Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (3 page)

SCENE 13

INT. THESTRAL-DRAWN CARRIAGE—NIGHT

Submerged in the water, the two AURORS, SPIELMAN, and ABERNATHY hold their breath.

SPIELMAN attempts to grab the vial, which is floating loose in the water, but the Chupacabra blocks his path. ABERNATHY, with hands still bound, manages to capture the vial
in his mouth.

SCENE 14

EXT. THESTRAL-DRAWN CARRIAGE—NIGHT

Still driving the carriage, GRINDELWALD swirls his wand in the air toward the surrounding storm clouds. One by one, forks of lightning strike the broomstick riders,
knocking each in turn from the sky.

SCENE 15

INT. THESTRAL-DRAWN CARRIAGE—NIGHT

GRINDELWALD appears at the door and nods to ABERNATHY. He throws the door open so the water pours out—along with the two remaining AURORS. GRINDELWALD clambers inside
and retrieves the vial from ABERNATHY’S mouth by the chain, casting a spell that grants ABERNATHY a new forked tongue.

GRINDELWALD

You have joined a noble cause, my friend.

GRINDELWALD rips the little Chupacabra off SPIELMAN. It rubs its bloody face affectionately against his hand.

GRINDELWALD

I know. Okay. I know, Antonio.

He looks at it with distaste.

GRINDELWALD

So needy.

He then flings it through the door.

He blasts SPIELMAN magically through the open door, then tosses a wand after him.

SCENE 16

EXT. SKY OVER ATLANTIC OCEAN—NIGHT

As SPIELMAN falls, he manages to seize the wand and conjures an invisible Slowing Charm. Sinking slowly toward the sea, SPIELMAN watches his carriage streaking away in the
direction of Europe.

SCENE 17

EXT. OVERCAST LONDON, WHITEHALL—THREE MONTHS LATER—AFTERNOON

A gloomy silence. Establishing shot.

An owl flutters down into the Ministry.

SCENE 18

INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC—AFTERNOON

NEWT SCAMANDER sits alone in a dingy waiting area, staring abstractedly into space. After a moment, he feels something tugging on his wrist. He looks down. Pickett, a
Bowtruckle, is swinging on a loose thread in his cuff.

The thread snaps. Pickett falls. NEWT’S button rolls away down a corridor. NEWT and Pickett watch it go.

A beat.

Then both chase after it. NEWT just gets there first. As he bends to pick it up, he finds himself confronted by a pair of female feet.

LETA (O.S.)

They’re ready for you, Newt.

He stands up. Face-to-face with LETA LESTRANGE, who is beautiful and smiling, NEWT stuffs the button and Pickett into his pocket.

NEWT

Leta . . . what are you doing here?

LETA

Theseus thought it would be good if I became part of the Ministry family.

NEWT

Did he actually say the words “Ministry family”?

She gives a little laugh. They head off along the corridor. Tension. A lot of history.

NEWT

That sounds like my brother.

LETA

Theseus was disappointed you couldn’t come to dinner. Any of the nights we asked you.

NEWT

Well, I’ve been busy.

LETA

He’s your brother, Newt, he likes spending time with you. And so do I.

NEWT spots Pickett climbing onto his lapel and holds out the breast pocket of his coat.

NEWT

(to Pickett)

Oi, you! Hop in, Pick.

Pickett snuggles down.

LETA

(smiling)

Why do strange creatures love you so much?

NEWT

Well, there are no strange creatures—

NEWT & LETA

“—only blinkered people.”

She is smiling again. NEWT—just—reciprocates.

LETA

How long did you get in detention for saying that to Prendergast?

NEWT

You know, I think it was a month that time.

LETA

And I set off a Dungbomb under his desk so I could join you, do you remember?

They have come within sight of scary, official doors leading to the meeting room. THESEUS SCAMANDER emerges.

NEWT

No, I actually don’t remember that.

Rebuffed, she comes to a halt. NEWT walks away toward THESEUS, who is very like NEWT, but more outgoing, easier in manner. THESEUS winks at LETA before turning to
NEWT.

THESEUS

Hello.

LETA

Theseus. We were just talking about Newt coming for dinner.

THESEUS

Really? Well . . . Look, before we go in there I—

NEWT

—It’s my fifth attempt, Theseus. I know the form.

THESEUS

This isn’t going to be like the other times. This is . . . Just try and keep an open mind, will you? And maybe a little less—

A wordless gesture indicates Pickett, NEWT’S blue coat, and his messy hair.

NEWT

—like me?

THESEUS

(not without affection)

Well, it can’t hurt. Come on, let’s go.