Stage Directions

On the quest to figure out character motivations, I found the .pdf file of the script for the Chamber of Secrets movie. Here is the stage directions (herein abbreviated 'SD') for the Snape parts...which I find reveals some traits about Rickman's version of Snape.

If anyone knows where I can find a similarly formatted version of the Sorceror's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone) so I can do another file for that movie, please email me

My commentary is in silver italics; all green text below is copied exactly like it is formatted in the .pdf file (minus the ~~~ marks). I in no way, shape, or form own the rights to the Harry Potter: Chamber of Secrets script. So don't sue me. Literally.

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We shall start with his first entrance -- as written in the script. I am leaving nothing out.

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.

I had not noticed the Lockhart picture thing, but that is beside the point. This shows that the cool shot of the closeup was planned from the beginning. Notice, that the SD have Snape standing instead of sitting. Why this was changed? Perhaps to allow for the creeping around the table movement which occurs later in this scene.

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.

A note to neophytes in acting: much of the inflection that Rickman uses is not indicated in the SD. Remember that Rickman emphasizes 'seven', while in the text there is no indication to do so. We forget sometimes that actors are allowed an astonishing amount of leeway in characterization.

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.

No indications of the 'circling the table' as seen in the movie. Either the action came out in improvisation, or maybe the director has a change of heart. We might never know how that potent (and poetic) movement was created.

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)

33.
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.

At least this is in the SD!

DUMBLEDORE
Splendid. Now, I suggest we
return to the feast. There's a
delicious-looking custard tart I
want to sample.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We segue into the Middle of the Film, when the Chamber has first been opened.

59 CONTINUED: (3) 59

SNAPE
If I might, Headmaster...

The others turn, watch Snape separate from the shadows.

If I recall, Snape is standing within view of the others. But the film manipulated this so that one got the same effect (this presence coming out of nowhere) but with a voice. Recall in the film we only hear him say this line-- we don't see it. The effect is still the same -- creepy.

SNAPE
Perhaps Potter and his friends
were simply in the wrong place at
the wrong time...

Harry and the others blink. Could Snape be defending
them?

Here, I find it interesting that there is a direct statement telling the actors how they should think about Snape's statement.

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.

This one SD they preserved perfectly in the film. Many of us are glad they did.

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.

I'm kinda sad that Rickman didn't come up with the eyebrow-thing himself, but it is still a wonderful characterization.

DUMBLEDORE
Innocent until proven guilty.

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And we are at the Ever-So Popular Dueling Scene, where much acting occurs.

Justin grins agreeably, looks back to the stage, where
Professor Snape has joined Lockhart.

Why the director decided to change the action from having Snape join Lockhart on stage and then introduce him is beyond me. But I suppose it makes for a more dramatic entrance for Snape, much more favorable to his character.

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.

Vague movements in the SD, but not specifically -- nothing about the differences in the walks. This is either a director cue, or something Branagh and Rickman decided. Still, cool nonetheless.

(CONTINUED)
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...

Yes, I know that Granger didn't return his wand. This shows you how flexible a script and a movie (or play) really is.

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

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

I really hope Rickman thought of his cool little gestures here, from the smile to the "I don't know" gesture. At this point, its hard to determine what is the director's influence and what is the actor's. I'm rather surprised none of it is in the SD.

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!

Note: NOTHING about Mafloy flying back, or Snape picking him up by the collar.

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.

Here the SD can help. I was confused by the purpose of the smile -- I knew he was amused, but the fact that it was in the script makes the action even more important.

(CONTINUED)
66.
70 CONTINUED: (3) 70

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

GILDEROY LOCKHART
Allow me!

Of course we should be rolling our eyes at Lockhart's ineptitude; Rickman shouldn't need the script to figure that one out.

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-FLETCHTEY
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.

Obviously such an important action of Snape's must be written in the SD, and here it is.

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, his last scene (with words): when the second message has been written.

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.

Tells the teachers to react in their own way. Relying on the characterization of the actors--including Rickman.

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)

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.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Rev. 1/28/02 112.

That last shot wasn't in the script? Aw...Still artistic in the sense, having Snape's shadow reveal the last message. Very dramatic.

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I don't know if that was informative, or even particularly amusing. I got a hoot out of reading what the actors had to work with, then realizing how much of their characters they created themselves. Comments always to [email protected]