Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - J.K. Rowling

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HarryPotterandtheCursedChildPartsOneandTwomaynotbeperformedinwholeor
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ToJackThorne
whoenteredmyworld
anddidbeautifulthingsthere.
—J.K.Rowling


ForJoe,Louis,Max,Sonny,andMerle…wizardsall…
—JohnTiffany


ToElliottThorne,bornApril7,2016.
Aswerehearsed,hegurgled.
—JackThorne

CONTENTS
PARTONE
ACTONE
ACTTWO
PARTTWO
ACTTHREE
ACTFOUR
ABOUTTHEPRODUCTION
BIOGRAPHIESOFTHEORIGINALSTORYTEAM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS






ACTONE,SCENEONE
KING’SCROSS
Abusyandcrowdedstation.Fullofpeopletryingtogosomewhere.Amongstthehustle
andbustle,twolargecagesrattleontopoftwoladentrolleys.They’rebeingpushedby
twoboys,JAMESPOTTERandALBUSPOTTER,theirmother,GINNY,followsafter.Athirty-sevenyear-oldman,HARRY,hashisdaughter,LILY,onhisshoulders.
ALBUS:Dad.Hekeepssayingit.
HARRY:James,giveitarest.
JAMES:IonlysaidhemightbeinSlytherin.Andhemightso…(Offhisdad’sglare.)Fine.
ALBUS(lookingupathismum):You’llwritetome,won’tyou?
GINNY:Everydayifyouwantusto.
ALBUS:No.Noteveryday.Jamessaysmostpeopleonlygetlettersfromhomeaboutonce

amonth.Idon’twantto…
HARRY:Wewrotetoyourbrotherthreetimesaweeklastyear.
ALBUS:What?James!
ALBUSlooksaccusinglyatJAMES.
GINNY:Yes.YoumaynotwanttobelieveeverythinghetellsyouaboutHogwarts.Helikes

alaugh,yourbrother.
JAMES(withagrin):Canwegonow,please?
ALBUSlooksathisdad,andthenhismum.
GINNY:Allyouhavetodoiswalkstraightatthewallbetweenplatformsnineandten.
LILY:I’msoexcited.
HARRY:Don’tstopanddon’tbescaredyou’llcrashintoit,that’sveryimportant.Besttodo

itatarunifyou’renervous.
ALBUS:I’mready.
HARRYandLILYputtheirhandsonALBUS’strolley—GINNYjoinsJAMES’strolley—

together,thefamilyrunhardintothebarrier.


ACTONE,SCENETWO
PLATFORMNINEANDTHREE-QUARTERS
WhichiscoveredinthickwhitesteampouringfromtheHOGWARTSEXPRESS.
Andwhichisalsobusy—butinsteadofpeopleinsharpsuitsgoingabouttheirday—it’s
nowwizardsandwitchesinrobesmostlytryingtoworkouthowtosaygood-byetotheir
belovedprogeny.
ALBUS:Thisisit.
LILY:Wow!
ALBUS:Platformnineandthree-quarters.
LILY:Wherearethey?Aretheyhere?Maybetheydidn’tcome?

HARRYpointsoutRON,HERMIONE,andtheirdaughter,ROSE.LILYrunsharduptothem.

UncleRon.UncleRon!!!
RONturnstowardsthemasLILYgoesbarrelinguptohim.Hepicksherupintohis

arms.
RON:Ifitisn’tmyfavoritePotter.
LILY:Haveyougotmytrick?
RON:AreyouawareoftheWeasleys’WizardWheezes–certifiednose-stealingbreath?
ROSE:Mum!Dad’sdoingthatlamethingagain.
HERMIONE:Yousaylame,hesaysglorious,Isay—somewhereinbetween.
RON:Hangon.Letmejustmunchthis…air.Andnowit’sjustasimplematterof…

ExcusemeifIsmellslightlyofgarlic…
Hebreathesonherface.LILYgiggles.
LILY:Yousmellofporridge.
RON:Bing.Bang.Boing.Younglady,getreadytonotbeingabletosmellatall…

Heliftshernoseoff.
LILY:Where’smynose?
RON:Ta-da!

Hishandisempty.It’salametrick.Everyoneenjoysitslameness.


LILY:Youaresilly.
ALBUS:Everyone’sstaringatusagain.
RON:Becauseofme!I’mextremelyfamous.Mynoseexperimentsarelegendary!
HERMIONE:They’recertainlysomething.
HARRY:Parkedallright,then?

RON:Idid.Hermionedidn’tbelieveIcouldpassaMuggledrivingtest,didyou?She

thoughtI’dhavetoConfundtheexaminer.
HERMIONE:Ithoughtnothingofthekind,Ihavecompletefaithinyou.
ROSE:AndIhavecompletefaithhedidConfundtheexaminer.
RON:Oi!
ALBUS:Dad…
ALBUSpullsonHARRY’srobes.HARRYlooksdown.

Doyouthink—whatifIam—whatifI’mputinSlytherin…
HARRY:Andwhatwouldbewrongwiththat?
ALBUS:SlytherinistheHouseofthesnake,ofDarkMagic…It’snotaHouseofbrave

wizards.
HARRY:AlbusSeverus,youwerenamedaftertwoheadmastersofHogwarts.Oneofthem

wasaSlytherinandhewasprobablythebravestmanIeverknew.
ALBUS:Butjustsay…
HARRY:Ifitmatterstoyou,you,theSortingHatwilltakeyourfeelingsintoaccount.
ALBUS:Really?
HARRY:Itdidforme.

Thisissomethinghe’sneversaidbefore,itresonatesaroundhisheadamoment.
Hogwartswillbethemakingofyou,Albus.Ipromiseyou,thereisnothingtobe
frightenedofthere.
JAMES:ApartfromtheThestrals.WatchoutfortheThestrals.
ALBUS:Ithoughttheywereinvisible!
HARRY:Listentoyourprofessors,don’tlistentoJames,andremembertoenjoyyourself.

Now,ifyoudon’twantthistraintoleavewithoutyou,youshouldleapon…

LILY:I’mgoingtochasethetrainout.
GINNY:Lily,comestraightback.
HERMIONE:Rose.RemembertosendNevilleourlove.
ROSE:Mum,Ican’tgiveaprofessorlove!
ROSEexitsforthetrain.AndthenALBUSturnsandhugsGINNYandHARRYonelasttime


beforefollowingafterher.
ALBUS:Okay,then.Bye.

Heclimbsonboard.HERMIONE,GINNY,RON,andHARRYstandwatchingthetrain—as
whistlesblowupanddowntheplatform.
GINNY:They’regoingtobeokay,right?
HERMIONE:Hogwartsisabigplace.
RON:Big.Wonderful.Fulloffood.I’dgiveanythingtobegoingback.
HARRY:Strange,Albeingworriedhe’llbesortedintoSlytherin.
HERMIONE:That’snothing,Roseisworriedwhethershe’llbreaktheQuidditchscoring

recordinherfirstorsecondyear.AndhowearlyshecantakeherO.W.L.s.
RON:Ihavenoideawhereshegetsherambitionfrom.
GINNY:Andhowwouldyoufeel,Harry,ifAl—ifheis?
RON:Youknow,Gin,wealwaysthoughttherewasachanceyoucouldbesortedinto

Slytherin.
GINNY:What?
RON:Honestly,FredandGeorgeranabook.
HERMIONE:Canwego?Peoplearelooking,youknow.
GINNY:Peoplealwayslookwhenyouthreearetogether.Andapart.Peoplealwayslookat

you.

Thefourexit.GINNYstopsHARRY.
Harry…He’llbeallright,won’the?
HARRY:Ofcoursehewill.


ACTONE,SCENETHREE
THEHOGWARTSEXPRESS
ALBUSandROSEwalkalongthecarriageofthetrain.

TheTROLLEYWITCHapproaches,pushinghertrolley.
TROLLEYWITCH:Anythingfromthetrolley,dears?PumpkinPasty?ChocolateFrog?

CauldronCake?
ROSE(spottingALBUS’slovinglookattheChocolateFrogs):Al.Weneedtoconcentrate.
ALBUS:Concentrateonwhat?
ROSE:Onwhowechoosetobefriendswith.Mymumanddadmetyourdadontheirfirst

HogwartsExpress,youknow…
ALBUS:Soweneedtochoosenowwhotobefriendswithforlife?That’squitescary.
ROSE:Onthecontrary,it’sexciting.I’maGranger-Weasley,you’reaPotter—everyone

willwanttobefriendswithus,we’vegotthepickofanyonewewant.
ALBUS:Sohowdowedecide—whichcompartmenttogoin…
ROSE:Weratethemallandthenwemakeadecision.
ALBUSopensadoor—tolookinonalonelyblondkid—SCORPIUS—inanotherwise

emptycompartment.ALBUSsmiles.SCORPIUSsmilesback.
ALBUS:Hi.Isthiscompartment…
SCORPIUS:It’sfree.It’sjustme.
ALBUS:Great.Sowemightjust—comein—forabit—ifthat’sokay?

SCORPIUS:That’sokay.Hi.
ALBUS:Albus.Al.I’m—mynameisAlbus…
SCORPIUS:HiScorpius.Imean,I’mScorpius.You’reAlbus.I’mScorpius.Andyoumust

be…
ROSE’sfaceisgrowingcolderbytheminute.
ROSE:Rose.
SCORPIUS:Hi,Rose.WouldyoulikesomeofmyFizzingWhizbees?
ROSE:I’vejusthadbreakfast,thanks.
SCORPIUS:I’vealsogotsomeShock-o-Choc,PepperImps,andsomeJellySlugs.Mum’s


idea—shesays(sings),“Sweets,theyalwayshelpyoumakefriends.”(Herealizes
thatsingingwasamistake.)Stupididea,probably.
ALBUS:I’llhavesome…Mumdoesn’tletmehavesweets.Whichonewouldyoustart

with?
ROSEhitsALBUSoutofsightofSCORPIUS.
SCORPIUS:Easy.I’vealwaysregardedthePepperImpasthekingoftheconfectionerybag.

They’repeppermintsweetsthatmakeyousmokeattheears.
ALBUS:Brilliant,thenthat’swhatI’ll—(ROSEhitshimagain.)Rose,willyoupleasestop

hittingme?
ROSE:I’mnothittingyou.
ALBUS:Youarehittingme,andithurts.
SCORPIUS’sfacefalls.
SCORPIUS:She’shittingyoubecauseofme.
ALBUS:What?
SCORPIUS:Listen,Iknowwhoyouare,soit’sprobablyonlyfairyouknowwhoIam.

ALBUS:WhatdoyoumeanyouknowwhoIam?
SCORPIUS:You’reAlbusPotter.She’sRoseGranger-Weasley.AndIamScorpiusMalfoy.

MyparentsareAstoriaandDracoMalfoy.Ourparents—theydidn’tgeton.
ROSE:That’sputtingitmildly.YourmumanddadareDeathEaters!
SCORPIUS(affronted):Dadwas—butMumwasn’t.
ROSElooksaway,andSCORPIUSknowswhyshedoes.

Iknowwhattherumoris,andit’salie.
ALBUSlooksfromanuncomfortableROSEtoadesperateSCORPIUS.
ALBUS:What—istherumor?
SCORPIUS:Therumoristhatmyparentscouldn’thavechildren.Thatmyfatherandmy

grandfatherweresodesperateforapowerfulheir,topreventtheendoftheMalfoy
line,thatthey…thattheyusedaTime-Turnertosendmymotherback…
ALBUS:Tosendherbackwhere?
ROSE:Therumoristhathe’sVoldemort’sson,Albus.

Ahorrible,uncomfortablesilence.
It’sprobablyrubbish.Imean…look,you’vegotanose.
Thetensionisslightlybroken.SCORPIUSlaughs,patheticallygrateful.
SCORPIUS:Andit’sjustlikemyfather’s!Igothisnose,hishair,andhisname.Notthat

that’sagreatthingeither.Imean—father-sonissues,Ihavethem.But,onthe
whole,I’dratherbeaMalfoythan,youknow,thesonoftheDarkLord.


SCORPIUSandALBUSlookateachotherandsomethingpassesbetweenthem.
ROSE:Yes,well,weprobablyshouldsitsomewhereelse.Comeon,Albus.
ALBUSisthinkingdeeply.

ALBUS:No.(OffROSE’slook.)I’mokay.Yougoon…
ROSE:Albus.Iwon’twait.
ALBUS:AndIwouldn’texpectyouto.ButI’mstayinghere.
ROSElooksathimasecondandthenleavesthecompartment.
ROSE:Fine!
SCORPIUSandALBUSareleft—lookingateachother—unsure.
SCORPIUS:Thankyou.
ALBUS:No.No.Ididn’tstay—foryou—Istayedforyoursweets.
SCORPIUS:She’squitefierce.
ALBUS:Yes.Sorry.
SCORPIUS:No.Ilikeit.DoyoupreferAlbusorAl?
SCORPIUSgrinsandpopstwosweetsintohismouth.
ALBUS(thinks):Albus.
SCORPIUS(assmokecomesoutofhisears):THANKYOUFORSTAYINGFORMY

SWEETS,ALBUS!
ALBUS(laughing):Wow.


ACTONE,SCENEFOUR
TRANSITIONSCENE
Andnowweenteranever-worldoftimechange.Andthissceneisallaboutmagic.The
changesarerapidasweleapbetweenworlds.Therearenoindividualscenes,but
fragments,shardsthatshowtheconstantprogressionoftime.
Initiallywe’reinsideHogwarts,intheGreatHall,andeveryoneisdancingaroundALBUS.
POLLYCHAPMAN:AlbusPotter.
KARLJENKINS:APotter.Inouryear.
YANNFREDERICKS:He’sgothishair.He’sgothairjustlikehim.
ROSE:Andhe’smycousin.(Astheyturn.)RoseGranger-Weasley.Nicetomeetyou.

TheSORTINGHATwalksthroughthestudents,whospringintotheirHouses.
Itbecomesquicklyapparenthe’sapproachingROSE,whoistenseassheawaitsher
fate.
SORTINGHAT:

I’vedonethisjobforcenturies
Oneverystudent’sheadI’vesat
OfthoughtsItakeinventories
ForI’mthefamousSortingHat
I’vesortedhigh,I’vesortedlow,
I’vedonethejobthroughthickandthin
Soputmeonandyouwillknow
WhichHouseyoushouldbein…
RoseGranger-Weasley.
HeputshishatonROSE’shead.
GRYFFINDOR!
There’scheeringfromtheGryffindorsasROSEjoinsthem.
ROSE:ThankDumbledore.
SCORPIUSrunstotakeROSE’splaceundertheSORTINGHAT’sglare.


SORTINGHAT:ScorpiusMalfoy.

HeputshishatonSCORPIUS’shead.
SLYTHERIN!
SCORPIUSwasexpectingthis,henodsandhalfsmiles.There’scheeringfromthe

Slytherinsashejoinsthem.
POLLYCHAPMAN:Well,thatmakessense.
ALBUSwalksswiftlytothefrontofthestage.

SORTINGHAT:AlbusPotter.

HeputshishatonALBUS’shead—andthistimeheseemstotakelonger—almostas
ifhetooisconfused.
SLYTHERIN!
There’sasilence.
Aperfect,profoundsilence.
Onethatsitslow,twistsabit,andhasdamagewithinit.
POLLYCHAPMAN:Slytherin?
CRAIGBOWKERJR.:Whoa!APotter?InSlytherin.
ALBUSlooksout,unsure.SCORPIUSsmiles,delighted,asheshoutsacrosstohim.
SCORPIUS:Youcanstandnexttome!
ALBUS(thoroughlydiscombobulated):Right.Yes.
YANNFREDERICKS:Isupposehishairisn’tthatsimilar.
ROSE:Albus?Butthisiswrong,Albus.Thisisnothowit’ssupposedtobe.

AndsuddenlyaflyinglessonishappeningwithMADAMHOOCH.
MADAMHOOCH:Well,whatareyouallwaitingfor?Everyonestandbyabroomstick.Come

on,hurryup.
Thekidsallhurryintopositionbesidetheirbrooms.
Stickoutyourhandsoutoveryourbroom,andsay,“Up!”
EVERYONE:UP!
ROSE’sandYANN’sbroomssailintotheirhands.
ROSEandYANN:Yes!
MADAMHOOCH:Comeon,now,I’venotimeforshirkers.Say“UP.”“UP”likeyoumeanit.
EVERYONE(barROSEandYANN):UP!

Broomssailup,includingSCORPIUS’s.OnlyALBUSisleftwithhisbroomonthefloor.
EVERYONE(barROSE,YANN,andALBUS):YES!

ALBUS:Up.UP.UP.

Hisbroomdoesn’tmove.Notevenamillimeter.Hestaresatitwithdisbelieving
desperation.There’sgigglingfromtherestoftheclass.
POLLYCHAPMAN:OhMerlin’sbeard,howhumiliating!Hereallyisn’tlikehisfatheratall,

ishe?
KARLJENKINS:AlbusPotter,theSlytherinSquib.
MADAMHOOCH:Okay.Children.Timetofly.

AndsuddenlyHARRYappearsfromnowherebesideALBUSassteamexpandsallover
thestage.
We’rebackonplatformnineandthree-quartersandtimehastickedonmercilessly.
ALBUSisnowayearolder(asisHARRY,butlessnoticeably).
ALBUS:I’mjustaskingyou,Dad,ifyou’ll—ifyou’lljuststandalittleawayfromme.
HARRY(amused):Second-yearsdon’tliketobeseenwiththeirdads,isthatit?

AnOVER-ATTENTIVEWIZARDbeginstocirclethem.
ALBUS:No.It’sjust—you’reyouand—andI’mmeand—
HARRY:It’sjustpeoplelooking,okay?Peoplelook.Andthey’relookingatme,notyou.

TheOVER-ATTENTIVEWIZARDprofferssomethingforHARRYtosign—hesignsit.
ALBUS:AtHarryPotterandhisdisappointingson.
HARRY:Whatdoesthatmean?
ALBUS:AtHarryPotterandhisSlytherinson.
JAMESrushespastthem,carryinghisbag.
JAMES:SlytheringSlytherin,stopwithyourdithering,timetogetontothetrain.
HARRY:Unnecessary,James.

JAMES(longgone):SeeyouatChristmas,Dad.
HARRYlooksatALBUS,concerned.
HARRY:Al—
ALBUS:MynameisAlbus,notAl.
HARRY:Aretheotherkidsbeingunkind?Isthatit?Maybeifyoutriedmakingafewmore

friends…withoutHermioneandRonIwouldn’thavesurvivedHogwarts,Iwouldn’t
havesurvivedatall.
ALBUS:ButIdon’tneedaRonandHermione.I’ve—I’vegotafriend,Scorpius,andI

knowyoudon’tlikehimbuthe’sallIneed.
HARRY:Look,aslongasyou’rehappy,that’sallthatmatterstome.
ALBUS:Youdidn’tneedtobringmetothestation,Dad.