Apt Pupil Page #11

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DUSSANDER:

I am sure they would have nothing but

revulsion for me. But what would they say

about you, boy, when I told them you had

known about me for nine months... and said

nothing?

Dussander unlocks his door and steps in.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

Come and see me if you please, and stay home

if you don't. Good night, boy.

He closes the door.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - DAY

TITLE:
DECEMBER 1984

Todd places a brightly wrapped Christmas present on the table in

front of Dussander, who looks at it skeptically.

TODD:

Go ahead, open it. Wait, I better pull down

the shades, first.

DUSSANDER:

What for?

TODD:

Just to be safe.

DUSSANDER:

(getting up)

To hell with this. You open it.

TODD:

Oh, relax, old man. Sit down and open it.

Todd opens the refrigerator and pulls out a can of Coke.

Dussander slowly sits back down.

DUSSANDER:

You wrapped it yourself, I see.

He begins to remove the bow, and then the paper. He moves very

cautiously, as if the package might explode at any moment.

Finally, he removes the lid and his expression shifts from one

of fear to one of exasperation.

TODD:

Merry Christmas!

We see that the box contains a replica of an officer's S.S.

uniform, complete with hat and jackboots. Dussander reads the

label.

DUSSANDER:

Pete's Quality Costume Clothiers - Serving

You Since 1976.

TODD:

Go ahead, try it on.

DUSSANDER:

Are you out of your mind, boy? What makes

you think I would put something like that on?

TODD:

I thought you'd like it --

DUSSANDER:

Like it? My God, you're a bigger fool than I

thought. Maybe I'll put it on and do a

little shopping downtown. Is that what you

thought? You stupid, boy.

TODD:

Don't call me stupid.

DUSSANDER:

You... You know, you are correct. I am the

stupid one. For months I have suffered your

indignities. I have exposed my past to you

while watching you stuff your face with those

wretched hamburgers. I have stocked my

refrigerator with Coca Cola and ding dongs.

All for you, I have done these things and I'm

tired of it. But because I value my life and

my freedom, what's left of it anyway, I do

them. But I'll die before I put this thing

on, you f***ing piss-ant.

TODD:

That's enough. You don't get to talk to me

like that.

Dussander bangs the table.

DUSSANDER:

I should smash you.

TODD:

Do it. Please.

(pause)

Indignities? What you've suffered with me is

nothing compared to what the Israelis would

do to you. Remember what happened to

Eichmann? You forget that, I think. And,

you know, that's my fault. I have let you

forget. You have gotten comfortable with

this situation. Well, don't you for one

minute ever forget who holds the cards here.

Don't you ever forget that envelope under my

mattress. I tried to do this the nice way, I

tried to do something to please you, but you

don't want it. So fine, we'll do it the hard

way. You will put this on because I want to

see you in it. Now strip.

DUSSANDER:

I hope you go to hell --

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - DAY

It is five minutes later. Dussander stands in the uniform. He

looks at it indignantly.

DUSSANDER:

The insignia is all wrong. The boots should

be leather, not imitation.

TODD:

That suit cost me over eighty bucks... with

the boots.

DUSSANDER:

And this material... what? Polyester?

TODD:

Quiet. Straighten that hat.

Dussander ignores him.

TODD (CONT'D)

Straighten that hat, soldier!

DUSSANDER:

Good Gott.

Dussander does what he is told.

TODD:

Actung!

Slowly Dussander straightens up.

TODD (CONT'D)

Now, march... Do it!

Dussander begins to move his feet in place.

TODD (CONT'D)

That's it. March.

Dussander has gotten into a rhythm, marching faster in place.

TODD (CONT'D)

About face.

Dussander spins sharply on his heels. He continues to march.

TODD (CONT'D)

About face.

Dussander is stomping in place vigorously. He spins on command,

facing Todd. He gives a Nazi salute. Todd watches him march

for a moment. At first he enjoys the domination, but as

Dussander gets caught up in the marching, Todd's expression changes.

TODD (CONT'D)

Okay, that's enough.

Dussander is still marching furiously.

TODD (CONT'D)

I said that's enough!

Suddenly Dussander stops. He collapses into a chair, exhausted.

He sits there panting for a moment.

DUSSANDER:

Boy... be careful. You play with fire.

DUSSANDER'S DREAM #2: INT. DUSSANDER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Dussander wakes to a strange, faint rumble. He climbs out of

bed and walks across his bedroom toward the source of the sound.

We follow him as he moves farther and farther away from his bed.

Soon it is apparent that he is in a space much larger than his

room. Yet he is still in darkness, as if his room has suddenly

ended and continues into a black void.

But the rumble gets louder, more mechanical sounding. As the

sound crescendoes we see what Dussander sees. A train car.

Steam rises in the air as if the train has just come to a

complete stop in the night.

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