Where is she?
Credence looks down—at a loss.
CREDENCE
I don’t know.
Graves becomes increasingly impatient—he’s so close to his goal. He marches forward into one of the rooms.
GRAVES
(contemptuous)
You’re a Squib, Credence. I could smell it off you the minute I met you.
Credence’s face falls.
CREDENCE
What?
Graves marches back along the corridor to try another room, his pretense of care for Credence all but forgotten.
GRAVES
You have magical ancestry, but no power.
CREDENCE
But you said you could teach me—
GRAVES
You’re unteachable. Your mother’s dead. That’s your reward.
Graves points to another landing.
GRAVES
I’m done with you.
Credence doesn’t move. He stares after Graves, his breathing becoming shallow and quick, as though he’s trying to contain something.
Graves moves through the dark rooms. A tiny movement somewhere close.
GRAVES
Modesty?
Graves advances cautiously into a derelict schoolroom at the end of a corridor.
SCENE 97INT. TENEMENT IN THE BRONX, DERELICT ROOM—NIGHTANGLE ON MODESTY cowering in a corner, wide-eyed with fear and shaking as Graves approaches.
GRAVES
(whispering)
Modesty.
Graves bends down and puts his wand away—once again playing the soothing parent.
GRAVES
(gentle)
There’s no need to be afraid. I’m here with your brother, Credence.
Modesty whimpers with terror at the mention of Credence.
GRAVES
Out you come, now . . .
Graves extends his hand.
A faint jingle sounds.
ANGLE ON THE CEILING as cracks begin to appear, spreading like a spider’s web. Dust begins to fall as the walls shake uncontrollably, the room beginning to disintegrate around them.
Graves stands. He looks down at Modesty, but she is clearly terrified and not the source of this magic. Graves turns and slowly draws his wand, the wall in front of him collapsing as though turned to sand, revealing another wall ahead. Modesty is nothing to him now.
As each wall collapses in front of him, he is transfixed, elated, yet also aware that he has made a colossal error . . .
The final wall collapses. He is facing Credence, who stares at him, unable to control his fury, his sense of betrayal, his bitterness.
GRAVES
Credence . . . I owe you an apology . . .
CREDENCE
I trusted you. I thought you were my friend. That you were different.
Credence’s face begins to contort, his rage tearing him from within.
GRAVES
You can control it, Credence.
CREDENCE
(whispers, making eye contact finally)
But I don’t think I want to, Mr. Graves.
The Obscurus moves horribly beneath Credence’s skin. An awful inhuman growl comes out of his mouth, from which something dark begins to bloom.
This force finally takes over Credence, his whole body exploding into a dark mass that hurtles forward out the window, narrowly missing Graves.
Graves stands watching as the Obscurus zooms out and over the city.
SCENE 98