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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two

J. K. Rowling




  The digital heart

  of the Wizarding World

  www.pottermore.com

  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two may not be performed in whole or in part and no use may be made of it whatsoever except under express licence from the rights holders of the work, J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions Limited.

  Please email [email protected] with any enquiries.

  CONTENTS

  PART ONE

  Act One

  Act Two

  PART TWO

  Act Three

  Act Four

  Original cast

  Creative and production team

  Biographies of the original story team

  Acknowledgements

  J.K. ROWLING

  To Jack Thorne

  who entered my world

  and did beautiful things there.

  JOHN TIFFANY

  For Joe, Louis, Max, Sonny and Merle . . . wizards all . . .

  JACK THORNE

  To Elliott Thorne, born 7 April 2016.

  As we rehearsed, he gurgled.

  PART ONE

  ACT ONE

  ACT ONE SCENE ONE

  KING’S CROSS

  A busy and crowded station, full of people trying to go somewhere. Amongst the hustle and bustle, two large cages rattle on top of two laden trolleys. They’re being pushed by two boys, JAMES POTTER and ALBUS POTTER. Their mother, GINNY, follows after. A thirty-seven-year-old man, HARRY, has his daughter LILY on his shoulders.

  ALBUS

  Dad. He keeps saying it.

  HARRY

  James, give it a rest.

  JAMES

  I only said he might be in Slytherin. And he might, so . . . (off his dad’s glare) fine.

  ALBUS (looking up at his mum)

  You’ll write to me, won’t you?

  GINNY

  Every day if you want us to.

  ALBUS

  No. Not every day. James says most people only get letters from home about once a month. I don’t want to . . .

  HARRY

  We wrote to your brother three times a week last year.

  ALBUS

  What? James!

  ALBUS looks accusingly at JAMES.

  GINNY

  Yes. You may not want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts. He likes a laugh, your brother.

  JAMES (with a grin)

  Can we go now please?

  ALBUS looks at his dad, and then his mum.

  GINNY

  All you have to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten.

  LILY

  I’m so excited.

  HARRY

  Don’t stop and don’t be scared you’ll crash into it, that’s very important. Best to do it at a run if you’re nervous.

  ALBUS

  I’m ready.

  HARRY and LILY put their hands on ALBUS’s trolley – GINNY joins JAMES’s trolley – and together, the family run hard into the barrier.

  ACT ONE SCENE TWO

  PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS

  Which is covered in thick white steam pouring from the HOGWARTS EXPRESS.

  And which is also busy – but instead of people in sharp suits going about their day, it’s now wizards and witches in robes mostly trying to work out how to say goodbye to their beloved progeny.

  ALBUS

  This is it.

  LILY

  Wow!

  ALBUS

  Platform nine and three-quarters.

  LILY

  Where are they? Are they here? Maybe they didn’t come?

  HARRY points out RON, HERMIONE and their daughter ROSE. LILY runs hard up to them.

  Uncle Ron. Uncle Ron!!!

  RON turns towards them as LILY goes barrelling up to him. He picks her up into his arms.

  RON

  If it isn’t my favourite Potter.

  LILY

  Have you got my trick?

  RON

  Are you aware of the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes certified nose-stealing breath?

  ROSE

  Mum! Dad’s doing that lame thing again.

  HERMIONE

  You say lame, he says glorious, I say . . . somewhere in between.

  RON

  Hang on. Let me just munch this . . . air. And now it’s just a simple matter of . . . excuse me if I smell slightly of garlic . . .

  He breathes on her face. LILY giggles.

  LILY

  You smell of porridge.

  RON

  Bing. Bang. Boing. Young lady, get ready to not being able to smell at all . . .

  He lifts her nose off.

  LILY

  Where’s my nose?

  RON

  Tada!

  His hand is empty. It’s a lame trick. Everyone enjoys its lameness.

  LILY

  You are silly.

  ALBUS

  Everyone’s staring at us again.

  RON

  Because of me! I’m extremely famous. My nose experiments are legendary!

  HERMIONE

  They’re certainly something.

  HARRY

  Parked all right then?

  RON

  I did. Hermione didn’t believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I’d have to Confund the examiner.

  HERMIONE

  I thought nothing of the kind, I have complete faith in you.

  ROSE

  And I have complete faith he did Confund the examiner.

  RON

  Oi!

  ALBUS

  Dad . . .

  ALBUS pulls on HARRY’s robes. HARRY looks down.

  Do you think – what if I am – what if I’m put in Slytherin . . .

  HARRY

  And what would be wrong with that?

  ALBUS

  Slytherin is the house of the snake, of Dark Magic . . . it’s not a house of brave wizards.

  HARRY

  Albus Severus, you were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.

  ALBUS

  But just say . . .

  HARRY

  If it matters to you, you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.

  ALBUS

  Really?

  HARRY

  It did for me.

  This is something he’s never said before, it resonates around his head a moment.

  Hogwarts will be the making of you, Albus. I promise you, there is nothing to be frightened of there.

  JAMES

  Apart from the Thestrals. Watch out for the Thestrals.

  ALBUS

  I thought they were invisible!

  HARRY

  Listen to your professors, don’t listen to James, and remember to enjoy yourself. Now, if you don’t want this train to leave without you, you should leap on . . .

  LILY

  I’m going to chase the train out.

  GINNY

  Lily, come straight back.

  HERMIONE

  Rose. Remember to send Neville our love.

  ROSE

  Mum, I can’t send a professor love!

  ROSE exits for the train. And then ALBUS turns and hugs GINNY and HARRY one last time before following after her.

  ALBUS

  Okay, then. Bye.

  He climbs on board. HERMIONE, GINNY, RON and HARRY stand watching the train – as whistles blow up and down the platform.

  GINNY

  They’re going to be okay, right?

  HERMIONE

 
Hogwarts is a big place.

  RON

  Big. Wonderful. Full of food. I’d give anything to be going back.

  HARRY

  Strange, Al being worried he’ll be sorted into Slytherin.

  HERMIONE

  That’s nothing, Rose is worried whether she’ll break the Quidditch scoring record in her first or second year. And how early she can take her O.W.Ls.

  RON

  I have no idea where she gets her ambition from.

  GINNY

  And how would you feel Harry, if Al – if he is?

  RON

  You know Gin, we always thought there was a chance you could be sorted into Slytherin.

  GINNY

  What?

  RON

  Honestly, Fred and George ran a book.

  HERMIONE

  Can we go? People are looking, you know.

  GINNY

  People always look when you three are together. And apart. People always look at you.

  The four exit. GINNY stops HARRY.

  Harry . . . he’ll be all right, won’t he?

  HARRY

  Of course he will.

  ACT ONE SCENE THREE

  THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS

  ALBUS and ROSE walk along the carriage of the train.

  The TROLLEY WITCH approaches, pushing her trolley.

  TROLLEY WITCH

  Anything from the trolley, dears? Pumpkin Pasty? Chocolate Frog? Cauldron Cake?

  ROSE (spotting ALBUS’s loving look at the Chocolate Frogs)

  Al. We need to concentrate.

  ALBUS

  Concentrate on what?

  ROSE

  On who we choose to be friends with. My mum and dad met your dad on their first Hogwarts Express you know . . .

  ALBUS

  So we need to choose now who to be friends with for life? That’s quite scary.

  ROSE

  On the contrary, it’s exciting. I’m a Granger-Weasley, you’re a Potter – everyone will want to be friends with us, we’ve got the pick of anyone we want.

  ALBUS

  So how do we decide – which compartment to go in . . .

  ROSE

  We rate them all and then we make a decision.

  ALBUS opens a compartment door – to look in on a lonely blond kid – SCORPIUS – in an otherwise empty compartment. ALBUS smiles. SCORPIUS smiles back.

  ALBUS

  Hi. Is this compartment . . .

  SCORPIUS

  It’s free. It’s just me.

  ALBUS

  Great. So we might just – come in – for a bit – if that’s okay?

  SCORPIUS

  That’s okay. Hi.

  ALBUS

  Albus. Al. I’m – my name is Albus . . .

  SCORPIUS

  Hi Scorpius. I mean, I’m Scorpius. You’re Albus. I’m Scorpius. And you must be . . .

  ROSE’s face is growing colder by the minute.

  ROSE

  Rose.

  SCORPIUS

  Hi Rose. Would you like some of my Fizzing Whizzbees?

  ROSE

  I’ve just had breakfast, thanks.

  SCORPIUS

  I’ve also got some Shock-o-Choc, Pepper Imps and some Jelly Slugs. Mum’s idea – she says (sings), ‘Sweets they always help you make friends’ (he realises that singing was a mistake). Stupid idea probably.

  ALBUS

  I’ll have some . . . Mum doesn’t let me have sweets. Which one would you start with?

  ROSE hits ALBUS, out of sight of SCORPIUS.

  SCORPIUS

  Easy. I’ve always regarded the Pepper Imp as the king of the confectionery bag. They’re peppermint sweets that make you smoke at the ears.

  ALBUS

  Brilliant, then that’s what I’ll— (ROSE hits him again.) Rose, will you please stop hitting me?

  ROSE

  I’m not hitting you.

  ALBUS

  You are hitting me, and it hurts.

  SCORPIUS’s face falls.

  SCORPIUS

  She’s hitting you because of me.

  ALBUS

  What?

  SCORPIUS

  Listen, I know who you are, so it’s probably only fair you know who I am.

  ALBUS

  What do you mean you know who I am?

  SCORPIUS

  You’re Albus Potter. She’s Rose Granger-Weasley. And I am Scorpius Malfoy. My parents are Astoria and Draco Malfoy. Our parents – they didn’t get on.

  ROSE

  That’s putting it mildly. Your mum and dad are Death Eaters!

  SCORPIUS (affronted)

  Dad was – but Mum wasn’t.

  ROSE looks away, and SCORPIUS knows why she does.

  I know what the rumour is, and it’s a lie.

  ALBUS looks from an uncomfortable ROSE to a desperate SCORPIUS.

  ALBUS

  What – is the rumour?

  SCORPIUS

  The rumour is that my parents couldn’t have children. That my father and my grandfather were so desperate for a powerful heir, to prevent the end of the Malfoy line, that they . . . that they used a Time-Turner to send my mother back—

  ALBUS

  To send her back where?

  ROSE

  The rumour is that he’s Voldemort’s son, Albus.

  A horrible, uncomfortable silence.

  It’s probably rubbish. I mean . . . look, you’ve got a nose.

  The tension is slightly broken, SCORPIUS laughs, pathetically grateful.

  SCORPIUS

  And it’s just like my father’s! I got his nose, his hair and his name. Not that that’s a great thing either. I mean – father-son issues, I have them. But, on the whole, I’d rather be a Malfoy than, you know, the son of the Dark Lord.

  SCORPIUS and ALBUS look at each other and something passes between them.

  ROSE

  Yes, well, we probably should sit somewhere else. Come on, Albus.

  ALBUS is thinking deeply.

  ALBUS

  No (off ROSE’s look), I’m okay. You go on . . .

  ROSE

  Albus. I won’t wait.

  ALBUS

  And I wouldn’t expect you to. But I’m staying here.

  ROSE looks at him a second and then leaves the compartment.

  ROSE

  Fine!

  SCORPIUS and ALBUS are left – looking at each other – unsure.

  SCORPIUS

  Thank you.

  ALBUS

  No. No. I didn’t stay – for you – I stayed for your sweets.

  SCORPIUS

  She’s quite fierce.

  ALBUS

  Yes. Sorry.

  SCORPIUS

  No. I like it. Do you prefer Albus or Al?

  SCORPIUS grins and pops two sweets in his mouth.

  ALBUS (thinks)

  Albus.

  SCORPIUS (as smoke comes out of his ears)

  THANK YOU FOR STAYING FOR MY SWEETS, ALBUS!

  ALBUS (laughing)

  Wow.

  ACT ONE SCENE FOUR

  TRANSITION SCENE

  And now we enter a never-world of time change. And this scene is all about magic.

  The changes are rapid as we leap between worlds. There are no individual scenes, but fragments, shards that show the constant progression of time.

  Initially we’re inside Hogwarts, in the Great Hall, and everyone is dancing around ALBUS.

  POLLY CHAPMAN

  Albus Potter.

  KARL JENKINS

  A Potter. In our year.

  YANN FREDERICKS

  He’s got his hair. He’s got hair just like him.

  ROSE

  And he’s my cousin. (As they turn.) Rose Granger-Weasley. Nice to meet you.

  The SORTING HAT walks through the students who spring into their houses.

  It becomes quickly apparent he’s approaching ROSE, who is tense as she awaits her fate.

  SORTING HAT

  I’ve done thi
s job for centuries

  On every student’s head I’ve sat

  Of thoughts I take inventories

  For I’m the famous Sorting Hat.

  I’ve sorted high, I’ve sorted low,

  I’ve done the job through thick and thin

  So put me on and you will know

  Which house you should be in . . .

  Rose Granger-Weasley.

  He puts his hat on ROSE’s head.

  GRYFFINDOR!

  There’s cheering from the Gryffindors as ROSE joins them.

  ROSE

  Thank Dumbledore.

  SCORPIUS runs to take ROSE’s place under the SORTING HAT’s glare.

  SORTING HAT

  Scorpius Malfoy.

  He puts his hat on SCORPIUS’s head.

  SLYTHERIN!

  SCORPIUS was expecting this, he nods and half smiles. There’s cheering from the Slytherins as he joins them.

  POLLY CHAPMAN

  Well, that makes sense.

  ALBUS walks swiftly to the front of the stage.

  SORTING HAT

  Albus Potter.

  He puts his hat on ALBUS’s head – and this time he seems to take longer – almost like he too is confused.

  SLYTHERIN!

  There’s a silence.

  A perfect, profound silence.

  One that sits low, twists a bit and has damage within it.

  POLLY CHAPMAN

  Slytherin?

  CRAIG BOWKER JR

  Whoah! A Potter? In Slytherin.

  ALBUS looks out, unsure. SCORPIUS smiles, delighted, as he shouts across to him.

  SCORPIUS

  You can stand next to me!

  ALBUS (thoroughly discombobulated)

  Right. Yes.

  YANN FREDERICKS

  I suppose his hair isn’t that similar.

  ROSE

  Albus? But this is wrong, Albus. This is not how it’s supposed to be.

  And suddenly a flying lesson is happening with MADAM HOOCH.

  MADAM HOOCH

  Well, what are you all waiting for? Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up.

  The kids all hurry into position beside their brooms.

  Stick out your hands out over your broom, and say, ‘Up!’

  EVERYONE

  UP!

  ROSE’s and YANN’s brooms sail into their hands.

  ROSE and YANN

  Yes!

  MADAM HOOCH

  Come on now, I’ve no time for shirkers. Say ‘UP’. ‘UP’ like you mean it.

  EVERYONE (bar ROSE and YANN)

  UP!

  Brooms sail up, including SCORPIUS’s. Only ALBUS is left with his broom on the floor.