MINISTRY OF MAGIC, PIT OF SILENCE — SPRING

We are in a haze of dark blue. There is a general hollowness to the air, like the sound of a conch shell to your ear. At center stage, Two MINISTRY GUARDS stand before a wall of cloudy glass, parted by a single steel door. There, kneeling on the ground behind the glass, is LORD VOLDEMORT. His pale skin and red eyes stand out against an engulfing halo of blue light. Behind him, the craggy walls of the pit. HARRY enters, more marching than walking. His footsteps echo loudly through the auditorium.

MINISTRY GUARD 01: Back again, Mister Potter? You're early today.

MINISTRY GUARD 02 (eyeing his wrist): Fifteen minutes, according to my watch.

HARRY stares past the glass at VOLDEMORT, who looks bloodthirsty and pleased to see him again.

HARRY: I need to speak with him.

MINISTRY GUARD 01: Won't be much of a conversation, sir.

MINISTRY GUARD 02: He can't answer back.

HARRY: How can he hear me?

MINISTRY GUARD 01 points to a spot on the ground. HARRY moves into position.

HARRY: This is a private matter. I need you to stand aside.

MINISTRY GUARD 01: Of course, Prime Enforcer.

The MINISTRY GUARDS exit. HARRY and VOLDEMORT are alone. HARRY has never looked so determined as he approaches the glass.

HARRY (measuring each word): You've lost. This body of yours, your former body, will soon perish. And when that happens, I'll make sure that the one at Hogwarts is destroyed as well, leaving you to wander the earth forever, never more human than what you can see from the back of someone's head.

HARRY starts to smile.

Whatever happens, you'll die here. In a month's time, you'll receive your final sentence and then... a kiss of endless suffering. No one can stop that. No one (beat) ...but me.

VOLDEMORT stands. His greedy expression looks inquisitive as he stares silently back. HARRY rubs the scar on his forehead.

I know. I know you're here, in my head. That you've never left. I've tried ignoring it for years, but there's no use denying it any longer. A fragment of your revolting soul is still attached to mine. An eighth — but it's enough.

HARRY looks differently at the glass for a moment, as if staring at his own reflection.

I need to kill it. Tell me, and I'll find a way to free you.

HARRY gazes off stage and lowers his voice.

Then we face each other one-on-one. One soul battling another, for the first and final time. My only demand is that you and your Tempest stop hunting my family.

VOLDEMORT smiles a thin smile. He really is quite evil. And then his mouth begins to move, as if speaking. He says a few words, but HARRY cannot hear them. HARRY squints and waves for the MINISTRY GUARDS to return.

MINISTRY GUARD 02: What's the matter?

HARRY: He's trying to say something. I need you to...

HARRY gestures impatiently to the wall of glass.

MINISTRY GUARD 01: We can't turn it off, Mister Potter.

HARRY: Then fetch the person who can!

MINISTRY GUARD 02: Sir, no one can.

HARRY: What?

MINISTRY GUARD 02: The Pit of Silence. It was here first. Along with the veil in the Death Chamber.

MINISTRY GUARD 01: The Ministry was constructed around them, sir.

HARRY moves for the door.

HARRY: Then I'm going inside.

MINISTRY GUARD 02 holds out an arm to stop HARRY.

MINISTRY GUARD 02: No one is permitted to enter by order of the Minister of Magic, Percival Clearwater.

HARRY: Are you not listening to me? He's talking. Just let me — see him.

MINISTRY GUARD 01: Mister Potter, we do not answer to —

HARRY (sternly): Who do you think is really in charge here?

He squares up to MINISTRY GUARD 01, his eyes ablaze.

The door. Open it.

The two MINISTRY GUARDS look at one another and comply.

MINISTRY GUARD 02: No wands.

HARRY: I don't have a wand anymore.

MINISTRY GUARD 01 unlocks the steel door with a clang that reverberates like a rumble of distant thunder. HARRY steps inside and we all hold our breath.

Immediately, it is understood why this is called the Pit of Silence. The door closes like a distant wind, HARRY's footsteps are no longer heard, and the stillness of the hallowed space is overwhelming. HARRY looks up as more of the strange pit is illuminated. Gradually, an eerie music builds as the two adversaries come face to face. For a time, they do nothing but stare at one another. The tension is the highest it's ever been. And then HARRY begins to say something. We see his mouth moving. There is no response from VOLDEMORT.

HARRY seems to be getting more aggressive. VOLDEMORT smiles, delighted, as HARRY shouts across to him. Then he speaks again. HARRY studies the movement of VOLDEMORT's thin mouth. He snarls with impatience. HARRY jabs a finger at his scar. And then he runs forward, grabbing VOLDEMORT by the neck. HARRY screams in his face, without a sound, and VOLDEMORT continues to smile. Behind them, the MINISTRY GUARDS open the door, rush forward, and pry HARRY off of LORD VOLDEMORT, who stands and admires the scene, massaging his neck, as HARRY is dragged, kicking, out of the pit.

HARRY (the moment he passes the glass): ...OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT!

The MINISTRY GUARDS toss HARRY to the ground. He rolls to his feet and sprints back to the door. They close it and throw the lock before he can. HARRY slams his palms to the glass and looks severely at VOLDEMORT.

HARRY: I hate you — with everything — in me!

HARRY pushes off and steps away — backward — into the darkness of the stage.

I live for the day to watch you die again.