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ALL SCRIPTS


              

                   HARRY POTTER AND


               THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS


              screenplay by STEVEN KLOVES



                 based on the novel by

                     J.K. ROWLING






    FADE IN:








1   EXT. PRIVET DRIVE - DAY                                     1

    WIDE HELICOPTER SHOT. Privet Drive. CAMERA CRANES DOWN,
    DOWN, OVER the rooftops, FINDS the SECOND FLOOR WINDOW of
    NUMBER 4. HARRY POTTER sits in the window.




2   OMITTED                                                     2





3   INT. HARRY'S BEDROOM - DAY                                  3

    Harry pages through a SCRAPBOOK, stops on a MOVING PHOTO
    of Ron and Hermione. SQUAWK! Harry jumps. HEDWIG pecks
    at the LOCK slung through her cage door, then glowers at
    Harry.

                             HARRY

               I can't, Hedwig. I'm not allowed
               to use magic outside of school.
               Besides, if Uncle Vernon --
    At the sound of the name, HEDWIG SQUAWKS again, LOUDER.

                             UNCLE VERNON (O.S.)

               Har-ry Pot-ter!

                             HARRY

               Now you've done it.




4   INT. KITCHEN - DAY                                          4

    While AUNT PETUNIA puts the finishing touches to a
    PUDDING of WHIPPED CREAM and SUGARED VIOLETS, UNCLE
    VERNON struggles with DUDLEY'S BOW TIE, all the while
    glowering at Harry.

                             UNCLE VERNON

               I warned you. If you can't
               control that bloody bird, it'll
               have to go.

                             HARRY

               She's bored. If I could just let
               her out for an hour or two --

                             UNCLE VERNON

               And have you sending secret
               messages to your freaky little
               friends? No, sir.

                                                 (CONTINUED)




    THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                 2.




4   CONTINUED:                                                  4





                               HARRY

                 But I haven't gotten any messages.
                 From any of my friends. Not one.
                 All summer.




                               DUDLEY

                 Who'd want to be friends with you?

                               UNCLE VERNON

                 I should think you'd be more
                 grateful. We raise you since you
                 were a baby, give you food off our
                 table, even let you have Dudley's
                 second bedroom... purely out of
                 the goodness of our hearts.

                               DUDLEY

                 I thought he got the second
                 bedroom because Mum was afraid
                 he'd turn us into dung beetles if
                 you put him back in the cupboard
                 under the stairs.
    AUNT PETUNIA stops cold, exchanges a dark look with Uncle
    Vernon, then sees Dudley extending a finger for the
    pudding.

                               AUNT PETUNIA

                 Not yet, popkin. That's for when
                 the Masons arrive.

                               UNCLE VERNON

                 Which should be any moment. Now.
                 Let's run through our schedule one
                 more time. Petunia, when the
                 Masons get here, you will be --

                               AUNT PETUNIA

                 In the lounge, waiting to welcome
                 them graciously to our home.

                                UNCLE VERNON

                 Good.   And Dudley?

                               DUDLEY

                 I'll be waiting to open the door.

                               UNCLE VERNON

                 Excellent.
                         (turning on Harry)
                 And you?

                                                 (CONTINUED)




    THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 5/14/02                     3.




4   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              4





                               HARRY

                 I'll be in my bedroom, making no
                 noise and pretending I don't
                 exist.




                               UNCLE VERNON

                 Too right you will. With any
                 luck, this could well be the day I
                 make the biggest deal of my
                 career.
    DOORBELL RINGS. Instantly, Uncle Vernon shoves Harry out
    of the kitchen and into the hallway.

                                UNCLE VERNON

                 Upstairs!   Hurry!




5   OMITTED                                                        5





6   INT. HARRY'S BEDROOM - DAY                                     6

    Harry enters, turns, and stops dead: a tiny CREATURE
    with bat-like ears and bulging green eyes is jumping on
    his bed as if it were a trampoline. This is DOBBY.

                                 DOBBY

                 Harry Potter!    Such an honor it
                 is!

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              4.





6   CONTINUED:                                                     6





                               HARRY

                 What... Who are you?

                                 DOBBY

                 Dobby, sir.    Dobby the house elf.

                               HARRY

                 I see. Not to be rude or
                 anything, but this isn't a great
                 time for me to have a house-elf in
                 my bedroom.

                               DOBBY

                 Oh, yes, sir, Dobby understands.
                 It's just that, Dobby has come to
                 tell you... it is difficult, sir...
                 Dobby wonders where to begin.

                               HARRY

                 Why don't you sit down?

                                 DOBBY

                 S-s-sit down?
    Suddenly Dobby BURSTS INTO TEARS.       LOUD TEARS.   Harry
    panics.

                               HARRY

                 Shhhh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean
                 to offend you or anything --

                               DOBBY

                 Offend Dobby! Dobby has heard of
                 your greatness, sir, but never has
                 he been asked to sit down by a
                 wizard, like an equal...

                               HARRY

                 You can't have met many decent
                 wizards then.
    Dobby shakes his head, then without warning, LEAPS off the
    bed and starts to BANG HIS HEAD FURIOUSLY ON THE FLOOR.

                                 DOBBY

                 Bad Dobby!    Bad Dobby!




7   INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                         7

    Uncle Vernon pours champagne for MR. and MRS. MASON. As
    Dobby's HEAD BANGING sounds from above, all eyes shift to
    the ceiling. Uncle Vernon chuckles nervously.

                                                   (CONTINUED)





                                                             5.





7   CONTINUED:                                                    7





                               UNCLE VERNON

                 Don't mind that. It's just the...
                 cat.




                                DUDLEY

                 Cat?   What cat?

                               UNCLE VERNON

                 Our cat, tiger.




8   INT. HARRY'S BEDROOM - DAY                                    8

    Dobby gets back to his feet, wobbling, eyes spinning
    dizzily. Harry regards him with a mixture of concern...
    and wariness.

                               HARRY

                 Are you... all right?

                               DOBBY

                 Dobby had to punish himself, sir.
                 Dobby almost spoke ill of his
                 family, sir.

                               HARRY

                 Your... family?

                               DOBBY

                 The wizard family Dobby serves,
                 sir. Dobby is bound to serve one
                 family forever. If they ever knew
                 Dobby was here...
    Dobby shudders in fear, then looks up, WHISPERS urgently.

                               DOBBY

                 But Dobby had to come. Dobby has
                 to protect Harry Potter. To warn
                 him.
                         (in a fierce whisper)
                 Harry Potter must not go back to
                 Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
                 Wizardry this year.

                                HARRY

                 Not go back?   But... I have to.

                               DOBBY

                 This is a plot. A plot to make
                 most terrible things happen. If
                 Harry Potter goes back to school
                 he will be in great danger.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                                6.





8    CONTINUED:                                                      8





                                HARRY

                  What terrible things?    Who's
                  plotting them?



     Dobby makes a funny CHOKING and GAGGING noise.

                               HARRY

                  Okay! I understand.     You can't
                  say --
     Too late. Dobby grabs the bedside lamp and starts
     beating himself about the head and YELPING LOUDLY.




9    INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY                                          9

     Uncle Vernon is in the midst of telling a joke.

                                UNCLE VERNON

                  They arrive at the ninth hole
                  and --
     DOBBY'S YELPS INTERRUPT, ringing out from above.

                                MR. MASON

                  Sounds as if that cat of yours has
                  dragged something in with it,
                  Dursley.

                                  UNCLE VERNON

                  Not to worry.    I'll sort it out.




10   INT. HARRY'S BEDROOM - DAY                                      10

     Harry wrestles the lamp away from Dobby.

                                  HARRY

                  Stop!   Stop!
     FOOTSTEPS THUNDER on the landing. Quickly, Harry grabs
     Dobby by the pillowcase and pitches him into the
     wardrobe... just as the door FLINGS OPEN.

                                UNCLE VERNON

                  What the devil are you doing up
                  here! You've just ruined the
                  punch line of my Japanese golfer
                  joke. One more sound and you'll
                  wish you'd never been born, boy!
     He stomps flat-footed from the room and SLAMS THE DOOR.
     Harry lets Dobby out of the wardrobe.

                                                       (CONTINUED)





                                                              7.





10   CONTINUED:                                                    10





                                HARRY

                  See why I've got to go back? I
                  don't belong here. I belong in
                  your world -- at Hogwarts. It's
                  the only place I've got...
                  friends.

                                DOBBY

                  Friends who don't even write to
                  Harry Potter?

                                HARRY

                  Well, I expect they've been --
                  hang on, how do you know my
                  friends haven't been writing me?
     Guiltily, Dobby takes out a STACK of LETTERS.

                                DOBBY

                  Harry Potter mustn't be angry with
                  Dobby -- Dobby hoped if Harry
                  Potter thought his friends had
                  forgotten him... Harry Potter
                  might not want to go back to
                  school, sir...

                                HARRY

                  Give me those. Now.
     Dobby frowns sadly, then DASHES out the door.
     Panicking...




11   INT. HALLWAY/STAIRS/KITCHEN - DAY                             11

     ... Harry flies desperately after, Dobby bouncing like a
     ping-pong ball down the stairs and into the kitchen. As
     Harry races in, he finds Dobby on the counter, waving his
     arms. Aunt Petunia's masterpiece of a pudding RISES,
     then floats into the living room, HOVERING over the
     Mason's heads. The Masons don't see, but the Dursleys --
     goggle-eyed--do.

                                HARRY

                  Dobby... Please... No...

                                DOBBY

                  Harry Potter must say he's not
                  going back to school.

                                 HARRY

                  I can't.   Hogwarts is my home.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/9/02                      8.




11    CONTINUED:                                                     11





                                 DOBBY

                           (a tragic
                            expression)
                   Then Dobby must do it, sir.   For
                   Harry Potter's own good.
      Dobby SNAPS HIS FINGERS. The pudding PLUMMETS...
      straight onto the Masons. They stand blinking, covered
      head to foot with whipped cream and sugared violets. The
      Masons exit. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia race after
      them.

                                 UNCLE VERNON

                   I'm sorry. It's our nephew. Very
                   disturbed. Meeting strangers
                   upsets him, so we kept him
                   upstairs...




11A   EXT. DURSLEY HOUSE - DAY                                       11A

      The Masons RACE out of the house, the Dursleys FOLLOWING.

                                 AUNT PETUNIA

                   We have ice cream...
      The Masons get into their car and drive off, just as a
      SHRIEKING SOUND splits the sky. An OWL SWOOPS down, and
      DROPS a LETTER at Uncle Vernon's feet. He picks up the
      letter, opens it. As he reads it, a mad gleam dances in
      Uncle Vernon's eye. He turns and races back inside the
      house. Aunt Petunia follows.




11B   INT. DURSLEY HOUSE - NIGHT                                     11B

      Uncle Vernon runs back into the living room, extends the
      letter to Harry.

                                  UNCLE VERNON

                   Go on.   Read it.

                                 HARRY

                   'Dear Mr. Potter. We have
                   received intelligence that a Hover
                   Charm was used at your place of
                   residence at twelve minutes past
                   seven this evening. As you know,
                   underage wizards...'

                                 UNCLE VERNON

                   '... are not permitted to perform
                   spells outside school.'

                                 (MORE)


                                                       (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/9/02                  8A.




11B   CONTINUED:                                                  11B





                                 UNCLE VERNON (CONT'D)

                           (snatching the letter)
                   You didn't tell us you weren't
                   Allowed to use magic at home.
                   Slipped your mind, didn't it?

                                 (MORE)


                                                   (CONTINUED)





                                                              9.





11B   CONTINUED:    (2)                                            11B





                                 UNCLE VERNON (CONT'D)

                   Well, I've got news for you, boy.
                   I'm locking you up! And if you
                   try to magic yourself out, they'll
                   expel you! You're never going
                   back to that school! Never!




12    EXT./INT. HARRY'S BEDROOM - NEXT DAY                         12


      A SHORT MONTAGE BEGINS:

      Uncle Vernon fits IRON BARS to the inside of Harry's
      window.
      Drills a METAL FLAP to the base of the bedroom door.
      Fits a FAT, GREY LOCK to the door itself. Soaking with
      sweat, he casts Harry a nasty grin and pulls shut the
      DOOR. It closes with the DULL CLANK of a cell.




13    INT. HARRY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT                                 13

      Harry stares gloomily out the window. The METAL FLAP
      RATTLES and Dudley's pudgy hand slides a BOWL of TINNED
      SOUP onto the floor. He grins cruelly through the
      opening.

                                 DUDLEY

                   I know what day it is.

                                 HARRY

                   Well done, Dudley. Finally
                   learned the days of the week, have
                   you.

                                 DUDLEY

                   Today's your birthday.   And nobody
                   cares.
      Dudley SNAPS SHUT the flap. Harry sighs, takes the soup
      and a bit of stale bread, and crosses to Hedwig.

                                 HARRY

                   It's no good turning your beak up.
                   It's all we've got.
      Harry feeds a piece of bread to Hedwig... as we...

                                               DISSOLVE TO:


                                                    (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02               10.




13    CONTINUED:                                                 13





      SAME SCENE - LATER

      Harry leans against the wall. Asleep. There is a gentle
      TAPPING SOUND. Harry opens his eyes and is stunned to
      see... RON WEASLEY staring through the bedroom window.

                                  HARRY

                   Ron?

                                  RON

                   Hiya, Harry.




13A   EXT. DURSLEY HOUSE - NIGHT                                 13A

      An OLD, TURQUOISE-COLORED FORD ANGLIA floats in midair.
      Ron leans out the back window. His brother FRED sits in
      the driver's seat. Fred's twin George is in the
      passenger seat.

                                  HARRY

                   Fred?   George? What're you doing
                   here?

                                 RON

                   Rescuing you, of course.   Where's
                   your trunk?




13B   CLOSEUP - HARRY'S TRUNK                                    13B

      Stuffed with clothes, spellbooks. The trunk CLOSES, SNAPS
      SHUT. Harry drags the trunk to the windowsill, watches Ron
      tie off a fierce knot on the bars of Harry's window.

                                  RON

                   Stand back.
      Harry steps back.     Ron turns, nods to Fred.




13C   INSERT - FRED'S FOOT                                       13C

      Fred STEPS ON the accelerator.




13D   EXT. DURSLEY HOUSE - NIGHT                                 13D

      The Ford Anglia FLIES UP into the air, the rope SNAPS
      TIGHT, and -- CRUNCH! -- the bars are TORN from the
      window. Bricks and bars RAIN DOWN onto the lawn below, a
      mangled mess.

13E   INT. UNCLE VERNON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT                        13E

      Uncle Vernon WAKES...




                                                               11.





14     OMITTED                                                       14

thru                                                                 thru

16                                                                   16





17     INT./EXT. HARRY'S BEDROOM/THE CAR - MOMENTS LATER             17




       Harry pushes the trunk over the sill into the Anglia's
       boot, then scrambles through the window himself, when...

       SQUAWK!


                                   HARRY

                   Hedwig!
       Harry clambers back, grabs Hedwig's cage, swings it onto
       the ledge, when... BAM! The bedroom door CRASHES OPEN.




                                   UNCLE VERNON

                   Petunia!    He's getting away!
       As Harry leaps for the windowsill, Uncle Vernon CHARGES
       FORWARD and SNATCHES his ankle. Harry tumbles into the
       darkness, one hand gripping Hedwig's cage, the other
       reaching out and... CATCHING Ron's at the last possible
       second.
       Uncle Vernon puts both hands to Harry's ankle, pulls
       harder. Ron braces himself, pulls back. Harry hangs,
       stretched high over the lawn, directly above the mangled
       steel bars.
       CLOSEUP:    Harry's hand begins to slip from Ron's fingers.
       INSIDE OF CAGE:       Hedwig PECKS feverishly at the LOCK.
       CLOSE-UP:    Ron.     PANICKED.

                                 RON

                   Hold on, Harry!

                                 UNCLE VERNON

                   Oh no, boy! You and that bloody
                   pigeon aren't going anywhere!
       CLOSE-UP:    Harry's hand begins to slip away from Ron's.
       INSIDE OF CAGE:       Hedwig PECKS HARDER and... the CAGE

       OPENS.

       Hedwig SWOOPS into the sky, WHEELS BACK and hammers her
       beak into Uncle Vernon's hand. He ROARS, stumbles back
       and... Ron and George pull Harry into the air.

                                 RON

                   Put your foot down, Fred!

                                                      (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    12.




17   CONTINUED:                                                     17




     Like a rocket, the Anglia sails into the stars. Harry
     glances back, sees Aunt Petunia and Dudley join Uncle
     Vernon at the window. As Hedwig races up, soaring just
     beyond the car window, Ron turns to Harry.




                                RON

                  By the way, Harry.   Happy
                  Birthday.

                                               DISSOLVE TO:





18   EXT. THE BURROW - EARLY MORNING                                18

     As the Anglia drops through a pink sky, a haphazard mess
     of a HOUSE, built around a towering central chimney,
     appears below. By the road, a lopsided SIGN reads: THE
     BURROW. FLUMPH! The car touches down in a WHIRLING CONE
     of dust, scatters a group of chickens, and fishtails to a
     halt. The boys spill quickly out of the car. FRED
     WHISPERS urgently.

                                FRED

                  Hurry! Let's nip inside before
                  Mum wakes up!




19   INT. FRONT ROOM - THE BURROW - MOMENTS LATER                   19

     The boys sneak inside, gently close the door. Harry
     stops. Magical objects surround him: A CLOCK displays
     different chores for each family member. A pair of
     NEEDLES knit a sweater by themselves. And a stack of
     PLAYING CARDS that. A stack of PLAYING CARDS SHUFFLE
     themselves, providing a cooling breeze for Ron's aging
     rat, SCABBERS. Ron shrugs, averts his eyes self-
     consciously.

                                RON

                  It's not much.

                                HARRY

                  I think it's... brilliant!
     Ron looks up.     Sees Harry's mesmerized face.   Slowly...

     GRINS.


                                MRS. WEASLEY (O.S.)


                  WHERE... HAVE... YOU... BEEN?!

     The boys nearly jump out of their skin. MRS. WEASLEY
     stands in the doorway. Furious. She smiles sweetly at
     Harry.

                                                   (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    13.




19   CONTINUED:                                                     19





                                MRS. WEASLEY

                  Harry!  How wonderful to see you.
                          (back to the boys)
                  Beds empty! No note! You
                  could've died! You could've been
                  seen!
                          (again, to Harry)
                  I don't blame you, of course,
                  dear.

                                RON

                  They were starving him, Mum!
                  There were bars on his window!

                                MRS. WEASLEY

                  You best hope I don't put bars on
                  your window, Ronald Weasley!
                          (softening instantly)
                  Care for a spot of tea, Harry?

                                 GINNY

                  Mummy.   Have you seen my jumper --
     A small, RED-HEADED GIRL appears. Sees Harry. And...
     SQUEALS. Dashes back up the stairs. Ron frowns.

                               RON

                  Ginny. Been talking about you all
                  summer. Dead annoying, really.

                                  GEORGE

                  Dad's home!
     The front door OPENS and ARTHUR WEASLEY enters. A tall
     man with red hair, his robes look dusty and travel-worn.

                                  MR. WEASLEY

                  What a night!    Nine raids!   Nine!

                                 HARRY

                           (to Ron)
                  Raids?

                                RON

                  Dad works at the Ministry of
                  Magic. In the Misuse of Muggle
                  Artefacts Office.

                                HARRY

                  The Misuse of Muggle Artefacts...?

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   14.




19   CONTINUED:    (2)                                             19





                                RON

                  That's when wizards bewitch
                  something to drive Muggles mad.
                  Shrinking door keys, that kind of
                  thing. Dad loves Muggles. Thinks
                  they're fascinating.
     Mr. Weasley hangs up his cloak, turns.     Blinks.

                                 MR. WEASLEY

                  Well now.   Who are you?

                                 RON

                  Harry, sir.   Harry Potter.

                                MR. WEASLEY

                  Good Lord, are you really? Ron's
                  told us all about you, of course.
                  When did you get here?

                                MRS. WEASLEY

                          (darkly)
                  This morning. Your sons flew that
                  enchanted car of yours to Surrey
                  house and back last night.

                                MR. WEASLEY

                  Did you now! How'd it go?!
                          (catching his
                           wife's eye)
                  I... I mean... That was very
                  wrong, boys. Very wrong indeed.
                  So, Harry. You must know all
                  about Muggles. Tell me, what
                  exactly is the function of a
                  parking meter?
     Harry is about to answer, when he notices an OWL (ERROL)
     soaring toward the kitchen window. To Harry's horror,
     the owl doesn't pull up. It just flies... SMACK!... into
     the glass.

                                MRS. WEASLEY

                  That must be Errol with the post.
                  Fetch him, will you, George?
     George takes the unconscious Errol, absently lays him on
     a draining board, and takes the LETTERS clutched in his
     claws.

                                GEORGE

                  It's our Hogwarts letters! And
                  look. They've sent Harry's as well.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    15.




19     CONTINUED:    (3)                                              19





                                  MR. WEASLEY

                    Dumbledore must know you're here,
                    Harry. Doesn't miss a trick, that
                    man.




                                  FRED

                            (reading his)
                    This lot won't come cheap, Mum.
                    The spellbooks alone...

                                  MRS. WEASLEY

                    We'll manage. Right then.
                    There's only one place to get all
                    of this.

                                    HARRY/RON/FRED/GEORGE

                    Diagon Alley!




19A    OMITTED                                                        19A

thru                                                                  thru

23                                                                    23





24     INT. LIVING ROOM - THE BURROW - DAY (LATER)                    24

       Everyone has gathered in front of the large fireplace.

                                  MRS. WEASLEY

                    You first, Harry dear.
       Mrs. Weasley offers Harry a FLOWERPOT. At the bottom is
       a layer of VERY SOFT DUST. Harry frowns in confusion.

                                  RON

                    Harry's never traveled by Floo
                    Powder before, Mum.

                                    HARRY

                    Floo Powder?
       Just then, Ron's older brother PERCY enters.

                                  MRS. WEASLEY

                    Percy. Would you mind going
                    first, so Harry can see how it's
                    done?

                                  PERCY

                    Certainly, Mother. Don't worry,
                    Harry. It's simple enough.

                                                       (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    16.




24   CONTINUED:                                                     24




     Percy takes a pinch from the pot, pitches it into the
     fireplace and BRIGHT GREEN FLAMES ROAR HIGH. To Harry's
     amazement, he calmly walks... straight into them.




                                  PERCY

                  Diagon Alley.
     Percy VANISHES.     Tentatively, Harry reaches into the pot.

                                MRS. WEASLEY

                  Remember to speak clearly, dear!

                                RON

                  And mind you get out at the right grate!

                                HARRY

                          (nodding, unsure)
                  D-Dia-gon Alley!




25   INT. SPIRALING TUNNEL                                          25

     The SOUND is DEAFENING as Harry hurtles forward,
     squinting against the sting of WHIRLING SOOT and the mad,
     flickering lights of passing fireplaces. He falls face
     forward...




26   INT. BORGIN AND BURKES - STONE FIREPLACE - DAY                 26

     ... onto a stone hearth. Dizzy and dirty, Harry reclaims
     his shattered glasses. He's tumbled into a wizard's
     shop, but a decidedly creepy one. He starts to exit,
     when a WITHERED HAND in a GLASS CASE catches his eye:
     The Hand of Glory. Nearby, an OPAL NECKLACE gleams:
     Caution: Do not touch. Cursed--Has Claimed the Lives of
     Nineteen Muggle Owners to Date. Oddly transfixed by it
     all, Harry drifts toward the exit, when...

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                           17.





26   CONTINUED:                                                  26




     DRACO MALFOY and his father, LUCIUS MALFOY, appear beyond
     the front window, approaching the shop. Harry glances
     about, spies a LARGE BLACK CABINET and slips inside. As
     he pulls the doors closed, a TINY CARD swings INTO VIEW:
     Crushing Cabinet.
     Malfoy and his father enter. A stooped man (MR. BORGIN)
     emerges from the back room. IN THE CABINET, Harry
     watches, unaware that the walls around him are... SLOWLY

     CLOSING IN.


                                MR. BORGIN

                  Mr. Malfoy! What a pleasure to
                  see you again. If I may, just in
                  today --

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  I'm not buying today, Mr. Borgin.
                  But selling.

                                 MR. BORGIN

                  Selling?

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  You have heard, of course, that
                  the Ministry of Magic is
                  conducting more raids. There are
                  even rumors of a new Muggle
                  Protection Act...
     Lucius unravels a roll of parchment, hands it to Borgin.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  I have a few... ah... items at
                  home that might prove embarrassing
                  if the Ministry were to call.
                  Certain poisons and the like...

                                 MR. BORGIN

                  Hmmm... yes.   I see...
     INSIDE THE CABINET, Harry realizes the walls are CLOSING
     IN. His eyes shift upward. The ceiling is DROPPING.
     Draco drifts to the Hand of Glory, reaches out, when...
     the HAND GRABS HIM. Draco shrieks, manages to slip free,
     then calms. He eyes the hand with malicious glee.

                                DRACO

                  Can I have this?

                                                  (CONTINUED)





                                                             18.





26   CONTINUED:    (2)                                             26





                                MR. BORGIN

                  Ah, the Hand of Glory. Insert a
                  candle and it gives light only to
                  the holder. Best friend of
                  thieves and plunderers. Your son
                  has fine taste, sir.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Hopefully my son will amount to
                  more than a thief, Mr. Borgin.
                  Though if his marks don't pick
                  up --

                                DRACO

                  It's not my fault the teachers
                  have favorites. That Hermione
                  Granger --

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  I would have thought you'd be
                  ashamed that a girl of no
                  wizarding family beat you in every
                  exam.

                                MR. BORGIN

                  It's the same all over. Wizard
                  blood is counting for less
                  everywhere.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                          (deadly)
                  Not with me.
     INSIDE THE CABINET, Harry's knees are up under his chin...
     Borgin checks off one last time, then returns the
     parchment to Lucius. Satisfied, Malfoy nods.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Very good. I'll expect you at the
                  manor tomorrow. Come, Draco.
     They exit. As Borgin slips into the back room, the
     Crushing Cabinet's doors FLY OPEN and Harry leaps free.
     Inside, the walls, floor, and ceiling SNAP SHUT! Borgin
     reappears, blinks curiously at Harry, then watches him
     RACE out the door.




27   EXT. KNOCKTURN ALLEY - DAY (MOMENTS LATER)                    27

     Once outside, Harry fits his broken glasses to his face,
     eyes a STREET SIGN: "KNOCKTURN ALLEY."

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                              19.





27   CONTINUED:                                                     27




     The vendors here clearly cater to the Dark Arts:
     SHRUNKEN HEADS, POISONOUS CANDLES. One window teems with

     SPIDERS.





                                AGED WITCH (O.S.)

                  Not lost are you, my dear?
     Harry wheels, looking into the mossy teeth of a decrepit
     WITCH. She holds a tray of HUMAN FINGERNAILS.

                                HARRY

                  I'm fine, thanks. I'm just --

                               HAGRID

                  HARRY! What d'yer think yer doin'
                  down 'ere?

                               HARRY

                  Hagrid!
     Hagrid knocks the tray from the cursing Witch's hands,
     then seizes Harry by the scruff of the neck and steers
     him away.




28   EXT. DIAGON ALLEY - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY                    28

     Hagrid swats at Harry's sooty clothes.

                                HAGRID

                  Yer a mess! Skulkin' 'round
                  Knockturn Alley. Dodgy place,
                  Harry. Don't want no one ter see
                  yeh down there. People'll be
                  thinkin' yer up ter no good.

                                HARRY

                  I was lost, I -- Hang on. What
                  were you doing down there?

                                HAGRID

                  I was lookin' fer a Flesh Eatin'
                  Slug Repellent. They're ruinin'
                  the school cabbages.

                               HERMIONE (O.S.)

                  Harry!
     Harry looks up, sees HERMIONE GRANGER standing at the top
     of Gringotts' white steps. She runs down to meet them.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                             20.





28    CONTINUED:                                                   28





                                 HERMIONE

                   Hello, Hagrid. Oh, it's wonderful
                   to see you two again.



      She stops then, cocks her head curiously at Harry, then
      takes out her wand and points it directly between his
      eyes.

                                 HERMIONE

                   Oculus Reparo.
      Instantly, Harry's glasses are mended.

                                 HARRY

                   I need to remember that one.

                                  HERMIONE

                   C'mon.   Everyone's been so worried.
      Hermione leads them to Gringotts, where Hermione's rather
      nervous-looking Muggle parents stand with the Weasleys.

                                 MR. WEASLEY

                   So you're dentists! Fascinating!
                   I understand other Muggles quite
                   fear you? Why is that?

                                 MRS. WEASLEY

                   Oh, Harry. Thank goodness. We
                   hoped you'd only gone one grate
                   too far. Come now. We're off to
                   Flourish and Blotts.

                                 HERMIONE

                   Isn't it thrilling! Gilderoy
                   Lockhart's going to be there! We
                   can actually meet him! I mean,
                   he's written almost the whole
                   booklist!
      As Mrs. Weasley and Hermione dash off, Harry frowns.

                                 HARRY

                   Who?




29    OMITTED                                                      29





29A   EXT. FLOURISH AND BLOTTS - DAY                               29A

      CLOSE-UP: GILDEROY LOCKHART. A handsome, golden-haired
      wizard with stunning pearl-white teeth. He miles, winks
      at the camera.

                                                (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   21.




29A   CONTINUED:                                                    29A




      DOLLY BACK to reveal that the image of Lockhart is
      actually a MOVING PHOTOGRAPH propped in the window. A
      PLACARD declares: HERE TODAY! SIGNING COPIES OF HIS

      AUTOBIOGRAPHY, MAGICAL ME... GILDEROY LOCKHART!








30    INT. FLOURISH AND BLOTTS - DAY                                30

      Harry and the others thread their way through a
      CHATTERING THRONG of MIDDLE-AGED LADIES, all craning
      their necks for a view of Lockhart, who sits signing
      books at the rear of the shop. At the sight of him, Mrs.
      Weasley pats her hair.

                                  MRS. WEASLEY

                   There he is!

                                 RON

                   Mum fancies him.
      For this, Mrs. Weasley gives Ron a jab in the shoulder.
      A SHORT MAN WITH A CAMERA bumps past.

                                 SHORT MAN

                   Out of the way! This is for The
                   Daily Prophet!
      Instantly, Lockhart looks up, flashes a smile, when...

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   It can't be Harry Potter?
      The crowd WHISPERS excitedly as Lockhart dives forward,
      seizes Harry's hand and turns him toward the
      photographer.

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                           (under his breath)
                   Nice big smile, Harry. Together,
                   you and I rate the front page.
                           (as the CAMERA FLASHES)
                   Ladies and gentlemen! What an
                   extraordinary moment this is!
                   When young Harry here stepped into
                   Flourish and Blotts this morning
                   to purchase my autobiography,
                   Magical Me -- which, incidentally
                   is celebrating its twenty-seventh
                   week atop The Daily Prophet's
                   Bestseller List -- he had no idea
                   that he would, in fact, be leaving
                   with my entire collected works!
                   Free of charge!

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   22.




30   CONTINUED:                                                    30




     As the crowd CLAPS, Lockhart catches the eye of a FLUNKY
     and, before Harry knows it, a towering stack of books is
     shoved into his arms. Mortified, Harry mumbles quietly.




                                  HARRY

                  Thank you.
     Slipping free, Harry drifts back into the crowd and, red
     with embarrassment, drops the books into Ginny's
     cauldron.

                                HARRY

                  You have these. I'll buy my
                  own --

                                DRACO

                          (appearing, sneers)
                  Bet you loved that, didn't you,
                  Potter? Famous Harry Potter.
                  Can't even go into a bookshop
                  without making the front page.

                                GINNY

                  Leave him alone! He didn't want
                  all that!

                                  DRACO

                  Look, Potter.    You've got yourself
                  a girlfriend!

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                              23.





30   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              30





                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Silence, Draco! Ah... Mr. Potter.
                  I don't believe we've met.



     Lucius Malfoy extends his hand, as if offering to shake
     Harry's, but instead gently plays his fingers over the
     fringe of Harry's scalp, revealing Harry's LIGHTNING BOLT
     SCAR. At his touch, Harry withdraws, ever so slightly.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Forgive me, Mr. Potter. But your
                  scar is legend. As, of course, is
                  the wizard who gave it to you.

                                HARRY

                  He was a murderer.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Yes, a pity about your parents.
                  Curious that you yourself should
                  escape with a mere flesh wound.
                  Curious, too, that you speak of
                  him in the past. Surely, you
                  don't think He-Who-Must-Not-Be-
                  Named is gone forever.

                                HARRY

                  His name is Voldemort.
     Those within earshot gasp as Harry utters the word.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  You must be very brave, Mr.
                  Potter, to dare speak his name.
                  Or foolish.

                                HERMIONE

                  Fear of a name only increases fear
                  of the thing itself.
     Lucius Malfoy's eyes slide, find Hermione staring
     defiantly.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  You must be Miss Granger. Draco's
                  told me all about you... and your
                  parents. Muggles, aren't you?
     Mr. and Mrs. Granger nod nervously. Lucius Malfoy can
     barely disguise his distaste for them. Arthur Weasley
     hurries over.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 5/14/02                    24.




30   CONTINUED:    (3)                                              30





                                MR. WEASLEY

                  Ron! Harry! It's mad in here.
                  Let's go outside.




                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Well, well, well -- Arthur
                  Weasley.

                                  MR. WEASLEY

                            (stiffly)
                  Lucius.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Busy time at the Ministry. All
                  those raids. I hope they're
                  paying you overtime.
     Malfoy reaches into Ginny's cauldron, removes a very old,
     battered copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Obviously not. Dear me. What's
                  the use of being a disgrace to the
                  name of wizard if they don't even
                  pay you well for it.

                                MR. WEASLEY

                  We have a very different idea
                  about what disgraces the name of
                  wizard, Lucius.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                          (glancing at the
                           Grangers)
                  Clearly. The company you keep,
                  Weasley. And I thought your
                  family could sink no lower.
     Mr. Weasley moves to hit Lucius Malfoy. Hagrid steps
     forward, puts a firm hand on Mr. Weasley's shoulder.

                                HAGRID

                  Ignore 'im, Arthur.
     Mr. Weasley backs away. Lucius Malfoy tosses Ginny's
     BATTERED TEXTBOOK back into her cauldron.

                                LUCIUS MALFOY

                  Here, girl. Take your book. It's
                  the best your father can give you.
     Lucius and Draco exit.       Hagrid looks at the Weasleys.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 5/14/02                     25.




30    CONTINUED:    (4)                                               30





                                 HAGRID

                   No Malfoy's worth listenin' ter.
                   Rotten ter the core, the whole
                   family...



      As Harry watches Draco and his father go, we --

                                                DISSOLVE TO:





30A   OMITTED                                                         30A





30B   EXT. KING'S CROSS - MORNING                                     30B

      Amid a neat line of cars, the Anglia sits at a decidedly
      odd angle, as if its driver were not the most skilled
      motorist.




31    OMITTED                                                         31





32    INT. KING'S CROSS - DAY                                         32

      The Weasleys and Harry -- pushing large TROLLEYS -- dash
      under the LARGE CLOCK which reads two minutes to eleven.

                                MRS. WEASLEY

                   Oh dear! The train'll be leaving
                   any moment! All together now!
      Hurrying, they race to PLATFORMS NINE AND TEN. Quickly,
      Percy, Fred and George stride briskly toward the stone
      barrier that divides the platforms -- and simply

      DISAPPEAR.


                                   MRS. WEASLEY

                   Go on, Ginny.    You know what to
                   do.
      Ginny, looking a bit nervous, rushes toward the barrier,
      closes her eyes, and sleds...




32A   INT. PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS - DAY                     32A

      ... out onto the other side. As she gazes at the
      HOGWARTS EXPRESS, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley materialize at her
      side.

                                                       (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02               26.




32A   CONTINUED:                                                 32A





                                  MRS. WEASLEY (O.S.)

                   Come, Ginny.   We'll get you a
                   seat.







32B   INT. KING'S CROSS                                          32B

      Ron glances at the clock.

                                 RON

                   We better hurry.
      Harry nods, leans into his trolley and -- CRASH! -- hits
      the barrier and bounces back into Ron. A GUARD glowers.

                                 GUARD

                   What in blazes d'you two think
                   you're doing?

                                 HARRY

                   Sorry. Lost control of the
                   trolley.
                           (to Ron)
                   Why can't we get through?

                                 RON

                   I dunno. The gateway's sealed
                   itself for some reason.
      As Ron presses his ear to the barrier, the CLOCK CHIMES.

                                 HARRY

                   The train leaves at exactly eleven
                   o'clock. We've missed it.

                                 RON

                   Can't hear a thing.
                           (a sudden thought)
                   Harry. If we can't get through,
                   maybe Mum and Dad can't get back.

                                 HARRY

                   Maybe we should go wait by the
                   car.

                                  RON

                   The car!




33    EXT. PARKING LOT (KING'S CROSS) - MOMENTS LATER            33

      Pushing their trolleys madly before them, Harry and Ron
      dash to the car, load their belongings into the Anglia's
      boot.

                                                 (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                  27.




33    CONTINUED:                                                   33





                                  HARRY

                   This is mad.   We can't drive to
                   Hogwarts.




                                 RON

                   Who says we're driving?

                                 HARRY

                   You don't mean -- Ron, no.

                                 RON

                   Look, who knows when Mum and Dad
                   will get back. And we've got to
                   get to school, haven't we? And
                   even underage wizards are allowed
                   to use magic if it's an absolute
                   emergency. Least that's what Fred
                   and George always say...

                                 HARRY

                   Something tells me we're going to
                   regret this.




33A   INT. ANGLIA - DAY                                            33A

      Ron TAPS his WAND on the dash and the Anglia burbles to
      life.

                              HARRY

                No offense, Ron, but are you sure
                you know how to fly this.

                                  RON

                   No problem.
      Ron SHIFTS.     With a GREAT JOLT, the car lifts from the
      ground.

                                 RON

                   There. See. Now I reckon all we
                   have to do is find the Hogwarts
                   Express and follow it. Simple.
      Harry nods, not entirely convinced. He peers out the
      window. Down below, TWO PEDESTRIANS stare in disbelief.

                                 HARRY

                   Uh, Ron. I should tell you.    Most
                   Muggles aren't accustomed to
                   seeing a flying car.

                                  RON

                   Right.
      Ron presses a TINY SILVER BUTTON on the dashboard and
      they... DISAPPEAR. Down below, the baffled pedestrians
      blink.




                                                           28.





34   EXT. FLYING CAR (SCOTLAND) - DAY (LATER)                    34




     CAMERA STARTS IN the clouds, passes through, finds
     Scotland's stunning green. The Anglia's ENGINE PUTTERS
     softly, when -- POP! - the car reappears. Ron jabs at
     the silver button.




                             RON

               Uh oh. The Invisibility Booster
               must be faulty.
     CAMERA ZOOMS ALONG the ridge of a cliff. The
     car reappears from above, gliding away FROM CAMERA.

                             RON

               Any sign of the train?

                              HARRY

               There!   Up ahead! Look...
     Along a STEEP BRIDGE, a single line of TRAIN TRACKS
     appear.

                             RON

               Brilliant.
     Ron SHIFTS, GLIDES DOWN, until the Anglia is only a few
     feet above the tracks. The boys peer ahead, looking for
     the train.

                             RON

               It must be around here
               someplace.
     Behind them, through the Anglia's rear window, the
     Hogwarts Express APPEARS, closing fast. Harry and Ron
     perk up. Smile.

                             HARRY

               Do you hear that?
     Then, at precisely the same moment, Harry and Ron
     register the DIRECTION of the sound. They glance at each
     other, turn as one and see the train GROWING HUGE in the
     rear window.

                             HARRY/RON

               Aaaahhhhh!
     Ron SPINS THE WHEEL, puts his foot to the gas and -- at
     the last possible second -- whips the Anglia out of the
     train's path. The car WAFFLES, TOPPLES upside down
     briefly, before...

                                                 (CONTINUED)





                                                             29.





34   CONTINUED:                                                    34




     ... TILTING onto its side. As it jets under the bridge,
     Harry goes SLIDING DOWN ACROSS HIS SEAT, into the door,
     and... OUT. Dangling upside-down from the open door, he
     watches the Hogwarts Express ZIP PAST and, in one window,
     glimpses NEVILLE and SEAMUS, mouths open in astonishment.

                                  RON

                  Take my hand!
     Harry's grips Ron's hand, eyes the train steaming far
     below. It's quite a drop. Harry's fingers begin to LOSE

     THEIR GRIP.


                                  RON

                  Hold on!

                                 HARRY

                  I'm trying!   Your hand's all
                  sweaty!
     Straining, Ron yanks him inside, levels off the car. As
     Harry falls heavily into his seat, he BUCKLES his safety
     belt.

                                HARRY

                  I think we found the train.




35   EXT. HOGWARTS CASTLE - FLYING CAR - NIGHT                     35

     As HOGWARTS CASTLE comes INTO VIEW, the Anglia ENTERS

     FRAME.


                                RON

                  Welcome home, Harry.
     Harry smiles at the sight of it, when... the Anglia

     GROANS.


                                HARRY

                  Just out of interest, Ron. Have
                  you ever landed a car before?

                                RON

                  Well... no. but, until a few
                  hours ago, I'd never taken off in
                  one either.
     With that, the car LURCHES, the nose DROPS, and...

                                  RON

                  Uh oh.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                               30.





35   CONTINUED:                                                      35




     ... Harry, Ron and car go pitching through the night. As
     Ron rakes the GEARS, they hurtle madly toward the CASTLE

     WALL.





                                RON


                  IT'S NOT WORKING!


                                  HARRY


                  UP!   UP!

     Ron SHIFTS desperately. The Anglia LURCHES up, barely
     clears the castle wall. Harry and Ron exchange a look of
     relief, when... the car GROANS again, LURCHES...
     downward.

                                HARRY


                  MIND THAT TREE!

     Down below a GIANT WILLOW TREE looms.       Ron SHIFTS.
     Nothing.

                                  HARRY


                  TURN!   TURN!

     Harry reaches over and, together, he and Ron SPIN THE
     WHEEL. It's useless. The car is heading straight for the
     tree. Desperately, Ron WHIPS OUT his wand and WHACKS THE

     DASHBOARD.


                                  RON


                  STOP!   STOP!   STOP!

     The wand SNAPS IN TWO and -- CRUNCH! -- car meets tree.
     Harry blinks. They hang dreamily, BALANCED on the

     HIGHEST LIMB.


                                  RON

                  My wand!    Look at my wand!

                                HARRY

                  Be thankful it's not your neck.
     THWUNMP! Something HEAVY HITS Harry's door, sends a
     SHUDDER through the car.

                                RON

                  What's happening?
     Slowly, they look up and, in disbelief, watch one of the
     tree's branches PULL BACK, CURL INTO ITSELF, and come
     LASHING FORWARD like a MASSIVE FIST. THWUMP!

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02               31.




35   CONTINUED:    (2)                                           35





                                HARRY/RON

                  Aaaaahhhhh!
     The Anglia tilts crazily, slides backwards and FREE-FALLS
     through the air and... LANDS on lower grid of branches.

                                RON

                  What kind of tree is this?
     Before Harry can respond, the tree begins to PUMMEL THE
     CAR from all sides, tossing Henry and Ron about like
     popcorn. WINDOWS SHATTER. Heavy DENTS appear on the
     roof above Ron and Harry's heads. Then the car FALLS
     again...
     ... SLAMMING HEAVILY TO THE GROUND. Instantly, the
     tree's lower branches shoot through the front and rear
     windscreens and, gaining purchase, begin to SHAKE THE CAR

     BACK AND FORTH.


                                HARRY/RON

                  Aaaaahhhhh!
     The tree PITCHES the car into the air. As the Anglia
     SLAMS DOWN again, bobbing on its SQUEALING SHOCKS, the
     ENGINE BURBLES BACK TO LIFE. Harry LOOKS UP, peering
     through the shattered windscreen. The willow's branches,
     as one, rear back, ready for one last punishing blow.
     Harry CRIES OUT.

                                 HARRY

                  Reverse!   Reverse!
     Ron SHIFTS, the CAR SHOOTS BACKWARDS, and the willow
     PUMMELS THE TREAD-MARKED GROUND they just vacated.
     Safely clear, the doors fly open, the seats tip sideways,
     and Ron and Harry are ejected. As they hit the ground,
     their trunks fly from the boot, Hedwig's cage rockets out
     the back window, and Hedwig herself flaps into the night.
     Taillights blazing angrily, the BATTERED car speeds off,
     fishtailing into the Dark Forest.

                                RON

                  Dad's going to kill me.
     They hear a TREMENDOUS GROAN, turn back, and see the
     Whomping Willow assume its natural form, waiting for its
     next victim.

36   EXT. STONE STEPS/ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT                      36

     Filthy and bruised, Harry and Ron drag themselves up the
     steps. Behind them we see the mountain of student trunks
     and caged pets already brought up from the train.

                                               (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   32.




36   CONTINUED:                                                    36





                                HARRY

                  A house elf shows up in my
                  bedroom, we can't get through the
                  barrier to Platform Nine and Three
                  Quarters, we almost get killed by
                  a tree... clearly someone doesn't
                  want me here this year.

                                FILCH

                  Well, take a good look, lads...
     They stop. ARGUS FILCH stands at the top of the landing,
     his cat -- MRS. NORRIS -- twitching her tail at his feet.

                                FILCH

                  This night might well be the last
                  you spend in this castle.




37   INT. SNAPE'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER                           37

     CLOSEUP: The Evening Prophet ENTERS FRAME. The HEADLINE
     reads: FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES. Below the
     fold a PHOTO shows Harry and Lockhart at Flourish and
     Blotts. CAMERA PULLS BACK, PROFESSOR SEVERUS SNAPE
     stands at his desk, newspaper in hand as Harry and Ron
     stare with dread. Filch lurks in the doorway, eying them
     with pleasure.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                                33.





37   CONTINUED:                                                       37





                                SNAPE

                  You were seen! By no less then
                  seven Muggles. Do you have any
                  idea how serious this is? You
                  have risked the exposure of our
                  world. Not to mention the damage
                  you inflicted on a Whomping Willow
                  that has been on these grounds for
                  hundreds of years.

                                RON

                  Honestly, Professor Snape, I think
                  it did more damage to us.

                                SNAPE

                  Silence! I assure you, were you
                  in Slytherin and your fate rested
                  with me, the both of you would be
                  on the train home tonight. As it
                  is --

                                  ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

                  They are not.
     Harry and Ron turn. ALBUS DUMBLEDORE stands in the
     doorway. Alongside him is a distinctly annoyed PROFESSOR
     McGONAGALL.

                                HARRY

                  Professor Dumbledore.    Professor
                  McGonagall...

                                SNAPE

                  Headmaster, these boys have
                  flouted the Decree for the
                  Restriction of Underage Wizardry.
                  As such...

                                ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

                  I'm well aware of our bylaws,
                  Severus, having written more than
                  a few myself. However, as Head of
                  Gryffindor House, it is for
                  Professor McGonagall to determine
                  the appropriate action.

                                RON

                          (rising gloomily)
                  We'll go and get our stuff.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  What are you talking about, Mr.
                  Weasley?

                                                       (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    34.




37   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              37





                                RON

                  Well, you're going to expel us,
                  aren't you?



                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Not today, Mr. Weasley. But I
                  must impress upon both of you the
                  seriousness of what you have done.
                  I will be sending owls to both of
                  your families tonight. And you
                  will each get a detention.
     Snape casts a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron.

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  Splendid. Now, I suggest we
                  return to the feast. There's a
                  delicious-looking custard tart I
                  want to sample.
     Rising, Harry spies an ENVELOPE on the floor. Taking it,
     he reads the back: "KWIKSPELL. A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN
     BEGINNER'S MAGIC." It's addressed to "MR. ARGUS FILCH."

                                 HARRY

                  Mr. Filch.   You dropped this...
     Filch turns, eyes the envelope with embarrassment, then
     snatches it from Harry's hand and stuffs it into his
     pocket.




38   OMITTED                                                        38





39   EXT. HOGWARTS CASTLE - MORNING                                 39

     The Whomping Willow sulks in the courtyard, SLINGS strung
     about its injured branches. CAMERA CRANES OVER the
     castle walls, REVEALING the exterior of GREENHOUSE THREE,
     where students hurry inside for the beginning of class.




40   INT. GREENHOUSE THREE - MORNING                                40

     As Harry and Ron enter, SEAMUS, NEVILLE and some of the
     other Gryffindors hover nearby.

                                 NEVILLE

                  Detention.   On the first day?

                                SEAMUS

                  That must be some kind of record.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                             35.





40   CONTINUED:                                                    40





                                HERMIONE

                  I should think you'd count
                  yourself lucky that's all you got.




                                RON

                  I should think you'd mind your own
                  business.
     They glare at each other. PROFESSOR SPROUT, a squat
     little witch, TAPS her wand on a stack of POTS.

                                PROFESSOR SPROUT

                  Welcome to Greenhouse Three,
                  Second Years. Today, we will be
                  re-potting Mandrakes. Now, who
                  here can tell me the properties of
                  the Mandrake? Yes, Miss Granger.

                                HERMIONE

                  Mandrake, or Mandragora, is used
                  to return those who have been
                  transfigured to their original
                  state. It's also quite dangerous.
                  The Mandrake's cry is fatal to
                  anyone who hears it.

                                PROFESSOR SPROUT

                  Excellent. Ten points to
                  Gryffindor. As our Mandrakes are
                  only seedlings, their cries won't
                  kill yet. However, they will
                  knock you out for several hours.
                  That is why I have provided each
                  of you with a pair of earmuffs.
                  If you would then...
     Ron frowns. He's gotten a BRIGHT PINK FLUFFY pair. When
     the class is ready, Professor Sprout leads them to the
     GARDEN AREA. She grasps one of the TUFTY PLANTS before
     her... and pulls. Harry gasps. Instead of roots, a
     small, muddy, extremely ugly BABY pops out of the earth,
     leaves growing right out of its head. Neville's eyes
     ROLL BACK. He FAINTS.
     Professor Sprout plunges the BAWLING CREATURE deep into a
     POT, removes her earmuffs, and the others follow suit.
     Everyone save Neville, who lies stretched on the ground.

                                PROFESSOR SPROUT

                  Hm. Looks as though Mr.
                  Longbottom neglected his muffs.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                   36.




40   CONTINUED:    (2)                                            40





                                 SEAMUS

                  No, ma'am.   He's just fainted.

                                PROFESSOR SPROUT

                  Very well. We'll just leave him
                  then. Come now. Four to a tray,
                  plenty of pots to go round...




41   INT. GREAT HALL - LUNCH - DAY                                41

     Percy enters in the company of PENELOPE CLEARWATER, just
     as NEARLY HEADLESS NICK glides by.

                                PENELOPE CLEARWATER

                  There's Nearly Headless Nick.

                                PERCY

                  Hello, Sir Nicolas.

                                  NEARLY HEADLESS NICK

                  Hello, Percy.    Miss Clearwater.
     At the Gryffindor table, Hermione has her nose buried in
     Gilderoy Lockhart's Travels with Trolls. Ron runs gobs
     of Spellotape over his BROKEN WAND, shakes his head
     grimly.

                                 RON

                  Say it.   I'm doomed.

                                HARRY

                  You're doomed.
     FLASH! -- a LIGHT BLINDS Harry. He blinks, finds a small
     boy (COLIN CREEVEY) standing before him with a CAMERA.

                                COLIN

                  Hiya, Harry. I'm Colin Creevey.
                  I'm in Gryffindor too.

                                  HARRY

                  Hello, Colin.    Nice to meet --

                                COLIN

                  They're for my dad -- the
                  pictures. He's a milkman, you
                  know, a Muggle, like all our
                  family's been until me. No one
                  knew all the odd stuff I could do
                  was magic till we got my letter
                  from Hogwarts. Everyone just
                  thought I was mental.

                                                   (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                    37.




41   CONTINUED:                                                    41





                                  RON

                  Imagine that.

                                COLIN

                  Say, Harry. D'you think your
                  friend could take a photo of me
                  and you standing together? Ya'
                  know, to prove I've met you?
     Harry glances at Ron. He looks positively homicidal.
     Mercifully, just then, OWLS STREAM into the Hall.

                                  DEAN THOMAS

                  Post is here!
     One after another, the birds swoop gracefully down,
     clutching letters from home. All except one, who plops
     beak-first into Ron's soup. Errol.

                                RON

                  Bloody bird's a menace -- Oh...
                  no.

                                SEAMUS

                  Heads up, everyone. Weasley's
                  gotten himself a Howler.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02               37A.




41   CONTINUED:    (2)                                          41





                                NEVILLE

                  Go on, Ron. I ignored one from
                  my Gran once... and it was
                  horrible.



     Ron looks pale. Clutched in Errol's beak is a DAMP RED
     ENVELOPE. Hands shaking, he takes it, opens it, and...
     MRS. WEASLEY'S VOICE THUNDERS, sending plates and spoons
     rattling.

                                MRS. WEASLEY (V.O.)


                  RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU


                  STEAL THAT CAR! I AM


                  ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR


                  FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY


                  AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR


                  FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT


                  OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT


                  HOME!

                          (softening suddenly)
                  Oh, and Ginny dear.
                  Congratulations on making
                  Gryffindor. Your father and I are
                  so proud.
     Ginny, sitting a bit apart from the others, looks up
     shyly, then returns to the SMALL BLACK BOOK she's
     scribbling in. Ron watches the envelope RIP ITSELF TO
     PIECES, then endures HOWLS of LAUGHTER from the other
     House tables. Colin Creevey snaps a few photos. Harry
     looks sympathetically at Ron.

                                HARRY

                  Look at it this way. How much
                  worse can things get?




                                                          38.





42   INT. GILDEROY LOCKHART'S CLASSROOM - DAY                   42




     Gilderoy Lockhart paces before the class. Hermione and
     the girls hang on his every word, while Harry and Ron eye
     the LARGE, COVERED CAGE RATTLING mysteriously on his desk.




                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               Let me introduce you to your new
               Defense Against the Dark Arts
               Teacher. Me. Gilderoy Lockhart,
               Order of Merlin, Third Class,
               Honorary Member of the Dark Force
               Defense League and five times
               winner of Witch Weekly's Most-
               Charming-Smile Award -- But I
               don't talk about that. I didn't
               get rid of the Bandon Banshee by
               smiling at her!
     Lockhart awaits laughter.   A few students smile weakly.

                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               I see you've all bought a complete
               set of my books. Well done. I
               thought we'd start today with a
               little quiz. Nothing to worry
               about. Just to check how well
               you've read them, how much you've
               taken in...
     Lockhart begins to circulate papers. Harry and Ron
     examine the questions. Ron WHISPERS to Harry.

                             RON

               Look at these questions.   They're
               all about him.

                             HARRY

               'What is Gilderoy Lockhart's
               favorite color?'

                             RON

               'What is Gilderoy Lockhart's
               greatest achievement to date?'

                             HARRY

               'When is Gilderoy Lockhart's
               birthday and what would his ideal
               gift be?'

                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               You have thirty minutes. Start --
               now!
     As quills begin to dart across pages, we --

                                           DISSOLVE TO:





                                                    39.





SAME SCENE - LATER




Lockhart rifles through the completed exams.

                        GILDEROY LOCKHART

          Tut, tut. Hardly any of you
          remembered my favorite color is
          lilac. But Miss Hermione Granger
          knew that my secret ambition is to
          rid the world of evil and market
          my own range of hair care potions.
          Good girl.
Hermione beams.   Lockhart's expression suddenly darkens.

                        GILDEROY LOCKHART

          Now... be warned! It is my job to
          arm you against the foulest
          creatures known to wizardkind!
          You may find yourself facing your
          own worst fears in this room.
          Know only that no harm can befall
          you whilst I am here...
With a showman's flair, Lockhart turns slowly to the cage.

                        GILDEROY LOCKHART

          I must ask you not to scream. It
          might provoke them.
A pale Neville draws back. Harry and Ron lean forward.
Lockhart lets the tension build, then WHIPS off the
cover. Inside the cage are several electric blue
CREATURES. Eight inches tall, with pointed faces and
wings, they rattle the bars and pull bizarre faces at the
students.

                        SEAMUS

          Cornish pixies?

                        GILDEROY LOCKHART

          Freshly caught Cornish pixies.
Unable to control himself, Seamus SNORTS with laughter.

                        GILDEROY LOCKHART

          Laugh if you will, Mr. Finnegan,
          but pixies can be devilishly
          tricky little blighters. Let's
          see what you make of them now!
Lockhart flings open the cage. Instantly, the pixies
rocket about, spraying the students with ink bottles,
BREAKING BEAKERS and shredding books. Two SEIZE Neville
by the ears, lift him into the air, and begin to circle
the ceiling.

                                           (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    40.




42    CONTINUED:                                                     42





                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Come on now, round them up, round
                   them up. They're only pixies.
                           (brandishing his wand)
                   Peskipiski Pesternomi!
      The spell has absolutely no effect. A particularly
      obnoxious pixie makes a face, seizes Lockhart's wand and
      tosses it out the window. Lockhart joins the stampede to
      the door.

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   I'll ask you three to just nip the
                   rest of them back into their cage.
      SLAMMING the door, he's gone. Harry, Ron and Hermione
      stand blinking. Ron swats a pixie gnawing his ear.

                                 RON

                   What do we do now?

                                 HERMIONE

                           (raising her wand)
                   Immobilus!
      The pixies FREEZE IN MIDAIR. Neville falls, PLOPS onto
      Lockhart's desk, shaken but unhurt. He looks at
      Hermione.

                                 NEVILLE

                   Why is it always me?




42A   OMITTED                                                        42A





42B   INT. SEVENTH FLOOR - CORRIDOR - LATER                          42B

      Fresh from the pixies, Hermione, Ron, Harry and Neville
      walk. Hair askew. Robes shredded.

                                 RON

                   Can you believe him?

                                 HERMIONE

                   I'm sure Professor Lockhart just
                   wanted to give us some hands-on
                   experience.

                                 HARRY

                   Hands on? Hermione, he didn't
                   have a clue what he was doing.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   41.




42B   CONTINUED:                                                    42B





                                 HERMIONE

                   Rubbish. Read his books. You'll
                   see all the amazing things he's
                   done.




                                 RON

                   He says he's done.




43    OMITTED                                                       43


&                                                                   &


44                                                                  44





45    EXT. HOGWARTS - COURTYARD - DAY                               45

      The Gryffindor Quidditch team -- Harry, Fred, George,
      ALICIA SPINNET, KATIE BELL, and ANGELINA JOHNSON -- trail
      Oliver Wood through the courtyard, toward the distant
      Quidditch pitch. Several students are outside, studying.

                                 WOOD

                   I spent the summer devising a
                   whole new Quidditch program.
                   We're going to train earlier,
                   harder, and longer!
                           (squinting)
                   What the... I don't believe it!
      Crossing the courtyard from the other side are SEVEN BOYS
      in GREEN ROBES, also carrying broomsticks. At their lead
      is MARCUS FLINT, trollish Slytherin Captain. Ron,
      sitting at a table with Hermione, looks up.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                               42.





45   CONTINUED:                                                      45





                                 RON

                  Uh-oh.   I smell trouble.

                                WOOD

                  Clear out, Flint! I booked the
                  pitch for Gryffindor today.

                                 FLINT

                  Easy, Wood.   I've got a note.
     As Wood snatches the PARCHMENT from Flint's hand, Ron and
     Hermione come up to join the others.

                                WOOD

                  'I, Professor Severus Snape, do
                  hereby give the Slytherin team
                  permission to practice today,
                  owing to the need to train their
                  new Seeker.'
                          (looking up)
                  You've got a new Seeker? Who?
     A pasty-faced boy pushes to the front.        It's... Malfoy.

                                HARRY

                  Draco?

                                DRACO

                  That's right. And that's not all
                  that's new this year...
     As one, the seven Slytherins hold out seven brand-new
     GLEAMING BROOMSTICKS. The Gryffindors look stunned.

                                RON

                  Those are Nimbus Two Thousand
                  Ones.

                                FLINT

                  A generous gift from Draco's
                  father.

                                DRACO

                  That's right, Weasley. You see,
                  unlike some, my father can afford
                  to buy the best.

                                HERMIONE

                  At least no one on the Gryffindor
                  team had to buy their way in.
                  They got in on pure talent.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              43.





45   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              45





                                DRACO

                  No one asked your opinion, you
                  filthy little Mudblood.



     Everyone reacts as if Malfoy has said something horrific
     -- everyone save Harry, who looks puzzled. Instantly,
     Fred and George fly for Draco's throat. Oliver Wood
     holds them back.

                                WOOD

                  Save it for the match.

                                RON

                  You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!
                          (whips out his wand)
                  Eat slugs!
     Ron points his cracked wand at Malfoy. PFFT! -- a BOLT
     of GREEN LIGHT scissors out the wrong end, hitting Ron
     himself in the stomach. As he drops to the grass,
     Hermione runs to him

                                 HERMIONE

                  Ron!   Say something!
     Ron opens his mouth and... BELCHES. Hermione draws back,
     and watches a TRIO of SLUGS dribble out his mouth. The
     Slytherins CROW with LAUGHTER. Angrily, Ron rises, only
     to BELCH again. Fascinated, Colin Creevey runs up with
     his camera.

                               COLIN

                  Wow! Can you hold him still,
                  Harry?!

                                HARRY

                  Get out of the way, Colin!
                          (to Hermione)
                  Let's take him to Hagrid. He'll
                  know what to do.




46   INT. HAGRID'S HUT - DAY                                        46

     Hagrid rummages about, looking for something.

                                HAGRID

                  Got jus' the thing. Set 'im down
                  on that chair o'er there.
     As Ron sits, Hagrid pitches a BUCKET between his knees.
     Harry and Hermione glance up questioningly. Hagrid
     shrugs.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                           44.





46   CONTINUED:                                                  46





                                HAGRID

                  Better out than in. Who was he
                  tryin' ter curse anyway?




                                HARRY

                  Malfoy. He called Hermione, well,
                  I don't know exactly what it
                  means...

                                HERMIONE

                          (quietly)
                  He called me a Mudblood.

                               HAGRID

                  He didn'!
     Harry looks confused. Hermione glances at him, then
     away, obviously pained by this.

                                HERMIONE

                  It means dirty blood. Mudblood's
                  a really foul name for someone who
                  was Muggle-born. Someone with
                  non-magic parents. Someone...
                  like me. It's not a term one
                  usually hears in civilized
                  conversation.

                                HAGRID

                  Yeh see, Harry. There are some
                  wizards -- like Malfoy's family --
                  who think they're better than
                  everyone else 'cause they're what
                  people call pureblood.

                                HARRY

                  That's horrible.

                                RON

                          (BELCHES forth a
                           slug)
                  It's disgusting!

                                HAGRID

                  An' it's codswallop ter boot.
                  Dirty blood. There's 'ardly a
                  wizard today that's not half-blood
                  or less. If we 'adn't married
                  Muggles we'd've died out long ago.
                  Besides, they haven't invented a
                  spell our Hermione can't do...
                          (taking her shoulder)
                  Don' you think on it, Hermione.
                  Don' you think on it fer a minute.



     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/9/02                45/45A.




47   OMITTED                                                    47


&                                                               &


48                                                              48





49   INT. GILDEROY LOCKHART'S OFFICE - EVENING (HOURS LATER)    49




     CAMERA PANS the walls of Lockhart's office, lined with
     FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS of... Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry and
     Lockhart work by candlelight at an ornate desk. Bleary-
     eyed, Harry addresses envelopes, while a cheery Lockhart
     puts his signature to the stack of GLOSSY PHOTOS bearing
     his image.

                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               Harry, Harry, Harry... Can you
               possibly imagine a better way to
               serve detention than by helping me
               answer my fan mail?
     Harry forces a smile.

                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               Fame's a fickle friend, Harry.
               Celebrity is as celebrity does.
               Remember that.
     Harry nods, glancing gloomily at the towering stack of
     envelopes that remain. Dipping his quill, he starts to
     write, when... a CHILLY VOICE fills the room.

                             VOICE

               Come... come to me...

                                                 (CONTINUED)





                                                             49.





49    CONTINUED:                                                   49





                                HARRY

                   What?

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   I was saying, six solid months at
                   the top of the bestseller list!
                   Broke all records!

                                 HARRY

                   No... not you, that... voice.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Voice?

                                 HARRY

                   That... voice. Didn't you hear
                   it?

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   What are you talking about, Harry?
                   I think we're getting a bit
                   drowsy. Great Scott -- and no
                   wonder -- look at the time! We've
                   been here nearly four hours!
                   Dinner's nearly done! If you
                   hurry you might make pudding.
                   Spooky how the time flies when
                   one's having fun!

                                HARRY

                   Spooky.




49A   INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                        49A

      Harry passes quickly through the lengthening shadows of
      the empty corridor, when...

                                 VOICE

                   Blood... I smell blood...
      Harry stops cold, looking around for the source of the
      voice.

                                 VOICE

                   Let me rip you... let me kill
                   you...
      Harry steps to the wall, playing his fingers along the
      stone, then begins walk, slowly at first, then more
      quickly, as if following something, moving faster and
      faster, rounding the corner and coming face to face
      with... Hermione and Ron.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                       47.




49A    CONTINUED:                                                          49A





                                   HERMIONE

                    Harry!

                                  HARRY

                    Did you hear it?

                                   RON

                    Hear what?

                                  HARRY

                    That... voice.

                                   HERMIONE

                    Voice?   What voice?

                                  HARRY

                            (eyes darting around)
                    I heard it first in Lockhart's
                    office and then again, just --

                                  VOICE

                    Kill... Time to kill...
       As Harry stiffens, Hermione and Ron study him curiously.

                                   HARRY

                    It's moving.   I think it's going
                    to... kill.
       Harry runs off.       Hermione and Ron exchange a glance,
       follow.




50     OMITTED                                                             50

thru                                                                       thru

57                                                                         57





58     INT. MARBLE STAIRCASE - MOMENTS LATER                               58

       Harry dashes madly, taking the steps three at a time.          He
       makes the landing, rushes through the archway, and...




59     INT. SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR - SECOND FLOOR - NIGHT                   59

       ... sleds to a stop, listening: Nothing. Slowly, he
       peers down. WATER is oozing over the stone floor,
       surrounding his shoes. His own REFLECTION appears and,
       behind it, undulating like a dream... WORDS. Ron and
       Hermione come huffing up.

                                                        (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                 48.




59   CONTINUED:                                                  59





                                RON

                  Harry, what are you doing?
     He points. SHIMMERING on the wall are the words he saw
     reflected in water.

                  THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED


                     ENEMIES OF THE HEIR... BEWARE.


                                HERMIONE

                  'The Chamber of Secrets has been
                  opened...?'

                                 RON

                  What's that?   Hanging underneath?

                                HARRY

                  That's Filch's cat.   Mrs. Norris.
     The cat hangs stiffly by her tail from a torch bracket,
     eyes open and blank. Harry's eyes shift to the adjacent
     WINDOW: near the topmost pane, SPIDERS scuttle up a
     silvery thread, fight to get through a crack in the
     glass.

                                HERMIONE

                  Look at that. Have you ever seen
                  spiders act like that? Ron...?

                                RON

                          (backing away)
                  I... don't... like... spiders.
     Suddenly, the stairwell is alive with VOICES and, seconds
     later, dozens of students stream forth, CHATTERING...
     when they stop, seeing the wall and, standing before it,
     Harry, Ron and Hermione. A thudding SILENCE falls. Then
     Draco pushes forward, eyes the wall, and grins nastily.

                                DRACO

                  Enemies of the heir, beware!
                  You'll be next, Mudbloods!
     Draco's eyes find Hermione, just as Filch appears.

                                FILCH

                  What's going on here? Go on now!
                  Make way...
                          (stopping dead)
                  Mrs. Norris!
                          (rounding on Harry)
                  You! You've murdered my cat!
                  I'll kill you! I'll --

                                                  (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   49.




59   CONTINUED:    (2)                                             59





                                DUMBLEDORE

                  Argus!
     Dumbledore marches forward, trailed by a phalanx of
     teachers. Seeing the wall, Dumbledore's face darkens.

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  Everyone will proceed to their
                  dormitories immediately.
                          (to Harry, Ron,
                           Hermione)
                  Everyone except you three.
     As the corridor empties, Dumbledore steps to the wall
     and, with extreme gentleness, removes Mrs. Norris.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  It was definitely a curse that
                  killed her -- probably the
                  Transmogrifian Torture.
                  Encountered it myself once, in
                  Ouagadougou. The full story's in
                  my autobiography...

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  She's not dead, Argus. She's been
                  Petrified.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  Precisely! So unlucky I wasn't
                  there. I know the very
                  countercurse that could have
                  spared her...

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  But how she's been Petrified... I
                  cannot say.

                                FILCH

                          (pointing at Harry)
                  Ask him! It's him that's done it.
                  You saw what he wrote on the wall!
                  Besides, he knows I'm -- I'm a
                  Squib.

                                HARRY

                  It's not true, sir! I swear! I
                  never touched Mrs. Norris -- And I
                  don't even know what a Squib is.

                                 FILCH

                  Rubbish!   He saw my Kwikspell
                  letter!

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    50.




59   CONTINUED:    (3)                                              59





                                SNAPE

                  If I might, Headmaster...
     The others turn, watch Snape separate from the shadows.




                                SNAPE

                  Perhaps Potter and his friends
                  were simply in the wrong place at
                  the wrong time...
                                     Could Snape be defending
     Harry and the others blink.
     them?

                                SNAPE

                  However, the circumstances are
                  suspicious. I, for one, don't
                  recall seeing Potter at dinner.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  I'm afraid that's my doing,
                  Severus. You see, Harry was
                  helping me answer my fan mail...
     As Snape's lip curls in disgust, Hermione leaps in.

                                HERMIONE

                  That's why Ron and I went looking
                  for him, Professor. We'd just
                  found him when Harry said...

                                SNAPE

                          (raising an eyebrow)
                  Yes, Miss Granger?

                                HARRY

                  When I said I wasn't hungry. We
                  were heading back to the Common
                  Room and... found Mrs. Norris.
     Snape eyes Harry coldly, knowing he's lying. Harry looks
     away... and finds Dumbledore studying him as well.

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  Innocent until proven guilty.

                                FILCH

                  My cat has been Petrified!     I want
                  to see some punishment!

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                   51.




59    CONTINUED:    (4)                                            59





                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   We will be able to cure her,
                   Argus. As I understand it, Madam
                   Sprout has a very healthy growth
                   of Mandrakes. When they have
                   matured, a potion will be made
                   which will revive Mrs. Norris. In
                   the meantime, I advise caution.
                   To all.




60    OMITTED                                                      60





60A   INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT (A BIT LATER)                          60A

      Harry, Ron and Hermione walk down the corridor.

                                 RON

                   A Squib's someone who's born into
                   a wizarding family but hasn't got
                   any powers of their own. It's why
                   Filch is trying to learn magic
                   from a Kwikspell course. It's
                   also why he hates students so
                   much. He's bitter.
      Hermione, who's only been half-listening -- as if trying
      to unravel something in her mind -- speaks then.

                                 HERMIONE

                   Harry. This voice.     You said you
                   heard it first in Lockhart's
                   office?

                                 HARRY

                   Yes.

                                 HERMIONE

                   And did he hear it?

                                 HARRY

                   He said he didn't.

                                 RON

                   Maybe he was lying.

                                 HERMIONE

                   I hardly think someone with
                   Gilderoy Lockhart's credentials
                   would lie to one of his students,
                   Ronald. Besides, if you recall,
                   we didn't hear anything either.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/14/02                 52.




60A   CONTINUED:                                                  60A





                                 HARRY

                   You do believe me, don't you?

                                 HERMIONE

                   'Course we do. It's just... it's
                   a bit weird, isn't it? You hear
                   this voice and then... Mrs. Norris
                   turns up Petrified.

                                 HARRY

                   I can't explain it -- it was...
                   scary.
                           (frowning)
                   D'you think I should've told them
                   -- Dumbledore and the others, I mean.

                                  RON

                   Are you mad!

                                 HERMIONE

                   No, Harry. Even in the wizarding
                   world, hearing voices isn't a good
                   sign.




61    OMITTED                                                     61




62    INT. PROFESSOR McGONAGALL'S CLASSROOM - MORNING
      McGonagall stands before the class. Resting on the desk
      in front of each student, is a different animal.
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   Today, we will be turning animals
                   into water goblets.
      She taps the bird in front of her, three times, with the tip
      of her wand. It transfigures into a beautiful crystal water
      goblet.
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   Now, who would like to go first...
                   Mr. Weasley?
      Ron nods. He TAPS his rat, Scabbers, who turns into a
      goblet with a tail.
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   You must replace that wand, Mr.
                   Weasley.
      Ron nods sheepishly, looks at his broken wand.

                                                   (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                   53.




62   CONTINUED:    (A1)                                           62




     McGonagall sees Hermione's raised hand.     Her untouched
     animal.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Yes, Miss Granger?

                                HERMIONE

                  Professor, I was wondering if you
                  could tell us about the Chamber of
                  Secrets?
     A HUSH falls over the class.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  My subject is Transfiguration,
                  Miss Granger.

                                HERMIONE

                  Yes, Professor. But there seems
                  to be very little written about
                  the Chamber of Secrets. For those
                  of us with a personal interest in
                  the subject, that is...
                  disturbing.
     Malfoy regards Hermione with chilly amusement.
     McGonagall considers Hermione's question for a long
     moment, then nods.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Very well. You all know, of
                  course, that Hogwarts was founded
                  over a thousand years ago by the
                  four greatest witches and wizards
                  of the age:

                                (MORE)


                                                  (CONTINUED)





                                                            54.





62   CONTINUED:                                                   62




                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL (CONT'D)
                  Godric Gryffindor, Helga
                  Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and
                  Salazar Slytherin. Three of the
                  founders co-existed quite
                  harmoniously. One did not.

                                RON

                  Three glasses who?
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Salazar Slytherin wished to be
                  more selective about the students
                  admitted to Hogwarts. He believed
                  that magical learning should be
                  kept within all-magic families.
                  In other words, purebloods.
                  Unable to sway the others, he
                  decided to leave the school.
                          (a beat)
                  According to legend, Slytherin had
                  built a hidden chamber in this
                  castle, known as the Chamber of
                  Secrets. Shortly before
                  departing, he sealed it until that
                  time when his own true heir
                  returned to the school. The heir
                  alone would be able to open the
                  Chamber of Secrets and unleash the
                  horror within, and by so doing,
                  purge the school of all those who,
                  in Slytherin's view, were unworthy
                  to study magic.

                                  HERMIONE

                  Muggle-borns.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Yes. Naturally, the school has been
                  searched many times for such a
                  chamber. It has never been found.

                                HERMIONE

                  Professor, what exactly does
                  legend tell us lies within the
                  Chamber?
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  The Chamber is said to be home to
                  something which the heir of Slytherin
                  alone can control. It is said to be
                  home... to a monster.
     Ron's eyes shift.     Malfoy sits calmly, smiling to
     himself.



     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                 55.




63   INT. CORRIDOR - DAY                                         63




     Harry, Hermione, and Ron thread their way through the
     teeming corridor. Up ahead, Malfoy walks with Crabbe and
     Goyle.




                             RON

               D'you think it's true? D'you
               think there really is a Chamber of
               Secrets?

                             HERMIONE

               Yes. Couldn't you tell:
               McGonagall's worried. All the
               teachers are.

                             HARRY

               But if there really is a Chamber
               of Secrets, and it's really been
               opened, that means...

                             HERMIONE

               The Heir of Slytherin has returned
               to Hogwarts. The question is, who
               is it?

                             RON

                       (in mock puzzlement)
               Let's think. Who do we know who
               thinks Muggle-borns are scum.

                             HERMIONE

                       (eyeing Malfoy ahead)
               If you're talking about him --

                             RON

               Of course! You heard him:
               'You'll be next, Mudbloods'!

                             HERMIONE

               I heard him. But Malfoy?      The
               Heir of Slytherin?

                             HARRY

               Maybe Ron's right, Hermione. I
               mean, look at his family. The
               whole lot of them have been in
               Slytherin for centuries.

                             RON

               Crabbe and Goyle must know.     Maybe
               we could trick them into
               telling...

                                                   (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    56.




63   CONTINUED:                                                     63





                                HERMIONE

                  No. Even they aren't that thick.
                  But there might be another way.
                  Mind you, it would be difficult.
                  Not to mention we'd be breaking
                  about fifty school rules. And it
                  would be dangerous. Very
                  dangerous.

                                RON

                  When do we start?




64   INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT                                           64

     In a dark nook, Harry, Ron and Hermione huddle round a
     book entitled Moste Potente Potions. The spotted pages
     are littered with DISTURBING ILLUSTRATIONS.

                                HERMIONE

                  Here it is: 'The Polyjuice
                  Potion. Properly brewed, the
                  Polyjuice Potion allows the
                  drinker to transform himself
                  temporarily into the physical form
                  of another...'

                                RON

                  You mean, Harry and I drink some
                  of this stuff and we turn into
                  Crabbe and Goyle?

                                HERMIONE

                  Yes.

                                 RON

                  Wicked!   Malfoy'll tell us anything!

                                HERMIONE

                  Exactly. But it's tricky. I've
                  never seen a more complicated
                  potion. Lacewing flies, leeches,
                  fluxweed. And, of course, we'll
                  need a bit of whoever we want to
                  change into too.

                                RON

                  Hang on now. I'm drinking nothing
                  with Crabbe's toenails in it.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              57.





64   CONTINUED:                                                     64





                                HARRY

                  How long will it take to make?

                                HERMIONE

                  A month.

                                HARRY

                  A month? But if Malfoy is the
                  heir of Slytherin... he could
                  attack half the Muggle-borns in
                  the school by then.

                                HERMIONE

                  You didn't have to tell me that.




65   EXT. QUIDDITCH STADIUM - DAY                                   65

     We join the Quidditch match in mid-game. The CROWD
     ROARS, watching as Slytherin Chasers, bent low over their
     new brooms, jet past the overmatched Gryffindors.

                                HAGRID

                  Gallopin' Gorgons! Slytherin's
                  flyin' like they got dragon fire
                  in their brooms...
     Ron fumes, looking as though he takes Slytherin's
     dominance personally. Taking Hagrid's GIANT BINOCULARS,
     he trains them on the FACULTY BOX -- where Lucius Malfoy
     sits next to Snape.
     Harry circles high above the pitch, searching for the
     Golden Snitch. Suddenly, Malfoy streaks by overhead.

                                DRACO

                  All right there, Scarhead?
     Harry turns, eyes Malfoy malevolently. Behind him, a
     BLUDGER drops INTO FRAME, begins to streak toward his
     head.

                                 GEORGE


                  HARRY!   WATCH OUT!

     Harry wheels and at the last possible moment, slips the
     WHISTLING Bludger. CRACK! George swoops down, BATS it
     away. Harry turns, watches it soar away, then blinks:
     the Bludger turns, streaks right back at him. Harry JETS

     OFF.


                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                     58.




65   CONTINUED:                                                     65





                                HAGRID

                          (from the stands)
                  Blimey, Harry's got 'imself a
                  Rogue Bludger!




                                RON

                  Rogue Bludger?

                                HAGRID

                  Look fer yerself! It's bin'
                  tampered with!
     Harry executes a series of zigs, zags, loops and rolls,
     trying to shake the Bludger, but the Bludger is
     relentless.
     Ron instinctively draws his wand, begins to point it
     toward Harry and the Bludger, when... Hermione's hand
     intercedes. She glances knowingly at his fractured wand.

                                HERMIONE

                  You're joking, right? Besides,
                  even with a proper wand, it's too
                  risky. You could hit Harry.
     As Harry frantically dips and dives, Malfoy cruises by.

                                DRACO

                  Training for the ballet, Potter?
     Harry glances at Malfoy's sneering face. BUZZING inches
     above Malfoy's left ear is... the GOLDEN SNITCH. Harry
     CHARGES. Malfoy GULPS, swings clear, and watches Harry
     rocket past.
     As Harry chases the plummeting Snitch, Malfoy FOLLOWS IN
     HOT PURSUIT. They RACE DOWNWARD, trailing the HISSING
     SNITCH deep into the TRENCH circling the pitch. Shoulder
     to shoulder, they RACE MADLY, driving and dodging the
     wooden support beams that crisscross their path.
     Directly behind them, the Bludger FOLLOWS, SHATTERING the
     BEAMS as it dogs Harry.
     Malfoy KICKS Harry, forcing him to the edge of the
     trench. Harry BRUSHES the wall, battling for control.
     Malfoy turns, SNICKERS, then looks back... and finds
     himself heading smack into a wooden beam. Panicked, he
     tries to pull up. Too late. Broom meets beam and Malfoy
     spirals out of the trench and -- THWUMP! -- flat on his
     back in the middle of the pitch.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                     58A.




65   CONTINUED:    (1A)                                              65




     Harry continues on, CLOSING on the Snitch, fingertips
     only inches from catching it... when... the Rogue Bludger
     SMASHES INTO Harry's arm.



     Harry cries out, steadies himself and with a brilliant,
     acrobatic move, SNATCHES the Snitch out of the air with
     his good hand. Unable to control his broom with his
     shattered arm, he hits the pitch with a SICKENING THUD.
     Wincing, Harry rolls onto his shoulders, SQUINTS UP: a
     BLACK DOT -- growing rapidly LARGER -- is plummeting from
     the sky, directly toward him. It's... the rogue Bludger.
     Instantly, Harry spins away, grimacing in agony, as the
     Bludger...
     ... hits the ground like a SLEDGE HAMMER, violently
     TATTOOING the pitch again and again, only inches from
     Harry. Calmly, Hermione strides forth, points her wand.

                                HERMIONE

                  Finite Incantatem!
     The Bludger hangs briefly in the air. Slowly ceases
     spinning. Drops heavily to the pitch. Harry exhales,
     relieved, only to recall the searing pain in his arm. As
     CONCERNED FACES swim above him, one particular face
     pushes through the others:

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  Not to worry, Harry. I'll fix
                  that arm of yours straight away.

                                HARRY

                  No... no... not you.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                                59.





65   CONTINUED:    (3)                                                65





                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  Poor boy doesn't know what he's
                  saying. This won't hurt a bit...



     Lockhart TWIRLS his WAND, Harry braces himself, and...
     nothing. He blinks, looks up: the faces -- which now
     include Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid -- look horror-
     stricken.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  Ah. Yes. Well, that can
                  sometimes happen. The point is,
                  the bones are no longer broken.

                                 HAGRID

                  Brok'n?   He doesn't 'ave any bones
                  at all!
     Harry looks:     his arm looks like an empty rubber glove.




66   INT. HOSPITAL WING - DAY                                         66

     A dazed Malfoy slumps out with Crabbe and Goyle. Ron,
     standing by Harry's bed with Hermione, grins, then
     watches MADAM POMFREY pour out a STEAMING BEAKERFUL OF
     LIQUID from a bottle of SKELE-GRO. A group of
     Gryffindors, including some of his teammates, stand
     nearby.

                                MADAM POMFREY

                  He should have been brought
                  straight to me! I can mend bones
                  in a heartbeat -- but growing them
                  back --

                                HERMIONE

                  You will be able to, won't you?

                                MADAM POMFREY

                  I'll be able to, certainly, but it
                  will be painful. You're in for a
                  rough night, Potter. Regrowing
                  bones is nasty business.
     Harry takes the steaming cup and drinks.       Grimaces.

                                MADAM POMFREY

                  Well, what did you expect --
                  pumpkin juice?
     FLASH!   Harry blinks, sees Colin Creevey standing there.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                     60.




66   CONTINUED:                                                     66





                                COLIN

                  That was brilliant today, Harry!
                  Brilliant!




                                MADAM POMFREY

                  Out! All of you! This boy's got
                  thirty-three bones to regrow!




67   INT. HOSPITAL WING - NIGHT                                     67

     Harry fidgets in the darkness, half-asleep, then... his
     eyelids flutter slowly open...




     HARRY'S MOVING POV

     From the shadows that cling to the ceiling... to the
     lattice-work of moonlight that burns softly on the walls
     around him...




     BACK TO SCENE

     He SENSES something... a presence... when...
     Five BANDAGED FINGERS ENTER FRAME, begin to SPONGE his
     brow. Harry bolts upright, finds...

                               HARRY

                  Dobby!

                                DOBBY

                  Harry Potter came back to school.
                  Dobby warned him. Harry Potter
                  should have listened to Dobby.
                  Harry Potter should have gone back
                  home when he missed the train.

                                HARRY

                          (pushing the sponge
                           away)
                  It was you! You stopped the
                  barrier from letting Ron and me
                  through!

                                DOBBY

                  Indeed yes, sir. Dobby hid and
                  watched for Harry Potter and
                  sealed the gateway.

                                HARRY

                  You nearly got Ron and me
                  expelled!

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                  60A.




67   CONTINUED:    (A1)                                           67





                                DOBBY

                  At least you would be away from
                  here. Harry Potter must go home!
                  Dobby thought his Bludger would be
                  enough to make Harry Potter see --

                                HARRY

                  Your Bludger? You made that
                  Bludger chase after me?

                                                  (CONTINUED)





                                                              61.





67   CONTINUED:                                                     67





                                DOBBY

                  Dobby feels most aggrieved, sir.
                          (waggling his fingers)
                  Dobby had to iron his hands...




                                HARRY

                  You'd better clear off before my
                  bones come back, Dobby, or I might
                  strangle you!

                                DOBBY

                          (smiling weakly)
                  Dobby is used to death threats,
                  sir. Dobby gets them five times a
                  day at home.

                                HARRY

                  I don't suppose you could tell me
                  why you're trying to kill me?

                                DOBBY

                  Not kill you, sir, never kill you!
                  Dobby remembers how it was before
                  Harry Potter triumphed over He Who
                  Must Not Be Named. We house elves
                  were treated like vermin, sir. Of
                  course, Dobby is still treated
                  like vermin...
     Dobby HONKS his nose on the filthy pillowcase he wears.

                                HARRY

                  Why do you wear that thing, Dobby?

                                DOBBY

                  This, sir? 'Tis a mark of the
                  house elf's enslavement. Dobby
                  can only be freed if his master
                  presents him with clothes. The
                  family is careful not to pass
                  Dobby so much as a sock, sir, for
                  then he would be free to leave
                  their house forever.
     Dobby's ears QUIVER, detecting... FOOTSTEPS.       He

     WHISPERS.


                                DOBBY

                  Terrible things are about to
                  happen at Hogwarts! Harry Potter
                  must not stay here now that
                  history is to repeat itself!

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                        62.




67   CONTINUED:    (2)                                                     67





                                HARRY

                  Repeat itself? You mean, this has
                  happened before?



     Dobby seizes the Skele-Gro, BEATS himself about the head.

                                HARRY

                  Tell me, Dobby? When did this
                  happen before? Who's doing it
                  now?

                                DOBBY

                  Dobby cannot say, sir. Dobby only
                  wants Harry Potter to be safe.

                                 HARRY

                                           Who is it?
                  No, Dobby!   Tell me!
     CRACK! Dobby is gone. SHADOWS flicker beyond the
     CURTAIN encircling Harry's bed. Harry slumps down...
     peers through a slit in the curtains. Dumbledore, in a
     nightcap, and McGonagall, in a tartan robe, heave a SMALL
     STATUE onto an empty bed. Seconds later, Madam Pomfrey
     bustles in.

                                MADAM POMFREY

                  What's happened?

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  There's been another attack.
     Madam Pomfrey GASPS. It is not a statue lying there.             It
     is Colin Creevey, CAMERA still clutched to his eye.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Perhaps he managed to get a
                  picture of his attacker...
     Dumbledore opens the camera.         A JET OF STEAM HISSES
     forth.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  What does this mean, Albus?

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  It means our students are in great
                  danger, Minerva. Mr. Creevey was
                  fortunate. If not for this...
                          (holding up the camera)
                  He would surely be dead.

                                                        (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02               62A.




67    CONTINUED:    (3)                                           67




                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   What sould I tell the staff,
                   Albus?




                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Tell them the truth. Tell them
                   Hogwarts is no longer safe. Tell
                   them it's as we feared. The
                   Chamber of Secrets is indeed open
                   again.




68    OMITTED                                                     68





68A   EXT. GIRLS BATHROOM                                         68A

      We PAN SLOWLY FROM the defiled wall to the bathroom door.




                                                        63.





69   INT. GIRLS BATHROOM - DAY                                  69




     A gloomy place. Cracked mirrors. Chipped sinks.
     Guttering candles. Harry and Ron huddle over a SMALL,
     BUBBLING CAULDRON, as Hermione adds STRANGE INGREDIENTS.




                             HERMIONE

               Again? You mean, the Chamber of
               Secrets has been opened before?

                             RON

               Of course! Don't you see? Lucius
               Malfoy must've opened it when he
               was at school here, and now he's
               told Draco how to do it.

                             HERMIONE

               Maybe. We'll have to wait for the
               Polyjuice Potion to know for sure.

                             RON

               Enlighten me. Why are we
               brewing this potion in broad
               daylight, in the middle of a
               girls' lavatory? Don't you think
               we'll get caught?

                              HERMIONE

               Never.   No one over comes in here.

                             RON

               Why?

                             HERMIONE

               Moaning Myrtle.

                             RON

               Who's Moaning Myrtle?
     There is a LOUD, PIERCING SCREECH, and the GHOST OF A

     YOUNG GIRL COMES RACING OUT OF THE WALL. FACE TO FACE

     with Ron.

                             MOANING MYRTLE

               I'm Moaning Myrtle. I wouldn't
               expect you to know me. Who
               would ever talk about fat, ugly,
               miserable, moping, moaning
               Myrtle?
     Myrtle SOBS LOUDLY, DIVES head first into the toilet.

                             HERMIONE

               She's a little sensitive.




                                                        64.





70   INT. GREAT HALL - DAY                                       70




     NOTICE-BOARD: DUELING CLUB! First Meeting Tonight. A
     GOLDEN STAGE has been erected. Lockhart struts atop it.
     Harry, Ron, Hermione and good number of other students
     watch.




                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               Gather round! Gather round! Can
               everyone see me? Can you all hear
               me? Excellent. In light of the
               dark events of recent weeks,
               Professor Dumbledore has granted
               me permission to start this little
               Dueling Club, to train you all up
               in case you ever need to defend
               yourselves as I myself have done
               on countless occasions -- for full
               details, see my published works.
     The boy next to Harry, JUSTIN-FINCH FLETCHLEY, turns to
     him.

                             JUSTIN FINCH-FLETCHLEY

               That Lockhart's something, isn't
               he? Awfully brave chap.
                       (offering his hand)
               Justin Finch-Fletchley.
               Hufflepuff.

                             HARRY

               Nice to meet you. I'm --

                             JUSTIN FINCH-FLETCHLEY

               I know who you are. We all do.
               Even us Muggle-borns.
     Justin grins agreeably, looks back to the stage, where
     Professor Snape has joined Lockhart.

                             GILDEROY LOCKHART

               Let me introduce my assistant
               Professor Snape. He has
               sportingly agreed to help me with
               a short demonstration. Now I
               don't want any of you youngsters
               to worry. You'll still have your
               Potions Master when I'm through
               with him, never fear!

                             RON

               What's the fun in that?
     Lockhart and Snape face each other and bow. They turn,
     walk ten paces, then... SPIN... wands poised like swords.

                                               (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   65.




70   CONTINUED:                                                    70





                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  As you can see, we are holding our
                  wands in the accepted combative
                  position. On the count of three,
                  we will cast our first spells.
                  Neither of us will be aiming to
                  kill, of course.

                                HARRY

                          (eyeing Snape)
                  I wouldn't bet on that.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  One-two-three --

                                  SNAPE

                  Expelliarmus!
     A dazzling flash of SCARLET LIGHT bursts forth and BLASTS
     Lockhart off his feet and into the wall behind.

                                HERMIONE

                  Do you think he's all right?

                                  HARRY/RON

                  Who cares?

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                          (rising unsteadily)
                  Well, there you have it. That was
                  a Disarming Charm. As you see,
                  I've lost my wand.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                          (as Hermione returns it)
                  Ah, thank you, Miss Granger. Yes,
                  an excellent idea to show them
                  that, Professor Snape, but if you
                  don't mind my saying so, it was
                  very obvious what you were about
                  to do. If I had wanted to stop
                  you it would have been only too
                  easy...

                                SNAPE

                  Perhaps it would be prudent to
                  first teach the students to block
                  unfriendly spells, Professor.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                             66.





70   CONTINUED:    (2)                                             70





                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  An excellent suggestion, Professor
                  Snape. Let's have a volunteer
                  pair. Potter, Weasley, how about
                  you?

                                SNAPE

                  Weasley's wand causes devastation
                  with the simplest spells. We'll
                  be sending Potter to the hospital
                  wing in a matchbox. Might I
                  suggest someone from my own house.
                  Malfoy, perhaps.
     Malfoy and Harry eye each other malevolently as they take
     their places onstage. Grudgingly, they bow to each
     other.

                                DRACO

                  Scared, Potter?

                                  HARRY

                  You wish.
     They turn, walk ten paces, then WHIRL, wands poised.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  Wands at the ready! When I count
                  to three, cast your charms to
                  disarm your opponent -- only to
                  disarm. We don't want any
                  accidents. One, two --
     Malfoy FIRES early, knocking Harry off his feet with a
     BLAST of WHITE LIGHT. He jumps up, points his wand.

                                  HARRY

                  Rictusempra!
     A jet of SILVER LIGHT hits Malfoy dead in the stomach.
     He doubles up, WHEEZING.

                                GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  I said disarm only!

                                  DRACO

                  Serpensortia!
     To Harry's horror, the tip of Malfoy's wand EXPLODES and
     a LONG BLACK SNAKE SLITHERS forth. Snape smiles with
     amusement.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                              67.





70   CONTINUED:    (3)                                              70





                                SNAPE

                  Don't move, Potter.     I'll get rid
                  of it for you.




                               GILDEROY LOCKHART

                  Allow me!
     Lockhart flicks his wand.   BANG! The SNAKE flies into
     the air, HISSES in rage, and slithers straight towards
     Justin Finch-Fletchley. As students SCREAM, Harry --
     oddly calm -- approaches the snake. It rises, fangs
     exposed, poised to strike Justin.

                                HARRY

                          (in Parseltongue)
                  Leave him!
     The snake looks into Harry's eyes, then turns for Justin.

                                HARRY

                          (in Parseltongue)

                  LEAVE HIM!

     The snake hovers a moment more, then -- miraculously --
     slumps to the floor. Harry blinks, as if coming out of a
     trance, grins curiously at the snake, and offers his hand
     to Justin.

                                JUSTIN-FINCH-FLETCHLEY

                  What are you playing at?
     Terrified, Justin backs away. Confused, Harry eyes the
     faces around him. Malfoy looks shocked. Seamus and
     Neville's eyes glitter with fear. Ginny bolts the room.
     Snape waves his wand and the snake VANISHES in PUFF OF
     BLACK SMOKE, then regards Harry with a look that is both
     shrewd and calculating.

                                RON

                          (taking Harry's arm)
                  Come on. Move. Now.




71   INT. GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM - DAY (LATER)                      71

     Ron and Hermione usher Harry inside. Harry glances up,
     sees Ginny Weasley staring down at him from the top of
     the stairs. As their eyes meet, she turns for the girls'
     dormitory.

                                RON

                  You're a Parselmouth!    Why didn't
                  you tell us?

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                             68.





71   CONTINUED:                                                    71





                                HARRY

                  I'm a what?

                                HERMIONE

                  You can talk to snakes.

                                HARRY

                  I know. I mean, I accidentally
                  set a python on my cousin Dudley
                  at the zoo once. But so what? I
                  bet loads of people here can do
                  it.

                                HERMIONE

                  No. They can't. It's not a very
                  common gift, Harry. This is bad.

                                HARRY

                  What's bad? If I hadn't told that
                  snake not to attack Justin --

                                RON

                  Oh, that's what you said to it.

                                HARRY

                  You were there! You heard me!

                                RON

                  I heard you speaking Parseltongue.
                  Snake language.

                                HARRY

                  I spoke a different language? But
                  I didn't realize -- how can I
                  speak a language without knowing I
                  can?

                                HERMIONE

                  I don't know, Harry. But it
                  sounded like you were egging the
                  snake on or something. It was...
                  creepy.
     As Gryffindors stream into the room, they eye Harry
     warily. Even Seamus, Neville, and Dean Thomas walk by
     without a word.

                                HERMIONE

                  Harry, listen out me. There's a
                  reason the symbol of Slytherin
                  house is a serpent. Salazar
                  Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He
                  could talk to snakes too.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                              69.





71   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              71





                                RON

                  Exactly. And now the whole
                  school's going to think you're his
                  great-great-great grandson or
                  something.

                                 HARRY

                  But I'm not.   I... can't be.

                                HERMIONE

                  He lived a thousand years ago.
                  For all we know... you could be.




72   EXT. HOGWARTS' LANDSCAPE - DAY                                 72

     A heavy snow falls. Harry sits atop one of the towering
     hills facing Hogwarts. Hedwig sits beside him.

                                HARRY

                  Who am I, Hedwig? What am I?




73   INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT                                           73

     The trio study.     Harry, burdened by dark thoughts, looks
     up at Ron.



     He smiles at Harry, then, seconds later, Hermione does
     the same -- something forced about it all. Unable to
     bear it, Harry gathers his books, gets up from the table.
     As Harry walks, students glance up, meet his gaze, then
     look away. Even MADAM PINCE eyes him from her desk.
     Ginny Weasley, tired and pale, scribbles furiously in a

     SMALL BLACK BOOK.

     Harry exits, walks into the hallway and pauses. From
     inside a room, the VOICES of a group of Hufflepuffs can
     be heard.

                                ERNIE

                  So, anyway, I told Justin to hide
                  up in our dormitory. I mean to
                  say, if Potter's marked him down
                  as his next victim, it's best he
                  keep a low profile for a while.

                                HANNAH

                  But why would he want to attack
                  Justin?

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                     70.




73   CONTINUED:                                                      73





                                ERNIE

                  Justin let it slip to Potter that
                  he was Muggle-born.




                                HANNAH

                  And you definitely think Potter's
                  the Heir of Slytherin?

                                ERNIE

                  Hannah, he's a Parselmouth.
                  Everyone knows that's the mark of
                  a dark wizard. Have you ever
                  heard of a decent one who could
                  talk to snakes? They called
                  Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue.
                          (whispering darkly)
                  Remember what was written on the
                  wall: Enemies of the Heir Beware.
                  Potter had some sort of run-in
                  with Filch. Next thing we know,
                  Filch's cat's attacked. That
                  first-year Creevey's been annoying
                  Potter. Then Creevey's attacked.

                                HANNAH

                  He always seems so nice, though.
                  And, after all, he is the one who
                  made You Know Who disappear.

                                ERNIE

                  That's probably why You Know Who
                  wanted to kill him in the first
                  place. Didn't want another Dark
                  Lord competing with him.
     Harry doesn't need to hear anymore.        He slips quietly
     away.




74   INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                           74

     MUTTERING, Harry storms straight into Hagrid, who
     stands covered in snow, a DEAD ROOSTER dangling from
     his hand.

                                 HAGRID

                  All   righ', Harry?

                                HARRY

                  Hagrid... what're you doing
                  here?

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                71.




74   CONTINUED:                                                  74





                                HAGRID

                          (holding up
                           the rooster)
                  Second one killed this term.
                  Reckon it's either foxes or a
                  Blood-Suckin' Bugbear. Need
                  Dumbledore's permission ter put a
                  charm round the hen-coop. Yeh
                  sure yeh're all righ', Harry? Yeh
                  look all hot an' bothered.

                               HARRY

                  It's nothing. I'd better get
                  going. I've got a lot of
                  studying...




75   INT. ANOTHER CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)               75

     Harry enters, slows. Up ahead, in the light of a
     FLICKERING TORCH, something DARK lies. A WINDOWPANE
     RATTLES in the WIND and the torch... goes out. Harry
     steps closer, finds...
     Justin-Finch-Fletchley. Lying rigid on the floor, a look
     of shock on his frozen face. Nearby, an inert Nearly
     Headless Nick floats, body teeming with BLACK SMOKE.
     Kneeling, Harry notices a TRAIL OF SPIDERS scuttling away
     from Justin's body and out the loose windowpane... when
     suddenly...
     ... Harry senses someone watching him, wheels:
     McGonagall.

                                HARRY

                  Professor, I swear I didn't --
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  This is out of my hands, Potter.
                  Mr. Filch, will you take care of
                  this, please?
     Harry's eyes shift. Filch lurks in the shadows beyond
     McGonagall. He steps forward, HISSES QUIETLY.

                                FILCH

                  Caught in the act. I'll have you
                  out this time, Potter. Mark my
                  words...
     As McGonagall leads Harry away, he looks back. Filch
     stares at Justin and Nick, then turns. CAMERA DOLLYS

     AWAY FROM HIM.


                                                (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                  72.




75   CONTINUED:                                                  75





                                FILCH

                  Dark magic. That's what you've
                  got, Potter. Even the air you
                  breathe comes out poison. You're
                  evil. Evil as they come...




76   INT. GARGOYLE CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)              76

     McGonagall marches Harry down to an UGLY STONE GARGOYLE.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Sherbet lemon.
     The Gargoyle SPRINGS TO LIFE, its wings opening.
                                PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                  Professor Dumbledore will be
                  waiting for you.
     McGonagall ushers Harry inside. It's an elevator. The
     Gargoyle's wings close. Harry rises to an upper floor.




77   INT. DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE - NIGHT                            77

     Harry steps out of the Gargoyle's embrace and enters a
     large, circular room. STRANGE SILVER INSTRUMENTS WHIR
     quietly. On a nearby shelf, the SORTING HAT sits. Harry
     casts a wary eye at the PAST HEADMASTERS snoozing in the
     PORTRAITS around him. In the last portrait, the
     Headmaster is awake, reading a book. He is PROFESSOR
     DIPPET. Harry approaches the Sorting Hat, glances
     around, then places it atop his head.

                                SORTING HAT

                  Bee in your bonnet, Potter?

                                HARRY

                  Well, you see, I was wondering...

                                                  (CONTINUED)





                                                           73.





77   CONTINUED:                                                  77





                                SORTING HAT

                  If I put you in the right house?
                  Yes... you were particularly
                  difficult to place. But I stand
                  by what I said last year... you
                  would have done well in Slytherin.
     Harry strips the hat off, tosses it back onto the shelf.

                                  HARRY

                  You're wrong!
     The hat sits motionless. Silent. Hearing a GAGGING
     SOUND, Harry wheels, finds an OLD, DECREPIT BIRD (FAWKES)
     sitting on a GOLDEN PERCH. It wobbles, then... BURSTS
     INTO FLAMES. As Dumbledore enters, Harry looks horror-
     struck.

                                HARRY

                  Professor, your bird... I couldn't
                  do anything... He just caught
                  fire.

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  About time too. He's been looking
                  dreadful for days. Pity you had
                  to see him on a Burning Day. He's
                  really very handsome most of the
                  time.
                          (off Harry's look)
                  Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry.
                  Phoenixes burst into flame when it
                  is time for them to die and are
                  reborn from the ashes.
     Harry looks to the floor. The ASHES swirl. A baby
     Fawkes pokes out his wrinkled head, blinking through the
     dust.

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  Fascinating creatures, phoenixes.
                  They can carry immensely heavy
                  loads, their tears have healing
                  powers, and they make highly
                  faithful pets.
     Just then, Hagrid -- still clutching the dead rooster --
     BURSTS through the door.

                                HAGRID

                  It wasn't Harry, Professor
                  Dumbledore!

                                                  (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                     74.




77   CONTINUED:    (2)                                               77





                                  DUMBLEDORE

                  Hagrid --

                                HAGRID

                  I was talkin' ter 'im jus' before
                  that kid was found. It can't've
                  bin 'im!

                                  DUMBLEDORE

                  Hagrid --

                                HAGRID

                  I'll swear ter it in front o' the
                  Ministry o' Magic --

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  HAGRID! I do not think that Harry
                  has attacked anyone.

                                  HAGRID

                  Oh. Right.     I'll wait outside
                  then.
     As Hagrid exits, Harry looks hopefully at Dumbledore.

                                HARRY

                  You don't think it was me,
                  Professor?

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  No, Harry. But I must ask you...
                  is there anything you'd like to
                  tell me. Anything at all?
     Dumbledore waits.        Harry debates.   Finally...

                                HARRY

                  No, Professor. Nothing.




78   EXT. HOGWARTS CASTLE - DAY                                      78

     Students drift into the snow with their trunks, heading
     home for holiday. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione appear,
     Ernie and few others cast wary glances.

                                FRED

                  Make way for the Heir of
                  Slytherin! Seriously evil wizard
                  coming through!
     Ron grins, amused, then sees Harry -- anything but.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                     75.




78   CONTINUED:                                                      78





                                RON

                  Oh, c'mon, Harry.     Fred's just
                  having a laugh.




                                HARRY

                  He's the only one.

                                RON

                  Okay, so half the school thinks
                  you're nipping off to the Chamber
                  of Secrets every night. Who
                  cares?

                                HARRY

                  Maybe they're right.

                                 HERMIONE

                           (reproachfully)
                  Harry!

                                HARRY

                          (frustrated)
                  I didn't know I could speak
                  Parseltongue. What else don't I
                  know about myself? Maybe you can
                  do something... even something
                  horrible... and not know you did
                  it.

                                HERMIONE

                  You don't believe that, Harry, I
                  know you don't. And if it makes
                  you feel better, I just heard
                  Malfoy's staying over for holiday,
                  too.

                                RON

                  Why would that make anyone feel
                  better?

                                HERMIONE

                  Because, in a few days, the
                  Polyjuice Potion's will be ready.
                  In a few days... we may truly know
                  who is the Heir of Slytherin.




79   INT. GREAT HALL - NIGHT                                         79

     The Christmas Feast. The Hall glimmers grandly as
     snowflakes tumble from the ceiling. Harry and Ron sit
     with Hermione.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    75A.




79   CONTINUED:    (A1)                                              79





                                HERMIONE

                  Everything's set. We just need a
                  bit of who you're changing into.




                                HARRY

                  Crabbe and Goyle.

                                HERMIONE

                  And we also need to make sure that
                  the real Crabbe and Goyle can't
                  burst in on us while we're
                  interrogating Malfoy.

                               RON

                  How?
     Hermione holds up a pair of SMALL CAKES.

                                HERMIONE

                  I've got it all worked out. I've
                  filled these with a simple
                  Sleeping Draught. Simple, but
                  powerful.
     Ron glances at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who presently
     are eating everything in front of them.

                                HERMIONE

                  You know how greedy Crabbe and
                  Goyle are. They won't leave the
                  Christmas Feast until every last
                  drop of trifle is gone.

                                (MORE)


                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 11/20/01                  76.




79   CONTINUED:                                                      79





                                HERMIONE (CONT'D)

                  Now, once they're asleep, hide
                  them in a broom cupboard and pull
                  out a few of their hairs.




                                RON

                  And whose hair are you ripping out?

                                HERMIONE

                  I've already got mine.
     She removes a SMALL VIAL.     Inside is a TINY HAIR.

                                HERMIONE

                  Millicent Bulstrode. She's in
                  Slytherin. I got this off her
                  robes.
                          (rising)
                  All right then... I'm going to
                  check on the Polyjuice Potion.
     Hermione points to the cakes in front of her.

                                HERMIONE

                  Remember. Just make sure Crabbe
                  and Goyle find these.
     Hermione exits.     Ron looks at Harry.

                                RON

                  Have you ever heard of a plan
                  where so many things could go
                  wrong?

80   INT. ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT (A BIT LATER)                        80

     Harry and Ron, lurking behind a SUIT OF ARMOR, watch
     Crabbe and Goyle exit the Great Hall.
     Goyle spies the cakes instantly, perched      on the end of
     one of the banisters. Grabbing them, he       reluctantly
     surrenders one to Crabbe and, in unison,      they stuff them
     into their mouths. They pause. Look at        each other. And
     keel flat onto their backs.
     Harry and Ron dash out, drag Crabbe and Goyle across the
     floor and into a cupboard.




81   INT. GIRLS' BATHROOM - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                    81

     Hermione, wearing a Slytherin robe, hovers over a smoking
     cauldron. Harry and Ron enter.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 11/20/01                76A.




81   CONTINUED:                                                   81





                                HERMIONE

                  Did you get it?
     Harry and Ron hold up their hands. In each: a TUFT OF
     HAIR. Hermione points to a pair of SLYTHERIN ROBES.

                                HERMIONE

                  I sneaked those out of the
                  laundry.
     Harry and Ron nod, glance at the cauldron.    The potion
     resembles a thick, dark, bubbling mud.

                                                  (CONTINUED)





                                                               77.





81   CONTINUED:                                                      81





                                HERMIONE

                  I'm sure I've done everything
                  right. It looks like the book
                  said it should. Once we've drunk
                  it, we'll have exactly one hour
                  before we change back into
                  ourselves.

                                  RON

                  Now what?

                                HERMIONE

                  We separate it into three glasses
                  and add the hairs.
     Harry and Ron grimace.

                                                     CUT TO:





     CLOSEUP - THE POTION

     being poured into three glasses.
     CAMERA PULLS BACK. Harry and Ron have changed into the
     Slytherin robes. All three raise their glasses. Drop
     the hairs. The potion turns shades of YELLOW, BROWN, and

     KHAKI.


                                 RON

                  Ugh.   Essence of Crabbe...
     They nod.     DRINK.     Ron swallows grimly, doubles over.

                                RON

                  Think I'm gonna be sick...
     He runs into a stall. Harry looks sick, steps to a
     CRACKED MIRROR. Hermione pauses. Looks worried.
     Something's wrong...
     INSIDE THE STALL: Ron bends over the toilet, watches his
     reflection morph into Crabbe.
     IN THE CRACKED MIRROR: Harry watches his face contort
     into the thick features of Goyle.
     Hermione looks at her arm. Patches of fur begin to
     spread across her wrist and hand. Terrified, she RUNS
     into a stall.
     Ron emerges from his stall, a dead ringer for Crabbe.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                          78.





81   CONTINUED:    (2)                                          81





                                 RON

                  Harry?

                                 HARRY

                  Ron?

                                 RON

                  Bloody hell.

                                HARRY

                  We still sound like ourselves.
                  You need to sound more like
                  Crabbe.

                                RON

                          (adjusts voice)
                  Bloody hell.

                                 HARRY

                  Lower.

                                RON

                          (lower still)
                  Bloody hell.

                                HARRY

                  Less intelligent.

                                RON

                          (dumbing it down)
                  Bloody hell.

                                 HARRY

                  Excellent.

                                RON

                  Hey... Where's Hermione?

                                HERMIONE (O.S.)

                          (from the stall)
                  I -- I don't think I'm going.     You
                  go on without me.

                                HARRY

                  Hermione, are you okay?

                                 HERMIONE (O.S.)

                  Just go!   You're wasting time!




82   OMITTED                                                    82




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                  79.




83   EXT. MARBLE STAIRCASE - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                  83







     Harry and Ron hurry down the staircase.

                             RON

               Don't swing your arms like that.
               Crabbe holds them sort of stiff.
     Harry goes a bit more "Neanderthal."

                              RON

               Yeah.   That's better.




84   GLOOMY CORRIDOR/DUNGEONS - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)               84

     Harry and Ron move quickly, when... FOOTSTEPS sound.
     Seconds later, Percy appears at the end of the corridor.

                             RON

               What are you doing here?
     Percy squints, confused by Ron's voice. Harry elbows
     Ron, who clears his throat and speaks in a lower voice.

                             RON

               What are you doing here?

                             PERCY

               I happen to be a prefect. You, on
               the other hand, have no business
               wandering the corridors at night.
               It's not safe these days.
     Harry and Ron NOD, afraid to speak.     Percy squints again.

                             PERCY

               What're your names again?

                             DRACO

               Crabbe. Goyle. Where have you
               been? Pigging out in the Great
               Hall all this time?
     Draco is walking towards them, glances witheringly at Percy.

                             DRACO

               And what are you doing down here,
               Weasley?

                             PERCY

               Mind your attitude, Malfoy. You
               want to show a little bit more
               respect to a school Prefect!

                                                  (CONTINUED)





                                                              80.





84   CONTINUED:                                                     84





                                DRACO

                  Come on, boys. Weasley thinks
                  he's going to catch Slytherin's
                  hair single-handed.



     Percy steams.     Draco sneers, walks off with Harry and
     Ron.




85   OMITTED                                                        85





86   INT. SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)                     86

     Harry and Ron trail Draco inside, glance around warily.

                                DRACO

                  Listen to this...
     Draco grabs The Daily Prophet, reads the front page.

                                DRACO

                  'Arthur Weasley, Head of the
                  Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office,
                  was today fined fifty Galleons for
                  bewitching a Muggle car. "Weasley
                  has brought the Ministry into
                  disrepute," said Lucius Malfoy, a
                  governor of Hogwarts. "He is
                  clearly unfit to draw up our laws
                  and his ridiculous Muggle
                  Protection Act should be scrapped
                  immediately."'
     Grinning, Malfoy glances over the paper at Harry and Ron.

                                DRACO

                  Arthur Weasley loves Muggle so
                  much he should snap his wand in
                  half and go join them. You'd
                  never know the Weasleys were
                  purebloods, the way they behave.
                  Embarrassment to the wizarding
                  world. All of them.
     Ron growls.     Harry elbows him.   Draco looks surprised.

                                DRACO

                  What's up with you, Crabbe?

                                RON

                          (low voice)
                  Stomachache.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              81.





86   CONTINUED:                                                     86





                                DRACO

                  Well, go to the hospital wing
                  and give all those Mudbloods a kick
                  in the arse for me! You know, I'm
                  surprised The Daily Prophet hasn't
                  reported all these attacks yet. I
                  suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush
                  it all up. He'll be sacked if it
                  doesn't stop soon. Father always
                  said Dumbledore's the worst thing
                  that's ever happened to this place.

                                  HARRY

                  You're wrong!

                                DRACO

                  What? Did you say that I was
                  wrong? You think there's someone
                  here who's worse than Dumbledore?
     Ron stiffens.     Worried.    Harry thinks, then:

                                  HARRY

                  Harry Potter.

                                DRACO

                          (grinning)
                  Good one, Goyle. You're
                  absolutely right. Saint Potter.
                  He's another one with no proper
                  wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go
                  around with that Mudblood Granger.
                  And people actually think he's the
                  Heir of Slytherin.
     Harry and Ron exchange a glance.       Harry leans closer to
     Draco.

                                HARRY

                  Then you must have some idea who's
                  behind it all?

                                DRACO

                  You know I haven't, Goyle. How
                  many times do I have to tell you?
                  But my father did say this much:
                  It's been fifty years since the
                  Chamber was opened. He wouldn't
                  tell me who opened it -- only that
                  they were expelled -- but I know
                  this: the last time the Chamber
                  of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood
                  died.

                                (MORE)


                                                   (CONTINUED)





                                                              82.





86   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              86





                                DRACO (CONT'D)

                  So it's only a matter of time
                  before one of them's killed this
                  time. As for me... I hope it's
                  Granger.
     As Malfoy grins, Ron's fist rises... when Harry stops
     him.

                                DRACO

                  What's the matter with you two?
                  You're acting very... odd.

                                RON

                  Ho!
     Harry turns, sees Ron staring wide-eyed: Harry's SCAR is
     beginning to surface beneath the skin of Goyle's thick
     forehead. And Crabbe's hair is... turning RED. They
     both JUMP to their feet, DASHING out of the room.

                                 DRACO

                  Hey!   Where are you going?




87   INT. ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                     87

     As Harry and Ron race toward the stairs, the BROOM CLOSET
     bursts open and a woozy Crabbe and Goyle stagger out.
     They freeze -- watch themselves run up the staircase.




88   INT. SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)             88

     Harry and Ron sprint toward the desecrated wall, their
     bodies metamorphosing, until, finally, as they hit the
     door...




89   INT. GIRLS BATHROOM - NIGHT                                    89

     ... They are fully themselves once more.

                                RON

                  That was close!

                                HARRY

                  Hermione, come out.   We've got
                  loads to tell you!

                                HERMIONE

                  Go away!

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   83.




89   CONTINUED:                                                    89




     As Harry and Ron exchange a puzzled glance, Moaning
     Myrtle spirals INTO VIEW, looking disturbingly...
     happy.

                                MOANING MYRTLE

                  Ooh, wait till you see. It's
                  awful!
     The stall's lock slides back.      The door opens slowly.

                                HERMIONE (O.S.)

                  Do you remember me telling you the
                  Polyjuice Potion was only for
                  human transformations...?
     Even in shadow, they can see: Hermione's face is covered
     in FUR, her eyes YELLOW, and POINTED EARS poke through
     her hair.

                                HERMIONE

                  It was cat hair I plucked off
                  Millicent Bulstrode's robes! Look
                  at my face!

                                RON

                  Look at your tail.




90   INT. HOSPITAL WING - DAY (TWO WEEKS LATER)                    90

     Staggering under the weight of the LIBRARY BOOKS in their
     arms, Harry and Ron make their way to Hermione's bed,
     which is covered in... BOOKS.

                                 HERMIONE

                  Oh, good.   Put those anywhere.
     They look.     There is no anywhere.   So they just... drop
     them.

                                RON

                  Madam Pince asked that we relay a
                  message to you, Hermione: She'd
                  appreciate it if you'd leave a few
                  books for the rest of the school.

                                HERMIONE

                  I've got to keep up, haven't I?
     Just then, Hermione's tail twitches INTO VIEW.

                                RON

                  Is that thing ever going away?

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   84.




90   CONTINUED:                                                    90





                                HERMIONE

                  Any day now, according to Madam
                  Pomfrey. I'm just thankful I've
                  stopped coughing up fur balls.




                                RON

                  We all are, believe me.

                               HERMIONE

                  Now. What about the Chamber of
                  Secrets? Any new leads?

                               HARRY

                  Nothing.

                                HERMIONE

                  And has it gotten any better? I
                  mean... is anyone speaking to you?

                                HARRY

                  Neville asked to borrow a tubeworm
                  in Potions yesterday. I suppose
                  that's something.
     Ron takes a GET-WELL CARD from under Hermione's pillow.

                                RON

                  'To Miss Granger. Wishing you a
                  speedy recovery, from your
                  concerned teacher Gilderoy
                  Lockhart.' You sleep with this
                  under your pillow?

                                HERMIONE

                  Of course not. I don't know how
                  that got there. Now go. I still
                  have six hundred pages to read in
                  Transformation Through the Ages.




91   OMITTED                                                       91





92   EXT. SECOND-FLOOR CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)            92

     Harry and Ron mount the stairs, emerge.

                                RON

                  I know Hermione's mental, but can
                  you believe she falls for that
                  smarmy nonsense of Lockhart's?

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   84A.




92   CONTINUED:                                                     92




     They stop. Look down. A GREAT FLOOD OF WATER streams
     from the Girls' Bathroom. From within, MYRTLE can be
     heard MOANING.




                                HARRY

                  Looks like Myrtle's flooded the
                  bathroom.
     As Harry sploshes off toward the bathroom, Ron steps
     lightly.

                               RON

                  Yuck.




93   INT. GIRLS BATHROOM - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                    93

     HUGE, WRACKING MOANS echo off the dreary tile. All the
     taps are running, streaming like tiny waterfalls. As
     Harry and Ron step to the last cubicle, Myrtle spins
     accusingly.

                                                    (CONTINUED)





                                                              85.





93   CONTINUED:                                                       93





                                MOANING MYRTLE

                  Come to throw something else at
                  me?




                                HARRY

                  Why would I throw something at
                  you?

                                MOANING MYRTLE

                  Don't ask me. Here I am, minding
                  my own business, and someone
                  thinks it's funny to throw a book
                  at me...

                                RON

                  But it can't hurt if someone
                  throws something at you. I mean,
                  it'd just go right through you,
                  wouldn't it?

                                MOANING MYRTLE

                  Oh sure! Let's all throw books at
                  Myrtle, because she can't feel it!
                  Ten points if you can get it
                  through her stomach. Fifty points
                  if it goes through her head!

                                HARRY

                  Who threw it at you anyway?

                                MOANING MYRTLE

                  I don't know. I didn't see them.
                  I was just sitting in the U-bend,
                  thinking about death and it fell
                  through the top of my head.
     Harry sees a SMALL BLACK BOOK on the floor.       Picks it up.

                                RON

                  Fifty points if you can get it
                  through her nose.

                                  MOANING MYRTLE


                  I HEARD THAT!

     Harry and Ron dash out.

94   INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                            94

     Harry examines the book as he and Ron walk.

                                HARRY

                  This is a diary. And it's old...

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/9/02                    86.




94   CONTINUED:                                                    94





                                RON

                  It's a diary, it's old... and was
                  most recently in a toilet, Harry.



     Harry starts to open it... when Ron grabs his hand.

                                RON

                  Are you mad? That could be
                  cursed. Dad once told me about a
                  book the Ministry confiscated that
                  burned the eyes out of anyone who
                  tried to read it.

                                HARRY

                  I'll take my chances...
                          (opening it)
                  Ahhh! MY EYES! MY EYES!
     Ron freezes, terrified, when... Harry grins, ending the
     ruse. At the end of corridor, Ginny stands, looking from
     the diary to Harry -- utter terror on her face -- then
     dashes off.

                             HARRY

               Ginny! I was only joking --
               Brilliant. Even your sister
               thinks I'm the monster now.

                                 RON

                  Who doesn't?
     Ron frowns suddenly. On the first page on the diary,
     EMBOSSED LETTERS spell out a name: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE.

                                RON

                  Tin Marvolo Riddle? Hang on. I
                  know that name...
                          (thinking, then)
                  Of course! The night I had
                  detention... My job was to polish
                  the silver in the trophy room. I
                  remember because I kept burping
                  slugs all over Tom Riddle's
                  trophy. I must have wiped slime
                  off his name for an hour.
     Harry fans the pages.       They're empty.

                                  HARRY

                  That's odd.    He never wrote in it.




95   INT. HOSPITAL WING - LATER THAT NIGHT                         95

     CLOSEUP: DIARY. A GOLD EMBOSSED ADDRESS on the back
     reads: WAXFLATTER'S BOOKSELLERS. 422 VAUXHALL ROAD.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/9/02                   87.




95   CONTINUED:                                                   95




     CAMERA PULLS BACK. Harry sits with Hermione in the
     moonlit room. Hermione studies the diary curiously.

                                HERMIONE

                  Tom Riddle... Hm. And Ron said he
                  won an award fifty years ago?

                                HARRY

                  Special Services to the School or
                  something --

                                HERMIONE

                  Fifty years ago? You're sure?

                                HARRY

                  Yes.   Why?

                                HERMIONE

                  Don't you remember what Malfoy
                  told you? The last time the
                  Chamber of Secrets was opened
                  was --

                                HARRY

                  Fifty years ago! That means --

                                HERMIONE

                  Tom Riddle was here, at Hogwarts,
                  when it happened. What if he
                  wrote about what he saw? It's
                  possible he knew where the Chamber
                  was, how to open it, even what
                  sort of creature lives in it. If
                  so, whoever's behind the attacks
                  this time wouldn't want a diary
                  like this lying around, would
                  they?

                                HARRY

                  That's a brilliant theory,
                  Hermione. With just one tiny
                  little flaw. There's nothing
                  written in this diary.

                                HERMIONE

                  It might be invisible ink.
                          (pulls out her wand)
                  Aparecium!
     She taps the diary three times. Nothing happens. The
     pages remain BLANK. She frowns, passes the book back to
     Harry.

                                                   (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    88.




95   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              95





                                HERMIONE

                  I don't know, Harry. But I think
                  you should be careful with this.
                  Something tells me Ron might be
                  right. It could be dangerous.

                                HARRY

                  You don't think I'm dangerous, do
                  you, Hermione? I mean, you're not
                  scared. Of me.

                                HERMIONE

                  I'm scared, Harry. But not of
                  you.




96   INT. GRYFFINDOR DORMITORY/COMMON ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)          96

     CAMERA STARTS OVERHEAD, looking down on the boys'
     dormitory. Seamus, Neville, Ron and Dean sleep. One bed
     is empty. CAMERA CRANES TO the Common Room, finds Harry
     sitting alone, flipping through the blank pages of the
     diary.
     Harry starts to set the diary aside, then notices a
     BOTTLE OF INK sitting on the desk. An idea flickers.
     Taking his QUILL, Harry dips it, and hesitates. As he
     does, a DROP of INK hangs, suspended like a tear, then...

     DROPS.

     The ink BLAZES briefly, then... VANISHES... as if it were
     sucked into the page. Excited, Harry dips his quill
     again, and, this time, writes: My name is Harry Potter.
     The words blaze, VANISH. Slowly, oozing out of the page,
     comes a response: Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom
     Riddle.
     Harry's mind races.     Deciding, he MUTTERS the words he
     writes:

                                HARRY

                  Do... you... know... anything...
                  about... the... Chamber... of...
                  Secrets?
     Yes.

                                HARRY

                  Can... you... tell... me?
     No.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




     THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    89.




96   CONTINUED:                                                     96




     Harry frowns.     Then... slowly... new words ooze to the
     surface.
     But I can show you...
     Harry waits, intrigued.     Then, suddenly...
     The pages FLUTTER WILDLY, stop on "June the 13th." On
     the page, a TINY SQUARE SHIMMERS... like a WINDOW. Harry
     lifts the book, puts his eye close and... PITCHES
     FORWARD, spilling through the widening window, into a
     WHIRL of COLOR and SHADOW, tumbling onto his feet...




97   INT. CORRIDOR/ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT (FIFTY YEARS AGO)          97

     ... in torch-lit corridor. Everything is de-saturated,
     save for Harry, who retains the true, rich colors of the
     present. He glances about, disoriented, then spies a BOY
     (TOM RIDDLE) at the end of the corridor, peering around a
     corner. A FLURRY of SHADOWS dances on the wall beyond
     the boy, revealing the presence of others, unseen, in an
     adjoining room.
     As Harry advances, LOW VOICES emanate from the shadows.
     As he reaches the boy, Harry speaks in a WHISPER:

                               HARRY

                  Excuse me. Could you tell me
                  where I am? Hello...?
     The boy doesn't respond, eyes staked to the activity in
     the adjoining room... which Harry sees now is the
     Entrance Hall. A group of ELDER WITCHES and WIZARDS --
     Hogwarts Professors -- talk amongst themselves, then...
     abruptly go silent. Make way for two YOUNG WIZARDS,
     bearing a STRETCHER.

                               VOICE (O.S.)

                  Riddle.
     The boy wheels... and looks right through Harry. Harry
     turns, too. It's Dumbledore... fifty years younger.

                                TOM RIDDLE

                  Professor Dumbledore.

                                DUMBLEDORE

                  It's not wise to be wandering
                  around this late, Tom.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02               90.




97    CONTINUED:                                                  97





                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Yes, Professor. I suppose I -- I
                   just had to see for myself, if...



      Riddle glances toward the young wizards, watches them
      carry the stretcher out of the Hall, into the night.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   ... the rumors were true.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   I'm afraid they are, Tom.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   About the school as well? They
                   wouldn't really close Hogwarts,
                   would they, Professor?

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Headmaster Dippet may have no
                   choice, I'm afraid.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Sir? If it all stopped. If the
                   person responsible was caught...

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Is there something you wish to
                   tell me, Tom?

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                           (a long beat)
                   No, sir. Nothing.
      Dumbledore studies Riddle for a moment.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Very well then. Hurry along.
      Dumbledore strides directly past Harry, not seeing him.
      When he is gone, Riddle moves quickly, toward the dungeon
      steps.




98    OMITTED                                                     98


&                                                                 &


99                                                                99





100   INT. CORRIDOR - DUNGEONS - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)            100

      Up ahead, a SPLINTER of LIGHT leaks through a DOOR.
      Riddle puts his eye to the crack. Inside, someone is

      SPEAKING.


                                                 (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    91.




100   CONTINUED:                                                     100





                                 VOICE (O.S.)

                   C'mon, Aragog. Gotta get yeh
                   outta here... C'mon now.. in the
                   box...



      As Riddle pushes the door clear, Harry sees a second,
      smaller room. Crouched by a BOX, is a huge boy... YOUNG
      HAGRID. A STRANGE CLICKING comes from the BOX.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Evening, Hagrid.
      Hagrid SLAMS the door shut.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   I'm going to have to turn you in,
                   Hagrid. I don't think you meant
                   it to kill anyone --

                                 YOUNG HAGRID

                   No, yeh can't! Yeh don'
                   understand!

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Hagrid. The dead girl's parents
                   will be here tomorrow. The least
                   Hogwarts can do is make sure the
                   thing that killed their daughter
                   is slaughtered.

                                YOUNG HAGRID

                   It wasn' him! Aragog never'd kill
                   no one! Never!

                                 RIDDLE

                   Monsters don't make good pets,
                   Hagrid. Now... stand aside...
      Riddle draws his wand, BLASTS the closed DOOR off its
      hinges, extinguishing the torches within. Harry GASPS.
      A low-slung CREATURE with a tangle of black legs, a gleam
      of many eyes and a pair of razor-sharp pincers, scuttles
      out of the shadows. As Riddle points his wand at it,
      Hagrid LEAPS...

                                YOUNG HAGRID

                   Noooooo!

                                                      (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                    92.




100    CONTINUED:    (2)                                             100




       As they tumble to the floor, the entire ROOM WHIRLS off
       its axis, spinning, and Harry finds himself plummeting
       through color and shadow again, falling flat on his back
       to...



       ... the floor of the Gryffindor Common Room, the ceiling
       above spinning, slowly, to a stop. Harry rises, dashes
       upstairs.




100A   INT. BOYS' DORMITORY - NIGHT                                  100A

       Harry rushes to Ron, shakes him awake, WHISPERING INTENSELY.

                                   HARRY

                            Ron!
                    Ron!

                                    RON

                    What?    What's happened...?

                                  HARRY

                    It was Hagrid. Hagrid opened the
                    Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.




100B   EXT. HOGWARTS - ESTABLISHING SHOT - DAY                       100B

       CAMERA SOARS high over the castle, as below, students
       hurry to their classes. Finally, it FINDS:




101    OMITTED                                                       101





102    EXT./INT. HOGWARTS GROUNDS - DAY (LATER)                      102

       Harry, Ron and Hermione walking together across the grounds.

                                  HERMIONE

                    It can't be Hagrid. It just can't
                    be.

                                  RON

                    We don't even know this Riddle.
                    He sounds like a dirty, rotten
                    snitch to me.

                                  HARRY

                    The monster had killed someone,
                    Ron. What would any of us done?

                                  HERMIONE

                    Look. Hagrid's our friend. Why
                    don't we just go ask him about it?

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                    93.




102   CONTINUED:                                                    102





                                 RON

                   That'd be a cheerful visit.
                   Hullo, Hagrid. Tell us, have you
                   been setting anything mad and
                   hairy loose in the castle lately?

                                 HAGRID

                   Mad an' hairy? Wouldn' be talkin'
                   'bou me, now would yeh?
      The trio wheels, spots Hagrid grinning at them.     They
      instantly look guilty.

                                HARRY/RON/HERMIONE

                   No!
      Hagrid looks at them curiously.     Harry nods to the
      STRANGE CANISTER in his hand.

                                 HARRY

                   What's that you've got, Hagrid?

                                 HAGRID

                   Flesh-Eatin' Slug Repellent. Fer
                   the Mandrakes, yeh know.
                   Accordin' ter Professor Sprout,
                   they still got a bit o' growin' up
                   ter do, but once their acne clears
                   up, we'll be able to chop 'em up,
                   stew 'em, an' get those people in
                   the hospital un-Petrified. 'Til
                   then, you three best watch
                   yerselves, all righ'?
      They nod, watch Hagrid lope away. Just then, Neville
      comes running up. He looks pale with fright.

                                 NEVILLE

                   Harry, I don't know who did it,
                   but... you'd better come.



      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                 94.




103   OMITTED                                                     103








104   INT. GRYFFINDOR TOWER DORMITORY - DAY                       104

      Harry's space is a disaster: trunk riffled, drawers
      flung open, bedclothes strewn on the floor.

                              HERMIONE

                It had to be a Gryffindor. Nobody
                else knows our password. Unless,
                it wasn't a student...

                                                (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                      95.




104    CONTINUED:                                                      104





                                  RON

                    Well, whoever it was, they were
                    looking for something.




                                  HARRY

                    And they found it... Tom Riddle's
                    diary is gone.




105    EXT. HOGWARTS GROUNDS - DAY                                     105

       Students stream into the Quidditch Stadium.




105A   INT. MARBLE STAIRCASE - DAY                                     105A

       Harry, dressed in his Quidditch robes, dashes down the
       staircase with Ron and Hermione. Down below, Ron spies
       Ginny.

                                   RON

                    Hey, Ginny!   Going to the match?
       Ginny looks up, startled, then shakes her head and exits.

                                  RON

                    I tell you, she gets weirder and
                    weirder by the day...

                                  VOICE (O.S.)

                    Kill this time... Let me rip...
                    Tear.
       Harry freezes.     Ron and Hermione stop, knowing by his face...

                                  RON

                    No... don't tell me...
       Harry turns, as if following the SOUND, absently touching
       his fingers to the wall as he glances around. Hermione
       studies him with great interest -- STUDIES HIS FINGERS --
       then, abruptly, Harry turns away, shakes his head: it's
       gone. Hermione looks up, eyes vaguely upon Harry, but
       her mind miles away.

                                  HERMIONE

                    Harry... I think I've just understood
                    something! I've got to go to the
                    library!
       As Hermione sprints back up the stairs, Harry YELLS.

                                  HARRY

                    What do you understand!

                                                        (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER 0F SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   96.




105A   CONTINUED:                                                    105A




       But she's gone.     Harry turns to Ron in puzzlement.

                                   HARRY

                    The library?




                                  RON

                    That's Hermione. When in doubt,
                    go to the library




106    EXT. REAR OF QUIDDITCH STADIUM - DAY (LATER)                  106

       Harry and his teammates march toward the Quidditch tower.
       The CHEERS of the CROWD are heard.

                                  WOOD

                    Listen up now. We play our game,
                    Hufflepuff doesn't stand a chance.
                    We're stronger, quicker, smarter.

                                  GEORGE

                    Not to mention they're dead
                    terrified Harry'll Petrify them if
                    they fly anywhere near him.

                                   WOOD

                    That, too.
       Just then, Professor McGonagall appears, barring their
       way.

                                  WOOD

                    Professor McGonagall --
                                  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                    This match has been cancelled.

                                 WOOD

                    Cancelled! They can't cancel
                    Quidditch --
                                  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                    Silence, Wood! You will return to
                    Gryffindor Tower now. Potter, you
                    and I will find Mr. Weasley.
                    There's something the both of you
                    need to see.




107    INT. HOSPITAL WING - DAY                                      107

       McGonagall pauses outside the door, turns to Harry and
       Ron.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER 0F SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                  97.




107   CONTINUED:                                                   107




                                  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   I warn you.   This will be a bit of
                   a shock.



      She opens the door. Madam Pomfrey is leaning over a bed
      where a girl lies. As she straightens up, we see the
      girl is...

                                 RON

                   Hermione!
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   She was found near the library.
                   Along with this. Does it mean
                   anything to either of you?
      She holds up a SMALL CIRCULAR MIRROR. Harry shakes his
      head. McGonagall nods gravely, leads them out. As they
      go, the CAMERA DRIFTS to HERMIONE'S HAND. Clinched tight
      in her stiff knuckles, barely visible, is... a PIECE OF

      PAPER.





108   INT. GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM - NIGHT                          108

      McGonagall reads from a PARCHMENT to the somber
      Gryffindors.
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   All students will return to their
                   house common rooms by six o'clock
                   in the evening. You will be
                   escorted to each lesson by a
                   teacher. No exceptions.
                           (rolling up
                            the parchment)
                   I should tell you all this.
                   Unless the culprit behind these
                   attacks is caught, it is likely
                   that the school will be closed.
      McGonagall turns, exits. Instantly, as one, the
      students begin to talk amongst themselves. Neville
      speaks up.

                                 NEVILLE

                   Haven't any of the teachers
                   noticed that the Slytherins are
                   all safe? Isn't it obvious all
                   this stuff's coming from
                   Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin,
                   the monster of Slytherin -- why
                   don't they just chuck all the
                   Slytherins out?

                                                    (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER 0F SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02               98.




108    CONTINUED:                                                108





                                  SEAMUS

                    They can't close Hogwarts.   Where
                    would we all go?




                                  DEAN THOMAS

                    I don't care what anyone says.   As
                    long as Dumbledore's here,
                    Hogwarts will be here.
       Harry WHISPERS to Ron.

                                  HARRY

                    We've got to talk to Hagrid, Ron.
                    I can't believe it's him. But if
                    he did set the monster loose last
                    time -- even by accident -- he'll
                    know how to get inside the Chamber
                    of Secrets. And that's a start.

                                  RON

                    But you heard McGonagall. We're
                    not allowed to leave the tower
                    except for class --

                                  HARRY

                    I think it's time to get my Dad's
                    old Cloak out again.




109    INT. TOWER DORMITORY - NIGHT (LATER)                      109

       CLOSEUP: A drawer opens, a HAND reaches in, takes the
       INVISIBILITY CLOAK. CAMERA PULLS BACK, REVEALS Ron and
       Harry. All around them, the other boys sleep. Harry
       pitches the cloak over himself and Ron. They're gone.




110    OMITTED                                                   110


&                                                                &


111                                                              111





112    INT. ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT                                112

       Harry and Ron, beneath the cloak, sneak by an unaware
       Snape.




112A   OMITTED                                                   112A





                                                              99.





113   EXT. HAGRID'S HUT - NIGHT                                       113




      A KNOCK.   Hagrid swings open the door.     Crossbow in hand.

                                HAGRID

                 Who's there?



      Harry and Ron drop the cloak.      Hagrid lowers the
      crossbow.




114   INT. HAGRID'S HUT - NIGHT                                       114

      FANG, Hagrid's enormous BOARHOUND, THUMPS HIS TAIL at the
      sight of Harry and Ron. Harry points to the crossbow.

                               HARRY

                 What's that for?

                               HAGRID

                 Nothin', nothin'. I've been
                 expectin'... Doesn't matter.     Sit
                 down... I'll make tea...
      Hagrid nervously takes the kettle, spills the water..

                               HARRY

                 Are you okay? Hagrid?      Did you
                 hear about Hermione?

                                HAGRID

                 Oh, yea.   I heard, all righ'.

                               HARRY

                 Look... we have to ask you
                 something. Do you know who's
                 opened the Chamber of Secrets?
      Hagrid takes a fruit cake, stops, about to answer,
      when... there is a LOUD KNOCK. The fruitcake SMASHES to
      the floor. Panicked, Harry and Ron throw the cloak over
      themselves. Sweating, Hagrid grabs his crossbow, points
      it at the door.

                                HAGRID

                 C-come in.
      The door opens. A grim Dumbledore enters, followed by a
      portly man in a pin-stripe suit and bowler: CORNELIUS

      FUDGE.


                               DUMBLEDORE

                 Good evening, Hagrid.

                                                      (CONTINUED)





                                                               100.





114   CONTINUED:                                                      114





                                 RON

                           (whispering to Harry)
                   That's Dad's boss! Cornelius
                   Fudge. The Minister of Magic!



      Harry elbows Ron to shut him up.

                                 FUDGE

                   Bad business, Hagrid. Very bad
                   business. Had to come. Four
                   attacks on Muggle-borns.
                   Things've gone far enough.
                   Ministry's got to act.

                                 HAGRID

                   I never... You know I never,
                   Professor Dumbledore, sir...

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   I want it understood, Cornelius,
                   that Hagrid has my full
                   confidence.

                                 FUDGE

                   Look, Albus, Hagrid's record's
                   against him. I've got to take
                   him.

                                  HAGRID

                   Take me?   Where? Not Azkaban
                   prison.

                                 FUDGE

                   For a short stretch only. Not a
                   punishment, Hagrid. More a
                   precaution. If someone else is
                   caught, you'll be released with a
                   full apology.
      Just then, there is a SHARP RAP on the door. As
      Dumbledore opens it, Harry slumps. It's Lucius
      Malfoy.

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   Already here, Fudge? Good,
                   good...

                                 HAGRID

                   What're you doin' here!   Get outta
                   my house!

                                                      (CONTINUED)





                                                            101.





114   CONTINUED:    (2)                                            114





                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   My dear man, please believe me, I
                   have no pleasure at all in being
                   inside your -- do you call this a
                   house? I simply called at the
                   school and was told the Headmaster
                   was here.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   And what exactly did you want with
                   me, Lucius?

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   Dreadful thing, Dumbledore, but
                   the governors feel it's time for
                   you to step aside. This is an
                   Order of Suspension. You'll find
                   all twelve signatures on it. I'm
                   afraid we feel you're losing your
                   touch. What with all these
                   attacks, there'll be no Muggle-
                   borns left at Hogwarts. And we
                   all know what an awful loss that
                   would be.
      Malfoy hands Fudge an OFFICIAL ROLL of PARCHMENT.

                                 FUDGE

                   Now, see here, Lucius. Dumbledore
                   suspended. No, no... last thing
                   we want right now... If Dumbledore
                   can't stop these attacks... I mean
                   to say, who can?

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   That remains to be seen, but as
                   all twelve governors have voted --

                                 HAGRID

                   An' how many did yeh have ter
                   threaten before they agreed!

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   I would advise you not to shout at
                   the Azkaban guards like that.

                                 HAGRID

                   Yeh can take Dumbledore! Take him
                   away an' the Muggle-borns won'
                   stand a chance! There'll be
                   killin's next!

                                                   (CONTINUED)





                                                             102.





114   CONTINUED:    (3)                                             114





                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Calm yourself, Hagrid!
                           (steely-eyed)
                   If the governors want my removal,
                   Lucius, I shall of course step
                   aside. However... you will find
                   that I will only truly have left
                   this school when none here are
                   loyal to me. You will also find
                   that help will always be given at
                   Hogwarts to those who... ask for
                   it.
      Dumbledore's eyes drift -- unmistakably -- to Harry.

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   Admirable sentiments. We shall
                   all miss your highly individual
                   way of running things, Albus, and
                   only hope your successor will
                   manage to prevent any more, um,
                   killin's.
      Malfoy strides to the door and bows Dumbledore out.
      Fudge, fiddling with his bowler, waits for Hagrid.
      Instead, Hagrid stands his ground, takes a deep breath
      and says carefully...

                                 HAGRID

                   If anyone wanted ter find out some
                   stuff, all they'd have ter do is
                   follow the spiders. That'd lead
                   'em right! Tha's all I'm sayin'.
      Fudge stares at Hagrid in amazement, then follows him
      out. As the door SLAMS SHUT, FANG starts to HOWL,
      scratching at the closed door. Harry and Ron emerge from
      the cloak.

                                 RON

                   Hagrid's right. With Dumbledore
                   gone, there'll be an attack a day.

                                HARRY

                   Look...
      At the windowsill, a TRAIL OF SPIDERS escapes through a
      crack in the glass. Harry grabs Hagrid's LANTERN.

                                HARRY

                   C'mon.




                                                                103.





115    OMITTED                                                         115

thru                                                                   thru

118                                                                    118





119    EXT. HAGRID'S HUT - NIGHT                                       119




       Harry illuminates the TRAIL OF SPIDERS. They run from
       the window to the ground, to the dark trees in the near
       distance. As Harry moves to follow, Ron hesitates.

                               RON

                 What are you doing?

                               HARRY

                 You heard Hagrid. Follow the
                 spiders.

                               RON

                 They're heading into the Dark
                 Forest.
       Harry sighs, heads off.     Terrified, Ron grabs Fang,
       follows.

                               RON

                 Why spiders. Why couldn't it be
                 'Follow the butterflies'?




120    OMITTED                                                         120





121    EXT. DARK FOREST - NIGHT                                        121

       Fang crashes through low-slung branches and sharp
       brambles as Harry follows. Ron gingerly picks his way,
       the JUMPS... as FANG HOWLS. BRANCHES SNAP. A RUMBLING
       NOISE sounds, then... SILENCE. Harry spies something,
       points O.S.

                               HARRY

                 There's something moving over
                 there... something big.
       Just then a BLAZE of LIGHT splinters the trees, blinding
       them. They start to flee... when Ron stops.

                               RON

                 Harry!... Harry, it's our car!
       Scratched and mud-smeared, with bits of earth and grass
       sprouting from its headlamps and hubcaps -- the Ford
       Anglia looks half-animal. Ron circles it in wonder.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER 0F SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    104.




121    CONTINUED:                                                      121





                                  HARRY

                    It's been here all the time! Look
                    at it. The Forest has turned it
                    wild.



       Harry nods, then glances back up the slope.

                                  HARRY

                    C'mon, we don't want to lose the
                    trail.




121A   EXT. SPIDERS' HOLLOW - NIGHT                                    121A

       Harry and Ron enter a hollow ribboned with shadows.
       Enormous trees tower over them, strewn with strands of
       white webbing. Ron steps on a strand, kicks it off
       queasily. Harry peers up ahead: at the far end of the
       hollow, the spiders stream toward a DARK OPENING.
       As Harry and Ron approach the opening, a CLICKING SOUND
       emanates from within, ECHOING in the branches of the tall
       trees. GROWING LOUDER. Ron falters, glancing about
       nervously.

                                  RON

                    I don't have a good feeling about
                    this, Harry --

                                   HARRY

                    Don't panic.
       As Harry steps to the mouth of the cavern, the AIR
       suddenly CRACKLES with MOVEMENT. TWIGS SNAP. A HUGE
       SHADOW emerges, slowly engulfs Harry. He peers up.

       SEES:

       An ANCIENT SPIDER (ARAGOG), the size of a small elephant.
       As it advances, Harry and Ron back slowly away. Then:
       its BLIND EYES catch the light, and it STOPS. As if...
       listening.

                                  ARAGOG

                    You do not come from the forest.
                    Your hearts beat like... men.

                                  HARRY

                            (breathing finally)
                    Yes. We're friends of Hagrid's.
                    And you... you're...
                            (as it comes to him)
                    ... Aragog, aren't you?

                                                       (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER 0F SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    105.




121A   CONTINUED:                                                      121A




       Hearing this, Aragog's head turns slightly.

                                  ARAGOG

                    Hagrid has never sent men into our
                    hollow before.

                                  HARRY

                    He's in trouble. Up at school,
                    there've been attacks. They think
                    it's Hagrid. They think he's
                    opened the Chamber of Secrets.
                    Like before.
       As Harry talks, Ron's eyes dart warily about, then...
       RON'S POV - a pair of long legs -- SPIDER'S LEGS -- curl
       slowly around the trunk of the tree to his left.
       Terrified, Ron NUDGES Harry, but Harry ignores him.

                                  ARAGOG

                    That's a lie! Hagrid never opend
                    the Chamber of Secrets!

                                  HARRY

                    But if Hagrid never... that
                    means... you're not the monster.

                                  ARAGOG

                    The monster was born in the
                    castle. I came from a distant
                    land, in the pocket of a traveler.
       Ron turns. TWO CRAWLING SILHOUETTES inch forward.
       Pause. Waiting. Watching.

                                 RON

                    Harry...

                                 HARRY

                    Shhh!
                            (to Aragog)
                    But if you're not the monster,
                    what did kill that girl fifty
                    years ago?

                                  ARAGOG

                    We do not speak of it! It is an
                    ancient creature we spiders fear
                    above all others.

                                  HARRY

                    But have you seen it?

                                                       (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER 0F SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                        106.




121A   CONTINUED:    (2)                                                   121A




       A SCRABBLING SOUND ECHOES above Ron.        He GLANCES UP:     a
       SPIDER crouches on a branch above.

                                  ARAGOG

                    I never saw any part of the castle
                    but the cupboard in which Hagrid
                    kept me. The girl was discovered
                    in a bathroom. When I was
                    accused, Hagrid brought me here.
       More SCRABBLING. Ron looks up. We PAN UP with him.
       SEE: SPIDERS -- in high and low branches -- DROPPING
       DOWNWARD like paratroopers. Ron GRABS Harry.

                                  HARRY

                            (annoyed)
                    What!
       Ron points.     Harry looks.     Pales.   Turns slowly back to
       Aragog.

                                  HARRY

                    Well... thank you. We'll just
                    go...

                                  ARAGOG

                    Go? I think not. My sons and
                    daughters do not harm Hagrid, on
                    my command. But I cannot deny
                    them fresh meat when it wanders so
                    willingly into our midst.
                    Goodbye, friend of Hagrid.
       Aragog turns, disappears into the shadows of the cavern.

                                  RON

                    Can we panic now?
       CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! Harry and Ron SPIN. A GANG of
       FIVE-FOOT SPIDERS bar the path ahead. Begin to move
       forward. Harry and Ron SPIN again: SPIDERS.
       Everywhere. CLOSING IN.
       Desperately, Harry swings the LANTERN in his hand. The
       spiders falter, then CREEP FORWARD again as the ARC of
       the LIGHT chases itself away. Around and around. Then:
       The LANTERN goes out.
       Harry pitches it aside.     As one, he and Ron draw their
       wands.

                                  RON

                    Nice knowing you.

                                                        (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                  106A.




121A   CONTINUED:    (3)                                           121A




       They're done for. Fang WHIMPERS. The spiders draw
       closer, CLICKING FEVERISHLY, when...
       ... a LONG, LOUD HORN BLEATS. Seconds later, a BLAZE of
       LIGHT ignites the hollow and the FORD ANGLIA comes
       THUNDERING over the rim and down the slope, KNOCKING
       SPIDERS OUT OF ITS PATH. As it SCREECHES to a halt, the

       DOORS FLING OPEN.


                                   HARRY

                    Let's go!
       Harry, Ron and Fang LEAP INSIDE. Ron SHIFTS FRANTICALLY.
       A SPIDER appears at Harry's open window.

                                   HARRY


                    THE WINDOWS!   ROLL UP THE WINDOWS!


                                  RON

                            (trying)

                    I CAN'T! IT'S STUCK!

       Just then, a hairy leg reaches through Ron's window.
       Instantly, Ron HITS the gas, throws the car into REVERSE.
       Spiders scatter, but the TWO clinging to the side windows
       hold tight. As the CAR ZOOMS BACKWARDS out of the
       hollow, Harry rolls his window tight, SNAPPING OFF his

       SPIDER'S LEGS.





121B   EXT. ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST - NIGHT                     121B

       The Anglia jets out of the hollow, lands with a THUD.
       Harry turns. The other spider is PULLING RON from the
       car. Harry points his wand, utters a spell and a
       BLINDING FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT BLASTS the spider into the
       shadows whipping past.

                                  RON

                    Thanks for that.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              107.





121B   CONTINUED:                                                    121B





                                  HARRY

                    Don't mention it.
       They stop. Both hear it: a DISTANT CLICKING. As the
       car flies over a ridge, they see them: a SEA OF SPIDERS
       heading straight for them like a herd of raging
       wildebeest. Ron puts his foot to the floor, SPINS the
       wheel and sends the car sliding away. The spiders
       STAMPEDE after.




121C   EXT. ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST - BLACK PARK - NIGHT          121C

       The Anglia SLALOMS through the forest, skimming past
       trees as the spiders CHARGE after. Harry peers ahead,
       SEES an area of FALLEN TREES. There is an OPENING, one
       narrow escape route.

                                  HARRY

                    That way! It's the only way out!
                            (looking back)
                    Hurry! They're catching up!
       Ron JAMS the accelerator... just as a GIANT TARANTULA
       drops in front of the escape route. Harry and Ron are as
       good as dead.

                                  HARRY

                    Can you get us in the air?

                                  RON

                            (jostling the
                             gear stick)
                    Flying gear's jammed!
       The spiders behind DRAW CLOSER. The TARANTULA waits
       ahead. Harry claps his hand over Ron's on the gear
       shift, pushing. The tarantula's pincers open, ready to
       kill, when... the GEAR SHIFT GIVES, the Anglia's wheels
       LIFT and the CAR FLIES OVER CAMERA, leaving the furious
       spiders below. The car barely avoids the rearing
       tarantula, then sails over the trees.




121D   EXT. HAGRID'S HUT - NIGHT                                     121D

       As they LAND, Fang bolts free. Harry and Ron exit the
       CAR wearily, then watch it turn and RUMBLE BACK INTO THE

       FOREST.


                                                   (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                 108.




121D   CONTINUED:                                                   121D





                                  RON

                    'Follow the spiders'! Follow the
                    spiders'! If he ever gets out of
                    Azkaban, I'll kill Hagrid. I
                    mean, what was the point of
                    sending us in there? What have we
                    found out?

                                  HARRY

                    We know one thing. Hagrid never
                    opened the Chamber of Secrets. He
                    was innocent.




122    OMITTED                                                      122

thru                                                                thru

122C                                                                122C





123    INT. HOSPITAL WING - DAY                                     123

       Madam Pomfrey bars the door, frowns at Harry and Ron.

                                  MADAM POMFREY

                    There's no point in talking to a
                    petrified person. She won't hear
                    a word you're saying.
       Ron shifts uncomfortably.

                                  RON

                    We know that, Madam Pomfrey. It's
                    just, well, you see, we thought,
                    maybe, we could... be with her for
                    a bit. She's our... friend, you
                    see, and... even if she can't hear
                    us... I mean, it can't hurt, can
                    it?
       A glint of sympathy flickers in Pomfrey's eyes.

                                  MADAM POMFREY

                    Very well then. But be quick
                    about it.
       As she exits, the boys step to her bed. Absently, Ron
       picks up the circular mirror that lies on the nightstand.
       Eyes Lockhart's Get Well card.

                                  RON

                    You don't think Lockhart could be
                    the heir of Slytherin, do you?
                            (off Harry's look)
                    Right. Forget I said it.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                  109.




123   CONTINUED:                                                    123




      Harry studies Hermione's face.

                                 HARRY

                   Wish you were here, Hermione. We
                   need you. Now more than ever...
      Just then, the mirror in Ron's hand CATCHES the LATE
      AFTERNOON SUNLIGHT and casts a jagged FLAME across
      Hermione's hand. Harry watches the light dance over her
      fingers... then looks closer. Sees the paper clutched
      there.




124   INT. CORRIDOR - DUSK (LATER)                                  124

      Harry and Ron duck into an alcove, take out the CRINKLED
      paper, which, we see now, is TORN from a library book.

                                 HARRY

                   'Of the many fearsome beasts that
                   roam our land, none is more deadly
                   than the Basilisk. Capable of
                   living for hundreds of years,
                   instant death awaits any who meet
                   this giant serpent's eye. Spiders
                   flee before it and only the
                   crowing of the rooster can kill
                   it.'
                           (looking up)
                   Ron! This is it! The monster in
                   the Chamber of Secrets is a
                   Basilisk. That's why I can hear
                   it speak. It's a snake.

                                 RON

                   But it kills by looking people in
                   the eye. Why is it no one's dead?
      Harry frowns, contemplating this, then catches he and
      Ron's REFLECTION in the window opposite. He mutters

      SOFTLY:


                                 HARRY

                   Because no one did look it in the
                   eye. Not directly at least...
                           (in a rush)
                   Colin saw it through his camera.
                   Justin -- Justin must've seen the
                   Basilisk through Nearly Headless
                   Nick! Nick got the full blast of
                   it, but he's a ghost -- he
                   couldn't die again...

                           (MORE)


                                               (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   110.




124   CONTINUED:                                                     124





                                 HARRY (CONT'D)

                   ... And Hermione... had the
                   mirror! I bet you anything she
                   was using it to look round
                   corners, in case it came along.

                                 RON

                   And Mrs. Norris? I'm pretty sure
                   she didn't have a camera or a
                   mirror, Harry.

                                 HARRY

                   The water... there was water on
                   the floor that night. She only
                   saw the Basilisk's reflection...
                           (scanning the
                            page again)
                   The crowing of the rooster is
                   fatal to it! That's why Hagrid's
                   roosters were killed! Spiders
                   flee before it! It all fits!

                                 RON

                   But how's the Basilisk been
                   getting around? A dirty great
                   snake. Someone would have seen...

                                 HARRY

                   Hermione answered that too.
      Harry points.     Scribbled, in Hermione's hand, is:
      "Pipes."

                                 RON

                           (aghast)
                   Pipes...? It's using the
                   plumbing.

                                 HARRY

                   Remember what Aragog said? About
                   that girl fifty years ago? She
                   died in a bathroom. What if she
                   never left.

                                 RON

                   Moaning Myrtle!
      Harry nods. Just then, McGonagall's VOICE ECHOES
      throughout the castle, magically magnified.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                    111.




124   CONTINUED:    (2)                                               124




                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL (V.O.)
                   All students are to return to
                   their house dormitories at once.
                   All teachers to the second floor
                   corridor. Immediately.




125   INT. SECOND FLOOR - CORRIDOR - DUSK (MOMENTS LATER)             125

      McGonagall stands before the desecrated wall, surrounded
      by the rest of the staff. Harry and Ron creep up the
      stairwell.
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   As you can see, the Heir of
                   Slytherin has left another
                   message. Our worst fear has been
                   realized. A student has been
                   taken by the monster. Into the
                   Chamber itself.
                           (as the teachers
                            react)
                   I'm afraid we shall have to send
                   the students home. I'm afraid...
                   this is the end of Hogwarts.

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                           (bursting in cheerily)
                   So sorry. Dozed off. What have I
                   missed?

                                 SNAPE

                   Just the man. A girl has been
                   snatched by the monster, Lockhart.
                   Your moment has come at last.

                                  GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   My m-moment?

                                 SNAPE

                   Weren't you saying just last night
                   that you've known all along where
                   the entrance to the Chamber of
                   Secrets is?

                                  GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   D-did I?   I don't recall...
                                 PROFESSOR   McGONAGALL
                   That settles it. We'll    leave it
                   to you to deal with the   monster,
                   Gilderoy. Your skills,    after all,
                   are legend.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                   112.




125   CONTINUED:                                                     125





                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   V-very well. I'll -- I'll be in
                   my office, getting -- getting
                   ready.



                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   The rest of us should go and
                   inform the students what has
                   happened.

                                 PROFESSOR SPROUT

                   Who is it the monster's taken,
                   Minerva?
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   Ginny Weasley.
      Ron's knees give way. As Harry catches him, the staff
      scatters, revealing what is written on the wall:
            Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.




126   INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)                          126

      Harry and a very upset Ron walk with desperate purpose.

                                 RON

                   She knew something, Harry. She'd
                   found out something about the
                   Chamber of Secrets. That's why
                   she was taken. I mean, she was --
                   is -- a pure-blood. There can't
                   be any other reason.

                                 HARRY

                           (pulling him away)
                   C'mon. Let's go see Lockhart. He
                   may be a brainless git, but he's
                   going to try and get into the
                   Chamber. We can tell him what we
                   know...

                                 RON

                   Harry. D'you think there's any
                   chance at all she's not, you
                   know --
      Harry glances over, studies Ron's tortured eyes.

                                 HARRY

                   We'll find her, Ron.   Ginny's
                   going to be fine.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02                     113/114.




126   CONTINUED:                                                     126




      Ron nods, smiles shakily, and looks away.        As he does,
      Harry's face changes, looks troubled.
      Even he doesn't believe what he's just said.







127   OMITTED                                                        127





128   INT. GILDEROY LOCKHART'S OFFICE - NIGHT                        128

      Harry and Ron DASH inside.

                                 HARRY

                   Professor, we've got some
                   information for you --
      Harry and Ron stop dead. Lockhart's office is stripped
      to the shelves. Two LARGE TRUNKS stand open.

                                 HARRY

                   Are you going somewhere?

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Um, well, yes. Urgent call.
                   Unavoidable. Got to go...

                                 RON

                   What about my sister?

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Well, as to that -- most
                   unfortunate. No one regrets more
                   than I --

                                 RON

                   You're the Defense Against the
                   Dark Arts teacher! You can't go
                   now!

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   I must say, when I took the job,
                   nothing in the job description --

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              115.





128   CONTINUED:                                                     128





                                 HARRY

                   You're running away? After all
                   that stuff you did in your books?




                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Books can be misleading.

                                 HARRY

                   You wrote them!

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   My dear boy, do use your common
                   sense. My books wouldn't have
                   sold half as well if people didn't
                   think I'd done all those things.
                   No one wants to read about some
                   ugly old Armenian warlock, even if
                   he did save a village from
                   werewolves. He'd look dreadful on
                   the front cover. No dress sense
                   at all...

                                 HARRY

                   You're a fraud! You've just been
                   taking credit for what a load of
                   other wizards have done!

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Harry, Harry, Harry. There was
                   work involved. I had to track
                   these people down and ask them
                   exactly how they managed to do
                   what they did. No, it's not all
                   book signings and publicity
                   photos. You want fame, you have
                   to be prepared for a long, hard
                   slog.

                                 RON

                   Is there anything you can do?

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Yes, now that you mention it. I'm
                   rather gifted with Memory Charms.
                   Otherwise, you see, all those
                   wizards would've gone blabbing and
                   I'd never have sold another book.
                   I'm afraid I'll have to do the
                   same to you both, lest you do the
                   same.
      Lockhart lifts his wand, but Harry is quicker.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                               116.





128   CONTINUED:    (2)                                               128





                                   HARRY

                   Expelliarmus!
      Lockhart BLASTS backwards, toppling into one of the open
      trunks, his wand flying across the floor.

                                 HARRY

                   Looks like those Dueling Lessons
                   came in handy after all,
                   Professor.




129   OMITTED                                                         129





130   INT. GIRLS' BATHROOM - NIGHT                                    130

      Lockhart walks ahead of Harry and Ron, their wands
      pointed at him. Moaning Myrtle floats above the cistern.

                                 MOANING MYRTLE

                   Who's there? Oh...
                           (smiles, flirty)
                   Hello, Harry. What do you want?

                                 HARRY

                   To ask you how you died.

                                 MOANING MYRTLE

                           (flattered)
                   Oooooh, it was dreadful. It
                   happened right here. In this very
                   cubicle. I'd hidden because Olive
                   Hornby was teasing me about my
                   glasses. I was crying, and then I
                   heard somebody come in.

                                 HARRY

                   Who was it, Myrtle?

                                 MOANING MYRTLE

                   I don't know! I was distraught!
                   But they said something funny. A
                   kind of made-up language. And I
                   realized it was a boy speaking.
                   So I unlocked the door, to tell
                   him to go away, and... I died.

                                 HARRY

                   Just like that? How?

                                                      (CONTINUED)





                                                                117.





130   CONTINUED:                                                       130





                                 MOANING MYRTLE

                   No idea. I just remember seeing a
                   pair of great big yellow eyes.
                   Over there...



      Myrtle points to the bank of sinks. Harry and Ron hurry
      over, examining the pipes below, the tile above, then...
      Harry sees it: etched on one of the COPPER TAPS is a

      TINY SNAKE.


                                 HARRY

                   This is it, Ron. This is the
                   entrance to the Chamber of
                   Secrets.

                                 RON

                   Say something, Harry. Say
                   something in Parseltongue.
      Harry stares off self-consciously at the tiny snake.

                                 HARRY

                   Open up.
      Ron shakes his head.      Harry's spoken in his regular
      voice.

                                 RON

                   English.
      Harry concentrates harder this time, staring so intensely
      that the snake almost looks alive. When, finally, he
      speaks, it is more like a HISS. Parseltongue. The
      circular group of sinks OPEN and a LARGE, OPEN PIPE is
      exposed.

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Excellent, Harry. Good work.
                   Well then. I'll just be going.
                   There's no need for me...

                                 HARRY

                   Oh, yes there is. You first.
      Harry points his wand at Lockhart, then the opening.

                                  GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   Now, boys.   What good will it do?

                                 RON

                   A bloody lot of good if it's a
                   two-hundred-foot drop onto jagged
                   rocks.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              118.





130   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              130




      Lockhart steps grimly to the dark, gaping hole. Ron
      gives him a shove and he topples headfirst and out of
      sight. They wait. Finally...




                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART (O.S.)

                   It's really quite filthy down
                   here.

                                  HARRY

                   All right.   Let's go.

                                 MOANING MYRTLE

                   Oh, Harry... if you die down
                   there, you're welcome to share my
                   toilet.

                                 HARRY

                   Thanks, Myrtle.
      Harry turns.     Jumps.   Seconds later, Ron follows.




131   INT. PIPE - NIGHT                                              131

      Harry and Ron slide wicked fast, in a hair-raising
      vertical plummet, catching glimpses of other, smaller
      pipes branching off in all directions, twisting and
      turning until the pipe levels off, dumps them onto the
      damp floor of a stone tunnel.




132   INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT                                            132

      Lockhart stares miserably at the muck dripping from his
      robes. Harry takes a TORCH from the wall, poises his
      wand.

                                 HARRY

                   Lumos!
      The torch blooms with a BRIGHT ORANGE FLAME.

                                 HARRY

                   Remember. Any sign of movement,
                   close your eyes straight away.
      Harry leads the way down the tunnel. CRUNCH! They look
      down: a rat's skull. All around them, the ground is
      littered with TINY SKELETONS. Ron squints, sees
      something HUGE and CURVED lying ahead. When he speaks,
      his voice is hollow with dread.

                                                     (CONTINUED)





                                                              119.





132   CONTINUED:                                                     132





                                  RON

                   What's that?   Up ahead?

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   That looks like a... snake.
      Terrified, Lockhart quickly HIDES HIS EYES.

                                 HARRY

                   Maybe it's asleep.
      Ron draws his wand as they approach, squinting. Harry
      shines his light, revealing... a gigantic COIL of EMPTY

      SKIN.


                                 RON

                   Bloody hell. Whatever shed this
                   must be twenty feet long. Or
                   more.
      THUD!   They turn.     Lockhart has passed out.

                                 RON

                   Heart of a lion, this one.
      Ron kneels by him, when... Lockhart's eyes open and,
      quick as a fox... he snatches Ron's wand and scrambles to
      his feet.

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                   The adventure ends here, boys!
                   But don't fret. The world will
                   know our story. How I was too
                   late to save the girl. How you
                   two tragically lost your minds at
                   the sight of her mangled body.
                   I'll even bind a limited edition
                   in this snake skin. Say goodbye
                   to your memories.
                           (raising Ron's wand)
                   Obliviate!
      Ron's WAND EXPLODES like a small BOMB, BLASTING Lockhart
      OFF HIS FEET and SPITTING great JETS of FIRE into the
      rock above. As RUBBLE RAINS, Ron LEAPS one way and Harry
      the other. Harry sits up, squints through the settling
      dust. A SOLID WALL of BROKEN ROCK seals the tunnel
      between him and Ron. INTERCUT Harry and Ron.

                                  HARRY

                   Ron?   Are you okay?

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02                   120.




132   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              132





                                 RON

                   I'm okay. This git's not, though.
                   He got blasted by my wand.



      Lockhart sits up, dazed. Ron picks up a rock and CONKS
      him on the head. Lockhart PASSES OUT. Ron calls to
      Harry.

                                 RON

                   What now?

                                 HARRY

                   Wait here. I'll go on. I'll go
                   on and... find Ginny. If I'm not
                   back in an hour...
      He leaves it there.

                                 RON

                   I'll try and shift some of this
                   rock. So you can get back
                   through. And, Harry --

                                 HARRY

                   See you in a bit.
      Harry glances at the snake skin at his feet, moves off.
      He steps carefully through the shadows until he reaches a
      TOWERING STONE WALL, carved with TWIN SERPENTS.

                                  HARRY

                            (Parseltongue)
                   Open.
      The serpents part and the GIANT WALL SLIDES OPEN.      Harry
      removes his wand and ENTERS.




133   INT. CHAMBER OF SECRETS - NIGHT                                133

      A vast chamber stretches ahead. Along the path are rows
      of STONE SERPENTS. The serpents rest in pools of black
      water. Ahead is an enormous STATUE of SALAZAR SLYTHERIN.
      Several feet in front of the statue, Ginny Weasley lies
      motionless. As Harry dashes and takes her into his arms,
      her head lolls to one side, cheeks white as marble. A
      pale hand clutches TOM RIDDLE'S DIARY to her chest.
      Harry DROPS the torch, RACES to Ginny, places his wand on
      the floor and kneels beside her. (BOLD ITALICS INDICATE

      POSSIBLE FLASHBACKS.)


                                  HARRY

                   Ginny!   Please don't be dead.
                            Wake up! Wake up!
                   Ginny!

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02                    121.




133   CONTINUED:                                                      133





                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   She won't wake.
      Harry spins. Tom Riddle stands nearby. He is strangely
      BLURRED around the edges, as though Harry was looking at
      him through a misted window.

                                 HARRY

                   Tom... Tom Riddle? What d'you
                   mean, she won't wake? She's
                   not...

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   She's still alive. But only just.

                                 HARRY

                   Are you a ghost?

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   A memory. Preserved in a diary
                   for fifty years.
      Harry looks to the diary in Ginny's hand, then places his
      own hand on Ginny's arm.

                                 HARRY

                   She's cold as ice. You've got
                   to help me, Tom. There's a
                   basilisk --

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   It won't come until it's called.
      Harry looks up, sees Riddle twirling a wand in his
      fingers.

                                 HARRY

                   Give me my wand, Tom.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   You won't be needing it.

                                 HARRY

                   Listen, we've got to go!   We've
                   got to save her!

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   I'm afraid I can't do that, Harry.
                   You see, as poor Ginny grows
                   weaker... I grow stronger.

                                 HARRY

                   But she's dying!

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02                    122.




133   CONTINUED:    (2)                                               133





                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Yes. I'm afraid so. But then,
                   she's been in so much pain, poor
                   Ginny. She's been writing to me
                   for months, telling me all her
                   pitiful worries and woes. Ginny
                   poured her soul out to me. I grew
                   stronger on a diet of her deepest
                   fears, her darkest secrets. I
                   grew powerful enough to start
                   feeding Ginny a few secrets, to
                   start pouring a bit of my soul
                   back into her...
      Riddle, growing less vaporous by the second, grins
      cruelly.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Yes, Harry, it was Ginny Weasley
                   who opened the Chamber of Secrets.

                                 HARRY

                   No... she couldn't -- she
                   wouldn't.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   It was Ginny who set the Basilisk
                   on the Mudbloods and the Squib's
                   cat. Ginny who wrote threatening
                   messages on the walls.

                                 HARRY

                   But... Why?...

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Because I told her to. You'll
                   find that I can be very
                   persuasive. Not that she knew
                   what she was doing. She was,
                   shall we say, in a kind of trance.
                   Still, the power of the diary
                   began to scare her and she tried
                   to dispose of it in the girls'
                   bathroom. But then, who should
                   find it... but you. The very
                   person I was most anxious to meet.

                                 HARRY

                           (getting angry)
                   And why did you want to meet me?

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02                    123.




133   CONTINUED:    (3)                                               133





                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Ginny told me all about you. I
                   knew I had to talk to you, meet
                   you if I could. So I decided to
                   show you my capture of that
                   brainless oaf, Hagrid, to gain
                   your trust.

                                 HARRY

                   Hagrid's my friend. And you
                   framed him, didn't you?

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   It was my word against Hagrid's.
                   Only Dumbledore seemed to think
                   Hagrid was innocent.

                                 HARRY

                   I'll bet Dumbledore saw right
                   through you.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   I knew it wouldn't be safe to open
                   the Chamber again while I was
                   still at school. So I decided to
                   leave behind a diary, preserving
                   my sixteen-year-old self in its
                   pages, so that one day... I would
                   be able to lead another to finish
                   Salazar Slytherin's noble work.

                                 HARRY

                   Well, you haven't finished it this
                   time. In a few hours Mandrake
                   Draught will be ready and everyone
                   who was petrified will be all
                   right again.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Haven't I told you, that killing
                   Mudbloods doesn't matter to me
                   anymore? For many months now, my
                   new target has been... you.
                           (grinning)
                   Imagine my disappointment when I
                   learned Ginny had stolen the diary
                   back from you.

                                 HARRY

                   Ginny stole the diary from my
                   room? But why?

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02                    124.




133   CONTINUED:    (4)                                               133





                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   She was afraid. Afraid you'd
                   learn how to work the diary.
                   Afraid I'd tell you just who it
                   was that had been strangling all
                   those roosters.
      Horrified, Harry glances at Ginny, growing more PALE,
      then back to Riddle, who is growing more SOLID.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Come now, Harry. Don't look so
                   disappointed. Had Ginny succeeded
                   in destroying the diary, she would
                   have destroyed me. And we
                   couldn't be having this little
                   talk. And I have so many
                   questions for you.

                                HARRY

                   Like what?

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Well, how is it that a baby with
                   no extraordinary magical talent
                   managed to defeat the greatest
                   wizard of all time? How did you
                   escape with nothing but a scar,
                   while Lord Voldemort's powers were
                   destroyed?

                                 HARRY

                   Why do you care how I escaped?
                   Voldemort was after your time.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Voldemort is my past, present and
                   future.
      Riddle pulls Harry's wand from his pocket and begins to
      trace it through the air, writing three words: "TOM
      MARVOLO RIDDLE." Then, with a wave, he re-arranges them:

      "I AM LORD VOLDEMORT."


                                HARRY

                   You. You're the heir of
                   Slytherin. You're Voldemort?

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Surely you didn't think I would
                   keep my filthy Muggle father's
                   name?

                                 (MORE)


                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02                    125.




133   CONTINUED:    (5)                                               133





                                 TOM RIDDLE (CONT'D)

                   No, I fashioned myself a new name,
                   a name I knew wizards everywhere
                   would one day fear to speak, when
                   I became the greatest sorcerer in
                   the world.

                                 HARRY

                   Albus Dumbledore is the greatest
                   sorcerer in the world!

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                   Dumbledore's been driven out of
                   this castle by the mere memory of
                   me.

                                 HARRY

                   He'll never be gone! Not as long
                   as those who remain are loyal to
                   him!
      Suddenly, MUSIC... EERIE and UNEARTHLY... ECHOES deep
      within the chamber and a small, swift SHADOW ribbons over
      the rock. Flying from above is FAWKES, the Phoenix. The
      bird SWOOPS into the chamber, clutching a RAGGED BUNDLE
      in its golden talons.

                                HARRY

                   Fawkes.
      Fawkes flies toward Harry, drops the ragged bundle, which
      is the SORTING HAT, at his feet. Riddle picks it up.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                           (giggling)
                   This is what Dumbledore sends his
                   defender! A songbird and an old
                   hat!
      Riddle tosses aside the hat. He turns to the statue of
      Salazar Slytherin and speaks in Parseltongue.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                           (Parseltongue)
                   Speak to me, Slytherin.
      Suddenly, the stone face's MOUTH OPENS. There is a
      RUMBLING SOUND, followed by the sound of SLITHERING.
      Harry turns away. The Basilisk, A GIANT SERPENT, spills
      out, uncoiling heavily to the floor. Harry turns to the
      wall. The shadow of the serpent is visible on the wall.
      PAN TO Tom Riddle, looking at Harry.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/21/02                  126.




133    CONTINUED:    (6)                                             133





                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    Let's match the powers of Lord
                    Voldemort, Heir of Salazar
                    Slytherin, against the famous
                    Harry Potter, shall we?
       Riddle turns, to serpent, speaking in Parseltongue.

                                  TOM RIDDLE

                            (Parseltongue)
                    Kill him!
       The HISSING SERPENT shoots forward.     Harry turns, RUNS away.

                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    Parseltongue won't save you now,
                    Potter. The Basilisk only obeys me.

                                  HARRY

                            (to himself)
                    Don't look. Don't look into its
                    eyes.
       Harry RACES along the stone path, but the giant serpent
       is FASTER. Harry TRIPS. FALLS. The Basilisk RISES.
       Harry looks to the wall, sees the serpent about to strike.
       Suddenly FAWKES SCREECHES, soaring toward the Basilisk
       and circling its blunt head, confusing it. The SNAKE
       SNAPS furiously, when... Fawkes drops like a knife,
       driving its talons deep into the serpent's glittering
       eyes.
       As Harry watches the angry play of shadows on the wall,
       the BASILISK ROARS, HISSING in pain. Fawkes wings away,
       its talons dripping with blood and Harry turns, LOOKS:
       the Basilisk's eyes are a blind, bloody mess.

                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    Fool! Think you're safe!   It can
                    still hear you!
       As Harry flees, the serpent thunders after, STRIKING
       BLINDLY as its whipping tail SHATTERS a Slytherin STATUE.
       Harry dodges and ducks, then, seeing the snake about to
       strike again... LEAPS CLEAR, stumbling toward a SIDE

       TUNNEL.





133A   INT. CHAMBER OF SECRETS - SIDE TUNNEL - NIGHT                 133A

       Harry RACES HEADLONG into the shadows, then looks back,
       sees the snake eclipse the light at the far end of the
       tunnel and SLITHER QUICKLY inside.

                                                  (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 2/19/02               126A.




133A   CONTINUED:                                                 133A




       Thinking, Harry DUCKS INTO AN ALCOVE, puts his hand over
       his mouth and waits, desperate to remain STILL and
       SILENT. The snake slides heavily by, then... SLOWS.

       TURNS BACK.




       The snake's head weaves inside, only INCHES from Harry's
       face. Harry trembles as the snake's head cocks to the
       side, then... finally... WITHDRAWS.




133B   INT. CHAMBER OF SECRETS - NIGHT                            133B

       Harry DASHES back into the main chamber. Ginny looks
       frighteningly pale. Riddle GRINS cruelly, almost SOLID
       now.

                                                 (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                   127.




133B   CONTINUED:                                                    133B





                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    Yes, Potter. The process is
                    nearly complete. In a few
                    minutes, Ginny Weasley will be
                    dead. And I will cease to be a
                    memory. Lord Voldemort will
                    return. Very much... alive.
       Harry moves toward Ginny, then suddenly... the BASILISK
       SHOOTS OUT of the TUNNEL, HISSING directly in front of
       Harry. Trapped, Harry glances around, then --
       impulsively -- LEAPS upward, begins to scale the statue
       of Salazar Slytherin. The serpent strikes madly, but
       Harry continues on, CLIMBING BOLDLY until he reaches the
       top. He turns. Sees the Sorting Hat. Sees what
       glitters within: the RUBY HANDLE of a SWORD.
       Harry WHEELS, sword in hand, and fends off the slashing
       serpent like St. George and the dragon. In a mad rush of
       courage, he PITCHES HIMSELF onto the serpent, SLIDES DOWN
       its back and rolls up, SWORD RAISED. Too tired to flee,
       Harry simply waits. The serpent rises and, FANGS

       BARED... STRIKES.

       Marshalling every ounce of strength left to him, Harry
       drives the sword upward, deep into the roof of the
       SERPENT'S mouth. It HISSES in PAIN, thrashing MADLY as
       it drives a FANG into Harry's arm. Harry clutches his
       arm in agony, stumbles back and falls to the floor,
       watching as the serpent THRASHES briefly... then goes

       STILL.

       Harry peers down, sees the FANG that pierces his arm, the
       blood soaking slowly into his robe. As he yanks the fang
       free, Riddle steps forward, almost fully whole now. His
       eyes shine at the sight of Harry's wound.

                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    Remarkable, isn't it? How quickly
                    the venom of the Basilisk
                    penetrates the body? If you have
                    any final words, Potter, you'd
                    best speak them now. I'd guess
                    you have little more than a minute
                    to live.
       Harry blinks heavily, watching as the skin of his forearm
       turns a troubling gray.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                 127A.




133B   CONTINUED:    (1A)                                        133B





                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    So ends the famous Harry Potter.
                    On his knees in the Chamber of
                    Secrets. Defeated at last by the
                    Dark Lord he so unwisely
                    challenged. You'll be back with
                    your dear Mudblood mother soon,
                    Harry...
       As Riddle talks, Harry glances at Ginny, nearly white
       now, a small ghost, the only evidence of life the
       TREMBLING OF A SINGLE FINGER. Harry studies the finger
       and what lies beneath it: Tom Riddle's diary. Harry
       begins to crawl toward her.

                                                   (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/16/02                   128.




133B   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              133B





                                  TOM   RIDDLE

                    Funny, isn't it?    The damage a
                    silly little book   can do?
                    Especially in the   hands of a silly
                    little girl.
       As Harry reaches Ginny, he places his hand on hers,
       then... slips the diary free.

                                  TOM RIDDLE

                    What are you doing? No.     Stop...
       Riddle's face creases in fear. He LUNGES FORWARD. But
       Harry is too quick. Raising his hand high... he PLUNGES
       THE FANG into the book. Instantly, BLACK INK SPURTS from
       the pages.

                                 TOM RIDDLE

                    No!
       Riddle SHRIEKS, writhing in pain. His body begins to
       wither instantly, growing BLURRY once more. As the ink
       runs off Harry's fingers to the floor, Riddle VANISHES
       altogether. Harry sinks back, then... hears a FAINT
       MOAN. Ginny STIRS, color blooming in her cheeks. As she
       sees Harry, she SOBS.

                                  GINNY

                    Harry. It was me! But I swear, I
                    didn't mean to... Riddle made me.
                    He wrote to me... took me over...
                    I didn't even know whose diary it
                    was. I found it inside my
                    cauldron. The day we all went to
                    Diagon Alley and... Harry. You're
                    hurt...

                                  HARRY

                    Ginny. You need to get yourself
                    out... Follow the chamber...
                    You'll find Ron...
       There is a RUSH OF WINGS and Fawkes circles down, lays
       his head onto Harry's arm.

                                  HARRY

                    You were brilliant, Fawkes. I
                    just... wasn't quick enough.
       Then Harry blinks, looks down. Thick pearly TEARS are
       trickling down Fawkes' face and onto his arm. Almost
       instantly, his wound... begins to heal itself.

                                                      (CONTINUED)





                                                                129.





133B   CONTINUED:    (3)                                               133B





                                  HARRY

                    Of course. Dumbledore told me.
                    Phoenix tears have healing powers.
                            (looking up at Ginny)
                    It's all right, Ginny. It's over.
                    It's just a memory...




134    INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT (LATER)                                     134

       With Fawkes gliding gracefully ahead of them, Harry and
       Ginny make their way back. Up ahead, SHIFTING ROCK can
       be heard and a jagged fissure of LIGHT GLIMMERS. Ron's
       face appears.

                                    RON

                    Ginny!
       Ron wriggles through, rushes forward and hugs Ginny.

                                    RON

                    You're alive.    I can't believe it.

                                  GINNY

                    I'm going to be expelled, I just
                    know it!

                                  RON

                            (to Harry)
                    Remind you of anyone?

                                  HARRY

                    Where's Lockhart?
       Harry eyes Lockhart, sitting by himself, HUMMING
       placidly.

                                  RON

                    His Memory Charm backfired.
                    Hasn't got a clue who he is. I
                    keep having to stop him wandering
                    off. He's a danger to himself.

                                 GILDEROY LOCKHART

                    Hello. Odd sort of place, this,
                    isn't it? Do you live here?

                                    RON

                    No.
       Ron turns, raises his eyebrows at Harry. Harry looks
       upward. There is an opening, hundreds of feet up. Just
       then, Fawkes circles back, fluttering in front of Harry.

                                                       (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/16/02                  130.




134    CONTINUED:                                                    134





                                  RON

                    What's with the bird?

                                  HARRY

                    I think... I think he's telling me
                    he can take us out of here.




134A   INT. ROCKY TUNNEL - NIGHT (LATER)                             134A

       A CURIOUS, GLIDING SHADOW RIPPLES across the cavernous
       wall, and then Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lockhart soar out of
       the darkness, linked hand in hand. Fawkes is flying them
       home.

                                   GILDEROY LOCKHART

                    Amazing!   This is just like magic!




134B   OMITTED                                                       134B





135    INT. DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE - DAY                                135

       Harry and Ron, covered in muck and slime -- stand in
       Dumbledore's office. Fawkes perches on a pedestal behind
       Dumbledore, who sits at his desk, examining the charred
       diary. He looks up, regarding Harry and Ron gravely.

                                  DUMBLEDORE

                    Ingenious. Simply... ingenious.
                            (looking up)
                    Of course, Tom Riddle was probably
                    the most brilliant student
                    Hogwarts has ever seen. I taught
                    him myself fifty years ago. After
                    he left, I would occasionally hear
                    stories of his activities -- dark
                    rumors -- but after awhile, even
                    the rumors stopped. When he
                    finally resurfaced as Lord
                    Voldemort, most people had
                    completely forgotten the clever
                    Head Boy he'd once been.

                                  GINNY

                    I didn't know whose diary it was,
                    sir. I swear. I found it inside
                    my cauldron.
                            (to the others)
                    The day we all went to Diagon
                    Alley.

                                                     (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/17/02                    131.




135   CONTINUED:                                                      135




      Hearing this, Harry frowns in thought, recollecting...

                                 GINNY

                   But I understand if... given all
                   the trouble I've caused... if
                   you --

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Wiser wizards than you have been
                   hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort, Miss
                   Weasley. No, I think you've
                   endured enough. I would suggest a
                   bit of bed rest, however. And
                   perhaps a large mug of hot
                   chocolate. I always find that
                   cheers me up. Minerva, will you
                   show Arthur and Molly up to the
                   hospital wing?
                                 PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
                   Certainly, Albus.
      As they exit, Harry and Ron watch them go.        Mrs.
      Weasley's VOICE carries:

                                 MRS. WEASLEY

                   A diary that writes back to you!
                   Honestly, Ginny! What were you
                   thinking? Haven't I always told
                   you? Never trust anything that
                   can think for itself if you can't
                   see where it keeps its brain!
      Harry and Ron turn back.     See Dumbledore regarding them
      gravely.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   You two realize, of course, that
                   in the last few hours, you have
                   broken perhaps a dozen school
                   rules?

                                HARRY/RON

                   Yes, sir.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   And that there is sufficient
                   evidence to expel you both?

                                HARRY/RON

                   Yes, sir.

                                                      (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/17/02                 131A.




135   CONTINUED:    (1A)                                         135





                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Therefore, it seems only
                   fitting...
                           (eyes twinkling)
                   That you both receive Special
                   Awards for Services to the School.
                   And -- let me see -- yes, I think
                   two hundred points apiece, which,
                   I believe, should be more than
                   enough to secure Gryffindor the
                   House Cup.

                                                   (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/16/02                  132.




135   CONTINUED:    (2)                                             135





                                 HARRY/RON

                           (grinning)
                   Thank you, sir.




                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Now, Mr. Weasley, if you would,
                   have an owl deliver these release
                   papers to Azkaban. We need our
                   gamekeeper back.
      Ron nods, takes the envelope and exits.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   First, Harry, I want to thank you.
                   You must have shown me real
                   loyalty down in the Chamber.
                   Nothing but that could have called
                   Fawkes to you. Secondly, I sense
                   you're troubled by something. Am
                   I right?

                                 HARRY

                   It's just, you see, sir, I
                   couldn't help noticing certain
                   things. Certain similarities.
                   Between Tom Riddle and me.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                133.




135   CONTINUED:    (3)                                          135





                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,
                   because Lord Voldemort can speak
                   Parseltongue. Unless I'm much
                   mistaken, he transformed some of
                   his own powers to you the night he
                   gave you that scar.

                                 HARRY

                   Voldemort put a bit of himself in
                   me?

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Not intentionally, but... yes.

                                 HARRY

                   So the Sorting Hat was right.    I
                   should be a Slytherin.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   It's true, Harry. You do possess
                   many of the qualities Voldemort
                   himself prizes. Resourcefulness.
                   Determination. A certain
                   disregard for the rules. Yet the
                   Sorting Hat placed you in
                   Gryffindor.

                                 HARRY

                   Only because I asked it to.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Exactly. Which makes you very
                   different from Voldemort. It's
                   not our abilities that show what
                   we truly are, Harry. It's our
                   choices.
                           (smiling at him)
                   If you want proof that you belong
                   in Gryffindor, Harry, I suggest
                   you look more closely at this.
      Dumbledore hands the bloodstained sword to Harry. An
      ENGRAVED NAME glimmers above the ruby-encrusted hilt.

                                 HARRY

                   'Godric Gryffindor.'

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Only a true Gryffindor could have
                   pulled that out of the Hat.



      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                   134.




135   CONTINUED:    (4)                                              135




      Suddenly, Lucius Malfoy enters, dragging... Dobby by the
      ear.

                                 HARRY

                   Dobby! This is your Master? The
                   family you serve is the Malfoys!
      Dobby nods, chagrined.     Lucius Malfoy brushes past Harry.

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   Out of my way, Potter.
                           (to Dumbledore)
                   So! You've returned!

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Yes. When the governors heard
                   that Arthur Weasley's daughter had
                   been taken into the Chamber, they
                   saw fit to summon me back.
                           (a wry smile)
                   Curiously, several of them seemed
                   under the impression that you
                   would curse their families if they
                   didn't agree to suspend me in the
                   first place, Lucius.

                                 LUCIUS MALFOY

                   From the beginning, my only
                   concern has been the welfare of
                   this school and its students.
                   I assume the culprit has been
                   identified.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Oh yes. It was Voldemort. Only
                   this time, he chose to act through
                   someone else. By means of...
                   this.
      As Dumbledore nudges the diary toward Lucius Malfoy,
      Harry sees Dobby nod meaningfully from the diary to
      Lucius.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Fortunately, our young Mr. Potter
                   discovered it.
                           (a chill to his voice)
                   One only hopes that no more of
                   Lord Voldemort's old school things
                   find their way into innocent
                   hands. The consequences for the
                   one responsible could be...
                   severe.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 3/1/02                       135.




135    CONTINUED:    (5)                                                 135




       Lucius Malfoy stares icily at Dumbledore, then turns
       away.

                                   LUCIUS MALFOY

                    Come, Dobby.   We're leaving.
       As Dobby scuttles toward the door, Lucius Malfoy KICKS
       HIM through it, then exits himself. Harry stares at the
       empty doorway as DOBBY'S PAINFUL SQUEALS ECHO from the
       corridor.

                                 HARRY

                    Sir? I wonder if I could have
                    that.
       Dumbledore looks up, follows Harry's eyes to the diary.




135A   EXT. DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE - DAY (MOMENTS LATER)                    135A

       As the elevator opens, Harry dashes out.

                                    HARRY

                    Mr. Malfoy!    I have something of
                    yours.
       Harry comes up running, thrusts the diary into Malfoy's
       hand.

                                  LUCIUS MALFOY

                    Mine? I don't know what you're
                    talking about.

                                  HARRY

                    I think you do, sir. I think you
                    slipped it into Ginny Weasley's
                    cauldron that day in Diagon Alley.
       Malfoy shoves the diary into Dobby's face, then leans
       close to Harry and, with a nasty grin, WHISPERS:

                                   LUCIUS MALFOY

                    Prove it!
       He turns away. As Dobby looks sadly back, clutching the
       diary in his hand, Harry mouths the words: Open it.
       Dobby looks down curiously. Inside... is a SOCK. He

       GASPS.


                                   LUCIOUS MALFOY

                                   Dobby!
                    Dobby, come!

                                                         (CONTINUED)




       THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/3/02                      136.




135A   CONTINUED:                                                       135A





                                  DOBBY

                            (in wonderment)
                    Master has given Dobby a sock.
                    Master has presented Dobby with
                    clothes. Dobby is... free!

                                   LUCIUS MALFOY

                    What?   I didn't --
       He wheels, sees Harry standing with one leg crossed: His
       right ankle is bare. Instantly, Malfoy charges forth.

                                  LUCIUS MALFOY

                    You've lost me my servant!

                                  DOBBY

                    You shall not harm Harry Potter!
       Dobby steps between and -- BANG! Malfoy flies backwards,
       lands in a crumpled heap. Rising, he stares murderously
       at Harry.

                                  LUCIUS MALFOY

                    Mark my words, Harry Potter.
                    You'll meet the same sticky end as
                    your parents one of these days.
                    They were meddlesome fools too.
       With that, he turns, storms off.

                                  DOBBY

                    Harry Potter freed Dobby!      How can
                    Dobby ever repay him?

                                  HARRY

                    Just promise me something.

                                  DOBBY

                    Anything, sir.

                                  HARRY

                    Never try to save my life again.
       Dobby grins then and -- CRACK! -- is gone.

136    OMITTED                                                          136





137    INT. GREAT HALL - NIGHT                                          137

       Fear and suspicion banished, the House tables abuzz with
       excitement and anticipation... all except the Slytherins,
       who do not share the general feeling.

                                                        (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/3/02                   137.




137   CONTINUED:                                                    137




      Seated at the tables, are the formerly petrified, revived
      students. Justin Finch-Fletchley joins his fellow
      Hufflepuffs. Colin Creevey SNAPS photos of the
      proceedings.



      At the rear of the hall, standing near the entrance,
      Filch is reunited with Mrs. Norris. Then... Hermione
      enters, searching the room for Harry and Ron. Finally,
      she sees them. Smiles. Runs forward and embraces Harry.

                                 HERMIONE

                   You solved it! You solved it!

                                 HARRY

                   With loads of help from you.
      She turns to embrace Ron. They pause, an awkward moment
      between them and... shake hands instead.

                                 RON

                   Welcome back, Hermione.
      McGonagall taps her goblet.     Dumbledore stands.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Before we begin our feast, let's
                   give a round of applause to
                   Professor Sprout and Madame
                   Pomfrey, whose Mandrake Juice has
                   been successfully administered to
                   all those who had been petrified.
      Everyone applauds.

                                 DUMBLEDORE

                   Also, in the wake of recent
                   events, as a school treat, all
                   exams have been cancelled.
      Everyone cheers, save for Hermione.

                                HERMIONE

                   Oh, no!
      At the rear of the Hall, the great doors OPEN. It's
      Hagrid. He enters. Stops. Looks around. The room
      falls SILENT. All eyes upon him. He glances around.
      Nervous. Embarrassed.

                                 HAGRID

                   Sorry I'm late. The owl deliverin'
                   my release papers got all lost 'n
                   confused. Some ruddy bird named
                   Errol.

                                                    (CONTINUED)




      THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 4/3/02                    138.




137   CONTINUED:    (2)                                              137




      Ron exchanges a nervous glance with Dumbledore. Hagrid
      looks at all of the faces staring at him. He turns to
      Harry.




                                 HAGRID

                   I jus' want to say... that if it
                   wasn't fer' you, Harry... you an'
                   Ron... and Hermione... Well, I
                   jus' want to say... Thanks.

                                 HARRY

                   There's no Hogwarts without you,
                   Hagrid.
      Just then... Dumbledore gets to his feet and... slowly...
      brings his hands together. The others join him. Soon,
      everyone is on their feet and the Hall ROARING. As the
      students surround Hagrid, he blinks, wipes at his eyes,
      and...
      CAMERA PULLS BACK, THROUGH the window, leaving the
      celebration. WE CONTINUE TO CRANE BACK... BACK... TO a
      WIDE SHOT OF HOGWARTS... glittering gloriously in the
      night.




                                             FADE TO BLACK.











                                 THE END







Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets



Writers :   J.K. Rowling  Steven Kloves
Genres :   Fantasy  Mystery  Adventure  Family


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