A neighbourhood on a street called Privet Drive. An owl, sitting on the street sign flies off to reveal a mysterious appearing old man walking through a forest near the street. He stops at the start of the street and takes out a mechanical device and zaps all the light out of the lampposts. He puts away the device and a cat meows. The man, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, looks down at the cat, which is a tabby and is sitting on a brick ledge.

I should have known that you would be here...Professor McGonagall.

The cat meows, sniffs out and the camera pans back to a wall. The cats shadow is seen progressing into a human. There are footsteps and MINERVA MCGONAGALL is revealed.

Good evening, Professor Dumbledore. Are the rumours true, Albus?

I'm afraid so, Professor. The good, and the bad.

And the boy?

Hagrid is bringing him.

Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?

Ah, Professor, I would trust Hagrid with my life.

There is a motor sound, and the two professors look up to see a flying motorcycle coming down from the air. It skids on the street and halts. A large man, RUBEUS HAGRID, takes off his goggles.

Professor Dumbledore, Sir. Professor McGonagall.

No problems, I trust, Hagrid?

No, sir. Little tyke fell asleep just as we were flying over Bristol. Heh. Try not to wake him. There you go.

Hagrid hands a baby in a blanket over to Dumbledore.

Albus, do you really think its safe, leaving him with these people? I've been watching them all day. They're the worst sort of Muggles imaginable. They really are

The only family he has.

They stop outside a house.

This boy will be famous. There wont be a child in our world who doesn't know his name.

Exactly. He's better off growing up away from all that. Until he is ready.

Hagrid coughs and sniffles, he is crying. He clears his throat.

There, there, Hagrid. It's not really good-bye, after all.

Hagrid nods. Dumbledore takes a letter and places it on the baby, who is now at the foot of the door. The baby has a visible lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

Good luck...Harry Potter.

The camera pans into the scar and the opening title shows

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

Almost ten years after the: DURSLEY's home. The camera pans on a sleeping boy, almost eleven, with a lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

There is a click, and knocking. Outside, a tall woman, PETUNIA DURSLEY, raps the door.

Up. Get up. {Knocks} {sighs} Now! {Smacks door of closet which is the boys bedroom}

A large, tubby boy, DUDLEY DURSLEY, suddenly comes running down the stairs above the closet. He stops half-way down and goes back, jumping on the staircase.

Wake up, cousin! We're going to the zoo!

Dudley laughs, comes down the stairs and runs for the kitchen. The boy, HARRY POTTER, tries to come out of the closet, but is pushed back in by Dudley.

Petunia is in the kitchen, where Dudley has gone.

Oh, here he comes, the birthday boy!

A larger man, VERNON DURSLEY, is sitting at the kitchen table.

Happy birthday, son.

Petunia and Dudley giggle together. Harry comes into the kitchen, dressed in rags.

Why don't you just cook the breakfast, and try not to burn anything.

Yes, Aunt Petunia.

He sets to work.

I want everything to be perfect for my Dudley's special day.

Hurry up! Bring my coffee, boy!

Yes, Uncle Vernon.

Petunia leads Dudley over to the family room, where there are a vast amount of presents. Dudley stares.

How many are there?

Thirty-six. Counted 'em myself.

Thirty-six?! But last year last year I got thirty-seven!!

Yes, well, some of them are quite a bit bigger than last year!

I don't care how big they are!

Oh, now, now, now. This is what we're going to do, is that when we go out we're going to buy you two new presents! How's that, Pumpkin?

Outside, morning. The happy family is heading to the car. Harry goes to get in but is stopped by Vernon.

This will be a lovely day at the zoo. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm warning you now, boy. Any funny business, any at all, and you won't have any meals for a week. Get in.

The zoo. The family is in the reptile house, looking at a large BOA CONSTRICTOR.

Make it move.

Vernon raps the glass of the cage.

Dudley raps the glass much harder, and Vernon winces.

Dudley and his parents retreat to another enclosure. Harry is left with the snake.

Sorry about him. He doesn't understand what it's like, lying there day after day, having people press their ugly faces in on you.

The snake looks up and blinks.

Can you...hear me? {The snake nods} It's just...I've never talked to a snake before. Do you...I mean...do you talk to people often? {The snake shakes its head} You're from Burma, aren't you? Was it nice there, do you miss your family? {The snake turns its head in the direction of a sign which says, Bred in Captivity} I see. That's me as well. I never knew my parents, either.

The now awake snake has attracted Dudley's attention. He rips over to the cage, knocking Harry to the floor.

Mummy, dad, come here! You won't believe what this snake is doing!!

Dudley puts his hands on the glass wall. Harry, from the ground, glares at him. Suddenly, the glass disappears. Dudley wretches forward.

Whoa! Ahh! Ahh!!

Dudley falls into the snake enclosure, sputtering in a pool of water. The snake gets out of the exhibit, stopping in front of Harry.

Thankssssssss.

The snake starts off.

There is a lot of screaming as the snake heads for freedom. Dudley gets up to get out, but the glass is now back over the enclosure. He is stuck. He pounds the glass.

Mum, mummy!

{Sees him} AHH!

Mum, help! Help me!

My darling boy! How did you get in there?!

{Grins and giggles}

Vernon glares down at him and Harry's grin disappears. Petunia continues screaming

How did you get in there? Dursley, oh, Dursley!

Back at the Dursley's. Petunia and a bundled up Dudley come in.

It's all right. It's all right.

They disappear around the corner. Harry and Vernon enter. Vernon slams the door and shoves Harry against a wall, taking his hair.

What happened?

I swear I don't know! One minute the glass was there and then it was gone! It was like magic!

{Scoffs and shoves Harry into the closet} There's no such thing as magic!

Outside, some time later. An owl flies by the house and drops a letter, which zooms in the letterbox. It lands away from the house and hoots.

Harry, inside, goes to collect the mail. He sorts through the letters and sees his, addressed to him. He goes into the kitchen, hands Vernon the rest of the mail, and walks around the other side of the table to see his letter.

Ah, Marge is ill. Ate a funny whelk.

{Sees Harrys letter. He runs and grabs it} Dad, look! Harry's got a letter!!

Hey, give it back! It's mine!

{Laughs} Yours? Who'd be writing to you?

The family gathers to look at the address. There is a broken seal on the letter. The family looks up and Harry gulps.