Apt Pupil Page #15

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DUSSANDER:

Of course.

FRENCH:

So let's get to the bottom line, shall we?

What I'm proposing is some family counselling

at the Counselling Center downtown.

Everything is in confidence, of course. A

man in charge down there, Harry Shumacher, is

a good friend of mine. I think Todd and his

parents should go see him together. It might

be difficult for Todd to go to his parents

with this; I think you should do it. Maybe

we can get everybody on track by the end of

the next quarter. It will be tough, but not

impossible.

DUSSANDER:

I'm not sure that would be the best thing for

the boy. The parents might resent him if I

took them that proposal right now. Things

are very delicate. To swing the scale too

far in the wrong direction might cause more

harm than good. The boy has promised to work

harder in his studies. He is most concerned

by the drop in his grades, more alarmed than

you might expect. He has his mind set on

attending Stanford or Berkeley next fall and

does not wish to see his plans altered.

FRENCH:

Yes, well --

DUSSANDER:

Also, the parents would resent me. Monica

already thinks I meddle too much in her

affairs.

FRENCH:

I have a great deal of experience in these

matters, Mr. Bowden. And please understand

that my interest in your son's marital

problems begins and ends with the effect they

are having on Todd. And right now I think

they are having quite an effect. I really

think counselling is in order here.

DUSSANDER:

Allow me to make a counter proposal. You

have, I believe, a system for warning parents

of poor grades?

FRENCH:

Yes, Interpretation of Progress cards. IOP

cards. The kids call them flunk card. They

only get them when their grades in a class

fall below the seventy percent. That means a

"D" or an "F". Why?

DUSSANDER:

And they are sent out when?

FRENCH:

Mid-quarter. That's about three weeks into

the new marking period.

DUSSANDER:

Allowing for Christmas break, the next time

they are sent out will be in late January,

correct?

FRENCH:

Yes, that's right.

DUSSANDER:

Good. Then what I suggest is this...

EXT. DUSSANDER'S BACK PORCH - DAY

Dussander still wears the blue suit. The tie has been loosened

and top button undone. Todd still wears his backpack.

TODD:

You what?

DUSSANDER:

I told him you were getting back on track by

your own accord. I gave him my word. If you

get even one flunk card--

TODD:

Are you out of your f***ing mind? I'm going

to get three or four flunk cards. I failed

an economics test today, so there's another

one.

DUSSANDER:

Boy, it was the best I could do without

arousing suspicion.

TODD:

I could have done better myself --

DUSSANDER:

Well you didn't, did you? This is the way it

is and now you are upset because the only way

you can make things right is to work.

TODD:

You're insane. I'm upset because it can't be done.

DUSSANDER:

It can. And it will. You will work.

TODD:

I don't take orders from you. Maybe you've

forgotten --

DUSSANDER:

(turning on him)

Listen, boy. Before today it was possible,

just barely possible, that you could have

denounced me and come out clean yourself.

The way your nerves have been lately I don't

think so, but never mind that. It was - at

least technically possible. But now things

have changed. Today I impersonated your

grandfather, one Victor Bowden. And it was

you who arranged the meeting. What would

people make of that? If things come out

now... perhaps you were right, your age and a

good attorney might keep you out of jail, but

you would be humiliated, boy, publicly. You

would be infamous. Your parents too. Do you

know what such a scandal would do to them?

To you? Think about that.

Todd is stunned. He turns away, then back again, struggling for

the right words.

TODD:

You f***er.

DUSSANDER:

It's a done deal, boy. If you don't like it,

you can discuss it at family counselling.

TODD:

God! I wish... I wish --

DUSSANDER:

Never mind your wishes. Your wishes make me

sick. All I want to hear is that you

understand the situation.

Todd is furious. He sees there is no other way, but continues

fighting.

TODD:

Look, you gotta believe me. There is no way

in hell that I can pull myself out of a half

year slide in a couple of weeks. I wish I

could, but we're just going to have to think

of something else.

DUSSANDER:

Boy, the time for discussion is over. This

is the way it is. You are going to work.

And I am going to be right here with you.

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