Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

by J.K. Rowling

MARY LOU Are you a seeker? A seeker after truth? A beat. NEWT I’m more of a chaser, really.

NEWT I’ve just completed a year in the field. I’m writing a book about magical creatures. TINA Like—an extermination guide? NEWT No. A guide to help people understand why we should be protecting these creatures instead of killing them.

You need to sit down, honey. Hey— (reading his mind) —he hasn’t eaten all day. And— (reading his mind) —aw, that’s rough, (reading his mind) —he didn’t get the money he wanted for his bakery. You bake, honey? I love to cook.

He was trafficked, you see. I found him in Egypt, he was all chained up. Couldn’t leave him there, had to bring him back. I’m going to put you back where you belong, aren’t I, Frank. To the wilds of Arizona. Newt, his face full of hope and expectation, hugs Frank’s head. Then, grinning, he casts the handful of grubs high into the air. Frank soars majestically upward after them, sunlight bursting from his wings. Newt watches him fly with love and pride.

A large creature comes charging into sight: A Graphorn—built like a saber-toothed tiger but with slimy tentacles at its mouth. Jacob screams and tries to back off, but Newt grabs hold of his arm, stopping him. NEWT You’re all right. You’re all right. The Graphorn moves closer to Newt. NEWT (stroking the Graphorn) Hello, hello! The Graphorn’s strange slimy tentacles rest on Newt’s shoulder, seeming to embrace him. NEWT So they’re the last breeding pair in existence. If I hadn’t managed to rescue them, that could have been the end of Graphorns—forever. A younger Graphorn trots straight up to Jacob and begins licking his hand, circling him curiously. He stares down at it, then gently reaches out and strokes its head. Newt watches Jacob, pleased.

JACOB Newt . . . I don’t think I’m dreaming. NEWT (vaguely amused) What gave it away? JACOB I ain’t got the brains to make this up. Newt looks at Jacob, both intrigued and flattered.

JACOB (to himself) What did you do today, Jacob? I was inside a suitcase.

NEWT People like you, don’t they, Mr. Kowalski? JACOB (startled) Oh—well, I’m—I’m sure people like you too—huh? NEWT (not very concerned) No, not really. I annoy people.

QUEENIE But we made ’em cocoa . . .

NEWT My philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice.

NEWT (screaming, desperate) Don’t hurt those creatures—there is nothing in there that is dangerous. Please don’t hurt my creatures—they are not dangerous . . . Please, they are not dangerous!

JACOB (sotto voce, to Tina) Can someone please tell me what this Obscurial—Obscurius thing is? Please? TINA (also sotto voce) There hasn’t been one for centuries— NEWT I met one in Sudan three months ago. There used to be more of them but they still exist. Before wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by Muggles, young wizards and witches sometimes tried to suppress their magic to avoid persecution. Instead of learning to harness or to control their powers, they developed what was called an Obscurus. TINA (off Jacob’s confusion) It’s an unstable, uncontrollable Dark force that busts out and—and attacks . . . and then vanishes . . . As she talks, we see the penny dropping. An Obscurus fits everything she knows about the perpetrator of the New York attacks. TINA (to Newt) Obscurials can’t survive long, can they? NEWT There’s no documented case of any Obscurial surviving past the age of ten. The one I met in Africa was eight when she—she was eight when she died. JACOB What are you telling me here—that Senator Shaw was killed by a—by a kid? Newt’s look says yes.

GRAVES To expose wizardkind. To provoke war between the magical and non-magical worlds. NEWT Mass slaughter for the greater good, you mean?

But it cannot survive outside that box, it could not hurt anyone, Tina! GRAVES So it’s useless without the host? NEWT “Useless?” “Useless?” That is a parasitical magical force that killed a child. What on earth would you use it for? Newt, anger finally boiling within him, stares at Graves. Tina, reacting to the atmosphere, also looks to Graves—concern and trepidation written across her face. Graves realizes his mistake.

The Swooping Evil has now expanded into a gigantic, spooky, but weirdly beautiful butterfly-esque reptile with skeletal wings.

NEWT (insistent, very calm) I’ll catch you. I’ve got you, Tina . . .

For a split second, Newt and Tina gaze at each other, before Newt raises his hand, recalling the Swooping Evil, which folds into a cocoon once more. Newt grabs Tina’s hand and heads for the exit. NEWT Come on!

NEWT (making a clicking sound) LEAVE HIS BRAINS, come on! Come on!

ABERNATHY Again? Well—what’ve you got there? A beat. Queenie thinks fast, her face quickly breaking into a breathtaking smile. QUEENIE Ladies’ things. Queenie produces the case and innocently trots up the steps toward Abernathy. QUEENIE You wanna take a look? I don’t mind. Abernathy is overcome with embarrassment. ABERNATHY (swallowing hard) Oh! Good gravy, no! I—you get well now! QUEENIE (smiling sweetly and arranging his tie) Thanks!

QUEENIE Are all No-Majs like you? JACOB (trying to be serious, almost seductive) No, I’m the only one like me. Maintaining strong eye contact with Queenie, Jacob knocks back the shot. Suddenly he emits a raucous, high-pitched giggle. Queenie laughs sweetly at his look of surprise.

QUEENIE (concerned) She was a taker. You need a giver.

QUEENIE Keep holda that, honey. She moves to Disapparate, but Jacob hangs on to her and she falters. JACOB No, no, no! QUEENIE I can’t take you. Please let go of me, Jacob! JACOB Hey—hey! You’re the one that said I was one of youse . . . right? QUEENIE It’s too dangerous. A further massive explosion in the distance. Jacob tightens his grip on Queenie. She reads his mind and her expression changes to one of wonderment and tenderness as she sees what he went through in the war. Queenie is moved and appalled. Very slowly, she raises a hand and touches his cheek.

The Obscurus writhes at one end of the square, its energy angrier now—moving through layers of hurt and anguish, the products of isolation and torment—flecks of red light roaring from within.

GRAVES (laughing bitterly) A law that has us scuttling like rats in the gutter! A law that demands that we conceal our true nature! A law that directs those under its dominion to cower in fear lest we risk discovery! I ask you, Madam President— (eyes flashing to all present) —I ask all of you—who does this law protect? Us? (gesturing vaguely to the No-Majs above) Or them? (smiling bitterly) I refuse to bow down any longer.

Jacob has reached the top of the steps and stands gazing into the rain. Queenie reaches out and grabs his coat, willing him not to move out into the street. Jacob turns to her. JACOB Hey. Hey, this is for the best. (off their looks) Yeah—I was—I was never even supposed to be here. Jacob fights back tears. Queenie gazes up at him, her beautiful face full of distress. Tina and Newt, too, look incredibly sad. JACOB I was never supposed to know any of this. Everybody knows Newt only kept me around because—hey—Newt, why did you keep me around? Newt has to be explicit. It doesn’t come easily. NEWT Because I like you. Because you’re my friend and I’ll never forget how you helped me, Jacob. A beat. Jacob is overcome with emotion at Newt’s answer. JACOB Oh! Queenie moves forward up the stairs toward Jacob—they stand close. QUEENIE (trying to cheer him up) I’ll come with you. We’ll go somewhere—we’ll go anywhere—see, I ain’t never gonna find anyone like— JACOB (bravely) There’s loads like me. QUEENIE No . . . No . . . There’s only one like you. The pain is almost unbearable. JACOB (a beat) I gotta go.