Apt Pupil Page #19

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ARCHIE:

(leaning over)

I notice the kid don't come around no more.

Dussander doesn't respond. He catches Archie in a glance and

sees that he is staring at him.

DUSSANDER:

What?

ARCHIE:

Little blond-hair boy. ...What's the matter,

you ain't his friend no more?

Dussander is like stone, flashing the eyes of a man who is not

to be harassed. Finally...

DUSSANDER:

You mistake me for somebody else. ...Pardon

me, my bus is coming.

Dussander stands, slightly rattled only to those who know him

well. He looks down the street for the bus. Archie doesn't

move. Rather, he inspects Dussander from head to toe, stopping

on the shoes.

ARCHIE:

Damn... Cuban high heels. Nice ones, too.

The SQUEAL of brakes grows louder as the bus comes to rest in

front of Dussander. He has become perceptibly more nervous as

he waits for the passengers to exit. He climbs up the first

step.

ARCHIE:

I ain't seen a pair like that since I was in

Havana.

(talking louder because of the

bus)

That's the only place you can get'em. Can't

get'em exported... Government don't let you.

The door closes behind Dussander. The bus pulls away. Through

the window of the bus Dussander watches Archie as he continues

his speech to no one.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE - DAY

TITLE:
MAY 1985

Todd sits nervously in a chair next to a tough, leather-clad

trouble maker. A SECRETARY sits behind a long desk. Her phone

beeps and she picks it up.

SECRETARY:

Go in, Todd. They're waiting for you.

Todd approaches a door marked: "Dr. Carl N. Morgan - Principal."

He goes in.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY

Todd opens the office door. As his eyes scan the floor he

notices a familiar pair of yellow high-tops. He looks up to see

Ed French leaning against the wall. Seated at the desk is

MORGAN, a thin, stern man, around 50. Todd's face shows a

moment of trepidation, but he regains his composure almost

instantly.

MORGAN:

Have a seat, Todd.

Todd does as Morgan pours over Todd's files.

MORGAN (CONT'D)

I see from your record and from what Mr.

French tells me that after a minor slip up

last semester you're right back on course.

Straight A's for the quarter so far. And I

hear your little slip didn't bother the folks

up at Stanford too much either.

FRENCH:

A good break for you, Todd.

MORGAN:

Looks like that little talk with your...

(looks at file)

grandfather... really helped. Well, we don't

want to keep you too long.

(to French)

You tell him.

FRENCH:

Well, it seems Sally Chong didn't do to well

in A.P. biology.

MORGAN:

She failed it.

FRENCH:

I'm afraid so. She refused to take part in

the fetal pig dissection. The teacher begged

her to drop the class, but Sally thought she

could pass anyway.

MORGAN:

Stubborn girl... What we're telling you, son,

is that because Sally Chang -

FRENCH:

Chong.

MORGAN:

Because Sally Chong wouldn't hack up a baby

pig, you snuck by her in the rankings. So if

you can keep your grades up for two more

months -- any reason that shouldn't happen?

TODD:

No.

MORGAN:

Then you'll make valedictorian, Todd.

Congratulations.

FRENCH:

Congratulations, Todd.

French shakes Todd's hand, an uneasy moment passes between the

two of them.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE - DAY

Todd comes out of Morgan's office. French follows him.

FRENCH:

Todd, you really should be proud of yourself.

To tell you the truth, I'm amazed you pulled

it off.

TODD:

Thanks, I guess.

He starts to walk away.

FRENCH:

I was glad to hear you made varsity baseball.

I spoke to the coach. He says your coming

along real well.

TODD:

Thanks.

FRENCH:

It's turning out to be a good year for you.

TODD:

Yeah.

He turns to go, but French stops him again.

FRENCH:

Todd, wait.

He steps up to Todd and lowers his voice, as if he were hedging

a touchy subject.

FRENCH (CONT'D)

Todd, you've got a lot of good things going

on right now. You should be enjoying

yourself.

TODD:

I am.

French's looks says, "No, you're not."

FRENCH:

How are things at home?

Todd realizes he is not going to get out of this easily.

TODD:

Look, things with my parents were bad for a

while. But they're doing a lot better.

Thanks for your concern, really. I should

get back to class.

He is pulling away from French as he speaks.

FRENCH:

(unconvinced)

Okay, Todd. I know this isn't the place to

talk about this. But my door is always open...

TODD:

I know. Thanks.

Todd walks away.

FRENCH:

And it's going to stay open.

But Todd does not turn around. French stares after him. The

BELL RINGS, and Todd is swallowed by the stream of students

emerging from the class rooms.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Todd is kneeling down at the bike rack. His backpack is on the

ground next to him. He unlocks his bike and begins to coil the

chain around his wrist when Joey walks by. He sees Todd and

considers going by, but stops. We can tell they haven't spoken

in a while.

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