Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two (Special Rehearsal Edition). Дж. К. Роулинг

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 this 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.

      EVERYONE (bar ROSE, YANN and ALBUS)

      YES!

      ALBUS

      Up. UP. UP.

      His