Apt Pupil Page #12

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Dussander stares at the boxcar coldly, and we realize that

something is staring back at him. Eyes, dozens of them, glare

back at him from between the slatted boards of the train. Some

are low to the flooe, like those of children. Others are

higher. Dussander snaps at them in German.

DUSSANDER:

(in German)

Come out. ...Come out, now!

No one exits the train. Yet, the eyes seem to move around

cautiously within the boxcar. Dussander is getting angry. His

orders aren't being carried out. Suddenly the door of the train

slides open. But still only the eyes are visible.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

(in German)

Line up in front of the train. Now!

Again, no one gets off. Enraged, Dussander takes a few steps

toward the train. In a flash the eyes charge at him. But these

are not the eyes of prisoners. These are wolves. Dussander can

only cover his face with his arms as the snarling teeth descend

upon him.

INT. DUSSANDER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Dussander wakes from his nightmare in a cold sweat. His pajamas

are soaked. Disoriented and out of breath, he climbs out of bed

and clicks on the light.

The closet. He stares at the closed closet door for a moment and

then moves toward it slowly. He opens the door and runs his

fingers across the assortment of shirts and jackets. His hand

stops near the back.

INT. DUSSANDER'S BEDROOM - FIVE MINUTES LATER

Dussander is seated on the side of the bed smoking a cigarette.

He is dressed, with the exception of the boots and hat, in the

SS uniform. He appears calmer, less agitated. He crunches out

the cigarette and slips under the covers. He turns off the

light. He closes his eyes. For the moment, he is at peace.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - LOCKER AREA - DAY

Todd stands facing his open locker. He is staring at his report

card. Sweat collects on his forehead. He looks like he is

about to explode. He wipes his brow with his sleeve and turns

around to see if anyone notices him. TWO STUDENTS catch his

eye. They are both Asian. They are smiling and pouring over

each other's report cards. Todd zips open his backpack, giving

us a quick glimpse of the disassembled rifle pieces inside. He

throws the report card in and zips up the bag. Slinging the bag

over his shoulder, he slams the locker shut and heads off down

the hall.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY

Todd is shooting baskets with Joey. It is after school. Todd

wears a white T-shirt. Off to the side, we see the dress shirt

he was wearing earlier and his school bag.

JOEY:

So what are you going to do?

TODD:

F*** if I know.

Todd throws up a clumsy shot. It misses.

JOEY:

You're throwing it flat. Let it roll off

your fingers more.

TODD:

(snapping at him)

I don't need a lesson.

Todd adjusts his grip on the ball anyway. He shoots again. No

good.

JOEY:

Your dad, man. I don't know. I mean, I'm a

f*** up. My dad is used to this crap from

me.

Todd does not respond to his friend's attempt at humor. He is

slamming the ball around with great force. He bounces it hard

off the back wall to give himself a rebound. He is mumbling to

himself.

JOEY:

What?

TODD:

What?

JOEY:

You said something?

TODD:

No.

JOEY:

You're talking to yourself, Bowden. It's not

the first time I've noticed it. What is

going on with you?

TODD:

Nothing, Joey. I f***ed up. I'II fix it.

I'II fix it.

JOEY:

(hurt)

All right, man. Whatever you say. Look, I

got to get to practice.

No response from Todd.

JOEY (CONT'D)

If you need to talk, you can call me. You

know that. I'II see you around.

Joey walks off. Todd continues shooting the ball.

TODD:

(mumbling)

You're talking to yourself, Bowden. You're

talking to yourself, Bowden.

He throws up a shot. It is good.

TODD (CONT'D)

I'II fix it. I'II fix it.

A strange SQUAWKING sound is heard. Todd doesn't hear it at

first, but as the sound grows louder Todd stops the ball and

looks around. His eyes focus on the area near an open doorway.

Sunlight streams into the empty gym. Todd walks closer, seeing

that the sound is coming from an injured bird that has crawled

in from outside. He goes up to it. The bird is black. Its

wing is damaged. It SQUAWKS loudly, looking up at Todd. Todd

begins mumbling again. He starts to dribble the ball

thoughtlessly. As his words become clearer, the bouncing gets

harder.

TODD (CONT'D)

I'll fix it. I'll fix it. I'll fix it.

Todd is bouncing the ball very hard next to him. The bird

continues to SCREAM. Slowly the ball drifts from beside Todd to

in front of him, gaining force with every bounce. He brings it

up to his face and with both hands throws it down with all his

might. When it comes back up, it is smeared with blood. He

throws it down again, this time it comes up with feathers

smeared in the blood. The squawking has stopped. Blood

splatters on Todd's shirt. His eyes close.

He stops the ball, looks around. No one has seen him. He

notices his shirt. Calmly, he tears it off, wraps the ball in

it, and tosses it in a nearby trash can.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

Todd pedals his bike through town, carrying a brown paper bag

under one arm. He turns down Dussander's street. He stops in

front of the house and heads for the front door.

INT. DUSSANDER'S KITCHEN - DAY

Dussander emerges from the basement just as Todd comes into the

kitchen. Todd sniffs the air, frowns.

TODD:

What the f*** happened in here?

DUSSANDER:

Ah, boy... I burned my TV dinner, I'm afraid.

TODD:

Something's come up. Sit down.

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