“Good Samaritan” hands in lost script for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

05 April 2010

Gerard Wood

A night out for drinks almost turned to disaster for the film crew working on the last chapter of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows, when a copy of the script was left behind in the Waterside Tavern, Hertfordshire. Marked "Private and Confidential" the 118 page script apparently reveals significant changes to the novel and any leaks could have proven disastrous for Warner Bros. A source explained that the crew was celebrating getting back on schedule with filming.

Left under a table, the script was spotted by an eagle-eyed patron. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I know guys that work on the film drink in the pub, but it's very embarrassing that someone could just leave it there,” he said. I imagine that there must have been a serious temptation to make some money out of the find, but the unnamed finder promptly handed the script in and was only “glad I've helped to stop any surprises being leaked.”

Of course, cynic that I am, I am left wondering why the script wasn't handed to the police or returned directly to the Studio but instead was given to The Sun newspaper. If I wanted to stop "any surprises being leaked", The Sun wouldn't have been on any list of organisations I'd have handed the script as the newspaper doesn't really have a reputation for being discreet, now does it? (if you're unfamiliar with The Sun, all you need to know is that it thrives on scandals, especially those involving celebrities and the entertainment industry). To its great credit however it was the newspaper itself that returned the script to Warner Bros. A spokesman for the Studio thanked The Sun for the safe return of the script and for not revealing its contents to fans.

An investigation has been launched by the Studio into how the top secret script was carelessly left behind in a public place and we can expect at least one head to roll some time soon.

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