第2章

1 INT.TRAIN CAR—DAY

MEN and WOMEN sit silently in the flickering light.CAMERA GLIDES slowly,reveals a MAN standing,strap in hand,gently swaying with the train's movements.His face is hidden to us,but his HAT,set at a mildly rakish angle,is somehow familiar.

2 EXT.STATION—MOMENTS LATER—DAY

The train comes to a halt.The doors open.The men and women stream out,including the man in the hat.

3 EXT.PICCADILLY CIRCUS—MOMENTS LATER—DAY

The man with the hat emerges into the light and separates from his fellow passengers.He glances about briefly,then continues on.

4 INT.CAFÉ—DAY

Busy.Loud.As a WAITRESS with a DARK BOB crosses into view,we go with her,wending as she wends,gracefully gliding to a table near the back,where she sets a cup of something hot in front of the man with the hat:DUMBLEDORE.

DUMBLEDORE

Thank you.

WAITRESS

Would you like something else?

DUMBLEDORE

No.Not just yet—I'm waiting.

(a frown)

I'm expecting someone.

The waitress nods and turns away.Dumbledore watches her go,then stirs a lump of sugar into his tea,leans his head back and closes his eyes.We HOLD on him like this,face in repose,for a long time until ...a LIGHT falls over Dumbledore's face.

Dumbledore opens his eyes,considers the man standing beside his table:GRINDELWALD.

GRINDELWALD

Would this be one of your regular haunts?

DUMBLEDORE

I don't have any regular haunts.

For a moment,Grindelwald studies him,then sits in the seat opposite.

GRINDELWALD

Let me see it.

Dumbledore stares at him,then slowly brings a hand into view and reveals:the BLOOD TROTH.As he cradles it,its chain slowly slithers between Dumbledore's fingers,as if alive.

GRINDELWALD (CONT'D)

Sometimes I imagine I still feel it around my neck,I carried it for so many years.How does it feel around yours?

DUMBLEDORE

We can free each other of it.

Grindelwald ignores this,glancing about the room.

GRINDELWALD

Love to chatter,don't they,our Muggle friends.Though one must admit:They make a good cup of tea.

DUMBLEDORE

What you're doing is madness—

GRINDELWALD

It's what we said we'd do.

DUMBLEDORE

I was young.I was—

GRINDELWALD

—committed.To me.To us.

DUMBLEDORE

No.I went along because—

GRINDELWALD

Because?

DUMBLEDORE

Because I was in love with you.

They stare into each other's eyes,then Dumbledore looks away again.

GRINDELWALD

Yes.But that's not why you went along.It was you who said we could reshape the world,that it was our birthright.

Grindelwald settles back,eyes narrow.INHALES.

GRINDELWALD (CONT'D)

Can you smell it?The stench?Do you really intend to turn your back on your own kind for these animals?

Dumbledore's eyes shift,meet Grindelwald's steely gaze.

GRINDELWALD (CONT'D)

With or without you,I will burn down their world,Albus.There's nothing you can do to stop me.Enjoy your cup of tea.

As Grindelwald exits,a LOW RUMBLE begins.Dumbledore stares down at his teacup,watches it faintly TREMBLE on the hard surface of the table.As the liquid within QUIVERS,he seems to get lost in it.

We go to flames,holding for some time,until we are in ...

5 INT.DUMBLEDORE'S ROOM—HOGWARTS—MORNING

We find Dumbledore standing at his window,eyes closed.As we slowly pull focus to him,his eyes open and we are back in the present.

He holds the blood troth,the chain coiled around his wrist.

When they were teenagers,Dumbledore and Grindelwald came up with this plan for taking control of the wizarding world and beyond,a plan that Grindelwald is now trying to realise.But Dumbledore is a changed man.He understands the mistakes he has made and is trying as best he can to right them.I think that's very potent:We've all made mistakes in our lives and,no matter who we are,we have to acknowledge those mistakes,learn from them and move on.

—DAVID HEYMAN

(Producer)

6 EXT.LAKE—TIANZI MOUNTAINS—SAME TIME—NIGHT

A vast,beautiful landscape.Under a low moon,limestone pillars rise majestically out of the water in the shadow of a MOUNTAIN—the Angel Eye.

NEWT paddles across the lake.

7 EXT.TIANZI MOUNTAINS—MOMENTS LATER—NIGHT

Feet delicately step ashore,leaving the bobbing boat behind,and we reveal NEWT SCAMANDER.

Lakes and tributaries fall away behind as he starts an ascent through the bamboo forest.

The distant cry of an animal echoes evocatively across the landscape.Newt listens for a moment.PICKETT,atop Newt's shoulder,listens too.

NEWT

(whispers)

She's ready.

We finally get to see Newt where he's at his best and happiest,which is out in the wild tracking creatures.And in this case it's a very beautiful and extraordinary creature called a Qilin that has this mythical status in the wizarding world.One of the things I've always loved about Newt is that there's this kind of anomaly between his physicality and slight social awkwardness mixed with his dexterity and facility in nature.So it was thrilling when I first saw the script and this almost Indiana Jones-like moment at the beginning of the movie because it's Newt at his most comfortable.

—EDDIE REDMAYNE

(Newt Scamander)

8 EXT.HOLLOW—TIANZI MOUNTAINS—MOMENTS LATER—NIGHT

Newt moves rapidly but carefully towards the mouth of a great cathedral-like cave.As he draws close,something stirs inside,half hidden in shadow.

9 EXT.HOLLOW—TIANZI MOUNTAINS—MOMENTS LATER—NIGHT

Newt tenderly reaches out to stroke the back of the animal as she rolls gently,and we see she's a QILIN:part-dragon,part-horse,powerful but with a sweetness to her.She's breathing fast,her skin flecking and twitching,insects and bits of jungle and dust caked into her hide.

She lets out another cry.

A GOLDEN LIGHT begins to suffuse the ground beneath her.Newt smiles,entranced.Slowly,slithering out from beneath the mother,a BABY QILIN appears,beautiful and fragile,its eyes blinking blindly.SNIFFING curiously,it softly BLEATS,its tiny body pulsing with GOLDEN LIGHT,briefly illuminating Newt's and Pickett's faces as they peer down at it.

Newt steps back,watches as the mother Qilin licks the baby clean as it shivers and stumbles around.

NEWT

(off Pickett's look)

Beautiful.

(beat)

Right,you two.Now the tricky bit.

Newt reaches down for his case,opening it gently.We see a photo of TINA pinned inside the lid.

Through the deep undergrowth figures approach,wands being drawn ...

...ACOLYTES ROSIER and CARROW approaching,eyes hungrily on the baby Qilin.

With a WHOOSH Rosier and Carrow raise their wands,firing SPELLS,flaying the mother Qilin's hide.She sways drunkenly,BELLOWING into the night,and then—her legs betraying her—collapses.

IN THE ONSLAUGHT:

Newt sends a defensive spell back and it blooms into a shield,but it's too late.

Glancing back to see a DARK FIGURE emerge between the other Acolytes:CREDENCE,looking older,more assured,as he strikes through Newt's shield with his wand.

Newt points his wand at his case.

NEWT (CONT'D)

Accio!

The case flies across into his hand.

Credence breaks through the shield as Newt pitches himself over the rim of the hollow,dropping down a treacherous slope as he jumps,stumbles and trips through the undergrowth.

A THWACK of a spell from behind,splintering BAMBOO around him,SENDS his case tumbling from his hands.

Up ahead we see the baby Qilin standing in the undergrowth,frightened and fragile.

Newt picks up the pace,LOOKS ACROSS TO SEE ...

...legs pop out of the CASE as it bumps and bounces downhill,steering it back towards him.

Carrow jets towards Newt,hands outstretched for the baby Qilin.Newt counters,sending her flying backward.

THWACK!Another SPELL whistles over Newt's head just as he ducks and sweeps his arm around the baby Qilin,scooping her up,and in that moment another incoming spell HITS HIM and sends him flying off HIGH GROUND AND DOWN.

FROM BENEATH,Newt's body plunges deep into swirling water.

On the foaming surface,Pickett's head pops up,swimming parallel to the shore,WORRIED at the sight of Newt's unconscious body drifting to a stop on the opposite shoreline.

WIDE ...

...to reveal that we are at the base of a series of beautiful,cascading waterfalls that spill down from the Angel Eye.

For a moment,Newt lies in a dreamlike state,blinking up into the sky.Finally,he raises his head.

NEWT'S POV

...ZABINI holds a sack while Rosier reaches over and collects the baby Qilin,shoving it roughly into the sack.WHOOSH!In an instant,they are gone.

Newt prizes himself up.

We CUT TO:

...Newt stumbling back towards the hollow,one arm wrapped about his case.He reaches the crest of the hollow.The mother Qilin lies in shadow,unmoving.Newt collapses against the mother Qilin's motionless body.His chest heaves painfully.

NEWT (CONT'D)

I'm so sorry.

Newt squints upwards,considering the empty sky.His eyelids grow heavy ...sleep beckoning ...his chest rising more steadily ...when:

His face BLOOMS SOFTLY with light.

His eyes flutter open.The earth beneath him is BLOOMING.

Turning,he studies the mother Qilin,watching as the flesh surrounding her eye TWITCHES and ...

...a SOFT,MURMURING BLEAT breaks the silence.As the LIGHT at his back BLOOMS BRIGHTER,Newt turns,watching as ...

...a SECOND BABY QILIN wriggles into view.As it slips free,it peers around uncertainly,then meets Newt's eyes.Newt smiles before the Qilin wriggles into his arms.He turns back to the mother ...then stops.

NEWT (CONT'D)

Twins.You've had twins ...

As he watches,a TEAR trickles from her eye,her PUPIL DILATING.Newt's face falls.He rolls back against the mother's lifeless body.

Slowly,Pickett pokes his head out of Newt's pocket,staring at the baby Qilin with wonder.

Newt nods to the case and Pickett hops to it,pausing over one of the latches,looking back for guidance.

Still clasping the Qilin,Newt unfastens one latch while Pickett flips open the other.

TEDDY pops his head out,seeing Newt and then looking across at the baby Qilin.

From deep below,in the belly of the case,we follow the leggy limbs of a WYVERN as it climbs upwards towards the sky,past the picture of TINA GOLDSTEIN stuck to the inside of the case lid,and then Teddy before emerging UP AND OUT of the case into the Angel Eye itself.

The Wyvern's body starts to expand magically and beautifully before us.With his last bit of strength,Newt gathers the Qilin close,pulling it within the folds of his coat.Shivering,it bleats softly in his arms.

The tail of the Wyvern wraps around Newt,and he and the baby Qilin are lifted gently into the air.

The Wyvern ascends high into the sky,its great majestic wings expanding gracefully as it carries Newt and the baby Qilin over the expansive waterfalls and towards the horizon,which glimmers faintly with the day's first light.

The TITLE APPEARS:

THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE

Compared to Harry Potter or many other heroes from the wizarding world,Newt isn't written as the greatest or most powerful wizard,but he has his own unique facility with magic.So in this fight,rather than just outright duelling spells,Newt uses more organic things,sending leaves into whirlwinds or shields,for example.His magic is not,perhaps,the most impressive,but it feels specific to who he is as a character.

—EDDIE REDMAYNE

(Newt Scamander)

10 EXT.CASTLE ENTRANCE/COURTYARD—NURMENGARD—MORNING

We DRIFT,watching Grindelwald leave the castle as the Acolytes Apparate into the far end of the courtyard.

Credence separates from the others.

Grindelwald's eyes are fixed on the sack in Credence's hand.Rosier hovers—silent,watchful.Grindelwald steps forward.

GRINDELWALD

Leave us.

The Acolytes withdraw wordlessly.One or two glance back,aware that Credence is now the favourite.Alone with Credence now,Grindelwald nods to the sack.

GRINDELWALD (CONT'D)

Show me.

Grindelwald takes the Qilin and peers deeply into its damp eyes.PHLEGM drizzles from its quivering nose.

CREDENCE

The others.They said it's special.

GRINDELWALD

Oh,it's beyond special.See,see its eyes?Those eyes see everything.When a Qilin is born,a righteous leader will rise,to change our world forever.Her birth brings change,Credence,to everything.

Credence eyes the Qilin quizzically.

GRINDELWALD (CONT'D)

You did well.

Grindelwald places his hand on Credence's cheek.Credence covers Grindelwald's hand with his own,tentatively,as if unfamiliar with such intimate touch.

GRINDELWALD (CONT'D)

Go.Rest.

11 INT.DRAWING ROOM—SAME TIME—MORNING

QUEENIE watches Credence disappear from view,then returns her attention to Grindelwald,who gently lowers the Qilin to the flagstones,eyeing it with evident fascination.

Reaching out,he gently lifts it to its feet,steadying it,then positions himself in front of it.For a moment,nothing.Then,slowly,the Qilin's head lifts,its weary gaze meeting Grindelwald's expectant one.Then ...

...it turns away.Grindelwald's face hardens.He picks up the Qilin and cradles it in his arms.He reaches into his pocket,something GLIMMERING briefly as he withdraws his hand.Grindelwald's arm rises and ...

...blood spatters the flagstones,the glimmering blade in Grindelwald's hand running red.Queenie's breath catches—almost too softly to hear.

A VISION appears in the pooling blood,of TWO FIGURES,seen from on high,WALKING in the snow.

We CUT TO:

12 EXT.HOGSMEADE—DAY

Newt and THESEUS trudge through the snow,past TATTY POSTERS of GRINDELWALD—HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WIZARD?

THESEUS

I don't suppose you'd like to tell me what this is about,would you?

NEWT

He just asked that we meet.And that I be sure to bring you.

THESEUS

Right.

Theseus studies Newt as they walk ahead into HOGSMEADE.

13 INT.HOG'S HEAD—MOMENTS LATER—DAY

The bearded proprietor (ABERFORTH DUMBLEDORE) runs a dirty rag over the MIRROR behind the bar,his suspicious gaze shifting as Newt and Theseus,in REFLECTION,enter.As they glance about the squalid surroundings,he continues to clean.

ABERFORTH

Here to meet my brother,I expect?

Newt steps forward.

NEWT

We're here to see Albus Dumbledore.

Aberforth eyes them once more in the mirror,then turns.

ABERFORTH

That would be my brother.

NEWT

Oh.Sorry,um ...brilliant.I'm Newt Scamander and this is—

As Newt extends his hand,Aberforth turns away.

ABERFORTH

Up the stairs.First on the left.

Newt stands with his hand extended another moment,then nods and turns back to Theseus,who raises his eyebrows.

14 INT.UPPER ROOM—HOG'S HEAD—CONTINUOUS—DAY

DUMBLEDORE

Has Newt told you why you're here?

THESEUS

Was he meant to?

Dumbledore eyes Theseus,clocking the mild challenge in his tone.

DUMBLEDORE

No,as a matter of fact.

Theseus's eyes shift to Newt,who struggles to hold his gaze.

NEWT

There's something we—that,Dumbledore—wishes to speak to you about.A proposal.

Theseus considers his brother,then Dumbledore.

THESEUS

All right.

Dumbledore,having crossed the room,takes the BLOOD TROTH from a table and dangles it in the firelight.

DUMBLEDORE

You know what this is,of course.

THESEUS

Newt had it in Paris.I can't say I have much experience with such things,but it looks to be a blood troth.

DUMBLEDORE

That would be correct.

THESEUS

And whose blood is contained within?

DUMBLEDORE

Mine.

(a beat)

And Grindelwald's.

THESEUS

I'm assuming that's why you can't move against him?

DUMBLEDORE

Yes.Nor he against me.

Theseus nods,eyeing the troth,watching as the DROPLETS OF BLOOD circle one another like weights in a clock.

THESEUS

Can I ask what would possess you to make such a thing?

DUMBLEDORE

Love.Arrogance.Naivete.Pick your poison.We were young.We were going to transform the world.This ensured we would.Even if one of us had a change of heart.

THESEUS

And what would happen if you were to fight him?

Newt eyes Dumbledore expectantly,but he remains mute,staring at the troth.

DUMBLEDORE

It's really quite beautiful,you have to admit.Were I even to think about defying it ...

The blood troth flashes red and flies free,caroming off the floor and to the wall.As he draws his wand,taking aim,the troth's chain,still tethered to his arm,constricts,burrowing deep into his flesh.

As Newt and Theseus look on,Dumbledore begins to approach the troth where it grinds into the wall,a strange smile coming over his face,as if he were in thrall to it.

DUMBLEDORE (CONT'D)

It knows,you see ...

Dumbledore stares,transfixed.The chain causes the veins in his hand to swell,bulging monstrously.Grimacing,the wand tumbles from his fingers.

DUMBLEDORE (CONT'D)

It senses the betrayal in my heart ...

Newt's gaze shifts to the DROPS OF BLOOD,now circling one another more frantically within the troth.

Dumbledore continues to stare at the troth as it trembles more violently against the wall and the chain snakes slowly up his throat,encircling his neck ...

NEWT

Albus ...

...drawing tighter,then tighter still ...

NEWT (CONT'D)

Albus ...

...his eyes rolling up into his head ...

NEWT (CONT'D)

Albus!

The blood troth drops to the floor and then into Dumbledore's hand,the chain slithering from his neck and reattaching itself to the troth,its host.Gradually the chain loosens and Dumbledore's chest heaves,as if he'd just remembered to breathe.He opens his hand.In his palm,the troth trembles briefly,then goes still.

DUMBLEDORE

That would be the least of it.A young man's magic,but as you can see,powerful magic.It can't be undone.

THESEUS

So this proposal.I take it the Qilin has something to do with it?

Dumbledore's eyes shift to Newt.

NEWT

He promises he won't tell a soul.

Dumbledore turns back to Theseus,answers his question.

DUMBLEDORE

If we are to defeat him,the Qilin is only part of it.The world as we know it is coming undone.Gellert is pulling it apart with hate,bigotry.Things that seem unimaginable today will seem inevitable tomorrow if we don't stop him.Should you agree to do what I ask,you'll have to trust me.Even when every instinct tells you not to.

Theseus eyes Newt.Finally,he looks up into Dumbledore's gaze once more.

THESEUS

Let's hear it.

Dumbledore has always been an enigma.He's got this spark,this kind of playful quality to him whilst dealing with ridiculously high stakes.But there's also a kind of slightly father—son,master—apprentice connection between Dumbledore and Newt.In the past movies,Dumbledore's kind of sent Newt out to do his dirty work for him.In this film he's beginning to let him in.

—EDDIE REDMAYNE

(Newt Scamander)

It's an interesting time in Dumbledore's life:the man that we all grew to love through the Harry Potter films is not fully formed yet,so we get to see an Albus going through big emotional and life-changing decisions and situations,and all of those lead him to become the much-loved,sage headmaster Albus Dumbledore in later years.So we see him confronting his past,confronting old friends,old foes and also confronting himself.

—JUDE LAW

(Albus Dumbledore)

15 INT.CREDENCE'S ROOM—NURMENGARD—DAY

Credence's face comes into frame.He meets his own eyes in the glass,then raises a hand.As he watches,a fly crawls along his arm.He watches,transfixed,then his eyes shift.

Queenie stands in the doorway.

CREDENCE

Does he send you?To spy on me?

QUEENIE

No.But he asks.What you're thinking.What you're feeling.

CREDENCE

And the others?Does he ask you what they're thinking and feeling?

QUEENIE

Yes.But it's mostly you.

CREDENCE

And do you tell him?

She starts to reply,then falters.As the veins in his hand lighten,returning to normal,Credence turns,looking at Queenie directly for the first time.

CREDENCE (CONT'D)

You do?

He smiles but there is something unnerving about it.

CREDENCE (CONT'D)

Who's reading whose mind now?

(smile vanishing)

Tell me what you see.

She eyes him,then:

QUEENIE

You're a Dumbledore.It's an important family—you know this because he's told you.He's also told you that they abandoned you,that you were a dirty secret.He says Dumbledore abandoned him too and he knows how you feel.And for that reason ...for that reason,he's asked you to kill him.

Credence's smile has curdled.

CREDENCE

I want you to go now,Queenie.

She nods,makes to exit,then,at the door,stops.

QUEENIE

I don't.Tell him.Not always.Not everything.

She withdraws,closing the door quietly.Credence stands,unmoving for a moment,then the mirror catches his eye.Slowly,as if drawn by an invisible hand,LETTERS begin to MATERIALISE on the SURFACE of the glass.

...FORGIVE ME ...

Credence looks unsurprised.Stepping forward,he raises his own hand ...and wipes the mirror clean.

16 EXT.KOWALSKI'S BAKERY—LOWER EAST SIDE—PREDAWN

A battered metal window shutter RATTLES upward,revealing the sad and lonely figure of JACOB KOWALSKI standing outside in the chill.He stares bleakly within.

17 INT.KOWALSKI'S BAKERY—CONTINUOUS—PREDAWN

The oven door opens to reveal Jacob as he checks that it is still lit.

He grabs a BRISTLED BRUSH and,stepping to the front window,begins to sweep up yesterday's crumbs,chasing off the occasional ROACH.

18 INT.BACKROOM—KOWALSKI'S BAKERY—MOMENTS LATER—PREDAWN

CLOSE UP—WEDDING CAKE

A blanket of white icing.An ALTAR made of spun sugar.And two TINY FIGURINES:A BRIDE,poised before the altar.The GROOM,lying facedown in a drift of icing.

Jacob delicately takes the groom when—BRINNNG!—the shop BELL sounds.He lays the groom back down on the icing.

19 INT.KOWALSKI'S BAKERY—MOMENTS LATER—PREDAWN

Jacob emerges,apron on his shoulder,stops cold.

JACOB

Hey,we're closed—

A WOMAN is peering into the far pastry case.

JACOB (CONT'D)

Queenie.

The woman turns,beams.Queenie.

QUEENIE

Hi,sweetie.

Jacob approaches.

QUEENIE (CONT'D)

Honey,look at your bakery,it's like a ghost town.

JACOB

Yeah,well,I ...I ...missed you.

Tears well in Jacob's eyes.

QUEENIE

Oh,baby.Come here ...Come here.

She enfolds him in her arms.He closes his eyes.

QUEENIE (CONT'D)

Everything's going to be all right.Everything's going to be just fine ...

NEW ANGLE—JACOB HUGGING HIMSELF IN THE EMPTY SHOP

He opens his eyes.Looks at his empty arms.Sighs.Through the grimy front window he catches sight of a shy-looking young woman (LALLY HICKS) sitting on the bus bench across the street.

20 EXT.BUS STOP—LOWER EAST SIDE—CONTINUOUS—PREDAWN

Lally begins to read.In the near distance,we see THREE WORKMEN approaching.

One of the men separates from the others.

WORKMAN 1

Hey,sweetheart.What brings you downtown?

Lally continues to read her book.

LALLY

I really hope you didn't spend all day coming up with that.

The man is a little taken aback by Lally,who remains absorbed in the book in her lap.

WORKMAN 1

Oh,you want scary?Is that what you want?

The workman waits expectantly as Lally studies him solemnly.Finally:

LALLY

You know what it is,you just aren't menacing enough.

WORKMAN 1

I think I'm plenty menacing.Am I not menacing?

He turns to his two cohorts,who seem uncertain.

LALLY

Maybe if you waved your arms around.You know,like a crazy man.Then you'd appear more menacing.

As the workman continues to gesticulate wildly,Lally leans slightly to her left,peering across the street.

LALLY (CONT'D)

That's good,a little more.

21 INT.KOWALSKI'S BAKERY—CONTINUOUS—PREDAWN

Jacob squints,watching as the workman looming over Lally begins to wave his arms.

22 EXT.BUS STOP—LOWER EAST SIDE—CONTINUOUS—PREDAWN

LALLY

That's it.Keep going,keep going.Perfect.Three,two,one ...

JACOB (O.S.)

Hey!

Jacob comes crashing out of the bakery in a cloud of Colonial Girl flour,BANGING a FRYING PAN with a METAL SPOON as he strides across the street.The three workmen circle away from Lally,start towards Jacob.

JACOB (CONT'D)

That's enough.Get outta here ...

WORKMAN 1

What's on your mind,baker boy?

JACOB

Ah,jeez.You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Lally watches carefully as the three men close in on Jacob,never taking her eyes from them.

JACOB (CONT'D)

Tell you what,I'll give you the first shot,go ahead—

WORKMAN 1

Are you sure?

BANG!

Workman 1 drops.Jacob freezes.Seconds later the FRYING PAN comes clattering down to earth as he drops it.

The first workman rolls up into a sitting position,rubs his neck.

WORKMAN 1

Last time I ever help that woman out again ...Lally!

Lally touches her wand to her sad little bob and—in quick succession—her lustrous hair spills forth,the spectacles vanish,and her dowdy dress and stiff collared shirt transform into smartly tailored slacks and a soft,flowing blouse.

LALLY

Whoopsie,Frank.Sometimes I forget my own strength.I'll take it from here.Thank you!

WORKMAN 3

Welcome.

WORKMAN 2

Catch you later,Lally ...

LALLY

Bye,Stanley,I'll be over for a game of Befuddler Dudley soon.

WORKMAN 2

All right.

LALLY

That's my cousin Stanley.He's a wizard.

Instantly,Jacob picks up the frying pan and begins to back away,shaking his head.

JACOB

No!

LALLY

Please,it's early,don't make me work for it.

JACOB

I said I wanted out.And I want out.

LALLY

Come now,Mr.Kowalski—

Jacob enters the bakery.

JACOB

My therapist said you wizards don't exist.What a waste of money!

Lally magically appears standing opposite him inside the bakery,chewing on a cinnamon bun.

LALLY

You do know I'm a witch,right?

JACOB

Yeah.Look.You seem like a really nice witch,but you don't know what I've been through with you people—so could you please get out of my life.

Jacob opens the door and gestures for Lally to leave.When she continues to talk,he leaves the shop,still carrying the frying pan.Lally follows him.

LALLY

(in one long stream)

A little over a year ago,in the hopes of securing a small business loan,you walked through the doors of the Steen National Bank—located about six blocks from here—you then made the acquaintance of one Newt Scamander,the world's foremost—albeit only—Magizoologist,you then learned of a world you had previously been wholly unaware of,you met and fell in love with a witch named Queenie Goldstein,had your brain wiped by means of Obliviation,only it didn't take,and—as a result—you reunited with Miss Goldstein who—after your refusal to marry her—decided to join Gellert Grindelwald and his dark army of followers,who pose the single greatest threat to your world and ours in four centuries.How did I do?

Jacob sits down and just stares.

JACOB

Yeah.That's good.Except for the part about Queenie going over to the dark side.I mean,yeah,she's cuckoo,but she's got a heart bigger than this whole crazy island and she's so smart,she can legitimately read your brain,she's a whatchamacallit—

LALLY

A Legilimens.

JACOB

Yeah ...

Jacob sighs,stands and begins to walk towards the bakery.After a moment,he turns back to Lally.

JACOB

Look.You see this,you see the pan.

(holding up the frying pan)

That's me.I'm the pan.I'm all dented.Dime a dozen.I'm just a schmo.I don't know what crazy ideas you have in your head there,lady,but I'm sure as hell you can do a lot better than me.Goodbye.

Jacob turns and hobbles slowly towards the dim lights of the bakery.

LALLY

I don't think we can,Mr.Kowalski.

He stops but doesn't turn.

LALLY (CONT'D)

You could've ducked under the counter,but you didn't.You could've looked the other way,but you didn't.In fact you were willing to put yourself in danger to save a perfect stranger.Seems to me you're just the kind of average joe the world needs right now.You just don't know it yet—that's why I had to show you.

(beat)

We need you,Mr.Kowalski.

Jacob looks at the wedding cake in the bakery and makes his decision.He turns to face Lally.

JACOB

All right.Call me Jacob.

LALLY

Call me Lally.

JACOB

Lally.I gotta lock up.

Lally waves her wand.The door closes,the lights turn out and the shutters fall over the bakery.Jacob's clothes transform.

JACOB (CONT'D)

Thanks.

LALLY

Much better,Jacob.

Lally lets the book slip free of her fingers and,boards flapping,it softly flutters in the air,where the pages begin to turn.

As she extends her hand,the pages riffle faster and faster,then explode from the binding,dispersing into the air like a kaleidoscope of butterflies.

LALLY (CONT'D)

I believe you know how this works,Jacob.

As their hands touch,the cyclone of pages descends,engulfing them and—SWOOSH!—they VANISH.Seconds later,the pages flutter back into the binding of the book.

Seconds after that ...all that is left are a few stray pages that float to the ground.

23 EXT.GERMAN COUNTRYSIDE—DAY

The TRAIN wends through the Brandenburg countryside.We focus in on the CARRIAGE at the tail of the train.

24 INT.MAGICAL TRAIN CARRIAGE—DAY

YUSUF KAMA stands by the window watching the snowy countryside roll past.Newt and Theseus are by a ROARING FIRE,a copy of the Daily Prophet in Theseus's hand.On Theseus's copy we see:

ELECTION SPECIAL

Who Will Triumph?Liu or Santos?

Directly below,a pair of PHOTOGRAPHS show the CANDIDATES themselves:LIU TAO and VICÊNCIA SANTOS.

We've obviously seen the Hogwarts Express a lot in the Potter films,which we've always treated as a real train that Muggles just don't see.The difference here is that they're in a carriage attached to a Muggle train,so we had to move past the concept of a train that's invisible from the outside.When we see the train pull into the station in Berlin and the camera travels from outside to inside,this beautiful carriage is revealed within a tattered baggage car at the end of the train.So it's magically hidden rather than being invisible and that felt more interesting for the world of this film.

—CHRISTIAN MANZ

(Visual Effects)

On the back page,Grindelwald's WANTED poster.

NEWT

What are they saying at the Ministry?Liu or Santos?

THESEUS

Officially the Ministry takes no position.Unofficially?The smart money's on Santos.But anyone would be better than Vogel.

KAMA

Anyone?

Kama's gaze alights on Grindelwald.Theseus clocks it.

THESEUS

I don't believe he's on the ballot,Kama.He also happens to be a fugitive.

KAMA

Is there a difference?

Just then,the FIRE SPUTTERS,turning faintly GREEN,and Jacob stumbles over the hearth.He still holds the frying pan.

One opportunity to really engage with the Art Deco style was the magical train that transports our heroes from London to Berlin.The sculpted panels of the fireplaces are based on some very Art Deco wall decorations.We then took elements of those panels and created the logo for the wizarding train company.Once we've got that as an insignia—and this goes for all insignia across the wizarding world,of the Ministries of Magic,the Daily Prophet,and so on—then we can apply it to different media.For example,we created an onboard magazine and tickets for the train,which might not get a close-up,but they help fill that world with all the relevant pieces.

—MIRAPHORA MINA

(Graphic Designer)

JACOB

Spinning.Always with the spinning.

NEWT

Jacob!Welcome!You brilliant man.I was absolutely sure Professor Hicks would convince you!

JACOB

You know me,pal.Can't pass up a good Portkey.

Just then,the grate sputters again and,seconds later,Lally strides easily out of the fire,clutching the book.

LALLY

Mr.Scamander?

NEWT

Professor Hicks?

LALLY/NEWT

At long last.

NEWT

(to the others)

Professor Hicks—

(catching himself)

and I have corresponded for many years,but we've never actually met.Her book on Advanced Charm Casting is a must-read.

LALLY

Newt is far too kind.Fantastic Beasts is required reading for all my fifth-years.

NEWT

Now,well,let me make introductions.This is Bunty Broadacre,my indispensable assistant for the past seven years—

BUNTY

Eight ...

Two adolescent Nifflers sit on Bunty's shoulders.

BUNTY (CONT'D)

...years and a hundred and sixty-four days.

NEWT

As you can see:indispensable.And this is—

KAMA

Yusuf Kama.Pleasure.

NEWT

And you've obviously already made Jacob's acquaintance—

Theseus CLEARS HIS THROAT.Newt stares blankly at him.Theseus raises his eyebrows.

THESEUS

Newt.

NEWT

Oh,yes.Sorry.This is my brother,Theseus.And he works for the Ministry.

THESEUS

Actually,Head of the British Auror Office.

LALLY

Ah.Well,I'll have to ensure my wand registration is up to date.

Lally grins.

THESEUS

Yes.Although,strictly speaking,that doesn't fall within my purview—

Newt turns suddenly and walks to the back of the carriage.The others follow.

NEWT

All right,then.I imagine you're all wondering why you find yourselves here.

General consensus all around.

NEWT (CONT'D)

And in anticipation of that,Dumbledore asked that I convey a message:Grindelwald has the ability to see snatches of the future.So we have to assume that he'll be able to anticipate what we do before we do it.So if we hope to defeat him and to save our world ...to save your world,Jacob ...then our best hope is to confuse him.

As Newt concludes,he is greeted with ...silence.

JACOB

Excuse me?I'm sorry,how do you confuse a guy who can see the future?

KAMA

Countersight.

NEWT

Exactly.The best plan being no plan.

LALLY

Or many overlapping plans.

NEWT

Thus,confusion.

JACOB

It's working on me right now.

NEWT

In fact,Dumbledore asked that I give you something,Jacob.

The others stand by as Newt draws forth from his sleeve—a bit like an amateur magician—a WAND.

NEWT (CONT'D)

It's snakewood.It's somewhat rare—

JACOB

Are you kidding me right now?Is this thing real?

NEWT

Yes,well,it doesn't have a core,so sort of—but yes.

JACOB

Sort of real?

NEWT

More importantly,where we're going,you'll need it.

Jacob takes the wand,stares at it in awe.Newt begins to search his pockets.

NEWT (CONT'D)

Now there's something for you too,I think,Theseus—

Again,the others wait in anticipation.Newt—truly like a magician this time—tries to draw out something from inside his coat—but something tugs it back.Newt wrestles for a moment,gives it an extra tug,addressing an inside pocket ...

NEWT (CONT'D)

Teddy,please let go.Teddy,please let go.Teddy.Will you behave.This is Theseus's ...

With a decisive yank,Teddy caroms across the carriage where he is caught by Jacob.A piece of fabric falls to the floor.

Jacob and Teddy stare at each other.

Newt bends down to pick up the piece of fabric.It is a GLITTERING RED TIE patterned with a GOLDEN PHOENIX.He stands and hands it to Theseus,who takes it and turns it over.

THESEUS

Well,of course,now everything makes sense.

NEWT

Lally,Lally,I believe you were given some reading material ...

LALLY

You know what they say,a book can take you around the world and back—all you have to do is open it.

JACOB

(popping Teddy down)

She ain't kidding.

NEWT

Bunty.That's for you.I'm told it's for your eyes only.

Newt fishes out a small folded SQUARE of PAPER and hands it to Bunty.As she opens it,she visibly reacts,but before she can give it a second read,it catches fire and incinerates.

NEWT (CONT'D)

Kama—

KAMA

I have what I need.

JACOB

What about Tina?Is Tina coming?

NEWT

Tina's ...not available.Tina's ...been promoted.She's ...very,very busy.

(a beat)

From what I understand.

LALLY

Tina's been made Head of the American Auror Office.We know each other well,she's quite a remarkable woman.

Newt stands for a moment,eyeing Lally,then:

NEWT

She is.

THESEUS

So this is the team that's going to stop the most dangerous wizard we've faced in over a century?A Magizoologist,his indispensable assistant,a schoolteacher,a wizard descended from a very old French family ...and a Muggle,a baker,with his fake wand.

JACOB

Hey.We got you too,pal.And his wand works.

Jacob knocks back a drink and ...

THESEUS

True.Who wouldn't like our chances?

...giggles,and we CUT TO:

Dumbledore chooses people who have a good heart and who have very specific talents.Lally is a renowned Charms professor and she's much admired in the wizarding world.Theseus is Newt's brother and a top man in his field,head of the Auror office in the UK Ministry.Kama,because of his family,has a family history that can be put to use.And why does Dumbledore choose Jacob?Why add a Muggle to this band?Because Jacob has the right moral backbone and is a decent,kind man with a huge,beating heart.

—DAVID HEYMAN

(Producer)