DREAM, SURREY ZOO,
THE REPTILE HOUSE

Hues of milky green light irradiate the darkened stage. Hanging high at the center is a long, slim lightbox, hand-painted glass in a dull yellow with black letters reading REPTILE HOUSE. Along the walls of the dark, hexagonal room are many wide windows protecting the few roaming patrons from the habitats of lizards and snakes. Also present are UNCLE VERNON, AUNT PETUNIA, and a young boy, PIERS. Shuffling behind them in oversized clothes is YOUNG HARRY. Running with PIERS from window to window is YOUNG DUDLEY, eleven years old, wearing a pointed, multi-colored birthday hat.

YOUNG DUDLEY (to UNCLE VERNON): Where are the poisonous cobras? You said there were poisonous cobras!

UNCLE VERNON: They were here when I was a lad. (scoffing) Zookeepers! Too sensitive these days, if you ask me — the lot of 'em! (beat) That's a right big python there, Dudley!

YOUNG DUDLEY: Could it crush a man?

UNCLE VERNON (waddling to the next window): Oh, yes. Now this...a Boa Constrictor. From Brazil!

YOUNG DUDLEY: Woah! That one could wrap itself around your car and crush it into a trash can.

PIERS: Yeah!

UNCLE VERNON coughs into his hand. He does not like picturing that, not at all. AUNT PETUNIA keeps her distance from the glass, looking repulsed. YOUNG HARRY attempts to get close enough to see but is frequently boxed out.

YOUNG DUDLEY: What's it waiting for?

YOUNG HARRY: She's sleeping.

Whining, YOUNG DUDLEY presses his nose to the glass.

YOUNG DUDLEY (to UNCLE VERNON): Make it move!

UNCLE VERNON taps the window with his knuckles.

AUNT PETUNIA: Vernon!

UNCLE VERNON: Nothing to fear, Petunia. The glass is an inch thick.

YOUNG DUDLEY: Do it again.

YOUNG HARRY: That won't work.

UNCLE VERNON taps the window a second time. YOUNG DUDLEY is squinting at the snake.

YOUNG DUDLEY: This is taking too long.

AUNT PETUNIA: Please don't be tiresome, Dudley.

YOUNG DUDLEY (to PIERS): Let's do something new, something fun.

UNCLE VERNON and AUNT PETUNIA saunter off. The two boys look at YOUNG HARRY. They are silently concocting a plan. PIERS suddenly grabs YOUNG HARRY as YOUNG DUDLEY takes a swing at his arm. YOUNG HARRY dodges and PIERS releases him.

YOUNG HARRY (emphatically): Missed.

The boys walk away, grumbling. YOUNG HARRY turns to face the window. A moment later, YOUNG DUDLEY comes speeding back, full of energy. He collides with YOUNG HARRY, who smacks the glass. YOUNG HARRY winces, as echoes of the crash resonate around them.

YOUNG DUDLEY (his voice triumphant): Hit. A very solid hit.

The two high-five. YOUNG HARRY rubs his forehead, pained. The boys scatter, as YOUNG HARRY turns to see AUNT PETUNIA bearing down on him. She turns menacingly towards UNCLE VERNON, who steps forward, outraged. He gets in YOUNG HARRY's face.

AUNT PETUNIA: You're making a scene on Dudley's birthday!

YOUNG HARRY: I'm sorry, Aunt Petunia.

UNCLE VERNON (spitting angry): Any funny business and you will be spending Christmas Day in that cupboard learning a lesson in humility, I promise you!

YOUNG HARRY: Yes, Uncle Vernon.

UNCLE VERNON stomps away. We hear YOUNG DUDLEY's voice from off — he's in close proximity, but we cannot understand what he's saying. AUNT PETUNIA can, however. She brightens and straightens her back.

AUNT PETUNIA (opening her purse): Coming, sweetums!

YOUNG HARRY rubs his eyes and stretches out his body. He hunches over a railing. And then YOUNG HARRY meets eyes with the BOA CONSTRICTOR, which looks startled to be spotted. And YOUNG HARRY looks startled back.

YOUNG HARRY: Well. Hello. Hiding in plain sight, eh? (beat) I know what that's like. It must be really annoying, stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass all day long.

The BOA CONSTRICTOR cranes its body and slithers forward. YOUNG HARRY looks around to see if they are being watched. He smiles at the snake as it jerks its head toward UNCLE VERNON.

YOUNG HARRY: Obnoxious man — extraordinarily obnoxious. No friends. Neither of them.

YOUNG HARRY hears a noise. A hissing noise. This registers with him. YOUNG HARRY looks up to say something but the BOA CONSTRICTOR suddenly ducks from view as a girl walks past. YOUNG HARRY tries to look casual until the girl passes.

YOUNG HARRY (looking amazed): I can understand you!

The snake nods vigorously. There are some words spoken in Parseltongue. HARRY listens intently.

YOUNG HARRY: We don't choose who we're related to, I'm afraid.

The snake hisses again. These words take HARRY by surprise. HARRY thinks a moment.

YOUNG HARRY: I'll be all right. What's the worst they can do?

YOUNG DUDLEY (from off): Did you see that Mermaid-looking thing? The one with the — and then the thing with — whoa!

YOUNG DUDLEY charges in behind YOUNG HARRY. He thumps his fists on the glass. The snake glides up to him.

YOUNG HARRY: Don't, you'll frighten her.

YOUNG DUDLEY: Piers! Come and look at this snake! You won't believe what it's doing!

YOUNG HARRY: Stop yelling, Dudley. You'll get us in trouble.

PIERS: Out of the way, you!

When YOUNG HARRY refuses to move, YOUNG DUDLEY punches him in the stomach. YOUNG HARRY yells out in pain, as he falls hard to the floor. He hesitates a moment, and then his face strengthens. YOUNG DUDLEY is leaning in and gawking at the snake when the glass unexpectedly disappears. The boys lose their balance and howl as YOUNG HARRY stares in shock.

YOUNG DUDLEY (in a panic): The glass — where — where did it go?

The BOA CONSTRICTOR uncoils and slithers out onto the floor. Patrons exit, screaming. YOUNG DUDLEY and PIERS join them. YOUNG HARRY grins then hoists himself up. The snake comes close and hisses.

YOUNG HARRY (calmly): The exit doors are that way. Good luck. (a beat, more hissing) Well, if I didn't see you, I didn't see you.

There's a long pause as the dream lingers on. Screams continue. The snake remains still. YOUNG HARRY starts to look around, admiring the room as if he had only just arrived. When he speaks, his voice is different. More mature.

I remember this! Actually, it's not entirely how I remember, but — it's the first time I used Parseltongue. And magic. I think. I reflected back on this moment for days, because I really enjoyed watching Dudley scream. (he laughs hesitantly) Those were not happy times. But in a lot of ways, life was better then. (beat) Not better. Simpler. My world was only as big as the cupboard under the stairs.

Behind YOUNG HARRY, the tail of the BOA CONSTRICTOR creeps into movement. It crawls along the ground through the shadows.

You're going to Brazil now, right? (he laughs) You called me Amigo, I think.

Suddenly from around the auditorium, the feel of a breath of wind. YOUNG HARRY winces and reaches for his scar, unaware that the tail is beginning to coil around his legs. The snake speaks.

I must have hit the glass really hard — what do you mean you know who I am?

And then there is a noise like death — a noise like nothing else we've heard before. And then, right from the back of the room, Parseltongue whispers around everyone. YOUNG HARRY's face falls.

BOA CONSTRICTOR (half-hissing): I was born in a cage, but smashed it with rage. (beat) The Gaunt inside riddled free, that which would be my destiny.

YOUNG HARRY looks closer at the snake, several thoughts smashing through his brain at once. The whispers begin to grow.

YOUNG HARRY: What are you? Who — who are you?

BOA CONSTRICTOR: I am the creature you have not seen. I am you. I am me. The echo unforeseen.

The Parseltongue whispers grow louder and louder. Grow monstrously loud.

Sometimes in front, sometimes behind. A constant companion, for we are entwined.

YOUNG HARRY wheels around, astonished. The tail of the BOA CONSTRICTOR has been wrapping itself around his body. It moves toward his neck, ever closer.

YOUNG HARRY (pleadingly): Please. I didn't understand. Please!

BOA CONSTRICTOR: Don't worry, child, I know my job. You'll learn to smile, if first you sob.

YOUNG HARRY is racked with pain. Whispers of hissing dominate the auditorium.

He's coming. He's coming.

The head of the BOA CONSTRICTOR is inches from YOUNG HARRY's face. Its eyes begin to glow. Words are said in an unmistakable voice. The voice of Lord Voldemort. It is coming from the snake.

BOA CONSTRICTOR (loudly, as Voldemort): Do you still see with my eyes, Harry Potter?

Horrified, YOUNG HARRY claws frantically at his neck. We are meant to believe that the snake is trying to strangle him. But then, as YOUNG HARRY shrieks out in terror, the head of the BOA CONSTRICTOR rears back and dives into the boy's open mouth. Rapidly, the snake uncoils as it slithers into YOUNG HARRY. The boy convulses and thrashes about in place until the snake has been engulfed.

YOUNG HARRY staggers in place. He lurches to the center of the stage, beneath the sign for the REPTILE HOUSE. Then he stands tall, a smile eking across his face.

Whispers rise to a roar.

Haaarry Pottttter.

And we cut to black