Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay. Дж. К. Роулинг
ripping out of the building and down through the middle of the street. The movement is violent, rushed – people and cars go flying.
The mysterious force then flies up into the air, swirling through the city, diving in and out of alleyways, before crashing down into a subway station.
CLOSE ON GRAVES, as he examines the destruction of the street.
A mingled roar and howl emanates from the bowels of the earth.
SCENE 6
Watching NEWT walk, we see in him an unselfconscious Keatonesque quality, a sense of a different rhythm to those around him. In his hand he clutches directions on a small piece of paper, but he still shows a scientist’s curiosity about this alien environment.
SCENE 7
NEWT, intrigued by the noise of shouting, approaches a rally of the New Salem Philanthropic Society.
MARY LOU BAREBONE, a handsome mid-western woman in a 1920s version of Puritan dress, charismatic and earnest, stands on a small stage at the steps to the City Bank. Behind her stands a man parading a banner emblazoned with the organisation’s symbol: hands proudly grasping a broken wand amid bright yellow and red flames.
MARY LOU
(to the assembled crowd)
… this great city sparkles with the jewels of man’s invention! Movie theatres, automobiles, the wireless, electric lights – all dazzle and bewitch us!
NEWT slows down and watches MARY LOU as he would observe a foreign species: no judgement, simply interest. Nearby stands TINA GOLDSTEIN, hat low on her head, upturned collar. She is eating a hot dog, mustard smeared on her upper lip. NEWT accidently bumps into her as he makes his way to the front of the rally.
NEWT
Oh… so sorry.
MARY LOU
But where there is light there is shadow, friend. Something is stalking our city, wreaking destruction and then disappearing without a trace.
JACOB KOWALSKI moves nervously down the street towards the crowd, wearing an ill-fitting suit and carrying a battered brown leather case.
MARY LOU (O.S.)
We have to fight – join us, the Second Salemers, in our fight!
JACOB makes his way through the gathered crowd, also pushing past TINA.
JACOB
Excuse me doll, just trying to get to the bank – excuse me – just trying.
JACOB trips over NEWT’S case, disappearing momentarily. NEWT hauls him up.
NEWT
I’m so sorry – my case—
JACOB
No harm done—
JACOB struggles on, heading past MARY LOU and up the steps of the bank.
JACOB
Excuse me!
The kerfuffle around NEWT draws MARY LOU’S attention.
MARY LOU
(charming, to NEWT)
You, friend! What drew you to our meeting today?
NEWT is startled to find himself the centre of attention.
NEWT
Oh. I was just… passing.
MARY LOU
Are you a seeker? A seeker after truth?
A beat.
NEWT
I’m more of a chaser, really.
ANGLE ON people moving in and out of the bank.
A smartly dressed man flips a dime towards a beggar sitting on the steps.
CLOSE ON the dime, falling in slow motion.
MARY LOU (O.S.)
Hear my words and heed my warning.
ANGLE ON some little paws, which have appeared in the narrow crack between the lid and the body of NEWT’S case.
ANGLE ON the dime hitting the steps with a musical clang.
ANGLE ON the paws, now trying hard to prise open the case.
MARY LOU
… and laugh if you dare: witches live among us!
MARY LOU’S three adopted children, adults CREDENCE and CHASTITY, and MODESTY (an eight-year-old girl), hand out leaflets. CREDENCE appears nervous and troubled.
MARY LOU (O.S.)
We have to fight together for the sake of our children – for the sake of tomorrow!
(to NEWT)
What do you say to that, friend?
As NEWT looks up towards MARY LOU, something seen from the corner of his eye catches his attention. The Niffler, a small furry black cross between a mole and a duck-billed platypus, is sitting on the steps of the bank, hastily pulling the beggar’s hat full of money out of sight behind a pillar.
NEWT, startled, looks down at his case.
ANGLE ON the Niffler, busy shovelling the beggar’s coins into a pouch in its belly. The Niffler looks up, notices NEWT’S gaze, and hurriedly gathers the rest of the coins before tumbling away and into the bank.
NEWT jolts forwards.
NEWT
Excuse me.
ANGLE ON MARY LOU – she looks confused at NEWT’S lack of interest in her cause.
MARY LOU (O.S.)
Witches live among us.
ANGLE ON TINA, moving through the crowd, eyeing NEWT suspiciously.
SCENE 8
A large, impressive-looking bank atrium. In the centre, behind a golden counter, clerks are busy at work serving customers.
NEWT skids to a halt in the entrance of the space and looks around for his creature. His dress and demeanour make him out of place among the smartly dressed New Yorkers.
BANK EMPLOYEE
(suspicious)
Can I help you, sir?
NEWT
No, I was just… just… waiting.
NEWT motions towards a bench and backs away, taking a seat next to JACOB.
TINA peers at NEWT from behind a pillar.
JACOB
(nervous)
Hi.