Table of Contents 4 страница

BOOK: I am the creature you have not seen.

I am you. I am me. The echo unforeseen.

Sometimes in front, sometimes behind,

A constant companion, for we are entwined.

ALBUS

emerges from the books. As himself again.

SCORPIUS/HARRY: Albus. . .

He tries to grab him.

ALBUS: No. Just — THIIIIIIINK.

ALBUS

is violently pulled back into the bookcase.

SCORPIUS/HARRY: But I can’t. . . an invisible echo, what is that? The only thing I’m good at is thinking and when I need to think — I can’t.

The books pull him inside them; he’s powerless. This is terrifying.

There’s silence.

Then BANG — a shower of books are released from the bookcase — and

SCORPIUS

reemerges. Smashing the books aside.

SCORPIUS: No! You don’t! Sybill Trelawney. No!!!!

He looks around, sunk but full of energy.

This is all wrong. Albus? Can you hear me? All this for a frigging Time-Turner. Think, Scorpius. Think.

Books try and grab him.

A constant companion. Sometimes behind. Sometimes in front. Hang on. I’ve missed it. Shadow. You’re a shadow.

Shadows and Spirits

. It must be. . .

He climbs up the bookcase, which is horrifying as it rises up at him. Grabbing at him with his every step.

He pulls the book from the shelf. It comes out and the noise and chaos suddenly stop.

Is that —

Suddenly there’s a smashing and

ALBUS

and

DELPHI

fall out of the shelves and down to the floor.

We beat it. We beat the library.

ALBUS: Delphi, are you. . . ?

DELPHI: Wow. Quite a ride.

ALBUS

notices the book

SCORPIUS

is holding to his chest.

ALBUS: Is that? Scorpius? What’s inside that book?

DELPHI: I think we should find out, don’t you?

SCORPIUS

opens the book. In the center of it — a spinning Time-Turner.

SCORPIUS: We’ve found the Time-Turner — I never thought we’d get this far.

ALBUS: Mate, now we’ve got this, the next stop is saving Cedric. Our journey has only just begun.

SCORPIUS: Only just begun and it’s almost half killed us. Good. This is going to be good.

Whispers rise to a roar. And we cut to black.

ACT TWO, SCENE ONE

DREAM, PRIVET DRIVE, CUPBOARD UNDER THE STAIRS

AUNT PETUNIA: Harry. Harry. These pots aren’t clean. THESE POTS ARE A DISGRACE. HARRY POTTER. Wake up.

YOUNG HARRY

wakes to see

AUNT PETUNIA

bearing down on him.

YOUNG HARRY: Aunt Petunia. What time is it?

AUNT PETUNIA: Time enough. You know, when we agreed to take you in, we hoped we could improve you — build you — make you a decent human being. So I suppose it’s only ourselves we’ve got to blame that you’ve turned out. . . such a limp disappointment.

YOUNG HARRY: I try —

AUNT PETUNIA: Trying is not succeeding though, is it? There are grease smears on the glasses. There are scuff marks on the pots. Now get up and go to the kitchen and get scrubbing.

He gets out of bed. There’s a wet smear down the back of his trousers.

Oh no. Oh no. What have you done? You’ve wet the bed, again.

She pulls back the covers.

This is very unacceptable.

YOUNG HARRY: I’m — sorry, I think I was having a nightmare.

AUNT PETUNIA: You disgusting boy. Only animals wet themselves. Animals and disgusting little boys.

YOUNG HARRY: It was about my mum and dad. I think I saw them — I think I saw them — die?

AUNT PETUNIA: And why would I have the slightest bit of interest in that?

YOUNG HARRY: There was a man shouting Adkava Ad-something Acabra — Ad — and the noise of a snake hissing. I could hear my mum scream.

AUNT PETUNIA

takes a moment to reset herself.

AUNT PETUNIA: If you were really reliving their death, all you’d hear would be a screech of brakes and a horrific thud. Your parents died in a car accident. You know that. I don’t think your mother had even time to scream. Lord spare you the details more than that. Now strip those sheets, get in the kitchen, and get scrubbing. I don’t want to have to tell you again.

She exits with a bang.

And

YOUNG HARRY

is left holding the sheets.

And the stage contorts and trees rise as the dream twists into something else entirely.

Suddenly,

ALBUS

appears and stands looking at

YOUNG HARRY

And then, right from the back of the room, Parseltongue whispers around everyone.

He’s coming. He’s coming.

Words said in an unmistakable voice. The voice of

VOLDEMORT

. . .

Haaarry Pottttter.

ACT TWO, SCENE TWO

HARRY AND GINNY POTTER’S HOUSE, STAIRCASE

HARRY wakes in the darkness, breathing deeply. His exhaustion palpable, his fear overwhelming.

HARRY: Lumos.

GINNY

enters, surprised by the light.

GINNY: Okay. . . ?

HARRY: I was sleeping.

GINNY: You were.

HARRY: You weren’t. Any — news? Any owls or. . . ?

GINNY: None.

HARRY: I was dreaming — I was under the stairs and then I — I heard him — Voldemort — so clearly.

GINNY: Voldemort?

HARRY: And then I saw — Albus. In red — he was wearing Durmstrang robes.

GINNY: Durmstrang robes?

HARRY

thinks.

HARRY: Ginny, I think I know where he is. . .

ACT TWO, SCENE THREE

HOGWARTS, HEADMISTRESS’S OFFICE

HARRY and GINNY stand in PROFESSOR McGONAGALL ’s office.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: And we don’t know where in the Forbidden Forest?

HARRY: I haven’t had a dream like it for years. But Albus was there. I know he was.

GINNY: We need to get searching as quickly as possible.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: I can give you Professor Longbottom — his knowledge of plants might be useful — and —

Suddenly there is a rumble in the chimney.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

looks at it, concerned. Then

HERMIONE

tumbles out.

HERMIONE: Is it true? Can I help?

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Minister — this is quite unexpected. . .

GINNY: That may be my fault — I persuaded them to put out an emergency edition of the Daily Prophet. Asking for volunteers.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Right. Very sensible. I expect. . . there will be quite a few.

RON

bursts in. Covered in soot. Wearing a gravy-stained dinner napkin.

RON: Have I missed anything — I couldn’t work out which Floo to travel to. Ended up in the kitchen somehow. ( HERMIONE glares as he pulls the napkin off himself. ) What?

Suddenly there is another rumble in the chimney and

DRACO

comes down hard, surrounded by cascading soot and dust.

Everyone looks at him, surprised. He stands and brushes the soot off himself.

DRACO: Sorry about your floor, Minerva.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: I dare say it’s my fault for owning a chimney.

HARRY: Quite a surprise to see you, Draco. I thought you didn’t believe in my dreams.

DRACO: I don’t, but I do trust your luck. Harry Potter is always where the action is at. And I need my son back with me and safe.

GINNY: Then let’s get to the Forbidden Forest and find them both.

ACT TWO, SCENE FOUR

EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

ALBUS and DELPHI face each other, holding wands.

ALBUS: Expelliarmus!

DELPHI

’s wand flies through the air.

DELPHI: You’re getting it now. You’re good at this.

She takes her wand back from him.

(In a posh voice. )

“You’re a positively disarming young man. ”

ALBUS: Expelliarmus!

Her wand flies back again.

DELPHI: And we have a winner.

The two high-five.

ALBUS: I’ve never been good at spells.

SCORPIUS

appears at the back of the stage. He looks at his friend talking to a girl — and part of him likes it and part of him doesn’t.

DELPHI: I was rubbish — and then something clicked. And it will for you too. Not that I’m a super witch or anything but — I think you’re becoming quite some wizard, Albus Potter.

ALBUS: Then you should stick around, teach me more. . .

DELPHI: Of course I’m sticking around, we’re friends, aren’t we?

ALBUS: Yes. Yes. Definitely friends. Definitely.

DELPHI: Great. Wizzo!

SCORPIUS: What’s wizzo?

SCORPIUS

steps forward decisively.

ALBUS: Cracked the spell. I mean, it’s pretty basic, but I was — well, I cracked it.

SCORPIUS(over-enthusiastic, trying to join in): And I’ve found our way through to the school. Listen, are we sure this will work. . .

DELPHI: Yes!

ALBUS: It’s a brilliant plan. The secret to not getting Cedric killed is to stop him winning the Triwizard Tournament. If he doesn’t win, he can’t be killed.

SCORPIUS: And I understand that, but. . .

ALBUS: So we just need to mess up his chances supremely badly in task one. The first task is getting a golden egg from a dragon, how did Cedric distract the dragon —

DELPHI

puts her hand in the air.

ALBUS

grins and points at her. These two are getting on really well now.

Diggory.

DELPHI: — by transfiguring a stone into a dog.

ALBUS: — well, a little Expelliarmus and he won’t be able to do that.

SCORPIUS

isn’t enjoying the

DELPHI

ALBUS

double act.

SCORPIUS: Okay, two points, first point, we’re certain the dragon won’t kill him?

DELPHI: It’s always two points with him, isn’t it? Of course it won’t. This is Hogwarts. They won’t let damage happen to any of the champions.

SCORPIUS: Okay, second point — more significant point — we’re going back without any knowledge of whether we can travel back afterwards. Which is exciting. Maybe we should just — try going back an hour, say, first and then. . .

DELPHI: I’m sorry, Scorpius, we’ve no time to waste. Waiting here this close to the school is just too dangerous — I’m sure they’ll be looking for you and. . .

ALBUS: She’s right.

DELPHI: Now, you’re going to need to wear these.

She pulls out two large paper bags. The boys pull robes from them.

ALBUS: But these are Durmstrang robes.

DELPHI: My uncle’s idea. If you are in Hogwarts robes people will expect to know who you are. But there are two other schools competing at the Triwizard Tournament — and if you’re in Durmstrang robes — well, you can fade into the background, can’t you?

ALBUS: Good thinking! Hang on, where are your robes?

DELPHI: Albus, I’m flattered, but I don’t think I can pretend to be a student, do you? I’ll just keep in the background and pretend to be a — ooh, maybe I could pretend to be a dragon tamer. You’re doing all the spell stuff anyway.

SCORPIUS

looks at her and then at

ALBUS

SCORPIUS: You shouldn’t come.

DELPHI: What?

SCORPIUS: You’re right. We don’t need you for the spell. And if you can’t wear student robes — you’re too big a risk. Sorry, Delphi, you shouldn’t come.

DELPHI: But I have to — he’s my cousin. Albus?

ALBUS: I think he’s right. I’m sorry.

DELPHI: What?

ALBUS: We won’t mess up.

DELPHI: But without me — you won’t be able to work the Time-Turner.

SCORPIUS: You taught us how to use the Time-Turner.

DELPHI

is really upset.

DELPHI: No. I won’t let you do this. . .

ALBUS: You told your uncle to trust us. Now it’s your turn. The school is close now. We should leave you here.

DELPHI

looks at them both and takes a deep breath. She nods to herself and smiles.

DELPHI: Then go. But — just know this. . . Today you get an opportunity few are given — today you get to change history — to change time itself. But more than all that, today you get the chance to give an old man his son back.

She smiles. She looks at

ALBUS

. She leans down and gently kisses him on both cheeks.

She walks away into the woodland.

ALBUS

stares after her.

SCORPIUS: She didn’t kiss me — did you notice? (He looks at his friend. ) Are you okay, Albus? You look a little pale. And red. Pale and red at the same time.

ALBUS: Let’s do this.

ACT TWO, SCENE FIVE

FORBIDDEN FOREST

The forest seems to grow bigger, thicker — and amongst the trees, people searching, looking for the missing wizards. But slowly people melt away until HARRY is left alone.

He hears something. He turns to his right.

HARRY: Albus? Scorpius? Albus?

And then he hears the sound of hooves.

HARRY

is startled. He looks around for where the noise is coming from.

Suddenly

BANE

steps forward into the light. He is a magnificent centaur.

BANE: Harry Potter.

HARRY: Good. You still recognize me, Bane.

BANE: You’ve grown older.

HARRY: I have.

BANE: But not wiser. For you trespass on our land.

HARRY: I have always respected the centaurs. We are not enemies. You fought bravely at the Battle of Hogwarts. And I fought beside you.

BANE: I did my part. But for my herd, and our honor. Not for you. And after the battle, the forest was deemed centaur land. And if you’re on our land — without permission — then you are our enemy.

HARRY: My son is missing, Bane. I need help finding him.

BANE: And he is here? In our forest?

HARRY: Yes.

BANE: Then he is as stupid as you are.

HARRY: Can you help me, Bane?

There’s a pause.

BANE

looks down at

HARRY

imperiously.

BANE: I can only tell you what I know. . . But I tell you not for your benefit but for the benefit of my herd. The centaurs do not need another war.

HARRY: Neither do we! What do you know?

BANE: I’ve seen your son, Harry Potter. Seen him in the movements of the stars.

HARRY: You’ve seen him in the stars?

BANE: I can’t tell you where he is. I can’t tell you how you’ll find him.

HARRY: But you’ve seen something? You’ve divined something?

BANE: There is a black cloud around your son, a dangerous black cloud.

HARRY: Around Albus?

BANE: A black cloud that may endanger us all. You’ll find your son again, Harry Potter. But then you could lose him forever.

He makes a sound like a horse’s cry — and then makes hard away — leaving a bewildered

HARRY

behind. He begins to search again — now with even more fervor.

HARRY: Albus! Albus!

ACT TWO, SCENE SIX

EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

SCORPIUS and ALBUS round a corner to be faced with a gap in the trees. . .

A gap through which is visible. . . a glorious light. . .

SCORPIUS: And there it is. . .

ALBUS: Hogwarts. Never seen this view of it before.

SCORPIUS: Still get a tingle, don’t you? When you see it?

And revealed through the trees is

HOGWARTS

— a splendid mass of bulbous buildings and towers.

From the moment I first heard of it, I was desperate to go. I mean, Dad didn’t much like it there but even the way he described it. . . From the age of ten I’d check the

Daily Prophet

first thing every morning — certain some sort of tragedy would have befallen it — certain I wouldn’t get to go.

ALBUS: And then you got there and it turned out to be terrible after all.

SCORPIUS: Not for me.

ALBUS

looks at his friend, shocked.

All I ever wanted to do was go to Hogwarts and have a mate to get up to mayhem with. Just like Harry Potter. And I got his son. How crazily fortunate is that.

ALBUS: But I’m nothing like my dad.

SCORPIUS: You’re better. You’re my best friend, Albus. And this is mayhem to the nth degree. Which is great, thumbs-up great, it’s just — I have got to say — I don’t mind admitting — I am a tiny bit — just a tiny bit scared.

ALBUS

looks at

SCORPIUS

and smiles.

ALBUS: You’re my best friend too. And don’t worry — I have a good feeling about this.

We hear

RON

’s voice from off — he’s clearly in close proximity.

RON: Albus? Albus.

ALBUS

turns towards it, scared.

ALBUS: But we’ve got to go — now.

ALBUS

takes the Time-Turner from

SCORPIUS

— he presses down upon it and the Time-Turner begins to vibrate and then explodes into a storm of movement.

And with it the stage starts to transform. The two boys look at it.

And there is a giant whoosh of light. A smash of noise.

And time stops. And then it turns over, thinks a bit, and begins spooling backwards, slow at first. . .

And then it speeds up.

ACT TWO, SCENE SEVEN

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT, EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST, 1994

Suddenly everything is a riot of noise as a crowd consumes ALBUS and SCORPIUS.

And suddenly the “greatest showman on earth” (his words, not ours) is onstage, using Sonorus to amplify his voice, and. . . well. . . he’s having a ball.

LUDO BAGMAN: Ladies and gentlemen — boys and girls — I give you — the greatest — the fabulous — the one — and the only TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT.

There’s a loud cheer.

If you’re from Hogwarts. Give me a cheer.

There’s a loud cheer.

If you’re from Durmstrang — give me a cheer.

There’s a loud cheer.

AND IF YOU’RE FROM BEAUXBATONS GIVE ME A CHEER.

There’s a slightly limp cheer.

Slightly less enthusiastic from the French there.

SCORPIUS(smiling): This has worked. That’s Ludo Bagman.

LUDO BAGMAN: And there they are. Ladies and gentlemen — boys and girls — I present to you — the reason why we’re all here — THE CHAMPIONS. Representing Durmstrang, what eyebrows, what a gait, what a boy, there’s nothing he won’t try on a broomstick, it’s Viktor Krazy Krum.

SCORPIUS and ALBUS(who are really getting into playing the Durmstrang students now): Go, go, Krazy Krum. Go, go, Krazy Krum.

LUDO BAGMAN: From the Beauxbatons Academy — zut alors, it’s Fleur Delacour!

There’s some polite applause.

And from Hogwarts not one but two students, he makes us all go weaky at the kneesy, he’s Cedric Delicious Diggory.

The crowd go wild.

And then the other—you know him as the Boy Who Lived, I know him as the boy who keeps surprising us all. . .

ALBUS: That’s my dad.

LUDO BAGMAN: Yes, it’s Harry Plucky Potter.

There’s cheering. Particularly from a nervous-looking girl at the edge of the crowd—this is

YOUNG HERMIONE

(played by the same actress as plays

ROSE

). It is noticeable that the cheering for

HARRY

is slightly less than that for

CEDRIC

And now — silence please, all. The — first — task. Retrieving a golden egg. From a nest of — ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you — DRAGONS. And guiding the dragons — CHARLIE WEASLEY.

There are more cheers.

YOUNG HERMIONE: If you’re going to stand so close I’d rather you didn’t breathe on me quite so much.

SCORPIUS: Rose? What are you doing here?

YOUNG HERMIONE: Who’s Rose? And what’s happened to your accent?

ALBUS(with a bad accent): Sorry. Hermione. He’s got you mixed up with someone else.

YOUNG HERMIONE: How do you know my name?

LUDO BAGMAN: And with no time to lose let’s bring out our first champion — facing a Swedish Short-Snout, I give you — CEDRIC DIGGORY.

A dragon roar distracts

YOUNG HERMIONE

, and

ALBUS

readies his wand.

And Cedric Diggory has entered the stage. And he seems ready. Scared, but ready. He dodges this way. He dodges that. The girls swoon as he dives for cover. They cry as one: Don’t damage our Diggory, Mr. Dragon!

SCORPIUS

looks concerned.

SCORPIUS: Albus, something is going wrong. The Time-Turner, it’s shaking.

A ticking begins, an incessant, dangerous ticking. It’s coming from the Time-Turner.

LUDO BAGMAN: And Cedric skirts left and he dives right — and he readies his wand — what has this young, brave, handsome man got up his sleevies now —

ALBUS(extending his wand): Expelliarmus!

CEDRIC

’s wand is summoned to

ALBUS

’s hand.

LUDO BAGMAN: — but no, what’s this? Is it Dark Magic or is it something else entirely? His wand is flying away — Cedric Diggory is Disarmed —

SCORPIUS: Albus, I think the Time-Turner — something is wrong. . .

The Time-Turner’s ticking gets louder still.

LUDO BAGMAN: It’s all going wrong for Diggors. This could be the end of the task for him. The end of the tournament.

SCORPIUS

grabs

ALBUS

There’s a crescendo in the ticking, and a flash.

And time is turned back to the present, with

ALBUS

hollering in pain.

SCORPIUS: Albus! Did it hurt you? Albus, are you —

ALBUS: What happened?

SCORPIUS: There must be some limit — the Time-Turner must have some kind of time limit. . .

ALBUS: Do you think we’ve done it? Do you think we’ve changed anything?

Suddenly the stage is invaded from all sides by

HARRY

RON

(who now has a side parting in his hair and whose wardrobe choices have become rather more staid),

GINNY

, and

DRACO

SCORPIUS

looks at them all — and slips the Time-Turner back into his pocket.

ALBUS

looks at them rather more blankly — he’s in a lot of pain.

RON: I told you. I told you I saw them.

SCORPIUS: I think we’re about to find out.

ALBUS: Hello, Dad. Is something wrong?

HARRY

looks at his son disbelievingly.

HARRY: Yes. You could say that.

ALBUS

collapses onto the floor.

HARRY

and

GINNY

rush to help.

ACT TWO, SCENE EIGHT

HOGWARTS, HOSPITAL WING

ALBUS is asleep in a hospital bed. HARRY sits troubled beside him. Above them is a picture of a concerned kindly man. HARRY rubs his eyes — stands — and walks around the room. He stretches out his back.

And then he meets eyes with the painting. Which looks startled to be spotted. And HARRY looks startled back.

HARRY: Professor Dumbledore.

DUMBLEDORE: Good evening, Harry.

HARRY: I’ve missed you. Whenever I’ve dropped in on the headmistress lately, your frame’s been empty.

DUMBLEDORE: Ah, well, I do like to pop into my other portraits now and then. (He looks at ALBUS. ) Will he be all right?

HARRY: He’s been out twenty-four hours, mostly in order so Madam Pomfrey could reset his arm. She said it was the strangest thing, it’s like it was broken twenty years ago and allowed to set in the “most contrary” of directions. She says he’ll be fine.

DUMBLEDORE: A difficult thing, I imagine, to watch your child in pain.

HARRY

looks up at

DUMBLEDORE

, and then down at

ALBUS

HARRY: I’ve never asked how you felt about me naming him after you, have I?

DUMBLEDORE: Candidly, Harry, it seemed a great weight to place upon the poor boy.

HARRY: I need your help. I need your advice. Bane says Albus is in danger. How do I protect my son, Dumbledore?

DUMBLEDORE: You ask me, of all people, how to protect a boy in terrible danger? We cannot protect the young from harm. Pain must and will come.

HARRY: So I’m supposed to stand and watch?

DUMBLEDORE: No. You’re supposed to teach him how to meet life.

HARRY: How? He won’t listen.

DUMBLEDORE: Perhaps he’s waiting for you to see him clearly.

HARRY

frowns as he tries to digest this.

(

With sensitivity. )

It is a portrait’s curse and blessing to. . . hear things. At the school, at the Ministry, I hear people talking. . .

HARRY: And what is the gossip about me and my son?

DUMBLEDORE: Not gossip. Concern. That you two are struggling. That he’s difficult. That he is angry with you. I have formed the impression that — perhaps — you are blinded by your love for him.

HARRY: Blinded?

DUMBLEDORE: You must see him as he is, Harry. You must look for what’s wounding him.

HARRY: Haven’t I seen him as he is? What’s wounding my son? (He thinks. ) Or is it who’s wounding my son?

ALBUS(mumbles in his sleep): Dad. . .

HARRY: This black cloud, it’s someone, isn’t it? Not something?

DUMBLEDORE: Ah really, what does my opinion matter anymore? I am paint and memory, Harry, paint and memory. And I never had a son.

HARRY: But I need your advice.

ALBUS: Dad?

HARRY

looks at

ALBUS

and then back at

DUMBLEDORE

. But

DUMBLEDORE

is gone.

HARRY: No, where have you gone now?

ALBUS: We’re in — the hospital wing?

HARRY

turns his attention back to

ALBUS

HARRY(discombobulated): Yes. And you’re — you will be fine. For recuperation, Madam Pomfrey wasn’t sure what to prescribe and said you should probably eat lots of — chocolate. Actually, do you mind if I have some —? I’ve got something to tell you and I don’t think you’ll like it.

ALBUS

looks at his dad, what does he have to say? He decides not to engage.

ALBUS: Okay. I think.

HARRY

takes some chocolate, he eats a big chunk.

ALBUS

looks at his dad, confused.

Better?

HARRY: Much.

He holds out the chocolate to his son.

ALBUS

takes a piece. Father and son munch together.

The arm, how does it feel?

ALBUS

flexes his arm.

ALBUS: It feels great.

HARRY(soft): Where did you go, Albus? I can’t tell you what it did to us. Your mum was worried sick. . .

ALBUS

looks up, he is a great liar.

ALBUS: We decided we didn’t want to come to school. We thought we could start again — in the Muggle world. We discovered we were wrong. We were coming back to Hogwarts when you found us.

HARRY: In Durmstrang robes?

ALBUS: The robes were. . . The whole thing — Scorpius and I — we didn’t think.

HARRY: And why — why did you run? Because of me? Because of what I said?

ALBUS: I don’t know. Hogwarts isn’t actually that pleasant a place when you don’t fit in.

HARRY: And did Scorpius — encourage you to — go?

ALBUS: Scorpius? No.