Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two
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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.
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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.