Apt Pupil Page #18

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Todd has moved across the floor, careful not to let the floor

creak under his steps. He is right upon Dussander. Dussander

reaches out with one arm for a fresh bottle, grasping onto the

railing with the other. His body hangs over the steep

staircase.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

When he finished his hand was stinging from

arthritis but he felt good for the first time

in weeks. He felt safe.

He gets his balance again and turns to face Todd. Dussander

holds the kitchen knife he was using earlier down at his side

where Todd can see it. A tense silence passes between them.

Todd is frozen. Dussander steps past him and back into the

kitchen. He closes the cellar door behind him.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

He climbed back into bed and slept until it

was time for General Hospital.

Dussander sits back in his chair, cutting the seal on the fresh

bottle.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

On the following day the old man put on his

best suit and went down to one of the local

banks and rented a safety deposit box. The

bank officer explained to the old man that he

would have a key and the bank would have a

key. To open the box both keys would be

needed. No one but the old man could use the

old man's key without a signed, notarized

letter of permission from the old man

himself. With one exception.

Todd sinks into a chair across from Dussander and takes a sip of

Coke.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

That exception is made in the event of the

box-holder's death.

TODD:

Then what?

DUSSANDER:

Then the box is opened in the presence of a

bank official and a representative of the

Internal Revenue Service. The contents of

the box are inventoried. In this case they

will find only a twelve-page document. Non-

taxable... but highly interesting.

Todd understands what the old man has told him. He slams his

glass down on the table and jumps out of his chair.

TODD:

You can't... you can't do that.

DUSSANDER:

My boy, it is already done.

TODD:

But... Christ! Look at you. You could go at

any time.

Todd stares at Dussander in disbelief. After a moment he storms

out the back door to the porch.

EXT. DUSSANDER'S BACK PORCH - DAY

Todd is leaning over the rail looking out at the yard when

Dussander steps onto the porch. He carries with him the bottle

of bourbon and a glass.

TODD:

Then there is nothing for me.

DUSSANDER:

But there is. As the years go by, as I get

closer to the grave, your hold on me will

become worth less and less. A man five, ten

years older than I worries more about his

ailing heart than being extradited to Israel.

And there will come a day - if I live long

enough - when I decide what you know no

longer matters. Then, and only then, I will

destroy my document.

TODD:

But... but so many things can happen to you

in between. Accidents. Sickness. You could

slip in the shower, for Christ's sake...

Dussander shrugs and lights another cigarette. He begins to

sing softly, then gets caught up in the song... Todd turns away, angry.

DUSSANDER:

Que sera, sera... Whatever will be, will

be... The future's not ours to see... Que

sera, sera...

Pause. Dussander sees he has pressed Todd's button. He moves

closer.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

My dear boy, I see you thinking about it,

even now. It is in your eyes. Killing me.

It would take only a flick of a knife. Or

maybe push me down the steps, make it look

like an accident? I am old. You are strong.

You are angry. Good assets for killing. But

there is something missing...

Dussander speaks with a near whisper in Todd's ear.

DUSSANDER (CONT'D)

To have some one in your control. To have

them know that they are alive because you

have not decided to the contrary. Do you

have that power? Ask yourself. It is no

easy question. I think you know that.

There is a long pregnant pause. Then Todd lets out a sigh, as if

to dismiss what he has just heard. He turns to face Dussander.

TODD:

You know this means we're through. You won't

be seeing me around here anymore.

DUSSANDER:

No, I suppose I won't.

TODD:

I'm never coming here again.

DUSSANDER:

And so it comes to an end. Here.

Dussander pours a splash of bourbon into the boy's glass.

TODD:

What are you doing?

DUSSANDER:

A drink. To our lives together, the

beginning... and the end.

Todd picks up his glass.

TODD:

I think you should f*** yourself.

He CLICKS his glass against Dussander's.

DUSSANDER:

My boy, don't you see that we are f***ing

each other?

He drinks. Todd, reluctantly, does the same.

FADE TO BLACK.

EXT. MAIN STREET - SANTO DONATO - DAY

TITLE:
APRIL 1985

Dussander, dressed smartly for a day out of the house, emerges

from a matinee at the movie theater and strolls down the

sidewalk, the umbrella under his arm. He stops at an empty bench

and sits to wait for the bus.

Archie sits down next to him. At first Dussander doesn't pay

attention to him, but Archie's behavior tells us that he is

keenly aware of Dussander's presence. Dussander stares out into

the street, but Archie fidgets about, his eyes roaming, and

finally slides a little closer to Dussander. Dussander looks at

him flatly. Archie grins. Dussander turns away, prepared to

dismiss this odd behavior as that of a crazed derelict. Then

Archie speaks...

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