[From the script for a film by D. Creevey, circa 2017; never produced.]
(May 1991. Level 9 of the British Ministry of Magic. Unspeakable BRODERICK BODE, dressed in plain grey robes, waits at an unlabelled door at the end of a dimly lit corridor. A tall, bearded wizard, dressed in flamboyant purple, strides down the corridor and meets him at the door.)
BODE: (nods curtly) Thank you for meeting me here, Albus.
(The flamboyant wizard, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, smiles.)
DUMBLEDORE: It’s no matter, Broderick. I’m here on business as it is.
BODE: I believe you’ll understand the severity of the matter. When you – see.
DUMBLEDORE: At the moment I am intrigued and nothing more, Broderick. Proceed.
(DUMBLEDORE follows BODE through the unlabelled door into a circular room of identical black doors. BODE leads them through a winding maze of doors and hallways in relative silence. Upon completing the maze, they step into the offices of the Department of Mysteries. If anyone is surprised by Dumbledore’s appearance in their department, they do not show it. DUMBLEDORE expresses passing curiosity as he and BODE proceed through a room of turning hourglasses and steps aside as a harried witch pushes a cart of crystal balls into a long corridor of storage shelves. BODE leads them to a door near the back of the offices. Outside the door is a pedestal supporting a black metal box; the box has no discernable handle or latch. BODE places his hand on the box. It opens.)
BODE: You’ll have to leave your wand behind, I’m afraid. (He places his wand in the box.)
DUMBLEDORE: (raising an eyebrow) I’ve never been asked –
BODE: You’ll understand. When you see.
DUMBLEDORE: This is most unusual, Broderick.
BODE: (pauses, stares) It is most certainly unusual.
(DUMBLEDORE places his wand in the box, eyeing BODE carefully. BODE places his hand on the box. It closes and locks. BODE places his hand on the door. It unlatches. He turns to DUMBLEDORE.)
BODE: Proceed.
(DUMBLEDORE steps inside. BODE closes the door behind him. The room they have entered is dark. They hear a faint humming. The atmosphere feels strangely absent. Green and red lights flicker in the corners. It appears that the room is filled with some sort of equipment.)
BODE: The chamber we have entered is wrapped in potent enchantments. It is imperative that – nothing enters.
DUMBLEDORE: (squinting) Is this – ? (He pulls out his watch. All of its hands are still, and it fails to glow. He chuckles.) Well, I’ll say, Broderick. Never before have I encountered – quite clever. I wouldn’t have thought it possible. Here of all places. How did you do it? Surely some of this is my own work, yes?
BODE: (not smiling) Don’t overstep your clearances, Professor. And I won’t overstep mine.
DUMBLEDORE: (appearing mildly bemused) Say no more, Broderick. And what does this de-magicked chamber contain?
(Behind DUMBLEDORE, BODE flips a light switch. An overhead lamp flickers on. At the centre of the room is a table. At the table sits a personal computer, monitor, and keyboard.
DUMBLEDORE steps forward cautiously. He seems to have seen such things before. He looks over the monitor before extending a thin finger to delicately tap the space bar. The computer hums, and the screen flickers into life. DUMBLEDORE blinks, taken aback by the blue light. A text-based program is open: the NeXTSTEP WorldWideWeb browswer. DUMBLEDORE adjusts his eyes to take in the flood of text. He runs a finger over the screen, reads each line of text, and slowly begins to process what he sees. He looks up at Bode, his eyes lined with concerned. BODE stares back.)
BODE: Do you understand?
DUMBLEDORE: (nods) I understand.
BODE: And you –
DUMBLEDORE: I do.
(BODE nods curtly; he says nothing.)
(DUMBLEDORE gazes at the computer. Then he turns his eyes to BODE. His eyes flash.)
DUMBLEDORE: (sighs) It is time to execute the plan.
(Cut to black.)
THE PENSIEVE PAPERS 