Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (12 page)

NEWT

Well, that’s not the best start to a rescue attempt.

TINA

This was a rescue attempt? You’ve just lost me my only lead.

JACOB launches for the door, trying to break it down.

NEWT

(innocent)

Well, how was the interrogation going before we turned up?

TINA throws him a dark look. She strides to the back of the cave.

Pickett, who, unnoticed, has hopped out of NEWT’S pocket, successfully picks the lock, and the bars swing open.

JACOB

Newt!

NEWT

Well done, Pick.

(to TINA)

You need this man, you say?

TINA

Yeah. I think this man knows where Credence is, Mr. Scamander.

As they bend over the unconscious KAMA, they hear an earth-shattering roar from somewhere above them. They look at each other.

NEWT

Well, that’ll be the Zouwu.

NEWT grabs his wand and Disapparates.

SCENE 62

EXT. PARISIAN BRIDGE—NIGHT

In the middle of the bridge is the Zouwu, terrified and lethal. It is too badly hurt to keep running, but it is swiping at passersby, who are screaming and running out of
the way. Cars screech to a halt.

NEWT Apparates in the middle of the bridge, fifty yards from the Zouwu, holding his case. A second later, TINA Apparates too, holding JACOB’S arm. JACOB is sagging
under the weight of the unconscious KAMA.

JACOB

(calls)

Newt, get out of there!

NEWT stoops down slowly and opens his case. The Zouwu snarls, crouches, and begins to advance on NEWT.

Very slowly, so as not to alarm the Zouwu, NEWT lowers his arm into the case, feeling for something. It takes him longer than he expected. Frowning, he reaches deeper
inside. The Zouwu advances. It bares its teeth.

NEWT has found what he was looking for. He raises his arm. He is holding a fluffy toy bird on a stick and rope.

A beat. The Zouwu’s eyes start to follow the bird.

The Zouwu’s tail twitches. It crouches lower than ever. Then, with a sudden bound, it soars through the air toward NEWT. Screams from the onlookers—NEWT will
surely be crushed—

But at the last moment he lets the bird fall into the case and the Zouwu sails after it in a flash of rainbow color, python tail flailing and—WHAM—NEWT slams
the lid shut.

Uproar from the crowd, sirens approaching, police cars converging on the bridge. FLAMEL’S card flies up out of NEWT’S pocket.

TINA and JACOB, still carrying KAMA, run toward NEWT, and all four Disapparate.

SCENE 63

EXT. HOGWARTS—DAY

An ominous procession of AURORS marches up the drive toward the castle, among them, THESEUS and LETA.

CLOSE ON AN UPPER WINDOW. STUDENTS staring down at the strangers, nudging one another. The AURORS enter the school.

SCENE 64

INT. DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS CLASSROOM—DAY

DUMBLEDORE is teaching. A space in the middle of the room, all students enjoying the spectacle. A large boy—M
C
CLAGGAN—is braced for
attack, his robes covered in dust, his tie knotted around his ear. He and DUMBLEDORE circle each other.

DUMBLEDORE

What were the three biggest mistakes that you made last time?

M
C
CLAGGAN

Caught by surprise, sir.

DUMBLEDORE

What else?

M
C
CLAGGAN

Didn’t parry before counter-curse, sir.

DUMBLEDORE

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

M
C
CLAGGAN looks away, thinking. DUMBLEDORE hits him unawares. M
C
CLAGGAN flies into the air, DUMBLEDORE conjures a sofa,
M
C
CLAGGAN 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 M
C
GONAGALL behind them.

M
C
GONAGALL

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 M
C
CLAGGAN.

M
C
CLAGGAN

(to TRAVERS)

He’s the best teacher we’ve got.

DUMBLEDORE

(quiet)

Thanks, McClaggan.

TRAVERS

Get out!

M
C
GONAGALL

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—