Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

First trip to New York?

NEWT

Yes.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

(gesturing to Newt’s case)

Anything edible in there?

NEWT

(placing a hand over his breast pocket)

No.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

Livestock?

The catch on Newt’s case flicks open again. Newt looks down and hastily closes it.

NEWT

Must get that fixed—ahh, no.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

(suspicious)

Let me take a look.

Newt places the case on the desk between them and discreetly flicks a brass dial to MUGGLEWORTHY.

The customs official spins the case toward him and pops the catches, lifting the lid to reveal:

Pajamas, various maps, a journal, an alarm clock, a magnifying glass, and a Hufflepuff scarf. Finally satisfied, he closes the case.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

Welcome to New York.

NEWT

Thank you.

Newt gathers his passport and case.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

Next!

Newt exits through customs.

SCENE 5

EXT. STREET NEAR CITY HALL SUBWAY—DUSK

A long street of identical brownstone houses, one of which has been reduced to rubble. A gaggle of reporters and photographers mills around in the vague hope of something happening, but without much enthusiasm. One reporter is interviewing an excitable middle-aged man as they move through the rubble.

WITNESS

—and it was like a—like a wind or like a—like a ghost—but dark—and I saw its eyes—shinin’ white eyes—

REPORTER

(expressionless—notebook in his hand)

—a dark wind—with eyes . . .

WITNESS

—like a dark mass, and it dove down there, down underground—I swear to God . . . into the earth right in front of me.

CLOSE ON PERCIVAL GRAVES as he walks toward the destroyed building.

Graves: Smart clothing, very handsome, early middle-age, his demeanor differs from those around him. He is watchful, tightly coiled, an air of intense confidence.

PHOTOGRAPHER

(sotto voce)

Hey—did you get anything?

REPORTER

(sotto voce)

Dark wind, blah blah.

PHOTOGRAPHER

It’s some atmospheric hooey. Or electrical.

Graves moves up the steps of the now ruined building. He examines the destruction, curious, alert.

REPORTER

Hey—you thirsty?

PHOTOGRAPHER

Nah, I’m on the wagon. Promised Martha I’d lay off.

Wind begins to pick up, swirling around the building, accompanied by a high-pitched screeching. Graves alone looks interested.

A sudden series of bangs at street level. All turn to look for the source of the sound: A wall cracks, the rubble on the floor begins to shake before exploding like an earthquake, 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

EXT. NEW YORK STREET—DAY