’d hide. They only nest in trees with wand-quality wood, did you know that?

  (beat)

  And they have very complex social lives. If you watch them for long enough, you realize . . .

  He trails off. She is watching him, not the Bowtruckles. NEWT reaches across to her, the Bowtruckle standing on his wrist. His hand grazes hers.

  DUMBLEDORE (V.O.)

  Hello, Leta.

  DISSOLVE TO:

  SCENE 71

  INT. EMPTY HOGWARTS CLASSROOM—AFTERNOON

  LETA is still sitting at her old desk in the present-day classroom. DUMBLEDORE enters.

  DUMBLEDORE

  This is a surprise.

  LETA

  (cold)

  Finding me in a classroom? Was I such a bad student?

  DUMBLEDORE

  On the contrary, you were one of my cleverest.

  LETA

  I said bad, not stupid. Don’t bother answering. I know you never liked me.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Well, you’re wrong. I never thought you bad.

  LETA

  You were alone, then. Everybody else did.

  (very quietly)

  And they were right. I was wicked.

  A beat as he considers her.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Leta, I know how painful the rumors about your brother Corvus must be for you.

  LETA

  No, you don’t. Not unless you had a brother who died too.

  DUMBLEDORE

  In my case, it was my sister.

  She stares at him, both hostile and curious.

  LETA

  Did you love her?

  DUMBLEDORE

  Not as well as I should have done.

  He steps toward LETA.

  DUMBLEDORE

  It’s never too late to free yourself. Confession is a relief, I’m told. A great weight lifted.

  She stares at him. What does he know—or suspect?

  DUMBLEDORE

  (sotto voce)

  Regret is my constant companion. Do not let it become yours.

  SCENE 72

  INT. GRINDELWALD’S HIDEOUT, DRAWING ROOM—END OF DAY

  QUEENIE is on the sofa, beside a table of tea and cakes. She sets down her empty teacup. We feel her slight awkwardness as it is instantly refilled by ROSIER.

  QUEENIE

  Oh, no, thank you. You’ve been real kind, but my sister Tina’s probably worried sick about me, you know. Banging on all the doors and things, so I think I’d better be going.

  ROSIER

  But you haven’t met your host.

  QUEENIE

  (a little wistfully)

  Oh, are you married?

  ROSIER

  (smiling)

  Let’s say . . . deeply committed.

  QUEENIE

  (innocent)

  You see, I can’t tell if you’re making a joke or if you’re just . . . French.

  ROSIER laughs and leaves. QUEENIE is confused. An enchanted teapot hovering in midair nudges her, intent on refilling her cup.

  QUEENIE

  (to the teapot)

  Hey, knock it off.

  The door opens. GRINDELWALD enters. QUEENIE stands and the teapot and cups smash to the ground. She draws her wand and aims it at GRINDELWALD.

  QUEENIE

  You stay right there. I know what you are.

  He walks slowly toward her.

  GRINDELWALD

  Queenie, we are not here to hurt you. We only want to help you. You’re so very, very far from home. Far away from everything you love. Everything that was comfortable.

  QUEENIE stares, keeping her wand raised.

  GRINDELWALD

  I would never see you harmed, ever. It is not your fault that your sister is an Auror. I wish you were working with me now towards a world where we wizards are free to live openly, and to love freely.

  GRINDELWALD’S hand touches her wand-tip and lowers it.

  GRINDELWALD

  You are an innocent. So go now. Leave this place.

  SCENE 73

  INT. HOGWARTS, ROOM OF REQUIREMENT—NIGHT

  A spartan room. A large object stands against the wall, covered in black velvet. DUMBLEDORE stands thinking for a moment, then approaches the covered object and pulls the curtain down.

  The Mirror of Erised is revealed. He has not looked into it for many years. Bracing himself, he now does so.

  We see TEENAGE DUMBLEDORE and TEENAGE GRINDELWALD facing each other in a barn. Both score their palms with their wands. Now bleeding, they interlace their hands . . .

  DUMBLEDORE turns his head away, fighting the impulse to cover the glass again.

  Bracing himself, he looks up.

  From their bloody palms rise two glowing drops of blood, which mingle and merge to create one. A metal shape begins to form around the droplet, becoming more defined and intricate. It is GRINDELWALD’S vial.

  The vision fades and the present-day GRINDELWALD stands smiling out of the mirror, surrounded by blackness.

  SCENE 74

  EXT. PARIS, RUE DE MONTMORENCY—AFTERNOON

  Establishing shot of NICOLAS FLAMEL’S house.

  SCENE 75

  INT. FLAMEL HOUSE—AFTERNOON

  A creepy medieval drawing room. The tapestries sport moving figures and odd runes. A large crystal ball in a corner shows dark clouds. TINA is trying to wake up KAMA with a bottle of smelling salts. He moves slightly. The Predictions of Tycho Dodonus slips out of his pocket onto the floor. TINA picks it up and opens it to the prediction KAM
A has underlined.

  NEWT’S case is open on a table. The Zouwu roars from inside. TINA turns to look at it, listening.

  SCENE 76

  INT. NEWT’S CASE, ZOUWU ENCLOSURE—AFTERNOON

  A wild Chinese habitat. NEWT is curled up in dense undergrowth. The Zouwu picks him up and dangles him from a claw.

  SCENE 77

  INT. FLAMEL HOUSE—AFTERNOON

  JACOB enters and sees TINA watching the case. She hastily looks back at the book.

  JACOB

  (calling into case)

  Hey, Newt, buddy. Tina’s up here. She’s all by her lonesome and maybe you want to come up and keep her company?

  (beat)

  I’ve been looking for food, and I ain’t found any. I guess I’m gonna go upstairs and try my luck in the—I dunno—the attic!

  SCENE 78

  INT. NEWT’S CASE, ZOUWU ENCLOSURE—AFTERNOON

  Still dangling from the Zouwu’s claw, NEWT soothes and coaxes her until he can reach her harness and remove it. The Zouwu is finally freed from her chains.

  NEWT

  You’re all right.

  JACOB (O.S.)

  Okay!

  SCENE 79

  INT. FLAMEL HOUSE—AFTERNOON

  JACOB is about to leave when NEWT clambers back out of the case.

  NEWT

  She’s responded well to the Dittany. She was born to run, you see. I think she’s just lacking in confidence—

  He glances at TINA. She pockets The Predictions of Tycho Dodonus and speaks, not quite looking at NEWT.

  TINA

  Mr. Scamander, have you got anything in your case that might help revive this man? I need to question him. I think he knows who Credence really is. The scars on his hand suggest an unbreakable vow—

  NEWT

  (eager, overlapping)

  —unbreakable vow. Yeah, I noticed that too—

  They examine the unconscious KAMA.

  NEWT

  Lumos.

  NEWT’S and TINA’S hands brush as NEWT advances his lit wand-tip to look in KAMA’S eye. Both jump. NEWT stares into KAMA’S eye. The tiny flicker of a tentacle, swiftly withdrawn—

  TINA

  (gasps)

  What was that?

  NEWT

  (serious)

  There must be a water dragon in that sewer—they carry these parasites, you see. They . . . Jacob?

  JACOB

  Yeah?

  NEWT

  In my case, in the pocket there, you’ll find a pair of tweezers.