Apt Pupil Page #10

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MONICA:

Todd loved that dog. A lot more than Dick

did.

DICK:

We all loved that dog.

AGNES:

I remember when you had to put it down, Todd

cried for two weeks. Just about broke my

heart.

DUSSANDER:

Excuse, me, Mrs. Bowden. Put it down? I've

been here over twenty years but that's a new

one.

VICTOR:

Means put it to sleep, Victor.

Dussander still looks puzzled. He looks to Todd, but Victor

jumps in.

VICTOR (CONT'D)

Well, it's how they kill it, Arthur. They do

it all the time at the pound, ...sick dogs,

dogs nobody wants.

MONICA:

It's very humane.

DUSSANDER:

I see.

Todd shoots him a fiery glare that the others don't notice.

MONICA:

Some more pie?

DUSSANDER:

As my departed wife used to say, 'One must

never overdo the sublime.'

AGNES:

It was delicious, Monica.

VICTOR:

Tell me, Arthur, if you don't mind me asking.

What did you do during the war?

AGNES:

Now don't get too personal, Victor.

A quick moment between Todd and Dussander.

DUSSANDER:

I was a student at the University until my

reserve unit was called in 1943.

(notices Victor)

But we were not a combat unit, thank God.

Mechanical engineers. Help me find my

cigarettes, Todd. Would you? In those days,

not even the call of higher learning could

exempt an able body from military service.

Dussander's cigarettes are right in front of him. Todd fetches

one and, bringing it to his own lips, lights it for him.

MONICA:

Todd Bowden!

DUSSANDER:

(laughs knowingly)

My dear, I do apologize. My hands are too

arthritic to strike a match, I'm afraid.

Your son has been good enough to help an old

man with his filthy habits.

MONICA:

Well...as long as you don't inhale.

TODD:

Cigarettes are gross, Mom.

VICTOR:

Well, Victor, you were doing your part like

we all were, I suppose. Of course, if you

were in the Pacific Fleet I'd have to shoot

you.

Everyone laughs, except Todd.

DICK:

(to Dussander)

My dad is very proud of the fact that the

Bowden men have hit every major conflict

since the Civil War.

VICTOR:

That's right. Dickie served two tours in

Vietnam. Earned a bronze star and a purple

heart.

DICK:

It's one family tradition I'd like to put an

end to. Todd and I blow a few caps down at

the range every week. That's all the combat

he needs.

TODD:

(perking up, offended)

What's that supposed to mean?

DICK:

Forget it.

DUSSANDER:

(looking at Todd)

Perhaps your son would excel in combat.

MONICA:

Todd could excel at anything. Right, honey?

Todd doesn't answer. His eyes are still on Dick. Dick notices

him.

AGNES:

(getting up, starts to clear some

dishes)

Oh, let's don't even talk about this. I can't

stand to think of you boys fighting another

war.

DUSSANDER:

The Purple Heart. You were injured?

TODD:

He was knocked unconscious and woke up in a

hospital.

A long pause. Dick is embarrassed and offended by Todd's stab.

He puffs on his cigar. Agnes comes in from the kitchen and picks

up some more dishes. Dick stands suddenly to help her.

DICK:

Mom, let me get that for you.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - SIDEWALK - NIGHT

Todd and Dussander walk together in silence. Todd is clearly in

a bad mood. Dussander prods him.

DUSSANDER:

You shouldn't be so hard on your father.

TODD:

Why don't you mind your own business.

DUSSANDER:

(amused at Todd's short fuse)

Boy, It's not so easy to raise children. Your

father does the best he can, I'm sure. Having

his own father there is bound to cause some

anxiety on his part--

TODD:

Oh, give me a frigging break, will you? Look

who's talking to me, for Christ's sake. And

what was that crap about the dog? If you

were any more charming I was going to puke.

DUSSANDER:

Heavens, boy, wasn't that precisely the

point? I used the evening to our advantage.

TODD:

Our advantage? Our advantage?

DUSSANDER:

Certainly now they will offer no objections

if you continue to come over and read to me.

TODD:

You sure take a lot for granted. Do you

think there's anybody forcing me to come over

to your scuzzy house and watch you slop up

booze all day? Do you?

DUSSANDER:

Lower your voice. People will hear.

TODD:

So what?

Dussander stops.

DUSSANDER:

No, nobody forces you to come. In fact, you

are welcome to stay away. Believe me, boy, I

have no scruples about drinking alone. None

at all.

They start walking again. Dussander turns up his driveway.

Todd follows.

TODD:

You know, if they found out what you are,

they'd spit on you.

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