Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (4 page)

SCENE 19

INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC, HEARING ROOM—AFTERNOON

NEWT and THESEUS enter the room, where TORQUIL TRAVERS (harsh, mean-spirited), ARNOLD GUZMAN (American), and RUDOLPH SPIELMAN (who is still bruised from GRINDELWALD’S
escape, the bloody bite visible on his neck) are already sitting.

Two empty chairs, which NEWT and THESEUS take. The corners of the room are in darkness.

TRAVERS

Hearing commences.

The quill begins to write. TRAVERS opens a file in front of him, which contains pictures of NEWT’S Wanted pictures and of the post-Obscurial devastation in New
York.

TRAVERS

You want an end to the ban on your traveling internationally. Why?

NEWT

Because I like to travel internationally.

SPIELMAN

(reading from his own file)

“Subject uncooperative and evasive on reasons for last international trip.”

All look at NEWT, waiting.

NEWT

It was a field trip. I was collecting material for my book on magical beasts—

TRAVERS

You destroyed half of New York.

NEWT

No, that’s actually factually incorrect on two counts—

THESEUS

(quiet but stern)

Newt!

NEWT stops, frowns.

GUZMAN

Mr. Scamander, it’s clear you’re frustrated and, frankly, so are we. In the spirit of compromise, we’d like to make a proposition.

NEWT glances at THESEUS warily. THESEUS nods: Listen.

NEWT

What kind of proposition?

TRAVERS

The committee will agree to lift your travel ban under one condition.

NEWT waits. SPIELMAN leans forward.

SPIELMAN

You join the Ministry. Specifically, your brother’s department.

NEWT digests this, then:

NEWT

No, I—that isn’t my kind of—Theseus is the Auror. I think my talents lie elsewhere—

GUZMAN

Mr. Scamander. The wizarding and non-wizarding worlds have been at peace for over a century. Grindelwald wants to see that peace destroyed, and for certain members of our
community his message is very seductive. Many purebloods believe it is their birthright to rule not only our world but the non-magic world as well. They see Grindelwald as their hero, and
Grindelwald sees this boy as a means to make this all come true.

Hearing this, NEWT frowns, watching as CREDENCE’S face emerges in the surface of the table.

NEWT

I’m sorry. You’re talking about Credence as if he were still here.

THESEUS

He survived, Newt.

NEWT stops cold, his eyes fixed on THESEUS. THESEUS nods.

THESEUS

He’s still alive. He left New York months ago. He’s somewhere in Europe. Where exactly, we don’t know, but—

NEWT

And you want me to hunt Credence down? To kill him?

Out of the shadows in the corner comes deep, nasty laughter.

GRIMMSON

Same old Scamander.

NEWT reacts to the sound of the voice. GRIMMSON moves into the light. Scarred, brutal, he is a beast hunter for hire.

NEWT

(furious)

What’s he doing here?

GRIMMSON

Taking on the job you’re too soft to do.

GRIMMSON walks toward them while the ghostly image of CREDENCE shimmers on the enchanted surface of the table.

GRIMMSON

(of CREDENCE)

Is that it?

NEWT rises furiously, storms toward the door.

TRAVERS

(calling after him)

Travel documentation denied!

THESEUS stares at the door as it closes. The committee looks unsurprised, turns their gazes to the smirking GRIMMSON.

SCENE 20

INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC, CORRIDOR—AFTERNOON

THESEUS chases after NEWT.

THESEUS

Newt!

NEWT stops. Turns.

THESEUS

(testy)

You think I like the idea of Grimmson any more than you do?

NEWT

Listen, I don’t want to hear how the ends justify the means, Theseus.

THESEUS

I think you’re gonna have to pull your head out of the sand!

NEWT

(exasperated)

Okay, right, here we go. What a selfish . . . irresponsible . . .

THESEUS

You know, the time is coming when everyone’s going to have to pick a side. Even you.

NEWT

I don’t do sides.

THESEUS

Newt . . .

He turns to go, but THESEUS runs after him, grabs his arm to hold him back.

THESEUS

(pulling him in for a hug)

C’mere.

NEWT doesn’t reciprocate but doesn’t fight him off either.

THESEUS

(in NEWT’S ear)

They’re watching you.

SCENE 21

INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC, HEARING ROOM—AFTERNOON

GRIMMSON is sitting in what was NEWT’S seat, facing the committee.

GRIMMSON

Well, gentlemen. I assume this means I have the job.

SCENE 22

EXT. SKYLINE OF UPMARKET QUARTER OF PARIS—AFTERNOON

Establishing shot.

SCENE 23

EXT. ELEGANT STREET OF 19TH-CENTURY PARISIAN HOUSES—AFTERNOON

GRINDELWALD and ACOLYTES stand in the street. GRINDELWALD points his cane at a particularly fine house.

A clatter announces the arrival of a horse-drawn hearse.

NAGEL, KRALL, CARROW, ABERNATHY, KRAFFT, ROSIER (female), and MACDUFF approach the front door. KRALL opens it with his wand. The ACOLYTES enter.

PARISIAN MAN (O.S.)

Chérie?

PARISIAN WOMAN (O.S.)

(worried)

Qui est là?

GRINDELWALD looks around the street, calm, waiting, tapping on the pavement with his cane.

We see a green flash—the Killing Curse. The door reopens. Two black coffins exit. GRINDELWALD watches as NAGEL and KRAFFT load the coffins onto the carriage.

SCENE 24

INT. GRINDELWALD’S HIDEOUT, DRAWING ROOM—AFTERNOON

GRINDELWALD surveys the elegant clutter left by the haut bourgeois family he has just murdered.

GRINDELWALD

Yes. This will be suitable after a thorough cleanse.

(to NAGEL)

I want you to go to the circus now. Give my note to Credence, begin his journey.

NAGEL nods and leaves.

ROSIER

When we’ve won, they’ll flee cities in the millions. They’ve had their time.

GRINDELWALD

We don’t say such things out loud. We want only freedom. Freedom to be ourselves.

ROSIER

To annihilate non-wizards.

GRINDELWALD

Not all of them. Not all. We’re not merciless. The beast of burden will always be necessary.

We hear the sound of a child close at hand.