NEWT
(to Pickett)
Oi, you! Hop in, Pick.
Pickett snuggles down.
LETA
(smiling)
Why do strange creatures love you so much?
NEWT
Well, there are no strange creatures—
NEWT/LETA
‘—only blinkered people’.
She is smiling again. NEWT – just – reciprocates.
LETA
How long did you get in detention for saying that to Prendergast?
NEWT
You know, I think it was a month that time.
LETA
And I set off a Dungbomb under his desk so I could join you, do you remember?
They have come within sight of scary, official doors leading to the meeting room. THESEUS SCAMANDER emerges.
NEWT
No, I actually don’t remember that.
Rebuffed, she comes to a halt. NEWT walks away towards THESEUS, who is very like NEWT, but more outgoing, easier in manner. THESEUS winks at LETA before turning to NEWT.
THESEUS
Hello.
LETA
Theseus. We were just talking about Newt coming for dinner.
THESEUS
Really? Well . . . Look, before we go in there I—
NEWT
–it’s my fifth attempt, Theseus. I know the form.
THESEUS
This isn’t going to be like the other times. This is . . . Just try and keep an open mind, will you? And maybe a little less—
A wordless gesture indicates Pickett, NEWT’S blue coat and his messy hair.
NEWT
–like me?
THESEUS
(not without affection)
Well, it can’t hurt. Come on, let’s go.
SCENE 19
NEWT and THESEUS enter the room, where TORQUIL TRAVERS (harsh, mean-spirited), ARNOLD GUZMAN (American) and RUDOLPH SPIELMAN (who is still bruised from GRINDELWALD’S escape, the bloody bite visible on his neck) are already sitting.
Two empty chairs, which NEWT and THESEUS take. The corners of the room are in darkness.
TRAVERS
Hearing commences.
The quill begins to write. TRAVERS opens a file in front of him, which contains pictures of NEWT’S Wanted pictures and of the post-Obscurial devastation in New York.
TRAVERS
You want an end to the ban on your travelling internationally. Why?
NEWT
Because I like to travel internationally.
SPIELMAN
(reading from his own file)
‘Subject uncooperative and evasive on reasons for last international trip.’
All look at NEWT, waiting.
NEWT
It was a field trip. I was collecting material for my book on magical beasts—
TRAVERS
You destroyed half of New York.
NEWT
No, that’s actually factually incorrect on two counts—
THESEUS
(quiet but stern)
Newt!
NEWT stops, frowns.
GUZMAN
Mr Scamander, it’s clear you’re frustrated and, frankly, so are we. In the spirit of compromise, we’d like to make a proposition.
NEWT glances at THESEUS warily. THESEUS nods: Listen.
NEWT
What kind of proposition?
TRAVERS
The committee will agree to lift your travel ban under one condition.
NEWT waits. SPIELMAN leans forward.
SPIELMAN
You join the Ministry. Specifically, your brother’s department.
NEWT digests this, then:
NEWT
No, I – that isn’t my kind of – Theseus is the Auror. I think my talents lie elsewhere—
GUZMAN
Mr Scamander. The wizarding and non-wizarding worlds have been at peace for over a century. Grindelwald wants to see that peace destroyed and for certain members of our community his message is very seductive. Many purebloods believe it is their birthright to rule not only our world but the non-magic world as well. They see Grindelwald as their hero, and Grindelwald sees this boy as a means to make this all come true.
Hearing this, NEWT frowns, watching as CREDENCE’S face emerges in the surface of the table.
NEWT
I’m sorry. You’re talking about Credence as if he were still here.
THESEUS
He survived, Newt.
NEWT stops cold, his eyes fixed on THESEUS. THESEUS nods.
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