girl), hand out leaflets. CREDENCE appears nervous and troubled.
MARY LOU (O.S.)
We have to fight together for the sake of our children – for the sake of tomorrow!
(to NEWT)
What do you say to that, friend?
As NEWT looks up towards MARY LOU, something seen from the corner of his eye catches his attention. The Niffler, a small furry black cross between a mole and a duck-billed platypus, is sitting on the steps of the bank, hastily pulling the beggar’s hat full of money out of sight behind a pillar.
NEWT, startled, looks down at his case.
ANGLE ON the Niffler, busy shovelling the beggar’s coins into a pouch in its belly. The Niffler looks up, notices NEWT’S gaze, and hurriedly gathers the rest of the coins before tumbling away and into the bank.
NEWT jolts forwards.
NEWT
Excuse me.
ANGLE ON MARY LOU – she looks confused at NEWT’S lack of interest in her cause.
MARY LOU (O.S.)
Witches live among us.
ANGLE ON TINA, moving through the crowd, eyeing NEWT suspiciously.
SCENE 8
A large, impressive-looking bank atrium. In the centre, behind a golden counter, clerks are busy at work serving customers.
NEWT skids to a halt in the entrance of the space and looks around for his creature. His dress and demeanour make him out of place among the smartly dressed New Yorkers.
BANK EMPLOYEE
(suspicious)
Can I help you, sir?
NEWT
No, I was just… just… waiting.
NEWT motions towards a bench and backs away, taking a seat next to JACOB.
TINA peers at NEWT from behind a pillar.
JACOB
(nervous)
Hi. What brings you here?
NEWT is desperately trying to spot his Niffler.
NEWT
Same as you.
JACOB
You’re here to get a loan to open up a bakery?
NEWT
(looking around – preoccupied)
Yes.
JACOB
What are the odds of that? Well, may the best man win, I guess.
NEWT spots the Niffler, which is now stealing coins from someone’s bag.
JACOB holds out his hand, but NEWT is off.
NEWT
Excuse me.
NEWT darts away. In his place on the bench lies a large silver egg.
JACOB
Hey, mister… hey, mister!
NEWT doesn’t hear; he is too engaged in hunting the Niffler.
JACOB picks up the egg just as the door into the BANK MANAGER’S office opens, and a SECRETARY looks out.
JACOB
Hey, fella!
SECRETARY
Mr Kowalski, Mr Bingley will see you now.
Pocketing the egg, JACOB heads towards the office, steeling himself.
JACOB
(sotto voce)
Okay… okay.
ANGLE ON NEWT, surreptitiously pursuing the Niffler as it moves through the bank. He finally spots it removing a glittering buckle from a lady’s shoe before scurrying onwards, eager for more shiny objects.
As NEWT watches, helpless, the Niffler jumps lithely between cases and into bags, snatching and pilfering.
SCENE 9
JACOB is facing the imposing and impeccably suited MR BINGLEY. BINGLEY is examining JACOB’S business proposal for a bakery.
An uncomfortable silence. The sound of a ticking clock and BINGLEY murmuring.
JACOB looks down at his pocket – the egg has started to vibrate.
BINGLEY
You are currently working… in a canning factory?
JACOB
That’s the best I can do – I only got back in ’24.
BINGLEY
Got back?
JACOB
From Europe, sir. Yeah – I was part of the Expeditionary Forces there— JACOB is clearly nervous, miming a digging action to the words ‘Expeditionary Forces’, in the vain hope that a joke might help his cause.
SCENE 10
We cut back to NEWT in the bank – in seeking the Niffler he has ended up waiting in line for a bank teller. He cranes his neck, peering towards the bag of a lady at the front of the line. TINA watches him from behind a pillar.
ANGLE
