LALLY (CONT’D)

  I believe you know how this works, Jacob.

  As their hands touch, the cyclone of pages descends, engulfing them and—SWOOSH!—they VANISH. Seconds later, the pages flutter back into the binding of the book.

  Seconds after that . . . all that is left are a few stray pages that float to the ground.

  23 EXT. GERMAN COUNTRYSIDE—DAY

  The TRAIN wends through the Brandenburg countryside. We focus in on the CARRIAGE at the tail of the train.

  24 INT. MAGICAL TRAIN CARRIAGE—DAY

  YUSUF KAMA stands by the window watching the snowy countryside roll past. Newt and Theseus are by a ROARING FIRE, a copy of the Daily Prophet in Theseus’s hand. On Theseus’s copy we see:

  ELECTION SPECIAL

  Who Will Triumph? Liu or Santos?

  Directly below, a pair of PHOTOGRAPHS show the CANDIDATES themselves: LIU TAO and VICÊNCIA SANTOS.

  PRELIMINARY GRAPHIC FOR THE DAILY PROPHET, WITH SPACE LEFT FOR MOVING PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIU AND SANTOS

  TRAIN INTERIOR LOCATION RENDERING

  We’ve obviously seen the Hogwarts Express a lot in the Potter films, which we’ve always treated as a real train that Muggles just don’t see. The difference here is that they’re in a carriage attached to a Muggle train, so we had to move past the concept of a train that’s invisible from the outside. When we see the train pull into the station in Berlin and the camera travels from outside to inside, this beautiful carriage is revealed within a tattered baggage car at the end of the train. So it’s magically hidden rather than being invisible and that felt more interesting for the world of this film.

  — CHRISTIAN MANZ

  (Visual Effects)

  On the back page, Grindelwald’s WANTED poster.

  NEWT

  What are they saying at the Ministry? Liu or Santos?

  THESEUS

  Officially the Ministry takes no position. Unofficially? The smart money’s on Santos. But anyone would be better than Vogel.

  KAMA

  Anyone?

  Kama’s gaze alights on Grindelwald. Theseus clocks it.

  THESEUS

  I don’t believe he’s on the ballot, Kama. He also happens to be a fugitive.

  KAMA

  Is there a difference?

  Just then, the FIRE SPUTTERS, turning faintly GREEN, and Jacob stumbles over the hearth. He still holds the frying pan.

  TRAIN COMPANY LOGO

  One opportunity to really engage with the Art Deco style was the magical train that transports our heroes from London to Berlin. The sculpted panels of the fireplaces are based on some very Art Deco wall decorations. We then took elements of those panels and created the logo for the wizarding train company. Once we’ve got that as an insignia—and this goes for all insignia across the wizarding world, of the Ministries of Magic, the Daily Prophet, and so on—then we can apply it to different media. For example, we created an onboard magazine and tickets for the train, which might not get a close-up, but they help fill that world with all the relevant pieces.

  — MIRAPHORA MINA

  (Graphic Designer)

  TRAIN INTERIOR BAS-RELIEF PANEL DESIGN

  JACOB

  Spinning. Always with the spinning.

  NEWT

  Jacob! Welcome! You brilliant man. I was absolutely sure Professor Hicks would convince you!

  JACOB

  You know me, pal. Can’t pass up a good Portkey.

  Just then, the grate sputters again and, seconds later, Lally strides easily out of the fire, clutching the book.

  LALLY

  Mr. Scamander?

  NEWT

  Professor Hicks?

  LALLY/NEWT

  At long last.

  NEWT

  (to the others)

  Professor Hicks—

  (catching himself)

  and I have corresponded for many years, but we’ve never actually met. Her book on Advanced Charm Casting is a must-read.

  LALLY

  Newt is far too kind. Fantastic Beasts is required reading for all my fifth-years.

  NEWT

  Now, well, let me make introductions. This is Bunty Broadacre, my indispensable assistant for the past seven years—

  BUNTY

  Eight . . .

  Two adolescent Nifflers sit on Bunty’s shoulders.

  BUNTY (CONT’D)

  . . . years and a hundred and sixty-four days.

  NEWT

  As you can see: indispensable. And this is—

  BOOK COVER DESIGN FOR ADVANCED CHARM CASTING BY EULALIE HICKS

  BOOK COVER DESIGN FOR FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM BY NEWT SCAMANDER

  KAMA

  Yusuf Kama. Pleasure.

  NEWT

  And you’ve obviously already made Jacob’s acquaintance—

  Theseus CLEARS HIS THROAT. Newt stares blankly at him. Theseus raises his eyebrows.

  THESEUS

  Newt.

  NEWT

  Oh, yes. Sorry. This is my brother, Theseus. And he works for the Ministry.

  THESEUS

  Actually, Head of the British Auror Office.

  LALLY

  Ah. Well, I’ll have to ensure my wand registration is up to date.

  Lally grins.

  THESEUS

  Yes. Although, strictly speaking, that doesn’t fall within my purview—

  Newt turns suddenly and walks to the back of the carriage. The others follow.

  NEWT

  All right, then. I imagine you’re all wondering why you find yourselves here.

  General consensus all around.

  NEWT (CONT’D)

  And in anticipation of that, Dumbledore asked that I convey a message: Grindelwald has the ability to see snatches of the future. So we have to assume that he’ll be able to anticipate what we do before we do it. So if we hope to defeat him, and to save our world . . . to save your world, Jacob . . . then our best hope is to confuse him.

  As Newt concludes, he is greeted with . . . silence.

  JACOB

  Excuse me? I’m sorry, how do you confuse a guy who can see the future?

  KAMA

  Countersight.

  NEWT

  Exactly. The best plan being no plan.

  LALLY

  Or many overlapping plans.

  NEWT

  Thus, confusion.

  JACOB

  It’s working on me right now.

  NEWT

  In fact, Dumbledore asked that I give you something, Jacob.

  The others stand by as Newt draws forth from his sleeve—a bit like an amateur magician—a WAND.

  NEWT (CONT’D)

  It’s snakewood. It’s somewhat rare—

  JACOB

  Are you kidding me right now? Is this thing real?

  NEWT

  Yes, well, it doesn’t have a core, so sort of—but yes.

  JACOB

  Sort of real?

  NEWT

  More importantly, where we’re going, you’ll need it.

  Jacob takes the wand, stares at it in awe. Newt begins to search his pockets.

  NEWT (CONT’D)

  Now there’s something for you too, I think, Theseus—

  Again, the others wait in anticipation. Newt—truly like a magician this time—tries to draw out something from inside his coat—but something tugs it back. Newt wrestles for a moment, gives it an extra tug, addressing an inside pocket . . .

  NEWT (CONT’D)

  Teddy, please let go. Teddy, please let go. Teddy. Will you behave. This is Theseus’s . . .

  With a decisive yank, Teddy caroms across the carriage where he is caught by Jacob. A piece of fabric falls to the floor.

  Jacob and Teddy stare at each other.

  Newt bends down to pick up the piece of fabric. It is a GLITTERING RED TIE patterned with a GOLDEN PHOENIX. He stands and hands it to Theseus, who takes it and turns it over.

  THESEUS

  Well, of course, now everything makes sense.

  NEWT

  Lally, Lally, I believe you were given some reading material . . .

  LALLY

  You know what they say, a book can take you around the world and back—all you have to do is open it.

  JACOB

  (popping Teddy down)

  She ain’t kidding.

  NEWT

  Bunty. That’s for you. I’m told it’s for your eyes only.

  Newt fishes out a small folded SQUARE of PAPER and hands it to Bunty. As she opens it, she visibly reacts, but before she can give it a second read, it catches fire and incinerates.

  NEWT (CONT’D)

  Kama—

  KAMA

  I have what I need.

  JACOB

  What about Tina? Is Tina coming?

  NEWT

  Tina’s . . . not available. Tina’s . . . been promoted. She’s . . . very, very busy.

  (a beat)

  From what I understand.

  LALLY

  Tina’s been made Head of the American Auror Office. We know each other well, she’s quite a remarkable woman.

  Newt stands for a moment, eyeing Lally, then:

  NEWT

  She is.

  THESEUS

  So this is the team that’s going to stop the most dangerous wizard we’ve faced in over a century? A Magizoologist, his indispensable assistant, a schoolteacher, a wizard descended from a very old French family . . . and a Muggle, a baker, with his fake wand.

  JACOB

  Hey. We got you too, pal. And his wand works.

  Jacob knocks back a drink and . . .

  THESEUS

  True. Who wouldn’t like our chances?

  . . . giggles, and we CUT TO:

  Dumbledore chooses people who have a good heart and who have very specific talents. Lally is a renowned Charms professor and she’s much admired in the wizarding world. Theseus is Newt’s brother and a top man in his field, head of the Auror office in the UK Ministry. Kama, because of his family, has a family history that can be put to use. And why does Dumbledore choose Jacob? Why add a Muggle to this band? Because Jacob has the right moral backbone and is a decent, kind man with a huge, beating heart.

  — DAVID HEYMAN

  (Producer)

  25 EXT. TRAIN STATION—BERLIN—EVENING

  Frigid Berliners stand stiffly on the platform as the train RUMBLES into the station.

  26 INT. MAGICAL TRAIN CARRIAGE—EVENING

  Newt, kneeling by his case, finishes feeding the Qilin and gently snaps the case shut.

  NEWT

  You’re all right, little one.

  LALLY

  Berlin . . . Wonderful.

  Newt turns, sees Lally standing by the adjacent window, looking out. One man (TALL AUROR) stands out for both his height and demeanor.

  The train ceases its movement, engine HISSING. The others begin to collect their things. Kama is first to the door.

  THESEUS

  Kama, stay safe.

  Kama pauses, locks eyes briefly with Theseus, then nods. As he exits, a CHILL WIND fills the carriage. Bunty appears at Newt’s side.

  BUNTY

  I must be going too now, Newt.

  Newt begins to reply, then stops, looks down, sees that Bunty’s hand is entwined with his own on the case’s handle.

  BUNTY (CONT’D)

  No one can know everything. Not even you.

  He looks up at her, but she says nothing more. Finally, he releases the handle.

  As she goes, Newt clocks Theseus and Jacob watching him. Turning away, Newt looks back out the window, watching as Kama and Bunty head in opposite directions.

  27 EXT. STREET—BERLIN—MOMENTS LATER—NIGHT

  A LIGHT SNOW FALLS as Jacob, Newt, Lally, and Theseus move through the street.

  NEWT

  Right . . . Well, here it is.

  Newt leads them into an alleyway toward a BRICK WALL bearing a CREST. As the others stride toward the wall, Jacob glances from side to side and up and about when . . .

  WHOOSH.

  . . . the four of them have passed through to the other side. Jacob frowns and sees the same brick wall and the same crest—only depicted from the back.

  Shrugging, Jacob looks forward and sees—emblazoned on MASSIVE BANNERS looming over the street—the face of a BENIGN-LOOKING WIZARD (ANTON VOGEL). Farther on, a BUILDING looms, surrounded by SUPPORTERS of Liu and Santos.

  THESEUS

  The German Ministry of Magic.

  NEWT

  Yes.

  THESEUS

  I take it we’re here for a reason.

  NEWT

  Yes. We have a tea ceremony to attend. And if we don’t hurry up, we’ll be late.

  One of the things that I always loved about the Potter films and the whole wizarding world is the idea that we live in our own world and right next door to us, brushing our shoulder through that wall, another more fantastical, more thrilling world exists. Getting to see that in other countries rather than just in London and Britain has been astonishing.

  — EDDIE REDMAYNE

  (Newt Scamander)

  GERMAN MINISTRY OF MAGIC INSIGNIA

  GERMAN WIZARDING CURRENCY

  GERMAN MINISTRY OF MAGIC ENTRANCE SKETCH

  As Newt heads off, Theseus and Lally exchange a glance, then follow. Jacob continues to trip along, glancing about in awe.

  LALLY (O.S.)

  Jacob!

  He looks, sees Lally gesturing.

  LALLY (CONT’D)

  Stay with the group.

  As Jacob hurries off, he passes a moving WANTED poster of Grindelwald staring out, following Jacob’s every move.

  Jacob can’t help but warily hold Grindelwald’s gaze.

  28 EXT. STEPS—GERMAN MINISTRY—MOMENTS LATER—NIGHT

  CONTINGENTS of LIU AND SANTOS SUPPORTERS CHANT and hoist BANNERS in the air in an exuberant but peaceful display of partisan passion. Newt and the others weave their way toward the steps.

  As Theseus leads the others through the throng and toward the Ministry entrance, one of the GERMAN AURORS stationed along the perimeter tries to impede Lally and Jacob from ascending the steps.

  PRELIMINARY GRAPHIC FOR WANTED POSTER, WITH SPACE LEFT FOR MOVING PHOTOGRAPHS OF GRINDELWALD

  GERMAN MINISTRY OF MAGIC EXTERIOR LOCATION RENDERING

  THESEUS

  Evening, Helmut.

  HELMUT

  Theseus.

  THESEUS

  Hey. They’re with me.

  The Auror blocking them sees Theseus, and his eyes flicker with recognition. He glances to the COMMANDING AUROR (HELMUT) overseeing all at the top of the stairs, who nods.

  Theseus leads the others up.

  Just then, the mob surges. Rosier and Carrow are pushing forward through a group of Santos supporters to the concussive beat of drums.

  Rosier nods to Carrow, who raises her wand. A bolt of fire strikes a Santos banner. As Santos’s face turns to ash, the mood becomes suddenly dark, with much pushing and bumping.

  29 INT. GRAND HALL—GERMAN MINISTRY—MOMENTS LATER—NIGHT

  HUNDREDS of DELEGATES mill about while TEAPOTS FLOAT throughout the magnificent room. Theseus walks alongside Newt, who is glancing about conspicuously, as if searching for someone.

  THESEUS

  I take it we’re not here for the finger sandwiches?

  NEWT

  No. I have a message to deliver.

  THESEUS

  A message? To who?

  Newt stops. Looking. Theseus follows his gaze.

  At the opposite end of the room, Anton Vogel, the benign wizard glimpsed on the STREET BANNERS, presses the flesh while a phalanx of BODYGUARDS shadows his every step, and a FEMALE ATTACHÉ (FISCHER) keeps him moving.

  THESEUS (CONT’D)

  You are joking.

  NEWT

  No.

  As Newt heads in their direction, Theseus follows and we CUT TO:

  NEW ANGLE—JACOB AND LALLY

  JACOB

  What are we even doing here? Let’s go outside. I’m not very good in these situations.

  LALLY

  These situations?

  JACOB

  With all the people. The fancy people.

  EDITH

  Hello!

  Jacob jumps, finds an elderly matron (EDITH) on his elbow.

  EDITH (CONT’D)

  I saw you enter the room and I thought to myself, “Edith, that’s an interesting-looking man.”

  JACOB

  (nervous)

  Jacob Kowalski. How are you? Very nice to meet you.

  EDITH

  And where is it that you hail from, Mr. Kowalski?

  JACOB

  Queens.

  EDITH

  Ahhh.

  Edith nods slowly and we CUT TO:

  NEW ANGLE

  Newt, trailed by Theseus, approaches Vogel and his contingent.

  NEWT

  Herr Vogel, I wonder if I could have a word—

  Vogel turns at the sound of Newt’s voice.

  VOGEL

  Merlin’s beard! It’s Mr. Scamander, isn’t it?

  NEWT

  Herr Vogel . . .

  The bodyguards loom. Theseus looms. Vogel stares long at Newt, then waves his hand, signaling the bodyguards to stand down. As they step aside for privacy, Newt leans close.

  NEWT (CONT’D)

  I have a message from a friend. And it cannot wait. “Do what is right. Not what is easy.”

  Newt straightens. Vogel remains still.