HARRY POTTER'S HOUSE, EXTERIOR, BACK GARDEN — MIDNIGHT

Moonlight covers the bricked exterior of the house. We pick out a boy dressed all in black as he steps cautiously along a path through the bushes at the back of the stage. It is SCORPIUS. He walks out past the painted metal patio set, where a familiar looking owl is sleeping with a crushed letter in its beak. SCORPIUS bends to pick something up from the path. We understand this to be a handful of pebbles, as he begins to carefully throw them at a window on the second floor. After a moment of gentle clinking, ALBUS opens the window, sees his friend, and makes to climb out. The backpack over his shoulder tells us that he was anticipating this. ALBUS leaps down the rest of the way. He runs to SCORPIUS.

SCORPIUS (in a whisper): I couldn't get the extra broomstick, and I thought I shouldn't alert my dad. Just in case.

ALBUS: It's fine. We'll ride together.

ALBUS smiles. SCORPIUS smiles back. Then ALBUS reaches into his pocket. Somehow, he has his wand.

Lumos!

The tip of his wand lights their path. The boys take a single step and then ALBUS freezes. He is staring at the patio table.

SCORPIUS: What is it?

ALBUS: Teddy's owl. It follows my dad everywhere because he won't accept the letter.

SCORPIUS: So...

ALBUS doesn't need to reply. He already knows. His wand lowers and, with it, the light.

We watch as the air around one of the patio chairs seems to ripple, and then a portion of the environment drops to the ground as if it were a piece of camouflaging fabric. And who is sitting there, his eyes upon them, his ears hearing every word? HARRY, one leg crossed casually over the other. He was beneath the Invisibility Cloak. HARRY is perfectly calm as he gets to his feet and ambles toward them. SCORPIUS looks at his friend, shocked.

HARRY: Oops-a-daisy. The old window trick again, I see? This is against the rules and it's the middle of the night. But... I can't say I wasn't expecting this.

ALBUS: You've been out here all night under that cloak?

HARRY: I waited. Very patiently.

HARRY shakes his head, entertained by the moment.

Thought you could escape because I wasn't in the bedroom, eh? And your wand! Merlin's beard, you figured out the combination to the safe. I'll need to sleep upstairs from now on. Keep a better eye on things.

ALBUS: Shouldn't you be sleeping in bed anyway? Or is your guilt over mum stopping you?

HARRY (ignoring the insult): That's enough. Sorry to break up the reunion. Say your goodbyes.

ALBUS looks over at SCORPIUS and his heart breaks. HARRY steps between them.

SCORPIUS: It's okay, Albus. I'll see you back at Hogwarts.

HARRY: I'm — afraid that's not going to happen. (he laughs, but with seriousness) You're through being friends. My son will be staying away from you for now on.

ALBUS: No, I won't!

HARRY: Yes, you will. And do you know why? Because Professor McGonagall will watch your every move and report back to me.

ALBUS looks stunned.

ALBUS: You can't do that. You have no control at Hogwarts.

HARRY: With one exception. I have it on good authority that there is a black cloud surrounding you, that could very well have something to do with Voldemort's return. This would be a Ministry matter.

ALBUS: You can't be serious?!

HARRY: I am.

ALBUS: And if I won't? Stay away from him?

HARRY: It's simple. If Professor McGonagall finds you with Scorpius, I will fix you with a spell which will allow me eyes and ears into your every movement, your every conversation.

ALBUS: But, Dad — you can't — that's...

HARRY (instantly furious, he has lost control): IF I HAVE TO USE THE BLOODY DARK ARTS TO KEEP YOU IN LINE, I'LL DO IT!

The boys are speechless as HARRY stares down at them.

ALBUS: What if I run? I'll run.

HARRY (like a calm storm): Al. This is your final warning.

ALBUS: I'll run away again.

HARRY: No. You won't.

ALBUS: I will — and this time I'll make sure you can't find me.

He looks at his dad, who looks back with a frown.

HARRY: But I will. And you'll regret that you crossed me.

ALBUS (calm, yet fiercer than ever): You'll be the one with regrets.

HARRY: Say goodbye to your friend — for good — and go upstairs.

SCORPIUS has heard enough. He stands up to HARRY.

SCORPIUS: Albus can stay with us. As long as he likes. He's more a Malfoy than a Potter anyway.

HARRY spins on his heels. Confronting him was not a wise decision.

HARRY: Who do you think you are — coming to my house in the middle of the night — speaking to me in such a tone? You're no better than your father.

SCORPIUS: Albus, just leave. Come on. What's he going to do?

HARRY: My son doesn't need you fighting his battles for him. I suggest you walk away while those legs still work properly.

ALBUS: Nox...

The path darkens. HARRY looks cautiously back at ALBUS. His son has turned off the light on his wand, and HARRY knows why.

HARRY: There's only one reason you would do that.

ALBUS: Yes, I might need my wand for something else.

HARRY: Careful, boy. We all make mistakes in life, but there are some things we can't take back. We have to live with these choices forever. The guilt, the shame. Even with regret, some choices never leave us. You may desperately want a second chance and unforgiving people won't give it to you.

SCORPIUS: Oh, like how you refuse to accept that my father regrets letting the Death Eaters get into Hogwarts during your sixth year?

HARRY steals the wand out of his son's hand, then spins round and glares at SCORPIUS.

HARRY (through clenched teeth): That's a different matter entirely.

SCORPIUS: Why?

HARRY: Because your father's decision led to the death of a great man.

SCORPIUS: And yours just led to the death of a great woman!

HARRY points his wand at SCORPIUS. The auditorium goes silent.

ALBUS: DON'T YOU DARE RAISE A WAND AT HIM!

HARRY (in a spitting whisper): Stay — away — from my son. Al, go to your room.

ALBUS: No!

HARRY spins back.

HARRY: Go straight to your room. You've been an incredibly disappointing son.

ALBUS: I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR SON! I DON'T WANT TO BE A POTTER!

HARRY: Well, that's your name — even if you're an outcast in your own family.

ALBUS (with power and strength): I WISH IT WAS YOU WHO DIED AND NOT MUM!

HARRY: SO DO I!

Suddenly, HARRY throws out his arm. He waves his wand at the metal patio set and the chair he was sitting on begins to rattle and transform. Teddy's owl takes flight as the patio chair transfigures into a row of metal bars. HARRY violently swings his wand upwards, and the bars follow, taking flight until they cover the open second floor window with a smash of noise.

You're staying put, Al. You're not going anywhere.

ALBUS watches this in a stupor. His dad put bars on his window! HARRY pulls on his arm. ALBUS winces and reluctantly goes with him.

I know it's hard to understand, but I'm doing this because I love you.

ALBUS: I don't love you. I don't need you.

They stop. SCORPIUS looks on.

HARRY: You don't mean that.

ALBUS: Yes, I do.

HARRY: Think, Al. Think before saying... whatever else you want to say. I told you, there are some things we can't take back.

ALBUS (with finality): It's your fault. You're the reason my mum is dead. You never stopped Voldemort. Because you're weak! Everything everyone has ever said about you is a lie!

HARRY lets go of his son's arm. He doesn't like hurting ALBUS. He takes a deep breath before speaking and glances intimidatingly at SCORPIUS.

HARRY (to ALBUS): This is his influence on you. I know that. My son would never speak to me like this.

ALBUS: How do you know that? Maybe that's my Slytherin side. More Severus than Albus. Maybe that's what the Sorting Hat saw in me.

He walks on — alone — and HARRY watches SCORPIUS mount a broomstick he hid in the bushes. HARRY rubs his scar absentmindedly and follows ALBUS into the house.